Chapter 7 – A New Start

-:-:-

"That is good news," Audrey said when Ben informed her of all that had transpired, the king updating the security runes to block Mal's ability to teleport directly into his suite. "I can get with the PR team to start spinning a good story out of it, but we're not out of the woods yet."

"No," Ben agreed, keeping his focus on the runework so he wouldn't do something pointless like restlessly pace. "Chad-"

"Was always a tentative thing with Doug and Evie," Audrey said. "Throw in the others and there's a good chance he'll be toast altogether. Hell, there's a good chance Doug will be toast, depending on how Evie's feeling."

Ben immediately waved that off. "No, Evie loves Doug. If they break things off it will be because Doug's self-esteem can't handle it, not because Evie doesn't care of him. Besides, the others would know how much she loved him and love him for that alone."

It was how the VKs worked.

"But Chad won't be offered the same consideration," Audrey said. "So we're back to square one, unless…"

"Yes?" Ben prompted, knowing that dramatic buildups were some of the few joys Audrey was allowed on her house arrest, and as such he indulged her in as many as she so desired.

"Unless," Audrey repeated. "You call in your favor with Jane."

Ben paused, because for the life of him, he hadn't actually seen that as a potential avenue for consideration.

"You think that would work?" Ben asked despite knowing Audrey wouldn't have offered as much if she didn't already think the plan would be a success.

"Jane has a relentless sense of duty," Audrey said, taking pity on him. "If you sell it to her right, she'd sacrifice her own happily ever after to do the right thing."

"And Carlos wouldn't find that suspect?"

"Play the low self-esteem card," Audrey said. "She loves him but it's just too much. It won't be hard – they've only dated a couple of years while the others have had a lifetime to bond with each other."

With the exception of Evie, but Ben had a feeling that if Jane tried to compare herself to the princess, the results would not be good for her sense of self-worth.

"I assume Mal's rallying them together to talk now?" Audrey continued.

"Yeah," Ben said. "She already moved out and everything."

"She must have already had one foot out the door if she was prepared to do that on such short notice," Audrey mused, which Ben wasn't surprised by, but still, maybe it stung a little despite being what he wanted. "But that works in our favor. That means she'll throw herself into this thing entirely, which means you need to act fast. Wait for Carlos' tracker to leave his apartment and then contact Jane for an emergency meeting. She won't be surprised that you're looking out for Chad – you've done that for the entirety of high school, it's what we do for our friends."

"Exactly," Ben said, lips quirking up in amusement at how very little that word seemed to describe what he had with Chad and Audrey. "And I know I haven't asked-"

"You'll have to suffer two years of being single to make our reconnection believable," Audrey interrupted with a knowing smirk. "But after that – yes, I will marry you. Make my ring rose and aquamarine and gold." The colors of Auroria, but also the colors of Sardinia – Chad's colors.

She didn't need to wear Ben's; she'd done enough for Ben in this lifetime.

"I'll throw in some pearls too," Ben said, thinking of the white accents Sardinia liked to use in its dress uniforms. "If that's okay."

Audrey's smile stretched wide. "My dear Benjamin," she began in a low drawl. "I believe that's the best suggestion you've had all evening."

Things were falling into place. Ben was making things up to her, he was building her back up, he was going to have his friend by his side again. His father wouldn't be happy, but he could go fuck himself for a bit. Tonight was about Ben reclaiming his life, and he was going to revel in it.

-:-:-

Ben wasn't stupid, so he didn't risk teleporting to Carlos and Jane's apartment – the threat of security enchantments and hidden cameras was far too high. No, he waited for Carlos to leave then sent Jane a text requesting her to teleport into his sitting room. If anyone asked, he was looking for someone to talk to about his breakup who might understand what he was going through that didn't live at Evie's. If someone really pushed the issue, he had some of Jane's recent paperwork strewn across his coffee table, thus serving as a suitable reason for Ben to have the Light Fae on his mind.

She came in short time – knowing Ben wouldn't request her immediate presence for anything that wasn't important, her concern likely compounded by Carlos' sudden retreat to Evie's for an emergency meeting.

"Ben?" she greeted, reverting back to the tentative nature from the early years of high school that Ben hadn't seen in so long. "Is everything okay?"

"As it can be," Ben allowed, motioning for her to take a seat and brushing her paperwork into an organized pile with a sheepish grin.

"Does this have to do with the emergency meeting?" Jane pressed, always one to cut to the point.

"Sort of," Ben said. "I need to call in my favor."

Jane paused, obviously not expecting that, then shifted her focus around the sitting room, that sharp mind of hers quickly putting together the obvious lack of Mal's personal effects throughout the space. Even some of the paintings were gone, but Ben didn't blame her for that. She'd worked hard on those; she should keep them.

"Mal broke things off with you," Jane whispered, like she dared not voice such a thing, her hands immediately twisting together in a nervous tell as she plopped down on the couch, her gaze lost in thought.

"It was amicable," Ben said. "And mutual."

"Then, the meeting…" Jane trailed off with a worried look.

"To confess her love."

Jane was quiet for a moment, and then she was shaking her head. "I don't want to be queen of Auradon, Ben. I know I've come a long way over the years, but I don't think I can manage that."

"That's fair," Ben said, taking in the way her shoulders immediately slumped in relief. "How about queen of Sardinia?"

Jane froze again, staring at him with that familiar look of wide-eyed shock, something that had been a perpetual companion to her during their freshman year at Auradon Prep.

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't have to," Ben began quietly. "You know that, Jane, but Chad was already pushing things dating just Evie and Doug. His council won't let him go for more no matter who that pairing includes."

And that was assuming the others would keep him, and they likely wouldn't. Ben could play on Evie and Doug's sense of guilt and inherent goodness but the others were a bit trickier to navigate – Carlos suspicious and Jay shy and Mal protective and hungry to have what was hers and only hers after going so long denying herself. The truth was, they simply wouldn't have room for Chad, which wasn't something the blond could afford.

Jane started to tremble, her gaze filling with moisture, and like the kind gentleman he was, Ben passed over his handkerchief.

"You want me to break up with Carlos," Jane whispered – a statement, not a question.

"I'm sorry," Ben repeated. "But now that Chad's eighteen, if he doesn't have a high-ranking partner his council will latch onto that as grounds to consider his dismissal from the Sardinian crown." Because they were very much in the pocket of Chad's grandfather who Ben and Audrey were still working to get a handle on, but one day – fucking one day, they would get him. "I know it isn't fair for me to ask you this. I wouldn't if I didn't have to. I wouldn't if I thought Sardinia would be good in the hands of anyone other than Chad. Asking you to do this for the sake of politics is… I can't even begin to describe how much I hate it, Jane, I really do."

He swallowed, and then much like he had with Mal, slid off the couch so that he was kneeling beside Jane, because putting himself at what seemed to be a disadvantage would give her a feeling of comfort in a subconscious way, would play to his sincerity and heartache on her behalf.

"But I need you to do this," he whispered, taking her hands between his own. "I need you to protect Chad the way I can't. And I know he isn't Carlos, but he'll do right by you." The Light Fae sniffed, tears spilling down her cheeks, but her focus was still on him, not quite lost to her grief just yet. "He will give you a great life. He will do everything possible to ensure your happiness, and I know it isn't the life you envisioned, but it will be a good one."

"I don't think I can be a queen, Ben," Jane gasped, giving him a mournful look.

"Do you want to know a secret?" Ben offered with a watery smile. "None of us feel qualified for our positions. I don't feel qualified for my job despite having trained for it my entire life. It isn't something that comes easily but Jane – I believe you can be a great queen for Sardinia, and I think you can do a lot of amazing things. You've already done so much for the Isle legislature, and you're not even out of college yet."

"That's just because of you, though," Jane sniffed. "If I went through regular channels-"

"Your talents would be wasted," Ben said, and maybe he was laying it on a bit thick, but Jane deserved it. "You're so good, Jane. You can organize things like no one's business and you always fight for what's right. The people love you, and Sardinia will love you too."

"I…" Jane gasped, new tears rolling down her cheeks. "It's so much."

"I know," Ben soothed, squeezing her hand. "I know, Jane. It's too much, but we have to talk about it now, because tomorrow might be too late."

Jane sniffed, really looking at him. "Do you really think they're going to all get together?"

"Mal just about always gets what she wants," Ben said, trying to keep any lingering bitterness from his tone. "Evie will talk to Doug and Chad before they make things official though, and Carlos will talk to you." Ben swallowed, trying to make a show of how difficult this was for him – and in a way it was, because as brief as Jane's relationship with Carlos was compared to the rest of them her love had been true, and now he was hampering that. "And when he does… I know it will be hard." He squeezed his eyes shut, building a familiar heat behind them. "I just went through it with Mal. I had to let her go because I couldn't have all of them – the council would never allow it."

"I'm sorry," Jane whispered, seeming to genuinely mean it. "I'm so sorry."

"That's my duty," Ben said, squeezing her hands again. "And I know this is unfair of me to ask of you, but I need you to do yours now, please."

The truth was, the favor Jane owed Ben was small in the grand scheme of things. What he was asking of her in return was entirely too much for the protection he and Audrey had given her for her status as a full blood Light Fae but she didn't think that, and that was all that mattered in the end.

"I'll do it," Jane said, body shaking as fresh tears continued to trail down flushed cheeks. "I'll break things off."

"Thank you," Ben gushed, nuzzling her hands. "I'll um- call Chad – we can spin a story about you two being childhood friends-"

"I- I know you'll take care of things," Jane interrupted. "But I think I want to be alone for a bit, if you don't mind."

"Of course," Ben said, giving her another sad look. "Thank you. I can't thank you enough for this."

"I know," Jane said, offering him a weak smile as she pressed to her feet. "And one day I'll be able to return that thanks. Just- I can't right now."

"That's fair," Ben said, rising up and offering her a hand. He guided her over to the spot their magic users normally teleported in on like he was walking her over to the door, some feigned touch of normality.

Just before she left, she paused, squeezing Ben's hand. "I'm really sorry about Mal, Ben," she whispered. "You guys were really good together."

"Thank you," Ben said instead of 'I'm not' because on occasion, he could show some restraint. "Have a good evening."

She left with his handkerchief clutched in her hand, which would give him a read of her emotional state as long as it was close to her. He registered her distant sorrow as a sort of beacon before he composed himself and went back to work, getting out his phone so he could contact Chad.

Like Audrey said, they weren't out of the woods yet.

-:-:-

"Is it happening?" Chad asked in Old French when he picked up Ben's call, his words coming in a quiet whisper. "Evie sent Doug and I out on a useless errand. He's off searching the store for ice cream he knows we already have while I'm hiding in the car."

"It's happening," Ben confirmed. "Mal and I parted ways. She's confessing her love for them now."

"Holy shit," Chad said, a hint of panic in his tone. "Ben-"

"I took care of things," Ben said, cutting that off at the pass. "You're going to be a bit heartbroken and then you're going to reconnect with your childhood friend Jane and date her instead."

There was a pause where Ben tried to pretend his heart wasn't doing its damnedest to beat out of his chest.

"You got Jane to break up with Carlos?"

"I called in a favor," Ben soothed. "Carlos is likely going to ask her to join their new relationship and she's going to turn him down. The two of you will need to start dating in about a week."

Which wouldn't look great for Jane, but Chad hadn't been dating Doug and Evie long, so he would be ultimately fine.

"I… oh," Chad said, struggling to process things. "Um, that- okay, that works out."

"I know it's not exactly what you wanted," Ben said, his chest feeling tight. "But I did the best I could."

"I know," Chad said, and it was amazing, how big a relief such a small amount of encouragement provided. "You've always done a great job taking care of me and this is no exception. Besides, Jane's amazing, and I'll be lucky to have her."

Ben sighed. "I'm glad you feel that way."

Before Chad could reply, Ben heard the sound of a car door opening through the line, likely predating Doug's return.

"Who is it?" he heard Doug ask, the musician sounding exhausted.

"Ben," Chad said, and Ben would bet anything that the blond was offering Doug one last comforting smile.

"Does he have information?" Doug asked, his voice sounding tight. "Does he know what Mal wants?"

There was a pause, but then Chad defaulted to what he knew, which was taking care of his boyfriend. "He and Mal called off their engagement."

"Shit," Doug hissed, taking Ben by surprise. "Shit."

"Aw, Doug," Chad soothed. "It'll be okay-"

"No it's not," Doug hissed. "They're going to start dating now – all of them."

He sounded stricken by this information, something that only worsened when he likely registered Chad's lack of surprise.

"Yeah, but Evie loves you," Chad said. "She's not going to throw you out."

"But you won't be able to stay because of your council," Doug said, taking Ben further by surprise because apparently the musician was more politically aware than Ben had anticipated.

There was also the fact that Doug sounded upset by this because he was actually attached to Chad, which was a lovely realization but also significantly complicated things.

"Fuck," Doug hissed, like he didn't have any other way to communicate his displeasure.

"I… yeah," Chad said, sounding uncertain, though he was also likely surprised by this development. "But that's okay. Doug-"

"It's not okay," Doug growled. "You're my- we-" He cut off with a strange sound. "I love Evie, but I can't throw you to the wolves."

"I'll be okay," Chad repeated. "Ben has a plan-"

"Are you going to marry him now?" Doug asked, seeming conflicted by this.

Ben felt his entire body freeze, everything seeming to go still, and for a moment he was torn between snarling and breaking his phone altogether for such a suggestion to be made.

"Don't be silly," Chad managed to giggle, recovering wonderfully. "You know we can't do that."

"I- oh," Doug said, sounding surprised. "Of course, I-" He gasped, and that sounded suspiciously wet. "I can't give you heirs."

"Doug," Chad began, his tone careful. "Do you want to date me?"

"You shouldn't be alone," Doug snapped with a protective thrum that sang to the beast within Ben. "But I can't-"

"Jane can," Chad interrupted, making Ben freeze again, because that plan was supposed to be a secret. "It'll be okay."

There was a moment where Doug processed this. "Jane's breaking up with Carlos?"

"That's the plan," Chad said. "Though if you could um- keep that secret-"

"I want to date you too," Doug said, his words so forceful that it took both of them by surprise. "You and Jane – your council should allow that, right?"

Chad obviously didn't see this as a possible response and struggled to form a reply. "I… yeah," he said. "Since it's only three, but Doug-"

"I can't compete with what they have," Doug said. "And if Jane's not going to be there I'll be the odd one out. I can't- please let me come with you." He dropped his voice. "I would have been an awful king of Hanover anyway."

"You'd still be Lord Consort of Sardinia," Ben said, managing to find his voice and remind the other two that he was still present.

"I can live with that," Doug said. "Honestly, it sounds less intimidating, and I'd be happy standing by you and Jane's side."

"If that's what you really want, we'd be happy to have you there," Chad countered, like their own happily ever after.

It was a change Ben hadn't anticipated but it was certainly something they could work with. Hell, it might even be better in terms of trying to sell things to the public. Ben would have to call Audrey after this, would have to call Jane and see if it was okay with her, though he was sure it would be. Like Doug, having someone else there to manage the load as the 'other significant leader of Sardinia' would be a great comfort for her.

Yes. If anything, this was better.

"That's what I want," Doug said, sealing the deal.

"Then that's what will happen," Ben said. "And for what it's worth – I'm sorry, guys-"

"This isn't your fault, Ben," Doug interrupted. "So you don't need to apologize for that."

"What he said," Chad chirped, and that was…

It was good.

For once, it was good.

-:-:-

The fallout from Ben's public announcement regarding the end of his engagement to Mal was somewhat predictable, though he managed the worst of it by giving Queen Snow an exclusive interview where he hit all the necessary points of a true fairytale romance by explaining that though they loved each other very much, they knew in the long-term that they wouldn't be what was best for each other. Ben explained how Fae's thrived better under polyamory – throwing in a few hints about how dwarves and merpeople were very much the same just to give some subtle reinforcement for Uma and Doug's relationships.

It was all about making the most of your opportunities.

Of course, now that Ben was single for the first time since junior high the wolves were starting to circle in. Every well-meaning royal on his council was trying to set him up with someone while every power grabbing asshole tried to manipulate their way into his favor. It meant he would have to be on the lookout for love potions and blackmail attempts and derogatory comments from the council of Central Auradon (for his father's kingdom in specific, not the union of kingdoms – Ben was still technically a prince for that, as his father would never totally surrender all of his power), but that was to be expected. Ben was ready for it.

Carlos, on the other hand, was not ready for one of the loves of his life to willingly give him away, but that was what happened when he touched base with Jane – who was ultimately supportive of him but also ultimately couldn't stay. While Ben hadn't been given the full breakdown of what had occurred, he had arranged for Jane to teleport to Auroria so she could pour her heart out to Audrey for lady time, and Ben's new fiancé had given him the lowdown after the fact.

"Of course he was surprised," Audrey said. "All of them adore Jane because he adores Jane. Carlos tried to tell her that they'd treat her like a queen and- well, you can guess how that went over."

"With a lot of crying?" Ben offered with a sigh.

You really couldn't win them all. There was always someone who was going to get the short end of the stick, and that person was now Jane.

And like, half of Doug.

"With a lot of crying," Audrey confirmed. "I managed to calm her down and distract her with planning the layout of her new space – I set up a villa for them, don't worry about it. Chad's going in early tomorrow morning to place protective enchantments around it."

"You are a queen and a godsend," Ben reminded her, just to get that fond smile.

"I figured it would be better to be safe than sorry," she said. "Granted, I mostly set it aside for Chad's use if Evie decided to dump him, but I think Jane will thrive in a new space that isn't marked by her relationship with Carlos."

Evie, but not Doug, Ben noted. Audrey wasn't one to mince words, but she did like to communicate information to Ben with all the words she didn't say. She worried that Evie might dump Chad, but she hadn't doubted Doug. Perhaps she'd seen the dwarf's strong attachment to their prince before Ben had ever noticed it.

The point remained that Audrey's forward thinking had the other three taken care of. It was notably difficult to acquire real estate in Auradon City with it being one of the educational, political, and cultural capitals of the world. With the fall semester almost completed, there was a chance of some new apartments opening up from the winter graduates, but it was unlikely. People hunted those vacancies down months in advance.

The villa really was the best choice. Sure, the Sardinia summer home was available specifically for the use of the Sardinian royal family, but Audrey knew just as well as Ben did how much riskier that would be for Chad in the long run.

Audrey really was a goddess. But then again, it should come as no real surprise, she loved Chad just as much as Ben did.

It had hurt her a lot, to learn what she'd done to the blond while she'd been possessed by Maleficent's staff, but that was a pain they were all slowly but surely working through together – Ben getting the lot of them in for a sort of informal group therapy at least once a month so they could talk things out. Nothing could be on record, but it had already worked wonders to the strained state of their relationships.

"You're right, of course," Ben said, getting back to the present. "Is the villa secluded enough to allow for transport runes to be installed?"

If he could teleport directly there without the hassle of charting a car to them, that would be ideal.

Audrey quirked an unimpressed brow at him. "Would I select a location that would allow for anything less?"

"My apologies," Ben said, grinning bright because Audrey really thought of everything. "You're the best, Audrey."

"I live to serve," she murmured, the two of them appreciating their private joke before they finally ended the call, both of them off to their own duties.

There was still much work to be done, and yet, the future seemed much brighter for it.

-:-:-

Endnotes:

Until next time :)