A big thank you to everyone who's been keeping up with the story and those that have only recently found out.

A review would mean a lot, I appreciate all feedback.

Don't be afraid to ask any questions, I always try to reply.

Enjoy!

Chapter 23: Rebuilding

The days following the final battle went by in a daze to Ben. He could vividly recall the battle itself, including every second of his transformation, but he barely had any recollection of what had happened after.

Others had constantly been taking care of him at that time. Medics, doctors, soldiers and his friends had all been there to help him move, eat, dress and sleep. Ben felt like a ghost trapped in the human world. His mind was constantly whirling with disturbing thoughts and images. There were so many things he wanted to say, yell or scream, but he could not think of any way to put these thoughts into words.

People were worried about him, he realized that much. He spent days in hospital rooms, with people discussing his condition like he wasn't even there. He mindlessly obeyed their orders and answered all their questions to the best of his ability, but he did not truly interact with them. He saw their worried glances. He knew what they were thinking.

They were scared. Scared of him. And they were angry. And disappointed. And all those things. Ben could not bring himself to look anyone in the eyes for too long. He could not bear to see their pity. He could not bear anything at the moment.

He had no idea what he wanted to have happen. In the back of his mind, he knew that he should feel gratitude now that Solomon was defeated. Now that Auradon was safe. But, again, he could not bring himself to do so.

He felt stressed out. He felt tired. He felt betrayed. The world around him continued to move so fast, while his world had crumbled to dust on the battlefield. The moment his father had died in his arms.

They had tried, his friends and other officials, to get him to talk. To get him involved with the decision making. To get him to do anything of note. But they had all at one point realized that, in his current state, Ben was unfit to rule, and so they largely left him to wallow in sadness and despair.

After days in a hospital down in Corona, he and his friends and associates were transported back to Auradon City. Ben still paid no attention to what was being said, or what was happening outside of his own mind.

The moment their car had stopped outside of Beast Castle, he had jumped out and locked himself in his father's old study. He had been there for days now. He spoke to no one, not even Mal or his mother.

People would occasionally come by, softly knocking on the door to see if he would finally want to talk. Sometimes they slid a trey of food under the door. Ben ate. And he slept. He did not bathe.

After several days, he could barely recognize his own face in the mirror. He was pale. His chin had turned grey from the stubble. His eyes seemed hollow and bloodshot. He had lost weight, and his hands constantly trembled.

The room lay strewn with books and scrolls, most of which were first-hand accounts written down by his father. Tales of old battles, expeditions and other adventures. Ben had been feverishly reading through them every since he locked himself in the room. There were so many things he had not known about. So many things he wished he could still ask his father. So many questions that would forever go unanswered.

He felt such terrible guilt. The same guilt he had felt after the battle at Belle's Harbor. After Archer had been killed. After Mal had been taken to the Isle and nearly tortured to death. So many things. So much guilt.

There was nothing to occupy his mind. For the past months, years even, all he had been thinking about was the war and how to stop Solomon. People had looked to him for guidance and executive decisions, but he could do neither as of now. Thankfully, other people had stepped in. Other rulers, commanders and people in otherwise high-ranked positions had taken it upon themselves to look after the kingdom in this time of rebuilding. Ben was all too glad to be left out at the moment, even when he had nothing else to do.

The image of his father's body would not leave his mind, and it nearly drove him insane. Another unwelcome leftover from the battle was a persistent taste of blood in his mouth that just would not disappear, no matter how much he ate or drank. Ben had not known that he could transform into a beast up until a few days ago. His parents had theorized about some of the traits he might have inherited from his father, but nothing conclusive had ever been decided. Still, this revelation arguably only made Ben feel more miserable. He wondered if the beast would ever emerge again, and if he would maybe not be able to control it the next time. What if he would hurt someone? Bite someone? Kill someone?

Every once in a while, when his mind would be racing with questions, he would fly into a fit of rage. His father's desk had suffered the worst of Ben's wrath, and it now lay broken and splintered in the corner of the study. There was only one chair left untouched in the room, the rest were all missing at least one leg. None of the books had been damaged, though some had been carelessly tossed to the floor. Dirty trays covered with bits and pieces of moldy food were stacked in the corner closest to the door.

Ben realized, in the back of his mind, that he could not stay here forever. He needed to face his friends, his mother and his people sooner or later, but, for now, he could not find the will. Today was his fifth straight day without leaving the study, and he was starting to reek. The curtains were closed, as were the windows. He felt somewhat numb, which was a change of pace from the unrelenting panic and regret he had felt ever since coming here. He was readying himself for yet another day of mindlessly going through his father's old journals when someone knocked.

"Ben?" Mal's voice spoke in a sad, apprehensive tone. "Ben? Please talk to me… Please…"

Ben sighed as he slowly approached the door without saying anything just yet.

"I'm guessing you're awake…" Mal kept speaking. Ben could hear how she tried to hide the pity in her voice. "And if you're awake, you can hear me… Ben… We're all worried about you… Well, ehm, of course we are… I'm not sure what's going on in your head… B-Because you won't talk to us…"

Ben softly placed his head against the door. He felt a pang of regret at the somewhat accusatory tone of Mal's voice. He wanted to be there for her, but he just didn't know how.

"Please, Ben… We're all hurting, b-but we need to keep going… People need our help… We have a duty to perform… You know that… Adam knows- knew that…" Mal audibly withheld a sob. "Ben, please come out… Everyone is here… They want to see you… I want to see you… I need to see you… Please, Ben… Please…"

The longing in her voice was almost causing Ben physical pain.

"I look like a wreck…" He spoke softly, his voice raspy and coarse.

Mal gasped. "Ben!? You're there! Ben, please! No one cares about that… Please… E-Everyone has been put through the ringer… You'll see… Please, Ben… We need you…"

Ben remembered the days following Mal's return from the isle, when she had sustained injuries that almost killed her. He remembered the days she spent with him at Beast Castle, when she needed to recover. He remembered how withdrawn and on edge she was, careful not to show weakness to anyone. He remembered how he had finally convinced her not to hide her pain, and that he and their friends would always be there to support her. Maybe it was time to listen to his own advice.

He unlocked the door.

Mal immediately burst in, slamming the door roughly against Ben, who stumbled back a few paces. Their eyes met. Hers were already filled with tears. Ben's followed suit.

He once again reflected on how beautiful Mal was. How fierce. She was wearing one of her typical isle get-ups, consisting of a purple tank top and matching leather pants. Her purple hair was tied back in a long ponytail. Several cuts and bruises from the battle were still very much apparent on her face and arms, but overall she looked flawless. He, on the other hand, was wearing the white shirt and matching sweatpants the hospital had supplied him with, both covered in stains. The wounds he had sustained were covered with unclean bandages. His face was dirty as well, and his beard stubble was unkept. All in all, he looked more like a lunatic than a king.

Nevertheless, Mal ran up to him and they met in a tight embrace. She buried her face against Ben's shoulder as she squeezed her arms around his torso. Ben's hands trembled as he softly rubbed them up and down Mal's back. She smelt so nice.

"You smell so bad…" Mal muttered, snickering softly in between sobs.

The corners of Ben's mouth curled up in a slight smile. It felt strange, like he hadn't smiled in years.

Mal took a hold of Ben's hands and squeezed them tightly. She gazed up into his eyes and exhaled loudly. "Come… Everyone's waiting…"

"S-Should I, ehm… Should I change?" Ben hesitantly asked.

"I really don't think it matters…" Mal shook her head. "You will hardly stand out… Please, Ben… Everyone's worried about you…"

Ben allowed Mal to lead him out into the hallway by his hand. The bright light that shone through the windows nearly blinded him; the result of being locked in a dark room for five days. They trudged through the empty hallways of Beast Castle. They did not encounter anyone as Mal led him to the main dining hall.

"What will they think of me?" Ben muttered, the fear apparent in his voice.

"Everyone will be glad to see their friend…" Mal reassured him, squeezing his hand.

Ben sighed, and kept following. "Is mom there?"

Mal shook her head. "She's in the city… We'll talk to her tonight, yeah?"

Ben nodded. He felt a strange sense of pride at seeing Mal handle this situation so maturely.

Together, they opened the heavy doors of the main dining hall. The soft murmuring of voices immediately halted as they entered. Ben took another deep breath as he looked through the hall. It had gone untouched through every battle. It was deserted, safe for a group of people who formed a semi-circle around the richly adorned fireplace.

Mal again took Ben's hand and led him on until she and Ben stood opposite everyone else, facing them. Ben felt his breathing falter as he let his gaze wander over the entire group. Five of them were in wheelchairs.

The first was Doug, furthest to Ben's left. There was a sense of unease in the way he looked at Ben, but his smile was genuine. A small ring shone brightly on his left hand. Doug had helped care for the people fleeing from the war, and Ben could not thank him enough.

Evie stood to Doug's left, a similar ring on her own left hand. She had a small scratch on her face, but looked otherwise unhurt. Tears were slowly rolling down her cheeks, but she was still clearly elated to see both him and Mal. Her aid throughout the war had been of unspeakable value.

Evie was tightly clutching onto the shoulder of Carlos, who was sitting in a wheelchair in front of her. A shock went through Ben when he looked down, and saw that Carlos was missing a leg. Ben felt a wave of pity and misery as his eyes lingered on Carlos's right leg, which had apparently been amputated just below the knee as the result of the shotgun blast he had suffered. Nevertheless, the younger boy looked bright and cheerful, a proud look in his eyes. Ben could not think of a word that could express the gratitude and guilt he felt.

Jane stood just behind Carlos. She too was crying silent tears. She twiddled her thumbs and looked to be withholding herself from pulling everyone into one giant hug.

Jay stood on Carlos's other side. One side of his face was swollen and bruised, almost beyond recognition. A large cut, delivered by Harry Hook, adorned the other side. Nevertheless, he smiled broadly, showing a mouth that was missing two teeth. His bravery had been second to none, and Ben could only hope he would experience some well-earned peace from now on.

Lonnie was sitting slightly to Jay's left, also in a wheelchair. She did not sport any visible injuries, but Ben vividly remembered the dire situation during the battle when Lonnie had been stabbed through the stomach by Harriet Hook. She seemed to be taking things well. She was smiling broadly and fiercely.

A little further to Ben's right stood Chad. Some cuts and bruises adorned his face and hands, but he too seemed otherwise unhurt. Parts of his hair had seemingly been singed, and he occasionally sheepishly rubbed his hand through his shortened locks. He too had fought bravely, not just during the past battle, but during the entire war. Ben was so grateful that he was alright.

Audrey stood next to Chad. Her bottom lip quivered and her hands played with the ends of her hair. She too had helped get people to safety, and Ben was proud of her growth and selflessness.

Jordan stood on Audrey's other side. She appeared to have fully recovered from the fight in the woods. Her dark eyes shone and she tightly clasped her own hands in front of her.

Freddie's smile was the brightest of the bunch. She was swaying slowly from side to side, as if trying, and almost failing, not to dance around. Her injuries were barely noticeable. Freddie's unrelenting optimism had occasionally been a bright spark in a relentless sea of darkness throughout the war. Ben truly wished all the happiness in the world for her.

Right before Freddie, also wheelchair-bound, sat CJ. Her expression still carried with it a sense of uncertainty, like she still didn't know if she belonged in the present company. Cuts and bruises covered what was visible of her arms and face. A large bandage was wrapped around her stomach. Nevertheless, CJ restlessly moved around, obviously eager to walk around again. Ben felt such pride as he gazed at CJ, who had been through so much and had still emerged on the side of good and had been an invaluable asset.

Next to CJ, also in a wheelchair and tightly holding onto her hand, sat Archer. He was by far the most physically affected by the battle, and for good reason. His face and arms were paler than usual, and covered with cuts, bruises and gashes. His left arm was in a sling, and his left leg in a cast. He had come back from the dead, so, all in all, the fact that he was sitting here at all was a miracle. He was smiling, but there was something melancholy and empty in his eyes. It was obvious that he had been deeply affected by the war, and Ben only hoped that he could help his friend recover.

Aden, Royce and Alex were grouped together behind Archer. All three were wounded, but not severely. Royce had a bandage wrapped around his head, Aden still sported a black eye and Alex had a large band aid covering the side of his neck. All three would undoubtedly have new scars to add to their respective collections. They were soldiers, and they had stepped up when Auradon had needed them most.

The final person, sitting in a wheelchair all the way to the right, was Lancelot. After Archer and Carlos, he seemed to have been dealt the worst hand. Almost his entire body had been bandaged up. A few notable burns were still visible on his face and the places where the bandage did not fully cover him. Nevertheless, he smiled nobly at Ben, a proud expression on his face. Ben could not think of a way he could ever repay Lancelot for the sacrifice he had made.

No one said a word yet. Ben was uncomfortably aware of the fact he smelled liked a trashcan and looked as though he had slept on the street. He felt unworthy to be in the company of all these incredibly brave people. People whom he held so incredibly dear…

"I'm so sorry…" Ben began, his voice trembling as tears began to drip from his eyes. "All of you… You've all been through so much… I can never repay you for what you've done…" He primarily directed himself and Carlos and Archer. "You all gave so much…" His voice stocked. He hoped that he was able to convey even a fraction of the way he felt in those few words.

A moment of silence lingered after Ben's heartfelt apology.

"We are sorry too…" Evie eventually spoke up, her hand squeezing more tightly around Carlos's shoulder. "Your father… Ben…"

"He was a great man." Lancelot stated from the other side of the circle.

"A good man…" Lonnie went on.

"The wisest king we are ever likely to see…" Carlos nodded. "No offense…" He added.

Everyone snickered, though most also had to wipe the tears from their eyes.

Ben hung his head. "I should have been there to help during the past few days…" He began.

"Nobody is blaming you for anything." Audrey immediately interrupted him. "Everyone knows what happened to Adam, and they know how much you sacrificed to protect them all. Everyone has come together to help out… The other rulers have stepped up…"

"Forces from Charmington and Camelot have already arrived to aid with the clean-up process." Royce spoke up from further back.

"Agrabah has sent over a huge amount of supplies." Jordan chimed in.

"So has Northern Wei." Lonnie added. "Everyone is rebuilding together, Ben…"

"It's strangely beautiful…" Alex nodded.

Ben could not help but feel a little warm inside after hearing their words. The fact that they did not speak to him like he was some sort of freak, or were outright angry or disappointed with him for not being there the past few days filled him with gratitude. Ben took some deep breaths as he tried to get his thoughts organized.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there…" Ben muttered, still struggling to find the right words. "I-I just wasn't… M-My head…"

"There's nothing to apologize for, Ben, honestly." Mal told him in a compassionate tone. "I told you, no one thinks any different of you… We just want you to be okay… Or, you know, to keep talking to us at least…"

"You can take all the time you want." Lonnie stated, straightening up a little in her wheelchair. "Let others handle things while you recover…"

"No." Ben replied. He did not want anyone to pick up his slack or be burdened with his duty. "I am king. This is my responsibility, especially in times of strife. I need to be there… For you… For my people… And for myself…" He went on, everyone listening with bated breath. "S-So… What else has been happening?" He softly spoke. He needed to be brought up-to-date on everything important that was occurring in his kingdom.

"Well…" A few people murmured, obviously unsure where to start.

"The villains went on the run after the undead army disintegrated." Jay spoke up. His voice was slightly distorted due to the swelling in his face and his two missing teeth. "Most of them were caught within the hour… Captain Hook tried to flee by ship, but Triton apprehended him… Most of the villains were put into a detention camp we set up near Belle's Harbor. That's where we're keeping them until we can transport them back to the isle."

"Is there anyone still on the loose?" Ben asked in a hesitant tone.

"None that we know of." Aden shrugged.

"We placed the most dangerous villains into improvised holding cells on History Island, away from the people." Carlos explained. "Uma, Zevon, Mad Maddy… Anyone with any sort of magical abilities… The Hook siblings as well…" He went on, glancing at CJ.

"Good…" CJ moped.

"And Solomon?" Ben inquired in an even more hesitant tone.

"Still unconscious…" Mal answered. "He's being treated for his wounds. He's being kept under permanent surveillance, and the amulet does not leave his neck."

"You did quite a number on him…" Royce smirked. "He almost didn't make it…"

Ben's stomach churned.

The others obviously noted his expression and quickly tried to encourage him again.

"Ben… Don't beat yourself up…" Jay quickly interjected. "If it were me, I would have done much worse to that malignant little prick…"

"He will live." Lancelot added. "What you and Mal did, Ben, it took guts… And spirit… And compassion… Most people here in Auradon would have gladly taken the easy way out and killed him, but you showed everyone that this kingdom is ruled by justice and fairness."

The rest nodded, obviously eager to make Ben feel at ease. Their words did help, but the nagging feeling Ben had developed over the past few days did not just up and disappear right away.

"D-Do, ehm… Do the people know? About me? About what I, ehm, became?" Ben's voice stammered as his breath momentarily got caught in his throat.

Now his friends did look slightly uneasy.

"I mean… We always sorta guessed, didn't we?" Chad eventually answered. "Look at your dad's statue… It's not really a secret…"

"Truth be told, we did not try that hard to repress any rumors about your transformation during the past couple of days…" Royce hesitantly stated. "We, ehm… Look, we had other things going on…"

"People know… That's what he's trying to say…" Alex added.

"A-And?" Ben sighed.

"And, what?" Aden pulled up his eyebrows. "You're expecting droves of people to show up here to protest? You think they want to oust you after you helped to win the deadliest war in Auradonian history, just because you have a, ehm, 'furry problem'?"

Carlos, Jay and Freddie snickered, but Ben did not yet feel completely at ease.

"It's like Chad said…" Audrey spoke up. "Everyone knew Adam could transform into a beast… It's no big deal, Ben, honestly…"

"Dad never, ehm… That was so long ago… I nearly killed someone…" Ben's voice cracked, his mind still racing.

Mal's hand closed tightly around his own. "But you also saved me…" She whispered, her eyes glossy. "And you helped me defeat Solomon… We saved the kingdom, Ben…"

"The good does far outweigh the bad on this one…" Lancelot nodded. "People have other, far more urgent matters on their mind… They know what you went through and what you sacrificed, Ben… They know not to fear you… If anything, some might actually consider you to be a more powerful, steadfast and reliable ruler…"

Ben's breathing steadied somewhat. It was extremely gratifying to hear his friends dispute his worst fears in such a clear and confident manner. The villains were defeated. The people were safe, and they apparently neither hated nor feared him. All in all, things were about as good as he could have hoped for.

The pain of his father's loss and the shock from his transformation would likely remain for a lot longer, if they would ever truly disappear, but he felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination. There was still plenty of good in the world, and people who wanted to face the undeniable struggles in his future alongside him. Now was his time to be strong and be there for his friends. That's what his father would have done… Would have wanted…

Everyone stayed silent for a minute or two.

"So, what are the plans for the coming days?" Ben eventually spoke up, his voice far sharper than it had been before.

"Well, some of us are still healing…" Evie answered with a hint of a judgmental tone, her hand tightening around Carlos's shoulder while her eyes scanned over Lonnie, CJ, Archer and Lancelot. "Other rulers and officials have gladly stepped in to aid in the current operations. We're clearing rubble in Belle's Harbor, Auradon City and parts of Corona. We're building temporary shelters for people who've been displaced. There's still an ongoing retrieval effort for fallen soldiers. And, ehm, I think that's pretty much the big stuff…"

"How bad is it? The damage, I mean…" Ben softly asked.

"Ehm, I mean… Pretty bad…" Chad was the first to reply. "The cities in particular… It will take a few months at the least to rebuild, especially since our most powerful magic users are spread thin…"

"Yen Sid and Merlin have been a huge help, but they can only do so much…" Jordan explained. "The three fairies, the genie and Triton have also offered their aid, but haven't made it to the affected zones yet. Elsa has not yet left Arendelle, since she's still caring for her patient…"

"How's Fairy Godmother?" Ben immediately followed up, looking at Jane.

Jane gulped before answering. "She's recovering… It seems as though Solomon's defeat sparked a positive change… She's conscious again, and the others are confident that she'll be back to normal eventually…"

"Solomon's spells are a bitch…" Freddie added, hissing slightly. "We didn't have any sort of cure or counter spell to his magic all this time, but taking away the cauldron and his abilities seems to have done the trick…" As if to prove her point, she reached into her pocket and took out a handful of playing cards. Some people rolled their eyes, but Ben watched with an immense sense of relief as Freddie began magically tossing the cards about, directing their movement with her hands. "I got my magic back…" She smiled broadly.

Ben sighed happily. This was exactly what he needed; to hear that there were still good things happening. To hear that life was still moving on, and that his friends were confident that everything would turn out okay. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But eventually.

There was a still a lot of talking to be done among the group, and it took nearly an hour for everything to be laid out in the open. Most topics concerned the kingdom or the people in one way or another. Ben wanted to be as up-to-date as possible with everything so he could do his absolute best to once again rule his kingdom. Mal stayed beside him the entire time, encouraging him and continuously squeezing his hand reassuringly. Ben's mind did wander to thoughts about his father from time to time, but he was strengthened by the knowledge that he would be proud to see his son handle this dire situation in a more composed manner.

Soon enough, near dusk, Ben's stomach started to rumble. The others too were starting to get hungry, so they summoned Lumière and Ms. Potts to prepare dinner. Everyone would be staying the night at Beast Castle, which contained more than enough rooms to accommodate the lot of them. Ben could scarcely believe what a difference spending a few hours with your loved ones could make. Before, he had been sulking in misery, living like a pig and seeing only darkness and despair in his future. Now, he was once again bursting with hope and eager to help his people.

While his friends were not nearly as outlandish and joyous as they had been before the war, this was probably the happiest and liveliest Ben had seen them since the attack on Auradon prep. Everyone gleefully chatted as they ate and drank, either discussing plans for the following days or boastfully retelling their exploits from during the fighting. Ben had taken a second to freshen up a little before dinner, and he now sported clean clothes and combed hair.

As the cutlery clanged and cups were raised, Ben noticed one person not really taking part in the festivities. Archer was sitting before the fireplace in his wheelchair. He had a plate of food on his lap, but only took scarce bites. His blue eyes were fixated on the flames and he wore a tight-lipped, almost manic expression. Come to think of it, Ben had not heard him say a single word the entire evening. He was not the only one who noticed Archer's odd behavior. CJ, Lancelot and Mal all glanced in his direction every once in a while, but they were all also caught up in conversations with the others. Ben eventually excused himself and walked over to Archer, who saw him coming but did not acknowledge him.

"Archer?" Ben greeted him, sitting down in another chair before the fireplace. He didn't really know what to say. What do you ask someone who had returned from the dead? "How's it going?" He eventually blurted out, already cringing at his own question.

Archer stayed silent for about a minute, still only staring into the fire. "It's… Strange…" He ultimately whispered.

"What is?" Ben inquired in a genuine tone.

"You want to know what it's like, right? To be, ehm, 'revived'…" Archer continued, his voice still barely audible above the crackling of the fire.

Ben slowly nodded. He was suddenly unsure of just about everything.

"It's strange…" Archer repeated. "Everything feels out of place… The more time I have to remember how everything used to be, the stranger it all feels now… Food doesn't taste the same… The air feels cold… Every breath feels like I'm resurfacing from underwater…"

Ben listened with bated breath.

Archer noticed this, and a slight smirk played around his lips. "Still, the oddest thing is probably the way everyone has been staring at me, you all included…"

Ben still did not speak. He wanted to give Archer a chance to let all his feelings out.

"That's something we got in common, I guess… You, with your beast… Me, back from the dead… People will probably never look at us the same way again… A bunch of oddities… Freaks…" Archer went on, his eyes still fixated on the fire.

"Don't talk like that… They will get used to it… Eventually…" Ben spoke in a self-assured tone. "Give it some time…"

"I can still feel him… Or, ehm, a part of him… Here…" Archer mumbled, his right hand hovering over his heart. "Like an itch or some wound that hasn't healed yet…"

"It will heal." Ben resolutely replied. "You're strong, Archer. Stronger than whatever magic that maniac could have used on you."

Archer did not reply. He still seemed extremely downcast. He also still did not look at Ben, who started to get a little more worried.

"There's something else on your mind. Come on, spit it out…" Ben suggested.

Archer bit his lip and mindlessly twirled his fork around in his food. He appeared to be carefully considering his next few words. "CJ… She, ehm, told me about what happened… During the battle, I mean… When I was still, ehm, dead…"

Ben started feeling a little awkward, but did want to hear Archer out, so he did not speak up just yet.

"The horrible things she said I did…" Archer whispered, his eyes widening. His hand tightened around his fork and his breathing became slightly more labored. "I didn't want to believe them… I still don't…"

"You don't remember anything of it?" Ben hesitantly asked.

"Nothing." Archer immediately answered, finally looking up at Ben. There were tears in his eyes. "From the moment I died… To the moment CJ brought me back… It's all one big blur… I don't recall any of it… Please, Ben, you have to believe me…"

"I believe you." Ben confidently stated, placing a hand on Archer's shoulder.

"I had no control…" Archer rambled on. "I-I would have never… All those people… Your father, Ben… I never meant to do any of it…"

Ben's look hardened momentarily. Before this very moment, he had not once considered that it was actually Archer who had killed his father in battle. He had been possessed, and Ben knew that. It was Solomon who had controlled Archer, who made him do his bidding. Ben could not truly blame Archer for what he had done in his revived state, right?

"I don't know how many I killed…" Archer continued, his voice trembling.

"You didn't kill anyone…" Ben said in a soft tone, squeezing Archer's shoulder. "It was Solomon, and we know that… No one is holding you accountable…"

"But I still feel such guilt…" Archer groaned with a pained expression. "You can talk all you want, CJ as well, but it was me who killed all those soldiers… My hands… My sword… If only I'd…"

"You'd what?" Ben argued, his tone a mix between accusatory and compassionate. "There was nothing you could have done… If Lance was right, then that spell Solomon used on you is one of the most powerful and malicious ever conceived… We were all dead set on killing you the day of the battle, just to free you from his grasp… To have you back, Archer, is a gift! It's more than any of us could have asked for…"

Archer squeezed his eyes shut. "But if I 'had' died, if you 'had' killed me, then maybe Adam…"

"Don't talk like that!" Ben hissed. "What 'could' have happened doesn't matter… What matters is that you're back, and we're gonna fix you up, okay? We're gonna take things slow. Trust me, I've learned firsthand that sulking on the sidelines does not help. True, I have no idea what you're going through, and how much pain you're in, but we still love you and we want you to be happy… Does that help?"

Archer sighed again. "You sound just like I did… Before…"

"Archer…" Ben moved a little closer to him. "Do you think, ehm… Do you think that you have changed? Do you believe you can never go back to the way you were?"

"I… I… Not a clue…" Archer lamented.

"Do you want to?" Ben slightly pressured him. "Would you like to go back to the way you were before?"

"More than anything…" Archer admitted. "I mean, I know I wasn't perfect, but I was happy… And I like to believe I always tried my best to do good…"

"You did." Ben smiled. "But the important thing is that you want to get better. That's the first step on the road to recovery, right? The Archer I always knew was a fighter, no matter what lay ahead of him. If that hasn't changed, then I know you're gonna be fine… Maybe not today… Maybe not tomorrow… But eventually… Just, you know, take it one step at a time…"

Archer closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. "From your tone, and your words… It take it you forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive." Ben replied, and he meant it. "I just need you to promise not to give up, okay?"

Archer's eyes shone for a second as the faint shadow of a smile passed over his face. "I won't." He stated. He then looked over Ben's shoulder towards CJ, who was trying to show everyone some nifty wheelchair tricks she had picked up in the hospital, only for Freddie and Evie to continuously try to hold her still.

Ben followed his gaze and smirked. "It's good to see your feelings haven't changed."

"How did it feel? Do you remember? When Mal kissed you at cotillion? You know, true love's kiss?" Archer asked, looking up just in time to see Ben start to blush.

"Well, I had been spelled by Uma at the time. To me, it was like the fog dissipating… Everything became clear… And Mal was there… And everything made sense…" Ben recalled, looking over at Mal, who was hugging Carlos from behind.

"Yeah…" Archer nodded as he kept staring at CJ. "Something like that…"