Ben and Mal sat there just looking at each other for a few minutes before Mal had to look away. She could feel herself falling for the King all over again. She never stopped loving him but she could feel the feelings growing the more time she spent around him, she just wasn't sure where their relationship stood at the moment. "So I wanted to ask you something." Ben said with a shy smile. Nodding her agreement Mal couldn't help but think he looked even more handsome with that smile.
"Okay." Ben stated, the tone of voice he was using immediately gaining Mal's attention. "So if this gets a little bit much please just tell me and I'll stop okay?" He asked. Once more Mal nodded and Ben let out a breath before talking. "So, the past four years have literally been hell for me Mal. I didn't know if you were dead or alive, I didn't know where you had gone or why you had left and that hurt. But I think it hurt more because I loved you. I still do love you Mal, I never stopped. Since I found you I feel like you've given me back a part of me that was missing. I feel complete when I'm with you Mal." The King ranted. "My question is, if you still care about me will you be my girlfriend once more?" He asked.
Mal sat there shocked, she had no idea what to say to him. It was like her prayers had come true. "Ben..." She started to say but had to stop because tears gathered in her eyes and they were threatening to fall. Clearing her throat Mal was finally able to get a hold on her emotions. "Ben, of corse I still love you, I always have and I think I always will." She told him. "So yes. I would be honored to be your girlfriend again."
The King couldn't contain his smile if he tried. It spread across his face in a second and he simply didn't care. He pulled his girlfriend in for a hug, but he knew there was something else he had to tell her as well. "There's one more thing." He said and Mal pulled away from him slightly so she could look at him while he was talking. "I just thought you should know, since your coming back to Auradon, that you are still my Lady of the Court."
"What! How is that possible!? I've been gone for four years!" The purplette exclaimed as she moved completely out of Ben's embrace.
Ben felt bad for dropping this bomb on her but she needed to know so she wasn't ambushed in Auradon. "After you left the Council tried to convince me to renounce your title and have another girl as my Lady of the Court but I couldn't. I felt like by doing that I would be admitting that you were never coming back. It felt like I was giving up on you and I couldn't do that." The brunette explained. "I swear you won't have to deal with any of that until you are settled and ready. Please don't let that put you off of coming home."
Chuckling Mal gently took hold of Ben's hands. "Calm down Ben. I'm still coming home." She stated. "I just got you back, it's going to take something a lot more than still being Lady of the court to get rid of me this time." She said laughing. "I love you, Ben." The purplette said.
"I love you too, Mal." Ben responded without even a seconds thought.
The brunette King was able to place his signet ring back in it's rightful place, Mal's finger, and share a quick kiss with Mal before their happy bubbles was broken by the sound of excited squeals. "Mommy! Benny! Help! The tickle monster is going to get me!" Belle exclaimed as she ran into the living room and jumped onto their laps.
Seconds later Malice entered the room, a mischievous smile on his face. "Now I wonder where that little girl went?" He wondered out loud, causing Belle to giggle as she slipped behind Mal and Ben in an attempt to hide. "Miss Mal, Mr Ben, have you seen a little brunette girl running around? The tickle monster would very much like to meet her." Malice said to his twin and the King. The pair laughed at the blonde/purple haired man in front of them.
"No Mr Tickle Monster I'm afraid we haven't." Ben responded. "Would you like to check behind us?" He asked.
With a smile Ben and Mal stood up causing Malice to swoop forward and tickle the three year old, who's laughter filled the entire house and filtered out into the garden. As Mal watched her twin brother tickle and play with her daughter and she felt Ben wrap his arm around her waist Mal knew three things. One, she was a complete idiot for leaving and hurting them the way she did, two, she would never tire of the sight of her daughter bonding with the other important people in her life, and three, this was her family and this was where she and Belle belonged. The purplette couldn't help but think that maybe things could be how they used to be, with the addition of her daughter obviously. Maybe her life could be back to 'normal' and she wouldn't have to worry about him but she doubted she would be able to avoid him forever. She knew she would have to face him sooner or later and she would have to come clean to her family. But as she heard her daughter laughing she pushed thoughts thoughts away. They weren't important right now.
Author's Note: Hope you like this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think x