My muse has come back to life unexpectedly. I'm attempting to treat her right to give you as much content as possible (do not feed after midnight, etc). Stand by for content.
No more pain.
A soothing hand ran down her spine, carefully massaging around her hurt places and bringing her back to earth. Mal put a hand up over her side and the pressure left her back. Fingers wrapped around her own. With a breath, she rolled off her side, onto her back, bracing herself for pain that only came in small waves. She made it onto her back and then something stopped her.
"Don't roll anymore," Ben said softly. "You'll roll over the baby."
Mal looked down. On the bed by her legs was nestled the baby in a cocoon of blankets, sleeping.
Ben was lying on his side across from her, propped up on his elbow and watching her carefully. He looked cozy – was wearing slacks and a blue t-shirt and thick socks. She squeezed his hand more. "You look good," she whispered. Her voice cracked and her compliment was lost in the ensuing coughing fit. Ben put a hand to her neck as he leaned over her for the glass he'd set on her bedside table, waiting. She waited until she was able to breathe before taking it.
"Do you feel okay?" Ben asked.
"A lot, yeah." Her voice was still hoarse and cracking. "I guess death is postponed."
"I heard you cussed Evie and my mom out." Ben traced the side of her face.
"I only remember cussing Evie out." She paused. "I might have cussed your mom too but Evie was the one trying to talk to me."
"I'm sorry – if you'd been awake, I would have warned you ahead of time that I might not be there." Ben sighed and moved his hand to her knee. "The courts have this old… tradition? Superstition? Anyway, the queen's supposed to have the baby alone so that she and the midwife can officially present the heir to the king or whatever. Then he can reject or accept the child. I'm pretty sure it started as a way for the king to throw a tantrum at his wife if he had a daughter instead of a son. But they kept it up for some… stupid reason."
Stupid traditions. Stupid rules. Stupid things that controlled their lives and made things so much more difficult than they needed to be. At least now she was off heritage guard and free from the future obligation of providing an heir. Been there, done that. Still, the hurt remained.
Mal swallowed. "I know it's not her fault, but I don't want to see Evie for a while. Or Belle. Can we arrange that?"
"I'll just say you're tired and the pain hasn't worn off," Ben said. "How long do you think you'll need? I mean… Mom will want to see her grandkid. She's dropped in twice while you've been asleep."
"How long was I asleep?"
"Only a day."
Mal sighed and leaned her head back into the headboard. "I don't know," she said. "I was really… really angry. And sad and terrified… and they didn't help at all. I wish they would have just gone away when I said I didn't want them there."
Ben's arm crept around her neck and he pulled her a few inches closer, keeping a gap between their legs where the baby sat. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"It's not your fault either," Mal mumbled. "Not anyone's fault. Just tough stuff." She reached down and ran gentle fingers over the baby's forehead. They jumped at the touch and a little hand hidden by a felt glove appeared out of the blankets. They sniffled in their sleep and then relaxed again. "How is she?" She asked Ben.
Ben laughed. "We have a son," he said. He let go of her to lean forward and pick up the baby, bringing him closer for Mal to see. She put out her arms and Ben settled the new prince down over her legs, supported by her hands.
"Oh dear," she laughed when she saw the little face. "Poor kid has my nose."
"I like your nose."
"Sure, you do." Mal traced the baby's nose with her pinkie. "Good thing the rest of him is Ben." She glanced up. Ben was smiling ear-to-ear and almost glowing from the happiness. "Do you like him?"
Ben replaced his arm around her shoulders. "I adore him," he said. "And so does the rest of Auradon. We put a few pictures up and everyone loves him."
"I missed all the action," Mal mused. "Awesome."
She found his hand again across the covers and squeezed it. "I'm sorry I didn't have a girl."
"Pretty sure you had zero to do with that outcome," Ben said. He kissed her forehead. "Don't worry about it anymore. I couldn't love him anymore even if he was a girl. He's fantastic."
Mal didn't withdraw her hand. She knew how much he'd wanted a daughter and even if he was over-the-moon about a son, she still felt bad about it.
Even though she'd said months ago she might be okay to attempt a second to-term pregnancy, after the catastrophe of the last few months, she wouldn't dare.
"You know, you may be the first queen ever apologizing for a son," Ben teased. "Ever."
"I don't know if I can do another, Ben."
If she hadn't have gone through labor with nerve damage, the hardest moment in her life would have been tearing her eyes off the baby to try and force herself to find his. He did not look surprised. "I already made that decision for you, Mal," he said. "I knew you were done. Don't worry."
"I'm so sorry. I know-"
"I knew what I was getting into," Ben cut her off, pulling out the king voice for a moment to break her composure. "You did not want children, being queen was hard enough, and things have only gotten worse since what Uma and Harry did. But I signed up for all that. I have continued to have stayed signed on. There is nothing you can do that would turn me away."
Mal's speech faded away. "Okay," she said. "I believe you."
Ben turned her attention back to the baby. "What should we name him?" he asked.
"You haven't picked a name?" Mal asked. "I expected you would."
"I wasn't going to assume I could and then invoke your wrath if you hated it."
"Go ahead and name him." Mal picked the baby up to pass him over. "We decided all the way back when Emily was born that I'm awful at this. I guess since he's not a girl I can't give him my mom's name anyway."
"I will never allow you to name a child Maleficent the Magnificent. Forget it." Ben sighed, shaking his head, and passed the baby back. "Hold onto him for a moment. I have to get my list out."
"You made a list?"
"Someone had to be prepared."
Ben opened his nightstand and found a yellow legal page with five columns across it. All names. He flipped to the second one, about half as full, and marked with "Boys" at the top. "I think I narrowed favorites down to twenty before I was too busy watching you."
"Twenty?" Mal sputtered.
"Oh, nope. I took it to five. Look at me go. I was being productive." Ben cleared his throat. "I found Conner, Xander, Zephyr, Niall and Deon."
"You like those weird names, huh?"
"My name is Ben. Ben. Do you realize how many Bens there are in the world?" Ben set the legal pad down. "What do you think he looks like?"
Mal considered the sleeping baby with his tiny hands laid atop the blankets. All she could think about was the person next to her. "He looks like you."
"My name is taken."
"Maybe as a middle name?" She suggested. "Conner Ben or Xander Ben."
Ben didn't protest. She glanced over at him. He was lost in thought, watching her lips move, studying nothing in particular. "Was that not a good idea?"
"You…" He stopped, then started again. "You want to name him after me? Are you sure? I mean… we could name him after anyone."
"There's no better person," Mal said. "Even if I wasn't married to you, I'd probably name my son after you. It's fitting this way." She gave the baby back to Ben, who stared at him like he wasn't sure how to react.
It took a long time before Ben finally exhaled. "Neither of those names sound right," he admitted. "I really liked Deon and can see him passing as a Deon, but Deon Ben doesn't have the best flow."
"Benjamin Deon," Mal said. "And we'll call him by his middle name. It's just what Chad's grandfather did to his son. Charles Henry and they called him Henry."
Ben stayed still, letting the name sink in, and then moved the baby to lean against his chest and laid back into the pillows beside Mal, so close she could feel every breath he took. "Prince Deon," he whispered. "I like that." A laugh. "I can't believe you came up with a good name! And without pressure too."
"I have many skills and one of them happens to be-"
"Inspirational speeches? Exceptional leadership abilities? Social grace?"
"Shut up, Ben. I was on an emotional high!"
Deon's coronation had been set up while Mal had been out of order. Without her there to dull things down, Ben had pulled out every stop. Every lavish extra. Every cherry atop every treat. An extravagant expanse of color and sound and celebration. Their approval ratings soared higher than they'd been since they first got married. The Knights for Freedom quit calling Ben and instead set about welcoming the baby into the world. They even sent a gift – a jeweled brooch Mal double-checked before putting it quietly into the royal vaults where it would be forgotten.
"You want to know what I got when I was born?" she said to Ben while glancing down at the gathering crowd outside three days before the coronation. "Fed and that was about it."
"Technically, this is a coronation. They're just naming him the future heir. It's not like the entire country showed up when we put you in labor." Ben turned away from the window and picked Deon up off the bed. He was awake, but barely. Poor kid was tiny – tinier than Mal had ever seen a baby before. And she'd taken photos with enough before becoming queen. This baby was half as big as Emily had been, small enough to fit along her forearm, and got blue from cold at the slightest breeze. Too small… too small.
Ben leaned Deon against his shoulder, kissing his head, and squinted back out at the crowd again. "I gave everyone permission to set up stands outside," he said. "Technically your area. I'm sorry if that causes problems in the future."
"Maybe it'll be my chance to rearrange things," Mal replied. "I still haven't really… taken up everything. Just been too busy with wounds and stuff."
"Well, maybe now we can focus on helping you find your place here again. Make it like it was before." His arm slipped around her waist and he kissed her head. Mal hummed and laid a hand on the baby's back. She frowned at his chill. Too cold… too cold. Her baby was struggling. All because his mom had been too weak to deal with the pain any longer.
Someone knocked. Mal unwrapped Ben's arm from around her and went to the door. She unlocked it, opened it, and saw Evie on the other side. It took a great sacrifice and mental control not to stiffen and shut it again.
"Hello!" Evie chirped. "Ben told me you weren't feeling well – it's so good to see you up! I was just going to drop off your dress and see how your baby was doing, but I'm so glad I get to see you!"
Mal nodded along with every exaggerated movement, keeping her eyes on the white garment bag in Evie's hand. "Yeah," she agreed with a little smile. "Yeah, yeah, yes."
"Maybe if you're feeling up to it, we could sit and talk?" Evie asked. "Doug has Emily at the moment."
Mal turned and looked at Ben, still by the window. He had covered his face with a hand at one point and couldn't even see her giving him the "should I say something" look. So she turned back. "I don't know what I'm feeling up to, but maybe we could chat," she said softly. "Uh, come in."
She stayed in the doorway for another few long seconds and then remembered she needed to move out of the way so Evie could slide in. The door was shut behind her. Evie gasped to see Ben with the baby. "Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed. "Little Deon! Oh, you look just like your dad." She laid the garment bag on a chair and hurried over. "Oh, but you have your mommy's eyes! Oh…" She tutted and clicked her tongue. "He's so sweet… can I hold him?"
"Uhh…" Ben glanced over Evie to Mal, who was at a loss for words. Seeing Evie felt bitter. Made her feel sad all over. But Evie was here and happy for them and it didn't feel right to turn her away. She shrugged and left it up to Ben to decide who he wanted to hold their son.
"Maybe put some hand sanitizer on first," Ben said to cover for the long pause. "Flu season is still moving out and he's so small… we can't risk him getting sick." Mal picked up a bottle off the dresser to give a valid reason why he'd looked at her and passed it to Evie before making to sit on the bed.
"Oh no!" Evie exclaimed, rubbing the solution into her skin. "Go look at that dress! See what you think. And come here you…" She took Deon from Ben and cradled him. Ben continued hovering suspiciously, like he thought Evie might drop him. Overprotective.
Mal went back to the dress bag, feeling winded on her third trip across the room, and unzipped it. White fell out with tints of gold everywhere. Gold embroidery up the bodice, gold sash across the shoulder, and a gold underskirt that made the whole thing look shimmery.
"I was thinking of rainbow," Evie hummed, rubbing Deon's gloved hand. "Because everyone is decked out in rainbows to celebrate your rainbow baby, see? But I think the gold is more patriotic."
"Sure," Mal agreed.
Evie batted at Ben's arm and he panicked a moment that she would drop the baby. "You don't have to hover," she chided. "I have a baby. I know how to hold one."
"He's just new and… small."
Evie sat down on the bed. "Better?" she asked. Ben nodded. "Good. I have a suit for you too – It's mostly blue but with tons of gold in it because it's got to go with Mal's. The blue's a little deeper and darker than usual too. You're going to have to get a white Boutonniere. Okay?"
"Yeah, sounds great. Thanks again, Evie. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't as talented as you are."
"You'd wear the same thing to every event. Mal, do you like the dress?"
Seeing Evie holding her baby – the baby she'd suffered through without Ben – was ripping something apart in Mal that she hadn't known was hurting. Still, she swallowed and nodded. "It's great work, E. Thank you."
Evie paused mid-bounce with the baby. "Are you okay? You're not talking a lot."
"I'm just tired," Mal lied. "Even just walking across the room… it wears me out." She waved her hand from one wall to the other.
Ben put an arm around her shoulders.
Evie peered in between them two, looked at the way Mal wouldn't meet her eyes, and exhaled. "You're still upset, aren't you?" she asked.
"It's nothing you did," Ben said. "It's just been a few very long months."
"May I have Deon back?" Mal asked. Evie hesitated, cradling him close a little longer, and then re-delivered him to his mom.
"Look, Mal," she sighed. "I know that look. I know I hurt you. I'm sorry. Ben told me that the courts had rules and I was just doing what he said."
"I know," Mal said. "It's not your fault. I don't blame you."
She kept the baby beside her and Ben in her left arm and let her gaze go from Evie's shoes on the carpet to his little button nose on his face. Evie let out a shuddering breath. "But it still hurts."
Mal's eyes burned, but no tears came. Good. No more of that. She was ready to going back to being the Mal who never cried. "It still hurts," she agreed.
Evie took a couple of deep breaths and then Mal saw her shadow nod. "I understand," she said. "I didn't realize you needed some space. Sorry." She began to retreat for the doorway.
"It's okay," Mal said. "I mean… it will be okay. You don't need to apologize."
Still, Evie twisted the handle to the door and looked back for a moment. Ben took Deon from her arms. Mal and Evie stood about six feet apart, taking a few deep breaths and waiting to see who would say goodbye first. A lump welled up in Mal's throat. Slowly, she opened her hands, then her arms, and headed over to hug Evie for a few long seconds. Evie hugged her back and sniffled a little into Mal's shoulder.
"I don't mean to hurt your feelings," Mal whispered. "I just need a little more time to heal."
"I get it, I get it," Evie said. "It was… bad for everyone."
"Yeah."
"Yeah."
Another standoff, this time with Evie slowly putting distance in-between them. Finally, she was out into the hall. "Bye," she whispered.
Mal waved. That lump was back and the farewell got stuck in her throat. It was only after she shut the door that she was able to choke out: "Goodbye."
Ben was waiting with Deon when she turned back to the room. She took the baby and buried her forehead against Ben's heartbeat, seeking out some comfort. "That didn't go very well," she whispered softly.
"I think it went very well," Ben said. "You two will figure it out. You always have and you always will."
But Mal shook her head. "I don't know if we will this time, Ben."
When the baby started crying, Mal was already awake. The mattress shifted as Ben braced his hands under him to get up, but Mal caught his shoulder. "I got this one." She kissed his cheek. "Go back to sleep."
Ben mumbled something unintelligible and then slumped right back into the pillow. Mal patted his back and switched the monitor on his side off before climbing out of bed. She left the room to go next door. The door was locked up tight still. She unlocked it, slipped in, and went to the crib.
Deon was lying on his back, writhing. Mal slipped a hand under his neck and lifted him and he hushed the moment her warm hand lifted against his chilly skin. He'd squirmed out of his blankets and was blue and white from cold. Mal sighed. Maybe an electric blanket would be a good idea until he'd put on a little more weight.
Deon's tiny blue suit, matching Ben's almost perfectly, was hanging on the closet handle. His closet was already full of things Evie had made and Ben and Belle had bought off the internet. Ben, busy as he was, was meticulous and doting when it came to his son. Or her, for that matter.
Mal sat down in the rocking chair and pulled the knit blanket off the back to wrap up her baby in. She pulled the cord on the blinds to reveal the fading stars and the groundskeepers and merchants setting up outside. The lawn was empty now, but by breakfast it would be filled with hundreds of people dying to catch their first glance of the prince.
Mal coaxed a magical fire into her hand to hold near Deon to warm him up faster. He was very still, curious, hiccupping every so often as he tried to squint up at her. Babies had bad eyesight.
"It's me," she said. "You're supposed to be able to recognize my voice, but I don't know if I was talking enough when you were in my belly. I had to sleep a lot."
Deon didn't react. Didn't even turn his head. Hmm. Newborns really didn't do a lot, did they?
Mal looked back outside. She put the fire out to make sure she wouldn't accidentally burn Deon but kept him close to her and wrapped up so he would be able to warm up. Out over the sea, the sun was coming up behind the Isle of the Lost. The barrier looked pink with the sliver of sunlight not far from it.
"Look over here," someone called after a long time. She looked up. Ben was standing in the doorway, in his slacks and white shirt, the tie undone around his neck, holding his camera up to his face. Mal checked Deon, fast asleep against her ribs, and then smiled serenely while Ben came closer and crouched down for his photo. "Hold him up," he said after a while. "Like, let him lean on you."
She did and laughed softly while Ben tampered with his phone camera, making sure everything was perfect. Chatter began to rise outside as people arrived.
Ben finally lowered the phone. "Sorry. You both looked really perfect like that."
Mal shrugged and laid Deon across her lap. He shuddered and sighed and rested his fists up by his face. She chuckled. "This is exactly how you fall asleep," she said. "Action for action."
"Ha." Ben kissed the side of her head. "You've got an hour and a half to get into your dress and get ready."
"I think I'm going to get him dressed first," Mal said. She cradled the baby and then tried to figure out how to pull herself up. There was no handle or anything she could lean against to get out. Ben offered her his hand and then pulled her up to stand.
"I can get him dressed," he offered. "Besides, you'll take more time than both of us with all that fabric."
"I know you can, but I want to," Mal said. "I can't do a lot. And what I can do, you do most of the time. This is… kinda an important day. So I want to do it."
Ben nodded, leaned down, and kissed her for a few moments. "I'll go hang out your dress and turn the curling irons on," he whispered. "You call if you need help, okay?"
"I got it."
She laid Deon down on the changing table and took a moment to refamiliarize herself with the room. Ben kept rearranging things – putting them where he liked them best. He seemed to have forgotten she was a great deal shorter and not nearly as maneuverable. Still, she found what she needed and began slowly switching Deon out of his fleece-lined pajamas, wrestling curled limbs as gently as possible into a new diaper, new onesie, new socks… everything. And then the suit, probably the first in a long line. She buttoned it down while Deon slumbered on, fixed the waistband, and then finished fiddling with the jacket and was able to sit back and look at her baby.
Now he really looked like Ben.
Mal glanced to the doorway, still empty, and then to the monitor beside the crib. She reached over and slid the dial to the left. The light clicked off. She picked Deon up, on hand on his back and one on his head, and leaned over him on the changing table. "Hello," she whispered, so soft she could barely hear herself. "Deon. De-on."
Deon exhaled and settled his fist against his cheek. Mal swallowed. "Well, I haven't been able to talk to you much yet. You really took a lot out of me."
The baby did not respond. Not even an involuntary reflex.
"My name's… Mom. I'm your mom. You might not even know me yet because Dad takes such good care of you." She ran her thumb over his cheek. "I'm your mom and… I'm not so sure I'll be a good one but, uh, I'm strong and-"
She faltered and the need to correct herself and be honest with the week-old shook her resolve.
"I mean… I was strong. A long time ago. I'm still a little strong… trying to work on it. But I'm smart and… I mean…"
She set the baby down with a ragged breath. "Not that smart. I like art and I like your dad and you…"
It was a good thing Deon was asleep because this conversation was an absolute trainwreck. She could only imagine if he'd been able to talk back.
"What a monologue."
Mal almost jumped out of her skin, thinking it was the baby for two whole seconds before tracing the sound back to the doorway. Ben was completely dressed now, hair and face finished, and he picked Deon up and wrapped a blanket around him before holding him up for approval. Beside each other, they were twins. Mal couldn't stop a smile. She tucked the blanket down around Deon's legs.
"So, what was that?" Ben asked.
Mal's smile went away. "I thought you were in the other room."
"You turned the monitor off and I got concerned," Ben replied. "Do you not want to talk about it?"
Mal laid her hand on Deon's cheek and sighed. "I have nothing to offer this kid," she said.
"And we're offering sacrifice to the baby because-"
She snorted in spite of herself and shook her head. "Because he controls the rain, Ben."
"You must honor the gods or the floods will come."
"The end is nigh." She laughed more and leaned into Ben. "I'm not strong, I'm a lousy example of a queen, I lost all my hobbies over the years and I don't even know if I want to be his mom still. I'm not going to be as good as Belle, I know, but I don't even know what he'll get from me at all. I can't give him anything. Magic lessons… nothing."
"He might have magic. You never know."
"You never know, but you kinda know." Mal sighed and kissed the baby's forehead. "I feel like he barely knows me anyway because I wasn't there those last few months. I think I missed my chance to feel connected to him because he was killing me."
"It'll come," Ben said. "You didn't fall in love with me in a day." He put his arm around her shoulders and Mal closed her eyes against his cologne.
"No," she agreed. "But I thought this would be different somehow. It's not. And I feel like… this is just another failure." Her shoulder slumped down with the words.
"A failure," Ben repeated, examining her. "Pardon?"
"I'm the place of death for his two other siblings," Mal began, ticking items off her fingers. "Couldn't even make it through his creation, or his birth, and I didn't give him magic and he's not the girl you wanted or-"
"Mal, I like my son," Ben announced firmly. "And if you think there's something wrong with him, you need to get over it." He took her arm, moved it close to her body, and put the baby against her elbow. "He's here, he's real, he's sweet and quiet. I don't need any reorder, any exchanges… he's mine. And as far as I'm concerned, he's the most perfect thing in the world. If you think he's not… fully-formed enough because he doesn't have magic or whatever… he's not. Magic doesn't make a person. Everything he needs, he has. And when I look at him, my heart's full."
Mal ran a finger down the baby's chin and he stirred. "Why don't I feel like that?" She muttered.
"It'll slide in," Ben whispered. "Give it time. It'll come."
Two attendants opened the giant doors in front of the castle and the crowd freaked out behind them.
Mal clutched the baby tighter. Now that she had her magic back, she was able to protect herself – and Ben and Deon – again, but there had already been so many mistakes. So many places she'd almost died. It was frightening.
Ben kept her upright with a steady hand on her back as they headed down the steps and over to the crowds. Cameras panned down from the rooftops and photographers hidden behind lenses leaned in for close-shots of her newborn. Mal let them – they were all desperate for pictures – but glared when one person with a microphone came too close. "Back, please," she demanded. "We don't want too many people close to him."
The guards did the rest, stepping forward to urge the woman back as Mal and Ben neared the crowd. She stopped a good six-ish feet away and then simply moved her arms to display Deon from a distance. Ben helped her support his head as people cooed and smiled and waved. Deon was awake, looking very confused.
They slowly started to move around the circular driveway, drifting past a sea of smartphones and screaming cameramen trying to get their moneyshots. Deon sneezed about halfway around, scaring Mal out of her mind, and then was calm as they neared the limo that was going to take them up to the cathedral so he could be named and recognized as the future High King and the current Crown Prince.
Ben left her to open the door and a cameramen took advantage of his absence from her side to lean in for a picture. It must have been his first photo of the day – the flash was on. Deon stiffened at the bright white that also had Mal seeing stars and then leaned back his head to wail. Mal glared and the cameraman scuttled backwards with frantic apologies. She lifted her baby up onto her shoulder to rub his back and a group of women behind her cooed.
Ben held his hand to help her in. It was a struggle to bend over to climb in, but then she was relaxing against a heated seat and Ben was closing the door to the outside and sitting down beside her. "Step one," she murmured, bouncing Deon in her hands as he overcame the last of his sniffles.
"Mean cameraman, huh?" Ben asked. At his voice, Deon took a few deep breaths and began looking around for him. Mal shifted, leaned her head against Ben's shoulder, and held Deon closer to him. Ben reached out to rub his little gloved hand and Deon opened it, trying to reach for him.
"Mini-Ben," Mal whispered.
"He's got your eyes," Ben whispered back. Mal frowned and leaned in. Sure enough, Deon's eyes were settling in pale green. Not the blue they'd been a few days ago.
"So he does. Wow."
The cathedral was much more guarded than the palace was, though just as crowded. A long, wide walkway was leading up to the open doors, where Belle, Adam, Jay, Lonnie, Carlos, Jane, Evie, and Doug were all gathered. Swinging from Doug's hands was Emily, who was almost toddling now.
When Jay and Carlos spotted the limo pulling in, they jumped into action and dashed down the steps towards it. Carlos straightened up, acting like a false concierge, and Jay opened the door with so much bravado that he almost tripped over it. "Your majesties," he called.
"Wow," Ben said. "I didn't realize we still had court jesters."
The three of them all burst out laughing while Ben helped Mal up, taking guard incase she dropped Deon. Once she was upright, though, she passed the baby off to Ben so that she could hug Carlos first, and then Jay. "How are you?" she asked. "Where's Lonnie? You two had your baby while I was out, right?"
"Oh yeah, we did," Jay rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Actually… we had two. Kinda crazy – there's two boys now. But their grandma's watching them. We'll have to get together something and you can meet them."
"Oh my goodness." Mal looped her arm through Jay's for extra support as they headed up. "What are their names?"
"Jian and Josh." Jay helped her over the last – and largest step. "And Ben named yours Deon?"
"Benjamin Deon, yeah," Mal said.
"He used his own name?"
"I did. They look so alike and it seemed fitting."
"Ha!"
Jay helped her up to the top and Mal came face-to-face with her mother-in-law. That same bitter feeling appeared. Belle hugged her and Mal returned the embrace, but hurried out of it as soon as she could. Her stomach felt like it was full of knots. She hadn't really spoken to Belle yet.
"We made it," Ben announced as he made it to the top of the stairs.
"And early too," Doug laughed. "Don't get used to it. You'd be shocked how hard it is to get out the door with a baby."
"I can only assume it's no harder than getting out the door with a Mal," Ben said. Everyone laughed, but Mal noticed Evie chuckling softer than she normally would have. The two avoided direct gazes and Mal felt guilty. Evie had done so much. So much over so many years. She didn't deserve to be treated like this. So, with a swallow, she reached out and wrapped Evie's fingers through hers. Evie squeezed and Mal squeezed back. Her hands were cold.
"He looks just like you, Ben," Lonnie said leaning towards Ben and tapping the baby's nose. "Ben Jr."
"His name is Ben too," Adam reminded everyone. "Benjamin Deon. Future King."
"Mal picked it," Ben announced. "I came up with Deon and she arranged the name."
Evie threw a hand to her heart in mock shock. "Mal, coming up with something suitable? It's like fire freezing over!"
"Ha, ha, ha, ha." Mal let go of Evie and looped Ben's free arm around her shoulders. "We ought to all get pictures together of us," she said. "Before the press shows up."
"I propose we all hold Mal up and let Deon sit on her," Jay said.
"I propose we don't break my ribs and I live to see another day." Mal gestured them all in. "Come on, come on."
"Belle, can you take a photo of the friends? And then I'll do one of you with the family?" Evie handed her phone over to Belle. Everyone scooted closer, ducking into windows and yelping when toes were stepped on. Ben and Mal waited. Their picture faces were well-practiced from so many years of invading photographers.
Evie stood beside Ben in the pictures while Lonnie and Jane were behind Mal. Mal felt a chill at her side where her best friend usually put her arm. It was strange.
When a photo had been taken of everyone, Belle handed Evie her phone back and reached her hands out. "Can I hold him?" she asked. "I haven't seen him since he was born. He's already so much bigger…"
Those knots reappeared and Mal's smile vanished, but Ben wasn't looking at her as he secured his son in his mother's arms and then they turned around for the camera. Mal found a place on Belle's shoulder to set her hand where she could easily see the baby as Ben stood behind Belle and Adam set a hand on Mal's back.
These photos were suddenly dragging on for eons.
Belle didn't offer the baby back when Evie put her phone away. Other royals were showing up now, heading up the steps to find their seats in the cathedral, and she only cradled her grandson closer and kissed his head while Mal waited, watching like a hawk for a moment she could appropriately swoop in and steal back her son.
"Someone's overprotective," Jay laughed in her ear.
"Can't have him getting sick," Mal mumbled. "Just… worry."
Jay punched her shoulder softly. "Calm down," he whispered. "Belle's done this before."
"I know, I know…"
"Mal?" Ben called, reaching his hand for her. "They want to talk to us." He pointed to a group of reporters and photographers and journalists, waiting anxiously to have some attention paid to them.
Mal turned to look at Jay. "Will you-"
"I'll keep an eye on your kid, sure."
"You won't-"
"I won't let Belle drop him or hurt him." He rolled his eyes. "I still think you're freaking out."
"I am freaking out," Mal whispered, glancing towards Belle as Jane and Carlos smiled and waved at the baby. "Belle and Evie… I had a hard time having them around in my labor."
"Oh." Jay's teasing smile vanished and he followed Mal's glance towards Belle with a little more concern. "Was it… that bad? Evie mentioned you cussed her out, but…"
"It was bad. It wasn't their faults, but it was bad and I just… don't want them alone with the baby for a bit."
Ben's hand wrapped around her arm. "Hey," he said. "Everything okay?"
"I got this," Jay said. "Go do your press thing."
Mal patted his arm. "Thanks, Jay." Ben took the farewell as a signal to begin pulling her back. She craned her neck to see Deon, wildly confused about all the strange hands and voices, and then followed Ben to the mix of reporters and other people.
"Hey guys," Ben said. "How can we help you?"
"King Ben," the first one asked, "How are you adjusting to parenthood?"
"Adjusting?" Mal laughed before Ben could reply. "He jumped right in! He's perfect!"
Ben laughed and found her hand at her side. "It's been dreamy," he agreed. "I'm in love with Deon, and more in love with my wife than I was before."
"Where did the name Deon come from?" Someone asked.
"Ben found it," Mal replied. "He had a list and that was his favorite. But I said to Ben that they looked so similar and it would make sense for me to name my son after the most important figure in my life. Not to mention the best person in Auradon. So our son's name is Prince Benjamin Deon"
Ben's face turned red. He bowed his head to try to hide it, but the photographer's cameras went faster and faster anyway.
"It's good to see you well, Mal." A microphone hovered closer to you. "Would you consider yourself fully recovered?"
Mal's shoulders dropped. "No," she said. "No… it's still a work in progress. There are still many things I've lost. I think we're at the point now where we've learned what I can and can't do and now we can plan our lives around my injuries."
"Stairs are hard," Ben said for her. "We can't move too fast. But she can sit and stand fine so long as the chair back is straight."
"It's not fun," Mal sighed. "I feel like an invalid. But I think now that Deon is here, the worst of it is over."
"Was the birth particularly hard for you then?" The same person asked.
Ben squeezed her hand. It was a question directed for her, not one he could aptly cover. Mal nodded. "Yes. But having him here… it's over. We're moving on. Everything's going to be better now."
Royals continued arriving behind them. Belle held the baby for each to see while Ben and Mal kept up their answers. One-by-one, all their friends slipped inside sans Jay, who stood behind Belle like he'd promised Mal he would. The more Belle showed Deon off, the more anxious Mal became to get back to her little Ben. Only Ben's grip on her hand kept her from floating away from the questions and back to her baby.
Finally, Ben paved the way for their escape. "It's almost time for us to head in," he said. "Last question, please. We'll come back over with Deon after the event is over and the guests have had a chance to see him."
"King Ben," the last question came. "What is the Crown Prince like? Tell us about him."
This distracted Mal – she turned and beamed at Ben as the biggest smile came across his face. The reporter couldn't have asked a better question.
"I love him," Ben gushed. "He's small, he's quiet, he's so curious! He gets cold easy so that does scare me, but he's patient with us and it's so cool to figure out what he likes and doesn't like. We're learning how he likes silence and backrubs and cuddles… I don't want him to grow up. I'm going to be so sad when I can't cuddle with my buddy anymore." He shook his head and pulled Mal into his side with a smile. "Life's a dream," he said. "An absolute dream."
She put a hand to his chest. "It's time." For the cameras, she kissed his cheek. "Let's go in."
"Goodbye, everyone," Ben raised a hand to the group before he and Mal turned to head back inside. The front entrance was empty. Where was Belle?
Mal yanked Ben forward and peered down the red carpet, seeking out the yellow dress and brown hair. "Where is he?" she demanded. "Jay said he'd watch her!"
"They moved in," Ben whispered. "Calm down. You'll freak everyone out."
Mal's head swiveled around and she saw Belle taking a seat on the dias with Deon's golden blanket hiding him in her arms. Jay still stood beside her and was looking out for Mal. Ben took her hand and began to lead her in. "It's his grandma," he whispered. "Calm down."
"Ben, I want him back," She whispered. There was strain in every muscle, every fiber of her being. "Please, let's go get him back."
"Come on."
People bowed and smiled and some tried to pause them in their walk as they passed. Ben occasionally made brief small talk ("I'm well, and you?") but Mal pulled him along with her gaze focused up ahead. This, too, Ben passed off with a joke. ("Sorry, she hasn't been away from him for long yet.")
Mal reached the dias and held her hands out for her baby. Belle pouted. "You want him back already?" she asked.
"She misses him, mom," Ben laughed. "Besides, it's almost time for the event. We'll let you see him again later."
"With me there," Mal added silently.
Belle sighed and handed Deon over to Mal. Half-blue, half-green eyes peered out and focused on her. Ben chuckled. "You're still awake?" he teased. "Too much crazy going on, huh?"
A hand she didn't recognize n her shoulder almost scared her out of her wits. But it was just the Fairy Godmother smiling as she glanced over Mal's shoulder. "Congratulations," she whispered. "Are you ready?"
She nodded and the Fairy Godmother gestured for her to take her seat so the ceremony could commence. The last of the guests were filing in.
This was a different setup than Ben's coronation had been. They'd put all the black letter business stuff at the after party – his parents giving small speeches on him and him giving a formal speech to the kingdom. But Deon couldn't exactly walk in and they didn't want to have Mal standing or walking for so long, so the Fairy Godmother was opening with the backstory of Auradon before they would plod onward to the ceremony. On the bright side, this meant that most of the guests could be distracted immediately afterward with treats instead of bombarding her for ages like they had after Ben's coronation.
"Welcome, welcome," Fairy Godmother announced. "To this historic day in Auradon History. Today, we gather to welcome to the world and to recognize the new Crown Prince of Auradon. It is the thirtieth year since the the unification of kingdoms, and of the continuation of peace in the land. King Benjamin, our second king, currently resides on the throne, long shall he reign."
As one, the room echoed "Long shall he reign."
Deon hiccupped and began to whine.
Fairy Godmother continued with a brief summary of how Adam's family had been voted in the rulers of the land, what he had done throughout his rule, and how Ben had picked up in his stead. Deon continued squirming, fighting away the blankets, and whining though Mal tried to hush him.
"Probably hungry and tired," Ben whispered. "Too much going on."
"Well, what do I do?" Mal whispered.
"We'll have to wait it out until he's blessed, then there's a bottle out in the car for him," Ben whispered back. "Maybe we can keep him away until he falls asleep again and then just hope he'll stay asleep so everyone can see him not crying."
Deon gave up on whimpering and began to wail. Ben held his hands out and Mal switched him the baby without a second thought. Fairy Godmother halted in her speech to make sure everything was okay and a ripple of laughter went through the room. Ben waved her on in her speech as he began to bounce Deon on his lap. Fairy Godmother got the message though. She'd been a mom of a small daughter too, once. She finished summarizing Ben's reign and then moved to collect her wand.
Ben and Mal stood up. They both moved Deon to rest equally between their hands as Fairy Godmother rolled up her sleeves. She waved her wand over Deon's head as he continued to cry. "On this day, we recognize the Future High King of all the Kingdoms of Auradon. The name bestowed upon him is Benjamin Deon of Auradon. Until he is crowned, he'll be known as Crown Prince Benjamin Deon, or Prince Deon. Long shall he reign."
Again, the crowd repeated the mantra.
Ben helped move Deon back firmly into her grasp and then turned her towards the crowd with his hands on her shoulders for the camera to pan in on their family. This was the money shot. The big moment. The royal family, a together. Mal found herself looking around, half-expecting a man in black to rise up with a gun or shouts to come from an area of the room or for Uma to appear from the shadows with a blade. But there was none. Only the cheers of the citizens and the sobs from Belle as they held their baby up for the world to see.
Holy crap, this was it.
Mal turned her face up towards Ben's, saw him beaming and smiling ear-to-ear. And she realized that there wasn't anything holding her back anymore. This was it. The moment, the money shot, the scene from her dreams. She was 100% with him. No more leaping through hoops. No more waiting and worrying.
She'd finally made it.
She volunteered to leave the crowd to feed the baby in a back room and then bounce him to sleep while Ben placated the royals who'd brought expensive gifts and fully expected to see the Crown Prince before leaving. Still, she took her time and let Deon sleep a while after before finally opening the door to the large party area. There was a seat – more a throne, actually – that had been set apart for her to hold the baby in while the snobbish royals floated on by.
Ben stood beside her, squeezing her hand constantly as people passed, cooed, sometimes leaned in to rub the baby's chilled hands, and then moved on. Lucky he was asleep – no one asked to hold him.
Princess Anna looked just as refreshed as Mal felt. She exhaled when she and Kristoff took their stop in front of the High couple. "I admit, I had my doubts," Anna said. "You have no idea what a relief it was to hear that you both were alive."
Mal and Ben exchanged a glance. "You know, Anna," he said. "That may be the strangest 'congratulations' we've received today."
"Oh, well, congratulations," Anna said.
"I bet I can top that," Audrey laughed behind her. She was holding a baby in her arms while her husband led the first with a hand to her back. Princess Angel was holding a sparkly golden package in her hands.
Audrey wrapped one arm around Ben to greet him with a hug, old friends as they were. Then, resting her elbow on his shoulder, she cleared her throat, looking partially at the sky and said "Goodness, Ben, I'm so glad I didn't marry you so that you could have this baby with her. You're welcome."
Ben had to hold onto the chair for support as he laughed. "Well, that did definitely beat Anna's," he said. "Thank you, Audrey."
"Oh, thank you, Angel," Mal said as Angel set her gift atop all the others piling up for Deon. "I remember you from when you were tiny. Do you want to come up and see the baby?"
Angel nodded and leaned her face into the baby's. Mal drew Deon back on instinct, thinking that Angel was trying to kiss him, but she was just examining him closely. "What do you think?" she asked.
A toddler's warbling was her response.
Mal nodded. "Fair enough."
"You know, Ben," Audrey began, only half-teasing. "If you ever want to arrange a betrothal, I've got two girls and-"
"Oh, we'll let him decide that himself when the time comes," Ben cut her off immediately with a firm laugh. "I learned myself that love comes when and where you least expect it." He drew back a lock of Mal's curly hair with his fingertip and her blush was so bright that she forgot about the sunburn developing on her arms.
Audrey sighed. "Well, I knew you'd say that." She held her hand out to her first girl. "Come on, Angel. Let's go get cake."
"Cake!" Angel sang and skipped right past Audrey. "Cake, cake, cake!"
"I can't say I didn't see that coming," Ben whispered softly. "She reached out personally to see if we'd had a boy or not."
"You handled it well," Mal said.
A man approached in royal blue with blue trimming, but Mal didn't recognize him. He looked military in the way he marched forward with his arms at his sides, a stern glare that only softened when he looked down at Deon and saluted them all. "Your majesties," he said. "Congratulations on your child."
Ben put both hands on Mal's shoulders. "Mr. Martin," he said. "You're looking well."
"As are you." Mr. Martin glanced down his nose at Mal. "Fatherhood obviously suits you."
"Thank you," Ben said shortly.
The man cleared his throat and withdrew a thin, wrapped gift from his suit pocket. "He looks like he'll be a perfect heir," he said. "I mean, obviously it's too soon to tell, but-"
"Thank you, Mr. Martin," Ben said.
Mr. Martin put the present down on the pile and then saluted them again. He turned and left without glancing back. Ben looked over his shoulder and nodded at one of the guards, who came to take Mr. Martin's gift to unwrap it hastily behind the chair.
"Who's he?" Mal asked.
"Mr. Martin runs the social media accounts for the Knights for Freedom group," Ben whispered. "He doesn't like me, or you, much. Anti-Monarchy."
"Oh."
The present turned out to be a simple tie pin with the Auradon Crest on it. It was placed back on the pile unwrapped and the paper was carted away. Ben exhaled.
The people from the courts had mostly come and gone, so Mal stood up and offered Deon to Ben. "I want to go find Jay and Carlos and Evie," she said. "Can you do this for a bit? I'll come back."
"Absolutely," Ben nodded. "Take Vanessa with you, just to be safe."
Vanessa, Mal's old guard, appeared on her left side. Mal nodded, kissed Ben goodbye and then headed out toward the dessert tables. Jay and Carlos were probably over there. She skirted around the large groups chatting and made small talk with whoever stopped her for more congratulations, "how did you do it"s, and questions about Deon and Ben. It took her almost a full fifteen minutes to make it to the chocolate fountain. She found sticks strewn about, chocolate stains everywhere, but no Jay or Carlos.
Someone flashed a camera near her and Mal sighed and headed around the long end of the table to grab some cheese to snack on as she searched. She ducked under one of the bright blue banners set up around the area and peered out in between the cracks for her friends.
As it happened, she heard them before she saw them.
"Yeah, she's doing a lot better. The month before she had the baby, she wasn't even conscious. We were practically feeding her through a tube."
Evie, Jay, and Carlos had found their own place to hide at an empty table under a shaded tree, far away from where Mal had been. She crept along behind the banners to catch up with them and then stood behind one to listen.
"Mal said it was bad. Said she was mad at you and Belle."
"Yeah, it was bad. I think it was mostly the confusion and shock. Because she'd been asleep for practically three months just to get away from the pain. And when she found out that Ben wasn't supposed to be in the room, she had a fit."
"I heard she cussed you out," Carlos mumbled.
"She did. Called me a menace and said she hated me. But I kinda figured it was the pain speaking." Evie sighed and her shadow stretched up on the banner. Vanessa leaned forward to touch Mal's shoulder, touch soft like a question. "I think… and this is just me thinking out loud, that's she's more traumatized than she realizes. I mean… Ben was there every time she came back up from the dead and he's been there after every bad thing that happened, but still, the very first thing that happens whenever something bad comes up is…"
"They're separated," Carlos finished.
"Yeah. The guards take them away. So when he had to go out, she just freaked out. I think just from the association, I'm the bad guy now. And Belle."
"Think it'll last?"
"No clue. I think she realizes somewhat… because she did try and reach out today… but everything that's happened since Ben proposed has screwed with her mind. She's not the same person. She's skittish and paranoid and it's going to take time and therapy and… yeah."
"Well, I think," Carlos said, "that none of us really anticipated the effect that someone trying to kill you every six months could have on a person. Sure, we had that on the Isle, but we made Auradon into a safe place and Mal… isn't very safe."
"She's not, and she knows it. But she stays because she's so desperate." There was a long sigh. "I'm going to be honest, I don't think Ben is worth it. All the murder attempts and baseless accusations and the awful work… I don't think I'd do it."
"But that's not our decision," Jay said while ice began clogging up Mal's bloodstream. "She thinks he's worth all the crap."
"I know, I know."
Mal could feel her feet shaking in her shoes. Could feel her heart pounding against her dress. Was all that right? Was she really that traumatized?
Her first instinct was to run back to Ben and the baby and that confirmed it for her.
She swallowed though and brushed the banner aside. "Hey, guys," she said, and they turned with smiles towards her.
"You did it!" Jay said. "Without any problems either!"
"I know, what a relief." Mal rolled her eyes. "Hey, they have an ice cream machine. Let's go pile it on cake and give ourselves sugar highs."
"Won't the royal doctor protest?" Jay smirked and glanced at Vanessa. "Will your guard make you stop?"
"She can join us," Mal said. "She's saved my life twice, so she deserves the treat."
She reached forward to hug Jay and then reached up to noogie his head. "Thanks for doing me that solid earlier," she said. "I appreciate it."
"Anytime," Jay said and then scooped Mal up. "Better idea, let's cover her majesty in cake and cookies and dump ice cream on her until she screams!"
"Ah – ah – torso – ow, ow!" Mal beat Jay's back lightly until he set her back down. "No, no, that's something Vanessa is there to protect me from. Uncultured attacks and unjust punishments and-"
"Oh no, I'm in on this." Vanessa cracked her knuckles.
"Cruel, unforgiving friends!" Mal sputtered and jumped away. "No, no, I hereby decree – nope. Ah! I have my magic back! I will smite thee!"
"You go from the back, I'll cut off her escape from the side," Evie told Carlos with a glint in her eyes. "She can't run, so don't let her fight."
Jay snatched her hand, raised it above her head, and tickled her until she'd collapsed, laughing in the dirt. She tried to shock him with some magical mini-lightning and ended up frizzing both their hair up like they'd gotten awful perms. Carlos and Vanessa held her down while Evie dashed over to the cake booth and returned with sprinkles, whipped cream in a canister, and chocolate syrup.
"I'm going to get you back!" Mal sputtered as they dipped the chocolate back and forth on her hair. "They're going to get photos of this – I'm going to make you pay!"
"Open up," Jay demanded and blew her mouth full of puffy whipped cream.
They drizzled and decorated and finally helped her up with an aching side about ten minutes later. Evie showed Mal photos. Mal could only groan. "I have to go back," she whined. "I told Ben I would come back and not leave him." She poked Vanessa's arm. "You're fired," she said.
"I don't work for you." Vanessa stuck her tongue out. "I'm employed by the courts."
"You are very useful," Jay mused. "We'll have to include you in any future prank wars."
Mal continued whining as she shook sprinkles out of her hair. Evie helped her brush some off. "This is the part where you remember you have that magic you were threatening us with," she said. "And then you use it."
Mal scowled and snapped her fingers to make the mess vanish. "I still don't like any of you. Our trust has been broken."
"Eh, get over it," Carlos snorted, punching her arm. "We're family, it's what families do."
Mal stabbed him in the side. His hair poofed up like a poodle's. "It's what families do," she repeated.
They all laughed. Mal laid back on the ground to peer up at the sky. Jay fell down beside her, Carlos leaned back, and after some hesitation, Evie got down beside them all and laid her head on Jay's arm. Vanessa just shook her head as she rubbed the last of the chocolate off her hands.
"Guys, I know we don't see each other as much as we did when we first got off the Isle, but I just… want to say that I feel just as close to you guys."
Jay snorted. "Wow. Look at you. Sap."
Evie and Carlos chuckled as Mal reached up and pinched Jay's leg. He rolled away with a yelp. "Last time I try to convey appreciation with you," she scoffed.
"Yeah, yeah," Jay moved back and put his hands behind his head. "We care about you too, Mal. We think about you when we don't see you, we try to hang out… we worry about you…"
"Oh, and I'm the sappy one?"
"Guys, guys," Evie sighed. "I agree with you both. We're not always there, but we're always there, you know?"
"We're family," Carlos said. "Sometimes we grow apart, but the roots are all the same. We all come back to the same place."
Mal reached out and ran her fingers into Carlos's hair. "I love you guys," she whispered. "Life wouldn't be the same without you."
"You'd have probably gone insane by now," Carlos whispered back. "No one real to talk to."
"No one to really talk to," Evie echoed.
"Except for Ben," Mal said. Their words from earlier came floating back, but she pushed them away. "You guys mean a lot to me."
"You mean a lot to us too," Jay said.
Mal closed her eyes as the shadows from the leaves above coaxed her to a state of calm. Even though she was all done up with curls and fake eyelashes and red lips, she felt like a normal person surrounded by her friends.
Someone walked by and began to laugh. She didn't panic – she knew from the footsteps alone that it was Ben. "Go away," she told him. "You attract reporters."
"I will, but I'm taking photos first," he said.
"I'll send you the best ones later," Evie promised. "With chocolate and whipped cream and-"
"Oh, you've been through a war, haven't you?" Ben asked. She heard his phone clicking. Then he bent down and moved her arm and she felt the weight of her son against her arm. She cuddled him close and heard him sigh in his sleep against her. "Are you ready to go?" Ben asked.
"I'm going to sit here for a bit longer, if that's okay," Mal said. "You go get desserts and talk. We'll catch up soon."
"Don't get lost again," Ben said.
His footsteps faded away and he vanished. Mal was about to fade right back to her blissful state when Carlos poked her arm. "So," he huffed, rolling onto his front. "Can I hold your kid now that he's off-duty?"
"Your kid is a week old and has work hours," Jay mourned. "I want to hold him too before you get him a planner and a calendar and a smartphone that dings when it's time for him to be locked up."
"Me too," Evie said. "At the rate this is going, I'll see him twice more before he's one."
"You guys can come up whenever," Mal reminded them. "Come crash my schedule anytime." She passed Deon to Carlos, who sucked in a breath. "What?" She asked.
"Dang," Carlos said. "He really does look like Ben."
"Yup."
"They could be clones," Jay said. "That's the royal secret – you couldn't actually have a baby so you just cloned Ben."
Mal glared. "I went through a lot of pain for that baby, Jay."
Carlos shrugged. "Looks fully-functioning to me," he said and gave Deon to Jay.
"I'll have you know that is Ben's favorite character in that series," Mal said.
"Mycroft?"
"Oh my gosh he adores Mycroft more than me, I swear-"
"Well, congratulations again, Mal," Jay said, interrupting the inevitable fangirl-fest. "I know how big this is to you."
Mal smiled at Deon. "It's been a long time coming," she whispered. "But we're getting through it."
Jay hummed and nodded in approval. "You deserve it," he said. "More than I think you realize."
I'd like to take 32 words to remind everyone that this is a tragedy and just because I'm giving a chapter a happy ending doesn't mean the next chapter won't be... tragic.
