"Before I bring Mal in, is there anything you don't want me discussing with her?" Dr. Darling asked.
Evie shook her head. Realistically, there were many things she had said in therapy that she wouldn't want Mal knowing about but she also knew that if she wanted to get better, communication was important.
"Okay, I'll just go get her." The therapist walked over to door and opened it, gesturing for Mal to come in.
The blonde walked in and sat down next to Evie, taking her hand as a sign of support.
Evie smiled weakly, squeezing Mal's hand.
"So as you know, I've been seeing Evie once a week for the last 6 weeks or so." Dr. Darling started. "We've talked a lot about the rape as well as your relationship. Is there anything you would like to add or talk about before we get into why I brought you in?"
Mal just shook her head. If Evie had wanted it discussed, she would've already.
"Okay," the therapist smiled. "Well I brought you in so that you and Evie could discuss some sexual things in a safe space. She tells me you guys are having some trouble connecting in that area."
Mal looked over at Evie, who was busy looking at a torn stitch on her glove, "Okay," Mal said slowly.
"Is that something you feel as well?"
Mal paused for a moment and nodded, "but I mean to be fair, we haven't been together that long. We are still finding our footing as a couple." She didn't know why she was trying to defend anything to the therapist who knew about their backgrounds.
"Why don't you tell me what sexuality is like on the isle. I've been told is far more progressive than Auradon." Dr. Darling places the tip of her pen on the paper, ready to write.
"Well yeah. There aren't any rules or repercussions on the Isle. No consequences to our actions. No parents giving a damn if we fuck up. So sex isn't something sacred or whatever like it is here."
"And you've had sex before? I mean while on the isle?" The therapist was writing furiously as Mal talked, pausing only for a moment to pose the question.
Mal nodded, "Yeah. I did. Mostly with one person but a few others here and there."
"How old were you?"
"13 my first time, I think." Mal looked over at Evie. The blue haired girl was watching her as she spoke now but not saying anything.
"You said it was mostly with one person. Who was that?"
"Her name was Uma. What does this have to do with me and Evie?" Mal asked sharply. Her and Uma were friends but she didn't have any desire to think about the past with her.
"Evie, do you feel like Mal's experience makes you inadequate?" The doctor looked over at the taller girl.
Evie nodded.
"E, no. Never." Mal protested but the doctor stopped her.
"So I understand you also have a history with drugs is that correct?"
Mal just nodded. She could feel herself fuming.
"Is it safe to say that you had a lot of sex while high like Evie did?"
Mal nodded again, "yeah my daughter is the result of it."
"Have you had sex sober? I mean since you got clean?"
Mal chewed her lip a little before shaking her head. She hadn't had sex with anyone since Macie's dad. She had been too busy.
"Is there anything about sleeping with Evie that makes you nervous or insecure?"
"Of course there is. With everything in her past and the fact that we were friends for so long, it makes everything more complicated. I want it though." Mal knew what she said sounded lame but she didn't know what else to say. There was a lot of pressure on their first time together.
"I'm scared," Evie squeaked out, speaking for the first time. "What if I can't do it? What if I can't go through with it? What if us being friends messes it all up? What if I suck because I've never been with a girl?" Evie finished her ramble and looked over into Mal's green eyes.
"You're putting too much pressure on it, E. Sex is supposed to be fun." Mal told her, squeezing her hand.
"Okay how about this..why don't you girls get completely undressed, get under the covers and spend some time kissing and exploring. Not having sex but just getting comfortable with each other. It might be enough to get you guys over the past friendship hump as well as help Evie with some of her fears of sex in general."
The girls nodded at the them . "Excellent. That's all the time we have for today. Evie, I will see you next week."
—
Mal and Evie walked hand and hand down the street through the town closest to Belle and Beast's castle.
"Are you mad at me for talking to my therapist about us?" Evie was worried that Mal was angry. She knew perfectly well that Mal would rather keep things private.
"I'm not mad, E," Mal started, "it's just weird to discuss our non existent sex life with someone I don't know. It's not bad, I just...I would rather just talk to you I guess."
"I'm sorry," Evie told her. She knew she hadn't really done anything wrong but it was her nature to apologize. Years of emotional abuse from the Evil Queen did that to her.
Mal squeezes her hand, "it's not a problem, babe. I swear." She smiled and leaned over to kiss the girl quickly on the cheek. "Now, can we please talk about something other than sex. I feel like we've put enough pressure on ourselves."
Evie smiled. "You're probably right."
"I always am."
Evie rolled her eyes, "so I saw Carlos the other day. I haven't had a chance to tell you."
"Where?" Mal asked.
"He was interning at the vet I took Meeko too. He actually did his exam." Evie stopped at a window and looked in at the outfit on the mannequin. She automatically examined the design, making mental notes.
"Wow. I haven't seen him in..." Mal trailed off, trying to remember, "...4 years I guess. I ran into him once when I was out one night. I think. I don't fully remember it but I vaguely remember Carlos and Jay being there. So how is he?"
"He seems good. He still has a little bit of schooling left and then he will be a vet I guess." Evie started walking again, heading towards the ice cream stand.
"Good for him." Mal stopped and looked up at the menu. "Can I get mint chocolate chip?"
"Cookies and cream for me, please," Evie ordered as well. Mal handed over the money and the girls moved aside to wait for their cones.
"Are him and Jay still close?" Mal asked.
Evie glanced over at a group of kids playing in the fountain, smiling at just how carefree they were. "He said they see each other almost every Saturday. Probably playing Tourney or something."
Mal laughed, "Yeah they were so obsessed with that game."
The girls took their cones as they were offered them before resuming their walk.
"I told him that I would text him and we could all have dinner or something." Evie said, licking her cone. "This is really good."
"Mmm, mine too," Mal smiled, licking her own. "I can't believe we didn't get to grow up with this."
"Yeah we didn't get to grow up with a lot of things." Evie said, sadness in her voice.
"Ooo like chocolate. Or WiFi. Oh and you can't forget Twizzlers. I love those."
"Don't forget strawberries," Evie teased.
"Shut up," Mal laughed. "I regret ever telling you that information."
Evie shifted and bumped her girlfriend with her hip, laughing at her. "Hey it might come in handy at some point."
"Okay can we not discuss the things that turn me on. At least not until we know what turns you on. Okay?" Mal reasoned.
Evie sighed, "Yeah yeah yeah."
"Any ideas on what that might be?" Mal asked, pushing a little.
"Not really. Umm...I've never really thought about it much. You do, I guess. But no food that I know of." Evie shrugged, licking more of her cone. "Besides, we aren't talking about sex, M."
Mal scrunched up her nose, "right." Mal looked at her watch, "we have to go get that little munchkin I claim. Her school closes soon."
"Let's go," Evie smiled as they reached Mal's car.
They had just opened their doors when a voice rang out. "Well look who it is."
Evie spun around, recognizing the voice at once. Her heart sank. "Hi Uma."
"As much as we would love to stay, we have to go get Macie." Mal climbed into the SUV. She had no desire for this conversation. She knew Evie was sensitive when it came to her former lover.
"Dude, chill. I was just saying hi." Uma rolled her eyes. "It's nice to see you two together again. Auradon has been quiet the last few years."
Evie just glared at her. Uma brought out her bad side. She had spent so much energy trying to get everyone to get along when they were younger. But Mal was hers now and she would fight for her.
"How's Harry?" Mal asked with a smirk.
"Shut up, Mal." Uma sniped back.
"Well since we were commenting on relationships, I figured why not bring up yours," Mal shrugged.
"Relationship?" Uma raised her eyebrow. "Are you two actually finally together?"
"Yes, so you can leave now." Evie fought back. She crossed her arms over her chest and started to pout.
"Well it's about damn time." Uma smiled. "For real, that's awesome."
Evie dropped her arms, "really? You're not jealous or going to claim her back?"
Uma laughed. "Seriously? You don't actually think I have feelings for her do you? Please."
"Standing right here, thank you," Mal said, the words stinging a lot. Not that she wanted Uma but it would've felt nice to be wanted a little.
"I've been over you for years, girl." Uma smirked. "I'm happy for you guys." She reaches out her fist and bumped Mal's.
"Thanks?" Mal said as she let her hand drop.
Evie just stood their, not sure what to think.
Uma waved as she walked off, "bye."
"What just happened?" Evie asked.
"I think the sea witch gave us her blessing? Maybe?" Mal looked over at Evie, completely confused before putting the car into drive.
—
"So tell me something no one knows about you," Evie said, laying on the couch. Macie was asleep next to her and Mal was on the other end.
"I can wiggle my eyebrows," Mal shrugged.
"Please, I've known that since like 2 minutes after I met you." Evie rolled her eyes.
"Didn't I lock you in a closet 2 minutes after you met me?" Mal laughed.
"I think it was like 5 minutes," Evie giggled. "That was awful. I could've died."
Mal's face went completely serious, "well that was the plan. You just figured out how to escape. Damn Carlos."
"Your life would've sucked if I had died." Evie told her matter of factly.
"That's true." Mal smiled.
"You still haven't answered my question." Evie told her.
"Ummm, I don't know E. I used to sneak out at night and go sit under the stars, making up stories about them." Mal answered.
"Really?" Evie asked, cocking her head to the side.
Mal nodded, "Yeah, I would wait until you were completely passed out and then I would go out for a couple hours."
"I had no idea."
"That's because you sleep like the dead," Mal scrunched up her nose.
"I do not!" Evie protested.
"Tell me something about you." Mal countered.
"A couple years ago, I found out I was pregnant." Evie told her
Mal perked up a bit at the confession. "Really? What happened?"
"My dealer at the time pushed me down the stairs. I broke my wrist in 3 places. And lost the baby." Evie smiled weakly. It wasn't something she thought about much but she couldn't help wonder.
"I'm sorry, E. That's awful." Mal leaned up a little and took her hand.
"It's in the past." Evie shrugged and changed the subject. "So what happened with you and Ben? You never actually told me."
Mal laughed, "Oh right. Him. Well we were engaged as you know. Belle had the entire wedding planned out. Everyone was preparing for me to be queen. After you walked away, I spiraled out of control. Not with drugs, not yet but with my emotions and anger. I smashed that stupid statue Beast had outside the school. I didn't do any particularly heinous but every single conversation Ben and I had for months ended in screaming. At some point along the way, he realized that the reason I was so emotional was my feelings for you. So he walked away."
"I'm so sorry, M. I never meant to destroy your life." Evie hated how much pain she had caused.
"Seriously it was for the best. We did not belong together. Even before we got engaged, we fought a lot. It was just more private fighting." Mal shifted, careful not to wake up the sleeping kid.
" I get that." Evie replied. "No point in being together if you're miserable."
Mal nodded. "I am sad I didn't get to be queen though. That could've been fun."
"Well I'm a princess so if you marry me, one day you can be queen." Evie reminded her, laughing.
"Oh you have no royal status here," Mal imitated Audrey their first day of school.
"Man you should've gotten rid of her right then. It would've saved us a lot of trouble."
Mal nodded, "definitely."
Evie yawned, "We should probably get to bed. You have work in the morning and I have NA."
Mal stood up and stretched then picked up Macie. "I'll meet you in there." She leaned over and gave Evie a quick kiss before disappearing down the hall.
