"You did good back there, Haden. Or should say Haden Nico di Angelo Thanatos Deimos?" Evie stated. I smiled dropping my head with a chuckle. "That's not gonna go away anytime soon, is it?" I asked her. "No." She said with a smile shaking her head. "That was pretty brave what you did, Haden. Only a hero would've done that." She stated putting a hand on my shoulder. I stared into her eyes. "Look...Evie...I'm sorry about what I said back on the Isle. I never should have yelled at you. You didn't deserve that. The truth is...I went to the Isle to get away from a pain that I was not used to." I explained looking at the Isle. "And what was it?" She asked. "Heartbreak." I breathed putting my hands together. "Remember how my dad use to frown upon relationships and...you know...love in general?" I asked. "Vividly. He really despised it." She answered. "Well...the first day I met you in Dragon Hall...I felt something. A spark. I don't know. But I knew I couldn't tell my dad. And I knew that I couldn't express it on the Isle. So I hid it for the next 8 or 9 months. But when we came to Auradon...something happened...it felt like that emotion that I was keeping hidden inside started to grow more and more to the point that it hurt just looking at you. I've tried on multiple occasions to tell you about them but I was too scared of what you'd say when I did...so I never did. And when Cotillion came around I thought, 'This is my chance. I can finally ask her.' But...Doug got to you first so...that made things even worse. After that...I just couldn't take it anymore being in your presence. So I left Auradon and went to the Isle to try and see if the feeling could die or something." I explained. I glanced over at Evie who had tears in her eyes. "Did it?" She asked. I shook my head. "No. It didn't. And the thing is...I don't think I want it to. My dad was all about pain, terror, strength, and having absolutely no weaknesses. He didn't care about emotions like love or stuff like that. The only emotions he cared about were rage and fear. He thought connections like friendships made me weak. Telling me that I only had room for disposable servants and henchmen in my life. Friendships were a luxury that we couldn't afford. That couldn't afford. So, I never had any. Until we went to find Maleficent's scepter. Then I secretly gained four. The point is...I'm not gonna keep letting my dad control my life. Not anymore," I continued. "I don't want to be in my dad's shadow. I don't want to become another version of him. If ruling the Underworld by myself with no one to guide me through it makes me like him. I want no part of it. Not if it means I can't be with you." I stated as Evie smiled as she wiped at tears. I stared at her in silence.

"Kiss her already!" Doug exclaimed. I looked over to find that everyone was watching. "Doug!" Carlos whispered to Doug. "Did I say that out loud?" Doug asked. "But aren't you and Evie...you know...a thing?" I asked him. "Although that is true, I'm not going to stand in the way of love. Not when I know how much happier my friend will be when they achieve it." Doug answered with a kind smile. I smiled at him. "You're a good friend, Doug." I told him. He smiled widely at the genuine compliment. I looked at Evie. "Well, what are you waiting for?" She asked smirking. My the flames in my hair went out as my face flushed red from embarrassment. My lips parted open as my eyes went wide. "I've never actually kissed a girl before." I whispered scratching the back of my neck. Evie laughed as she smiled. She reached her hands towards my neck and I instinctively caught them. After so many years of having my dad throttle me by the throat and grab me by the neck made me nervous when Evie started to reach towards it. I stared at her for a moment before she held my left hand with her right and interlocked out fingers with a warm smile. I let my right hand drop after realizing that she wasn't going to hurt me. She placed her other hand on the side of my neck gently before pressing her apple red lips to mine. My hair reignited immediately after her lips clashed with mine. My heart was racing and I felt like it was about to burst from my chest. She pulled after a couple of seconds and looked at me with a smile. I didn't realize that I had stopped breathing as I froze. "Haden? You okay?" Evie asked. "Evie...I think you broke Haden." Mal joked. I blinked a couple of times before taking a breath. I shook my head before looking over at Mal. "Huh?" I sounded. I looked back at Evie. "Sorry. I just...that was...I mean...that...uh...that...kiss...was just..." I rambled breathlessly not able to find the words. I took a deep breath before saying the first thing that popped into my mind. "Wow." I said with wide eyes. Everyone laughed at my reaction to my first kiss. But they weren't ill-willed laughs...they were wholesome and good-natured. Evie chuckled as I looked at her. "This is probably the first time that l've ever seen Haden unable to speak." Carlos pointed out. The four VKs laughed before I joined in. "Haha. Very funny." I said walking over to them with Evie and brought them into a group hug.