Chapter Forty Six
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else is owned by either Disney or the Greek Myths.
*peeks head around corner to check on incoming mob* Sorry! I had to delay the update a bit because I was working on updating my Ao3 account, getting caught up to where it was before I deleted my account last month. I would have been able to multitask if I hadn't had to edit Watch and Learn, Crossing the Bridge, and Crossing the Water to fit Ao3 guidelines.
But they're all updated now so I can get back to focusing on this! :D Well, and planning out an idea I have for another story…
Marcus Emrys: Ah very true! And lol I would love to sew Leah's mouth shut! There's a reason why her comments have been few and far between!
Guest: Of course I don't mind! I love your little AU and the idea of Genevieve with Dude was adorable!
danifan3000: Well I mean that could have been because Jane was out of practice with her magic compared to Mal since Wicked World takes place after Ben's coronation.
JL113: Ask and you'll receive! :D
JaclynnM: Oh thank you!
a-person-on-the-internet-75: Honestly it was the one thing about Descendants that truly bugged me. Ben at least addressed the love potion even if he was wrong about the reason why Mal spelled him. They can't honestly have us think that Evie didn't immediately go to Jay or Mal and say 'hey a boy here in Auradon has admitted to stalking me'? Nope, instead she goes out with him.
LotusQuil: First off, I want to just say that Choosing Hadie was amazing and the last chapter was probably one of the best I've ever read. Seriously people, if you haven't done it yet, check it out! But yeah I know about allergies developing over time. My grandfather ate so much shrimp when he was in basic training down in Florida during WW2 that he made himself allergic.
AmethystDragon14: Yay! I know, he's all grown up! Can you imagine what Hades will be like when Hadie starts dating? :D
BlackWidowAndCapRule: Oh I"m so glad to hear that! Thank you! :D
61394: Yeah, that's definitely a possibility. And of course the hyenas deserve fresh meat! :D
twilightgirl587: Nope! Evie's dad's name is Daniel. Emma's dad name is David (it was Ferdinand over in Watch and Learn but David's easier to spell lol) :D
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Let men know what you think! :D
Anna smiled as she unfurled the scroll. While it was strange to read about the future, it was nice to know that Akiho would be doing okay.
Even if knowing that there was a timeline where he got to have siblings made Anna a tad sad.
Mal paced her room, slightly nervous for her mom's arrival.
"But it's mom," Hadie said, shaking his head. "No need to be nervous."
Maleficent's spell book had already been shoved into her dresser drawer, under her socks, as to avoid detection.
"Typical hiding spot," Emir said as he shook his head. "That's where Ben hides the key to his office. As if he thinks that will deter me."
"It should," Ben said, his voice flat.
Malinda chuckled and looked at Benji. "Is that why you ended up moving it to your underwear drawer?"
"Sure is," Benji nodded.
"You honestly think that would deter me?" Emir asked.
"It deters Dean so it should deter you," Benji told him.
The last thing she wanted was to see the look of disappointment on her mom's face as her mom realized Mal had spelled Ben.
"Ah yes, the age old fear of disappointing your mother," Melody nodded.
I should donate that book to the Museum, Mal thought after making sure the mind link was temporarily muted. After all, once I make the antidote to the love potion cookies, I won't need it and Maleficent did write a bit of information on the Fae in there. It'd be a shame to just burn it.
Benji looked at Malinda in shock. "Burn it? You wanted to burn it? It's like—."
"Ben, Ben, calm down," Malinda said as she shook her head. "I know, I know. Harming a book in any way is a sin to you and your mother but it was a thought I had when I was sixteen okay? It's safe in the museum remember?"
But this wasn't the time to worry about that. Mal needed to prepare for her date with Ben.
"Ooh!" Dizzy grinned and bounced a little in excitement.
Gods! A date! Mal hadn't been lying when she told her mom dates weren't done on the Isle—the only 'relationship' Mal had had was a flirtationship with Harry when they were thirteen. Mainly to see what it was like since she had never had one before.
"Probably because Maleficent would have fried any guy you actually went on an established flirtationship with if she found out," Jay said.
If Mal was honest, it was weird—it was almost like dating Hadie.
"That hasn't stopped some of the Gods before," Demeter noted.
"And that was more information about Olympus than I needed," Uma muttered as she shook her head.
Besides, after Uma had caught them in the clubhouse two weeks into the flirtationship, Mal decided to end it. Thankfully Harry agreed that it just felt too weird and their friendship hadn't been ruined. All they had been doing was cuddling and Harry had just put a kiss on her forehead, the same way he would Harriet. Didn't matter though, the look on Uma's face would be enough to guilt Mal for the rest of her days.
"I didn't have a look on my face. Besides, you can do whatever you want with Harry, Mal. I don't care," Uma muttered.
Harry looked at her in shock. "Oh really? Then why didn't you talk to me for two weeks? It's not like Mal and I did anything wrong, she wanted to see what the big deal was and trusted me enough to ask."
"Oh Harry," Milah whispered with a fond smile as she shook her head, looking at the interaction between her son and his friend. It was so obvious that Uma liked him, why couldn't he see that?
Gods I can't believe I agreed to this, Mal thought, bringing herself back to the present. I don't know the first thing about being girly.
Rachel shook her head. "Rose and Ruby can help you out if you want. They're the 'girly' ones in the family."
"Yeah and Lucy's pretty girly herself," Kitty nodded.
Mal, honey, all a date is really is just looking nice and being yourself, Persephone's voice gently rang through her head.
"…I can either look nice or be myself," Mal said. "There's no middle ground there."
Well which one is it mom? I can't do both, Mal told her, shaking her head slightly as the mind link was once again used. I can't 'be myself' while trying to look like a prissy princess.
"I see you don't change much," Rowyn chuckled.
Honey, you don't have to look like a princess. Prince Ben asked you out because he liked you for who you are, not how you looked.
Gods I must be out of my mind to agree to this.
No Mali sweetheart, you're not. There's nothing wrong with just wanting to be a teenage girl for once.
"Every girl feels the same way on her first date Mal. It's completely normal," Rachel said, giving Mal a small smile.
"You are a teenage girl honey. It's time you got to act like it for once," Persephone said, her gentle tone of voice sounding almost off putting as she gave Hades a 'don't smite him' look.
Mom, the teenage girls here are nothing but shallow and vapid idiots…well with the exception of Lonnie. Mulan's daughter. She's the only girl around here who knows how to use a sword.
"Hey!" Rose and Emma exclaimed.
"Not all of us are 'shallow and vapid idiots'!" Elle agreed.
Why am I not surprised? Persephone's voice asked, sounding amused.
Mal chuckled before sighing. Mom, why am I doing this?
"To make sure that the others get off the Isle, because you don't want to see Ben's disappointed eyes by giving him a negative response, and because finally deep down you want to," Malinda said, ticking off each reason on her fingers.
Only you can answer that sweetheart, Persephone said gently. A first date was supposed to be fun, not something to freak out about.
Mal sighed again. There was really only one reason that she could tell her mom-there was no way saying that she was going on a date because Ben was under a love spell that she still hadn't removed would fly as an excuse. I'm doing it to get in his good books, so that Uma, Hadie and Harry can come here.
"You were in his good books the minute you stepped out of the limo," Audie chuckled.
Mali, dear, he asked you on a date. Something tells me you're already in his good books.
Mom, I'm a VK in Auradon. The only person who's good books I'm in are yours and the other VKs.
"And Ben's," Abby added.
Mal, I've spent a lot of time in Auradon. Prince Ben doesn't strike me as the type of person to spend time with someone he doesn't like.
"Only if he feels 'obligated' to," Emir muttered.
"Audrey," Akiho coughed.
If you say so. He sure spent a lot of time around Sleeping Brat when I first arrived and I don't think anyone likes her.
Mal, honey, that was probably out of obligation.
"And what is wrong with him spending time with his girlfriend?" Leah asked. She was ignored.
Mal sighed. You know that was one of the few good things about the Isle. If you didn't like someone, you could just say so and avoid them.
Sweetheart, just relax okay? I'll be there soon. Why don't you take a shower and get changed?
Okay mom. See you soon.
"Ah hot water. I love it," Malinda said with a small smile.
Mal smiled slightly as she ended the mind link call. It was weird but there was a small, very small, part of her that was looking forward to this. If only because she got to see her mom.
"There are other ways to see your mother rather than going out with a boy," Hades muttered.
Persephone shook her head at Hades, having heard the mutters, before giving Mal a smile. "I'm glad Mali. I'm glad I'll be able to help out in some way."
Getting the chosen garment out of her wardrobe, Mal headed into the bathroom. Quickly closing the door, Mal hung the dress up on the doorknob before hopping into the shower.
That sounds amazing, Mal thought to herself. Hot, running water…well it would be a lot different than how they made do on the Isle that was for certain.
She couldn't help but sigh as the water from the shower hit her skin. She may not have been a girly girl and she may have missed parts of the Isle but the hot running water was something Auradon had that she wouldn't give up for the world. It was heaven.
"Honestly the Isle should have running water. The style and bounce that a warm shower can give a head of hair…"
"Okay dad, I think they get it," Robin chuckled as the other Fitzherbert kids shook their head as Eugene continued to ramble on about the benefits of running water.
Uma and Harry were going to love it when they got there.
"Ahem?" Hadie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You go without saying, storm cloud," Mal chuckled.
Celia shook her head. "Yeah Flametop, I'm pretty sure Mal would move the cosmos to make sure you got off the Isle."
Quickly finishing up, Mal stepped out and dried off before slipping the dress on and stepping back into her bedroom. She wanted to hate it, but when she looked into the mirror she had to admit that it was pretty. She was pretty. It wasn't that she was ugly per say but Mal knew she would never be the type of person to turn a guy's head. At least…not an Isle guy.
Jay, Harry, and Benji all snorted softly before Jay looked over at Mal. "Yeah, that's why you have two guys on the Isle and a Crown Prince 'turning their heads'."
Mal rolled her eyes. "You two still think that Zevon has a crush on me? Not to mention whatever obsession Freddy has?"
"We 'still think' it because they do Mal," Jay and Harry sad in unison.
"They're both obsessed with you and it's only due to their mutual hate of each other that keeps them from teaming up," Jay added.
Mal rolled her eyes once more. "The day Freddy teams up with Zevon is the day the barrier comes down. Never going to happen. Freddy hates magic remember? And Zevon loves his potions."
Ben looked over at Mal with a small frown. "Should I be worried?"
"Not yet," Benji muttered under his breath. Malinda gently took his hand and gave it a small squeeze. She knew what he was thinking about, even if she hadn't heard his comment.
"Nah, Jay and Harry have this running line about Freddy and Zevon," Mal told Ben, having not heard the older Ben's mutter.
She shook her head, preventing any thoughts from creeping into her head. Ben was just being polite with the attention he gave the VKs—and the only reason he asked her out was because he was still spelled.
Mal leveled a glare toward the other readers her age and younger, as if daring them to mention the fact that Ben technically wasn't spelled.
Hey she wasn't an idiot, she knew the likelihood of intimidating the older readers was slim to none for her. Granted her older self probably could but then there was the potential risk to the kid inside her.
A knock at the door interrupted Mal's mental diatribe. "Yeah?"
"It's me, Mali. Can I come in?"
Mal took a breath before nodding. It took a second for her to realize that there was a solid wooden door between her and Persephone. "Um, yeah mom!"
"I may be a Goddess, Mal, but even I don't have the ability to see through a solid wood door," Persephone said with a small chuckle.
"Oh my! Don't you look lovely already!" Persephone said with a smile as she came in and closed the door behind her.
"Thanks mom," Mal muttered, brushing some hair out of her eyes. The nice thing about having short, thin hair was that it didn't take too long to dry in the air especially in a land of sun. Persephone patted the bed and took Mal's brush off her dresser.
"You have to say that, you're my mom," Mal said with a slight smile.
"Humor your old mother?"
"Mom, you're not old," Mal rolled her eyes but sat down next to Persephone. She had to admit, there was nothing better than her mom brushing out her hair. Mal didn't even mind the small braid Steph put in it. It wasn't too flashy and Mal had to admit, it looked nice.
"Aunt Persephone wouldn't make you look bad," Macaria said, shaking her head.
"You won't need much make up," Persephone told her with a smile as she put the brush back on the dresser.
"Oh thank Gods," Mal sighed in relief. All she wanted was to avoid being a prissy princess.
Uma shrugged. "What? I think Blue…Evie's the only teenage girl on the Isle who has use for the stuff."
"Just a bit of black eyeliner and a small amount of blush to give you some color," Persephone added as she took out the makeup. Mal nodded, looking at the eyeliner with a bit of apprehension.
"Did they have to make it so pointy?" Malinda muttered.
She trusted her mother of course, but after six years of living only with Maleficent, Mal had a slight wariness of sharp things coming anywhere near her.
Yes, even swords. Only a crazy person would welcome a sword being brandished at them.
"Does that mean I'm crazy? Cause I love sparring," Harry said.
"Yes," Harriet told him in a deadpanned tone.
"You're just as bad as I am Harriet!"
"Oh I know. Doesn't mean you're not crazy though Harry."
"It's alright sweetheart. I won't poke your eyes," Steph said, her voice gentle as if knowing what Mal was thinking about. "I promise."
"Thank the Gods I'm a boy and I don't have to worry about that stuff," Hadie chuckled.
"Oh really, and what's so wrong with boys wearing a bit of eyeliner little Lord?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You don't wear a 'bit' Harry, you look like you're trying to become a raccoon!"
"All the better for intimidating your enemies with!"
"I know, I trust you mom," Mal said softly. Persephone smiled gently as she picked up the black pencil.
"Okay Mal, I'm going to do the eyeliner first," she said. "Now, I'm not going to poke your eyes out but I'm still going to advise you stay still."
"Good idea. Squirming only increases the chances of getting poked in the eye," Kitty nodded and gave Lucy a look.
"For the last time, you should have warned me you needed to sneeze the last time I did your makeup!" Lucy told her.
Mal nodded slowly and froze in place as Persephone quickly got to work as to not make Mal too tense.
Yeah that wasn't possible. Between hiding the fact that I'd 'spelled' Ben and the idea of a date at all, there was no calming me down, Malinda thought with an inward sigh.
"Wow, easy on the blush," Mal said at one point with a small chuckle. "I don't want to scare him away."
"Is that possible?" Chip asked with a small chuckle.
Uma and Harry's ability to get off the Isle depended on this after all-plus it wasn't like Mal could scare Ben away. Love spell, remember?
"But he's not spelled!" Phil said with a bit of a song in his voice.
"Hey, horrid version of Audie? You want to smack your brother for me?" Malinda asked.
"Why are you asking me? Surely you'd rather use magic to do it," Audrey sniffed.
"Hmm, yeah true but Ben thinks it's bad for the baby," Malinda shrugged.
"It is! Or at least it could be!" Benji exclaimed.
Audie chuckled and got up, walking over to Phil and lightly smacking him on the shoulder. "Don't give me that look, you know Malinda said that would be what happened to the next person who said Ben wasn't spelled."
"Trust me sweetheart. You won't scare him away," Persephone told her. "I didn't use that much blush anyway."
She gently put a tiny bit of lipstick on Mal's lips, dabbing it with the tip of her finger before applying it.
"Hang on, didn't Aunt Persephone say that it was just going to be eyeliner and blush?" Herkie asked.
"Yeah, she said nothing about lipstick!" Macaria nodded.
"You're probably the only person I'd get makeup tips from," Mal said with a small smile.
"No really Mal? And here I was imagining you and Maleficent having a spa day and giving each other makeovers," Jay chuckled, shaking his head.
"I worry about you," Mal told him.
Persephone gave Mal a small smile of her own. "Trust me honey, you don't need much makeup. Just a small amount to accent your natural beauty."
"I don't have natural beauty," Mal muttered.
"Yes you do Mal, you're beautiful in every way and any time," Benji said, leaning over and kissing Malinda on the cheek.
"I'm pretty sure you have to say that since you're married to me," Malinda told him.
"Married or not, it doesn't make it any less true."
The baby gave a small kick as Benji finished saying that, causing him to smile. "Looks like our firefly agrees with me."
Malinda chuckled. "Very convenient timing Benny."
"Hey, I can't control what Firefly does, Dragon," Benji said with a small smile.
Persephone couldn't help but give a sad smile at hearing that. "Yes you do honey. Why don't you go and look in the mirror, tell me if I'm wrong?"
Persephone couldn't help but give her daughter a small smile. "And your reflection is about to prove how beautiful you are, sweetheart."
Mal nodded slowly and got up off the bed. Grabbing her black leather jacket, Mal look a look in the full length mirror. She couldn't help but be shocked—the mirror had to be broken or something.
"We wouldn't have a broken mirror in the dorms dear," Fairy Godmother said.
"I'm pretty sure I didn't mean that it was physically broken, Fairy Godmother," Malinda told her.
"Mom, I'm—I'm—not hideous," Mal said, finally getting the rest of the words out. Gods it was a good thing Uma and Harry couldn't see her though. They'd never let her live it down.
"I think the word you meant to say was 'gorgeous' because that's what you are," Benji whispered to Malinda before kissing the top of her head.
"Were there pictures?" Uma asked with a smirk.
"I'm sure mom took some," Malinda said, shaking her head before resting it on Benji's shoulder.
"Not even close," Persephone said with a small chuckle as she walked over and gently putting her hand on Mal's shoulders.
"You know Mal, the fact that you don't see yourself as beautiful and flaunt it is a good thing," Phil said. "It makes you more pleasant to be around than some people we could name."
A knock on the door prevented Mal from responding and she looked over at Persephone.
"I think that's your date," Persephone whispered with a smile. Mal sighed and walked toward the door to open it, a slight feeling of nerves building in the pit of her stomach and she had to remind herself to breathe. She opened the door and saw Ben.
Benji couldn't help but smile fondly at the memory.
Of course, Mal had to blink a couple of times to make sure she was actually looking at Ben and not an imposter
"What, was his hair messed up and his clothes wrinkled or something?" Emma asked.
—instead of his usual suits, he was wearing a pair of tan slacks and dress shoes. She couldn't tell what shirt he was wearing because it was covered by what looked like a letterman jacket.
Emir, Akiho, and Chip all stared at Ben in shock.
"What's this? Ben not wearing a suit?" Akiho asked as he regained his ability to speak.
"I own more than suits!" Ben exclaimed.
"You don't wear them is the problem!" Emir shot back.
"For the first time, I understand the difference between pretty and beautiful," Ben told her and a shy smile came to Mal's face without permission.
"A cheesy but acceptable line," Chip said with a small chuckle.
Uma shook her head. "Are all Boreadon 'date' lines that corny?"
Mal chuckled slightly as she saw the small smile Uma gave her and shot a small smile back at her cousin.
Benji flushed slightly. "It was the first thing that came to mind…and it was better to say something than stare awestruck at how beautiful Mal was for probably twenty five minutes."
Malinda chuckled. "I think I'd've worried for your health or that mom had somehow turned me into Medusa if you'd done that."
Persephone shook her head in amusement. "I wouldn't have done that Mal. That's more Athena's style anyway."
Ben held out a helmet. "I hope you like bikes."
Mal couldn't help but smile again, taking the helmet and slowly stepping closer to him. Ben looked over Mal's shoulder and paused for a second as he saw that Persephone was in fact standing in Mal's room.
"Awkward!" Ashaki chuckled.
"L-Lady Persephone, it's a pleasure to see you again," he said, remembering his manners after stammering a bit out of nerves. "I hope your family's doing well?"
"Mom wasn't going to smite you, you know," Malinda chuckled as she teased Benji.
"Your mother is also known for turning people she dislikes into a mint plant," Benji countered.
"Very well thank you," Persephone nodded with a smile on her face. "As you can see, my daughter is doing quite well. I hope your family is as well Prince Ben."
"They are, thank you."
"Yes, smart. A good way to keep relations between Auradon and Olympus strong Ben," Beast nodded.
Benji smiled before muttering to himself, "yes…and it's also a good way to not get smote by your girlfriend's mother."
"Oh mom?" Mal said, turning to look at Persephone. "If you have to tell dad about this, ease him into it?"
"No dear I was going to just drop the news that his daughter was on her first date on him and watch the reaction," Persephone said dryly.
"Can you film said reaction?" Uma asked as Harry nodded.
Persephone chuckled. "If it's not in these scrolls, I promise you Uma that I will try and film it. Though honestly, judging by how your uncle's acting right now, I'd say you're about to see the reaction first hand."
Sure enough, Hades looked properly steamed and could be heard muttering things like 'my little girl' and 'just a baby' and 'he hurts her, he gets the river Styx'.
"Dad," Malinda said, smiling at her dad's reaction even as she shook her head in amusement.
"Well as long as you have a plan," Mal chuckled and turned to look at Ben. "Shall we go?"
Ben nodded. "Lady Persephone, I hope you have a great rest of your day," he said not wanting to leave without saying goodbye. It was a bad idea to be rude to a Goddess. It was an incredibly bad idea to be rude to a Goddess who was also your date's mother.
"And it would be an astronomically bad idea to be rude to a Goddess who was also your future mother in law," Benji added.
Persephone nodded, walking to the door to close it as Mal and Ben walked off. There was no point in Persephone standing in her daughter's empty bedroom. That was just weird. She couldn't help but smile though as Mal and Ben walked off, each one holding a helmet in their hands.
"So standing in my empty dorm room was weird but watching me and Ben walk off wasn't?" Malinda asked.
She would do the 'if you hurt her, I'll smite you into microscopic particles' talk depending on how the date went. She would get the details from Mal later.
"I don't think I gave mom the details…wait yeah I did," Malinda nodded.
"You did?" Benji asked.
"Yeah, it was over the mental link though," Malinda told him. He need never know it was because I was freaking out over finding him attractive. I wonder if Akiho still has that reindeer shirt for Ben to borrow at some point though, she thought.
Meanwhile, Mal was busy trying to not bite her lip. She didn't know why she was nervous—she had interacted with Ben before. Hell, most of the time Mal made him stammer or blush like the golden boy he was. But at the same time, there was something different about this time.
"Like Rachel said Mal, we all do it. It's perfectly normal," Robin told her.
Harry shook his head. "Mal doesn't get nervous."
No matter what excuse she gave to herself—Ben was spelled, she was just doing this to keep Uma and Harry in the potential running for when they brought more kids off the Isle, she didn't want Audrey to somehow finagle her claws back into Ben—there was no denying the fact that this was a date.
"Yes it is and you should enjoy it," Chip said, grinning ear to ear.
Ben looked over at Mal as they made their way over to his bike. "You okay? You're awfully quiet," he said softly.
"I'm fine," Mal said, forcing a smile on her face.
"Yeah Ben's not going to buy that," Emir said, shaking his head. "He might try the same trick regarding himself but when it comes to others, he's very perceptive our Ben."
"You sure?" Ben asked. The last thing he wanted to do was have her do anything she wasn't comfortable with, including the date.
Mal sighed. "I just..I don't know how to do this," she said quietly.
"I didn't either, Dragon," Benji said, giving Malinda a small smile.
Audrey rolled her eyes as she heard that. "We go on plenty of dates Ben."
"If you can call the only words being said between us 'how do I look' and 'nice' as you went in and out of changing rooms and then me trailing behind you loaded down with bags 'dates' Audrey," Benji told her.
Audrey shook her head. "You know you can always get something too Ben. Honestly it's like pulling teeth with you sometimes to get a conversation going. Your mind's always a million miles away with we're on our dates."
"Because he's a workaholic and is probably going through his mental check list of things he'll need to do once he's back from said 'date'," Lonnie muttered.
"You've never been on a date before?" Ben asked and Mal shook her head.
"We don't date much on the Isle. It's more like…gang activity," she told him, brushing a bit of hair behind her ear.
"Because feelings are a weakness that can be exploited and the last thing you want is for someone to get hurt because of you," Uma said firmly.
It of course did not escape Mal, Jay, or Harriet that Uma was pointedly avoiding Harry's eyes as she said that.
"Well then I'll just have to make this time extra special for you," Ben said with a smile. He kinda liked the idea of being Mal's first date.
"It's special, a first ever date. So of course I liked the idea," Benji said.
Mal gave him a small smile. "You don't have to do that Ben. Really."
"I want to."
"Ben really, you don't need to…don't go through any trouble. You're already doing enough."
"You made it so he can have a date where he's not a pack mule and got him his Sundays back. I think…holy cats when is the Championship?"
"Why?" Ben asked, looking at Akiho.
"Because if this isn't a Sunday, then you my fine furry friend are playing hooky from the 'must attend' council meetings!" Akiho said with a grin.
Ben shook his head. "You are aware I have no fur, my fine frozen friend?"
"Oh nice alteration!"
Ben gave her a small smile. "Mal, it's no trouble and definitely not any stress."
"Does this mean you'll tell me where we're going?"
Ben chuckled. "Nice try. I want to keep it a surprise but I think you'll really like it."
"Benny? Word to the wise, it's a bad idea to try to surprise a kid from the Isle," Uma said.
Mal couldn't help but smirk slightly at that. "You really want to surprise a VK? Not the best idea Ben."
"Mal, I promise. It's a good surprise," Ben said with a chuckle. Mal chuckled herself as the two of them made it to Ben's bike and Ben held it steady so that Mal could get on first.
"Always the gentleman," Chip said with a small smile.
Mal couldn't help but smile slightly as Ben got on the bike.
"All set?" Ben asked as he put his helmet on.
"Yeah," Mal nodded.
Ben grinned and started up the bike. "Okay," he said and drove off.
"And not a member of Ben's security team to be found," Emir said, shaking his head.
"Well we already knew Ben gave them the day off," Kitty told him.
Belle bit her lip. "Drive safely Ben."
"I can promise you mom, I drove the exact speed limit. I wasn't going to risk Mal getting hurt," Benji told her.
Anna smiled as she rolled the scroll back up. "Well now, who's next?"
"Dibs!" Akiho called. "It's Ben's first date with Mal, how could I not want to read that?"
