"Belle!" I cried as tears started to flow down my cheeks as I gently shook her right shoulder. "Belle, wake up! I begged. "Please?" I pleaded as I started to think about how Ben and Adam are going to react when they find out about this.
"Mal" I heard Belle mutter as her eyes slowly opened.
"Belle!" I exclaimed as I crouched lower, so my face was closer to hers. "Belle are you ok?" I urged.
"My head hurts," she muttered back.
"Ok" I nodded. "We are going to get you checked out," I urged.
"No!" she moaned in pain. "I need to go home!" she cried out.
"You need to see Doctor Cameron," I insisted. "Ben and Adam would never let us live this down" I muttered so the press couldn't hear us.
"Ok" she meekly nodded.
"Do you want me to call an ambulance?" I questioned.
"No!" she exclaimed. "Give me a second and then I'll sit up" she advised.
"Ok" I said. "Just tell us when you're ready" I advised, and I looked up to see Jeffery look down at me. "Jeffery" I directed to him.
"Yes Lady Mal?" he returned.
"Get Dawson to come outside the shop please?" I advised earnestly.
"Already on it" he advised.
"Thank you" I answered meekly to him.
"You're welcome" he meekly smiled back and through the security team's legs I could see that Dawson pulled to an abrupt stop outside the shop.
"Whenever you are ready Belle Dawson is ready" I advised as I quickly looked back down at her.
"Ok" she muttered, and I then watched as she slowly sat up. When she sat up straight, I watched as she put her head into her hands once more before she slowly and sadly sighed.
"Evie, can you grab those bags and go and throw them in the boot?" I instructed as I looked up at my sister.
"On it" she quickly answered as she collected all of our bags together, including our handbags, and she picked them up and quickly headed out of the shop. I watched as she struggled to do so but she managed it, and I saw that Dawson quickly opened the boot and helped Evie put the shopping and our bags into the boot. As Dawson and Evie quickly closed the boot I watched as staff members in the shop were either moving other customers out of the shop or to the other side of the shop. I was glad that they were doing this, as it was going to be easier to move Belle out of the shop this way.
"Do you need a first aid kit?" I heard a voice say and when I looked up, I saw a slim, short blonde-haired woman call from behind our security team.
"No" I called back. "Sorry" I quickly apologized when I looked down at the shirt that Belle was currently holding against her head. "Erm-" I muttered nervously as I looked up in her direction. "We have a shirt on her head," I explained.
"I'll pay-" Belle started to insist,
"Belle leave it for now" I stated cutting her off. "I'll take care of it" I advised.
"No, you won't" I heard the store manager advise as she stood next to Jeffrey. "Don't worry about it" she dismissed. "Honestly" she stressed as Evie ran back into the shop and stood next to me and Belle.
"Ready to try and stand Belle?" she questioned cautiously.
"I might need some help," she advised.
"That is what we are here for" I told her, and I watched as Belle meekly smiled at the pair of us. Me and Evie then slowly and very carefully helped Belle to her feet and me and I held the shirt against her head. I watched as Belle took a couple of breaths to steady herself before she attempted to take another step forward but when she did, she stumbled forward.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed as me and Evie caught her before she fell again.
"You, ok?" Evie questioned, and we both watched as Belle nodded.
"Come on" I instructed. "Nice and slow," I added. We then slowly started to walk out of the shop however Belle kept stumbling and when we got to the entrance of the shop she nearly fell again. Thankfully our security teams and bodyguards pushed them back, so they weren't allowed to take photos, but I knew sadly that they probably managed to take a few - which only made me panic more! I wanted to make sure that I was able to tell Ben and Adam, as the last thing that I wanted to happen was for them to find out via the press.
When we finally got to the limousine Belle fell again and nearly hit her head on the side of the car, but Richard quickly stepped forward and caught her before she fell to the ground. We were then able to quickly get her into the car however as I climbed into the car Belle slouched forward and fell forward onto the car floor. As Evie closed the door behind me, she gasped when her eyes fell on Belle, so I made a decision to leave Belle on the floor, probably safer for her right now.
"Dawson!" I called as he closed the door behind him and pulled his seat belt on. "Take us to Auradon Hospital!" I demanded.
"On its Lady Mal!" he shouted back as he started the car.
"Mal" I heard Belle say meekly.
"Yes Belle?" I asked as I knelt on the floor next to her.
"I need Adam" she said sadly as tears started to gather in her eyes.
"I'll ring him now" I nodded. "Or I'll ring Ben" I advised as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and I quickly rang Ben.
"Hey beautiful" I heard Ben say down the phone after it had only rung a couple of times. "What do I owe the pleasure?" he questioned happily. I started to feel so bad for both Adam and Ben, neither of them knew what was currently happening. But when they both did, I knew that they were going to be worried sick, which was understandable. I just hated to be the one that had to break the news to him.
"Ben, you need to get your father-" I started to stress. "You both need to come to the hospital" I implored.
"What?" he asked in shock. "Why?" he questioned in concern.
"It's your mother-" I advised as I watched as Belle's eyes started too slowly close. "She's not been feeling well all day" I advised. "And she's just had an accident" I admitted as Belle groaned slightly.
"What kind of accident?" Ben quickly asked in shock.
"She hit her head" I advised. "She went unconscious," I added. "She's awake now but only just" I explained.
"Ok" he muttered. I then went to say something to him, but I froze when I watched as Belle went unconscious once more.
"Ben, I need to go-" I started to exclaim. "Your mother's passed out again" I advised.
"Ok" he muttered again, and I could tell by the tone of his voice that he was concerned and worried about his mother. I felt bad for doing so but I quickly hung up on him and I slid closer to Belle, and I pushed her more onto her left-hand side.
"E hold this on her head while I hold her on her side" I advised.
"Ok" she said, and she slid down onto the floor next to me and she held the t-shirt against the wound on Belle's head.
"DAWSON!" I shouted as I looked forward. "WE NEED TO BE QUICK! THE QUEEN ELDER IS UNCONSCIOUS!" I called to him.
"OK LADY MAL!" I heard him call back and when I looked back down to Belle an idea came to me and I started to quickly ring Doctor Cameron.
"Who are you ringing?" I heard Evie say, which made me look over to her.
"Doctor Cameron" I admitted, and I watched as she nodded at this before looking down at Belle.
"Lady Mal" I heard Doctor Cameron say down the phone.
"Doctor Cameron," I answered.
"How can I help?" he enquired politely.
"Are you in the hospital or your clinic at the moment?" I asked as I started to hope that he was close by.
"Just doing some rounds at the hospital," he explained.
"Good" I sighed in relief.
"Why?" he asked in concern.
"Belle has had an accident, head injury" I advised. "She's blacked out twice," I went on to explain. "She's currently unconscious in the limo on her side. E's holding a shirt against her head now" I finished.
"Ok" he replied in concern. "I'll be waiting," he advised.
"Ok" I answered. "See you soon, we are only a few streets away" I explained as I looked out of the window, and I saw that we weren't far away from the hospital.
"See you soon Lady Mal" I heard him say which made me quickly hang up before sliding my phone back into my pocket. I slowly looked down at Belle once more and tears started to flow down my cheeks as I slowly stroked Belle's hair. And as the car fell into silence, I just willed Dawson to hurry up, we needed to get to the hospital and now! I didn't know what was wrong with Ben, but it didn't look very good. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to Belle, she was the mother figure in my life that I always needed. I just hoped nothing bad was about to happen, me, Ben and most of all Adam needed her.
*Ben's POV*
After my phone call with Mal ended, I ended up staring into space in front of me. The last time I saw my mother she didn't seem unwell at all, which worried me. Either she and father didn't tell me, or it was a sudden change of events. It bit down on my bottom lip as my mind started to wander onto my father. I understood a Beast's bond with his mate so I knew when my father found out about my mother's accident how it would affect him.
So, with this thought in mind, I quickly stood up and ran out of my office and started running towards my father's office. When I ran into the room I watched as he looked up at me and I could see concern all over his face. It looked like something was really bothering him, but he wasn't sure what was wrong. However, I didn't need to ask him what was wrong, I knew that due to the Beast and imprintee bond between my parents my father knew that something is wrong with my mother. So, I didn't know how he was about to react to the news that I was about to give him.
"Father, we need to go," I urged before biting down on my bottom lip.
"Go where?" he asked slowly in both confusion and concern.
"Hospital-" I began, and I watched as his eyes widened slightly at this. "Mal's just rang, mother's had an accident" I confessed, and I watched as his face dropped into both panic and shock.
"Accident?" he exclaimed. "What kind of accident?" he urged as he quickly stood up.
"Head injury" I advised. "She keeps passing out," I added.
"What?" he exclaimed. "Let's go," he insisted.
"Yes" I nodded as I watched him quickly walk around the desk. "Mal also said something about mother not feeling well while they were out," I muttered sadly.
"Your mother has been a little bit under the weather over the last couple of days" he admitted as he stood in front of me. "Nothing that would cause this" he dismissed. "I had a feeling that something was wrong" he advised sadly as he pursed his lips together as he slid his phone into his inside blazer pocket.
"Me too" I answered, and we both shared a glance before we both turned and started to run out of the office. We bumped into Cogsworth on the way, and he quickly ran off to arrange some transport for us, and thankfully me and father didn't have to wait for very long before Phil pulled up in his car. Me and my father quickly jumped into the back of the black range rover, and I couldn't help but sigh in relief when the car quickly pulled away. Of course, the relief was then suddenly swept away by panic and concern - at what we were about to find when we got to the hospital.
*Mal's POV*
Both me and Evie sighed in relief when the limousine pulled to a stop outside the entrance of the emergency department of Auradon General Hospital. And my relief only intensified when I looked out of the black tinted windows to see Doctor Cameron stood waiting with his team.
"We will probably need to get out E-" I began as I looked over to her. "So, they can get in" I quickly added as I watched as Doctor Cameron and his team started to walk closer to the limousine.
"Ok" she nodded as the door opened, and both me and Evie threw ourselves backwards so we both landed harshly on the seat in the top left-hand side of the car.
"Has she been out long?" Doctor Cameron quickly asked after he jumped into the car, and he crouched down on Belle's right-hand side.
"Five-" I started. "Ten minutes" I shrugged.
"What was she like beforehand?" he questioned as he pulled the t-shirt away from Belle's head slightly and he looked at the wound on Belle's head.
"A sudden headache started a couple of hours ago-" I began to explain as my stomach started to burn nervously. "A little bit dizzy" I quickly added.
"Sickly" Evie quickly interjected.
"Ok" Doctor Cameron nodded at this, not taking his eyes from Belle. "Queen Elder? Queen Elder, can you hear me?" he questioned as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Hmm" I heard her grunt, and I couldn't help but sigh in relief.
"Belle!" I exclaimed as both me and Evie slid forward on our seats so we could get closer to Belle.
"Just stay there Lady Mal and Lady Grimhilde" Doctor Cameron quickly urged. "We need to get her out of here" he advised and when our eyes met, I saw concern and worry in his eyes. I nodded at this, and I put my hand on Evie and we both slid back onto our seat to allow Doctor Cameron and his team to remove Belle from the car.
Me and Evie then sat and held each other in silence as we watched as Doctor Cameron and his team very slowly and carefully slid Belle out of the car and onto a stretcher. However, this was not before putting an oxygen mask on Belle and a cannula into her left arm, it was painful to see Belle in this situation - but I knew that the pain that I was currently going through was nothing compared to what Adam and Ben was about to go through.
When Belle was safely out of the car me and Evie untangled ourselves from each other before we slid towards the car door and slowly climbed out. When my eyes flinched slightly at the bright light, I couldn't help but purse my lips together when I saw the scene before me. Richard, Jeffrey and their teams stood in a line around the back of the limousine and towards the emergency department. I put this down to the fact they were trying to shield us all from the press, which I was very thankful for. The press was already in the distance trying to take photos of us all arriving at the hospital, I just hoped that they hadn't been able to get a photo of Belle on the stretcher.
Me and Evie then followed Belle, Doctor Cameron and his team into the emergency department and we continued to follow them until we walked up to recus. It was at this point when we were stopped by a member of staff, I wanted to protest as I didn't want to leave Belle on her own. However, a voice in my mind then told me that I needed to be there to greet Ben and Adam, they were going to have questions. As I watched Belle from a window outside, I couldn't stop the tears starting to flow down my cheeks, she looked so weak and vulnerable. I started to wonder how they were going to react to seeing her like this, the last time they saw her compared to her right now was worlds apart. I just hoped that they were going to arrive and soon, as I felt really unsettled - this was breaking me, and I really didn't know what to do.
I didn't know how much time had passed but I couldn't stop but freeze as a shiver ran down my spine when I watched as both Adam and Ben burst into the department and ran up to us. I opened my mouth to say something, but I watched as Adam's eyes landed on Belle and then a loud roar erupted from within Adam.
We all then fell into silence as Adam whimpered in pain as he ran forward and burst into the room, which made Doctor Cameron quickly walk up to him. I bit down on my bottom lip as I watched as the pair of them spoke, and the pain was evident on the pair of their faces. Doctor Cameron wrapped his right arm around the top of his back where he could reach due to Adam's towering height.
I heard a whimper next to me and when I looked up at Ben, I noted that he had a blank stare on his face. I sensed the beast side of him whimpering in pain once more, so I stepped in front of him, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. As I rested my head against his chest, I felt him slowly snake his arms around my waist. Me, Evie and Ben then fell into silence as we all continued to take in our current situation, with all of us continuing to fall into despair and concern over our mother figure in all of our lives.
After standing in silence for a few minutes a member of staff appeared and showed us all to the family room, I had to lead Ben away with the promise that she was with the people and that his father was with her. I think he did take some solace from this, but understandably he still didn't want to leave their sides.
So, after admitting defeat he took my right hand and let me lead him to the family room, at least there we were going to be afforded some privacy. Yes, the press couldn't get into the hospital, but I honestly wouldn't put anything past them - given the attempts they had had in the past.
"Mal?" I heard Ben say after Evie closed the door behind the three of us when we stepped into the family room.
"Aha?" I answered as I stood still and looked up at him.
"Tell me everything that happened," he demanded meekly. "Please?" he begged sadly.
"Ok" I nodded. "Let's sit down" I advised as I let go of his hand and I sat down in one of the teal-coloured seats. I then watched as both Ben and Evie both took to their seats next to me so me and Evie could recant everything that had happened today. And I started to mentally kick myself, as soon as Belle said she was unwell we should have gone straight home. However, this wasn't a time for guilt, this was a time for comfort. Something of which I knew that I would offer to Ben, Belle and Adam without question. My family, now and for always.
"Right" Ben noted after me and Evie had told him everything that had happened during our shopping trip.
"I feel bad though Ben" I admitted as my guilt started to creep up once more after relieving everything that happened today.
"How so?" he asked as he wrapped his right arm around my shoulders, and he pulled me close to him, so my head was now against his chest.
"I should have taken your mother home" I muttered sadly. "Even though she told me not to," I sighed.
"Mal that is not your fault" he told me which made me look up at him slowly. "By the sounds of it you asked a few times" he stated profoundly. "That is what counts" he insisted before pressing a kiss against the top of my head.
"I just hope she's ok" I said sadly.
"She will be," Ben said hopefully as I snuggled into his chest. "She's a fighter" he said happily and when I looked back up at him, I saw him looking into space, no doubt thinking about his mother. "And my father is with her" he added finished before biting down on his bottom lip.
"Yeah" I nodded. "She has her beast protecting her" I meekly smiled, and I watched as his eyes lit up at this.
"Yes, she does" he meekly smiled back at me. We both shared a brief look for a few seconds before I pushed my face forward and pressed a brief but loving kiss against his lips. Me and Ben then cuddled back together as the three of us then all fell into silence, and I started to hope and pray that Belle was going to be ok. And unfortunately for the three of us there was nothing more for us to do now but to wait, and I just hoped that we were told something - and soon.
A very painful and slow hour passed in silence before the door to the family room opened quickly and Adam quickly stepped into the room.
"How is she?" Ben quickly asked as his father closed the door behind him.
"She's-" he started before he sighed sadly. "Pretty much the same way as you saw her," he admitted. "I just thought I better give you an update" he advised and the three of us all nodded at him. "They are going to do some further tests on her," he explained before pursing his lips together.
"Will we be able to see her after that?" Ben questioned hopefully.
"Yeah" Adam meekly smiled. "I better get back to her" he advised as he nodded back towards the door. "I didn't want to leave her" he admitted, and I couldn't help but hear the pain in his voice.
"It's ok," Evie interjected. "Tell her we are thinking about her," she pressed.
"Thank you, Evie," Adam nodded at this before quickly spinning around, opening the door and quickly leaving the room, closing the door behind him.
"That was really hard for your father," I noted.
"Yeah" Ben agreed as we both looked at each other. "But I know how he feels," he admitted.
"How?" I question as I pull one brow up in confusion at him.
"When you fell off the Great Wall of China" he reminded me.
"Oh" I muttered as I nodded at this. "Yeah" I said as I stared into space as the memory started to replay in my mind. I remembered waking up in the hospital with Doctor Ling and his team in my hospital side room, however before I could fixate on my eagerness to try and get off the stretcher something else came to the forefront of my mind. Ben. Ben pacing up and down the corridor and verbally fighting with his parents and hospital staff to try to get to me. And this broke my heart, in that moment all I wanted was Ben, but I knew that we both needed to let the doctors and nurses do their thing - even though it was hard for the pair of us.
"That was pretty rough for the pair of us" I noted, breaking the silence in the room, and thankfully pulling me out of that painful train of thought. "I think it was a little bit harder as you weren't allowed in the room" I added sadly.
"Yeah" he agreed as I felt his arms tighten around me, which made me snuggle my head against his chest. "But your parents are strong Ben, they can get through anything" I reminded him fondly.
"I hope so Mal" he advised and when I looked up at him, I started to see tears forming in his eyes.
"Hey!" I cooed and I shrugged out of his arms, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, and I pulled him closer to me. Ben snuggled his face into my left shoulder, and I held him tightly, the room fell into silence for a few seconds before Ben broke down crying. I then slowly and carefully readjusted myself by sliding a little bit closer to Ben so I could hold him closer. As his sobs got louder, I started to run the fingers on my left hand through his hair as my right hand slowly stroked the top of his back. And my eyes started to wander around the room and when they fell onto Evie, we both threw each other a very concerned look. Even though we had been in Auradon for some time now me and Evie still didn't know how to react in this situation, I just hoped that we were going to be able to do everything in our power to help Adam, Belle and Ben through this - and this was something that I knew both me and Evie were going to strive for.