Love Potion

Admission

She was still in her Belle dress as she led Ben out to the gazebo on the lake behind his parent's house. She had a hard enough manoeuvring time the path when she was in combat boots during the day. Doing it in the middle of the night, in a dress with more layers than she thought possible and heels was maddeningly difficult.

"Can I drink this yet?"

She looked over her shoulder and winked. "Not yet. You can hold off a little while, you lush."

She heard him laugh. "I'm not a lush, Dragon Lady." She felt him at her back as he quickened his pace enough to breath in her ear, "it's just, last time we drank your mom's Love Potion, I got something I'd been desperately wanting for a while."

"It's not like we haven't done stuff, Ben. You're right, your not a lush. You're insatiable."

"I'm not talking about sex, Mal."

She felt a blush rise in her cheeks. "Okay, you big mush ball. Let's get to the gazebo so you can quench that thirst of yours."

"So, we are having sex at the gazebo?"

She pivoted and playfully smacked his arm. "Seriously, you are terrible."

He laughed again and moved ahead of her. That made the rest trek easier, since he knew the path better. When they reached the lake, Mal felt her breath catch with the sight of the stars reflecting on the water.

"You want the lights on?"

"Of course you guys have this thing rigged with lights." Now that they were free of the trees and under the night sky she could see him shrug. "No. Let's just be under the stars for a bit."

He smiled down at her softly and reached his free hand out for her. She took it and let him pull her in for a sweet kiss. She hummed happily as he pulled away. Hands still joined, they wandered out to the structure on the lake.

"So, what's with all the cloak and dagger?"

She held up her Solo cup. "Don't forget the bribery."

He nodded, and considered his own drink. "Seriously, though. Why the adventure?"

"I have something to say, and I wanted to say it in private. I also wanted to get it out before we both got too drunk." She waived off his teasing smile. "I know, you're tipsy, and tipsy isn't drunk."

"So, you have me all alone. What do you need to tell me?"

She felt her expression soften at his hunched shoulders. She knew all his different moods. She was privy to his hopes and dreams. He'd shared every possible future he had before him. In all those things, he never once excluded her. She was a factor in nearly all his thoughts.

"Roughly 7 months ago, you stood atop a table during a party at Chad's house. While making an utter fool of yourself, you said you loved me." She cleared her throat and forced herself to meet his gaze. "I've been steadily trying to find the lie in that ever since. While doing so, I happened to fall desperately in love with you, as well."

She put her cup down on the railing and stepped forward. "I love you, Ben Kingsley. You've been so considerate and wonderful since even before I took that stupid dare. I've been taking my time and I've grown into someone who can finally say this without a shadow of a doubt." She held her hands out for him and he quickly stowed away his drink to take them. "I love you."

His smile was almost heartbreakingly wide. "I love you, too."

He did something she wasn't expecting then. Releasing her hands, he dug his phone from his pocket. After fiddling with it, a familiar song began playing and Mal snorted.