Mal woke, gasping for breath as she sat up straight. Her heart was beating wildly out of her chest and her eyes couldn't focus as they darted around the room, trying to figure out where she was.

After what felt like an hour but was likely only a minute or so, Mal's breathing returned to normal and her heart-rate slowed down considerably. This was when Mal realised that she was in her room in Castle Beast. The one that she stays in every school break. She knew where she was. She was safe.

However, despite knowing this and despite the bed being the most comfortable bed she'd ever slept in, Mal knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. Not while the dream stayed in the corner of her mind. She quickly checked the time on her phone, cringing when she realised it was almost two in the morning.

Mal deliberated for a while, wondering what she should do. She could just play on her phone or read a book or something. But she also knew that she didn't want to be alone. And of course, the first person who came to mind when she wanted to not be alone wasn't far away at all.

In fact, he'd requested that Mal would stay in the room next to his in the family wing in the castle. After all, propriety, while still important among royals, wasn't as big a deal nor so closely looked at as it used be. No one saw issue with them having rooms next to each other, so long as they didn't share a room until they were married.

Mal smiled at the silly thought about what was proper entered her head because she'd never even thought to care about such things before she came to Auradon. She barely cared now, but she was far more aware of it than she ever would've been.

Still, Mal knew that if she wanted to go to him, Ben would welcome her. No matter the time of day and no matter what anyone else thought. She'd promised herself to trust and believe that he meant it. Maybe she wouldn't purposefully wake him. Maybe just seeing him breathing for a moment will be enough to settle her mind so that she could sleep.

Feeling resolved in her decision, Mal swung herself out of bed and grabbed Ben's hoody that she used in place of a dressing gown. She slipped it on, relishing in how it draped halfway down her thighs, making her feel cosy and covered.

She quickly made her way out of her bedroom and padded gently to the next room. Quietly as she could, she cracked the door open. She peered in, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ben asleep in his bed. Unfortunately, it was too dark to really see anything. She opened the door a little further to allow the pale moonlight which filled the hall to enter the room a bit more.

As she did this, the door creaked slightly. Mal held her breath, hoping she hadn't woken Ben.

This hope was short-lived as she heard a slightly sleepy groan followed by a hoarse. "Mal?"

Mal gulped a little. "Sorry," she whispered. "I just...I didn't mean to wake you."

Mal heard the shifting of covers and then the click of a bedside lamp turning on, illuminating the room in a dim glow.

"It's okay," he murmured, rubbing his eyes as he sat himself up properly. "I couldn't sleep anyway."

"Liar," Mal muttered, loud of enough for him to hear.

Ben just smiled at her and got up, holding his arms out to her.

Mal didn't even hesitate to walk into the room, closing the door behind her, and fall into his arms.

"Want to talk about it?" he asked, as he gently sat them both down on the edge of his bed.

Mal shook her head. "No. I just didn't want to be alone."

"Okay," Ben replied. And that was all he said, pulling her closer and holding her tight. He was waiting for her prompting, letting her lead any conversation where she needed it to go but also willing to sit in comfortable silence and just hold her. Mal never felt safer and more secure than she did in this moment.

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