This one takes place after D2. The idea is from Gummybear1178. Hope you like it. :)

His head was killing him. It felt like someone had thrown a bowling ball at it and then proceeded to run over it. Also, he was having a really hard time even standing up right now because he was so tired. All he wanted was to go to sleep. Oh, and eat, because he probably hadn't eaten since yesterday morning.

But no one knew this. He had to hide it all, because he had to show that he could handle running the kingdom at such a young age. He had to prove that he would be a good king, no matter his age. So, he acted like everything was fine as he walked the halls to the locker rooms to prepare for his tourney game.

"You're not doing this. I won't let you, Ben."

Okay, no one knew about how awful he felt except for Mal, who could honestly read him like a book.

"Mal, I told you I'm fine. It's just a game of tourney."

"Would you just listen to me? You're not able to do this. You're too weak to do this from all that time you've been spending on stupid king stuff."

They had reached the door, and so Ben finally turned around to face his girlfriend. "I know you're scared and worried for me, and thank you for that, but I can handle myself, Mal."

She scoffed and crossed her arms. "I do not get scared over anything, Benny-boo. And who said I was worried about you, I'm just trying to save you from your own stupidity."

He leaned down and pressed a sweet kiss to her forehead. "Well, whatever you're doing for me, I appreciate. But I really have to go, Mal."

She leaned forward and crashed her face into his chest. "Please, Ben. Please don't do this. I know you think you can right now, but you can't. Just, please, don't go out there."

He sighed and gently extricated her from his chest. "Mal, I promise I can do this. Just go out and sit in the stands with Evie and watch us and cheer us on, okay? For me."

Her eyes suddenly jumped up to meet his. "You did not seriously just play the 'for me' card for this situation?"

He smirked at her. "I kinda did, Mal."

She took a few steps away. Her face was hard, and her eyes looked just a bit more green than usual to Ben. "Fine. I hope Sherwood beats your ass."

As she walked away from Ben's laughter, he called, "That's not very nice to the team, Mal!"

"Not the team, Ben. Just yours."

The sun was beating down on him, making his head hurt even more. He knew Mal was furious with him and he knew she was right. She knew she was right, too, which only made matters worse. But he had to prove to the kingdom, and to himself, that he could handle being king and a teenager.

The whistle blew and he ran for the ball, picking it up in his stick and tossing it to Jay just as a Sherwood kid ran right into his back, knocking the air out of him.

"Come on, Ben," Chad called. "Jay's setting us up for that new play we learned last week."

He ran with all his might down to the goal, getting into position as Jay took the ball from Sherwood. He set it up for Chad to get, who then tossed it at Ben. Running the last few steps to the goal, he shot the ball into the net. The stands roared with the goal.

"Yes!" Jay shouted. "Next one's mine, Ben."

Ben nodded, trying to catch his breath as he walked back to center so they could get started once again.

He was starter this time as well, preparing to run and get the ball for his team. The whistle blew and he ran for it, but was too late. He jumped for the ball, only to collide with the Sherwood starter and fall to the ground on his back. His ears rang and his vision was spotted at the edges, but he still rose and ran down the field, albeit a little dizzy.

They set up for another play at the goal, where Ben would catch the ball from Carlos and throw it to Jay. He made it to his spot, watching Carlos get the ball and throw. It soared to Ben, and if he were more alert, he would have heard the Sherwood kid behind him. He raised his stick to catch the ball, only to be knocked out of the way by the Sherwood defense. He hit the ground, and then everything went black.

His head still hurt, even worse than before. His eyes fluttered open, only to immediately close against the bright light.

"Ben?"

He turned his head towards the voice and opened his eyes a little.

"Oh, Ben, you're awake. Thank goodness," his mother cried, wiping her eyes. "I didn't know how long you'd be out."

His voice was scratchy and his mouth dry. "Wait, how long have I been out?"

"Four days," his father answered.

"Ben, the nurses told us you weren't in the best state. They ran some tests and told us you were dehydrated, deficient in a lot of areas because you apparently weren't eating enough, and that you were sleep-deprived so your brain activity was slowed. Honey, what's going on?" Belle asked, worry lacing her voice. "Are you okay?"

He sighed. "I've just been super busy lately with all my duties as king. I thought I could handle it."

"Well, we will deal with that issue later, but right now we will leave you be. I believe you have a visitor," Belle said with a smile.

As his parents left the infirmary, his girlfriend walked in and sat in the chair next to his bed. She didn't speak for a little bit, just sat in the chair and stared at the wall.

"You lied to me," she spoke, still not looking at him. "You promised you could play your stupid game, and now look where we are." She ran a hand through her messy hair. "God, you're such an idiot."

"Mal, I'm sor-," he began, only to be silenced with her look. It was then he noticed she was wearing the same clothes she'd been in the day of the game, and her eyes were red and puffy. "Mal, have you been here this entire time?"

"I didn't know when you'd wake up, Ben," she started, tears making their way into her voice. "And it's all my fault because I didn't try hard enough to stop you. I should've done something, but instead I just left and let you go out on that field and hurt yourself. I mean, what if you had died or something?"

"Hey." He grabbed her hand. "You're overreacting. I wouldn't have died."

"You don't know that!" she cried, wiping her face with her hands. "You act like you know everything, but you don't Ben."

"What do you want me to say, Mal? Because it feels like everything I say makes you mad at me."

"That I was right! That you should've listened to me. That you realize you mean everything to me and that these have been the worst days of my entire life. Anything to show you realize you made a mistake."

They were both silent, neither one daring to say a word.

Finally, Mal interrupted with a sigh. "Scoot over, this chair is so uncomfortable."

Ben scooted over on the small hospital bed, making room for Mal to lay down next to him. He wrapped his arms around her small frame, keeping her from falling off.

"I'm sorry, Mal. I should've listened to you and stayed home. It's just, I need to prove that I can be king at such a young age."

"I get it. It's hard to try and live up to all these expectations. I'm sorry I blew up at you." She turned so she was facing Ben chest to chest. "I love you and all your stupidity," she smiled.

He laughed. "I love you, too."

Mal pushed herself up so she lean down to kiss him. Just as she went to pull away, he pressed up to her, causing her to let out a small squeak. Her hands tangled in his hair as his fingers danced against her side until-

"Your Majesty."

The two teens jumped apart as if struck by lightning, Mal just barely falling off the bed before Ben's arm caught her. "Yes?" Ben asked, face flushed.

"I just wanted to let you know that you are free to go whenever you like, but we will be checking up on you tomorrow."

"Thank you."

The woman nodded and left, looking very uncomfortable.

It was two weeks later, and Mal and Ben were walking across the same bridge they had walked across on their first date.

"You know, I'm kind of glad I got hurt during the tourney game."

Mal stopped dancing across the bridge. "What's wrong with you? Are the doctors sure your concussion is gone?"

"Ha ha, you're so funny, Mal." She responded with a shrug as she kept walking. "But what I meant was a lot of good came from it. I mean, my parents have taken back a lot of the responsibilities for me. So that means I have more time to focus on school, tourney, and you."

"Yeah, okay, let's not mention the fact that you hurt yourself, or that you literally forgot your multiplication tables for like two days, or that most of the time I wanted to kill you because you complained so much."

"Look on the positives for once, Mal. I mean, we got to spend so much time together these past two weeks since I wasn't allowed to do anything."

"Oh yeah, totally. 'Mal, my head hurts.' 'Mal, why won't they just let me play tourney.' 'Mal, stop falling asleep while I complain about my problems to you,'" she mocked. "Yeah, it was such a joy."

"You're mean," he pouted.

"Aww, poor Benny-boo," she smirked. "What will he ever do with such a mean girlfriend?"

"I won't give her any strawberries, that's what."

Her jaw dropped. "Hey! You're supposed to be the nice one in this relationship."

He shrugged. "Maybe you should be a little nicer, My Lady."

She scowled. "Stop calling me that."

They reached the gazebo on the lake, and Ben wrapped his arms around Mal's waist, pulling her back against his chest.

"You know you like it, My Lady."

"I think your concussion is still affecting your brain."

"Maybe, but either way, I still love you."

She leaned her head back against his shoulder. "I love you, too. Even when you're an idiot."

He gasped. "I'm never an idiot, Mal."

Her laughter rang out across the entire lake.

So there's that. I love reading all your reviews, so don't hesitate to leave one.