Dark Times

The wedding

The wedding was expected to take place within three months, which was already record time, but now Mal and Ben's union will take place today, having been planned and prepared in 13 hours.

"How did you guys do that?"

The purple haired woman asked her friends still in disbelief.

"Well, as soon as you left Ben had the idea and since then we've been working. Now stop talking, because I need to finish taking care of this dress."

Evie replied, while Dizzy took care of the future queen's hair.

"That sure is the most romantic thing he's done."

Jane said remembering all the public romantic surprises Ben had done.

"This time he really surprised me."

After five years together Mal really thought he would tire of so many surprises.

"If you keep moving I'll give up on fixing that hair."

Dizzy said impatiently to Mal.

"No! Mal, you have three minutes to ask all the questions you want."

Evie said authoritatively.

"Where? Why? Who's going? How are you going to disappear with the reporters and princesses?"

"It's going to be in the Enchanted Forest, Ben just said 'Be you before you're king' and suddenly we had a wedding. It's going to be our friends, Belle and Adam. No one from the court knows this is happening, Doug sent a message to the press saying you were in Avalor or whatever, my husband is the smartest person you know, okay? But anyway, Jay and Carlos are watching the place. Now shut up!"

Evie summed up everything that had happened in the last few hours.

"Hey!"

As she stood there, still not believing what was about to happen, Mal remembered a few nights ago where she was with her almost husband and the two of them wished more than anything to be together.

Flashback

Mal and Ben had spent other evenings together, but this one had been special. Lady was spending more than half her time busy with the wedding and Ben had to be king, meaning that recently it was always, "good morning, have a good day", "good evening, I hope you had a good day". However, that night was different.

Mal spent the whole day listening to Aurora, Cinderella and Snow, when she got to her room her only wish was to take a long bath and sleep. While she was in the bath her thoughts went to Ben. She wanted to be with him so much, that's why almost at midnight she heard footsteps in the castle hallway, a young bride was going to her boy's room believing that no one could hear her.

"Who is it?" The young prince opened the door and was faced with his lovely bride. "Mal?"

"Hi."

She said laughing and wanting to get inside quickly before seen by anyone.

"What are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you."

"Come, come in, before Lumiere or another employee sees you."

He pulled her in after realizing it was late and she couldn't be seen there.

"So, how was your day?"

She asked sitting down on the bed.

"The usual, signing papers, talking to the counselors and I still had to go on a diplomatic trip."

He said as he got ready to lie down on the bed

"What a horrible day, it just doesn't beat mine."

As soon as Ben lay down, she put her head on his chest.

"How was your day?"

"Well, your mom had to go to the libraries and Evie needed to take care of Tommy which meant I was left alone with the OWPB."

"OWPB?"

"Official Wedding Preparers Bal."

Mal said trying to be as excited as her friends.

"Bal?"

"Combined my name with yours. Mal with Ben is Bal."

"I can't believe I never thought of that." He said laughing non-stop. "And who are the OWPB?"

"Evie, Jane, your mom, Loonie, Snow, Aurora and Cinderella."

"And how can preparing for a wedding be worse than signing papers and making an emergency trip?"

"Ben, I had to look at ten different dishes and tell you which one I wanted, although I think white and ice white are the same."

"There's a slight difference, the ice white..."

"Ben!"

She interrupted him wanting to stay right.

"Okay, and that's why you're here? Not that I don't love having you here, but it's already midnight."

"I needed to see you."

"I always need to see you. I love you."

"I love you too."

"It's been a while since we've been alone."

"True."

She pulled him in for another kiss, Ben rotated his body on the bed so he could lie on top of her, who was now trying to get the boy's pajama shirt off."

"You know, I'm dying to marry you just to have you like this all the time."

"You mean have sex with me without worrying about your parents breaking into the room?"

"Hey! Why don't we dream up that idealized wedding? It sounds so much better."

"It might be. I wish only our friends were there and that there weren't hundreds of cameras around us, it didn't have to be in the cathedral, it could be in the castle garden and I love Fairy Godmother, but I would love someone else to marry us... why can't this wedding be real?"

"The important thing is that we are there right?"

"Yes."

Flashback off

And there was Ben, standing in the Forest, already properly groomed just waiting to finally get together with the love of his life.