*Epilogue*

"Ben?" I said into the silence after we had been lying in silence for a short while that felt like a perfect eternity.

"Yes my love" he answered and I looked up at him.

"I just want to ask you about something that Audrey said-" I started.

"Right" he prompted and I saw something change in his eyes which told me that he was concerned about where this conversation was about to go.

"She said the council won't allow us to be together" I muttered before I gulped.

"Just ignore Audrey" he dismissed. "She was using that to scare me" he added.

"So they can't stop us?" I questioned.

"No" he answered. "I choose who I am with, not the council" he stated. "Gone are the days where I am told who to marry" he finished as he started to run the fingers of his right hand up my spine.

"I see" I noted. "But don't you need a Princess?" I asked nervously. I started to feel all of my insecurities start to build up over whether I was ever going to be good enough for Ben. I didn't want to think like this; but I knew that losing Ben was going to really hurt and I didn't want this to happen.

"I have my Princess" he smiled.

"Ben you know what I mean" I said sternly and I watched him sigh.

"It is preferred" he advised which made my stomach start to burn in panic. "But not mandatory" he stated. "I can fall in love with anyone who manages to steal my heart" he continued. "And you have had mine since you stepped out of the limousine when you arrived at Auradon Prep" he urged.

"I've had it a while then" I muttered.

"Yes" he confirmed. "Yes you have" he added before he pressed a kiss against the top of my head.

"And you have had mine Ben" I stated. "That's why I can't love anyone else" I smiled meekly at him.

"Oh Mally" he breathed as he pulled me closer towards him so my head rested in the crux of his neck.

"I promise to be more open with you Mal" he promised. "I don't want secrets between us" he stated.

"Me neither" I agreed. "I love you your Majesty" I smiled and I heard him chuckle.

"I love you too Mal Bertha" I heard him say.

"Urgh!" I groaned as I looked back up at him.

"Behave Florian" I teased and he chuckled again at me. Me and Ben then snuggled together once more and lay in silence until we fell asleep in each other's arms. The last thought that crossed my eyes as they rolled shut was that I didn't care what Audrey thought - Ben was mine and this is how it was going to stay.

Hey guys, I don't think there is anything else left to say apart from thank you for continuing on this journey with me. The next part of this series is getting posted with this story, and I hope you enjoy where I am taking Ben and Mal.

Much love,

RaInBoWsKuLlDrOpS

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.