Chapter Thirty Eight
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths.
Smh, guys can you believe that we're only thirty reviews away from 800? That's insane! Thank you all so much for your support with this story! :D
Okay fair warning—PLEASE READ THIS PART OF THE NOTE IF YOU ARE AN AUDREY FAN: This chapter is not Audrey friendly. Well in a way the whole story isn't Audrey friendly but specifically this chapter. If you're a fan of Audrey, I completely understand if you skip it.
Now to answer what I'm sure might be a common question—why is Ben praying to a saint? Well judging by the time period that BatB is set, it's safe to assume that France is still Catholic during that time and for Belle at least to be raised in that religion. So it'd make sense for Ben to have been raised with some religion—I mean they've got a cathedral for Gods' sake.
I used the name of the voice actor of the bookseller for his name as he is not given a canonical name—just like I did for the royal tailor.
Just as a friendly reminder I am shortening my review responses but I am more than happy to shoot you a PM if I don't get to your review! :D
Urmimala Hazra: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! Mal's not going to be pregnant in this story but there will be a sequel so it's entirely possible she'll be pregnant there!
Marcus Emrys: I don't think Sammy can speak fish but she is a pirate so anything's possible!
danifan3000: I'm sure Ben will be able to get the reformed villains off the Isle. I mean it's Ben so anything's possible!
HufflepuffInDaHealingCoven: I'm so glad that you like all the ships and that you like the story so far! :D
Hufflepuff24: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked the chapter!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Harriet does deserve it, doesn't she? After everything she's been through!
Guest: I have to say I like this theory!
Guest: Oh I'm so glad! I do agree that Ben has only forgiven people that he or Mal already like and so the whole 'forgiving and merciful leader' title isn't as deserved. However he does kinda have to fall to Mal's judgement here as to who would be a good fit for Auradon. I know the kids don't deserve the Isle based solely on being born but if they committed a crime (like attempted murder using Freddy as an example) then that wouldn't necessarily be someone you'd want in your kingdom. That being said, I do like the scenario you suggested and want to see if I can't incorporate that somewhere.
Anonymous Reader: I'm so glad you're happy about that! :D
twilightgirl587: She sure is!
Roxas Itsuka: Matters of the heart are certainly complicated and it doesn't help matters that all three Hooks are stubborn. I am going to go a bit over the usual limit this time—it was originally just going to be the usual but then I got to thinking about other chapters I wanted to add. No worries about the PMs! :D
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Oh I agree, Smee doesn't seem like the type of parent who'd let his sons innocence be snatched away too soon!
Monkemama1516: Ask and you'll receive! :D
Hope you all like the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Aurora sighed as she sat in the waiting room of Auroria General. Unlike Asclepius General over in Auradon City, Auroria General was kind enough to give them a private room to wait in. It wasn't something Aurora had insisted on or even asked for.
However the staff had insisted on it. They said it didn't make sense for the King and Queen of Auroria to wait and potentially get mobbed by the public.
Of course, over in Asclepius General, they got to be in their daughter's room rather than have to wait outside. Though with Audrey's second birth being a cesarian, the doctors probably figured that Aurora and Phillip didn't want to see that.
"They'll be alright," Phillip said, gently taking Aurora's hand and giving it a small squeeze. "Both Audrey and the baby, and then we'll set up a room for Audrey."
Aurora nodded. Mal had come to them and offered to speed up the pregnancy, saying that it was cruel to have them have to stare at Audrey's almost lifeless body. The Lady Eileithyia apparently taught Mal a way to speed up the pregnancy without speeding up time itself, and Mal extended the offer to Aurora and Phillip.
It would be a one time use, as Mal didn't feel exactly comfortable speeding up someone's pregnancy without their consent. Even someone who had tried to kill her and threatened the safety of her brother.
"It won't be much longer," Phillip spoke again, trying to break the silence. "The doctors here are the same ones who delivered Audrey, and they handled your caesarean without any trouble."
"It's a good thing Phil's not here," Aurora whispered. "I…I wouldn't want him dealing with this."
"I think he'd rather be here than taking Henry to get fitted for his suit for his wedding," Phillip said, trying to force a small chuckle but it fell flat on his lips. "At least Claudine's watching Arabella."
"More like Claudine's spoiling Ari before her birthday," Aurora corrected, a small smile pulling at her lips as the image of her granddaughter surrounded by all the presents that had been arriving over the past month danced in her head.
Mal had gifted her a purple and blue plush dragon that had felt flames that could be attached through velcro, while Ben had created a small miniature library out of a plastic playhouse—as well as stocked it with as many picture books for a one year old he could find.
Aurora and Phillip had told him it wasn't necessary but Ben had insisted on it.
Jay and Harry had each given her a small wooden sword, each one painted green and red appropriately for the color scheme in her nursery. Jay apparently had been very put out that Harry had snatched the option for red from him, according to Mal.
Evie had worked her magic on the sewing machine and made a collection of dresses that would still work as 'casual' clothing, keeping with the green and red color choices. Something Aurora had been thankful for—as Arabella's hair grew in and it was obvious that she'd inherited Audrey's brown with Audrey's brown eyes…seeing Ari in pink the way Audrey used to wear as Leah tried to make her into a clone of Aurora…
It would have hurt too much. The green was a nod to the forest where Aurora had grown up and the red was a nod to Phillip's cloak. But other than that they were just two regular colors Ari could make her own.
Uma gave her a small tri-coronered hat that she'd dyed a light red, while Henry had given her a small floatie that looked almost like a ship that she used constantly.
Of course, he was often in the pool with her; the two of them spending hours swimming away with Claudine and Phil by their sides.
"We really should look into a christening," Phillip said.
"I know," Aurora said with a small sigh. "I just…after everything that happened, it's the last thing on my mind."
Phillip nodded and gave Aurora's hand a small squeeze just as Ben and Mal slipped through the doors of the waiting room.
"Any word?" Ben asked.
Aurora shook her head. "No, and I'm concerned. A scheduled caesarean like this normally takes about forty five minutes and it's been at least two hours."
"There might have been some internal damage done by speeding up the pregnancy," Mal said, her voice soft. "Aunt Eileithyia told me that it was normally done by those who wanted to control the month their child was born in and usually it was done to those who'd earned the favor of the Gods so it wasn't done often."
"We're not blaming you Mal," Aurora reassured her. "It's…it's just a little nerve wracking to still be sitting here without any word."
"I can go ask for you," Ben offered. He wouldn't try to pull rank on the doctors or nurses or anything, their job was hard enough as it was. But that didn't mean Aurora and Phillip had to still be sitting there with no information about their daughter.
Regardless of what Audrey did to him, what she did to Mal, she was still their daughter and she had been Ben's friend at one point. Not to mention Aurora was kind enough to grant Ben the ability to remove his consent from the betrothal contract.
He could do this kindness for her.
Slipping out of the room before getting a response, Ben looked around and finally tracked down who he assumed was a doctor or nurse. They all wore scrubs.
"Excuse me?" Ben said. "Would you be able to send someone to provide an update to Queen Aurora and King Phillip on their daughter and grandchild?"
"Oh! King Ben!"
"That's not necessary," Ben said, cutting the medical worker off before the bowing started. They didn't have time for that anyway, Aurora and Phillip needed news. Not Ben being fawned over.
"Right. Let me go ahead and check to see if there's any news."
"That would be greatly appreciated," Ben said, giving the worker a small smile before heading back to the waiting room.
"Well?" Mal asked as he slipped back in.
"Someone's checking to see what's going on," Ben said. "Hopefully we'll hear soon."
Phillip shook his head. "You two don't have to stay. I'm sure you're both swamped with work and wedding preparations."
"Phillip, there's no place I'd rather be," Ben assured him. "Audrey was my friend growing up. Even if everything with Freddy hadn't happened, I'd still want to be here to make sure she was okay."
Phillip and Aurora gave the King a small smile as he sat down next to Mal. They grew quiet for a minute before Mal heard Ben muttering to himself; his hands clasped and pressed against his forehead.
"Ben…?"
"Oh…sorry," he said as he looked at her. "I didn't realize…"
"You weren't loud," Mal told him. "But…what were you doing?"
Ben sighed and brushed his hair out of his eyes. "I…I was praying. To Lady Eileithyia, to St. Raymond Nonnatus, the patron saint of delivering babies, to Freyja…any prayer I could think of…"
"Aunt Eileithyia and Goddess Freyja make sense considering the first one's my aunt and the second one is Norse. You know, with Akiho and his family worshiping Odin. But the saint?"
Ben sighed. "I don't know what if any religions my dad practiced before he met my mom but in my mom's village, there was a clergyman. Père Robert I believe his name was, he was my mom's stop for books if Alvin's bookshop was closed. Mom always said Père Robert made their small corner of the world feel almost big."
"But you recognize the Greek and Norse Gods too?"
"Mom always told me that a ruler respects all their citizens, even the ones with different beliefs than them. I just don't like to pray often…especially after everything with Freddy…"
Mal gave Ben a sad smile and gently took his hand. "Teach me?"
She could easily ask her aunt to keep Audrey safe during the delivery process but a bit of extra protection never hurt anyone. Besides, she may have wanted to smite Audrey back when the former Princess was throwing her coup but now?
She didn't deserve that. Not when she'd be spending the rest of her life in an eternal slumber.
But before Ben could do anything more than smile slightly at Mal, they were joined by someone who Mal and Ben could only assume to be a doctor.
"Dr. Chilton?" Aurora asked, standing up and looking at the man. He was an older gentleman, with his brown hair peppered by streaks of grey. He had been the doctor to deliver both Audrey and Phillip Jr. so Aurora knew Audrey would be treated with the best possible care.
Not handcuffed the way she'd been over in Auradon City, even if Aurora could see why they were necessary.
"Your highness," Dr. Chilton said.
"Is something wrong? Did something happen to the baby?" Phillip asked, quickly standing up and moving to stand next to his wife. It would have had to have been the baby right? Audrey was perfectly healthy, you know, despite the whole sleeping for the rest of her life situation.
But that wouldn't have impacted the birth. He hoped.
"You've got a beautiful and healthy baby Princess," the doctor said but his somber tone implied that there was more that he wasn't telling them.
"And Audrey…?" Aurora asked, her voice no higher than a whisper.
"I'm so sorry your highness…we did all we could but unfortunately…"
Aurora's sobs cut off the rest of the news the doctor was telling them but it was pretty clear what he was going to say.
"When…when can we…oh Gods I can't," Aurora whispered, Phillip holding her close to him as her shoulders wracked with sobs.
"Come on," Mal whispered to Ben. "We…we shouldn't be here."
Ben nodded as he saw the quivering of Phillip's shoulders, as if the man was barely holding it together and would break at any moment.
"Please. Let me know if you need anything," Ben said as they walked over to Aurora and Phillip. "Whatever you need, I'll do my best to help."
"Ben, you…you don't have to…"
"She was my friend too," Ben said, his voice soft. "Had…had things been different, she might have been my fiancé and we would have been family. But no matter what, she was my friend."
"Thank you," Aurora said, her voice thick with tears. "Ben…I hate to ask…but…would we be able to bury her with family?"
"She's your daughter," Ben said, his voice gentle yet shaking slightly as his eyes shone with unshed tears of his own. "I wouldn't imagine you'd bury her anywhere else. I'll even reinstate her title if you run into trouble because of it."
Phillip nodded, gently rubbing Aurora's back. "We appreciate that Ben. More than you know."
"Of course," Ben said. "Mal and I will go, give you your privacy. But again, please, if you need anything. Let me know or let my mother know if you'd rather."
You know that's an idea, Mal thought to herself. After Aurora gives the news of course, but everyone in the LTBR could do something for them. They don't deserve this, not with how amazing they were with letting Ben out of the contract and letting Claudine into their lives…not to mention giving Henry a room!
As Ben and Mal walked to the door, Mal gently rested a hand on Aurora's shoulder. "I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault Mal," Aurora said, shaking her head.
"I know…but I'm sorry all the same," Mal said. "May Audrey's memory be eternal."
Aurora and Phillip gave a shaky smile but Mal could tell that it was years of being in the public eye that was holding the grieving parents together.
"Come on," Ben said and the two of them made their way out of the private room. Mal glanced over and saw Phillip's brown eyes shining with unshed tears and quickly used a bit of her magic to cause the door to close faster than it normally did.
"Lets…let's stop over here for a moment," she said softly after they'd walked in silence for a few minutes.
"In front of the newborns?" Ben asked, a shaky chuckle on his voice.
"I thought you'd want to see her," Mal said. "Audrey's daughter."
"…Audrey's? Not Freddy's?"
Mal shook her head. As much as Audrey annoyed her in school and you know the whole coup thing, Ben had just lost one of his oldest friends. There was no being redeemed from death after all.
Besides, it was absolutely no sacrifice on Mal's part to pretend that Freddy Frollo had no part in creating the little girl they saw in front of them. Swaddled in a pink and blue blanket like all the other babies in the newborn room, the Princess was in the middle. Mal could see a glimpse of what looked to be blonde hair sticking out of her pink hat.
"I…I wonder what they'll name her?" Ben said, his voice no higher than a whisper. "Aurora and Phillip I mean."
"Maybe they'll name her after Phillip's mother," Mal said, her voice a smidge louder but not by much. "I'm sure we'll hear soon. Once they've had a chance to look at their granddaughter."
Mal gently led Ben to the other wall, both of them sitting down on the ground. The hall was empty, almost abandoned save for one or two medical personal who seemed to turn on their heel upon seeing the King of Auradon and the future Queen sitting on the ground.
They sat there in complete silence for what felt like almost a year but was probably more like five minutes until Mal could see Ben's shoulders shaking.
"Shh…" she said softly, gently bringing Ben's head onto her shoulder. "Let it out Benny. Don't hold it in."
"I just…those poor kids. Ari and…and her sister," Ben said, his voice catching as the tears began to spill down his cheeks. "They're never going to know their mom and all they'll know is that Audrey was a villain…"
"You know that's not true," Mal said, gently rubbing Ben's back. "Aurora and Phillip will tell the girls what Audrey was like when she was their age when they start asking. And you're forgetting about a very important person who can tell them about their mom."
"W-who?"
"You. You said it yourself Benny. Audrey was your friend at one point before all of this. Go on Ben, let it out. I'm not going to throw a fit over you crying over the death of your oldest friend."
Ben gave her a watery smile before burying his face into her shoulder. Mal didn't say anything but just gently rubbed his back, content to sit there for ever long Ben needed. There wasn't anything else waiting for them other than paperwork and wedding prep.
Nothing that couldn't wait another day. Auradon was in mourning after all.