By the time she reached her bed Mal was full on sobbing and was unable to stop herself. She was crying that hard she didn't even hear Ben follow her and call out her name as he walked into her bedroom. Ben felt his heart break at the sobs coming from the love of his life. He had a pretty good idea of what had happened but he hoped and prayed he was wrong. This was Auradon, things like this just didn't happen.
The King carefully sat on the bed next to the crying purplette. Bed placed a comforting hand on her shoulder but retracted it immediately as Mal flinched away from him. As Mal's head spun to face him he say her tears streaked face and the pain in her eyes. The brunette had to look away, it was too much for him to bare. "Sorry." Mal apologized through her tears.
Ben couldn't believe Mal was apologizing. If his thoughts were right she had every reason to be upset. But he couldn't dwell on that right now, he had to focus on Mal. "You don't have to apologize Mal. But why didn't you tell me?" He asked as Mal was finally able to calm herself.
The purplette found herself instinctively leaning towards Ben and she couldn't bring herself to stop. She had always felt safe and loved around him. Even though she hadn't seen him for four years she still felt safe and loved around him. It would appear that some things would never change. "I couldn't lie to you Ben." She said earning her a confused look. "I couldn't look you in the eye and tell you it was your baby when I knew it might not be. I love you too much to lie to you like that."
Slowly, so Mal had time to pull away if she wanted to, Ben wrapped his arm comfortingly around her waist. He couldn't help but smile as Mal accepted the action and rested her head on his shoulder. "Mal, you should have told me. I hate the thought of you doing everything yourself, the pregnancy, raising your little girl. Besides when she was born we could have done a DNA test if you were worried about it." He explained and Mal couldn't help but smile. She should have known he would be understanding but then she remembered what he had said to her.
"I couldn't tell you Ben, I still can't." The purplette told him.
As Ben rested his cheek on top of Mal's head both Mal and Ben couldn't help but think back to four years ago, when they did this all the time. "I know. Just tell me when you're ready." He told her. Mal smiled sadly, I'll never be able to tell you Ben, you just don't understand. She thought to herself. "Come back with me Mal." The King suggested and Mal quickly sat up, looking at Ben.
Mal could feel herself starting to panic. Could she really go back to Auradon? What would happen between her and Ben? How would Belle cope? Would she see him again? "But Ben, what about..." She started to ask, but Ben was quick to stop her.
"If anyone asks I'll say she's mine and you panicked about telling me and left." He stated with conviction. Mal didn't doubt a word of what he had said, but could she lie to Belle like that? "But we can find out who her father is if you want to." Ben said and Mal smiled. He always knew what she was thinking, even without her saying it. We can work everything out Mal, I promise. Please come home."
Mal's mind became filled with all the possible outcomes of returning to Auradon and she had to admit that the good outweighed the bad, but it wasn't just her life she would be uprooting. It would be Belle's as well. "Can I think about it? It's not just me I have to consider here." She said to Ben and he immediately nodded. She was thinking about returning home, that was enough for Ben at the moment.
It was then he realized he didn't even know Mal's daughters name. "What did you call her?" Ben asked, hoping she wouldn't mind telling him.
Smiling Mal responded, "Isabelle Evelyn. But she likes being called Belle." She explained and a smile broke out on Ben's face. It didn't surprise him that she had named her daughter after Evie, but the fact that his mother's name was in there as well was a surprise. It was something he couldn't wait to tell his parents. But he remained silent. Something was still bothering Mal and if he spoke now she wouldn't say it.
"What about us?" She asked, shyly. She had never stopped loving Ben and by the sound of it he still loved her.
The King didn't respond verbally, he simply reached into his pocket and pulled out his signet ring. With his free hand he took one of Mal's and placed the ring in the centre of her hand. The purplette was touched that he had kept it with him for so long. She had assumed when she left he would move on and someone else would be wearing it by now. "I never stopped loving you Mal. I'm more then happy to continue being with you, but I want you happy. If you want to be with someone else then I understand and I will leave you to be happy."
His speech brought tears to Mal's eyes. But she then became aware of her daughter downstairs with Evie and Bree. "Do you want to go meet Belle?" She asked and Ben nodded in response. Leading the way back downstairs Mal slipped Ben's signet ring in her pocket. The purplette knew she had a lot of things to work out but for today she could enjoy her time with Ben, Bree, Evie and her daughter. She just hoped whatever choice she made would be the right one.
Author's Note: I hope you guys liked this chapter. Please review and let me know what you thought x