"Oh, Doug!" Evie rolled on top of Doug as they frantically kissed each other. With each new kiss, his lips were coated with a bit more lipstick and the stronger their love became. "Doug, say you'll always love me," Evie commanded.
"I will always love you," he replied, panting.
"Say you'll never leave me," she begged him.
"I will never leave you Evie. Not now, not ever. You are mine and mine alone, and I love you with all my heart," he spoke softly but firmly to her. They began to relax, and she crashed down next to him. They shared one long passionate kiss, and he whispered to her, "I love you."
...
Mal and Ben walked down past the rose gardens, hand in hand. Mal sweetly pecked his lips. "Do you think Freddie and Gaston are adapting well?" Mal asked Ben.
"Hard to say. They seem fine. I don't know about you, but I'm not too worried. I think the villains have learned their lessons. They know where they belong," he replied.
"I'm worried. They seemed so sweet. It was almost-unbelievable," Mal said.
"Well, they're our age now. They're thinking about their own lives. They are not under the thumb of the villains anymore, and that's probably a relief," he told her.
"I hope so," Mal said quietly. Ben lifted her chin and her eyes met his soft gaze.
'Everything's going to be alright Mal. I know it," he spoke swiftly and quietly, and his voice matched his words. Everything would be alright.
Changing the subject, Mal asked, "How do you think Carlos and Jane are getting along together?"
"Funny you should ask, because I was thinking about that," he responded. "Is it just me or does Freddie seem interested in Jane?"
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Mal," he paused, "is Freddie a dyke?"
Mal backed off, slightly offended, "She's a lesbian. She obviously has a crush on Jane. And don't say dyke, it's derogatory."
"What? Isn't she?" He seemed confused as to why Mal would be mad.
Mal became more irate. "Would you call Tiana a Negro?"
"Well, no, but I," he was cut off.
"Well it's no different. Freddie happens to be a lesbian and that's all there is to it!"
"I don't know why you're getting so mad. Those people don't have feelings," he raised his voice.
"Those people? Ben, what's wrong with you! I thought you were better than this!" She was shouting now.
"Well I thought you could handle a little name-calling!" They were both shouting, and beginning to back away from each other.
"Well I thought you would be a bit more open-minded but I guess not!"
"What's going on?" Carlos was standing at the entrance to the gardens.
"How much did you hear?" Mal asked him.
"Why were you shouting?" He did not answer her question.
"Because Ben is not the man I thought he was," Mal replied. With that, she ran off into the castle, leaving Ben and Carlos confused in the courtyard. Once inside, she began to collect her things together and pack them into a suitcase. After making sure everything was packed, she walked out towards Evie's apartment, passing Ben in the courtyard on the way.
"Mal," he asked, "where are you going?"
"To stay with Evie," she responded. She grabbed her wedding and engagement rings off of her finger and shoved them in his pocket. "You can find yourself a new queen," she muttered before storming off into a taxi on the way to Evie's.
She did not look at Ben as the car drove away. He had hurt her, but he did not know why. Only she, Evie, and Jay knew. Carlos was gay. And possibly, so was Jane. The taxi arrived, she paid her fare, and got out. To her surprise, Evie was standing there, waiting for a taxi.
Mal saw her first. "Evie," she called as she ran to her, "I need to talk to you."
Evie seemed surprised to see her. "Mal? I was on my way to talk to you. I feel like I needed to tell you in person. What's in the suitcase?"
Mal took a deep breath. "If you don't mind, can I move in with you? Just for a little while. Ben and I had a fight. I'll tell you later. What do you need to tell me?"
"Mal, I'm pregnant."