Chapter Forty 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.

*ducks projectiles* Gah! I know, I know, I've been silent for about a week. I have a good reason though! I moved from my apartment to a new place—bigger space, no roommate, and I'm not confined to my bedroom the whole time. That being said, it was still exhausting and I was taking stuff to my new place every day until the movers came on Saturday to take my furniture.

So yeah, if I go a while between updates, don't panic! It's either I'm wrestling with a lovely bout of writer's block and my muses have abandoned me, or real life is whacking me over the head.

HufflepuffInDaHealingCoven: I know right! When I first saw the movie, I actually felt some second hand embarrassment for Ben during that song but now it's one of my favorite scenes! And yep, time for some much needed talks between Ben and his parents and Chad and his parents!

Tracie Adams: Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter!

61394: Oh dear Gods, that image is terrifying! Hopefully they've matured since we saw them in Brave.

Marcus Emrys: Yep, it's from the musical version with Brandy and Whitney Houston. And I'm not ashamed to admit I chuckled a little at the image of Phil Jr. punching Leah for trying to take Audrey's stuffed rabbit.

InuKagLove22: LotusQuil has thoughtfully made a seating chart on their Tumblr which is also visible on mine if you want to check it out for reference! :D

AmethystDragon14: Yay! Did I mention how much I love that song? Yep, it's Audrey's fault in all honesty! Though considering Ben and Mal are True Love, I'd see Ben and Audrey breaking up at some point anyway.

LotusQuil: Oh thank you! And thank you for making that seating chart! It's going to be very helpful! Also, the comment about the bathroom was a good one—I'm sure many of the readers need to relieve themselves by now.

danifan3000: Whoa…that's a bit too far for me in all honesty and I can't stand Audrey.

Katt Kiki: Hope you enjoy the chapter! :D

twilightgirl587: I'm a Hufflepuff too! :D Honestly that's something that bugged me in canon as well, like you have the Crown Prince of Auradon playing this game that is clearly dangerous in that they wear helmets. And I mean there are guys clearly on the cheerleading squad—Disney could have had it where Ben was a cheerleader and sort of going against the VK's preconceived notions of Auradon being 'prissy' and 'soft' and…and I need to stop myself before I get an idea for another story. Of course she is, considering it's the same universe! :D

Hufflepuff24: I'm glad she was too, because it helped in terms of writing reactions!

Anonymous Reader: Oh I'm so glad you liked the chapter! And not at all, I laugh all the time when I re-read the story! :D Hmm, I'll think about it but the issue would be a: too many characters and b: we'd have three Mal's and three Ben's. I'd need to find a way to differentiate them.

jessaminego5134: He's selfless…to the point it's almost annoying lol. I think Rajah counts if that counts! :D

EllaBSinging: They're in the same chapter!

Phatimah: Sorry about the delay! I was moving and I was exhausted by the end of every day. The last thing I wanted to do was write.

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

Ben couldn't help but stare at the floating eyeball in the corner, hoping beyond hope that it would start to pulse and spin once more and bring some new people to the reading thereby distracting his parents yet again.

Unfortunately for him, lighting didn't strike twice. Hence why he quickly found himself in the room that had been used for the awkward private chats others had already used it for.

Hopefully the Fates created a new room for the Charmings, Ben thought as he lightly bit his lip. Being in a room with his parents, Chip, Abby, and the older version of himself was not exactly an experience he'd expected to ever have.

Emphasis on ever.

The only good thing was that Akiho and Emir weren't in the room as well; both of them had been pulled aside by their parents to talk about the fact that, well, they hadn't talked to an adult and tried to take matters into their own hands regarding Ben's eating habits and sleeping schedule.

"Okay," Abby said, clapping her hands together. "I'll be the first to break the slightly ominous silence coming from all of us. I think there's a subject we need to discuss with my particularly stubborn older brother."

"There's nothing to discuss and I'm not stubborn," Ben said, shaking his head and earning a small snort of amusement from Benji. Malinda wasn't in the room, having said that she felt that this should be something that was just between family. Also, she'd said that she wanted to try to knock some sense into her younger self regarding the whole feud with Evie.

Abby rolled her eyes. "Benjamin Florian, I've watched you for thirteen years. I've seen the way you never put yourself first, I've seen how you put yourself through hell with the Banshee all for the sake of Auradon. There is certainly something to discuss because if you join me in Elysium before you have great, great, great grandchildren, I will kick your ass and find a way to send you right back!"

"Language young lady," Belle warned.

"Yes mom," Abby nodded. "But you see my point right?"

"That you've spent too much time watching Akiho and Emir to have learned their nickname for Audrey?" Ben asked.

"Is that really possible? To spend too much time watching the interactions of my brother's best friends?"

Ben sighed. "Abigail, I have to put Auradon first. A King puts the needs of his people above his own. But why does everyone think I'm going to end up hurting myself or worse? Clearly I survive to adulthood since the older me is sitting right there. Now, can we please drop it? I'm fine, there's nothing to discuss."

Benji sighed and knelt down in front of his younger self, the younger Ben having been sat down in a chair as to prevent him from running off from the conversation.

"Okay here's the deal," he said. "You can keep saying that there's nothing to discuss but that doesn't change the fact that there is something to talk about. That's the fun part about being you, you know? I know what's going on in that head of yours. Right now you think you're not hurting yourself because you're sixteen but we skipped dinner eleven times. Not to mention the number of times we missed breakfast because of oversleeping causing us to run late."

"Hold up, Ben are you saying there were days where lunch was your only meal?" Chip asked.

"Well yes but that's not helping right now Chip," Benji said, shaking his head slightly. "Ben, do you know how lucky we were that Malinda got pregnant? Yes she's a Godling but she's also a girl from the Isle. That on top of us constantly skipping meals could have put both of us at risk for reproductive issues. It'd be a lot harder to recover from a broken bone from Tourney if it didn't heal."

"But I eat though! I don't skip meals on purpose. I just…get in the zone when it comes to paperwork and sometimes I lose track of time," Ben said, well aware of everyone's eyes on him. "Auradon comes first, I can't just let stuff fall to the wayside because my schedule is a bit busier than normal—."

"No." Benji said and Ben looked at him in surprise as Benji's tone seemed almost cooler than normal. The only other time his tone had been so cool was whenever he was talking to Leah. "My kid comes first. My wife comes first. My family comes first. That is something I learned because of people like Mal and the other VKs and of course my best friends. Not from slumping over my desk doing paperwork!"

There was no need for the younger Ben to learn that his friends still considered him a workaholic, and of course he knew about the system that Dean set up to ensure Ben didn't stay by his desk at all hours.

"Ben, honey, we're not mad at you," Belle said, trying to keep her voice gentle. "But at the same time, we're concerned. Especially since now we know you kept a concussion from us?"

"Your mother's right son," Beast nodded. "What if it'd been more serious and your mother and I didn't know?"

"I didn't want to worry you," Ben said, his voice soft.

"He's telling the truth there," Benji nodded as he looked at his parents before looking at his younger self. "But one thing I've learned since Mal got pregnant, worrying about their kid is the job of a parent. No matter what we did, mom and dad were going to worry about us. They still worry about us. You're not just the Crown Prince or future King to them—you're their son."

"Benji's right Ben," Chip nodded. "What if the tables were turned and I was the one skipping meals and falling asleep at my desk? Or what about your kid? What if you found out that they were hiding these things from you? Would you put up with it being treated like it didn't matter? Would you drop it?"

Ben shook his head. "That's completely different Chip! Of course I wouldn't drop it if it was my kid or if it was you or Akiho or Emir or Chad or anyone else for that matter!"

"How is it different?" Chip asked. "You're my little brother Ben, why can I not care about you as much as you care about me?"

"In his defense, it is different Chip," Benji said, giving his younger self a small, knowing smile as if he knew exactly where Ben's head was.

"Benji, if you give me any bull about being the future King and that a King cares for his subjects, I swear to all the Gods—."

"That's not it," Benji shook his head. "But…just accept the fact that it is different Chip. Please?"

The last thing he wanted to do was put his younger self on the spot for feelings he was hiding from the others in his life. Feelings he still felt—they weren't as strong as they'd been when he was sixteen but they were present.

"Ben…" Abby said and Benji could only assume by her tone of voice that she'd somehow figured out what they weren't saying. "The fact that mom miscarried me isn't your fault. You know that right?"

Ben shrugged, not seeing any reason to deflect the question now that it was out in the open. "I mean…the contract was for me. Leah was trying to get me into the contract when mom miscarried," he muttered, looking at the ground to try to avoid everyone's eyes. "I mean…I'm the reason mom lost you Abby. I'm the reason dad didn't get a chance to grieve for thirteen years. If…if I can make sure no one else…no one else suffers because of me…isn't it worth it?"

Belle's hands flew to her mouth as tears began to collect in the corners of her eyes. "Ben…sweetheart, you were three when that contract was signed. You had nothing to do with it, you didn't even ask for the contract. Leah did that. As a ruling Queen and as a mother who had difficulties with her own pregnancies, she should have known better and waited until Abby was born. That's on her, not you."

Ben shrugged once more, bringing his legs up so that his arms rested on his knees. "Mom, you were already under so much stress. Ruling the kingdom and raising me on top of being pregnant. I can only assume the contract was the last straw and Leah wanted Audrey with me. It…it was my fault, even if you say it's not. I can put two and two together with Abby dying when I was three and the contract being finalized around the same time."

Benji sighed softly. Thank Gods Mal's not here, he thought. I mean, I'm not ashamed of what I felt but at the same time there's no need to put extra stress on her right now. Not while she's pregnant.

"Ben…in a perfect world we wouldn't even need to have this conversation but let's get one thing very clear," Abby said.

"Abby, if you're going to tell me that it wasn't my fault, that I shouldn't blame myself…" Ben said with a small sigh.

"As much as I would like to say things like that, it's clear to me you're not going to listen to that so I'll say this instead," Abby told him. "If you really feel you need to 'atone' for this, then do it by living. Live your best life because you're living for me as well. And that begins by letting your friends care for you, letting Chip and our parents care for you. I am so proud to call you my brother, of everything you've done so far. And I want to be proud on your wedding day and when I watch you chase my nieces and nephews around."

"That implies we're going to have more than one kid," Benji spoke up.

"Mal has a little brother and you've got siblings out the wazoo, they're just not related to you," Abby said. "It'd make sense you'd have more than one rugrat running around the castle. But you've gotten me off topic Benji. I was lecturing your younger self."

"Ah, my apologies. Please continue."

Abby chuckled softly before turning back to Ben. "And no matter what I'll always be proud of you. But, like I said before, if you join me before you've had great, great, great grandchildren, I will find a way to send you back to Earth. Because you keep saying how mom and dad's hearts broke when mom miscarried but you seem to forget that you're their son too. So live your life Ben. Read, swim, goof off with your friends. Be a teen."

"You're very wise you know that?" Chip told her.

"You've noted that already," Abby shook her head before sighing. "Please Benny? For me?"

Ben sighed but nodded slightly. "You don't play fair you know that?"

"Younger sibling rules, we never play fair," Abby said with a small smirk that changed into a smile as she wrapped her arms around Ben in a hug. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Abs."

Belle and Beast watched with tears in their eyes, as did Chip as he looked at his younger siblings in all but blood. He knew Ben had missed Abby, he'd told him as much many times but to know that the reason Ben pushed himself to the brink wasn't just to make Beast proud but because Ben was trying to make up for Abby's death…

"You know I have a feeling Audie would slap Leah if she knew we were having this talk," Ben said with a small chuckle.

"Ooh can I tell her we did?" Chip asked.

"You two really want to lose your hearing by bringing on that shrieking?" Abby asked, raising an eyebrow.

Beast shook his head as he looked at the future version of his son. "Ben? You…you don't still feel that way now do you? Are you happy?"

Benji nodded. "The feeling's not as strong for me. Mal took me to see Abby in the Underworld and I got to talk to her. That helped, plus the fact that I've got a kid on the way. I'm happy dad, you don't have to worry."

"Yeah well now that I know you have a habit of keeping things from us as to keep us from worrying, that doesn't help," Beast muttered.

"And…and have you talked to anyone? Other than Abby I mean?" Belle asked.

"You mean a therapist?" Benji asked, his voice low but gentle at the same time.

At his mother's nod, he sighed. "Do Emir and Akiho count? I'm okay, I promise. Besides I can't see a therapist."

"Why not?" Chip asked. "Therapy can help. If Leah'd gotten some, she might not have become the geriatric waste of oxygen she is today."

Benji couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips before pointing to the crown on his father's head. "I can see the headlines now. 'King Ben in Therapy: Can He Rule Much Longer?'"

"So why not have the therapist come to the castle? I'm sure they'd be willing to do that if they're a decent sort," Chip said.

"Background check for one," Benji said. "But knowing my kid needs me is what helps more than anything. I can focus on that and not the feeling of blame or anything else."

Beast couldn't help but give his son a small, sad smile. "I wish you'd told me about this sooner Ben. I could have helped."

"It's fine dad," Ben shook his head. "I didn't want you to worry."

"I'm your father Ben. It's my job to worry about you," Beast told him. "Which is why we need to have a talk as well about this whole working nonstop thing."

"Gee, Adam, I can't help but wonder where Ben might have picked that up?" Chip chuckled as he looked at Beast. "It couldn't possibly be from the man who would fall asleep at his desk about twice a week could it?"

Belle shook her head in amusement as Ben chuckled and Abby giggled. "He's right Adam, and you did it all the time when Ben was growing up. So we can't very well ask where Ben gets it from when we didn't provide a healthy example of knowing how to take breaks and stop for the day."

"That may be the case Belle but I still want to talk to Ben," Beast said. "Ben, the coronation's important but your health is more important. If you run yourself ragged, you're going to get sick."

"But—."

"Dad's right," Benji nodded. "You need to eat and sleep on a regular basis, and I know Akiho basically volunteered to be your 'alarm' but let's not let it come to that shall we?"

Ben nodded. "Yeah, I'm not in favor of being whacked over the head with a rolled up copy of The Gazelle whenever he wants me to stop."

"Exactly my point," Benji chuckled.

Ben sighed. "Mom, dad…you're not going to postpone the coronation are you? I mean, I don't want the power but dad needs the time to grieve. Not to mention all the work and time that's already gone into it—."

"Ben, sweetheart, like I said earlier, we'll move forward with the coronation if a doctor says you're fine," Belle told him. "Like your father said, your health matters more than anything."

Ben sighed but nodded. At least I'm not Chad, he thought. Something tells me that conversation is a bit more awkward.

Sure enough, Ben was right. Thankfully the Charmings were granted privacy in the form of another room. It paid that Hadie had taken a shine to Alexandria and Hades liked the smart aleck attitude Kitty had toward her brother, thus the God of the Dead had asked the Fates to provide the extra room.

"Chad, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Kit asked as he and Cinderella looked at their son, finishing up his rant that felt like it'd been going for two hours. "Charmings don't cheat and we certainly don't benefit from others doing our work for us!"

Chad stayed silent as his father's furious gaze stayed locked on him. For once his sisters didn't have a witty remark to aid to his misery.

"Kit, give him a chance to actually explain," Cinderella said, but somehow her soft voice hurt more than his father's anger. But Chad knew one thing—there was a hole dug when the scroll revealed he got girls to do his homework for him. The only question was how deep did he want to make that hole.

He could say the scrolls were lying, but that not only risked insulting the Fates but risked getting Charmington alienated from Corona, Auradon City, and Olympus considering the Fates were favored by Lord Hades and Lord Hades was Lord Zeus' brother.

Plus he was sure his sisters wouldn't let him go that route. There really was only one way to go, telling the truth.

You know I think Ben got the easier talk, he thought.

"Chad…" Alexandria said and Chad looked over at his youngest sister. "You know you can tell us anything right? From the stories Kitty and Lucy told me, the way you act at school isn't the Chad that they or that I grew up with. We…we just want that Chad back. And that Chad would have been more likely to rescue one of his classmates from danger than use them to get his homework done."

Chad couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips. No matter what, he could never be upset at Alexandria and she was probably the only one of his siblings who could get him to say what was truly bothering him.

Sure, he and Kitty might have been the two eldest Charming heirs but he and Alexandria were the 'bookends'. They had to stick together especially when Kitty and Lucy always had each other.

"It's fine Alex, really," Chad said. "We don't have to talk about it. Really. We don't."

"But we want to Chad," Alexandria said. "What can it hurt?"

"She's right," Lucy nodded. "I mean you're probably already grounded for fifty years or so. Couldn't hurt to try talking about it."

If I told the truth though, you all would think I was just trying to get out of getting punished, Chad though with a small sigh.

"Chad, if there's a reason for your behavior you can say it," Kit said, some of the anger dissipating as he saw the unsure look on his son's face. "I'm more confused than anything son, your mother and I didn't raise you to do stuff like this so if there's a reason I want to help you."

"The guilt trip? Really Kit?" Cinderella muttered as Chad looked back down at the ground.

"No guilt this time Ella," Kit muttered back. "I really do want to help him."

Chad sighed, causing both of his parents to look at him. "I just…it's nothing. How long am I grounded?"

"That's not important. What were you going to say Chad?" Cinderella asked.

"Nothing mom. I…dad's upset because I didn't live up to the moniker of 'Prince Charming'. Whatever. I don't care."

Kitty shook her head. "You do care Chad. And I have to say this mopey act is a bit unexpected if I'm honest. Dad's never cared about the whole 'Prince Charming' thing. You know he hates that."

"Your sister's right son," Kit nodded. "You don't have to live up to the 'Prince Charming' mantle. You just have to be you."

"Yeah, the shallow, insignificant jerk who's afraid of small rooms. Who wouldn't want to be that guy?" Chad muttered.

Kit shook his head. "Talk to me Chad. There's something you want to say and for some reason you're fighting yourself to prevent it from getting out."

"Anything I say right now won't exactly be taken well, dad," Chad told him.

"Say it anyway. Come on Chad, you used to tell me everything."

Chad sighed as Kit rested a hand on his shoulder.

"No matter what, no matter how upset we are, you can always come to us," Kit told him. "That's what we're here for, your mother and I. To help you and your sisters in whatever way we can."

"For that matter, why are we here?" Kitty asked. "You think this would be a more private conversation between mom, dad, and Chad."

"You really want to be around Audrey?" Lucy asked her twin. "Besides, you know this will be the only way mom and dad will tell us anything."

"Ah yes, good point."

Cinderella shook her head as she looked at her son. "Chad, honey? Are you…are you finding your homework particularly hard? Like you can't read or understand it? Is that why you got girls to do your homework?"

Chad shook his head and Cinderella felt her heart sink. In some way, it might have been better if that had been the reason Chad had used those girls.

Because while it would be disappointing to know her son didn't feel he could come to her, at least it was better than her son…than her son acting like someone her step mother had raised.

"No, mom…well except for maybe Chemistry sometimes but you'd feel like an idiot too if you had Ben for your friend. It's a good thing Ben, Doug, and Evie aren't in my class, otherwise they'd completely destroy the curve and I wouldn't be academically eligible for Tourney. But anyway…it's…it's more like a compulsion. I don't know how else to describe it. Every time I see a girl who's not Audrey, or Jane, or Lonnie…or my sisters of course, I just…I can't help it. We'll be talking and then sooner or later I'll be handing them my bag. Then, after all that, I have no memory of what I promised them until they come up to me days later, red faced and furious."

The worst part is when the guys who like the girls I did this to find out…Li and Akiho nearly pummeled me into the ground when I did it to Elle and Rose, he thought.

Kit frowned slightly as he heard that. "What about your monthly physicals for Tourney or R.O.A.R? Has your coach said anything about head injuries or anything?"

"Dad, you can't actually believe him?!" Kitty exclaimed. "He's just lying to get out of punishment!"

"That's enough Katherine," Kit warned, his voice stern.

"But—!"

"Kitty, I think Chad's telling the truth," Alexandria said, her voice soft yet loud enough to get everyone's attention. "I mean…when was the last time he admitted a weakness like that in front of us?"

"Probably when we learned about his claustrophobia," Lucy said, tapping her chin as if in thought.

"Exactly," Alexandria nodded.

Cinderella sat down next to her son, brushing some of the hair out of his eyes. "We're still very disappointed in you Chad…but a compulsion is something we can work to get treated. We can talk to Fairy Godmother and get your memory tested, you shouldn't be forgetting conversations like that so quickly."

"Your mother's right son. If you can't even remember half of the conversations then that points to something more than just not wanting to do your homework," Kit nodded.

"And we'll help too!" Alexandria nodded with a small smile on her face.

"We will?" Lucy and Kitty asked, looking at their little sister.

"Yes. We will." Alexandria said firmly. "Chad's family, he may have messed up with getting girls to do his homework for him but you don't turn your back on family. Mal, Uma, Jay, and Harry have the right idea with their 'Ruthless yet Loyal' motto after all."

Cinderella couldn't help but give her youngest a smile as she heard that. "Very well said Alex."

"I'll talk to Fairy Godmother to set up some time for her to take a look at you Chad," Kit promised. "Or we can head to one of the hospitals in Charmington if your physical isn't picking up on any head traumas."

"Other than some pulled tendons, I've always passed my physicals," Chad said. "I…I don't know if it helps dad but when the compulsion comes, there's also an almost foggy feeling in my head."

Kit froze. He didn't want to say anything as to not panic his wife or kids but that sounded almost like when Lady Tremaine spelled him with Fairy Godmother's wand. You know, when she went back in time to try to make it so he married Anastasia and not Cinderella.

Yeah, risking the lives of his kids was probably the reason why he'd never forgive Lady Tremaine despite her good deeds on the Isle.

"Should…should we go back to the reading?" Kitty asked.

"That's a good idea," Cinderella nodded. "Your father and I will talk to Fairy Godmother to see about getting Chad an examination. After that, of course, we'll talk about how long you're grounded for Chad. And yes, you'll have to redo your work."

"But it's already done!"

"And yet you've gained no knowledge from the work. Be thankful I'm not having Fairy Godmother regrade it," Kit said. He knew such an act might make Chad academically ineligible for the Tourney team and while he didn't believe in rewarding his son for the bad behavior, Chad had put in genuine hard work for the sport. It would be cruel to take the Championship away from him on top of being grounded.

"…yes dad," Chad muttered as the six Charmings walked out of the room. The room that disappeared upon their exit.

Chad and Ben locked eyes as they all made their way back to their seats.

"How was it?" Chad asked.

"Coronation's on hold until I have a doctor appointment. You?" Ben told him.

Chad sighed and shook his head. "Grounded and I have to redo all the work."

"If you need any help with the work Chad, just give me a call," Ben promised. "We don't hang out all that much, just the two of us."

"Ben, you don't exactly have the most lax schedule in the world," Chad told him. "And was this food here when we went to our conversations of doom?"

"You expected a pregnant woman not to get peckish?" Malinda asked with a chuckle as everyone was munching on some form of snack or another. And of course Estelle was busy gnawing away on a bone.

"Oh yes, thank you for reminding me Chad," Beast said, having overheard their conversation, and walked over to Emir. "May I have my son's schedule please?"

"Of course your highness," Emir nodded and handed the planner to Beast.

Benji shook his head as Malinda chuckled in delight. "Dad, what are you doing?"

"Clearing up your schedule," Beast said as he tucked Ben's planner under his arm. "But I can do that while we read. Who's next?"

"I'll read," Robin said with a smile.

"Alright," Beast nodded.

"Oh!" Malinda exclaimed and scurried over to the floating eye. "Ladies, I'd hate to be a burden but as you can see, I'm pregnant and therefore need to use a bathroom. Could you—?"

"Of course your highness," one of the Fates said. "We should have thought of that in all honesty."

"Hindsight's 20/20," Malinda said with a grin as the bathroom materialized. "Thank you!"

"Everything okay?" Benji asked.

"Pup makes me need to pee," was all Malinda said before the door to the bathroom closed.