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Doug had always felt insecure in his skin.
Had always felt as if everything about him and who he was—what he looked like, what he dressed like, his personality and hobbies, — was wrong.
He was too tall and too weak for a dwarf.
Too smart and too weak willed for his own good.
And he always came off as bland when compared to those around him.
He was never good looking like Chad or cute like Ben. He wasn’t strong like his brother, Derek, or brave and loud like his cousin, Bashful Jr. And he definitely didn’t speak his mind like his cousins Crabby and Gordon.
He couldn’t fight good like Lonnie.
He couldn’t talk circles around people like Audrey.
He wasn’t charming like Hap and he couldn’t learn magic even if he tried, like Jane could.
He was just…Doug. Poor, pitiful, forgetful, useless Doug. The cousin and kid everyone could do without. The clumsy teacher’s pet who was always sticking his foot in his own mouth because he wasn’t good at socializing with people his own age.
The one who was always blending into the background.
Even Sleepy Jr was more memorable than he was.
And he couldn’t help but hate himself for it.
Doug knew he didn’t really have a chance with Evie.
He wasn’t completely stupid or delusional, regardless of what others thought or claimed.
He knew he wasn’t conventionally attractive and that his personality wasn’t appealing to most people. And he knew that his very short track record when it came to dating should dissuade him.
The only girl he’d ever taken on a date ended up with a broken arm because his two left feet had caused him to knock over a stupid candle that he’d brought to make the picnic more romantic (via Ben’s advice), for Gods’ sake.
Doug had absolutely no chance with the brilliant blue beauty that was Princess Geneviève ‘Evie’ Evelyn Grimhilde-Westergaard of the southern isles. The girl who knew what she was worth and wanted a prince and to know about her magical heritage. The girl who was so confident and cool that he felt like he didn’t deserve to look at her.
There was nothing he could bring to the table.
And yet…
He couldn’t help but dream.
“Are you stalking me?”
“Technically... yes.”
Doug had never hated his sense of humor more than he did in that moment. It was a bad joke and he knew it.
Even if Evie didn’t really seem too bothered by it.
Honestly, he’d be lucky to even have her as an acquaintance at this point.
He was so never taking advice from Hap and Snoozy ever again.
Doug should have kept his mouth shut but he couldn’t. Not when Evie was at risk of being expelled for a minor offense that Chad always got away with it.
So he did something he’d never done before.
He’d talked back to a teacher and somehow managed to talk him into giving Evie another chance.
And it had worked out better than he had ever hoped for because Evie passed with flying colors like he knew she would and now they were friends.
And he was content with that.
They were friends and she thought he was funny, even when he was being an annoying idiot.
He was sure that It was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Doug fucked up.
It was family day and his family was there at Auradon Prep, and his uncle Grumpy was voicing his disapproval of his new choice in friends and his cousins were yapping about his crush because none of them could keep a secret and then everyone in the family was arguing.
Then Queen Leah started yelling at Mal and Chad got involved and things escalated. Evie knocked Chad out and Doug, like the dumbass he was, chickened out of talking to and sitting with Evie because he was afraid of what would happen if he didn’t.
He’d never hated himself more than he did in the following days and he wanted nothing more than to apologize but he knew that he couldn’t. Because Evie needed the space.
Evie chose good when she had every reason not to.
And she heard him out when she had even more reason not to, accepting his apology.
They danced at the Coronation after party.
And, not long after, by some sheer miracle, they started dating.
Doug fucked up again.
Letting the insecurities and rumors, and the biting words of the meaner of his cousins get to his head.
All because Jay and Carlos said Evie had gone camping.
And yeah, they were obviously lying because Evie hated camping and would never go on such short notice, especially when there was work to, even if she had somehow been convinced to go.
But him jumping straight to the conclusion that she was cheating wasn’t his proudest or smartest moment. Even if he hadn’t fully believed it to begin with.
Yet somehow, by yet another miracle, she didn’t get angry or leave him on the spot. Somehow, Evie remained patient with him and still went to the Cotillion with him. Still danced with him. Still allowed him to work with her.
Doug was a bit frustrated that Evie hadn’t said ‘I love you’ yet but at the same time, he didn’t push like he might have earlier in their relationship when he was still finding his footing. Because Evie had been far more patient with him than he arguably deserved and it was time he returned the favor.
He could wait.
Even if she’d never end up saying the words.
Because she deserved that and much more. She deserved better than she’d had on the isle and he was going to give it to her or help her get it.
And even if she decided that she didn’t love him and just wanted to be friends, then he could handle that. Because he loved her and wanted her to be happy, even if it wasn’t with him.
It took a moment for him to awake from the sleeping curse Audrey had cast.
And when he did, he was overjoyed because it just proved what he already knew.
He loved Evie and she loved him. Even when they both knew she could do better. Their love was true.
The time between him waking up and the others stopping Audrey was a blur. As if it had all happened in the blink of an eye.
The events that happened afterwards somehow happened even faster.
Audrey was awoken.
Hades and the sea three and Celia went back to the isle. Thinking they’d never leave it.
The barrier was brought down.
And they all danced together, vks and aks all together. Just like in the movies.
It was everything that Ben and Evie had ever dreamed.
It was amazing and freeing.
Objectively speaking, Ben and Mal’s wedding was a disaster.
Unobjectively speaking, it was hilarious and Doug was happy that the two of them got the small, private wedding they had originally wanted. Even if he wasn’t there to see it.
Hearing about it from Evie was enough.
She was quite descriptive and he was sure he’d never forget the picture her words had painted or the smile on her face as she spoke about how beautiful and how them the wedding had been.
And, as she spoke, Doug couldn’t help but notice something.
Things felt… right.
For the first time in Doug’s eighteen years of life, he found himself feeling comfortable in his skin.
He no longer cared that he wasn’t handsome like Chad or cute like Ben or muscular like Derek. That he wasn’t always the best with words or the smartest or the hottest or the most interesting person in the room. He didn’t care that he wasn’t what people pictured when they thought of who Evie should be with.
Because he was Evie’s Doug.
Evie’s dopey, hard working, open-minded, adaptable Doug who wrote her songs and comforted her when her friends weren’t able to.
Evie’s ‘can read her like an open book and just wants her to be happy’ Doug.
Evie's imperfectly perfect, magic and rock music loving, accountant boyfriend, Doug.
He wasn’t Chad or Ben or his brother or any of his cousins or even a prince. He was just Doug.
And that was just fine.