Family Maintenance

Author's Note

Hello, my lovelies! My apologies for the late update. Finals happened the past week and I spent the weekend trying to relax. However, the new update is here and I hope you enjoy!

Leave those reviews, please! They make me smile!

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.

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

"You're going to burn a hole through the floor if you keep pacing." Mal said absentmindedly as she sketched in her drawing book, her pencil effortlessly shading in what looked to be Este playing underneath a tree.

Ben sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "Sorry. I'm just annoyed."

"No kidding." Mal murmured, remembering how the first words that Ben had said upon entering her room were "I hate being the crown prince."

Mal had answered his call on the third ring and when he explained his predicament, she had told him to come over, stating that it was just fine as Este was with Carlos and Jay, watching their tourney practice and most likely being fed too much candy. Ben had arrived and immediately began to sulk, which amused Mal, although she would never admit it.

"You know what?" The corners of Mal's mouth turned upwards cheekily as she glanced at Ben. "You're not going to be the crown prince for much longer, so you won't have to hate it anymore!"

"Haha, Mal, very funny."

Mal snorted, putting her head into her arms and quivering in her laughter. Ben had to crack a smile and a small chuckle escaped his lips. Mal sobered, sitting back up, her cheeks tinged pink and her eyes shiny.

"What did the council want from you?" she asked as she picked up her pencil to resume drawing.

"Well, I broke up with Audrey so Leah was-" Ben began, but Mal cut him off by a surprised squeak, her head snapping upwards to look at him and her pencil hovering above the page.

"You what?"

"I broke up with Audrey." he repeated.

Mal didn't reply, her gaze running over him and Ben flushed. He didn't really understand why Mal reacted that way, but then again, he didn't really understand Mal. She teared her eyes away from him and lowered them back to her sketchbook.

"Good riddance," she finally muttered. "You have guts."

Ben rolled his eyes. "You're starting to sound just like Akiho and Emir."

"Well, with the way they keep kidnapping my daughter, I hang out with them too much."

Ben laughed, plopping himself down on her bed. "Anyways, since I broke up with Audrey, Leah went on a rampage. Oh, you know who Queen Leah is, right? Uh, Aurora's mum."

"Ah. Her."

Ben tried to gauge Mal's reaction, but her face remained straight. "I know her. Mother talked about her a lot."

She didn't elaborate further and Ben knew better than to pry so he continued talking. "Anyways, so then my dad told me he wanted to start a database to… Uh, keep track of you guys and your history."

Mal raised her eyebrows. "A database."

"Yep."

Mal's nose wrinkled, much like Este's did when she tried something and didn't like it. "So is that why you're really here? To prod into my life and please your father and the annoying pricks that consider themselves a royal council?"

Ben blinked. "What? No! I.. I told him I wasn't going to do it. I thought, well, I thought it was rude. And I didn't want to bother you guys, especially you since you have Este, and.."

"You're rambling."

"Sorry."

Mal shrugged. "The council's irritated with you for not doing the database?"

"Yep."

"Then do it."

"Wait, what?" Ben's face ruffled in confusion. "But.. I kind of yelled at them that I wouldn't do it. If I did it, it'd seem weird, wouldn't it?"

"No, silly," Mal stuck her pencil into a sharpener, twisting it before glancing up at Ben. "I meant, do the database, but make up your own questions. Make it tailored to what you want, or what you think it should ask. It'll show that you'll still listen to the council, but since you're going to be the king, you're going to do things your way."

Ben stared at her in surprise. "That's.. That's actually a really good idea."

"Why, thank you."

Ben's mind was reeling with ideas all of a sudden, the first thought coming to mind how different Mal actually was. Sure, the villain kids were all unique, but Mal stuck out to him. A lot.

Audrey would've just told him to do the database. She wouldn't have suggested anything else, she wouldn't even have sat down and listened to him rant. But Mal did.

And she didn't exactly serve an important role in his life, or maybe she did and he just wasn't sure what.

"Ben?" Mal snapped her fingers and he startled out of his thoughts. "Ben."

"Sorry. I was thinking."

"Are you okay?"

It was his turn to shrug. Mal sat down next to him, bringing her knees to her chest. "I'm sorry you broke up with Audrey. And that the council sucks, from what you've told me."

Ben chuckled. "It's fine, Mal. Thanks for listening. You didn't have to, I was probably bothering you."

"Not really. With my friends and Akiho and Emir's help, I've been able to have time for myself," Mal smiled, her pink lips curling upwards and Ben forced himself to not think of kissing her. For Gods' sake, he had just broken up with his girlfriend! "I don't seem to know what to do with it, though."

"We could go somewhere. Like get food or… Have you taken Este to one of the shopping malls?" Ben suggested. "It might be more of Evie's thing, but they have cool art stores you could look at, oh, and there's this really cool indoor playground-"

"Are you sure you're not a three-year-old yourself?" Mal asked sarcastically and Ben bumped her shoulder teasingly and they both chuckled.

They glanced at each other, brown eyes meeting green, and it felt like time stopped as the two almost gravitated towards each other.

Mal was the first one to regain their senses. Her eyes widened as she flushed before turning away and standing up, going towards her dresser. Ben shook his head to clear his thoughts and his gaze lowered to the floor while she grabbed a jacket and threw it on.

"Um, I have to pick up Este from tourney, it's probably almost over by now," Mal said softly. "You can come if you want to. Este's been looking for you."

Ben smiled gently. "Okay. You want to grab some food, too?"

Mal nodded and they left the room, Mal closing the door behind them.

"Hey, I have a joke," Ben said to try and clear the awkward air that had suddenly appeared between the two. "Why do pediatricians always lose their temper?"

"Why?" Mal raised an eyebrow as she inserted the lock into the door handle.

"Because they have little patients." Ben said, biting his lip to keep in the laughter.

"You are so stupid."

Ben laughed and Mal had no choice but to smile, letting out a soft chuckle.

"Do you think Este'll like it?"

"Este finds everything you say funny."

Ben hummed in agreement and Mal let out another tiny laugh. They disappeared down the hallway, a few feet apart from each other, but feeling too close and miles apart all at the same time.