*Meanwhile...*
*Evie's POV*
I was currently stood looking out of one of the long windows in our living room watching the snow continue to fall to the ground; and to say that I was worried was an understatement! I hadn't long been back at home after quickly checking in on Mal and the twins; when I walked into the dining room that they were all in I noticed that something changed in Mal's eyes – like she didn't want me to be there. This was something that I was probably going to need to talk to Mal – I was the twin's mother after all!
I couldn't help imagining what our twins were going to look like; and at the moment I kept changing from imagining two boys or two girls. We weren't finding out the gender until after the Christmas holidays – something that me and Doug were very much looking forward to. I couldn't wait to go through all the milestones with them – giving them their first bath, Christmas, Birthday's, going to school. I still couldn't believe that me and Doug were finally going to have the children that we always wanted; and we couldn't wait to meet them both!
"Evie what are you doing?" I heard Doug say which broke me out of my daydream of our perfect twins.
"Just looking out of the window" I answered as I looked over to him to see him walking towards me.
"Right" he nodded. "Are you expecting someone to ring or text you?" he questioned when he stood to my right hand side.
"What makes you say that?" I questioned as I pulled one brow up in confusion to him.
"Well the way you are spinning that phone in your hands" he advised as he nodded down to my hands. "You look very impatient" he noted and we both shared a stern glance.
"Fine!" I sighed. "Mal went away a few hours ago and she hasn't text or rang to say that she got their safely" I stressed. I couldn't believe she hasn't told me that she arrived safely – surely she would know that I would be panicking about whether she and the twins are ok. "What if something has happened?" I panicked as I started to hope that nothing had happened to anyone.
"Evie!" Doug snapped as he held me at arm's length. "Stop this" he said soothingly as he rubbed his thumbs slowly up and down the top of my arms. "Nothing has happened" he said trying to reassure me.
"How can you know that?" I fired at him.
"Because Ben and Mal are King and Queen; if anything has happened to them the whole kingdom would know by now" he reminded me. "She is probably resting" he advised.
"Yeah" I sighed as I started to calm down. Of course he was right; I was just scared not knowing how they were. The longer time was going on I was even tempted to go to their winter lodge; but I don't think Mal, Ben, Adam or Belle would appreciate this. "Sorry" I apologised. "I know I am on edge; and I don't mean to be" I urged. "I just want everyone to be ok" I added.
"And they are" he smiled. "Just promise me something?" he started.
"What?" I asked.
"Don't keep checking up on Mal" he replied. "She needs her rest" he reminded me. "And she is meant to be spending time with her own family" he added.
"I know that" I advised.
"But Mal said I could" I urged.
"Yes because she is very kind" he answered. "But every year she goes away and spends time with Ben, the children, Adam and Belle; try and remember that before you ring her" he explained.
"Doug Mal is my best friend" I dismissed. I could see where Doug was coming from; but Mal did say that I could ring or text her whenever I needed. Of course I knew that she would be busy with the children and her family while she was away – I just would try and keep my texts and phone calls to a minimum, best way I can.
"Yes" he nodded. "And this is why she is doing this for us" he smiled happily. "But she needs her rest" he reminded me. "If anything happens they will tell us" he offered with a warm smile.
"Yeah" I smiled as I started to feel better about the situation. Doug was right; if anything had happened or there was anything going on Mal would have rang me by now. "I'll ring her later on" I decided.
"Ok" he nodded. "Just think Princess this time next year we will have our twins" he grinned and I watched as a spark abruptly entered his eyes at the thought of our children.
"I know!" he exclaimed. "I can't wait" I said as I eagerly clapped my hands together.
"Me neither" he sang as he pulled me into a tight hug. As I snuggled my face into his chest as my arms snaked around his waist; yes I know that me and Doug should probably use this last Christmas alone to enjoy some time alone together but I couldn't stop thinking about next year. The twins would be eight months old and me and Doug would be getting ready for their first Christmas. I really couldn't wait to find out the gender so I could start making them clothes and buying them toys.
I was always going to be forever grateful and thankful to Mal and Ben for doing this for us; they were giving us an opportunity to be parents. This was something that I had dreamed about since being a little girl; when I was in exile with my mother I always hoped that I would have a son or daughter to follow in my footsteps. Of course our twins were never going to be evil; but I couldn't wait to see the lives that they were going to share with us.