Author's note: Final part! I hope you enjoy :)

"Mal stop moving!"

Mal froze her face as Evie applied the last of the makeup. Her friend accepted to do a simple and natural look.

"And Viola." Evie smiled. "I still can't believe you and Chad managed to work together. I'm sure lunch is going to be wonderful."

Mal smiled. "I hope so."

…

"Oh no she's late."

"Chad."

"I told her to be here two hours early, there's an hour left before all the guests start arriving."

Ben sighed. "Chad."

"I'm sorry Ben, Mal's gonna have to work on her punctuality."

"Chad, relax. Everything is fine."

The blond prince stared at the king. "Is it though?"

Ben pursed his lips and looked around. "The place looks great. Thanks for helping Mal."

Chad posed proudly. "Your welcome. Although I suppose Tiana and Naveen helped a little too."

Ben laughed.

"How dare you." The blonde pouted.

….

"I'm here!"

"Mal!"

Ben hugged his girlfriend. "You did great, my mom is impressed."

Mal exhaled. "She is? That's…wonderful." She said relieved.

"I'd hate to interrupt, but the guests have taken their seats," Chad said impatiently.

"Okay, okay, okay," Mal muttered nervously.

Ben took Mal's hand and smiled at her. She smiled back as they walked towards Belle with Chad following closely behind.

"Ben, Mal!" Belle hugged her son and gave Mal a smile.

"Everything looks, wonderful dear."

"Thank you," Mal responded.

Belle excused herself and went to strike a conversation with other guests.

"Alright," Chad said suddenly. "Quiz time."

Mal rolled her eyes.

"Quiz time?" Ben asked.

"For Mal. Who is the woman with red curly hair?"

"Merida."

"Who is the man with the sun pin on his vest?"

"Eugene Fitzherbert."

"Very good. How about…What's Ariel's and Eric's daughter's name?"

Mal scoffed. "Melody. Not that hard." She looked at the guests. "Hey, isn't that your aunt, Anastasia?"

Chad froze. "Yeah, I should probably go say hi to her. I'll be back."

Mal smirk as Chad's aunt pinched his cheeks and kissed his forehead, causing the young prince to blush, still, he remained in place and hugged his aunt.

Ben chuckled. "I wonder what it's like to have aunts like that."

"Yeah," Mal responded. "I'm actually glad Anastasia was able to redeem herself, make her own choices and live without her mom's restraints."

"She's not the only one," Ben said.

Mal smiled at him. "I'm definitely close."

…

"If I could have your attention, friends." Belle started. "Thank you all for being here. It's a pleasure to see all your faces again, I'm happy to see new ones as well."

She continued the introduction, saying what organizations would receive the funds collected and support offered by each attendant. Mal had accidentally zoned out and was kicked under the table by Chad when Belle called her name.

"You've got this," Ben told her while Chad gave her a thumbs up.

Standing up from her seat, she walked to the front of the room to stand next to Belle.

Belle smiled at Mal and took her hand.

"All the compliments and credit for today's meal and theme must go to Mal.

The guests began to clap, causing Mal to smile shyly. She focused on her breathing and found it funny how a simple lunch and public speaking could make her nervous.

"Thank you, Belle. Thank you, everyone, for coming."

…

"Your friend is doing well," Anastasia whispered to Chad.

He smiled. "Yeah, I guess she is."

Mal went on to reveal the lunch's theme as plates with fruit were laid before the guests.

"Gratitude is something very important. We should acknowledge even the simplest of things." She sighed. "For someone who lives on the isle, there is no such thing as fresh fruit. It's rare to find an apple or peaches that aren't completely spoiled. Here, I'd imagine, everyone is familiar with the sweet flavors and colorful variety. Hence, we are taking a moment to appreciate this by serving fruit salad to start us off."

The guests chattered and compliments could be heard among them as they began to eat the fruit salad.

Chad smiled when he saw the variety of fruits, he chewed contently and remembered when his parents would take him to the orchard in their palace grounds. He looked towards Mal and gave her a subtle thumbs up. She gave him a nod and smile as she received a plate from Tiana. Mal thanked her and surprisingly didn't flinch when the culinary queen cupped her cheek and smiled at her. Instead she nodded at smiled at something Tiana said.

…

"Why did you chuckle?"

Ben smiled. "Even though Mal loves strawberries, she really likes all fruits. I won't forget the time she tried blueberries for the first time. She has the look of wonder and serenity whenever she eats fruit."

Now that Ben had mentioned it, Chad could tell just how much Mal was enjoying the fruit salad.

"Well," He started. "I suppose I never thought the daughter of Maleficent could love something as small as this."

…

Mal maintained a proper posture, to Evie's and Chad's insistence, as she continued to speak to the guests.

"I've heard students at Auradon prep talk about their family's cooking. How much they miss it when their away. Stew is one, I've heard a lot about. At first, I couldn't understand what was so great about it. But," She breathed. "when I was told that they had memories that involved eating the soup when they were sick or upset, I realized that it made them feel at home, it made them feel safe. Because their mother's made it."

She chuckled. "Sadly, I can't relate."

Murmurs emerged briefly.

"And it's because I can't relate, I thought maybe you all would. The second dish is Tiana's famous Gumbo." Mal finished. She smirked playfully at the happy gasps. Clearly Tiana's Café had been the best catering choice.

…

"I will NEVER get tired of Tiana's gumbo." Chad wiped his mouth with a napkin and sighed contently.

Next to him, Ben leaned back in his seat. "You and me both."

"Hey, remember the first time we took Audrey and Lonnie to Tiana's restaurant?"

Ben smiled. "Yeah, we were eight, right?"

Chad nodded and chuckled. "Lonnie scolded Audrey for complaining that the gumbo was too spicy."

"I remember. She said, "It's not the gumbo's fault your taste buds are so weak!"

Ben laughed. "We had fun that day."

"We sure did. I'll never forget that Tiana let us into the kitchen to watch her make beignets and that Naveen played his ukulele for us to dance."

"I won't forget either," Ben said.

…

"One more to go," Chad said, approaching Mal. "You've done surprisingly well."

Mal raised an eyebrow. "Thanks?"

"I see remedial goodness has helped with your reactions."

"Believe me, had you not helped me, I think I would have reverted back to isle mode and snapped at you with a witty comeback."

"I don't doubt it."

…

"We're glad you've enjoyed today's lunch, thank you again for coming," Belle said. "Mal, care to introduce the dessert?"

Mal smiled. "I'm sure everyone is looking forward to this. For dessert, we have Tiana's heavenly beignets."

Content sighs could be heard as the guests ate the well-known desserts.

"I don't know about you." Mal began. "But I sure am glad that Tiana's gift exists."

…

Chad and Ben bid farewell to the guests, as did Mal. It was clear that she was still getting accustomed to receiving such praise and compliments from people outside her circle. Still, she thanked everyone.

"You did great!" Ben said as he gave his girlfriend a hug. She chuckled and then sighed with relief.

"Well, I may have a little help."

"A little." Chad mocked.

"You're acting childish."

"A thank you, would suffice."

"Fine," Mal said. "Thank you."

Chad put his hands on his waist. "That wasn't so hard. Don't tell anyone I said this, but you're not so bad."

"Wow," Ben said surprised.

Mal laughed. "You're not so bad yourself."