Descendant's Consequences

Hope

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~❶Ben❶~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mom and Dad said they'd take care of my duties for a few days. I still can't believe she's gone. I flip through my phone, looking at all the selfies that we took. Mom comes in after a while, trying to hide a smile. "Ben, I have some good news; I need you to come with me."

"Mom, I don't feel like going anywhere right now," I tell her. "Can it wait for a few days?"

She shakes her head. "You're going to want to see this, I promise."

I sigh and give in, sitting up. Mom takes my arm in hers, leading me down to the car. Dad is waiting in there, smiling as well. "What's going on?" I ask.

"You'll see, Ben."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We pull to a stop in front of the nurse's office. "No, I-I can't go- I can't go back in there. I can't- Mom, why did you bring me here?"

"Please just trust me," Mom says. "You'll understand when we go in, alright?" I look at her, begging her not to make me but she's stubborn- almost as stubborn as Mal was.

Tears form in my eyes as I nod. "Alright," I whisper. "Just please- make it quick. I-"

"Once you see what we're here for, you can leave or stay," Dad assures. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in. I look down as we walk through the halls, stopping in front of a door.

Fairy Godmother stands there, smiling. "Perhaps Ben should do this himself." She gestures for me to go in and I look at my parents before walking in.

Mal lies on the bed, hooked up to machines and covered in a pile of blankets. More tears gather in my eyes. I walk over slowly and sit on the edge of the bed. "This is some cruel joke they're playing on me," I tell her. I take her hand and move her hair from her face with the other. "You deserve respect, not to be insulted like this." I run a hand over her cheek and freeze when her head lolls towards it. "Mal?" I ask.

I stop breathing when her lips move. Her eyes flutter open after a moment. "Ben," she breathes. There's a ghost of a smile forming on her lips.

"Mal? You-you're alive?" I lean down and pull her into my arms. I feel her breath against my neck. I let out a laugh and pull away, looking at her. "You're alive- you're okay! How- how- how is this possible?"

I lay her back down on the bed and hold her head in my hands. She smiles and her shaky hand raises. I take it and put it on my face. "Idono," she slurs.

I my smile grows and I laugh. "I love you- I love you so much, Mal." Her eyes flutter for a moment but she fights to keep them open. "You're exhausted, Sweetie. Just rest, alright. Get your strength back." I lean down a leave a sweet kiss on her lips. I move so I'm leaning against the wall, pulling her into my lap. "Sleep, Sweetie. I've got you, Mal."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I spend a few minutes with her before my parents walk in. "Do you like your surprise?" Mom asks.

I smile and nod. "How is this possible? I thought you said-"

"She was," The nurse says. "I checked for a pulse multiple times and there was nothing. This morning, I come in and she's breathing. It shouldn't be possible but it is."

"This isn't any magic bringing her back?" I make sure.

Fairy Godmother shakes her head. "No, she called me after she saw what happened. We haven't even told your friends."

I nod. "Can you go get them, please? They need to come see her."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~❶Jay❶~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We stand in Evie and Mal's room. Jane helped us find some boxes and we've packed up some of Mal's things. None of us can look at her things so we're putting them in boxes. Maybe someday we'll pull them out but- it's just to fresh. We all feel like it's our fault and nothing will change that. I hear her voice reminisce about every piece I pick up. My phone rings, startling us all. "H-hello?" I ask.

"Jay, are you with everyone?" Fairy Godmother asks.

"Um- yeah. We- we're all here. What's up?"

"You all need to come to the nurse's office," she instructs. "I'll explain everything when you get here."

"Al-alright. I'll ask them if they'll go. Bye." I turn and look at the others. "Um- Fairy Godmother wants us to go to the nurse's office immediately."

"Let's just go and get over it with," Evie says, standing up. Doug takes her hand and we all walk there, slowly.

When we get there, the nurse is waiting outside a room. "Please be quiet." She opens the door and we freeze, shocked.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~❶Ben❶~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jay and the others walk I slowly, staring at Mal. "What's this?" he asks.

"I checked for a pulse last night. She- she was dead," the nurse explains. "But then I came in this morning and she was breathing and had a pulse and everything. She's alive and nobody can explain it."

"She's gonna be okay, right?" Jay asks.

The nurse nods. "She'll need lots of care but she'll be alright. She's frail right now because of how much energy she used fighting of the curse. I'd like to keep her here for the day, then she can go back to her room."

I shake my head. "No, she's not going back there- not like this," I declare. "She'll stay at the castle until she's better, then she can decide. You can all come see her whenever you'd like of course but I don't want her to be alone in the dorms."

"What about whenever you're working?" Jay asks.

"Mom, Dad or any one of the servants; I'm sure Chip would be happy to help out- or Mrs. Teapot, Cogsworth and Lumiere," I suggest. Mom and Dad nod. I feel Mal's hand twitch in my own. "Mal?" I ask, softly. Her eyes flutter open and she smiles.

"Hey," she whispers.

"There are some people here to see you," I tell her.

Her head turns on my shoulder. "Jae, Eve, Crlus!" she mumbles happily. Her hand stretches forward and Carlos takes it.

"Hey Mal, how do you feel?" She yawns and I chuckle. "Still tired, huh? Get some sleep, you need the rest." She takes her hand back, hooking it in the neckline of my shirt before her eyes fall shut. "She's really tired right now."

"She will be for a while," the nurse replies. "Make sure she gets plenty of rest to recover. She's been through a lot."

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