Hey guys, sorry for the delay in getting these chapters to you. But if you are reading this then you are getting a very big update across the board on my FanFiction page. Also if you are reading this then I am very happy to announce that the full story of 'Surrogate' is on its way to you! I hope you enjoy this story, as I have enjoying writing it. Much love, RSD xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.

P.S. Content Warning for suggested themes in this chapter.

*Mal's POV*

Time continues to press on; and if I was being honest I had mixed feelings on it. First of all good as I was now eighteen and a half weeks pregnant and things seemed to be going the way they should. Thankfully as my body had been through this already twice I had become used to certain symptoms so they didn't feel this bad this time around.

Also another reason I was happy that time was going quickly was it meant that it wouldn't be long before I was going into labour. I couldn't wait to give Evie the family that she always had wanted to give to Doug and I knew that they would be amazing parents.

A third reason (which I felt a little bit guilty for) was the fact that I was nearly half way through my pregnancy it meant that me and Ben could return back to our normal family life soon. Something that me and Ben hadn't disclosed to Evie and Doug is that this whole situation was becoming very strained for the pair of us. We were no longer being as intimate as we would like; and we were only going as far as oral sex - and this was proving to be not enough as time was going on. Don't get me wrong me and Ben were very active during both my other pregnancies; but as these children weren't mine and with the twins brought a great risk - we really didn't want to put the twins at further risk.

Now the reasons, why it was bad that I was only eighteen and a half weeks pregnant...

Even though the morning sickness was now gone; but it had been replaced by a lot of other symptoms that was really kicking my ass. First of all my hands and feet were now swollen, it was very annoying and a most unflattering symptom indeed. Ben did keep telling me that I was still beautiful but I felt far from it - in fact I felt like a misshaped monster.

Then came the backache, and I knew that this was because the twins were putting a lot of pressure on my body. However even though I had been pregnant twice it didn't prepare me for carrying twins! It was double the backache. Thankfully Ben was always closely on hand to rub and massage my back for me - something that he has always loved and wanted to do for me.

Another unflattering symptom that had decided to grace my body was my varicose veins had returned! This meant that I had to keep changing my position frequently, keep my feet and legs propped up and get plenty of exercise - which also seemed to be draining me off all my energy.

I was also having trouble sleeping; I had to continually lie on my side now and when I was trying to get to sleep I found that my mind was in overdrive. So this in turn was affecting my royal commitments as Ben was having to restrict my activities as I now needed more naps during the day as I couldn't sleep during the night.

I had also started suffering nosebleeds which was a symptom that I hadn't had before. So as soon as my nose started bleeding Ben rushed me off to Doctor Cameron, with Evie and Doug meeting us at the hospital. We were told by Doctor Cameron that nosebleeds during pregnancy wasn't something that he wanted us to worry on; yes they didn't happen with every pregnancy but given the fact that I was pregnant with twins was adding more pressure on my body. Apparently I was currently having an even more increased pressure on my veins which was causing my nose to bleed. I was given information on how to deal with them, but was warned if they keep happening or won't stop bleeding I would need to come back.

Finally symptom wise the twins were very active gone were the days where it felt like light tiny flutters it was now more definitive sensations resembling actual kicks. Yes this was telling me that the twins were getting stronger; but they were playing havoc with my bladder.

I knew that Evie and Doug was always going to play a big part in my pregnancy but I don't think I actually took into account what this would mean. Evie was proving to be the demanding and controlling one of the pair; and she wanted to know my every move. She had even started taking to sleeping in her office at the castle so she was always close to me in case anything happened. The pair of them were always asking me and Ben questions; quoting things to us that was in baby books and giving us advice on things. We did value everything that they were doing - it was just I wish that they gave me and Ben a little bit of space.

There was also an awkward situation with Evie when my back started to ache; she seemed very disappointed that I wouldn't ask her to rub my back. However I pointed out that Ben was my husband and if anyone was going to be rubbing any part of me it was going to be him - and sadly Evie didn't like this. But this didn't stop her checking on me.

Evie also had problems with my nosebleeds and the twins kicking; she become very heightened. She wanted everything to be checked and if anything strayed from her baby books she would go into a panic. She would then try and drag me to the hospital - that was until me, Ben and Doug calmed her down.

Finally what I was really feeling guilty about was the fact that I felt like I was not only neglecting Ben but our children as well. Due to me being in pain and so tired I couldn't have as much family time as I wanted; but Ben changed things up. Ben had arranged our family nights so it meant that we weren't doing our usual active nights like walks, sports, ice skating and similar activities. Instead we were doing cooking, baking, film nights and board game nights. Even though we were still doing things I felt that the children was missing out but me and Ben had made plans to go on holiday with Eddie and Isabelle after the twins was born - which both of us couldn't wait for.