Chapter One Hundred and Three

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!

Oh Gods, hard to believe that there're only two more chapters to go of them reading Choosing Love and then we're on to Choosing Home!

Special shoutout to AmethystDragon14 for helping me with the comments—I don't know why but I know without your help, I'd likely wouldn't get this done until Halloween, that's how slow things were going!

Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D

Alexandria smiled as she unfurled the scroll. After all the dark stuff, it was nice to be firmly in light reading.

Chad grunted as he ratcheted the tire jack, trying desperately to get this tire changed for Audrey.

"And of course Audrey's not helping at all," Kitty muttered.

Not because of any pressing need to impress her, but because getting the tire changed would make it possible for him to go back to his room and sleep.

The Charming family sighed. "Chad…if this happens…just call Audrey a truck," Kitty said softly.

Changing a tire was exhausting business, especially when he was changing it by himself!

"Why am I not surprised?" Kitty muttered.

There'd be a Cotillion next year, he knew that.

"Was there?" Alexandria asked, looking at Malinda and Benji.

"I don't really remember," Malinda said.

Besides, nothing really changed between Cotillions. Usually the most exciting thing was that someone would get drunk and fall off the yacht.

"I'm sorry, they get what?" Eric asked, raising an eyebrow.

To this day, Chad didn't know who it was who snuck in the alcohol.

"I know it was Brandon when I was at Auradon Prep," Chip said.

"Chip!" Belle exclaimed.

"What? You thought Ben's class just decided out of the blue to get drunk at Cotillion?" Chip asked her.

What? It wasn't him! His dad would have killed him if he had made it easy for his kid sisters to get drunk!

"I would have just grounded you son but yes I would not have been pleased," Kit nodded.

"Can't you go any faster?" Audrey snapped. "We've been here for hours!"

"Why didn't you call more than one person to help you, Audrey?" Emma asked.

"I'd like to point out that I've been working at this while you've been sitting in the limo listening to the radio!"

"You actually expected her to help?" Akiho asked in shock.

"Of course Chad! You can't expect me to get my dress dirty can you? Besides, how else will I know what I've missed at Cotillion?"

"I dunno, maybe by talking to people who were there?" Emma said, her voice dry.

Chad shook his head and tried to bring his attention back to the tire.

"Why? Just drive Audrey home in your car," Rose said.

All he was thankful for was the fact that it was the tire on the opposite side of the gas exhaust. The job was difficult enough without breathing in those fumes.

All the guys who had experience working with cars nodded.

Remind me to 'thank' Conner for tossing that bottle when I get a chance, Chad thought with a grimace as he reached for the lug wrench to start removing the lug nuts that attached the tire to the limo.

"Hey maybe we could go as a team and clean up that road to Sherwood," Ben suggested, looking at Emir, Akiho, and Chad. "After all, it'd be a shame if we only won because they had to forfeit due to a flat tire…or at least that could be what we tell Coach."

When he looked back at that moment, he would wonder why he didn't just take Audrey back to Auradon in his car and then call a service for her limo the next day. Well...hindsight is 2020 after all.

"You had…have…will have a lot on your mind Chad," Lucas said.

The sounds of screams from the radio drew his attention and Chad dropped the lug wrench to look over at Audrey.

"And it starts," Claudine said softly.

"What's going on?" Chad asked.

"A VK's attacking Cotillion," Audrey told him with a sniff. "I guess Evie got bored and wanted to reprise her role as event ruiner. I wonder what villain she'll bring to Auradon this time."

"...You're hearing that someone is attacking an event your classmates are at, an event your brother is at and your first thought is to sniff about it?" Rachel cried, looking at Audrey.

I'm pretty sure Evie's a girl though and that doesn't really sound like a kid, Chad thought as an unfamiliar male voice sounded through the radio.

"Well he's certainly not a man either" Harry growled.

Though, unless he was mistaken, Audrey's eyes widened slightly. Almost as if she'd heard that voice before.

"The thing is she had," Malinda said softly.

"Fredrick...?" She whispered, and Chad tilted his head. Who the heck was Fredrick?

"A demon," Mal growled.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Is...is Ben seriously kicking someone out of Cotillion?" Chad muttered, all thoughts of changing the tire gone as he dedicated all his attention to the radio.

"I know, it is shocking," Rowyn nodded.

"He never kicks anyone out. I mean, he didn't even kick Evie out of his coronation after she stole Fairy Godmother's wand."

"That's because Evie was doing it while under duress. Freddy was not," Benji said, his voice low.

Audrey hushed him and Chad rolled his eyes, until the sound of a sword being unsheathed caused him to freeze.

"The swords have come out," Henry said softly.

There were never any weapons at Cotillion. After all, teenagers with emotions already running high was dangerous enough. Add in weapons and it was a recipe for disaster—at least that's what Jane always told him the few times he asked about it.

"She speaks the truth," Lil Shang nodded.

"Freddy, don't even think about it! Your fight's with me!"

That was Mal's voice. But...she sounded different. Normally she sounded confident and sarcastic. Maybe every a little annoyed if she was talking to him or Evie. But at that moment she sounded...angry, and tense, and scared. Who was this Freddy guy to get that reaction from Mal?

"A dark presence in my life that I neither need nor want," Mal growled.

"If I don't fight to protect my kingdom then who will?"

"I will."

"And I still would," Malinda nodded.

"Well I mean, it's your kingdom now too," Celia pointed out.

Chad shook his head slightly. Akiho's going to be freaking out right now, he thought with a sigh.

"You know him so well," Emir shook his head.

But at least it won't be a problem for long. Ben was one of the best swordsmen Chad knew after all—if this Freddy beat Ben, it would be because of some act of the Gods.

"Thanks Chad," Ben said, giving him a small smile.

And really, with Mal being the daughter of two Gods, Olympus wasn't going to risk angering her by siding with the guy fighting her boyfriend.

"No one likes Freddy, he doesn't have any favor," Harry shook his head.

"Uh Harry…" Harriet said, her eyes on Claudine.

"No it's alright Harriet. He's right, he may be my brother but even I don't like him," Claudine shook her head.

Oh yeah he knew Audrey insisted that Mal was lying and that Lady Persephone was merely Mal's step mother.

"Adoption! It's a thing!" Mal growled.

Chad didn't care. He knew the relationship his mother had with her step mother. If Mal had somehow lucked out and gotten a non-wicked step mother to the extent that she considered her her actual mother, more power to her.

"...Thank you Chad," Mal said softly after a minute.

Chad shrugged. "Don't mention it," he said softly as he never noticed the soft yet proud smile his mom was giving him.

"White moves first."

Out of the corner of his eye, Chad saw Audrey bite her lip and he had to wonder if she was worried about Phillip Jr. He knew the younger boy was attending Cotillion just like he knew that his sisters were there.

Phil Jr. looked over at Audrey, a small part of him hoping she was concerned.

Oh Gods, get out of there Kat! Lucy! Alex!

"But we're with mom and dad," Lucy pointed out. "I'm sure we're fine."

The familiar sound of swords clashing sent chills down his spine and Chad had to remind himself that Ben had a sword.

"And he has a dragon," Celia said with a grin.

Everything would be alright. Plus the others on the team would be there. If Ben got into any trouble, they could rush this Freddy guy and get him down in seconds.

"…Why didn't our scroll selves do that?" Emir asked.

"Because watching Mal destroy Freddy in her dragon form is a lot more fun," Akiho pointed out.

"Very true."

"And here I thought you'd be above such a move."

"All's fair in sparring, or at least that's what your little witch of a girlfriend likes to say according to the Isle grapevine."

"Can it Freddy, no one wants to hear your dribble," Harry muttered.

"Hmm, he doesn't seem to be a fan of Mal," he heard Audrey mutter. "Finally, someone who's not in Mal's little fan club. I had begun to think she'd enchanted all of the school!"

"Why am I not surprised that's what you latched on to? Malinda muttered.

Chad shook his head. Whenever Audrey started ranting, the safest thing was just sit there in silence and let her rant. Besides, he didn't want to miss a thing in terms of the sparring. If Ben got hurt…

"I jinxed it didn't I?' Chad sighed.

"Ben, watch out!"

"What's going on?" Chad asked as the sound of screams filled the limo.

"Nothing good."

For the first time, he wished that there was a screen on the radio so he could see Cotillion. Or even better, if he was there.

"Yes! And away from Audrey" Kitty nodded,

But his father had taught him that a Prince didn't leave a lady in need. And Audrey was one of his oldest friends, along with Ben.

"I'm so proud of you," Kit told Chad.

"Ben!"

Chad's blood ran cold as he heard Mal's voice exclaim Ben's name, the pain and fear audible in her voice.

"You weren't the only one Chad," Malinda said softly.

What'd happened? He had heard a small thunk but that could have been anything. Did Freddy have Ben hostage? A sword at his throat? Had Ben been stabbed?

"None of the above," Celia said softly.

"Karma's a tricky mistress, don't you know?"

"No, karma is a cat," Kitty said, shaking her head. "We've been over this."

Mal's growl filled the limo and oddly enough filled Chad with a bit of hope. The growl was something familiar, after all she leveled one toward Audrey practically once a day.

"...I may have to lessen that," Mal said softly.

"Akiho you might want to move!"

Uma's voice now filled the limo and Chad had to wonder why his teammate needed to move. Well that was until he heard a noise he hadn't heard since Ben's coronation.

"So dragon up up up, dragon up up up, dragon up up, Mal's a dragon!" Hadie sang.

Mal was a dragon.

"And she is about to kick Freddy's butt!" Hadie grinned.

Freddy, you're going to regret messing with Ben now, Chad thought with an inward smirk as he heard the sound of what he had to assume was Mal firing off a plume of fire.

"If only it had been at Freddy," CJ said with a longing note in her voice.

"How dare she!" Audrey exclaimed over the gasp of the Cotillion goers. "This isn't how you handle confrontations, especially not as a Lady of the Court!"

"…..Wha-Someone attacks Ben and you're saying 'how dare' Mal defend him?!" Phil Jr sputtered.

"I really don't think she cares about that," Chad pointed out. "Especially considering the fact that something's happened to Ben."

"You'd be correct Chad," Mal nodded.

Audrey sniffed. "Well maybe this will just open Ben's eyes to how bad Mal is for him and he'll realize how good we were together."

"Never going to happen Audrey," Benji said, shaking his head.

"Uh huh," Chad muttered, wishing he was back out on the road fighting with that tire. The tire would be quieter for sure.

"Just go back out Chad, your ears will thank you."

Plus the sooner he got that tire changed, the sooner he could go back to his dorm and just go to sleep. He found that sleep made the foggy feeling go away but the strange thing was it wasn't as strong as it normally was.

"I cannot kill her, I cannot kill her…" Kitty muttered.

Oddly enough, while normally being around Audrey strengthened it, now it almost seemed to weaken the already weakened feeling.

"Good!"

Maybe it was worry for his sisters? Maybe it was just concern for Ben? Maybe he was hungry?

"Well to be fair, would Chad have had dinner if he's missing Cotillion? Evan asked.

"Lumiere, unveil the gift!"

Ben's voice sounded through the speakers and Chad let out a sigh of relief. Ben would be okay.

"Of course," Malinda nodded.

Though he had to wonder what the gift was that he'd gotten Mal.

"One of the most thoughtful things he could have given me," Malinda said with a small smile.

"He never got me a gift when we went to Cotillion together," Audrey sniffed.

"Yeah well maybe he thought you wanted to just enjoy Cotillion," Chad offered. "Considering you planned the thing."

"Plus the fact that you were never a 'Lady of the Court' nor was he proposing to you Audrey," Rose added.

"...Ben, I love you."

Mal's voice prevented Audrey's response and Chad had to smile, knowing how long his friend and former captain had been waiting for those words.

Chad couldn't help but smile sadly as he heard that; a small part of him wishing he could have that…

It was clear that they were words Mal meant. Audrey would say she loved Ben but even Chad had his doubts at times.

"Because it's as clear as water is wet that she doesn't actually love him," Elle said under her breath.

I mean, she did announce she was getting a new boyfriend in mere minutes after Ben publicly broke up with her.

"Cheater," Emir 'coughed'.

"Mal, sometimes life will present you with something that, looking back, can only be credited to Fate. I know you disagree but I believe it. The decision to bring kids from the Isle to Auradon was the best decision I could have made because from the moment we got together, hell from the moment we met, you have been the best thing in my life. I never want that to change."

You're lucky Ben, don't take that for granted, Chad thought.

"Hmph, best thing in his life," Audrey sniffed. "Never mind the fact that we were together when he met her. Never mind how he humiliated me because she spelled—."

"You didn't give him a choice! He tried to talk to you about it! And you brushed it off!You brought that on yourself! Abby exclaimed.

"Ben can't be spelled Audrey," Chad told her. Honestly he was getting a little tired of the repetitive rant and he'd been someone who was always willing to lend an ear to Audrey. "You were betrothed to the guy, how has that information not sunk in yet?"

"I'm saying this, not to be mean but as a genuine thought, you really should take her to a doctor," Mal said to Audrey's parents.

"It's you and me Mal. It's you and me forever. Will you marry me? Will you be my Queen?"

"No!" Audrey exclaimed after staring at the radio for what felt like an eternity but was more likely a minute.

"Yes!" Mal's voice sounded through the limo and Chad had to smile slightly.

"Wow…deja vu moment," Audie murmured.

Sure he wasn't exactly on team VK the way Emir and Akiho were but he was happy for Ben. Mal was good for him, or at least that's what his parents said. All the adults noticed it really, how there was a change to Ben now that he had stopped dating Audrey.

Speaking of who…

"Pray for your ears Chad!" Chip said..

"What in the world is he thinking? Getting engaged to someone from the Isle? He's supposed to marry me! We have a contract after all!"

"Had a contract," Evan corrected.

I'm just going to go ahead and get back to work on that tire, Chad thought as he slipped outside, Audrey's rant still going full speed.

"Smart move Chad," Lucy nodded.

"And really is she the best choice for Queen? I mean she attacked a guest at Cotillion for no good reason other than the fact that she didn't seem to like him. A Queen needs to be more diplomatic!"

"She's a better choice for Queen then you," Uma and Hadie snapped in unison.

"Well I mean, she is a Goddess," Chad pointed out, speaking up against his better judgment.

"Why? Chad, save yourself from her ear bleeding volume" Ahkio cried.

No good reason? I'm almost certain that guy was going to kill Ben! You know, the boy you're obsessed with?! Forget about the fact that she's dating him, I'm pretty sure a threat to the King is a good reason for Mal to attack Freddy.

"...You can see which one of the two actually care for Ben here," Alexandria muttered.

"I think they can be excused in terms of momentary lapses of diplomacy when they choose."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Melody asked.

Audrey sniffed. "She's barely a Goddess. After all, she's biologically a Fae."

"...You are walking a dangerous line there…" Celia said, her voice low as both Hades and Persephone stiffened.

"You know, if you keep saying that, Mal might call your bluff and talk to your mom about getting the deed to the kingdom of the Moors," Chad told her. "You know, the kingdom you like to go on and on about how it's your birthright?"

Malinda scoffed slightly, thinking of a certain paper that came with her dowry.

Audrey waved her hand as if she was waving off his statement. "Mal keeps claiming Maleficent isn't her mother, she wouldn't touch the Moors with a ten foot pole. But I still can't believe Ben did this to me!"

"The way you're going, I might do it just to spite you," Mal muttered.

"Yes Audrey because Ben decided that what he was going to do in order to get back at you for some reason was get engaged to the girl he loved," Chad rolled his eyes as he focused his attention back on the tire.

"Sadly Chad, that actually is what she'll think," Chip shook his head.

"You could be a bit more supportive you know!"

"Why should he be? You're not exactly earning it!" Lucy said.

"Why? We broke up remember and you're ranting about how the first guy who broke up with you didn't propose to you. You are aware of how insane that is right?"

"Thank you Chad! Though sadly it will go straight over her head."

"What?!"

Chad shook his head. Gods how am I the sane one in this conversation? I'm sure my sisters would have their jaws on the ground.

"No we can kinda believe it," Alexandria said.

"Look Audrey, I'm not Mal's biggest fan but even I know that unless Ben broke up with Mal and got back with you, he's not going to propose to another girl while he's dating someone else," he told Audrey, dropping the pretense of fixing the tire.

"Um….he kinda asked a girl out while still dating one so…" Lucas said softly.

"You know you're not helping right?" Chip asked him.

"He would when he's betrothed—!"

"And the whole school knows he dropped that contract like a hot potato. Face it Audrey, you're not going to be Queen of Auradon. Now, are you going to help with this tire or are you just going to rant?"

"Audrey, listen to Chad's words. Ben. Is. Not. Betrothed. To. You. Anymore!" He hasn't been for at least six months!" Abby cried.

That turned out to be a bad choice of words as Audrey only lengthened her rant. Chad sighed and tried to tune her out, focusing instead on getting the tire off so he could put the spare on and finally be able to leave.

"Oh just leave her there," Ceila said, her voice low.

"Chad, are you even listening to me? Gods, how long does it take to change a tire anyway? If you're going to be so useless, I should have called a service instead! You're probably the one who threw the bottle in the first place!"

"Hey! You don't get to talk to him like that! The Charmed Ones and even some of the VK's cried.

Chad sighed and dropped the lug wrench, tossing Audrey the keys to his car. "There."

"What?"

"He's better than you deserve," Lonnie said with a small glare at Audrey.

"You want to get back to your dorm. Understandable. And since I'm clearly taking too long for your standards, no sense in leaving an alternative form of transportation just sitting there idle. Have your driver drive you back."

"Why not just call a tow truck? This is getting out of hand," Cinderella sighed.

Audrey sniffed but stormed off, her driver giving Chad a sympathetic look.

"Are you going to be alright Prince Chad?"

"I'll be fine Pierre," Chad nodded. He had his phone and in all honesty he'd probably just call one of the Hood boys for a ride back if he couldn't fix that tire.

"Why did you not do that in the first place?"

"I'm going to guess Audrey."

"That makes sense."

But first...he was going to call his sister.

"Yes, please do," Kit nodded.

He knew Kitty and Lucy probably wouldn't pick up, but Alex had been the one to defend him in the conversation he had overheard all those weeks ago. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number as Audrey drove off.

The Charming twins bit their lips, wincing slightly

"...Chad?" He heard his youngest sister's voice exclaim in shock.

"Why are you shocked?" Neal asked Alexandria.

"Hey Alex," Chad smiled as he leaned against Audrey's limo. "Are you alright? I heard about what happened at Cotillion."

"Yeah I'm fine. I was just about to call you. The guy who attacked Cotillion had your invitation and—."

"And that is exactly why I'm calling you," Chad finished.

"I'm fine Alex. I'm with Audrey. She had a flat tire in Sherwood Forest and she called me to see if I could come and fix it. I texted dad to let him know so he wouldn't worry but I thought he'd let you guys know."

"You did? I don't remember that from the scroll?" Kit tilted his head.

"He did," Jane nodded. "I remember because it said Chad had texted as to not worry you or Queen Ella."

"Why didn't you just call Bobby or Roland for help?"

"Aren't they the ones Kat and Lu danced with at Ben's coronation party?"

"Yeah Kitty and Lucy's boyfriends."

The aforementioned girls flushed slightly as Kit sat up.

"I'm sorry, boyfriends?! Have I been living under a rock this whole time? Also did Ben really get engaged?"

"More like in a fog..." Dizzy said softly.

"Yes you have been living under a rock and yes Ben really did get engaged. How is it you know all of this? Sherwood doesn't exactly have TVs hanging from the trees."

"That would be a strange sight," Squirmy said softly.

"Audrey has the radio on," Chad told her. "I'll let you go Alex, I just wanted to check and make sure you three were okay."

"It's my job," Chad nodded softly.

"Thanks Chad," Alexandria said and Chad could hear the smile in her voice. At least one of his sisters liked him. That was enough for him. "Get home safe okay? I want to tell you everything that happened!"

Alexandria looked at Chad. "You, me, pillow fort and gummy worms in your room," she stated with a grin.

"Deal," Chad chuckled.

"I can't wait to hear it," Chad told her. "But it'll have to wait till the morning. Sherwood's six hours away from Auradon Prep after all."

"Chad…I really think you should call someone…what if you fall asleep at the wheel?" Ben frowned slightly.

"See you tomorrow then!"

"See you tomorrow," Chad chuckled and hung up his phone before turning back to the task at hand.

"Send someone to help him or he'll be there all night," Neal said.

First thing first, turn off the limo. He smirked slightly as he turned the key, cutting off the engine.

"...What's the smirk for?" Dizzy asked.

"Probably equates it with turning Audrey off," Uma smirked slightly.

At least this way he wouldn't have to worry about the car rolling off and potentially running him over while he was working on the tire.

"An excellent idea, no one wants that," Ben nodded.

He made short work of the lug nuts but found himself hitting a bit of a conundrum with putting in the spare.

"What happened?" CJ asked.

Gods I forgot. Putting the spare in is usually a two person effort.

"So. Call. A. Service Chad! You've done your good deed" Chip sighed.

"You need some help Charming?" A familiar voice rang out and Chad had to chuckle as he saw the brown hair of Roland Hood.

"Oh good it's Roland! And I bet Bobby's with him too," Kitty and Lucy both grinned at that.

"What brings you boys out here?" Chad asked as Roland and Bobby walked out.

"I'd say helping you!"

"Kitty called, said you were changing a tire out here," Roland told him. "She also told us that we'd need earplugs because a princess would be screaming her lungs off about King Ben's engagement but it's perfectly silent."

"You just missed her boys," Lonnie shook her head.

"I told Alex I was here with Audrey," Chad explained. "But I sent Audrey off in my car before I called. It's just easier to change the tire when she's not here."

Some of the AK's shook their heads, Chad was putting in way more effort than Audrey deserved right now.

"Didn't think you'd be the type to know how to change a tire," Bobby told him.

"Mom" is all Chad said, a small smile on his lips.

"My mom insisted I know how when I asked to get my license. Now can you two help me put this spare in so I can get home?"

"Would they *be* there if they couldn't?" Squeaky tilted his head.

The Hood brothers chuckled and the three boys quickly got to work getting the tire on the car. In all honesty, with the help, it took maybe five minutes to finish up.

"Good timing," Emir nodded.

"Thanks," Chad nodded.

"No problem," Roland told him. "I mean, you may be your typical 'Chad-ish' self but we wouldn't leave you in the middle of the woods alone.

"And I appreciate that!" Chad nodded.

"Oh and by the way," Bobby said, whacking Chad over the head. "That was from Robyn."

"Fitzherbert?"

"My sister!"

"We really need a system for defining the 'Robin's' we know," Ruby chuckled.

"I know too many 'Robins' then and what was that for?"

Bobby shook his head. "She heard about what you said when Lonnie tried out for R.O.A.R."

"Oh..."

"Yeah."

"How many Robin's *do* we know?" Even mused.

"Enough Chad gets confused," Neal said.

"What are you two doing here anyway? You guys go to Auradon Prep and I'd have thought you'd be at Cotillion."

"Kat and Lu could have sent them from there," Alexandria shrugged.

Roland snorted. "As much as we like spending time with our girlfriends, a big fancy event with a bunch of royals vs spending time with our parents and sisters? Family wins every time."

"And we can understand that," Kitty nodded with a smile.

"Well trust me I'm glad you guys skipped," Chad said. "I'd be waiting for six hours for a tow truck otherwise."

"No one has to go to Cotillion," Ben shrugged.

"Or you could just call a service closer to Sherwood," Bobby told him. "Honestly, why didn't Audrey do that?"

"Because she still considers Chad her lap dog," Alexandria said with a glare.

Chad shrugged. "You guys want a ride anywhere?"

Yeah, normally he'd do the whole 'big brother hating on his sisters' boyfriends' thing but they did just help him out with that tire.

Chad's sisters gave each other a look with small smiles on their lips.

"We're good Chad," Roland said with a small smile. "You get back to Auradon Prep safely now."

"You boys are the best!" Lucy said with a smile.

"...Are you sure I can't–?"

"Kit," Cinderella shook her head.

"Yeah, one royal getting laid up on Cotillion night is enough," Bobby nodded as Chad climbed into the driver's seat, ready to make his way back to the school.

"Not the time scroll me," Chad shook his head.

Hopefully Audrey would have calmed down enough so that they could actually have a conversation rather than her just ranting at him for hours on end.

"Yeah that's likely," CJ rolled her eyes.

Oh who was he kidding? After what happened tonight, he'd be lucky if she stopped ranting within the week.

"You're being too optimistic Chad," Lonnie shook her head.

He'd start looking for a new girlfriend but Audrey had an iron clad grip on his love life. If she wasn't with Ben, then she was with him.

"No one has an 'ironclad grip' on someone's love life as we proved," Hades shook his head.

After all, if they got married then she'd be the Queen of two kingdoms as she liked to say.

"And thank Gods we know you don't marry her!" The Charmed ones exclaimed.

"Ben, you don't know how lucky you are," he muttered as he drove off, turning on the radio and flipping it over to his favorite station so that he could have some good music to listen to rather than people speculating about who the villain was who attacked Cotillion.

"I can understand why but you really should listen to it for a bit. The more you know about a hostile party,the better," Shang said quietly.

Though Chad did have to wonder...how did Audrey know who he was? After all Audrey hated talking to Mal, Evie and Uma. Never mind Jay, Harry and Gil. She'd tolerate Hadie but that was probably because the kid was eleven.

"You don't want to know Chad," Mal shook her head.

Eh, I'll worry about it in the morning. For right now, let's get back and climb into the shower. Wipe off all the grime of the dirt road and then sleep for six months, he thought with a small smile as he made the drive back to Auradon Prep.

"And you earned that honey," Cinderella nodded.

Alexandria smiled as she looked at the scroll. "That's the end. Who wants to read next?"

"I'll go again if no one else minds," James said.

"I think we've lost any semblance of order so go ahead," Hades told him.