What If

Chapter 9

Meet the parents

Mal was clinging to Ben for dear life as he drove the scooter up the driveway leading to the main entrance of Castle Beast. It wasn't because Ben was a bad driver. No it was because meeting Ben's parents again, this time alone, was scaring Mal.

"Mal, I promise, they like you. Relax." Ben tried to calm her as he stopped the scooter. "They don't bite."
"Only shed right?" She made the same bad joke, trying to calm herself.

"Something like that." Ben replied. Ben took her hand and walked her up the stairs. Mal expected the door to open and a servant to welcome them inside, it surprised her when Queen Belle opened the door, before Ben could. Mal was relieved to see Queen Belle wearing a simple yellow sun dress.

"Welcome home dear", she said hugging her son. "Mal, welcome to our home." Mal nervously curtsied to the Queen. "Mal, here we aren't so formal, unless we are under the public eye. On occasions like this, I am Belle and Ben's father is Adam."
"I…"
"I insist." Mal looked from Belle to Ben.

"Hey, it's up to them." He smiled at Mal. He leaned in to whisper. "And Mom never asked Audrey to call her Belle, I told you she likes you."
"Yes, Mam…Belle."
"Good, good. Ben, dad is in his study, can you get him please. Mal and I will meet you in the family dining room."
"Sure." Ben leaned over and kissed Mal's cheek. "OK?"
"Yes." She said squeezing his hand.

Belle led Mal into a small library. "Beautiful." Escaped from Mal's lips before she could stop it.

"These are just some of the books Adam gave me."
"I have to admit, I am not familiar with your families story. Other than his majesty was enchanted."
"When we have more time I will share. But you will have History at Auradon Prep, and they will cover that."
"Thank you." Mal said nervously.

"Mal, dear, please relax. You are so welcome here….I honestly have to say Audrey drove me nuts." Belle admitted.

"Ben, told me that she was a bit full of herself. I did see it myself. I even overheard him once trying to break it off with her, but she just changed the subject."
"Mal, can I be honest?" Belle questioned cautiously.
"I prefer it. I like to know where I stand."
"Ben has changed so much since meeting you, and I love the changes I see in him."
"I can't take credit for that." Mal blushed, turning away from Belle, these new feelings were still hard on Mal.
"Yes, you can." Belle said coming up beside Mal. "He loves you Mal. With Audrey, I think they were just together so Audrey's family could advance in their standing in the hierarchy of Auradon. Ben, just wanted a girlfriend and Audrey saw a chance."
"I love him too, and believe me that's a new emotion for me. He has taught me a lot more than I will ever teach him." Mal turned to face Belle. She was so close, and that was something Mal wasn't used to either, a strong supportive female. A mother figure that was actually proud of her.
"I can see you both changing each other for the better." Belle said hugging Mal. Mal was afraid at first, but the emotion of the moment took over and she returned Belle's embrace. " Now let's go find those two before they eat everything and leave nothing for us." She laughed, and Mal giggled with her. Belle linked her arm Mal's and she looked at her. "Yes, I do like you SO much more than Audrey."
"Belle, before we go find them, Ben mentioned social obligations, if I need help or have any questions, can I have your help? I just don't want to make any mistakes and embarrass Ben."
"Mal, I wasn't born a princess." Belle admitted, knowing what Mal had just asked her was a hard thing to admit. She could truly see that Mal loved her son. " I lived in a village, my father raised me alone, and we were far from rich. I didn't know anything either, and Adam was patient as I learned the ropes as they say. Ben will be just as patient. Maybe more so, Adam wasn't always patient." Belle laughed.

"Thank you." Mal said looking at the floor.
"I am still learning, over 20 years, I am still learning." Belle assured Mal, hugging her again. Mal decided then, that choosing good, had been a way better choice than she had ever thought possible.

Their meal was truly casual. And for that Mal was grateful. The conversation stayed away from the isle and that was fine with Mal. When Mrs. Potts placed the desert tray onto the table, Ben laughed. It was all strawberry related. Mal looked from the plate to Ben. "I am guessing you had something to do with this?" She teased, now comfortable around Ben's parents to do so.

Belle and Adam exchanged looks, then looked at Ben. "Well I know you like them." Ben pointed out.

"This is going to be a running theme with you now isn't it?" Mal continued the playful banter.

"Maybe." Ben would have gone on but his father had cleared his throat to bring Ben's attention back to the whole group. "I gave Mal her first strawberry. She really likes them." He explained.

"Oh." Adam admitted. "No strawberries on the island?"
"Not really no." Mal said, not really wanting to elaborate.

"Oh." Adam let the matter drop. "Ben why don't you take Mal on a tour of the Castle, before you head back to the dorms."

"Sounds like a great idea." Ben says standing, happy to be away from the subject of the Isle. He knows it is a tough subject for Mal and her three friends.

"Mal." He says pulling her chair out and offering her his arm. Mal stands and takes his arm. She turns to curtsie but remembers they aren't in a formal meeting, so she stops herself. " Thank you for a lovely Dinner."
"Mrs. Potts will love to hear that. She loves to cook for new people." Belle says.

"We'll tell her ourselves, when we walk through the kitchen." Ben tells his mother. He leads Mal out the door, but stops just short of closing it, he places a finger on Mal's lip to silence her. They listen to his parents. Mal wondered if he did this often, was this just for her, or was she rubbing a little evil off on him.

"Well my dear, that girl is just wonderful." Belle starts.

"Better than that Audrey for sure." Adam admits. "And your right, Ben is so much happier since he started dating Mal."
"Do you remember that dinner we had here with Audrey?" Belle asked.

"The only one, yes. I had a head ache for days afterwards. No one could talk because it was all about her plans for her relationship with Ben. And I swear if she called him Benny boo or Benny bear one more time I was going to roar."

"Mal seems like she is more a team player. You know, she and Ben will have a rough time here and there, but I think they will actually be able to talk it out, and each have a say."
"We had a rough start too, but look at us." Adam pointed out.

"I think they are a lot like us." Belle agreed. Ben moved away from the door, it was then he noticed a single tear in Mal's eye.

"I know it was wrong to listen, but I knew they liked you." He admitted, kissing away the tear.

"I have never felt such warmth. It's really new to me. I…it's gonna take some getting used to. If I make a mistake…" He kissed her to stop the words he knew she was thinking from coming out.
"Stop worrying, I don't want perfection. I had a 'prefect princess' in Audrey and I hated it, every minute of it." He made motions of quotation marks as he said prefect princess. Mal laughed.

"Ok King Bennyboo, show me your home." She teased to lighten the mood.

Neither noticed Belle and Adam had come out of the dining room to see their exchange. "Ok, it's kind of cute when she teases him with that awful nickname Audrey gave him." Adam snickered.

"I think that's Mal's point." Belle agreed.

Ben showed Mal the whole castle, including the kitchen. A place she was sure Audrey never went, even in her own castle. Mal found Mrs. Potts working on a dessert. "Mrs. Potts, this is my girlfriend Mal."
"How, lovely Ben dear. It's about time we got to meet your girlfriend." Mrs Potts said looking at Mal. "Welcome to my kitchen my dear."
"Thank you, for a lovely dinner. I appreciate the strawberries."

"Ben did mention they were a favorite of yours."
"One, yes."
"Well Ben will just have to find out the rest for your next visit."
"For sure. And if I know mom, that will be soon."
"Oh, so it went well Ben dear?" Mrs Potts asked. "I remember the last time."
"Yes, Mrs. Potts, much better."
"And you brought your young lady to meet me, so that means something too. I only ever saw our dear Princess Audrey from the doorway."
"Mal, is much more down to earth Mrs. Potts." Ben agreed.

"I can see that." She smiled at Mal, who returned the gesture.

"Ok, well we have to get back to school. I'll see you Sunday."
"I hope to see you again soon, Mal dear." She said handing Mal a strawberry
"And you too." Mal giggled.

Belle and Adam walked Mal and Ben out. "Ben, I want you to bring Mal and her friends back here for Sunday dinner."
"OF course." He said, looking at Mal for her agreement. She nodded. "Yes, we'll see you then, and I will try and get the rest of them."
"I am sure they will love to come." Mal added.