Not So Happily Ever After

Call From Home

Ben, Chad, Lonnie, and Audrey were all in the middle of remedial goodness going over the complexities of morality when Carlos came in rolling a computer stand down the middle between everyone to the front of the room. The Fair Queen smiles widely and proudly as Carlos sets the computer up looking rather concerned. "Alright student, because of Family Day coming up this weekend we arranged something special for you since your families can't be here due to... um... distance." She puts nicely. Ben immediately had a sinking feeling over this. He didn't want to see his father and from the look on Carlos's face, he knew it too. The Fair Queen motioned for them to come up close to the computer as Carlos finished setting up the connection.

What next popped up on the screen was Mulan, Cinderella, and Aurora all trying to receive the connection until a figure in the background stepped forward, the beast pressed one button and then as if by magic the connection started to work both ways. Cinderella immediately started doting on her son, the only real villain who seemed to care in the slightest. "How is my dashing boy? Have you met your father?" Cinderella asked manically as if she were on drugs and Chad groaned.

"I'm fine mother... no, I haven't seen father. If I do... I'll tell him you said hi..." Chad sighed at how desperate his mother still was for someone who used her then threw her away. Mulan appraised her daughter silently as Aurora cut in to speak to Audrey. Everyone was noticeably uncomfortable as their parents seemed to treat them as if they were coming home soon. It was disturbing but not nearly as disturbing as the presence of the Beast waiting behind the three women glaring daggers into Ben. Ben had gone ridged and cold like he used to be on the isle. There wasn't even a hint of emotion in him or how he like his father waited behind his three friends silently.

The beast cleared his throat as bickering between the three women began and silenced them. Carlos slipped in next to Ben, casually standing to watch. The beast leaned in close to the screen and Ben stepped forward. This seemed to please the beast. "Have you found a way to get me off of this isle son?" The beast asked calmly and Ben's eyes flicked to the Fair Queen briefly who seemed shocked.

"No. No Father I have not." Ben answered tensely knowing his father would not be happy. The beast let out a roar loud enough to fill both rooms and Ben felt himself trembling slightly. Carlos reached his hand out and grabbed Ben's giving it a squeeze silently. The beast seemed to take notice and looked directly at Carlos.

"Who is he?" The beast's voice demanded rumbling deep from his chest. Carlos and Ben both stood silent for a long moment before the beast slammed the desk on either side of the setup computer making the screen shake. "WHO IS HE BENJAMIN?!" The beast snarled and Ben cleared his throat softly squeezing Carlos's hand tightly.

"His name is Carlos De Vil," Ben admits coldly but his father doesn't seem to buy it looking his dead in the eyes.

"Who is he to you?" The beast growls and Ben is clinging to Carlos's hand for dear life.

"He's my boyfriend father." Ben finally admits proudly, puffing up his chest a bit. His father seems completely beside himself with rage. "I don't need your approval either. I'm not on the isle and I'm not your chew toy anymore. I love him and he loves me." Ben admits fondly looking over to Carlos who beams him a supportive smile.

"LOVE?!" The beast bellows. "You know nothing of love you imbecile! You have no room in your life for something as petty and frivolous as love. No son of mine will be some two-bit penny whore like this one over here." The beast motions as Chad, Cinderella, and Chad scoffing in unison. "No son of mine has time for love and you will stop this immediately. I allowed you to leave so you could find me a way off the wretched island not find some mutt to shack up with." The beast growled and snarled his insults as if they weren't anything, but Ben's anger was hitting his peak.

"Then I don't want to be your son. Carlos is not a mutt; I will not let you say anything bad about the best person I've ever met. I have nothing more to say to you. You aren't my father any longer and I want absolutely nothing to do with you." Without so much as another word Ben slipped forward and closed the connection. Everyone looked at Ben silently, the Fair Queen looking regretful for having this idea. Carlos pulled Ben close and Audrey, Chad, and Lonnie silently joined the hug, giving Ben comfort. Lonnie was the least likely to join in with said hugs, but she did it in solidarity knowing Ben needed to know he still had a family. Ben knew he had a family still, even without a father. He had his gang and Carlos, even Carlos's friends were all family to him now. He wasn't alone and he wouldn't have to face his father anymore. He was free of him, free of his expectations and rules. He was in Auradon and he was happy.

The beast gang was given class off after the horrible video call that they had to endure. The fair Queen apologized profusely after the horrible mistake she made; she just had hoped that even villain' would love their children. She was wrong, horribly wrong in her hopeful naivety. They all went back to the girl's dorms together, going to Lonnie and Audrey's shared room. "I can't believe you actually stood up to the beast," Chad said as they all plopped down on the edge of the beds. Ben gave him a less than amused look. "What?! When was the last time you heard of anyone openly opposing the beast?" Chad reiterated and in truth, no one had an answer. No one goes against the will of the beast on the isle for fear of ending up dead.

"Yeah well, I wouldn't have had the strength to say any of that if I was still actually on the Isle where he could get me. The only reason I stood up to him was because I was safe here." Ben admittedly sounding less than impressed with himself. Audrey turned away from touching up her makeup to look at Ben.

"It may not seem that impressive when you put it like that but what you did was really brave Ben. You deserve to be happy and free of him. He wasn't much of a father anyway. Besides. We are in Auradon now. We're safe and no one can stop us. Cause we're rotten..." Audrey says putting her hand in. Everyone smirks and smiles a bit before putting their hands in speaking in unison. "To the Core."