Chapter 21 – Epilogue

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With graduation good and done with, Cotillion was a nice cherry on top of the sundae of their high school careers. A lot had changed in the past three years, but Chad was happy for all of it, and glad to celebrate it on the large ocean yacht King Adam had gifted Harry's parents – something that was more for flash and style rather than the usual straightforward practicality of Privateers. Harry, like most of the Privateers, loved the thing, even if they only busted it out for special occasions because it was so seemingly extravagant.

"It's not so bad," he'd sniffed before Uma rolled her eyes and snagged his hand, dragging her grumpy boyfriend out on the dance floor while Gil was having an informal dance off with Jay – and what the blond huntsman-in-training lacked in skill, he made up for in enthusiasm that had the surrounding crowd cheering. He was so cheerful that Jay couldn't seem to hold a grudge – not that he ever did when they had dance offs, because he knew he had plenty of partners to kiss any of his woes better.

It had been pretty amazing when the Enchancian heirs had come to school with them at Auradon Prep. True, most of them came armed with teleportation keys that would take them back to their kingdoms all the way in the north to allow for family visits (or in Gil's case, additional huntsmen training), but they were still present and thriving. Harry and Uma had pretty much taken over the sailing team and led them to three straight years of victory. Gil had given Lonnie, Malvin, and Marsaili a run for their money with the archery team, and Mal and Ruby had bonded splendidly over their love of painting giant murals with the art club. Evie had set up a small side business creating custom gowns and used her hard-worn earnings to spoil her boyfriends and girlfriend, treating Mal to chocolate covered strawberries and Carlos to mystic tomes and Jay to specialized Tourney gear, because the guy turned out to be a natural.

It had been three years since they'd gone from the United States of Auradon to the United States of Enchancia, with Central Auradon reverting back to being just Auradon – all of their kingdoms working together to ensure the continued peace and prosperity of their people. To the northern kingdoms formerly known as Enchancia, Auradon had brought updated technology. To the former United States of Auradon, Enchancia had brought magic legislature and revitalized the practice of magic throughout the land, until those outcasts that had once hidden could now thrive and be embraced as the wonders they were.

It had been three years since Chad and Mal's parents had gotten married, and he loved every moment he got to spend with their extended family. He loved loud family dinners and flights through the Dark Fae territory. He loved seeing his mom and dad in the stands at every one of his Tourney games and swords and shield meets, at every one of Mal's art demos. He loved the commemorative statues they'd built in both Sardinia and the Moors that featured their birth parents, Queen Daniella James and King Stefan Bertha – because they were loved but not forgotten, and while their loss left a firm mark on those that grieved for them, it allowed the opportunity for King Christopher and Queen Maleficent to unite the former Enchancia and Auradon together with the love they shared for their people.

Chad had a family. He had support and love and a boyfriend who was beastly in just the right ways. He had a new title as Gentleman of the Court for Auradon and had proudly received it the same time that Mal had bestowed upon Evie the title of Lady of the Court, because it was always going to be her (Audrey would have fought for it had she been interested, but her focus was on adventures now, often giving Aziz and Lonnie a run for their money while the no-longer-shy Jane cackled on behind her, encouraging her girlfriend's wild ways). Carlos had never expressed an interest in the competition, and Jay knew when he'd been beat, so he'd happily bowed out to cuddle their small boyfriend until he blushed a lovely shade of pink.

The Core Four, people called them. Uma and her two boyfriends had been labeled the Sea Three due to her and Harry's love of water (and Gil's love of them). Dozens of relationships had come and gone in the past four years, but those had been steadfast, unyielding, not unlike Audrey and Jane, who made a lovely visage gliding across the dancefloor, or Aziz and Lonnie, who seemed to have always been destined to be.

The night of Cotillion was spent celebrating with friends and sharing the summer plans they had before they all headed off to college, and while most of them would be attending Auradon University (with its new updated curriculum to cover the northern kingdoms' legislature and functions), for those they'd part ways with, they hugged and treasured and maybe shared a tear or two with. They danced the night away, switching from partner to partner, and when Chad needed a moment to catch his breath, he'd lean against the siderail of the yacht and look out over the calm waters of the ocean, taking in the stars that twinkled high in the sky above him and wonder how he could have ever gotten so lucky as to get a life like this.

"You okay?" Ben slid a comfortable arm around Chad's waist while he settled in beside the blond.

"Yeah," Chad hummed, leaning gratefully into the long line of Ben's side. "I'm just marveling at how good things are right now."

"It is pretty great," Ben agreed, nuzzling against Chad's curls in a familiar pattern that comforted both of them. "Is that the entire reason you're over here?"

Chad sighed, wondering why he ever tried to slip things past Ben, it never worked. "I was thinking," he said, piquing Ben's interest. "You know that thing we've been talking about?"

It took Ben a moment to catch onto what he was referring to, and Chad felt the second he did, the brunette tensing in surprise before he purposefully made himself relax, Ben not wanting to make Chad more anxious with his own expectations – simply sitting back and listening. "Yeah?"

"Well," Chad began, forever grateful for the seemingly limitless wealth of quiet support Ben had for him. "I think it's time. I mean, I think I'm ready, assuming they're even still interested."

"Are you sure?" Ben asked carefully, giving Chad's waist a light squeeze. "There's no pressure either way. You know they're just as happy being your friends."

"I know," Chad agreed, earning a fond smile from his boyfriend. "And this isn't marriage, just-"

"Dating," Ben said, leaning forward and stealing a soft kiss from Chad. When he pulled back, he was smiling. "They'll be happy for the opportunity though, as long as you're sure."

"I'm sure," Chad said, feeling his cheeks flood with a bashful warmth.

"Okay then," Ben said before straightening up, pulling back and waving an arm in Mal's direction. "Hey!"

"What?!" Mal called back, seeming to make a proper nuisance of herself by wrapping around Carlos' back like a determined monkey, something that made the young De Ville both endlessly exasperated and entirely pleased.

"You still interested in dating us?" Ben called, making Chad flush when the entire party seemed to die down, staring at them with wide eyes.

And then Uma was pushing her way through the fray. "I know you meant to ask us too."

"Of course," Ben chirped, making her shoulders relaxed. "But you've got the grace to handle being asked second."

"Damn right I do," Uma said, her ire melting away so she could puff up with pride, the princess snagging Gil's wrist and dragging him over. "Harry?!"

"I'm here!" Harry scrambled from where he'd been across the dancefloor, Jay half a step behind him, both wearing manic grins. "We doing this then?"

"It depends on when Bertha feels like getting over here," Uma drawled. "She sure is taking her sweet time."

"She's in shock," Evie giggled as she glided up to them, not hesitating to lean over and press a kiss against Chad's cheek. "Hiya, handsome."

"Hi, Evie," Chad said, feeling his blush intensify. "Sorry for making you wait."

"You don't have to apologize for shit, blondie," Mal said, dragging a laughing Carlos into their group when it seemed like she'd recovered from her shock. "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times – good things are worth waiting for."

"And you're a good thing," Gil said, sharing a shy look with Carlos. "We're all good things."

"Some might even say great things," Carlos offered bashfully, and he was probably the only one surprised when Mal unceremoniously shoved him into Gil's arms, the blond beaming wide at Carlos' startled squawk.

"Yeah, yeah," Uma said, saddling up to Chad's free side and curling an arm around his waist as well, settling in as though she'd always belonged there, and in a way, Chad was pretty sure she did. "We're all fucking great, and we're going to do some damn amazing things for the world one day."

"Yes we are," Jay agreed as he leaned in for some Ben kisses, Mal doing the same with Chad while Evie bashfully traded nuzzles with Uma, and it certainly wasn't the graduation present Chad had in any way expected, but like everything else that had happened in the past three years, he realized that was entirely, unequivocally, for the best.

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Endnotes:

"She started out as such an ugly duckling, and somehow suddenly became a swan. So happy to be here, 'til now I never knew, it is you I've been dreaming of. This is my idea… of love." 'This is My Idea' from The Swan Princess.

Until next time