If I Never Knew You

Chapter 1

The purple haired twenty year old sat against the stone pillar waiting for the arrival of her boyfriend, who was uncharacteristically late. A few thoughts crossed her mind as she waited as to what was keeping Ben, all of them included him getting caught up with work. She looked out at the Enchanted Lake, the water was a dark blue, and the moonbeams danced majestically in the waves. She shrugged and opened the picnic basket and took out the chocolate covered strawberries. She wrapped her red lips around the small fruit, first twirling her tongue around the chocolate, enjoying its sweet taste, before biting the fruit in half. She smiled as the overly sweet treat made its way down her throat. The sound of breaking branches coming from behind her alerted her to another's presence. She turned and saw a tall young man with sandy-brown hair and a wide smile was walking towards her.

"You're late," Mal said with a smile. Ben picked up her right hand and pressed his warm lips onto her soft skin. Her smile grew slightly and blood flushed in her pale cheeks.

"Sorry, Love," Ben said apologetically, "I caught a little caught up with something."

Mal rolled her brilliant green eyes and offered Ben a strawberry. He popped the entire thing in his mouth and began to chew. He sat down across from Mal and stared at her.

"What?" she asked wondering if she had chocolate around her mouth, or seeds in between her teeth.

"It's nothing," Ben assured her. Mal, not fully trusting her boyfriend picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth. She pulled out two greasy paper bags from the wicker basket and handed the larger of the two to Ben.

"I know it's not the most romantic meal," she started as she unwrapped her burger and took a bite, "but I didn't have much time to make anything after class let out." Ben shook his head as he took a very large bite out of his triple patty burger.

"Nonsense," he said with a mouthful of beef, cheese, and fries, "you know I love burgers from Granny's."

Mal playfully threw a napkin at him. "Don't talk with your mouthful, your Majesty," she said playfully. "It's not king-like."

Ben stuck his tongue out at his girlfriend before taking another large bite from the masticated cow.

The two talked about how Mal's upcoming art exhibit was coming, and how the upcoming arrival of the latest Islanders was coming. Since Mal and her three pseudo-siblings arrived in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon and had proven that given the chance the children of the most vial villains could be good. Slowly more and more children were being removed from the Isle and brought to Auradon at a shoot of a good life. The succession rate was better than expected, with the rare exception, nearly all the children adapted and even flourished in the peaceful land.

It was nights like the one now that took Mal by surprise sometimes. She sometimes wondered how someone as good and wonderful as Ben could have ever looked twice at someone like her. Yes she had chosen goodness over wickedness, but she was no princess, not technically at least. She did not think herself beautiful like Audrey or Evie. She knew she was nowhere near as smart as Carlos, or as strong and protective as Jay. She still did not think herself worthy of being with Ben, or even getting to be happy. Happily ever after was a new concept to her, and living it felt more like a dream than reality. She saw Ben speaking, but couldn't hear him, she was too busy marveling at his beauty. Mal had always seen how Ben resembled his mother, he had inherited her good looks, but that's not what made Ben as wonderfully handsome as he was. Mal had long ago determined that it was the kindness inside of him that made Ben so breathtakingly beautiful. His heart of gold radiated so strongly that it altered his appearance, sometimes Mal would even swear there was a slight golden aura that wrapped itself around him. She loved everything about him, she wouldn't change a thing, not even how he shook his head like a dog whenever he got wet. She loved him. Pure and simple.

Ben cleared his throat, bringing Mal back to the here and now. He laughed as her pale face turned slightly pink.

"Did you hear what I was saying," Ben asked flashing her a brilliant smile. Mal shook her head,

"No, sorry. I got distracted" she admitted.

"Dazzled by my charming good looks?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Mal admitted with a smile. "You're exceptionally handsome. And even more exceptionally kind. I don't take that for granted."

Ben smiled and tried to hide the blush that began to form on his cheeks.

"I love you, Mal," he said taking her hand in his. Mal squeezed his and smiled.

"And I love you," she said with no hint of sarcasm. Ben pulled out his phone and after a few moments a soft song began to play. He stood up, extended his arm and hand for her to take it.

"Can I have this dance?" he asked. Mal rolled her eyes and smiled, taking his hand. He gently pulled her to her feet. The two began to sway softly to the song emitting itself from the speakers of Ben's phone. Brilliant small, multi colored lights started to illuminate the night sky around the two. Mall looked in awe as various shades of blues, pinks, yellows, and greens danced along with her and Ben.

"Fairies," she said with a chuckle. Ben nodded his head. The two looked around them as hundreds of fairies danced to the same song they were. Mal laid her head on Ben's chest and closed her eyes. She was home.

"Mal, there's something I need to ask you," Ben said in a whisper. Mal removed her head from Ben's chest and looked up into his warm hazel eyes.

"What?" she asked suddenly becoming suspicious.

"Are you happy?" he asked. Mal was slightly taken aback by this. It was a simple question, and an obvious one.

"Of course," she answered. Ben nodded his head and smiled.

"And you love me," he asked.

"Yes, Ben—why are you," but she didn't get to finish the sentence. Her lips suddenly became busy. She closed hers and melted into Ben's strong arms as the kiss grew longer and more passionate. Through her closed eyes she could see the intensity of the fairies light growing. The two only pulled away to breathe. Mal's head was spinning, which is why she didn't first question Ben's actions. Only when oxygen had fully returned to her brain did she piece together what Ben was doing. He was on one knee, and reaching inside one of his pockets.

"Ben—what are you doing?"

Ben smiled as he pulled out a small black velvet box and opened it, reveling a magnificent diamond ring. "Ben is that what I think it is?"

"Mal Bertha," Ben said smiling, "I have loved you since the moment our eyes met, even before then. You have taught me so much, you have been my strength when I was weak, my shoulder to lean on, my best friend. I love you, more than life itself, more than I thought I could ever love. Every time I look into those beautiful emerald eyes I know that no matter what, everything will turn out fine; that I am home." Ben slid the ring onto Mal's left ring finger, the diamond shined brilliantly in the fairies' light, taking her breath away. She forced her eyes away from the ring and back into the hazel eyes she loved so much.

Was this really happening, was this just another dream? Mal's mind was racing.

"Will you marry me, Mal?" Ben asked softly. Mal's breathing stopped for a moment as she took in the question. She had known it was coming, but to hear it, to really have him say it, took her breathe away.

They had been together for four years, had overcome obstacles that would normally tear about the average couple, and they loved each-other, unconditionally. But Mal never expected this, she never allowed herself to dream that one day Ben would be kneeling before her, asking her to marry him, she after all wasn't good enough. But here she was, and here Ben was, smiling up at her hopefully. For a brief moment she thought that maybe his was a curse, some dark magic making her see an illusion. And then she shook her head. No. No, Ben loved her. And she loved him, no black magic or curse was going to change that. Mal wasn't going to let the insecurities that her mother had instilled in her long ago ruin this moment, not now, not ever. Mal pulled Ben up onto his feet and stood on her tip-toes and kissed him deeply.

Once they separated she looked into his eyes, both smiling.

"Yes, your Majesty," she said playfully. Ben smiled and kissed Mal again, as the fairies danced around them.