Honey Baker thought she did a good job of hiding her emotions. She had no idea that everyone, namely Ben, could see the hearts in her eyes as she stared at Ben's girlfriend, Audrey. The hearts that have been in her eyes for years.

The three grew up together, Ben and Honey being best friends, and Audrey and Honey being best.....frenemies? No matter how many times the young prince forced the two girls to spend time together, Audrey never got any nicer to the other girl. In Audrey's eyes, Honey wasn't good enough to be hanging out with the future King of Auradon. She didn't think Ben should be best friends with a "peasant". Audrey thought so very little of the Baker girl. Honey just thought Audrey was the prettiest girl in all of Auradon.

Audrey wasn't the only one at Auradon Prep who gave Honey a hard time. The red-headed girl was constantly surrounded by people who didn't think she belonged, and she often had a hard time disagreeing with them. She didn't have a big house or fancy clothes like most of her peers, she wasn't anywhere in line for the throne, she didn't have the bravery and skills of a hero. She was just a baker's daughter.

Well, the baker's daughter. Her dad was the Royal Baker, the most important baker in all of Auradon. Basically, her father was tasked with providing any and all baked goods for the Royal Family. According to the Queen and King, Hubert Baker was the best baker in all of Auradon and should deserve all the praise and benefits that come with his title. In exchange for being the Royal Baker, Honey was allowed to attend Auradon Prep, and the many festivities and events that went along with being a student there.

Though it wasn't an officially agreed-upon perk, Belle often assisted the girl with the formal part of living among royals. The woman would loan dresses to the girl, invited her over for makeovers, anything to help her feel less ostracized. The girl grew up without a mother, something Belle was familiar with, so she knew how hard it could be to not have a positive female figure in her life. To not have a mother to come crying to when life gets tough. Belle was more than happy to fill that role.

The Royal Family truly treated her as their own, but they could never replace her dad. Hubert Baker was the kindest man she had ever met, with a big heart and an even bigger smile. The poor man was heartbroken when his wife left him for a younger man, but he couldn't stay down long with Honey by his side. If Hubert was a ray of sunshine, then Honey was the whole damn sun. Despite all the biting remarks from her classmates and their families, Honey still managed to light up a room with her dazzling smile.

That very smile lit up her father's bakery as she loaded up a tin with the cookies she had just made. The place was a lot bigger than it used to be, the pace being expanded when he got his title. It wasn't often Hubert Baker could be found in his own bakery anymore since he was usually stationed in the castle's kitchens, so the shop was mostly being run by Honey during the summer and winter breaks and a family friend when Honey was in school. She liked to pop in from time to time, like now, when she wasn't in classes just to check up on things and bake the occasional treat.

Honey made her way out of the bakery, grabbing her bike from the shed in the back. Ben had called her telling her to come over and hadn't said if it was urgent or not, but she wanted to get there quicker just in case. Still, even as she zoomed down the cobblestone streets, she looked around at the beautiful scenery. The light breeze combed through her hair, making it a bit messy but she didn't care. It was also fairly sunny, and Honey happily soaked up every ray of golden sunlight.

She got to the castle much quicker than she thought since she zoned out through most of her bike ride, and the gate opened right up for her, another perk of being the future king's best friend. She laid her bike on the grass, hoping no one would care, and made the familiar journey to Ben's room.

He was a little cryptic on the phone, not giving her even a clue as to what he needed her for, so when she walked into his room to see him being fitted for his suit...she was a bit confused.

"What-Ben!" the boy turned around at the sound of his best friend's voice, much to the tailor's chagrin, "Did you seriously make me close the bakery up early just to get your opinion about a suit?" She stood in front of him with her hands on her hips, reminding him a lot of his mother when she's mad.

"What? No, no. I - Look, I have something I need to tell my parents later, but I wanted to see what you thought first."

He looked nervous. Honey's known him for almost his entire life, and sure she'd seen him nervous before, but never when it was just to two of them. He was usually so chill with her, which made her wonder what could be bad enough to get him this nervous.

"Benjamin-" she started, moving to place her tin of cookies on his bed.

"Don't call me tha-"

"We've been best friends for years. Whatever you have to tell me, I'm sure I'll agree." Ben took a moment to think, let her words sink in before his eyes met hers again. Her bright smile was all the reassurance he needed to say his next words.

"I'm inviting kids from the Isle of the Lost to stay in Auradon."

Honey's eyes grew wide, which instantly made him nervous again, thinking she'd shut down his idea. In truth, she was just shocked. Shocked that he'd make such a big decision before he was even officially King. It kind of startled her to realize just how grown up the two of them were, no longer the little toddlers running around his mom's garden and playing pranks on his dad to see if he'll go "Beast Mode".

"Ben...I think that's wonderful." She went to hug him, but the tailor slapped her arms away, making her frown. "I'm really proud of you." She settled for giving him a fist bump, though noticed the tailor didn't look too happy about that either.

"That's a relief," Ben said, feeling as though a weight was off his shoulders. "Now all I have to do is tell my parents." As if on cue, Belle and Beast strolled into Ben's room, looking as royal as ever.

"How is it possible that you're gonna be crowned king next month. You're just a baby!"

"He's turning sixteen, dear," Belle gently reminds her husband, giving Honey a smile and a wave once she sees the girl standing off to the side.

"Sixteen?! That's far too young to be crowned king. I didn't make a good decision until I was at least forty-two."

Belle scoffs, turning to her husband with a bewildered expression. "Uh, you decided to marry me at twenty-eight."

"It was either you or the teapot," Beast jokes, the kids laughing along with him, and though Belle rolled her eyes she still cracked a smile.

"Mom, Dad..." Ben's smile fades, becoming nervous again like before, "I've chosen my first official proclamation." He sent Honey one more glance, earning an encouraging nod back, before continuing. "I've decided that the children on the Isle of the Lost be given a chance to live here in Auradon."

Honey almost cheered for him right then and there, proud that he'd had the confidence to tell his parents, until she realized maybe her reaction would seem out of place with the adults' reactions.

"Every time I look out to the island, I feel like they've been abandoned." Ben ignored the tailor and walked towards his parents.

"The children of our sworn enemies, living among us?" Beast looked like he was struggling to understand, but not completely angry which Honey took as a good sign.

"We start out with a few at first, only ones who need our help the most." Ben looked to his right as Honey joined him by his side, holding his hand. The boy sent his friend a grateful look before turning back to his parents. "I've already chosen them."

"Have you?" Beast stepped forward, almost challengingly. Ben's smile wiped off his face at his dad's action.

Belle reaches a hand out to her husband. "I gave you a second chance," she says softly, watching Beast's expression turn a bit calmer before turning back to her son with a smile. "Who are their parents."

Honey was nervous as heck. This was the part Ben hadn't told her about, and based on his expression, she thought that maybe it had been for a reason. She wasn't necessarily scared of the Isle kids, especially since she's never met them, but she was scared to find out who raised them.

"Cruella de Vil, Jafar, Evil Queen......and Maleficent."

"Maleficent?!" Honey flinched, not just at Beast's outburst, but because she too had not been expecting her name to come out of her best friend's mouth. "She is the worst villain in the land!"

"Dad, just hear me out here," Ben tries to cut in.

"I won't hear of it!" Honey noticed the tailor and guard were leaving, probably scared themselves."They are guilty of unspeakable crimes!"

"Dad, their children are innocent. Don't you think they deserve a shot at a normal life?" Ben tried convincing his father and Honey watched as the angry expression left Beast's face. Ben, Honey, and Belle were all looking at him hopefully, waiting for him to see reason.

"I suppose the children are innocent," Beast said nothing else as he sighed and turned away from the others.

"Well...well done," Belle smiled brightly at her son, fixing his jacket collar before turning away and leaving with her husband.

Honey dropped his hand as Ben walked towards the window, looking out at the Isle. She followed him, frowning at the grey cloud that perpetually hung over the island. She couldn't imagine growing up somewhere so gloomy. There was a book she'd read in Belle's library that mentioned weather often affects someone's mood, so she imagined growing up in such a dreary atmosphere and being surrounded by clutter and garbage probably has taken a toll on the kids' lives.

'You're doing the right thing, Ben. And I know I said it before, but I'm really proud of you. This is a really adult thing you're doing."

Ben stared down at his ring before glancing at her and smiling. "Thanks. It means a lot that you were here when I told them." Ben took a deep breath, turning to fully face his friend before breathing out. Honey furrowed her eyebrows but let him say what he needed to. "Which is why...I want you to be with me when the kids arrive. If you want, of course."

Honey had to stop herself from laughing in his face. "You dummy, of course I'll be there! I don't know why you haven't figured out yet that I'll support you no matter what. Plus, I'm kind of excited to meet them! Well...excited and scared."

He laughed in relief, feeling grateful she would be with him. "Thank goodness. I didn't want to just be stuck with Fairy Godmother."

"What about Audrey?" Honey asked, thinking the girl had probably declined the offer to greet the Isle kids. "She's not coming?"

"I...haven't told her yet," Ben admits sheepishly. He yelps when she punches him in the arm, frowning as he rubs his sore arm through his jacket sleeve.

"You have to tell her! And she's gonna be mad when she finds out you told me before her. She hates me enough as it is, Ben."

"She doesn't hate you," Ben sighs, well aware of the tension between his girlfriend and best friend.

"Well, she doesn't not hate me," she huffs and crosses her arms. Despite knowing Audrey wasn't her biggest fan, she couldn't help the lingering crush that's been there for years.

"She'll come around."

"We've known each other for 15 years."

"Whatever. I'm gonna finish getting ready, they'll be here in a few hours."

"Okay. I should probably get changed too," Honey mumbles, glancing down at her crop-top and long skirt, both covered in flour and various jam & jelly stains from the bakery.

She said goodbye to her friend and planned on just going straight to her dorm to change, but decided to take a detour to the kitchens to see her dad. She hardly got to see him since they were both so busy, and she honestly missed him a lot. He always came home late, and she tried staying up for him, but by then they were both too tired to hang out and do anything fun. And now that she was back in school, she didn't see him much at all besides in video chats.

"Papa!" Hubert Baker spun around, eyes lighting up when he saw his daughter. He quickly wiped his hands on his apron before meeting her halfway and wrapping her in a hug.

"Sunflower! Oh, it's great to see you." He pulled away from the hug, giving her arms one last squeeze before they dropped to his side. "Here to help out your old man? It would sure help a lot. Claudine called in sick and she makes the best frosting. Well, besides you of course." He pinched her cheeks before going back to rolling out dough.

"Oh, no, actually. Sorry. I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. I need to go to my room and get changed, but I think I have time to chat."

"Get changed for what? Is there a party I wasn't invited to? Well, their loss. They're gonna miss my sweet moves," he jokes, shaking his hips around as Honey snorts at his actions.

"No, Papa. Don't worry, no one would dare miss a chance to see your "sweet moves"," she says, still laughing. "Actually, I have something to tell you. Well, you and everyone will hear about it soon anyway, but I'll just tell you. Ben is inviting over some kids from the Isle of the Lost to live here in Auradon."

Unlike the other adults, he didn't flinch or scream or show any signs of fear. He just sent her a nod and a smile. That's one of the great things about Hubert Baker; he believes that everyone could be a good person if given enough chances.

"Wow, very grown up of Ben. It feels like it was just yesterday you two were little kids, running around all over the castle, having the guards chase you," he smiles fondly at the memory of his daughter and her best friend.

"I was thinking the same thing earlier. It's weird how we'll both be adults soon."

"Yeah...but you'll always be my little girl." He wraps an arm around her shoulders, giving her a squeeze before getting back to work. "Hey, why don't we make them something? We wanna make a good first impression, don't we?"

Honey bit her lip, remembering she had wanted to get changed before the Isle kids arrived. Then she thought back to when Ben said they wouldn't be here for a few hours and figured she had some time.

"That's a great idea, Papa. I'm sure they'll love it."

yay first chapter!!!! no vks in this one yet (sorry!), but definitely next chapter.

also, i personally like shorter chapters, but let me know if you want them to be longer and I'll see what i can do. just keep in mind there may not end up being as many chapters when im done.

hope you enjoyed! lemme know what you think by commenting and/or voting. PLEASE DON'T BE A GHOST READER! k byeeeeee!!!!