Chapter Fifty Five
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else is owned by Disney!
Honestly you guys, I was looking at the calendar and it's amazing that we're about 16 days away from the four year mark for this series! It's hard to believe it's been so long since I started and look how it's gone! Thank you all so much for your continued support through this series, I definitely wouldn't have been able to do it without you guys.
Now the good news is that we've got about five more chapters to go before the end but unfortunately that means that we've only got five more chapters before the end. Hopefully I'm able to get everything in though there's always a chance I'll come back and do one shots if there's something that didn't get in.
Marcus Emrys: Well sometimes it's not so much feelings but boredom…and I didn't hear that. Though it makes sense!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! They really have, haven't they? And there is no rule that the 'of honor' person has to be a girl just like there's no rule that the 'best' person has to be a man! It's just who the bride/groom wants! And agreed, I know nature vs. nurture is a thing but Aurora is 100% the opposite of Leah that it's hard not to think she was adopted. Gods help that child indeed—at least Hades will be on the Isle at times so a God can help the child.
danifan3000: I think the child might turn out differently than his parents (though with five chapters to go, we'll probably not see much of him. He will be a more regularly appearing character over in the Choosing Series). And to be fair to Yzma, at least she decomplicated the plan when she realized she'd save on postage!
Pterodactyl1993: Thank you so much! No worries, I know life's been busy :D Oh I've seen Castle, I loved that show! Genevieve might not learn about her half sibling here but she'll learn about them over in the Choosing series.
Hufflepuff24: True but it might be easier if someone who stays on the Isle manages it. And the VKs on the Isle are dwindling as more and more go to Auradon.
guest: Yeah, in thee books, Yzla was actually part of the Anti-Heroes club from what I've read in the wiki so she's not as evil as her brother.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Oh yeah, anything would be better than if Freddy got to raise his kids in the Choosing Series!
Ayakitten83: I did get it! A witch and a chemist!
twilightgirl587: Yeah good intentions but bad idea :D I don't know who Aurora's mom is but there's no way it's Leah. They're just total opposites! No, you didn't miss anything—while Mal is still Queen of Auradon (and therefore the Isle) the Isle would still need someone present to rule it. Since the Casters are some of the very few VKs still on Isle, they'd assume that they are the rulers of the Isle and therefore Yzla's niece/nephew would be the heir to the Isle.
IWantColouredRain: No trouble, I promise. There's not enough chapters to have trouble brewing.
Kaybugg1: Thank you! Yeah, it's a conundrum—honestly though all Yzla wants is to have a confirmed food spot. Old habits die hard.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Time passed in Auradon, as time often did, and soon the King and Queen were celebrating three years of marriage. Three years of happily wedded bliss, even if it had been brought on by slight confusion with the news of Maddy having been pregnant as well as giving birth to a son. Zevon's son on top of that, which really wasn't an image Mal had wanted in her head.
Between learning about that and the fact that Yzla wanted to manage the soup kitchen, Mal had to wonder if she'd fallen through the rabbit hole at some point in the past three years.
But anyway…it was honestly hard to believe that they'd been married for three years. It felt as if it'd only been a week, especially with how all their friends had quickly gotten married.
Well not all of them, Mal thought with a small snort as she made her way to the library to find her wayward husband. She'd already tried his office and much to her surprise, he hadn't been there. So the library was the next best option.
If Ben wasn't in there, then he'd probably be on a run with Estelle. And if that was the case, Mal would just wait until he got back to talk to him. It wasn't anything pressing.
But anyway, back to my thoughts, she thought with a chuckle. Honestly if Harry doesn't get his ass in gear and propose to Uma, Uma's going to think something's wrong. And that's just asking for Harry to get smote by Uncle Poseidon honestly. And then of course there's Jay and Lonnie—I think Carlos will propose to Jane before Jay figures out that Lonnie wants to marry him. Then again, with Lonnie, she'd probably just propose to Jay. Uma's still got her hangups about the touchy feely stuff as she calls it.
Mal shook her head, slightly amused at herself. When she was sixteen, she probably wouldn't have just stood around thinking about her friends' relationships.
Granted, when she was sixteen, she'd been trapped on an Isle of villains for just the 'crime' of being born to Maleficent and Hades. Not that Auradon had known that of course, they just knew she was Maleficent's daughter.
Okay thoughts, you're getting kinda dark, Mal thought with a small chuckle as she entered the library. A quick scan of the shelves wasn't needed, Mal knew where Ben was. It was where he always went when he needed to relax after a stressful council session if the weather wasn't good enough for a run.
"So what new dragon fact am I going to learn today?" Mal teased as she finally found her husband.
"I thought you said I had told you every dragon fact there is?" Ben asked as he looked up at his wife.
"Knowing you the way I do, there always seems to be more facts that you're able to find," Mal chuckled. "Can…can I talk to you about something? If you're not too busy reading up about dragons that is."
"I am never too busy for you," Ben said as he stood up. "What's up?"
"Do you remember that conversation we had a few months ago? After we saw Dean with his daughter?"
Ben nodded with a smile. How could he forget that? It was probably one of the best moments of his life, following meeting and marrying Mal of course.
"It's hard to believe Dean has a kid now," Mal said softly as they waved to the little girl in Dean's arms as he left the throne room. Little Dawn was truly a cutie, just about a year old and clearly the apple of her father's eye.
"Yeah," Ben nodded. "Honestly I would have thought that Dean would have been childless. He works too hard after all, sometimes I don't know if he knows what a social life is."
"Ben, you might not be the best person to comment on someone knowing what a social life is or if someone's working too hard," Mal told him and chuckled as Estelle climbed up onto her lap. "Um, hi? Can I help you?"
Estelle yipped softly and licked her hand gently.
"Guess he wants cuddles," Ben said, smiling at the sight. "Nothing wrong with that."
"Ben, you'd enjoy this no matter what," Mal chuckled. "But we're talking about a full grown Cerberus on my lap and frankly I have to pee!"
Ben chuckled. "Come on boy, get down. I know, I know, but your maman has to use the bathroom. You wouldn't want her to have an accident do you?"
Estelle whined softly but climbed down from Mal's lap.
"Thank you Ben," Mal smiled as she got up from her throne. "Are there any more audiences we have to grant?"
"I think that's everyone," Ben said. "Why, you going on a dragon flight?"
"It'd be nice," Mal nodded. "Why? Did you have something planned?"
Ben shook his head. "No but…I dunno, I'd like to talk about something I've been thinking about."
"Oh? What about?"
"Maybe…us having a kid? We've been married for about three years, it might be nice…"
Mal sighed. "Ben…can we discuss this someplace that isn't the throne room where half the castle can just walk in?"
Ben nodded. "Of course. Sorry, I forgot."
"I'm not saying no or that I don't want kids. I just think we should discuss this someplace where privacy is guaranteed," Mal said, her voice soft.
"I understand Mal. How about our office?"
"Sure," Mal said with a small smile.
Ben couldn't help but return the smile. "Shall we?"
"Lets."
The King and Queen quickly made their way to their shared office. Well, Mal made a pit stop to the bathroom and then they made their way to their shared office.
"Okay, so run that by me again?" Mal asked as she sat down on the couch, Ben locking the door to prevent anyone from walking in. Estelle grinned as he hopped on the sofa next to Mal.
Ben sighed and gave Mal a small smile. "I was thinking…you know after seeing Dean with Dawn it…it might be nice if we had a child of our own?"
"Is there any other reason than you just want one?" Mal asked. She knew they'd have to have kids eventually, even if there was no need for them since Ben was immortal. Belle and Beast were not and Mal knew they'd like to spend some time with their grandkid or kids.
"We've been married three years Mal. I'm not saying we have to have one now but…shouldn't we at leas try?" Ben asked.
Mal gave Ben a small smile. "Ben, relax…and you dodged the question. But anyway, we're still in our twenties, we have plenty of time to have kids if we want to have them. Besides, even with my Godly background, my body's still recovering from the sixteen years I spent eating the Isle diet."
Ben sighed. "I know Mal, trust me. I've been trying to convince myself that we're too young, that seven years isn't a long enough time for your cycle to get fully back on track after a lifetime on the Isle…but…and this is selfish of me but I…I wouldn't mind a mini you running around," he whispered.
Mal sighed and smiled. "Ben trust me, you don't a mini-me. I was a terror as a child. Though…a mini you running around would be pretty nice."
"Maybe one of each," Ben chuckled as he sat next to Mal, Estelle thankfully hopping off the couch to sit by their feet. "A mini you and a mini me."
It was Mal's turn to chuckle. While she wouldn't want the kids to feel like they had to me like them, there was a small part of her that couldn't help but picture her son or daughter burrowed in the library on a rainy day with Ben. "Maybe not at the same time?"
"Let's hope not."
"Oh Gods, could you imagine us with twins?" Mal asked, smiling a little to show that she was joking.
"The governess would probably be running around in a panic," Ben said, shaking his head.
Mal paused and looked over at him. "Governess? No, absolutely not. They're my kids. Ben, no one will be raising my kids but me."
"Okay, okay," Ben said, gently rubbing her back.
"I mean it Ben," Mal said firmly. "If and when we have kids, the only mom they'll have will be me!"
Yes, she had been iffy about the whole idea of having kids but now that they were talking about it, she was firm on the belief that she would be raising her kids. No nannies. No governesses. Just her.
Well, and Ben and Estelle of course.
"Mal, I didn't mean anything by it," Ben said gently. "Most royals have governesses or nannies. I didn't but Chad, Emir, Akiho, Audrey…they all did. Probably because with the exception of Akiho, they all had siblings. Made things easier for their parents."
"I'm surprised Leah allowed Audrey out of her sight," Mal muttered.
"You're assuming that I'm not counting Leah as Audrey's governess," Ben told her. "But if you don't want to have one, that's fine."
"I don't Ben," Mal said. "On the Isle, another person watching your kid was a great way for that kid to get kidnapped. Steph never trusted anyone but me with Hadie after all and that's if he had to be out of her sight."
"Okay, that's fine," Ben said. "No nanny, no governess."
Mal nodded firmly. "Good. Besides, any kids we'll have might have the ability to turn into dragons. I'll be the only one who could handle that anyway. And I just realized that they'd have your traits too…dragons with Beast traits. We'd never sleep."
"Mal, sweetheart, we'd be fine. We'd manage it the way we do everything: together."
Mal gave him a small smile. "I like the sound of that."
"So…?"
"So?"
"Is that a yes or a no? To having kids I mean?"
Mal sighed. "I won't lie. It would be nice to have a kid running around here. Besides, it might give Estelle something to do other than climb on my lap."
Ben chuckled softly. "So is that a yes?"
"It's a yes, Ben," Mal nodded with a small smile. "I'm not saying it'll happen right away but I'm willing to try."
"That's all I can ask," Ben told her, returning the smile. He didn't know why but the thought of being parents with Mal, there was no better thought that could fill his head. Even if Lord Hades would potentially turn him to ash for being with his daughter.
Mal leaned and rested her head on his shoulder. Ben leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
"Can you imagine us as parents?" Mal said softly.
"You'll be great," Ben assured her.
"So will you," Mal told him. "Probably better than I would, with how everything seems to just bounce off you."
Ben chuckled slightly. "Not everything. Remember when I saw your planner?"
"First time for everything Benny," Mal told him. "I mean you brushed off being given a love potion cookie and performing a song and dance number."
"Remind me to block Auratube if we ever have kids," Ben said. "I think my performance at the Tourney game is still one of the highest viewed videos."
"Ben, don't you think that's a little…ridiculous?"
"Oh zip it Mal!" Ben chuckled.
Mal smirked. "You know you love me."
"And I always will," Ben smiled.
"Besides Ben, our kid or kids will have Carlos as an uncle. Blocking something won't work when the tech genius can just unblock it for them."
"True," Ben nodded. "Our kids…gotta say I do like the sound of that."
Mal smiled. So did she, if she was honest.
"So…when should we start trying?" Ben asked.
"I guess whenever we want. I mean…we are married adults after all. But then again…should it really be something you schedule?"
"What, being a parent or trying? Because I'm pretty sure, unless the talk Chip gave me when I was nine was missing some stuff, you need to time it right to get a pregnancy."
"Wait, wait, wait, Chip gave you the 'talk' when you were nine?"
"Um, a more 'child friendly' version of it," Ben said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was snooping on his computer when he was writing a paper for health class. Dad gave me the official 'talk' when I was thirteen—you know, the mechanics and everything."
"Hmm. Steph gave me one when I was twelve," Mal said. "She figured my mother wouldn't want to do it but I needed to be prepared, being on the Isle and all."
Ben held her close and kissed her forehead again. He hated thinking about what Mal had to go through growing up on the Isle but he was glad that she was here with him.
"Gods I love you," he whispered.
"Love you too," Mal said softly. "So…as far as terms of trying…maybe our date night tonight?"
"Sounds good to me. Though Estelle will be disappointed he'll have to stay out but I think our bedroom will be too busy for him too curl up in our bed anyway."
"Well I'm sure Estelle would enjoy exploring the castle instead or maybe he could spend the night with Hadie? I'm sure he'd like that." Mal said with a small smile.
Ben smiled back at her, kissing her forehead once more.
"You don't have any more meetings today do you?" Mal whispered.
"No…"
Mal smirked. "You want to maybe get a jumpstart on date night?"
"Gladly," Ben said.
Mal chuckled, pulling Ben out of his thoughts. "Well you know how I haven't exactly been feeling my best lately?"
"That's an understatement," Ben said as he moved closer to Mal. Mal had been almost violently ill the past few months, and it had gotten to the point where they had taken her to the hospital. Well more like the hospital came to her.
Hey, it was good to be the Queen.
Ben knew that Mal was a Godling but he'd been so worried, he asked the doctor to run every single test they could, just to make sure nothing was wrong with Mal.
"Well the doctor called just now," Mal said, smiling slightly. "You can stop pacing a rut in our bedroom every night."
"Hey, I was concerned that we hadn't heard anything," Ben told her.
"Ben, you asked them to run every single test known to man and God. Believe it or not, that's going to take a while."
"I had full permission from your father to do so."
Mal chuckled. "Yes well…it seems that Rea's going to have a little playmate. In the form of a niece or nephew?"
Ben paused and then looked at her. "You…you mean?"
"I'm pregnant, Ben," Mal nodded. "Now, fair warning, but the Fae and the Gods have a shorter development time for pregnancies so it'll be faster than a mortal pregnancy. I mean, Zeus birthed Athena when she was a grown adult."
"He also birthed her from his head," Ben said. "Will you be sprouting our child from your head?"
Mal chuckled. "Gods I hope not."
"Ooh, think you'll give birth as a dragon?" Ben asked, his eyes lighting up. "I mean, I'd miss you during that period because, you know, you'd have to be on the egg but that'd be kinda cool at the very least—."
"Ben, Ben, calm down," Mal said, the chuckle still in her voice. "How about we tell our parents first before trying to figure out how I'm going to give birth okay? Just our parents though. I may be a Godling but there's still a risk of the pregnancy not going to term. Because—."
"Because of your time on the Isle," Ben said softly, his fingertips brushing Mal's stomach. Gods, he couldn't believe their child was in there. Someone to call him 'papa' and play with, running around the castle with Estelle, making blanket castles, flying with Mal…never having to spend their teenage years ruling a kingdom.
"I promise you, I won't step down if I need to until you're eighteen," Ben whispered, bending down so that he was talking to Mal's stomach. "And even then, that's at a minimum. You deserve the chance to be a child first. Let the kingdom worry about an heir, that doesn't matter to me."
Mal smiled softly. "Ben? You okay?"
"Yeah," Ben sighed as he stood up.
"You sure? Benny, you know I'm here if you want to talk. Or vent. Sadly no dragon flights. All doctors, mortal and Godly, say that transforming could be bad for the baby."
About a year into their marriage, Mal found that she could easily fly with Ben on her back. Believe it or not, nighttime dragon flights were a regular thing for the King and Queen.
It drove their security team (and Akiho) insane but Mal loved it.
"…the night before Leah's trial," Ben said softly, taking a minute to pull together his thoughts. "I had a nightmare. In it…you had left for the Isle again. Only…you were pregnant. You had said that our child needed a chance to be a child, instead of just an heir like the kingdom wanted them to be…and so that's what I promised our kid."
Mal smiled sadly as she cupped Ben's cheek with her hand. "And they will get that. I promise you. Between you and me, they will have the most childhood a child could ask for. Plus I think we'll be kept busy by one other thing too."
"Keeping my parents from spoiling the firefly rotten?"
"…firefly?"
Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "You know, because you can turn into a dragon and can fly? Fire and fly. Firefly."
Mal snorted. "Ben, how is it the kid's not even born yet and you're making dad worthy jokes?"
"Just my talent, I guess," Ben smiled as he pulled Mal close to him. Parents. They were going to be parents. He couldn't wait.
"Shall we go inform our families of the fact that we're adding another branch to our family tree?"
"I think we shall," Mal said with a small smile. "Come on Estelle."
Estelle yipped as the three of them made their way from the library to gather up their respective family members so they could tell them in person.
And so in case Hades wanted to kill Ben, the twenty three year old had more than enough time to run from his father-in-law.