Life couldn't be any better for those who decided to embrace everything Auradon had to offer them.

Once he moved out of the boy's dormitory, Chad fully enjoyed living with his grandmother in her massive mansion. His aunts, Anastasia and Drizella, and their children lived in their own separate houses just down the same street. Lady Tremaine's grandchildren, mainly Anthony and Dizzy, would visit her home every now and then, but that still left a long time alone in the empty home. With Chad now living with her, it was like a new life could begin. She certainly wasn't lonely with Dude the dog as her companion every day until Chad came home.

Along with his new living situation, Chad's school life changed as he expected. About a week after winter break, he was tested on his academic abilities. Thanks to all the time he spent tutoring with Evie, his scores were better than expected, but he was still well below the academic level he needed to be at his age. On the bright side, he was allowed a few accommodations that would help him out, like assignments cut in half, longer time to complete assignments, and the opportunity to have tests read to him when needed.

To make everything even better, Chad's relationship with Evie has grown even more since they became public. Sure, they are playfully teased by those who see them hugging in the hallway for an extended amount of time, but it is totally worth seeing Evie smile at him so beautifully when they're together. In fact, they have become so much closer since the argument between Chad and Doug.

On that day, right when they stopped at Lady Tremaine's door, Evie confessed to hearing the conversation, and Chad's confession. With a shy smile on her lips, Evie said three—technically four—little words that made Chad kiss her without a care in the world, even when Dizzy opened the front door just a second later.

With Audrey, her life was already amazing the moment she arrived in Auradon. She never broke the routine of walking with Ben to school, especially when her boyfriend Gil would join them on some days. Audrey was so glad and so grateful when Ben tried even harder to be friends with Gil partly for her sake. It was like Ben's way of showing that he really did approve of their relationship.

Gil . . . there really were no words to describe what Audrey felt for him.

Their friends, especially Mal and Uma, constantly pestered them about how quick they have progressed with each other. To the friends' defense, rumors were spiraling about the two spending the night in Audrey's room on more than one occasion. The couple never denied or agreed with the claim, so everyone was left with only speculation—

But there was no denying that they were made for each other.

Although she was so busy with school, dating Gil, and her growing friendship with Ben and Chad, Audrey always made an effort to check on her other three Isle companions at least every other day. If there was a big hang out or even a large study session, Audrey always invited the trio, no matter how many times they slammed the door in her face or firmly told her 'no', which always happened when she asked them to join her at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

As for Ben, he couldn't have been any more grateful for the new life given.

Since the very first day of being in Auradon, Ben's beastly temper has not gotten the best of him and has not been unleashed once. His entire negative attitude and perspective on life has change since his first date with Mal. Of course, he never told anyone what exactly they did on the date, since he didn't want her future reputation as 'Queen' to be tarnished. It helped that they haven't done anything more like that since then, except for a simple kiss.

Most times, their dates comprised of stargazing in different locations. First time was on the Auradon Prep roof, a couple times on the hammock cliff hangout spot, and sometimes at Eden—or the Enchanted Lake for those students forgot what the code word meant. After asking Headmaster Facilier so many times if they could stay out past curfew, he finally established a new school rule: anyone could be out past the designated time on two specific days each week. The moment a student betrays his trust, Dr. Facilier warned that he would revoke the rule completely.

When it came to school, Ben learned enough English to read the majority of his assignments. Once the new semester started, he asked his teachers for both the English and French version of their textbooks, so he could have more and possibly better practice reading. Since that day, Ben had excelled with his academics more than before.

With the Auradon students, they all stopped fearing him because of his parentage. They all greeted him with kind smiles or simple nods of acknowledgement. Thanks to such a breakthrough, Ben decided he would try to rekindle his friendship with Lonnie, though he should have known better than to try on the anniversary. Ben tried talking to her through her dorm room door just moments after she kicked Jane out for the day, who had no idea what was going on.

Ben stayed at that door the entire day in hopes that Lonnie would let him in to comfort and support her. At lunch time, Audrey visited him with two to-go boxes; one for him and one for Lonnie when she decided she was hungry. Audrey asked what they would do if Lonnie kept them out throughout the night. Ben's solution was having Jane stay in Audrey's room and Audrey would stay in his. Ben would stay outside Lonnie's just in case anything happened.

Even though they had to use his plan, there was a breakthrough about thirty minutes before the stroke of midnight. Ben was on the brink of slumber when he felt himself moving backwards, since he was leaned against the door. Standing as soon as the door was fully open, he noticed Lonnie's bloodshot eyes, the paleness of her cheeks that were stained with tears, and the redness of her nose from being rubbed raw. With a sniffle, Lonnie finally allowed him inside, claiming she didn't want to be alone anymore.

And yet, when the morning came, Lonnie forced Ben to leave at first daylight. Although she promised she was better and promised to make an effort to get better, Ben kept a watchful eye on her, just in case she went down the dark path again.

Besides that day with Lonnie, nothing too terribly awful has happened with Ben.

In fact, his friendship with Gil has grown more than his friendship with any other Auradon student—Mal not counting since she was his girlfriend. Even though it started just so Audrey wouldn't worry, the two got along amazingly well and realized they had a lot more in common than everyone suspected. On quite a few occasions, Gil invited Ben to dinner with his family, which they were more than happy to have the extra company. Some nights when it became too late, Gaston allowed Ben to stay over so he didn't have to walk so far in the dark.

If he had to be honest, Ben's friendship with Gil felt nearly identical to his past friendship with Aziz.

In other words, it felt like Gil was the brother Ben never had.

After months of finally being comfortable in Auradon—

Ben just had to ruin everything.

In the days of early spring, Mal was walking aimlessly through the halls after school since she had nothing better to do. All of her friends were either out on dates or at the weekly sports practice so none of the athletes would get out of shape. The crown princess thought about watching her boyfriend at the practice, but decided not to since they were constantly around each other. If they spent anymore time together, rumors could start forming about just how far they've gone in their relationship—

Not that they would be wrong.

Just as Mal started reminiscing about their first date together, with a goofy smile on her lips, she heard someone shout her name behind her. Turning around, the princess raised a curious brow at who was approaching her.

"Coach Gaston?" Mal greeted curiously. "What do you need? Shouldn't you be running practice?"

"There was an incident," Coach Gaston claimed with a worried sigh, "involving Ben."

Mal tensed, already not liking the sound of whatever was going on. "What happened? Where is he?"

"I don't know," Gaston confessed. "He ran off before the rest of us fully processed it. I'm not even sure I heard correctly—"

"But you want me to look for him or get in contact with Audrey so she can calm him down," Mal assumed. "Did you try texting—"

"Left my phone at home and grounded the twins from theirs when they twin-swapped during mid-terms."

Despite the situation, Mal couldn't help giggling at the prank. "I'll get a hold of Gil while searching for Ben," she reassured. "They won't like their . . . swimming, date being interrupted, but they'll get over it once they know something's wrong with Ben."

What a fucking idiot.

So fucking stupid!

Such a great relationship had been built between him and that family. But now—

"Ben!"

Flinching at the sound of his own name, Ben didn't bother turning around when he felt someone hugging him from behind. He couldn't look. He didn't want to be seen in such a pathetic, cry-baby state.

Still, Ben cleared his throat so he could talk without being so hoarse. "Hello, my queen," he greeted softly, maintaining his gaze at the ocean view as they stood on the back balcony of the school. "Did you hear?"

Although her head laid against his back, Mal managed to shake her head in denial. "Coach Gaston only told me he thought he didn't hear you right," she informed calmly. "Don't tell me if you're not ready. I can wait, however long it takes."

Despite hearing such words from his beloved, Ben wanted to let it out in the open—

So he could finally come to terms with it.

"We were about an hour into practice," he recalled so quietly. "There were only a handful of us this time instead of the usual thirtyish because of grade requirements and dates. Chad mentioned today would be the only day in a while that he would have the mansion to himself."

"Evie told me the same thing," Mal noted, though her tone suggested that they both knew why that was so important. "And . . ."

"And we were exhausted," Ben continued. "We were able to do so much more with so much less there. Even though he made that comment himself, Coach insisted that we end the practice with the same thing we always do: running ten laps. I . . ."

Mal kissed his shoulder, reassuring, "Take your time, my love. There's no need to rush."

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Ben stuttered, "I-I said, 'Can't we just skip that today?'"—he gripped the railing tightly—" 'We're tired . . . Dad."

Keeping an arm wrapped around him, Mal maneuvered herself so she could stand next to him. Taking a moment to wipe away the tear resting on his cheek, she finished, "You called Gaston 'Dad', everyone turned to look at you, and you ran off because you realized what you said."

Ben shook his head in hate of himself. "It slipped out," he insisted, sounding almost defeated. "I panicked, and I don't know why. My fath—the Beast, was such an asshole to me, and I can't even call him 'father' anymore. I don't know why I called Gaston that when . . . I never had a 'dad' figure in my life before."

Mal laid her head on his shoulder in thought. "You have spent so much time with Gil and his family that you finally knew what being in a family is like," she deduced. "You heard Coach be called 'Dad' so many times that it was just natural for you to call him that too. I know you ran off because you're afraid you messed things up with them, but that's not the case."

Ben gazed down at his beloved, a hopeful gleam in his eye. "Really?"

"Gaston was really concerned about you, and so were his three sons," Mal insisted. "Gaston and the twins went home, hoping you would be there. Gil didn't hesitate at all to stop his date to look for you. It was an hour of nonstop updates until I texted that I found you. They were so worried."

In spite of all the stuff he was going through emotionally, Ben snickered. "I bet Gil was okay to leave because they already finished 'swimming' for a while."

"I refuse to let 'swimming' be the official code word," Mal decided determinedly, "mainly because I can't swim so it wouldn't work for us."

Ben chuckled once more. "We'll think of something," he promised. Then, his upbeat attitude turned quiet once more. "I don't want to face them yet. I don't want to leave."

Skillfully situating herself to be standing in front of him, but her back facing him, Mal couldn't be more grateful when he embraced her with such ease. "We don't have to," she reassured. "We can stay as long as you need."

Kissing the top of her head lovingly, Ben commented, "I don't deserve you."

"I'll get that out of your head eventually," Mal vowed, leaning back to rest against him, "because you and I are meant to be."

Just down the hall leading toward the balcony, Audrey smiled, having witnessed only a portion of the couple's interaction.

"You've finally outgrown me."