Bal: it starts with me & you

For better or for worse

*Ben had to force himself to go over and greet his grandparents, giving them a hug and thanking them for coming, all of which seemed rather ridiculous to him, then again everything about them seemed ridiculous to him and he currently found himself rather short tempered*
Grandmother: Ben! It's so good to see you! Of course these aren't the circumstances we'd have liked but I'm so glad we finally got to see you again! It's been much too long
Ben: uhh yeah, okay
Grandmother: Ben?
Ben: come on, it's starting, mom?
*he put his hand out to his mother who willingly took it, rather happy to get the hell away from her in laws as fast as she could, she let her son lead her down the steps, they got to the bottom of them just in time for the coffin to be brought out of the hearse, Ben and Belle were each handed one end of the Auradonian flag which they were to lay across the coffin as a show of who he was and how important he had been to the kingdom, Ben could faintly hear people sobbing as he and his mother laid the flag out across the lid of the coffin, once it was done they stepped away and the former commanders of King Beast's Forces, all dressed in their full uniform, each baring the medals that showed how extensively decorating in combat they had been prior to peace being brought to Auradon by Ben's father, Ben himself felt quite overwhelmed by the service these people had given to the nation he now ruled, he was pulled from his thoughts by the sharp sound of the organ beginning to play he funeral march, the coffin began its journey to the front of the cathedral where it would remain for all to see for the entirety of the service, Ben and Belle followed behind it, both extensively aware of the fact that his grandparents were right behind them, neither of them impressed by this fact, everyone's eyes being on them was something both mother and son were very used to but something about this happening that day that threw them both, they suddenly felt very suffocated by it all, very claustrophobic with everyone surrounding them in such a way that felt very foreign to them, Ben couldn't help being extremely thankful when they finally got to the front and could take their seats, he sat next to Mal, instinctively kissing her cheek softly before taking Bella from Maurice who had taken her so Mal could relax a bit, Belle sat on the other side of her father while the grandparents sat on the other side of the aisle, much to the relief of Belle and Ben, and also to the curiosity of Mal, she couldn't help peering past her husband at the older looking couple who she figured must now be getting on beast having been about fifty an all, and yet neither of them appeared to really show the age they must have obtained, her attention was regained by the service beginning, she didn't recognised the older gentlemen who was leading the proceedings but just went along with it, in hindsight, her assumption that fairy godmother would be leading it was probably a silly one to make, she just figured since she'd coronated Ben and married the that she was just the person to to this stuff, clearly funerals were different as the man began to speak of Beasts life and give the speech that she supposed was to allow everyone to remember the life of the person they were mourning, she noticed Ben tense up, she slid her free hand into his, looking at him, she could see the effort he was having to put into holding himself together, she lifted his hand up with hers and kissed it gently, a show of support on her part, he managed a small smile in response but she wasn't convinced it was real, then Belle was called up to give her speech, it was then he began to become very emotional, as she spoke about all their time together, all the things they'd done, all the things they had planned to do, it really hit home for Ben exactly what she had lost, he hadn't really come to terms with anything about it yet so it was just then he really began to understand, it was then that he took his hand from Mal's and instead wrapping his arm around her and kissing her cheek, it was almost an awakening to him, it wasn't as though he'd never feared losing her before, he had many times, it was a constant fear, but I'm that moment their mortality was even more clear to him that it had ever been, something rather ironic considering they had both nearly died in previous weeks, he listened to everything his mother said and took it all in, there were a lot of things he'd never heard, his parents had rarely spoken to him about life before him, he knew about what his father had done for the kingdom but never really what he'd done for her, the thought that Mal could ever be left as heartbroken as his mother was, that his kids could be left feeling so lost and confused about everything as he now did petrified him, he was so shaken by the time he had to speak that he could barely get up there to do it, he handed Bella over to Maurice and stood up, having to hold onto something to hold himself up as he made his way towards the podium where the readings were being made from, he tried to speak but when he opened his mouth to speak, nothing came out, he just faltered, it was all he could do to not break down on the spot and everyone could see it, every single person in his entire kingdom could see that he was moments from breaking point, moments away from tears, Mal immediately turned to Belle who without even needing to be asked carefully took her grandson from his mother's hands, Mal almost instantaneously was stood beside him, she had her arms around him just in time for him to lose it, he just couldn't hold together and it all finally came out, he sobbed into her shoulder as she used all her might to hold them both up, she soothed him gently as he sobbed, it was truly the worst she'd ever seen her husband emotionally, it was his absolute lowest, he finally pulled himself together and forced himself to give her a smile smile in thanks*
Ben: I'm sorry
Mal: for what? For being upset? I'd be concerned if you weren't, I said I'd be in this with you for better if for worse remember? This is for worse and that's okay
Ben: I can't do this
Mal: if you really believe that then I support you, by I don't think you'll be able to live with yourself if you don't do this
Ben: stay here with me?
*she moved towards him and kisses him gently on the cheek*
Mal: always
*it almost broke him to do, but he managed to force himself through the speech he'd prepared, a few moments during where he had to just stop and recompose himself with Mal's support, as she promised, she stood with him, held his hand, supported him and encouraged him and when he finally finished and was able to retake his seat he knew she was proud of him, he knew he was proud of himself, he hoped his father would've been proud of him as well*

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FINALLY GOT THIS OUT, I MEANT TO FINISH THIS LIKE TWO DAYS AGO BUT GOT SWAMPED WITH HOMEWORK AND LIFE WHOOPS BUT HERE IT FINALLY IS AS PROMISED, also, just in case anyone's interested, I have a new book called Her Grace out if you fancy checking that out but yeah THATS IT FOR NOW, I WILL TRY AND UPDATE AGAIN VV SOON BYEEE Xoxo