Hey Lovies!
So... this was not supposed to be the next update, but I really could not help myself! But I will be going back to my rotation and Neighbors is next and over half way done with the next update!
I hope you guys like this chapter and please let me know what you think!
ENJOY!
BEN'S POV
I was working in my office when Hadie barged into the room like he was being chased. I could swear that this kid has more energy than Dude.
"Ben!" Hadie yelled as he jumped to stand on one of the chairs in front of my desk.
"Hadie!" I said as I mocked him and jumped on my desk.
He stood up straight and looked at me with a confused look, making me smirk at him.
"Why are you standing on your desk?"
"Why are you standing on my chair?" I asked as I hopped down from the desk.
He shook his head and laughed before sitting down in the chair.
"Are you ready?" He asked. "Everyone is going to be waiting for us."
I sucked in my lips. Today was Mal's 20th birthday. This would be the second birthday I had not seen her, and I was having a very hard time.
"Dad said that they might be getting close to finding her," he said, making me look up at him with wide eyes. "You know since she is the biological daughter of Maleficent, she is able to turn into a dragon, and for some odd freaking reason, no one was scouring the kingdoms looking for a giant purple dragon."
I nodded my head. I knew Mal. I knew she would be smarter than that, but I was not going to tell Hadie that.
"Maybe," I said as I looked up and smiled at him. "Hopefully, they are right and she will come home."
Hadie nodded his head with a big smile on his face. He was such a cool kid, and I hope Mal would be happy with how close we are. She would love to see the banter we get into, and I know she would get a kick out of it.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Yeah," I said as I grabbed my keys from my desk.
"Can I drive?"
"HA!" I exclaimed as I threw my keys up in the air and caught them. "Not my car."
"But…"
"Butts are for sitting," I said as I playfully shoved him towards the door. "Now, let's go before your dad comes and burns my curtains because we are late."
We drove to Evie's and everyone was waiting outside of her castle, gathering around a table with a picture of Mal in the dead center.
"My gods, guys," Hadie said as we walked up to them and they turned around to look at us. "Mal isn't dead. This looks like a memorial for her."
They all looked back at the table and Evie nodded her head.
"He's right," she said. "It kind of does."
"How else is Mal going to be here?" Celia asked, before Audrey nudged the teenager with her elbow. "Ow!"
"It's beautiful, Evie," Hades said as he walked out with a giant purple cake in his hands. "I wish Mal was here for this, but she isn't and… it's hard… on all of us…"
He was starting to get emotional, and I knew I had to step in.
"And we are going to find her soon," I said. "I just know it."
He gave me a tight smile. I knew people were starting to lose hope, but I knew we were going to find her. I didn't know when or how, but I just knew, deep down, that Mal was going to be coming home.
A couple of hours passed and I was talking with Hades and Jay.
"I think I am going to take Hadie with me to HalloweenTown," I said as I leaned back in my seat. "I am going to be getting a tour in two months and I think he will have fun."
"What day?" Hades asked.
"The mayor and I have been emailing back and forth for the past couple of weeks, trying to find a good date to plan something, and we finally said in January," I told him. "It would be after the holidays and Hadie would still be out of school."
"He is going to be in Olympus, remember?" Hades asked as he gave the king an apologetic look.
"Fuck," Ben siad as he rubbed a hand down his face. "I completely forgot."
"Forgot about what?" Hadie asked as he walked up with Dizzy and Jane behind him.
"I forgot that you are going to be in Olympus in the beginning of January," I said as I looked up at him.
"Oh yeah!" He said in excitement. "I forgot too! Two weeks of godly training! I can't wait!"
"Glad to hear, because you are going to be missing traveling with Ben to a different realm," Hades said, making Hadie's face fall.
"What?" He asked.
"I was going to take you with me to visit the town Jay visited months ago," I told him. "I have been emailing the mayor and we set a date for the second week of January."
"No fair!" Hadie groaned. "I want to go to the spooky town!"
"You made plans with your uncles," Hades said as he held his hands out. "You are growing up and you need to stick with the promises you made first."
"I'll go!" Jane said as she raised her hand.
"Really?" I asked as I looked up at her with a furrowed brow.
"Yeah, why not?" She asked.
"I don't have a problem with it," I told her as I shook my head. "I am just surprised."
"Yay!" She said as she clapped her hands in excitement.
"Cool! Jane is going to Spooky Town instead of Hadie," I said as I turned to smile up at my girlfriend's brother.
"Unfortunately," Hadie grumbled, making us all laugh.
MAL'S POV
I was in the kitchen making breakfast for Sophie, Greyson, and Violet, but I could not keep staring at the giant colander that was hanging on the wall. In big bold red letters, Sophie wrote, TOUR WITH A KING. I have maintained to not seem nervous as the date grew closer and Sophie had not brought up my Ben in a while, and when she would talk about the tour she wouldn't put the pieces together. I should blame it on the lack of sleep she was getting because Greyson and Violet are having a hard time sleeping, but I was thankful that she had not put the pieces together.
"Good morning," Sophie said as she walked into the kitchen, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"SO!" Violet yelled as she threw her hands up and her cereal went flying around the room.
"VIOLET!" Sophie yelled, making my daughter laugh.
Violet was a free spirit. She is a crazy little girl and loves to make her toys fly across the room. I had seen that Violet has powers, but I don't know what powers she possesses and if I would be able to keep them at bay until she was older. Greyson on the other hand, he was calm and cuddly. All he wants to do is cuddle and for me to hold him. He is such a mama's boy, and if I had to admit it, I kind of loved it.
"Going into the office today?" I asked as I passed Sophie a cup of coffee.
"I am," she said as she nodded her head. "I want to get my work done for the week so I can focus on the tour in two weeks."
"Ah," I said as I nodded my head and smiled. "The fun job that is being the mayor," I said with a laugh.
I felt like I was doing a good job, though I didn't know how I was going to be when Ben was actually in town. I didn't know if I was going to be able to stay away from him, knowing how much I have missed him.
"True statements, Mallory. True statements," Sophie said with a laugh.
"Well, while you are out having a fun time on your tour, I took the day off so I could stay home with my babies," I said as he smiled down at my kids.
I could not believe that they were going to be 1 in two months. It literally felt like yesterday when I gave birth to them.
"They're getting so big," Sophie said as she stroked Greysons hair. "They're…"
"I know," I said as he rubbed my hands down my face. "I don't want to think about it yet."
"Well… why don't you think of a theme for their birthday party," she said, making me look at her through my hands. "We need to start prepping things."
"Fine," I said. "I'll go to the store today and look."
"Good," she said. "I'll see you guys after I get home, and Nana is coming for dinner."
"See ya," I said as I picked Greyson up out of his high chair.
I heard the door close and knew Sophie was gone when I heard Benny's cab's tired screech.
"Daddy's coming," I said as I bounced him on my hip. "Do you think Auntie Sophie will figure it out?"
Greyson looked up at me and put his little hand on my lips.
"You're right," I said as I smiled at him. "Now, let's get you guys ready so we can get your birthday things."
BEN'S POV
"See ya in two weeks, Bennyboo," Hadie said as he threw his duffel bag over his shoulder. "Don't miss me too much."
"I'll be visiting another realm," I said as we walked out of his room. "I will be having some fun of my own."
"Don't rub that in my face," he groaned, making me laugh. "I so wanted to go."
"Well, maybe next time," I told him as we walked toward the front of the castle. "Have fun though. We'll see you when you get back."
"Don't have too much fun without me," he told me, before he consumed himself in blue flames and disappeared.
I sighed, knowing that he was going to be gone for two weeks. He had been here for over a year and he had not been gone for more than two days. I was going to miss him, but I wasn't going to tell him that. I turned to run back into the castle for my meeting with Jane. We were going to make plans for how we were going to be getting to HalloweenTown, which we should have honestly done before I even emailed their mayor, but I was too excited to explore. I walked into my office to grab my phone and keys, when my dad walked in and opened his mouth.
"The answer is still no," I said, before I looked up at him and walked out of the room to meet with Jane.
MAL'S POV
The two weeks flew by and I was a nervous wreck. I had just put the twins down for their nap and I closed the door behind me, before I walked downstairs. Today was going to be a hard day. One of the hardest days I have ever had. Not because Ben was going to be in Halloween Town, but because I was going to have to fight the urge to not find him. I have missed him so much. More than I have missed anyone in my life. I missed everyone. Not one day goes by that I don't think about my friends, Belle, Adam, Hadie, my dad, and Ben. Not a day goes by that I tell myself that I have to go back to Auradon, but I can't. The longer I stayed away, the more frightened I got to know what they would think of me. I always tell myself that I can't go back and face what I left behind, because what would they think? What would they do? Would they be mad? Would they understand? I don't know, but I am terrified to find out.
Sophie had gone to work early today, and I was hoping that meeting Ben and putting pieces together would go over her head, and she wouldn't figure out that that was MY Ben, especially since she nor have I, have brought enough up my Ben. I only hope that she doesn't figure it out.
BEN'S POV
"Ben," I heard my dad say as he knocked on my office door.
"Yeah," I said as I made sure that I had my wallet, phone, and keys in my pocket.
"We need to talk."
I groaned. I knew what he wanted to talk about, and I knew the more he pushed this, the more I was going to blow up at him.
"About what?" I asked as I clasped my watch onto my wrist, trying to maintain my composure.
"About when you are going to start dating. When you will find a girl you want to marry," he trailed on, making me grip on to the edge of my desk.
It had been almost two years. Two fucking years since she disappeared. I understand where he is coming from, but I don't want anyone else. I want Mal.
"I'm not talking about this," I said as he pushed myself away from the desk and walked toward the door. "I have told you countless times."
"Ben?" he said, making me turn to him as I was going to walk past him. "I know," he said. "I miss her too, but I don't want you to stop being happy because she is gone. I know you will always love her, your mother and I will always love her, but we want you to have a family. Have kids. Be happy."
"I know," I said. "But she is my happiness. I don't want a family without her. I don't want kids without her. I don't know why she left, dad, but I am always going to hope that she will come back and we will be together again."
I know he doesn't actually want to push me, I knew it was older council members coming forward and giving him their concerns for me. I know most of the kingdoms have given up hope, and even though he won't say it, I know my dad doesn't think that she is coming back, and I don't blame him for thinking about it. We don't know why she left, and everyone is still wondering why she did. Evie, Jay, Carlos, Hadie, and I are still not the same and it has been two years. We have kept everything of hers the same. Her room at Evie's castle is the same, her room here is the same, and I don't have the heart to go into her art room that is next door.
"Okay, Ben," he said.
I looked up and his lips were pressed in a line. I knew he didn't want me to hang up on something that would probably never happen after all this time, but he knew not to push me on the subject because he knew how much she meant to me, and how much I loved her.
"When are you and Jane leaving?" he asked.
"Now, actually," I told him as I looked at my watch. "She is waiting for me down in the library."
"Are you sure that you want to start communicating and doing business with other realms?" he asked.
"Yes," I told him. "Jay said that Halloween Town was a great small town and I want to get to know other realms, not as a king who wants to rule, but a king who wants to be friends."
"Okay, but be safe and make sure Janey is safe," he told me. "I know that this place allows magic, and they have monsters and villains."
"Well, I would assume so," I told him as he followed me out of my office. "It's called Halloween Town."
He shook his head and laughed. I was glad that me and him could still make jokes, but things have been different since Mal left. We walked down to meet my mom, Jane, and Jen in the library.
"Ready, Janey?" I asked.
"Yep," she said. "I'm kind of excited too."
I smiled at her, making her smile back. She had come a long way from where she was. She used to be a shy timid girl who would run away when someone would make eye contact with her.
"Ben," Jen said, making me turn to her. "Please make sure that my baby is safe," she told me.
"I promise," I said.
"Where are you going to meet the mayor?" my mom asked.
"She told me that she was going to meet us in the town square," I said. "But she did say try not to teleport us in the middle of town square."
"Um… okay?" she said before she raised her hands.
A cloud of light blue smoke surrounded Jane and I. When the smoke cleared, Jane and I were standing in front of a huge jack-o-lantern.
"Hello," someone said, making Jane and I turn around to see a woman standing there in her late 20's, maybe even early 30's, smiling at us. "You must be King Benjamin," she said as she extended her hand for me to shake.
"Yes," I said. "But, you can call me Ben. This is my friend and sister, Jane," I said as I held my hand out to Jane.
"Hello," she said as she shook Jane's hand. "I'm Sophie Piper, the mayor of Halloween Town. Shall I show you around?"
"Please," I said.
She looked at me and squinted her eyes, making me give her a confused look.
"Sorry," she said. "You just look very familiar to me."
"Oh, well maybe I just have that face," I said.
"Maybe."
She showed us around town and there were so many cool, fun, and interesting things around the town. It was like our town square back in Auradon, but with Halloween decor. There were different kinds of monsters everywhere, and so far, they were all friendly.
"Halloween Town was founded many centuries ago, and was ruled by my family. The Cromwell's," Sophie told us. "My grandmother Slendora Agetha Cromwell, was the next Queen of Halloween Town, but she didn't want to be. She, and I quote, just wanted to be Aggie Cromwell."
"That's understandable," I said. "The stress can be killer sometimes."
"I can imagine. I may be mayor, but I don't have multiple kingdoms to look after," she said, making me laugh.
"Very true," I said as Jane and I followed Sophie around town.
This was a very quaint town, and everyone seemed very nice. The creatures smiled and waved as we walked passed, and they made us feel welcome in their town.
"Jay raved about this place when he got home," Jane said, making Sophie stop to look at us. "He said that you guys were having a festival at that time."
"We were," Sophie said with a nod. "We have 1, maybe 2, every year."
"This is an amazing town," I said as I marveled at my surroundings. "I can't imagine who would want to live anywhere else."
"My mom sure did," Sophie said.
"What happened?"
"Well… my mom fell in love with a mortal," Sophie started to explain. "My dad," she said with a smile. "She moved to the mortal realm and they had my siblings and I. My mom never wanted my siblings or I to know Halloween Town existed, until we found out."
"How did you become mayor?" I asked.
"My sister," she said. "Grandma and mom thought that my sister, Marnie, was supposed to be the next leader of the Cromwell's, but it was actually me. After my sister saved Halloween Town for the fourth time, she tired out. Her powers dimmed, but she still has them. It wasn't until I moved to Halloween Town, that we realized that I was the one to be the head of the Cromwell line."
"Where is your sister now?" Jane asked.
"She lives in town, but she is a professor at Halloween Town University and has a husband and kids," Sophie said as she stopped in front of a store. "Do you mind if I stop here real quick?" She asked. "My roommate ordered something, and asked me if I could bring it home with me."
"Not at all," Ben said.
We entered an art store, and I froze when the smell of paint hit my nostrils. My heart sank to my stomach and my chest started to hurt. The last time I smelt paint like this was when I walked into Mal's art room to find her dancing and painting.
"Hey," Jane said as she tugged on the sleeve of my shirt. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I said as I nodded my head and cleared my throat.
"Thank you, Sammy," Sophie said as she took the bag from the zombie. "You okay?" She asked me.
"Yeah," I said to her. "Just… the smell of paint makes me think of my girl… ex girlfriend," I said, correcting myself.
"Oh," she said. "What happened?"
"She moved," I said, not really wanting to explain the whole situation.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "If you don't mind me asking, what was she like?"
"She is amazing," I said as I started to think about Mal. "She's spunky, smart, artistic, an amazing singer, and sassy."
"Sassy would be an understatement," Jane said, making me laugh.
"She sounds like my roommate," Sophie said as she tilted her head and looked at me. "Um… what was your last name again?"
"Anderson," I said as I rubbed the back on my neck.
Sophie's eyes widened for a second before she swallowed and paled.
"Are you okay?" I asked. "You look pale."
"I'm fine," she said as she looked down at the ground.
She was obviously not fine, but I did not want to pry. She froze and then hitched her breath for a second before snapping her head up, and making direct eye contact with me.
"Would you like to see my home? It's one of the oldest and historical homes in all of HalloweenTown," she said.
"Um," I said in a confused tone. "Sure."
"Great! Follow me," she said as she turned on her heels and walked and held her hand up in the air.
I looked at Jane who looked back at me and shrugged. We did not know what was going on, but we were not going to be rude to the mayor. A yellow cab stopped abruptly in front of Sophie, and when I saw the driver, I was shocked to see that he was a skeleton.
"Hey Benny," Sophie said.
"Heya Soapie," Benny said, making Sophie shake her head and laugh. "What's with the two blueberries following you?" He asked, making me and Jane laugh.
"These are my guests," Sophie said. "That is King Ben…"
"Another Ben?" He asked as his jaw dropped. "No way! Over my dead body that he is an actual Ben too," Benny said.
"Ian's it a little too late for that?" I asked, trying to be funny.
"Okay," he said as he pointed at me with his boney hand. "I like him."
"Good," Sophie said. "And that is Jane."
"Hello, blue eyes," Benny said as Jane smiled and waved at him. "Need a lift?"
Sophie nodded her head, before she opened the door for Jane and I. All three of us climbed into the cab, and when we were all buckled in, Benny turned his head to us.
"Where to, madam mayor?" He asked.
"To Cromwell manor please," she said.
He put his foot on the break, making our bodies push against the back seat of the car. As Benny drove through town and through different streets of the town, Jane and I looked at everything in awe. We had never seen anything so interesting and different, and we lived in a land of fairytales. I was so focused on everything that was going on outside of the cab, I didn't even hear half of the god awful jokes Benny was saying.
"And we're here," he said as he pulled up in front of a gate. "Shay Cromwell."
Sophie got out of the cab, letting Jane and I follow her out, and stopped right outside of the large black gate with a frog lock keeping it closed. On the other side, there was a big White House that was two, maybe three, stories.
"Come on," Sophie said as she pushed the gate, making the frog lock fall to the floor and turn into a real frog.
"Woah," Jane said.
"Not used to magic?" Sophie asked.
"It's kind of frowned upon where we are from, but not against the law," I said as I walked next to Jane, following Sophie up the pathway to her home.
"Well that… sucks," she said as she walked up the steps of the house.
She unlocked the door with a skeleton key and when she walked inside, the first thing to greet us was a broom sweeping the floor by itself. The house seemed warm and inviting, but what caught me was the smell. A smell that made my stomach turn, and a smell I haven't smelled in two years.
"Would you guys like some cookies?" Sophie asked as she walked toward, what I would assume, would be the kitchen. "My roommate makes the best cookies."
"Sure," Jane said as she followed Sophie, and I followed behind.
The kitchen was big, not as big as the one in the castle, but it was big. There was a large countertop with a big plate of cookies on them, and they looked just like the ones Mal used to make.
"Here," she said as she pushed the plate close to Jane and I. "Have as many as you would like. She makes them all of the time," she said.
I slowly took one from the plate and was going to bring it up to my mouth, but stopped when Jane moaned. I turned to see her enjoying the cookie more than she would when Mal used to make them.
"These are amazing," Jane said. "Ben, you have to try it."
I took a bite of the cookie, and my mind exploded. They were exactly like Mal's, and I was about to drop to my knees. They were soft, warm, and chewy. I put the cookie down on the counter, and nodded my head.
"Yeah," I said, tryingt o catch my breath. "They're great. I think I'll save mine for later."
Sophie slowly nodded her head. She had been acting a little weird since the art shop, but I didn't want to say something that could potentially hurt her feelings or for her to assume that I was insulting her.
"Why don't I go and tell my roommate that we are here, in case she comes down and gets scared," she said as she walked toward the door. "I'll come back down, start some tea for us, and then we can sit in the living room so I can tell you more about Halloween Town and you can tell me about Auradon."
"Okay," I said as she left the kitchen and started to head upstairs.
Jane and I trailed behind to head to the living room, when Sophie started to shout to her roommate.
"Hey! I'm here!" she shouted as she reached the top of the stairs.
I heard someone shush her, but headed toward the living room so that Sophie could get what she needed done. The walls were scattered with pictures, assuming that they were of Sophie and her family. There were pictures of an older woman with white hair and a red dress. She was standing in front of the huge pumpkin that was in the middle of town square. Next to that picture was another one, that was in the same spot, but there were four other people in the picture. A younger version Sophie, an older girl who was about 13, a boy with glasses who was probably 11, and another woman with red hair. I assumed that they were Sophie's siblings, mother, and grandmother. As Jane and I walked further down the hall, the pictures showed a story of how their family grew, and the last picture was of Sophie, her sister, her brother, and mother, but with 4 smaller children and another woman and man.
"Can you just stop being stubborn?" Sophie said as she started to walk down the stairs. "You're just being irrational."
Sophie walked down the rest of the stairs, meeting Jane and I at the bottom.
"Sorry about that," she said. "She didn't know we were going to have… company," she said as she shifted her eyes back upstairs.
"It's okay," Jane said. "It's understandable."
"Shall we go into the living room and we can chit chat?" she asked.
"Lead the way," I said as I held my hand out for her to go first.
"I saw you were looking at the pictures on the walls, and those pictures are of my family and I," she started as she sat down and pointed to the hallway where the pictures were.
Jane sat in a chair that was facing the couch, and I sat down on another chair with my back to the stairs.
"The older woman in the red dress is my grandmother Aggie, the woman with red hair is my mom Gwen, the older girl is my sister Marnie, and the doofus with glasses is my brother Dylan," she said.
"Who are the kids in the last picture?" Jane asked.
"Oh! William, Taylor, Briana, and Luke," she said. "William, Luke, and Briana are Marnie's and my brother-in-law, Ethan's, kids, and Taylor is my brother Dylan and his wife Aneesa's daughter."
"They're cute," I said with a small smile.
"They're a handful," she said with a chuckle before she snapped her fingers.
A whistle came from the kitchen, making Sophie sit up straight.
"Teas ready," she said as she stood up.
"I can get it," Jane said as she held her hands out for Sophie to stop. "You have been so nice and welcoming to us. I don't mind."
"Oh," Sophie said as she sat back down. "Okay. Um," she said as she snapped her fingers again. "There is a tray with everything on it on the counter," she said as Jane nodded and headed to the kitchen. "And you can bring a plate of cookies too."
Jane nodded before she disappeared into the kitchen.
"So, tell me more about this girlfriend of yours," Sophie said as she turned to look at me.
"Um, well…" I started. "That's hard."
"I could tell," she said, and I looked at her with a very confused look. "I have always had a knack of sensing people and as my powers grew that sense grew stronger. I could tell that you were more off, than you were actually saying, in the art shop, and even more when you came into the house."
"If I am honest," I said as I hung my head. "It has been very hard for me," I told her. "I just miss her so much."
"What would you tell her, if you could talk to her right now?" she asked.
I looked at her with a confused look, and then hung my head.
"That I love her," I said and I hurried my face in my hands. "That I don't care why she left, and that all I want is to have her back, hold her tight, and never let her go," I said.
There was a crash, making Sophie and I look toward the sound. I looked up to see Jane standing there in shock with tea, cookies, and broken glass surrounding her feet.
"Jane?" I said as I stood up and walked over to her. "Are you okay? What happened?"
She nodded her head, but kept her eyes forward in shock. Her mouth was agape and it almost looked like her eyes were going to pop out of her head. She pointed toward where I was sitting, and when I looked I froze. Standing behind the chair I was sitting in was Mal. Her eyes were red, but she looked just as beautiful and she did the last time I saw her.
"Hi," she said quietly as she gave Jane and I a tight smile.
I took slow steps in her direction, until I was right in front of her. I was careful, in case what I was seeing was not real, but I was hoping she was. I didn't know if this was a dream, but if it was, I never wanted to wake up from it. She looked up at me with red eyes, as I slowly brought my hand up to touch her cheek and she leaned into it, making her tears fall from her eyes. I cupped her face and crushed my lips to her's, something I have wanted since she left. I heard Sophie and Jane walk out of the room, but knowing how in shock Jane was, she probably had to be dragged out of the room. When I pulled away from her, I smiled. An actual and genuine smile that I have not done in almost two years.
"Am I dreaming?" I asked as I looked at her with water eyes.
"No," she said as she shook her head. "I'm here."
"My gods, Mal," I said as I pulled her into a tight hug. "I have missed you so much."
She wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me back. "I missed you too."
We stood there for a couple of minutes before we pulled apart.
"You have been here? All this time?" I asked.
"Yeah," she said in a soft voice.
I pulled her close. As close as I could get her. I was afraid she was going to leave again, and I was not prepared for that.
"Mal? Why did you leave?" I asked quietly.
"It's complicated," she said as she looked up at me. "And I don't know if you would or are going to be mad at me if I tell you," she said.
"Please?" I asked. "I have been a wreck for almost two years because I don't know why you left."
"I'm sorry," she said as she looked down at our interlocked fingers.
"Can you please tell me?" I asked.
She took a deep breath before nodding her head.
"Let's take a seat," she said as she pointed to the couch.
I laced my fingers with her, and held on tight because I was afraid if I let go, that she would disappear again. She took another deep breath, and I'm assuming it was to settle her nerves.
"First," she said. "I want you to know that you were not the reason I left," she said. "I did have a reason for leaving, and I hope you understand why."
"I'll try," I said, honestly.
I didn't know why she left, and I was hoping it was for a good reason.
"Do you remember Jay's 19th birthday?" She asked.
"Yes," I said. "That was…"
"Okay," she said, cutting me off. "Well… a couple of weeks later, I was sick," she said.
"Okay," I said, trying to understand what she was saying.
"I found out that I was pregnant after that night," she told me, making me look at her shocked.
"You left because you were pregnant," I said.
"Yes," she confirmed. "I didn't know what to do. You had your tour coming up, and you were just getting the hang of being king. I just did not want to give you the burden of being a father so young," she told me.
I didn't know what to say. I am so confused. Mal left because she didn't want to burden me with a baby. Our baby.
"I know you probably hate me now, but I truly didn't want to ruin your life," she said as she started to cry. "I didn't want you to have to go through the drama the council would give you, what the press would say, and not to mention what everyone else would say," she went on.
"I'm a father," I said in disbelief.
"Um… yes," she said as she looked down at her hands.
This was a lot of information. I just found out that I am a father. Mal left because she didn't want to ruin my life. All of this makes sense, but I am hurt that she never came to me. I would have put everything on hold to be there for her and our baby.
"Mal," I said as I took her hands into mine. "I understand why you felt the way you did, but why didn't you come to me?" I asked. "I could have helped you. I could have been there for you. I could have been there when our baby was born."
"Babies," she said, making my stomach twist.
"Babies?" I asked. "As in, more than one?"
"Yes," she said as she nodded her head. "I had twins."
Twins. I am a father to twins.
"Ben?" I heard Jane call my name, but I was more focused on what Mal had just told me. "Ben."
I managed to turn my head, and I saw Jane standing in the doorway with a little girl in her arms and a little boy who was holding her hand. My eyes widened at the sight in front of me. This was them. My kids. My son and daughter.
"Come here, Grey," Mal said as she held out her hand for our son.
Our son. That was weird to say.
Jane helped him walk over to Mal, seeing that he was wobbling as he took every step. Jane sat in the chair I was sitting in and put my daughter in her lap, while Mal put our son in hers.
"Ben, this is Greyson Cameron Anderson," she said as she picked him up so he was standing on her legs.
He looked just like I did when I was little. Minus the dark blue purple hair and green eyes.
"And that feisty little lady is Violet Isabelle Anderson," she said.
Violet had my sandy brown hair, but she looked just like Mal, and had blue eyes.
"These are our kids."
I looked down at my son, and couldn't believe that he existed. He held his hands out to me and I took him from Mal. He sat on my lap and looked up at me, before he put his hand on my cheek.
"DAD A," he said.
I shed a tear, not knowing if he was trying to call me dad, but it was close.
"Did he just call Ben dad?" Jane asked as she hugged onto Violet.
"Yeah," Mal said as she nodded her head and smiled, as she brushed her fingers across Greyson's hair.
"They know who I am?" I asked as I looked at her.
"Of course," she said. "I show them pictures of you guys and tell them who you are every night and before every nap. I show them who everyone from Auradon is."
Greyson laid his head against my shoulder, and my breath hitched.
"You didn't hide who I was from them?" I asked as I leaned back and rubbed Greyson up and down his tiny back.
"I would never hide who you were from them," she told me as she shook her head. "Ben, I may have left because I didn't want you to be a father at such a young age, but I would never hide who their father was from them."
Violet wiggled her little body until Jane helped her to her feet and she walked over to me, holding onto the couch, table, and Mal's leg before she held her hand up to me. I carefully picked her up and she put her head on my other shoulder and I couldn't help the warm feeling in my chest.
"That's different," Mal said, making me look at her. "She is not the cuddly one," she told me. "Greyson is my little cuddly beastie, but Violet is the one who likes to sleep on her own or with her stuffed dragon."
I smiled and turned my head to kiss the top of her head. These were my kids. My kids that Mal had.
"I have so many questions," I said as I looked up at her.
"And I will answer all of them, but I want to get them down for a nap, if that's okay," she said and my heart kind of hurt, knowing that they were going to be away again. "Don't worry. They will be asleep for an hour or two."
I nodded my head, before she stood up and carefully picked up Greyson off of my shoulder. I followed her up the stairs, leaving Jane in the living room.
"Their room is right over here," she said as she pointed her finger at the last door down the hall.
She opened the door and we walked into the room, and I looked at the walls in amazement. She had painted murals of Auradon on the walls and they were beautiful. One wall was a detailed painting of the enchanted lake, the other was a beautiful mural of my mothers garden.
"I wanted them to know Auradon," she said as she laid Greyson down in his crib. "I painted my favorite places and just how beautiful of a place it is," she said as she turned around. "Here…" she said as she held her hands out.
"I got her," I said as I walked over to the other run and laid her inside.
She curled up next to a blue stuffed dragon, and when I looked over at Greyson, he was cuddling a stuffed beast bear.
"Do you want to talk in my room?" She asked.
"We shouldn't…" I started, but she held up her phone and showed me a text from Sophie.
I will keep Jane company and take her to lunch. Talk to him. He needs you just as much as you need him. We'll be home in about two hours and then, if you want them too, they can stay for dinner and meet the rest of the family.
"I see," I said as my cheeks got hot. "I would like to stay if you don't mind. I would like to spend some time with you and the kids."
"Okay," she said with a nod. "Why don't we go down to the kitchen? I can make us something to eat, while they nap, and you can ask me all of the questions you want."
I nodded my head, before she turned and grabbed the baby monitor that was in a small dresser. She held her hand out to me, and I took it before we walked out of the room and headed downstairs toward the kitchen.
"Okay," she said as she walked around the counter and started to take things out of the cupboards. "Ask away."
"You gave them my last name?" I asked as I sat down on one of the bar stools that was against the island counter.
"Yes," she said with a nod as she started to put something together. "You are their father, why would I not give them your last name?"
"I would assume, because you left, that you would give them yours," I admitted as I rubbed the back of my neck.
"I know I was the one to leave, but my feelings for you never diminished," she said as she started to plate whatever she had made. "I know me leaving was a lot…"
"You could say that," I said under my breath, but knew she heard me.
"And I understand if you have moved…"
"I never moved on," I said, cutting her off, and making her freeze in her spot. "Mal, you leaving was the hardest thing that has ever happened to me. I have been a complete wreck since you left, and for the past two years, I have been wondering why you left."
She looked down at the plate in shame. I didn't want her to feel because, but she did need to know the amount of pain she caused us.
"I am sorry," she said, sounding choked up. "I didn't think I would cause you that much pain. I just knew all the plans you had and I didn't want to be the one to hold you back because of a mistake we made," she told me.
"Mal," I said as I got up to walk around the counter.
I took her hand into mine and pulled them close to my chest, but she didn't look up from where she was looking. I know this was not what she was expecting today, but to be honest, I didn't know what she was expecting. Hell, I didn't even know if she knew I was going to be here.
"Every plan that I made was with you," I told her as I put my fingers under her chin to make her look at me. "I made those plans for us. I wanted to travel the world with you. I wanted to start a life with you. You are my entire world, Mal," I told her as she started to cry. "Our kids would have not ruined anything," I said. "Sure, things would have been pushed back, but we would have figured it out."
"I'm sorry," she said as she started to cry harder. "You're right. I should have told you. I was just afraid you would be mad at me."
I huffed a small laugh.
"Mad at you?" I asked. "How could I be mad at you for a decision that we both made? It's not like you got pregnant on your own."
She laughed a little, and took a deep breath.
"What else do you want to know?" She asked.
"When is their birthday?"
"March 21st," she said with a smile. "They will be 1 in just over two months."
Wow. I have 1 year olds.
"Do you have a job?"
"I do," she said with a nod. "I work at an art store in town."
"I think I know the one," I said with a small laugh. "Sophie took us there to pick something up for you, though we didn't know it was you when she said it. Which brings me to my next question," I said as she looked up at me. "Did you know I was going to be in town?"
She sucked her lips in and I smirked at her, knowing she didn't want to answer.
"You were going to let me come into town and you weren't going to find me?" I asked as he jokingly shook her.
"Do you know how hard…" she said but stopped. "It has been hard. There have been so many times that I just wanted to go back home, but I was afraid to see what you guys thought of me. And you have no idea how hard it was to hide from Jay when he almost found me."
"Jay almost found you?" I asked in surprise.
Jay never mentioned this when he told me about his trip here. Though, I do understand how disappointed he must have felt when his hopes came tumbling down.
"Yeah," she said as she nodded her head. "I feel really bad about that. It was when they came and I was working at a face painting booth," she said. "I was talking to this really annoying witch, who coincidentally dyed her hair the same color my hair is," she said as she rolled her eyes. "I heard Aziz's voice and I froze. I was in shock and then I heard Jay call my name and I turned to see him trying to look over the crowds," she continued to explain. "I told Abby to watch the stand for me while I 'went to get more paints'. I ran into the store, as fast as my growing belly would let me, and watched Jay and Abby talk from the window."
"I bet that was hard for you," I said as I took one of the stools and sat down.
I pulled Mal in between my legs and wrapped my arms loosely around her waist.
"This next question is one I don't know if I want to know the answer," I said, making her look up at me.
"What?"
"Are you dating anyone?" I asked as I looked down.
She started to chuckle and I looked up to see her covering her mouth.
"What?" I asked. "It's a genuine question. I would like to know if you are and if there is someone else in our kids' lives."
"Ben, I literally just told you that my feelings for you have never changed," she said. "I would never move on from you."
I tried to contain my smile, but that was easier said than done, because these were words I have wanted to hear for a while.
"I love you, and that is never going to change," she said.
I cupped her face and brought her in for a sweet kiss. My heart started to pound in my chest, and I knew that this was something I was never going to let slip through my fingers again. Mal, and now our kids, we're my entire future.
We broke the kiss and she leaned her head against mine. I needed to ask her where we stood and how things were going to work from now on, because I was not going to be missing my kids' futures. Plus, I wanted to see if she was going to come home with me or if she was going to stay in HalloweenTown.
"I think that actually covers most of my questions," I said. "I just need to know…" I said as we looked up at each other. "Where does this leave things? I mean… I would love for the three of you to come home with me, but I don't know what ties you have here."
She sighed, making my spine quiver.
"I would love to move back to Auradon," she said, making me smile. "But I don't know how everyone is going to react after all of this time."
"Everyone misses you like crazy," I told her. "Evie, Jay, Carlos, Hadie, your dad," I said. "Everyone would be over the moon to see you again."
"You've met my dad?" She asked.
I nodded my head. I realized she didn't know what has been going on in Auradon, and I should tell her what has happened.
"Yeah," I said as I swayed us back and forth as the seat I was sitting in turned side to side. "I would actually like to ask why you never told me that you had a brother and your dad was king of the dead."
"How would you have reacted if I told you?" She asked with a laugh.
"Fair point," I said with a nod. "Actually, he lives in the Underworld."
Her eyes widened and she stood up straight, staring at me in shock.
"What?"
"Yeah," I said as I nodded my head again. "I invited him to stay when he and the other parents came for family day."
"My dad is off the Isle?" She asked, probably hoping to hear me say it again.
"Yes, your dad lives in Auradon," I said as I looked into her eyes. "Technically," I said, making her laugh.
She smiled as water started to flood her eyes. I knew this was her dream, having people of the Isle getting their second chance. I could see the gears in her head turning, and I knew she was trying to make a decision.
"If I move back to Auradon…"
"You are going to move back in with me, we can turn your old room into a nursery for the kids, we will move all of your stuff into my room, and everyone is going to be happy," I told her, making her cheeks flush red. "I have two closets in my room, because one was meant for you," I said, making her roll her eyes at me. "I don't want to miss any more of our kids' lives," I said. "Will you please move home?"
"Does that mean you still want me to be your girlfriend?" She asked with a cheeky and snide smile.
I laughed, before I took her hands in mine and rubbed my thumbs against her knuckles.
"Mallory, I have loved you since I heard you singing at the enchanted lake on our first date, sure you didn't know the love speed wore off that day," I said, making her laugh. "But my love for you has not changed since then. You are my entire world and I want to spend every moment of forever with you and our kids."
I could see her trying to hold back her tears, and if I had to admit, I was too. Mal was my entire world before she left, when she was gone, and she is still my world after I found her, but now I have two more to love as much as I love her.
"If I were to move back, I would have to plan it," she said. "I have…"
"I will help you plan it," we heard coming from behind us.
Mal and I both turned to see Sophie and Jane standing behind us and Jane had a huge smile on her face.
"I thought you were out to lunch with Jane?" Mal asked as she turned to face Sophie.
"Well, I may have forgotten my wallet," she said as she pointed at the dish on the counter that had her wallet sitting on top of it. "But, we will make arrangements."
"But…"
"No buts, Mallory. No matter how much we love you here, you and the babies need to be with Ben and your family."
"But you and everyone else are my family too," Mal said as she walked up to Sophie.
"And we always will be," Sophie said. "But this is good for you, your babies, Ben, and your Auradon family," she said as she cupped the side of Mal's face. "You will always be a part of the Cromwell family, no matter what realm you are living in."
"And they can come and go as they please," I said as I walked up to them both.
Sophie and Mal looked at me, with blank looks on their faces.
"You have been so good to Mal and my kids, and I could never repay you for what you have done for her," I said. "You and your family are more than welcome to Auradon, and my castle, anytime you want."
"Thank you," Sophie said as she looked up at me. "I bet my family would be thrilled, my mom skeptical, but she will come around to it."
Mal laughed. She must be really close to Sophie and her family.
"In fact, you are more than welcome to stay for dinner to meet them," she said as she looked at both Jane and I. "They would be ecstatic to meet you."
I looked down at Mal, and she was looking up at me with hopeful eyes.
"As long as it is okay with Jane, I do not see why not," I said as I looked at her. "We just have to tell your mother that we will be going home later than originally planned."
"Are you kidding?" Jane exclaimed as she looked at me with her wide blue eyes. "Of course!" She yelled, before she wrapped her arms around Mal, basically tackling her to the floor. "I didn't have the chance to hug you earlier! I have missed you so much!" She said as she started to cry.
"I missed you too, Jane," Mal said with a smile on her face. "I missed you all so much."
"You're coming home?"
Mal looked up at me as I stood above them and leaned against the counter.
"Yeah," she said as she nodded her head. "I have a few things to take care of here first, but yes. I am coming home."
NO ONES POV
Ben was sitting in the living room with the kids and Jane, when the doorbell rang. Sophie and Mal were in the kitchen and Sophie walked to the door.
"I swear they never knock, but of all the days too, I guess it would be the best," she said as she and Mal walked toward the door.
She opened the door to see her mom, sister, brother, her brother and sister in-law, and nieces and nephews standing on the porch bickering.
"I swear this is not going to be a great first impression of them," Sophie said as she shook her head, making Mal laugh.
"You grow more and more stubborn with age," Marnie said as she walked in with her mother following her.
"Says the girl who is literally a carbon copy of me," Gwen said.
Ethan, Dylan, and Aneesa looked like they were annoyed, and the kids made a straight run for the backyard.
"How long have they been going back and forth?" Sophie asked as she took a pit out of Aneesa's hands.
"Mom, got to Marnie's at 12 to watch the kids so she and Ethan could run some errands," Dylan said as he groaned. "They came over at 3 and have been going at it since then."
"I am just saying that it would be more beneficial," Gwen said.
"How would it be more beneficial to teach about the history of the mortal realm, when I am teaching a class that is literally called; The History of Halloween Town?"
They had yet to notice Ben or Jane, who were watching the bickering, and found it kind of amusing.
"I am just…" Gwen started but stopped when she saw Ben and Jane. "Um… who are you?" She asked as she pointed at them.
Gwen was a very protective woman, and she did not like strangers around her family.
"Gwen," Mal called, making the older woman look at her. "This is Ben."
She raised an eyebrow, in curiosity.
"Ben?" She asked. "As in… Ben Ben?"
Ben chuckled, knowing Mal must have told them about him. He stood up and picked up Violet, before he walked over to Gwen and the rest of them.
"Hello," he said as he held his hand out for her to shake. "It is very nice to meet you."
Gwen, Marnie, and the rest of them stood there with gapes in their mouths. They had never thought that they would ever meet Ben, but here he was, standing in front of them, holding Violet.
"NAN!" Violet said as she started to bounce in Ben's arms.
Gwen broke out of ehr state of shock, and shook her head, before shaking Ben's hand.
"Um… it is nice to meet you," she said with a small laugh. "I am sorry. You took me off guard."
"I would only assume so," he said as he adjusted Violet on his hip. "All of this took me off guard too."
"Oh, we thought that this would be easy for you," Dylan said sarcastically, before earning an elbow to the brides from Aneesa and Ethan. "OW!"
"And this," Mal said as she held her hand out to Jane who walked up with Greyson in her arms. "Is Jane. She is one of my friends."
"It's very nice to meet you, Jane," Marnie said as she shook Jane's hand. "We have heard so much about you."
"It is nice to meet you too," Jane said with a big smile.
"Ben. Jane," Mal said. "This is Marnie. Sophie's older sister. Then we have Gwen, Sophie's mom, Dylan her brother, Aneesa is her sister-in-law, Ethan is her brother-in-law, and the kids ran to the back," she said. "And guys, this is Ben. Greyson and Violet's dad."
"Yeah, we got that," Dylan said bluntly.
Mal gave him a look that scared everyone. She tilted her head, before she took Greyson out of Jane's arms and held him out to Dylan.
"For being a smartass, you get to change his diaper," she said. "I was just about to do it when you rang the doorbell."
He looked at her with a shocked look on his face, before looking at everyone else. Everyone shrugged their shoulders, before he looked at his mom.
"You opened your mouth," she said as she held her hands up. "You know Mal doesn't care for sarcasm, unless she is the one giving it."
He hung his head, before he took Greyson from Mal and looked at him.
"You better not pee on me again," he said as he started to walk up the stairs.
"Here," Aneesa said as she held her hands out for Violet. "I will go and help him."
"Thank you, Neesa," Mal said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"So," Ethan said. "You're Ben."
"I am," Ben said as he nodded his head and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Well, it's great to meet you, man," Ethan said as he held his hand out for Ben to shake. "I have to say, Greyson looks just like you, other than his hair and eyes."
Ben laughed and nodded his head. "I know," he said. "And Violet looks just like Mal."
"I think she looks a little like your mother," Mal said as she bumped her hip on his.
"A little, but she looks a lot like you," Ben said. "And she is amazing."
Mal's cheeks flushed red, hearing the compliment. She had wanted to be a good mom, since she found out that she was having twins. She wanted more for her kids than she had when she was a child.
"Are you going to be joining us for dinner?" Gwen asked.
"They are, and we have some things to talk with everyone about," Sophie said as she smiled at her mom.
Gwen knew what they were going to be talking about, now that Ben was here, but she didn't know how everyone else was going to take it.
"Mally is leaving?" Briana asked as she started to cry.
The kids were sad to hear that Mal was going to be leaving Halloween Town. They had grown so close to her in the almost two years she had been here, and they loved Greyson and Violet so much. Mal stood up and walked over to the little girl, before she knelt down next to her.
"Hey," she said as she twisted Briana to look at her. "I will be back to visit, and Ben said that you and everyone else can come to Auradon and visit. Plus, we are still going to have the twins' birthday party and I am staying for a little bit after."
"You're not leaving today?" She asked.
"No," Mal said as she shook her head. "I am going to go home with Ben, but I am not leaving today. I have to take care of a couple of things first."
Briana and the rest of the kids smiled at hearing that news. Now they could prepare for Mal leaving, instead of her leaving today and them not seeing her for a long time.
"I have a question," Jane said as she raised her hand. "We have yet to discuss what we are going to tell everyone back home."
Mal pressed her lips into a straight line. She hadn't thought about that, but to be honest, she was more focused on the fact that Ben was here and she was now deciding to actually go back home.
"What if, and this is up to you, Ben," Mal said as she turned to face him. "What if you and Jane bring everyone here for the twins' birthday?"
"When I tell them that you are…"
"You're not going to tell them," Mal said as she cut her boyfriend off. "I know if you tell them that I am here and you found me, they are going to want to come here tomorrow. Especially my dad…"
"Everyone," Jane said, interrupting Mal. "Everyone would be here 10 minutes after finding out."
"Okay," Mal said, nodding in agreement. "Like I was saying, what if you tell them that Sophie invited them for a barbecue."
"That is actually a good plan," Gwen said. "You could tell them that Sophie invited you to have a proper meeting with the 'royal family' of Halloween Town."
"But I wouldn't see the kids for another 9 weeks," Ben said as he reached for Mal's hands. "I don't want to be gone for that long, after meeting them today."
"I know, but I think I have something for you to hold you over," she said as she squeezed his hand. "I know it will be hard, but I think you'll like what I have."
Ben nodded his head, but was ultimately skeptical about not seeing Mal or the kids for 9 weeks. He understood where Mal was coming from, because if everyone knew she was here, before the birthday party, her dad and everyone else would make her come home faster than she needed to be.
William was walking around the room with Violet, when Ben felt a pat on his leg. He looked down and Violet was patting her hands against his legs, before she looked up and scrunched her nose up at him. He smiled down at his daughter, before he picked her up and held her above his head, making her laugh.
"Okay," Ben said as he looked back at Mal. "I will tell them Sophie and her family invited us. I just want you guys home so we can start living our lives together," he said as he kissed Violet on her cheeks.
Later that night, Jane was helping Sophie in the kitchen, while Ben and Mal were upstairs, putting the twins to sleep.
"Do they always sleep with the same stuffed animals?" Ben asked as he brushed his fingers around Greyson's hair.
"Yeah," Mal said as she nodded her head. "I technically bought Greyson the stuffed dragon and Violet had the beastie bear, but I guess these fit with their personalities."
"Do they sleep through the night?"
"For the most part," Mal said as she grabbed the baby monitor from the side table. "Come on. I have somethings to show you."
Ben followed Mal out of the room, and quietly closed the door behind him. They walked a couple of steps down the hall and stopped at the room next door.
"This is my room," she said as she nudged her head toward the door. "I have… a couple of things for you."
She walked inside and he followed. Her room was cozy. Her bed was large and had a purple bedding on it, a play pen was in the corner of the room, and a couple of toys were scattered on the floor.
"You can have a seat on the bed," she said. "The stuff I have for you is under the bed."
Ben sat down on the bed as Mal crouched down and pulled out a rather large box from under her bed. She stood up and took a breath before handing Ben the box.
"What is this?" He asked as he took it from her and put it in his lap.
"Open it," she said.
Ben opened the top of the box and saw an abundance of envelopes, making him grow confused.
"They are letters I wrote to you from my first appointment and every milestone until now," she said, making Ben look at her with wide eyes. "There are ultrasound pictures, pictures of the babies when they were born, and other pictures of firsts for them. They are in order by date too."
Ben looked back down at the box and pulled out the first envelope that was dated 4 weeks after Mal left Auradon. He read the letter, and shed a tear when he saw the ultrasound picture. This was something he was very thankful for, and loved that Mal thought of him throughout her pregnancy.
"I know that this is not the same as you being there for all of this, but I hope that this will fill a little part of that," she said, making Ben look up at her with a couple of tears welling in his eyes.
"This is amazing, Mal," he said as he looked back down at the ultrasound picture. "Thank you. This shows me that you really cared."
"I did, and I still do," she said.
"I am glad you are coming home, but I want to make sure that you are okay with that," he said.
She nodded her head, and Ben was thankful. He was afraid that if she thought about it, she would want to stay.
"I need to go back to Auradon," she said. "I need to be with my family, and the kids and I need you."
Ben smiled, before he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. All his hopes and wishes finally came true. He had found Mal. He had found Mal and so much more, and she was coming home with him in about 3 months. He had waited 2 years to be with her again, he could manage 3 more months to spend forever with her and their kids.
"EVIE!" Hadie yelled as everyone stood outside of Auradon castle. "I swear for the love that is all…"
"Hadie," Hades said as he gave his son a scolding look. "Keep your hair on."
"Dad, I missed the last trip to Halloween Town because of Uncle's Lightning Butt and Tunacan, and I am not going to be missing this one, because she is having a hair crisis."
Ben chuckled as he threw his backpack over his shoulder. He and Jane had bought Greyson and Violet gifts for their birthday, but they had to hide them so that no one knew what was going on. He also made sure to check his pocket so that he had everything he needed for today.
"How are we getting there?" Jay asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"I am going to create a portal," Jane said as she clapped her hands in excitement.
"You know how to do that, Jane?" Audrey asked as she walked up to her friend.
"Yep," she answered with a nod. "Marnie, who is the mayor's sister, taught me."
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Evie said as she ran down the castle steps and toward the group waiting for her. "I'm here. I'm here."
"Finally!" Hadie said loudly, before he earned a smack to the head from his dad.
"Okay," Ben said as he clapped his hands together. "Are we all set?"
He looked around the group in front of him, and Evie, Jay, Carlos, Audrey, Doug, Jane, Lonnie, his parents, Hadie, and Hades were nodding their heads. He was thankful that Chad offered to stay behind with the twins, Celia, and Dizzy. They were supposed to be coming, but the twins had practice and the girls had a field trip coming up that they had to get ready for.
"Okay, let's go," Ben said eagerly as he walked over to Jane and stood next to her.
She raised her hands in front of her, before she took a deep breath.
"From Auradon we part for now, on this a day with all parties that are fun. Back to Halloween Town, through the portal we take our leave," she said.
A portal appeared in front of her and everyone, but Ben, looked at it in shock.
"There is the house," Jane said as she pointed at the portal. "Let's go."
Ben and Jane went through the portal with no hesitation, while everyone else looked at the portal with worry. Hadie was the closest to it, and with a shove from Jay, went through and fell to the dirt ground on the other side.
"What the fuck, Jay!" Hadie exclaimed as he got up and everyone else walked through.
"You're fine," Jay said as he shoved Hadie's shoulder. "Easy peasy."
"Whatever. Says the person who has been through a portal to a different realm," he said.
"I actually traveled here by a magic school bus," Jay said with a chuckle. "This was different."
"Okay, guys," Ben said as Jane sealed the portal and walked up next to him. "Let's head over to the house. They are probably waiting for us."
The group followed Ben and Jane up the pathway toward the house. They could hear kids coming from the back yard, but Ben and Jane walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. Sophie opened the door, and she was holding Violet in her arms. When she saw her dad, she held her hands out for him to take her and she buried her face into his shoulder.
"Welcome," Sophie said. "Come in. Come in. It is so good to have you all here."
Everyone walked into the house, but most of them were confused by Ben holding the baby.
"I am Sophie Piper, the mayor of Halloween Town," she said. "I have met Jay before," she said as she gave him a wave. "And you all are."
"We have Belle and Adam. They are Ben's parents," Jane said as she pointed to the former king and queen. "Then we have Evie, Jay, and Carlos," she said as she pointed to the trio. "Then we have Hades and Hadie, and finally we have Doug, Lonnie, and Audrey."
"It is very nice…"
"Auntie Sophie!" Taylor called as she ran into the room. "Grandma needs your help."
"Okay," she said, before she looked up at the group. "I am so sorry. I will be back in just a moment."
They all nodded their heads as she walked away with her niece, and all eyes turned back to Ben, who was swaying himself back and forth as he rubbed Violet's back.
"Wow, Ben," Adam said. "You if I didn't know any better, I would say that she loves you," he said with a laugh, making everyone else chuckle.
"I would hope so," he said with a smile. "She is my daughter," he said, making the group in front of him go completely silent.
"Umm… Ben?" Audrey called, making Ben look at her as he continued to sway his body back and forth. "Do… do you know… where babies come from?" She asked. "I mean your mother is brilliant, and they teach sex education, when we are 13, but you have to have sex with someone to have a baby."
"I know how babies are made," Ben said as he stopped swaying his body to focus on the topic at hand.
"Okay," she said as she nodded her head. "And you do know you have to… have sex to have one right?" She asked in a hushed tone.
"I do," he said with an amused laugh.
Everyone was so confused on what he was insinuating, and stared at him with so much confusion and worry, that Belle's head was starting to hurt.
"Her name is Violet," he said as he moved his arms up and down so she was moving, but she kept her face buried in his shoulder. "And it is her and her brother's first birthday."
"I am so confused," Carlos said as he held his hand up and shook his head. "How… when… what… no… how do you think she is your daughter?"
"Maybe I could explain?" Mal said as she walked up behind Ben, and he moved so her friends and family could see her for the first time in almost 2 years.
They stood there frozen with wide eyes, not knowing if this was real or not. She had Greyson on her hip and her eyes were watering as she saw all of her loved ones standing in front of her. Hades slowly took a step forward, keeping his eyes on her, as if she was going to disappear. He felt like everything was moving slow and he didn't even know he was standing in front of her until he looked down and saw her staring up at him. He raised his hand to touch her face, but he was afraid.
"Mally?" He asked as tears started to fill his eyes.
She gave him a tight smile and tilted her head. "Hi, daddy."
He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in, before he wrapped his arms around his daughter and cried harder.
"It's you. You're here," he said as he kissed the top of her head. "You're safe."
"I am," Mal said as she looked up at her dad and wiped her tears away with her free hand.
"BA BA," Greyson said as he held his hand up to Hades.
Hades looked down at the baby and his eyes widened even more, seeing how much he looked like Ben.
"Is…"
"Yeah," Mal said with a nod. "This is my son. His name is Greyson, and it looks like he knows who you are too, but that is an obvious because I talk about all of you all of the time to them."
Hadie and Belle walked around Hades and wrapped their arms around Mal, squishing Greyson in the process. Both were sobbing as they held her, as Ben walked over to his dad. Belle looked up from Mal's shoulder and saw Greyson, who was the spitting image of Ben when he was little.
"OH MY GOD!" She yelled as she covered her mouth.
"I know," Mal said as she moved Greyson to her other arm so Belle could see him better and because Hadie was still holding her and crying. "Grey, this is your NA NA Belle," she said enunciating 'nana'. "Belle, this is Greyson Cameron Anderson."
Belle's hands flew to her heart as she looked at the beautiful baby in Mal's arms. He reached for her and she pulled him into her arms and started to cry harder as she held him close. Mal slimed at them, before she maneuvered her body so that Hadie was now hugging and crying on her shoulder.
"I'm okay, Hadie," she said as she wrapped her arms around him and rubbed his back. "I'm here."
"Mally," he sobbed.
"Hey hey," she said as she pulled away and cupped his face. "No tears. I'm here."
"You left," he cried.
"I know. I know, but I am not going anywhere," she said, before she kissed the top of his head.
Adam quickly walked over to her with Violet in his arms and gave Mal a big hug, kissing her on the top of her head.
"We missed you so much," he said.
"I missed you all too," she said as she looked up at him.
"And who is this?" Hades asked as she pointed at Violet and she wrapped her hand around his finger.
"This is Violet Isabelle Anderson," she said with a smile, but making Belle sob even more as she held Greyson close.
"Well, we have so much to talk about," Hades said as he wiped his eyes. "But I think the others would like to see you too," he said as he thumbed over his shoulder.
He, Adam, Ben, Jane, and Hadie walked around Mal, giving her a clear view of her friends who looked like they had not moved a muscle since seeing her the first time. Audrey and Lonnie were the first to break, as they ran over to Mal and wrapped her in a tight hug, before they started to cry.
"Hey," Mal said as she wrapped her arms around them.
"You made me think Ben was crazy and didn't know how babies were made," Audrey sobbed as she tightened her hold on Mal, making her laugh.
"I am sorry," Mal said with another laugh as she pulled away to look at them. "I am sorry for everything."
"We'll talk about it later," Lonnie said. "I want to meet your babies."
She and Audrey walked past Mal, just as Doug wrapped Mal in another hug and kissed the side of her head hard.
"Oh you have so much explaining to do," he said, making Mal chuckle. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Dougie," Mal said, before Doug followed where Audrey and Lonnie walked off to.
Mal looked at her three best friends and smiled, but they didn't move. They were in shock.
"Hey, guys," she said as she took a step forward, before they tackled her to the floor.
They were crying, and she couldn't help herself. She had missed her friends so much. There were so many times she wanted to run home, but her nerves and fear were holding her back here. She loved Sophie, the rest of her family, and Halloween Town, but she longed to go home to see her family.
"Guys," she said as she patted Jay's shoulder. "I'm having a little hard time breathing."
"Good," they said at the same time, before they got up and helped Mal to her feet.
"I know I have so much to explain," Mal said.
"You think," Evie said as she shoved her best friend's shoulder.
Mal looked at her and saw that Evie was crying.
"You have so much to tell us," she said as she pointed at Mal. "You had beautiful babies. Plural," she said, making Mal laugh. "And you never told us," she said as she cried. "I was supposed to be the one to throw you a babyshower if you had kids."
"I'm sorry," she said as she looked at Evie. Mal looked at Jay and Carlos too, and realized just how much pain she had caused them. "I am so sorry to all of you."
"We're just happy that you're here," Carlos said as he hugged Mal again. "We love you so much."
"I love you all so much," she said as she looked at him. "Now, do you want to meet my kids?" She asked as she looked at her friends.
"Absolutely," Jay said with a wide smile.
"Okay," Mal said with a smile, before she laced her fingers with Evie's and they went to find everyone else.
The party was in full swing and everyone was having a great time. Sammy, Luke, and a couple other people from town had come for the party, and Mal could not be happier. She was starting to feel whole again, not even realizing that she wasn't whole to begin with.
"I have a question for you," Jay said as he walked up with Violet on his shoulders.
"For me?" I asked as I looked up and smiled at him.
"Yes," he said. "So, I am going to assume that it was you that I saw when I visited all those months ago?" He asked.
Mal's cheeks flushed red, before she nodded her head.
"Why did you run away?" He asked as he took Violet from his shoulder and held her in his arms. "Do you know how heartbreaking it was to see her instead of actually you?" He asked as he pointed to Abby.
"When did she get here?" Mal asked as she looked at the witch with a confused look.
"That is not important," he said. "I never told anyone about me thinking I saw you, but can I ask why?"
"I was afraid," she said with a shrug. "I didn't know what to say if you got to me in time or what you would think of me," she said. "I'm mean, you knew but…"
"What do you mean I knew?" He asked.
"About my pregnancy?" She asked. "I told you."
"When?" He asked.
He tried to rack his brain, trying to remember when Mal told him
"I'm the letter I wrote to you," she said. "I told you in there, because you were my first friend, and I knew you wouldn't tell anyone."
He passed Violet to Mal, before he opened one of the pockets in his hands and pulled out the envelope Evie gave him.
"You never opened it?" She asked as she looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.
"Shush," he said as he ripped the envelope open.
Dear Jay,
I have no words. I don't even know how to explain this, but I'm pregnant. I know you won't get this until later, but I am so sorry! I can't stay here and ruin Ben's life. I know this makes me seem weak and cowardly, but what other choice do I have? I could never watch the backlash he would get from the council. I would ruin everything for him. I hope you understand that this is not a choice I want, but a choice I have to make for the better of everyone. I love you all so much, and you are the only one I wrote telling that I am pregnant, because I know you would not tell anyone. You have always been on my side and have been my longest friend. I cannot tell you how much you mean to me, but I want you to know that I do love you! I hope that you achieve all of your dreams and have the happiest life we have always dreamed of.
Love, Mal.
Jay closed the letter, and held it close to his chest. Mal had told him why she left, but he was too hurt to even read the letter. He turned to look at her and she was looking at him with a tight but soft smile.
"I am sorry," he said as he wrapped an arm over her shoulder. "I should have read it, and I could have understood more," he said. "Though I would have probably still brought you home after finding you that day," he said with a laugh.
"Probably," she said with a laugh. "But we don't have to worry about that. I'm coming home," she said, making him look at her with wide eyes. "Ben and I are going to tell everyone after the party is over."
He leaned down and kissed her in her head. He was happy to have Mal coming back home, and he couldn't wait to see her and Ben start their lives together, but in the forest, someone was watching and clenching their fist in anger.
"So, what is going to happen?" Hades asked as he sat down in the living room. "Are you and Ben going to be switching?"
Everyone was gathered in the living room, after the party and after cleaning up. The twins were upstairs, taking a nap, and the other kids were in the back playing with the bouncy castle.
"Well, no," Mal said as she sat down in front of Ben. "I am going to be coming home."
Evie squealed in excitement, hearing the news, and everyone else was excited too.
"I wasn't going to say," Hades said as he held his hands up. "But if your answer was anything other than that, I was going to drag you home myself," he said with a laugh.
"I see where Mal gets it from now," Dylan said as he pointed at the god.
"Shut up you doofus," Mal said as she swatted his leg.
"But, going back to that topic," Ben said as he put his hand on Mal's shoulder. "She is going to be moving home in a month and she'll be moving back into the castle," he said.
"Obviously," Belle said as she latched her hand into Mal's. "It is your home."
"Why a month?" Hadie asked. "Why can't you come home today?"
"I have a few things to take care of here, and I want to tell everyone goodbye," she said. "I know I'll be seeing my Halloween Town family, but I won't be seeing everyone else for a while."
"Again," Hades said as he looked at Gwen. "Thank you so much for taking care of my girl. I don't know how to repay you."
Gwen shook her head. "There is no need to thank me," she said. "Mal became a part of our family and she always will be. We may not see her as much, but Ben invited us to come and visit whenever we wanted."
"Of course!" Belle said. "And you have to come stay with us for Christmas."
"As long as you all come back for our Halloween festivities," Marnie said as she sat on Ethan's lap.
"Yes!" Mal said in excitement.
Mal was happy with how both of her families were getting along. This was something she longed for and now wished she would have done in the first place. One of the babies started to cry and the group heard it over the baby monitor.
"I'll go!" Hadie said as he bounced up from his spot. "I can't get enough of my niece or nephew," he said.
"Okay," Mal said with a nod. "If they are both awake, you can bring them down, but if Violet is just being fussy, rub her back."
"You got it," he called as he started to run up the stairs.
"You know when you get home, none of us are letting you out of our sites," Ben said as he pulled Amal off the floor and into his lap.
"I am aware," she said with a laugh. "We just have to…"
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" Everyone heard Hadie yell from upstairs. "GET AWAY FROM THEM!"
Mal and Ben shot out of their seats and sprinted upstairs with everyone following behind them.
"Hadie!" Mal yelled as they rounded the corner toward the babies' room.
There was a loud crash, just as Ben barged into the room, and saw Hadie on the floor with books scattered around him, and a random man standing next to Greyson and Violet's cribs.
"Get the hell away from my kids!" Ben yelled, making the man look at him.
"Kyle?" Mal asked as she walked around Ben. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Well you see…"
"Kal?!" Marnie exclaimed as she put herself in front of Mal and Ben.
"Oh! Marnie!" Kal said as he perked up. "It's so good to see you again."
"I could say something different," she said with a look of disgust on her face. "Get away from them!"
"Kal?" Mal asked in confusion.
"Oh! I see," Gwen said as she walked around Mal's dad and Adam who were standing behind Mal and Ben. "You tried to get close to Mal, huh?" She asked.
"Mal?" Ben asked.
"Not what you think," she said as she looked at him. "And not the time. What are you doing? Get away from my kids!" She yelled as she turned back toward Kal.
"But where would the fun in that be?" He asked as he looked back down at them. "I need them."
"For what?" Marnie asked.
"Now," he said as he smirked at her. "Why would I give my secrets away?"
"Because I defeated your ass once, and I will do it again," Marnie said.
"With what powers?" He asked. "You have them, but you're not as strong."
"But I am," Hades said as he appeared behind Kal and clasped his hand on his shoulder.
Hades threw the man against the wall, and held him by the collar of his shirt, while Ben and Mal grabbed the babies. Kal smirked at the god before he vanished, without leaving a trace behind.
Hadie got up from the ground and rubbed his head, before walking over to check on Greyson and Violet.
"You're coming home today," Ben said as he pulled Mal and Greyson close. "This is not up for discussion."
"Okay," Mal said as she nodded her head and turned into him.
Kyle had been Kal. Mal remembered Marnie's story about him and she wondered what he needed with her kids. She couldn't stay here any longer. She had to go back home. Ben held her close, and was not letting them go anytime soon. She was leaving for Auradon today and she was afraid to see what was going to come next.
Until next time my Lovies! xoxo GM