A Princess and A Zombie (A Z-O-M-B-I-E-S and Descendants AU)

Ch. 34

"Ben?"

She frowned at the sight. Her brother was hunched over his desk, head in hands. He had papers scattered across his desk.

She could see Damian's name written across some of them.

She sighed, she knew Ben meant well, but she wasn't a defenseless little girl anymore.

"I didn’t wanna listen to what you were sayin'," she began, her voice a whisper, laced with vulnerability as she approached him. "I thought that I knew all I need to know."
Ben looked up, his periwinkle eyes meeting hers.

"I didn’t realize that somewhere inside me," she admitted. "I knew you were right but I couldn’t say so."

Memories of there lives flashed by;

Ben walking her to all of her classes on her first day at Auradon Prep.

Ben telling her dating Jay was a bad idea.

Him stepping in front of her as Harry Hook threatened her on the Isle.

The smile on his face every time she initiated a cheer during a Tourney Game.

The forlorn look he had as she left for Seabrook for the first time.

"I can take care of myself, yeah, you taught me well," she acknowledged, walking around the desk.

"I learned from you that I do not crumble, I learned that strength is something you choose," she proclaimed, pulling his hands into hers. "All of the reasons to keep on believin',"

"There’s no question," she stated, a smile slipping onto her face,  "That’s a lesson, that I learned from you."

"We always don’t agree on what is the best way," Ben, finally spoke, his voice raw and hoarse, as if each word was wrestled from the depths of his soul. "To get to the place that we’re going from here, but I can really trust you,"

"And give you the distance to make your decisions without any fear," he finished, his voice now softer, tinged with a quiet pride and understanding.

"I’m grateful for all of the times, you opened my eyes," they both found themselves speaking in unison, looking at one another smiles on their face.

"I learned from you that I do not crumble, I learned that strength is something you choose," She pushed the papers away.  "All of the reasons to keep on believin', There’s no question, that’s a lesson I learned from you,"

"You taught me to stand on my own,"

"and I thank you for that," Aurelia added softly, her voice filled with gratitude and love.

"It saved me, it made me, and now that I’m looking back, I can say," they reflected together,

"I do not crumble, I learned that strength is something you choose," Her voice was firm and confident as she gave her brother a reassuring look.

"All of the reasons to keep on believin'- There’s no question, that’s a lesson that I learned from you,"

"I learned that strength is something you choose," she added softly, a final, personal affirmation of the lesson learned.

"All of the reasons to keep on believin''- There’s no question, that’s a lesson that I learned from you," they finished together, their voices fading into a soft whisper, leaving behind a room filled with the golden glow of the afternoon sun, the long shadows on the floor, and the tangible presence of lessons learned and strength found.

"I learned from you," She whispered.

Ben stood up slowly from his desk, his gaze never leaving Aurelia’s. The room was thick with emotion, and for a moment, they simply stood there, looking at each other, understanding and love passing between them without the need for words.

Finally, Ben took a step forward, closing the distance between them. He lifted a hand to gently wipe away a stray tear that had escaped from Aurelia’s eye. “I just want you to be safe,” he said softly, his voice filled with the protectiveness of an older brother.

Aurelia nodded, understanding his concern. “I know, Ben. And I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me.” She paused, her eyes searching his. “But I need you to understand that I’ve grown up. I’ve learned from the best, and I can handle myself now.”

Ben smiled at that, a mixture of pride and sadness in his eyes. “I know you can,” he admitted. “It’s just hard for me to let go. You’re my little sister, and I’ve always felt like it was my job to protect you.”

Aurelia reached up to place a hand on his cheek, her touch gentle. “And you’ve done an amazing job,” she told him. “But now it’s time for me to stand on my own two feet. I want to make you proud, Ben.”

Ben’s eyes filled with tears as he pulled Aurelia into a tight hug. “You already have,” he whispered into her hair. “You already have.”

As they stood there, embracing in the fading light of the afternoon, they both knew that something had shifted between them. They were no longer just brother and sister; they were two individuals who had grown and learned together, who had faced challenges and come out stronger on the other side.

When they finally pulled apart, there was a new understanding in their eyes, a mutual respect that hadn’t been there before. They knew that no matter what life threw at them, they would always have each other’s backs.

And as they left the room together, ready to face whatever came next, they both carried with them the lessons they had learned and the strength they had found.