Ben woke up with his eight-year-old kneeling on his legs and leaning down over his face. "Dad, who's that man in our living room?" Belle asked as soon as she could see that his eyes were open.
Ben lifted a hand and rubbed his eyes. "Does he have blue hair?" he wondered.
"Yes," Belle nodded. "It's on fire."
Ben sat up and yawned. "That is someone who's come for my help, Belle. I need you to be on your best behavior."
"Does his hair burn him?" Belle wondered.
"Probably not," Ben reasoned.
"Would it burn me?"
"Let's not find out." Ben decided. He picked her up underneath her arms and then set her back down once he had moved his legs. He got up and then nodded at the covers. "Want to help me make my bed?" he asked.
"No," Belle turned her nose into the air and slid off the bed. "One is too many. Why don't we have the maid come to make our beds like Mom does?"
"Because you need to have some chores to keep your body strong," Ben told her. "If Mom did her own chores, she wouldn't be so sick all the time."
Belle huffed. "Well, okay, I'll make my bed, but I won't make yours." She blew her brown hair out of her eyes. "I'm going to go wake up Mom," she decided and headed for the door. "She needs to do my hair."
"Goodbye!" Ben called. He pulled the comforter straight and sighed. it occurred to him that he'd have to get to Audrey and inform her of their… odd guest before she found him and had a panic attack. With that thought in mind, he quickly yanked the pillows into place and then headed for the living room.
Hades was sitting in the living room, looking stiff but alert. Ben offered him a smile and a little wave. "Good morning," he bid him. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did," Hades nodded. "I, uh, didn't know you had a daughter?"
"Yes, I do," Ben nodded. "That's who I thought you were when I walked in last night. Belle."
Hades wrinkled his nose. "You could have named her better," he remarked.
"Family gatherings are a little confusing," Ben admitted with a shrug. "I guess my family just isn't good at naming people. My mom picked Florian for my middle name."
The corner of Hades's mouth crooked up. "My wife - well, ex-wife - picked our daughter's name and I have never forgiven myself on her behalf."
Ben snorted. "Yes, I knew one of the villain kids who had an awful middle name too," he said. Hades gave him an odd ook and it occurred to Ben that he probably didn't know the full story - that Ben had been swiped and then accidentally become the villain's savior. Something to be explained later. He gestured to the door out into the hall. "Well, I am going to go inform the queen you're here before there's a mix-up or anything. Breakfast is usually served in a room down the hall. You can go help yourself. It'll be the one with the open door and all the windows though if you follow your nose you should be able to find it." He began retreating while still talking. "If you can't find it, I or Belle will be out in a moment to show you. Audrey usually takes a while to get ready."
Hades nodded but didn't move. Ben slipped out into the hall and then began to walk down to where Belle's room was. Belle's room still held a mix of bright oranges and pinks in the rug and the lamp and her clothes, among other possessions, but it was now painted a muted beige and held grey and white accents instead of the sensory overload it had been two years ago. Belle loved it, so that was what was important, but Ben could do without all the stickers and pictures she'd hung on her walls.
In Audrey's room, the decor resembled what most of the palace had been before Ben had changed it. Vivid pink and yellow and orange. Ben skirted around Audrey's prized rug and ducked under a bunch of jewels she had hanging from the ceiling - was that really necessary? Her room was overstuffed with furniture she had saved when Ben flipped the palace decorations around and Ben had to lean to avoid the giant pillows stacked precariously atop each other.
Inside the bathroom, Belle was babbling as Audrey carefully combed her hair up into a high ponytail. Both girls were smiling and there was even some color in Audrey's cheeks as she carefully arranged the braid she was tying up into the pony. Ben leaned against the doorframe and watched them chatter. Belle's eyes lit up when she saw him. "Hi dad!" she smiled.
"Hello Belle," he waved and then locked eyes with Audrey as his wife opened a drawer stuffed with hair accessories. "Your hair looks nice."
"Only one," Audrey whispered to Belle. Belle ignored the compliment as she began searching through scrunchies and clips. She folded her arms across herself and closed her eyes in discomfort or pain. Ben stepped further into the bathroom and slipped his arm around her. His hand landed in the small of her back to support her as she took a deep, steadying breath. "My body is betraying me," she laughed, leaning back into his touch. Ben made sure not to let his expression change at all.
"I think my favorite color is pink today," Belle mused as she shuffled past a diamond-encrusted claw clip. "Actually, no, it's purple. Do you have anything with polka dots?"
Audrey leaned forward to withdraw a vibrant purple scrunchie with pink polka dots. Belle nodded happily and Audrey began wrapping the velvet scrunchie into her daughter's hair. Ben watched the purple in her hands and felt himself falling into a little trance. Then, he remembered what he'd come to say.
"We have a visitor," he announced. "I just want you to know so you don't… get confused or anything."
"From the kingdoms?" Audrey asked.
"Mom, he's got blue hair!" Belle exclaimed happily.
"Oh, I see," Audrey smiled and put her hands on Belle's shoulders. "He and dad must be exchanging fashion advice!" She poked Belle's sides and the little girl squealed and shrieked. Audrey laughed with her.
"Belle?" Ben asked when Audrey had let up tickling their daughter. "Why don't you run and show him where the food is? I don't want him to get lost." Belle nodded, leaned up to kiss Audrey's cheek, and then scurried out of the room. Audrey's smile faded as Belle left. She picked up her hairbrush in the absence of any conversation and then began combing through her hair. Ben cleared his throat. "I know what this is going to look like to you, and so I just need you to know about him before you go out there," he told her. "He, uh, has come for help and I'm going to help him."
"Of course you are," Audrey nodded. "You always help everyone."
"This is a little different," Ben sighed. "He's… looking for his daughter. I'll be seeing him off later today. He, uh, has an interesting backstory."
Audrey paused in brushing her hair. "Interesting?" she asked.
Ben took her hand and pulled her a little closer so he didn't have to talk as loud. He doubted the sound could reach out of the room with all the overcrowding out there, but it just felt like something that should be whispered instead of said. "Audrey, it's Hades. He's just come from the Isle of the Lost and he's looking for the kids that left the Isle a few years ago."
Audrey's eyes grew wide. "But he - the barrier!" She squawked.
"He broke it to come looking for her. But it's okay! Everything's under control! We know where they are and we're going to send him off after breakfast."
"You know where those kids went?" Audrey demanded. "The ones Chad was talking about?"
"You were listening?" Ben blinked in surprise.
"Ben!"
"I'm sorry! I just-" he took a deep breath. "Yes, I know where those kids went. They also came for me to help. Or, well, they brought me to - it doesn't matter! Yes, I know where they are."
"You didn't tell me?" Audrey shrieked.
"It was back before you were working in office!" Ben snapped. He brought his hands up to his face to momentarily block her out and then took a deep breath. "Listen, we're going to get the barrier fixed… Hades is going to go this afternoon and then I promise everything will be okay. I just need to not call the guards on him or insult him for one morning."
"Hades," Audrey deadpanned. "The God of the Underworld who tried to destroy the world."
"Don't call the guards." Ben leveled a finger to her nose. "And don't insult him."
Audrey rolled her eyes.
Breakfast was almost boring. Ben had to rush Belle out halfway through so she could get her school clothes on. She came back and gave a twirl and Ben caught Hades staring at her wistfully. Audrey snuck into the dining room after she was dressed, ignored Hades and Ben, kissed Belle's head, and then disappeared towards the spa. It was Monday, the only day Ben will let the spa attendant come in anymore, and so he knew he wouldn't see her until tomorrow morning.
A message came that the carriage Ben had requested was now prepared and out in front.
"I'll have to walk Belle down to the bus stop soon," he told Hades. "But let's go down to my office and I'll write you a letter to show people in charge of the Villain Kid's territory so you can prove I sent you over. That way, if you get stopped on the road, you won't be arrested and brought back either."
Ben's office was left exactly the way he'd shut it down yesterday. His seat was cold from the breeze coming through the window. The papers on his were a bit moist. Ben sat down and began searching for a piece of cold stationery. Hades began to examine a map of Auradon hanging on the wall behind him.
"They're out past Arendelle," Ben supplied, testing a pen out on a sticky note.
"You have it marked," Hades agreed. "VK Hideaway."
"It had a nice ring."
Hades examined the map several more seconds and then turned to look over Ben's shoulder. It appeared both of them were at a loss of what to say as Ben addressed the letter "To Whom It May Concern."
"I, uh, have you figured out how to fix the barrier?" Hades asked.
"No," Ben shook his head. "But we'll have to soon. I don't want anyone bad getting out. You're fine, but there are a few people I wouldn't necessarily want to have show up on my doorstep."
"I get it," Hades agreed. "But there are some people like me over there. Lots of parents pushed their kids to go, even knowing they'd never see them again."
Ben paused. He tried to imagine never, ever being able to see Little Belle again. Then, with a swallow, he found his voice again. "That's rough," he said. "I'll have to do something about that. Thank you for bringing it to my attention."
Hades looked confused. "You know," he sighed. "It's a lot harder to hate you when you realize that you're not a bad guy. I know a great lot of people out on that island who'd kill you right now without a second thought." He turned back to the map and started tracing the VK spot with his fingertip.
"Glad to see I'm liked," Ben sighed, running a hand through his hair. He was about halfway through his letter. "There are some people out on that island I'm terrified to meet, though. I mean, imagine if Maleficent had escaped. If she's anything like her daughter in terms of power, Auradon would have been history."
Hades stopped and looked at Ben curiously. "The daughter of Maleficent?" he asked slowly.
"Her name is Mal." Ben looked up and tilted his head to the side as he talked. "Very powerful young lady. She once told me she could use some magic through the barrier. She's the protector of the encampment now."
"Ah," Hades nodded and a little smile spread across his mouth. "Good to hear."
Ben turned back to his letter. "She's not against Auradon, luckily for us. But goodness, if Maleficent came for us, that'd be-"
"What's that?" Hades cut Ben off, staring out the open window. Ben turned and followed his gaze. Out over the treeline, a thick green fog was approaching. Ben got to his feet.
"I have no idea," he admitted. Dread pooled in his stomach.
"Maleficent," Hades's hands dropped to his side. "You spoke of the devil, and she appeared."
"Oh my…" A sound like white noise filled Ben's ears. "Audrey!" He dropped his pen and ran for the door. Hades kept close behind him.
"Where would Belle have gone?" He demanded in a yell.
"Probably her room to wait for me!" Ben responded. Hades nodded and hurried away. Ben dashed towards the spa as the castle shook. Green smoke clouded at the windows and began to seep in through the open ones. It smelled tart and burnt at the same time. Ben held his breath, fearing it might be something that would knock him out, but nothing happened.
He burst into the spa room and discovered Audrey sitting up in a chair, looking confused as she squinted suspiciously at the smoke outside the exposed window. A bathrobe was drawn over her and she was dressed in slacks and a pink shirt. Her feet were bare. When she saw the smoke seeping into the room behind him, she gasped. "What is that?" she demanded.
"Maleficent!" Ben gasped, rushing forward and grabbing her hand. "We need to get out. You need to get out."
The spa attendant rushed out, covering her face with a wet towel. Ben pulled Audrey by the hand to the hall. Audrey didn't resist, but she wasn't moving very fast. "But - Belle!" she sputtered.
"She's going to be outside, don't worry!" Ben shouted. They began to run down the hall together, but before they'd even transversed ten feet Audrey had to grab the wall for support. Her face was deathly pale as she clutched at her ribs.
"I can't run!" she gasped.
"You and your-" Ben almost threw his hands into the air. Around the corner, in the entrance hall, there was a loud bang. Maniacal laughter filled the area. Audrey's face went even paler.
"I'm back!" Maleficent cackled from the entryway. "Where are you?"
A hand appeared on Ben's shoulder. He turned and discovered Hades quietly ushering him back towards the family rooms. Without a second thought, Ben scooped Audrey up into his arms, ignoring her little cry as he forced her body to curl up a bit, and they headed into the living room that was attached to the master. Just in time as Maleficent entered the hall and began to search through rooms.
Hades guided them into Ben's bedroom, where the window was open. Belle sat beside the open window with the screen on the ground, clutching Molly the Doll with her backpack set on both shoulders securely. Ben leaned out the window and discovered Audrey's hideous mountain of pillows had somehow appeared under the window. He assumed Hades's godly magic had had something to do with that.
"Let's get out," Hades decided, picking up Belle.
"What about Maleficent?" Ben asked. "Could you take her?"
Hades let out a laugh. "Until that woman dies, I've got nothing," he said. He climbed up on the railing and cuddled Belle close to him before leaning out. Audrey shrieked and leaned towards the window. Ben winced, but no one appeared. Down below, Hades and a now-crying Belle rolled safely off the mountain. Ben took Audrey's hand and made to help her up.
"I'm not going down there!" Audrey declared, leaning away from the window. Her hands were pressed to her back, trying to give herself additional support.
"It's either get down and get to the carriage in front or meet your mother's enemy, who'd probably love to see you anyways," Ben snapped. Audrey pinched her lips together and allowed herself to be helped up. tears started to roll down her cheeks as she was forced to use her back and ribs for balance. It only took a second, then she, too, fell.
Ben put one foot on the windowsill and started to lean up. He heard a door slam somewhere in the palace. "Oh, Princey!" Maleficent called, louder than she should be allowed to be from such a distance. "Where are you? I need your help! You have something I need!"
Something she needed? What? She was out of the barrier… the scepter she had been allowed to keep on the Isle, he knew that. Her spellbook was with Mal - oh. Mal.
The villain kids. What if she went after them?
He had their location in his office.
Ben put his feet back on the ground. Hades finished helping Audrey up and looked up for him. Ben gestured for them to go and then dashed back into the palace. He ducked behind the couch, barely hiding his feet behind the blanket basket when Maleficent appeared in the doorway.
She was both a lot larger and a lot smaller than Ben would have thought. He'd never seen the mistress of all evil but had imagined her to be taller than Mal. On the contrary, she was even shorter than her daughter. Her horns were adorned with rusty chains. Her cloaks billowed out around her as she walked. And she held a set of features eerily similar to the ones that had haunted his dreams. That same thin nose. That same slip of pink mouth. The sparkling, power-filled eyes.
Maleficent went into the bedroom and as soon as her back was turned, Ben made a run for it. She didn't seem to notice him leaving as he disappeared into the thick fog. He hit the hallways and dashed down to his office before grabbing the map Hades had been admiring off the wall and tearing it down. The mount it had been hanging on fell with a clatter. Ben ripped open desk drawers, knowing he didn't have much time, and grabbed a heavy booklet marked "VK's". Then, before he left, he grabbed the mostly-finished letter he'd written for Hades. And it was these things he made off with from his office.
He escaped through the front entry as Hades was finishing shoving Audrey into the carriage and putting Belle into her arms. A terrified coachman sat with shaking hands as Ben sprinted down the steps and practically threw everything into the carriage. Hades jumped in and Ben grabbed the handle beside the door as the carriage began to move. Hades yanked him the rest of the way in.
"Oh, gods," Audrey began to cry as he sat down beside her. She leaned her head into his arms and began to weep. Belle, too, was sobbing and squeezing her doll.
"Tell the carriage driver that we're still going to the same place," Ben told Hades, pulling Audrey and Belle up and into his lap together. Audrey didn't weigh much, so it wasn't an issue.
"Where are we going?" Audrey hiccuped, wiping her eyes while burying her face into Ben's chest.
"The VK Hideaway," Ben responded softly. "I know a person… she might be the only person who can stop Maleficent."
Audrey was too devastated and shocked and in pain to talk to Ben on the way there. It was only long after they passed Charmington that she was able to curl out of his side. The road wasn't as treacherous as before since Ben had ended up repaving the roads all the way out to VK Territory. Now, you could move faster.
Belle slowly came back to herself, occupying her time with caring for Molly and talking with Hades while her mom sat in numb silence and her dad tried to comfort her. She didn't understand why they had left so suddenly, what had happened at the castle, or why they couldn't go back at the moment.
Audrey broke her silence on the second day of traveling. "Ben, did you ever go for a meeting to the VK's?"
Hades glanced over. It was clear he, too, was interested in the response.
"Sort of," Ben replied with a shrug. "I met them when they first came to Auradon. I stayed with them for two months while they relocated to the west. They'd previously taken up refuge in Chad's kingdom."
"How many?" Audrey asked.
"About two hundred when I met them," Ben responded. "But… some of the kids were older. They might have some new children now." He turned around to glance at Belle, curled up on the floor with Molly. "Maybe Belle will be able to make some new friends."
Audrey ran her hands through her hair, which looked stringy and greasy. It was probably the first time in her life she hadn't changed her clothes in twelve hours. "What are we going to do about Maleficent?"
Ben drummed his fingers on his legs. He closed his eyes and Mal's image appeared behind his eyelids, unbidden. "I'll have to ask the VK's for help. There's one person in particular who I know could take out Maleficent. I just have to ask her."
"Her daughter?" Hades asked softly.
"She has a daughter?" Audrey yelped, spinning to face Ben.
Ben nodded. "She's nice, though. It'll be okay."
"She's going to hate me," Audrey whimpered. "She won't agree."
Ben chewed on his cheek. He technically considered himself and Mal to have parted on equal terms but knew she wouldn't consider it the same. Maybe, with a bit of imploring and the sake of her own life and people on end, he could convince her to help him win back Auradon? She might not be able to take out the faery on her own, but with the added forces of Auradon and-
"Dad, I want to go home," Belle moaned from the floor. "We've been in here forever!"
Ben leaned down and picked her up. She kicked his leg lightly to further express her disgust and then fell, sullen, against his chest. "We're almost there," he whispered. "We can't go home yet, but we'll get some help and then we will."
There was a barrier that had been erected at the borders of Arendelle. It was mostly transparent unless you were at the base of it, which Ben and everyone were. Then, it became bright green and looked like it had been made of glass. Audrey began to huff in fear when she saw the color. She had been sleeping restlessly since leaving the castle and Ben knew seeing something so similar to the fog wasn't going to help her nerves at all. Belle, too, looked scared.
Hades cleared his throat as the carriage wheeled closer to the barrier. "Listen, kid, I know what I told you about my daughter, and that was all true. However, with this new development with Maleficent… I don't know if she'll want to see me or let anyone know I'm her dad. So just… lie low for me, please? I'm going to try and find her… rebuild with her if she wants to try."
A normal person would have been suspicious, but Ben nodded. "Okay," he agreed.
The coachman stopped the carriage. Deep bags were under his eyes and his hands still shook from the fear of having Maleficent pass him by. He'd taken them straight to the Westlands, not even pausing except for to feed the horses and close his eyes, and seemed rather eager to get inside this new barrier and to safety.
Ben got out and helped Belle down. Hades followed and then a very sick-looking Audrey stepped down with his help. Then, everyone gathered around to see what to do. Belle clung to his leg. No one seemed content to touch the barrier and even Ben didn't know if it was spelled to shock them back or anything. He got on top of the coachman's seat and peered through the thick green to see what was behind it. In the not-so-far distance, he could see a building. This building was made of grey cement and white stone and rose high up above the trees with a metal pole added to the top for extra height. A lookout tower. And though it was still a fair distance away, he could see no one on it.
"There's no one on the tower," Ben informed the group. "We'll have to chance touching the barrier or just wait for someone to-"
There was a sound like an asteroid falling and something slammed into the ground just inside the barrier. Dust was thrown up and pebbles ricocheted through the magic sphere, raining down on their group. Audrey shrieked and Belle yelled and began to cry. Through the settling dust, Ben saw two glowing green eyes.
He got off the coachman's seat.
The coachman was trembling, crouched behind one of the wheels. Audrey took Ben's arm and hid behind it. Without really meaning to, he brushed her off and stepped closer to the barrier.
The dust faded and he saw purple.
Mal's eyes were squinted into a glare as she dusted herself off and stepped up to the barrier, so close he could smell her. Leather and magic and - oh, he was drooling again. Even after all this time.
She was unfairly beautiful. Time had blessed her - she had curves that she hadn't had before and her skin was softer and more supple than before. Her hair was longer, falling down her back now in tiny natural curls and a darker purple than he remembered. He could see her personality had changed too. She no longer barked at them to explain why they were here or glowered at them with her presence. Instead, she glanced at the carriage, then focused on him.
His prepared words about what he was doing were suddenly lost. "Hey Mal," he murmured instead. His knees felt weak.
"Ben," Mal said in reply. "I saw you coming."
"I saw your perch," Ben replied. "You've upgraded."
Mal shifted her weight and sighed. "What is this, Ben? Are you coming for a visit? We don't need your help anymore."
Ben had to swallow - his mouth felt very dry. "I was… that's not why we came."
"Excuse me?" Audrey peeped up from behind Ben. Ben almost jumped out of his skin - he'd forgotten she was there. She came back up and slipped an arm through his before laying her head on his shoulder. "I'm very sorry… we don't mean to intrude but there's been an emergency. We could really use the Villain Kid's help."
Mal stared at Audrey like she couldn't comprehend her existence. Ben felt Audrey put her hand in his for support. She squeezed and he squeezed back. This didn't seem like one of her jealous ploys - she was just lost and confused.
Mal leaned to see behind Ben. She choked. "Hades?" she demanded, going pale.
Ben didn't see Hades's response. He was too busy focusing on Audrey's hand in his.
Belle stayed beside the wagon with the coachman, who'd started peeping out from behind the wheel, and continued crying. Ben slowly let go of Audrey's hand to go and pick up his sobbing eight-year-old. Mal recoiled upon seeing the child but was still sputtering over Hades's presence. "What is he - she's your-" she sputtered, trying to make sense of the questions she wanted to ask.
"Hades accidentally broke the barrier to the Isle of the Lost while trying to escape to see his daughter again," Ben explained. "Your mother escaped behind him. We need your help, Mal."
"My mother?" Mal demanded. Her eyes grew even wider. Audrey went stiff upon having the girl's identity revealed. She leaned back in fear.
"She attacked the palace," Ben explained softly, letting Belle ball her fists up in his shirt as she cried. "We escaped and we spent two days coming here. Please, Mal, we need help."
Audrey reached out and her hand passed through the barrier. She took Mal's hand. Mal looked almost afraid of the other woman. "Please, miss," Audrey begged Mal. "Talk with us. Let us explain everything. But please, don't shut us out here. Maleficent took the palace… my mother and his were probably next. We just need a little help before we'll be on our way again, and we won't bother you anymore."
If Ben were Mal, the last thing he'd want to do would be to see Audrey. To hear her. To know what she looked like. The fact he was holding Belle probably wasn't helping things. Mal looked like she was about to have an aneurysm. He chewed on his lip as he glanced back and forth between the two girls. Mal caught his eyes in one glance and it was as if he was frozen in time, watching his whole world fall apart.
Then Mal pulled her hand away from Audrey's and flicked her fingers. The barrier opened. Audrey lifted her hands to her cheeks as tears began to fall. "Thank you!" she cried, wiping pearlescent tears off of immediately-inflamed cheeks. Ben squeezed Belle closer as Mal stepped aside to clear a path for Audrey to walk in. She did, but stopped just inside the barrier and held her hand out for Ben. Without a lot of choices, Ben stepped close enough to take her hand as Hades entered the barrier. Mal let her eyes flit over the God of the Underworld. He examined her as well, looking a little deflated, before continuing up a path that Ben hadn't realized had appeared behind Mal. The coachman finally appeared from behind the wheel and with a "wait for me!", dashed up the path behind Hades to safety.
Ben stepped inside last. Belle squeezed his shirt even harder as they passed through the barrier and he kissed her head to reassure her. Mal watched every movement and then fell behind him and Audrey as they walked. He wanted to turn around - to say something. No words came to mind, but he listened to her every deep breath all the way up the path.
They walked in through Uma's sector. Ben could tell which one it was by the teal signs marking roads. The place seemed just as busy as when he'd first left, only nicer. They reached the city center, which was marked by a large pavilion, and Ben was able to examine the differences between the three parts. Uma's sector was paved with dirt and textured brown stones and was wider for carts to fit through. Her signs were teal and the buildings made of wood, metal, and even some glass. Evie's streets were paved with brick and were thinner - probably because the brick cost more. Flowers were planted on the wayside and her signs were blue. Brick houses and white stuccos buildings made up her houses. And in Mal's section, there were hard and durable black roads and purple directional signs. Her buildings were all decorated in shades of grey, light blue, and light green stucco with rock accents. The tallest, thinnest building that stood in the center was probably hers. It was the one he'd seen from the road.
"This is incredible," He murmured. "You turned things around."
Mal didn't meet his eyes. "About time you saw it," she mumbled. "It's all thanks to you."
"Mal!" Someone called from the left. Ben looked over and his face lit up to see Uma walking towards them. She'd chopped her hair short and it was curled with white and yellow highlights in it. She wore pants with fishlike scales up the sides and a light cotton shirt. She was marching over with purpose, but when she recognized Ben, she stopped in her tracks.
"Uma!" Ben exclaimed, letting go of Audrey's hand and going to hug her. Uma was stiff, staring past Ben towards Mal in shock. Still, she patted his back and returned the hug.
"Ben!" she squeaked, sounding more shocked than anything. "You're back! What happened?"
Ben saw Audrey fold her arms across her chest out of the corner of his eye. Oh, dear. Luckily, Mal stepped forward. "Trouble in Auradon," she informed Uma. "The King came to inform me that my mother paid him a visit."
"Maleficent?" Uma asked.
"The king?" Ben raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
Mal ignored Ben and focused on Uma. Given what she could be feeling at the moment, he couldn't blame her. "They've come to stay safe and get help. We're going to figure out what to do."
"Does he know…" Uma stuck a finger at Ben's cheek.
"Do I know-" Ben began to repeat the question, but Mal cut him off.
"We'll have to set up defenses. If you're not busy, you should go tell Carlos." Her eyes turned a little green and she shook her head a little at Uma. A secret then. Hopefully not anything bad. Uma started to back away. Ben grabbed her arm.
"Hang on," he requested. "You're one of the leaders. Let's get Evie and we four - five, actually, with Audrey - can discuss everything."
Uma chuckled uneasily. "Sorry, your majesty, but uh… I chose not to be part of leadership proceedings anymore. It took up too much time and I, well…" she held up her left hand. A ring sparkled on her fourth finger. "I decided I had different goals."
"You and Harry?" Ben asked with a smile. Uma nodded. "Congratulations! You didn't invite me to the wedding?"
"They didn't invite anyone," Mal explained, focusing on a point over Ben's shoulder, in Evie's sector. "They just moved in together and told everyone that they were married."
"Ah, I see," Ben nodded and then turned to gesture Audrey forward. "Uma, I believe you know about Audrey?"
Uma blinked slowly at Audrey, looked at Mal, looked down at Ben's hand where a new wedding band sat, silver and devoid of decoration, and then let out a long slow breath. Then, she stuck out a hand to Audrey. "Nice to meet you, your majesty," she bid with a tight, uncomfortable smile. "I'm Uma, daughter of Ursula."
Audrey looked paler than normal as she shook Uma's hand. Ben used the distraction to look over his shoulder and see what Mal was staring at. She'd started doing things with her eyes - glaring and flicking them as if she were trying to signal someone. Behind him, at the start of the red brick roads, was Jay. Jay's mouth was open as his eyes flit between Audrey, Ben, and Belle. When he realized Ben had seen him, he leaped away and took off in a sprint down the roads of Evie's sector.
"I, uh, got some places to be now," Uma said, backing away. "Gonna go find Carlos… be right back." And she spun around and took off in a speed-walk.
Something was up.
"Ben, what are we gonna do?" Audrey asked, pressing a hand to her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't… I can't walk anymore."
"Go sit at the pavilion," Mal nodded to the covered benches. "Take Ben and Belle with you. I need to… I need to run and check on something quickly. I'll bring water back… just take a seat.
Ben helped Audrey to the benches and set Belle down beside her. He watched Mal vanish down the black-paved streets and into the crowds of people. Then he took a seat beside his wife and daughter.
Audrey was pressing her hands to her ribs and taking deep breaths. "I… don't think I can do this, Ben," she whispered. "I left all my pain stuff at the palace when we left."
"Maybe Evie will have something," Ben whispered back. "She used to brew potions with her mom. She's another one of the leaders unless she bowed out too. He looked across the courtyard - their coachman had vanished, but Ben wasn't worried for him. He'd probably found a nice place to fall asleep or found someone to ask for help. Hades had vanished too… he was probably looking for his daughter.
"Ben," Audrey whispered, grinding her teeth at his side. "What are we gonna do?"
"We're gonna get help," Ben whispered. "Mal and Evie are going to help us. And when this is all over, we'll go back to the palace and everything will be the same."
Audrey keeled forward even more. "I can't… I hurt, Ben. I'm not the same as I used to be."
"You just need to use your muscles a little more and then-"
"Look at me, Ben!" Audrey exploded. "I can't run - I can barely walk! I've been sitting for two days and now it hurts to stand! I haven't been the same since Belle was born and no amount of exercise or fresh air will change that!" At her name, Belle looked up, unsure and afraid.
Ben pulled her away from Audrey and kissed her head. "Mom and dad need to talk for a moment," he whispered, then pointed to a group of small kids playing in the grass near Evie's area. "Go say hi to them. Ask them to play. Be dad's big, brave girl."
Belle nodded, wiped the last of her tears away, then turned and trudged away. Audrey looked tense - she didn't want her daughter to play with the villain kids but also knew things were about to get ugly. Ben put his hands together as she walked away. "I can't go back to the palace now," he told her. "But I'll try and keep you away as much as I can. But maybe this will be good. You've been wasting away for almost ten years… this will help you start building up strength."
"I don't need strength, Ben!" Audrey snapped. "My body is broken… you just want to believe you can fix everything with sunshine and fresh air and kindness, Ben. Well, you know what, you can't fix this by pushing on it more."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with you," Ben replied. "The doctors all say you need more exercise. You haven't done anything since she was born and you've been letting yourself waste away in that stupid spa…"
"The spa helped!" Audrey hissed. "At least I wasn't in pain all the time! You came home and began ripping everything out, stressing me out even more, and you wanted me to do all those new things-"
"Oh, you have to see Belle for at least five minutes every day, boo-hoo," Ben snapped back. He couldn't even find it in himself to be gentle or understanding. "She was a disaster and you know it. Our family was a disaster. We were dysfunctional."
Audrey balled her fists up. "It wasn't just…" she sputtered. "You made me move out of our room and you shut down my spa and then you kept butting into my time… don't put this all on me - it's your fault too!"
"Audrey, you had me set up appointments to see you!" Ben snapped. His voice was rising to a roar and people had glanced over. "I didn't get married in hopes my wife would want to see me every other year. You hadn't seen me in three months when I came back! Three months! I don't even know if you'd looked at Belle while I was gone - you kept shoving her off to the nanny! And sure, I was gone doing king stuff, but part of that is still your fault because you spent all your time in that stupid room pampering yourself instead of helping me rule. Shame on me for letting you."
"Of course I looked at Belle!" Audrey scowled. Tears were starting to pool in her eyes. "Of course I did! I'm her mother - don't you think I love her?"
"Hopefully not the way you love me," Ben scowled.
"Ben?" someone asked. Ben's head snapped to the right. His eyes were burning and the person who'd addressed him flinched back. It was Carlos. He stared at Ben, looked at Audrey, and then let out a long breath. "Oh… wow." It wasn't admiration. It was fear.
"Carlos," Ben took a deep breath and forced a smile. "We need your help. Mal said to ask you to set up defenses."
"You've seen Mal?" Carlos asked. His eyes flit back to Audrey.
"She let us in," Ben explained.
Carlos let out another breath.
"Is something wrong?" Ben asked.
Carlos began to back away again. "I-I'm sorry Ben. I'm just going to go and, uh, put some plans together for - for - yeah." He turned and sprinted away faster than Ben had seen him move before.
"Furthermore," Audrey huffed beside him, crossing her arms. "You haven't been absolutely amazing yourself. You load chores on Belle and work on me, force her to help you in your office, and-"
"Something's wrong," Ben cut her off. He was glancing around at the villain kids. Many of them he recognized. Many were staring at him, staring at Audrey, and looking sick. Many were whispering. Many were worried.
Could it be about how they were worried that he'd come back? Or who Audrey was?
"Ben-" Audrey started to call for him.
"I have to go find Mal - I'll be right back," Ben decided, turning and leaning down to kiss her cheek. "I swear I shouldn't be longer than five minutes… I need to ask her what's going on with everyone. Just stay here - Carlos will be back soon and Belle needs a supervisor."
"Mal?" Audrey blinked. "Will you be alone with her? Just stay here - she'll be back soon."
"And for the record," Ben held up his fingers as if plotting points on a line. "I never kicked you out of our room. I would have rather you stayed. I only said I was going to be back in the master room. You were the one who decided I wouldn't be able to keep my hands to myself and left, even though we're married. And Belle needed a parent in her life because she was turning into a tyrant - goodness knows you weren't going to step up. I put chores on Belle because they're good for her and the 'work' you have is filling out paperwork for the law. As queen, you're responsible for helping with it. I balanced it all for eight years, so you have no excuse." He ran a hand through his hair. "We'll talk more about this later - I need to find Mal."
"Ben!" Audrey struggled to her feet. Ben put a hand on the pavilion support pole and waited as she fumbled for the right words. "What about… what are we going to do? Where are we going to stay?"
"I'll ask Mal," Ben promised her. "If Evie happens to show up while I'm gone, ask her. She can help too." And he turned and left.
People stared and turned away wherever he went. Even little kids stopped to point at him with downcast and worried expressions. Whereas before, he would have been bombarded, now he was only uneasily regarded. He watched one mother press a panicked hand to her forehead as he passed.
He went into Mal's section, up to the long and thin building where he suspected she'd be. Her sector was kinda nice… it had grass and benches and kids sitting and playing on the grass. Ben smiled to see young mothers with new babies and continued walking towards the building. He was still far away, though in earshot, when the door opened and he stopped in his tracks.
Mal appeared, glancing around cautiously, and then locked the door behind her. In one hand was a water bottle with a handle. In one arm was a baby. A tiny little boy with blondish-brown hair who was dressed in purple. He was still small, looking around at the bright colors of the world as it moved, but old enough to hold his head up while Mal balanced him against her side.
How old was he? Not too old… Belle had been able to hold her head up at five months though she'd been a little late. This baby was also much bigger and probably older… he looked like he might be able to crawl and was clutching a rattle in his hand. Maybe about ten months old, then. Belle had been able to grab things by nine months, but not hold onto them until she was a little older. Ten months old and, counting backward, there were nine months in a gestation period and he had been gone for a little over nineteen months.
Uma appeared. She reached out for the baby. Mal handed him over. They exchanged whispers, anxious looks, and then Mal glanced in the direction of the pavilion. Her eyes landed on Ben before she'd even finished passing Uma the baby, presumably so Uma could care for him while Mal went back to the pavilion. He watched her mouth form the words "oh no". Uma looked up. Both girls stared at him from something like thirty feet away while Ben took in the sight.
A child dressed in purple with brown hair. His hair. A boy child. His son.
Ben ran a hand through his hair and turned away. Everyone's panicked and shocked expressions suddenly made sense, he thought as he wandered back to the pavilion. Belle rushed past with a group of kids, laughing and clutching Molly the Doll to her chest. She had a brother. He had a son.
Audrey stopped him when he got close enough. "Ben?" She asked. "Ben, what did she say?"
"Listen, Audrey," Ben took her hands, squeezed them, and closed his eyes. She would have to be told. He had to come clean. "Listen, honey, I don't want to talk right now, but I swear we'll work everything out soon. Everything will be okay." He released one hand to run it down her cheek.
"Wait, Ben!" Audrey frowned. "What's going on? What did she say? We still have things to figure out."
"Audrey, please, I need some time."
"Ben, I need at least a few answers! What are we going to do? Where are we going to stay? How are we going to feed Belle?"
Ben put a finger to her lips. His world felt very loud. All he could think about was the crushing guilt on his shoulders and the baby that he'd seen with Mal. His son.
"I need time," Ben whispered to Audrey, and then wandered past her, back out to the woods to think.
To clarify, yes, Ben is in shock.