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Christmas Morning dawned sunny, Evie went into Mal's room and she found her awake and staring out the window looking towards the Isle. "They have no idea what they are missing." Evie said. "I mean some of the parents maybe, but no one born on the isle knows anything about holidays."

"I feel guilty." Mal admitted. "I mean we came here to ruin this. I feel guilty for trying to ruin this, but I also feel guilty that the other kids on the isle have no shot at this."
"No one?"
"Well Ben has decided to hold off for now. He said maybe for the beginning of next school year, but only one or two."
"Why?"
"I am worried about your safety." Ben says coming in to join the girls. "Morning, Merry Christmas."
"Morning." Mal said. Standing and crossing the room to hug Ben. Evie could tell there was something different about their relationship, a closeness.

The boys bounced in just then. "Hey, when does this party start?" Jay asked.

"As soon as my mother says we can come down. Another tradition of hers. She used to make me sit on the stairs and take my picture waiting for my gifts." Just then Belle called for them to come to the stairs. She posed them just as Ben said. Sitting on the stairs. Then she let them come down after snapping a few pictures. To the surprise of the four VK's the amount of presents under the tree had increased. They all exchanged looks.

"Now, there are a lot of gifts under here. I have to tell you that the different areas of the kingdom send Ben gifts as King. WE will take care of those later. Adam, move those please, I have no idea why the staff put them under the tree." Adam moved a huge pile away. "That's better. First stockings." Belle handed out the once flat socks, now stuffed with goodies. As the kids opened them and investigate they found practical things such as pens and pencils, combs, sweets and snacks. But there were also other items that were fun. New gloves and hats, the boys each got tourney socks, the girls things for their crafts. Mal colored pencils and paints while Evie got threads, needles and new scissors. They were pleased with just these gifts, but Belle had more.

"We usually have Ben go first, but I think our guests should go first."
"please don't change on our behalf." Mal stated.

"How about we go around the room, taking turns, Mom and Dad you guys too." Ben compromised. The four kids nodded. So Belle agreed. "Ok Youngest first, that's you Carlos." Ben said. Adam handed him a gift.

Carlos opened the gift, it happened to be his gift from Evie. He opened it to find a new shirt for himself and Dude. He loved it.

"Ok, so I am not sure who's next." Belle said.

"Ben." Evie, Mal and Jay said.

"Really, you three are all older than Ben?" Adam was surprised. Mal nodded. Adam pulled a package, it happened to be from Evie, Jay and Carlos to Ben. It was the gift certificate for the sports store. Next Was Evie. It was from Jay. It was a sewing kit. Mal was next and it was her gift from Carlos. A bunch of different sized sketch pads. Jay was given his gift from Mal. It was a new tourney stick. Next was Belle, it was the gift from the kids. She opened the box to find the frames, she smiled broadly. She then picked up the one with the photo from the coronation. "Oh, what a lovely picture. I can't wait to put this on the shelf. And I have a few new photos I took this week to add to these frames, thank you kids. She kissed each of their cheeks. Adam was last and he opened one from the kids as well, his sweets. He smiled, "Nice…"
"Not all at once Adam." Belle teased. He smiled at the kids and winked.

"Ok next round. This time ladies first." Ben said as he handed each of the girls all the same packages.

"Ok so these are from me, so all together." Ben said. "One, two three." They opened them to find Auradon Knights shirts. Except these each said something. Evie's said my boyfriend is in the band. Mal's said #7 belongs to me. And Belle's said ask me about #7. They all laughed. Mal looked at Ben and teased, "I think I like the one on my pillow better." Ben gave her a look. Evie filled them in. "So the shirt you threw at Mal during your little song, has been on Mal's pillow since you gave it to her." Ben thought about that for a minute then smiled. She slept with it from the day she spelled him, that meant she really like him aside from needing that wand. Under each of the shirts were plain gold necklaces. They all put them on.

Adam stood and handed out the gifts from Ben to Jay and Carlos. They were Tourney team jackets, like his. They actually put them on over their PJ's. "I think they like them son." Adam said.

"I think so." Ben agreed. Next he was given his movies from everyone, he agreed he didn't have any of them.

They went around again, this time Ben gave his parents an IOU for a trip for the summer. Then it was the gifts from Belle and Adam to the kids. Jay was given a complete set of tourney gear, Carlos too, they had been using borrowed equipment. Evie was given a new sewing machine and material. Mal a camera. She looked from it to them. She had admired Belles, and this one was similar. "Thank you." They all said. Left was the group's gift to Belle and Adam. He took the package and handed it to Belle to open. She opened it and was shocked. "Mal…did you?"

"I did the art work, Evie, Jay and Carlos bought the frame."

"It's…" She stopped to wipe a tear. She showed it first to Adam then Ben. It was a perfect picture of the whole family. Ben stood, pulled Mal into his arms.

"Nice job guys. Mom isn't usually speechless. Mal, I have sat for many portraits before, this is the best, and I didn't even have to sit for it." He kissed her sweetly, then Belle pulled Mal in for a hug.

"This will be hung right over this mantle." She said looking at Adam, who nodded in agreement.

"And Ben is right Mal, this is the best portrait I have seen of myself as well." Mal blushed. "And the frame is perfect for this room." He said including the others in the gift. "Looks like only two left. Mal and Ben's to each other." Adam teased as he handed them out.

"Well, inside Ben's is something else for you guys too." Mal said taking the frames out she got at the store with the group picture of the five of them. She handed them to her three friends. Who were thrilled to have a copy, and then waited for Ben to open his gift. He pulled out the group photo, then the larger frame. It was a portrait of himself on coronation day. He was stunned, and quietly turned it to show his parents. "Oh Mal….it's perfect." Belle said. "That will have to go in a special place. Adam don't you agree?"
"The Council room." The visitors all exchanged looks. "All the council members have a portrait hung on the walls in the entry way to the council chamber, and mine is on the wall behind where I used to sit at the head of the council table. We need to have mine replaced, in fact Ben was to have his appointment next year for his sitting. Now we can cancel it. That is unless you had another place in mind Mal?"
"No, I am honored. "
"Mal, thank you." Ben kissed her cheek, then his ring on her left hand. That was when Both Evie and Belle slightly gasped. None of the men caught it. Mal winked at Evie, and Ben smiled at his mother.

"Ok, Mal, time for mine to you." He handed her a small box. She opened it to find a thick gold bracelet. It had all sorts of fancy carving on it. Ben took it out of the box and placed it on Mal's wrist. Once it was on her wrist, she noticed all the carvings, in there were their initials, and four hearts one inside the other. Mal blushed.

"Merry Christmas everyone." Adam called. "Who is hungry?"
"Girls, come help me with breakfast." Belle said, and the girls quickly joined her. Evie grabbing Mal's wrist to see the bracelet.

In the kitchen, Evie couldn't hold it in anymore. "WHEN?!" She said pointing to the signet ring.

"Last night after you guys went to bed." She said looking from Evie to Belle. "Relax. We aren't engaged or anything. HE…it's just we are, exclusive."
"About time." Belle admitted, hugging Mal. "We really like having you part of our lives Mal. All of you honestly. Audrey…well she wasn't in love with Ben, not really. I think she loved the idea of being Queen someday." Belle admitted.

After breakfast they dressed for town. Mal and Ben were done first, and had a few minutes alone in the front room to talk. "I love my portrait."
"Good, I had no idea what to get. Never really shopped for gifts before."
"You did excellent. Everything you got was prefect. All of you did well really."
"This bracelet is so me." She twisted it on her wrist looking over the carvings. "Every time I look at it I see more and more. Is that a dragon?"
"Yes. I designed the carving. I had Evie send me a picture of your Dragon necklace. Here are four hearts, one for each of you guys. It made me think of your spell against your mother. The strength of evil is good as none, when stands before fours hearts as one." He looked at her to see her smile over his adding her friends into her gift. "Our initials, and one more thing, see if you can find it." She looked it over and there it was next to the M.

"A wand?"
"A fairy needs a wand." He teased.

"I don't have one though."
"Someday, I am sure the others will give you one when they feel you are ready."
"Maybe so. I can do magic without it." She pointed out.
"True. What do you think of the gift from my parents?"
"I never thought about owning a camera, but I can't wait to try it out."
"After we get back from town." HE teased.

They headed into town, each carrying baskets filled with candy bags. They were warmly greeted by the town's folk. AT 4:00 a car pulled up and Doug climbed out. He greeted everyone, and Evie said her good byes. She would be back the next evening after dinner.

After returning from town the boys headed up to change, then challenge Ben to a video game tourney. Mal was more than happy to allow them their fun time. She found Belle in her library. Adam was off to watch the boys. Mal brought her new camera in. "I was wondering if you could show me.."
"Absolutely. We will have to use mine for now. The battery in your will need to be charged." She showed Mal how to plug in the battery. Belle and Mal spent about an hour going over the camera, when Mrs. Potts came in to announce dinner.

They enjoyed a pleasant dinner. After dinner the boys went back to their video games, and Mal and Belle went back to their camera lessons. "Mal?"
"Yes, Belle?" Mal could hear the genuine concern in her voice.
"Are you happy here?" She asked almost afraid to hear the answer.
"Yes. I…have nothing left on the island." Mal said looking at her, Belle could see the truth in her eyes.
"Evie was worried about you. She said you were rather sad before you came down this morning." Belle felt it best to explain where the question was coming from.
"In a way I was, but it was more like regret for the plans that I came here with." Mal confessed, the confession seemed to lift a weight off her shoulders.
"That were forced onto you." Belle reminded her.

"But, I didn't really think that at the time. I wanted it too." The confessing was so enlightening, Mal continued.
"Because it was all you knew."
"True. I am so glad I learned the truth." And she was. Mal looked at Belle and she saw love in her eyes. Not pity, guilt or sympathy, but love. Mal knew then that she not only had a boyfriend who loved her for who she was, but a mother figure as well. A real mother. Not a birth giver, that was who Maleficent was to her now. Belle moved closer to Mal, and pulled the young girl into her arms.

"Mal have you ever really mourned the loss. I mean if you think about it, it is a loss. Everything you have ever known is gone."
"It's not worth wasting tears. I really don't cry. I will admit I never did that until I came here. Emotions, friendships, patterns were a liability. I never allowed myself to feel anything other than desire. A desire to please my mother. I wanted to live up to the name she gave me. I…Ben knows, I guess you and Adam should too. My full name is Maleficent Bertha. Mother, she never called me that name, she said I had to earn it, and in her eyes I never did."
"I am so glad you never did. Mal is a lovely name. It suits you. As for Maleficent, she is no longer a part of your life."
"I hope so. I worry about her escaping."
"I don't think that's possible. From what I have been told, she is in a place that has an even tighter magical barrier than the island. I can't tell you where she is because, honestly I have no idea, but we have been assured that she will be no threat."
"Thank you. You have no idea what you, Adam and especially Ben have done for me. Myself and my friends. Without you, I am not sure where any of us would be today."
"Thank Ben. It was his idea, his dream."
"Dream?"
"Yes. He said he was drawn to the island, a dream he kept having. I don't know the details, but he said it was why he did what he did. You can talk to him about it."
"I plan to. I kind of had to compare dreams, really. It's sort of my homework from my magic lessons."
"I see." Belle smiled. So Mal had, had a dream too. Fate was a huge part of this whole thing after all. It was then Belle knew that her son and Mal were destined to be together, and no matter what came between them, whatever test came their way, they would make it through it and come out on the other side. This girl truly was her son's destiny. And she was okay with it.