Family Maintenance

Author's Note

I know it's not my update day, but I wanted to update because this week has been sucky and we're only a few days into it and updating always makes me smile. And so, I present to you Audrey's first meltdown.

P.S Some characters, specifically Akiho and Emir, are original (kind of) characters of Ginnyrules27. She is an incredible person and author who has allowed me to borrow them for the sake of humor in this story. Please check her out- she's wonderful and I adore her.

Leave reviews, please! :D

**This story was given to me by WanderlustandFreedom. The majority of the ideas/outline are HERS.**

"Ben! Where are you? You were supposed to be at the mall twenty minutes ago!" Audrey screamed from over the phone. Ben winced as he shifted his phone against his shoulder and glanced towards Este, who was sleeping in the pram that Evie had found at a store when she was at the science event with Doug, to see if she had woken up.

Thankfully, the little girl was still asleep, her thumb in her mouth and drooling slightly. Cuddles the bear was tucked underneath her arm and the seatbelt was buckled against her lower half. Akiho fished out a blanket from underneath and draped it over her before tugging the cover down while Ben inched away to talk to his very obviously angry girlfriend.

Ben, Akiho, and Emir had taken Este out for a walk while Mal was in her afternoon classes and she had fallen asleep as they were walking back to campus. They were set to meet Jay and Carlos there and they would all go for a small picnic to kick off the weekend.

Akiho pointed to the phone. "Tell her to shush!" he mouthed, bringing his pointer finger to his lips. Emir nodded as he gestured to Este. "If she wakes up, she's going to cry. And I'm not good with crying babies."

"Neither am I," Akiho added. "Este's great, but dang, the girl has a set of lungs."

"Audrey, listen, I texted you earlier that I wouldn't be able to make it. I'm babysitting for Mal," Ben said, ignoring the other two and turning away from them. "I'd have called you, but you were in cheer practice."

Akiho and Emir both rolled their eyes when Audrey started yelling again. Ben resisted the urge to cover his ears or throw his phone into a bush.

"Ben, you spend too much time with that pathetic girl and her daughter- you should be spending time with me! I'm your girlfriend, your future queen, for Gods' sake. They're just people from the Isle, what does it matter? They're villains. Do you need me to spell it out for you?" Audrey huffed. "There's a reason the Isle was created and you're completely ignorant of that reason!"

"Audrey, can we talk about this a little more quietly? Este's sleeping and she'll make a fuss if she-"

"I don't care if she wakes up! Ben, you promised to meet me at the mall twenty minutes ago," Audrey clamored. "And you're not here. Where are you? You're with a child, who's the daughter of the daughter of the most evil villain in the land!"

As Audrey continued to berate Ben, Este began to stir. Emir peered through the flap atop the stroller and sighed as her brown eyes opened and filled with tears. She immediately started whining, hitting her hands against the side of the stroller and wiggling in her seat.

"Audrey, I have to go." Ben said, a little annoyed, while Emir and Akiho tried to calm Este down, Akiho making funny faces through the mesh and Emir pushing the stroller back and forth, humming softly.

"Ben!"

"We'll talk about this later, Audrey. Goodbye." Ben pulled the phone away from his ear and hung up, pocketing the device and running a hand through his hair. He returned to the others, lifting the cover and reaching for Este, who was having a meltdown in her seat.

"Hi, little Este," he murmured as he hoisted her into his arms. "Why are you crying? Don't cry, it makes us sad when you do."

Este babbled something groggily in reply, burying her face into his neck, and he and the two boys continued to walk once she had calmed down a little, sniffling. Emir handed her Cuddles and she gripped the stuffed animal to her chest.

"Did Audrey seriously just insult a three-year-old?" Akiho asked in disbelief as they walked.

"And don't you guys go to the mall every week?" Emir muttered, shaking his head at the scene that had just unfolded.

"It's not that big of a deal. I'll just talk to her- she'll have to understand that since I offered to do this, I have to do it. And it was my deal with the council. I have to commit to that."

Akiho and Emir stared at him. "Ben, she practically called Este a villain just because she came from the Isle. Este's three! She hasn't even started school yet!" Akiho exclaimed. "What makes you think she'll get other points?"

"Yeah, Ben, sometimes you're too nice for your own good," Emir said with a small smile. "She's jealous that you've been spending more time with Mal and Este than her, which is kind of petty now that I think about it."

"Were you not thinking about it before?" Akiho asked, nudging Emir's shoulder, and he squawked. Akiho shushed him, pointing to Este, who had fallen asleep again from the rocking of Ben's movements.

"I know, I get it," Ben scratched the back of his neck with his free hand. "I don't know what to do about it."

"I have a solution!" Akiho said, grinning. "You can break up with her!"

"Akiho, just because you don't like her doesn't mean I'm going to break up with her."

"Ah, but my friend, you're kind of miserable in your relationship. I mean, come on, Ben, anyone with eyes can see that you are really only with her since that's what everyone expected out of you two." Akiho pointed out and Ben bit his lower lip.

"I suppose so."

"You're still young, Benny boy, you can find someone else!" Emir wiggled his eyebrows and Ben stared at them incredulously.

"Are you two seriously giving me a pep talk to break up with Audrey?"

"Maybe."

Ben looked down at the little girl in his arms, her peaceful face so innocent and loving. She didn't really deserve anyone disliking her, she was so young, and from what little Ben could gather, Este grew up hidden away, hidden from something that could possibly hurt her. She deserved to have a happy, worry-free childhood and that's what Mal was trying to give her.

And now here was Audrey, insinuating that the child was evil just because she came from the Isle.

Ben squeezed Este to his chest a little, knowing that Akiho and Emir were right.