Mal's POV.
I woke up and immediately noticed Ben wasn't in bed with me. Strange. I thought to myself. I turned over to see if he was in the bathroom and noticed the door wide open and no sign of Ben. Deciding to just text him I reached for my phone. That's when I noticed the time. 10:30 am. What the hell! How have I slept in this long! It was then I realised I had two unread texts. The first one being from Evie.
From Evie: Hey M, still up for girls night tomorrow? Maybe we could have it at the castle? Also Jay and Carlos want to know if you will help them start Christmas shopping? I told them about the holiday and they wanna start early. E x
I sent a quick text back to her telling her I would see her later and we could talk properly about it all. That was when I opened the second text.
From Ben: Morning Mal, I decided to leave you in bed this morning. Hope you had a nice sleep. Text me when you wake but please be ready for our date at 12. I will come home and pick you up. Love you xx
To Ben: Hi Ben, yes I had a lovely sleep. I will be ready don't worry. Do I need to dress up a little or? Love you too xxx
As I finished my reply to Ben I rolled my eyes. He knows full well I am capable of meeting him somewhere. I have a strong feeling this over-protectiveness isn't going away any time soon. Mix that with his parents, Evie, Jay and Carlos it's a wonder I can do anything myself. Time to get out of bed. I told myself as I sat up and shuffled to the edge of the bed. I instinctively placed my hand over my stomach. As I stood up though I swayed slightly from not drinking enough. I really had to get better at my drinking habits. It can't be good for the babies or myself while I'm pregnant. Speaking of the babies I best take my prenatal vitamins before I go downstairs otherwise I will probably forget.
I walked quickly into Ben's en-suite bathroom and after taking my vitamins and using the bathroom I decided to head downstairs grabbing my phone from the bed as I went. I was certainly hungry and there was no way my little beastie and fairy would wait until lunch time. Okay that wasn't completely true but I'm allowed to use that excuse right?
I headed straight for the kitchen but as I neared it I was hit with a smell of bacon. The smell alone turned my stomach and I raced to the nearest bathroom, slamming the door shut and once again being violently sick. This completely sucks. After I had nothing left to throw up and I had flushed the toilet I pushed myself against the wall and sat there for a few minutes. Don't get me wrong I was happy to be having the twins but they seriously needed to stop making me so ill. I can barely keep anything down.
I was brought from my thoughts when I heard my phone ring. I looked down at my hand holding my phone and answered the call immediately. "Hi Ben." I said to him, cringing at the sound of my own voice.
"You okay, Mal?"
"I'm fine Ben, just had some morning sickness after smelling bacon is all." I explained to my clearly worried boyfriend.
"Will you be feeling better to go on a date with me? We can wait until your feeling better if you like?"
I could hear his worry a mile off. "No, I will be fine." I told him. There was no way I was letting him move this date because of me being ill. We haven't been on a date for over a week and I'll be damned if he cancels this one. "Honestly. Besides I'm looking forward to it." I said, knowing he wouldn't say no to that.
"Okay, If your sure, Mal. I will see you in an hour. Love you."
Ha! I knew that would work. "Love you too." I told him before I ended the call and decided I would have to get up off the floor and start getting ready. I didn't have long to sort myself out so something to eat would have to wait until I was out with Ben. I checked the time on my phone and realised I had been in the bathroom for half an hour it was almost quarter past 11 now. Seeing the time I sighed. Don't get me wrong I have no problem having time off for the babies health but my days just seem to disappear when I'm at the castle all day. I would also have to talk to Ben later about going into town. I had to go soon. It was then I heard knocking at the door. "Mal? Are you okay?" Belle shouted through the door.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Of course just after I spoke to Ben, Belle suddenly appears. He worries way to much. "I'm fine, Belle." I called back to her as I stood up. Time to go get ready. I didn't even wait for Belle to say anything else I just walked to the door unlocked it and swung it open to find Belle there, as I suspected cell phone in hand. I raised my eyebrow as I said "Let me guess. Ben text you and asked you to check I was okay?" Belle just nodded as a smile came across my face. I shook my head slightly. "I'm going to get ready. Ben will be here soon." I told Belle as I started to walk away but suddenly realised I had no idea what to wear. I couldn't even ask Evie's opinion since she would be in class. I turned a little to look back at Belle who still seemed a little shocked I knew Ben text her. "Belle, would you help me pick something out since I have no idea where Ben is taking me?" She seemed to recover quickly as I spoke and agreed to help me find something dressy but casual.
Finally at nearly 1pm I was ready. Ben had text me earlier and told me he had to sort something out so he wouldn't be able to pick me up until 1. He still refused to tell me where we were going so I kept my hair loose/down and my make up light. Me and Belle had settled on one of my new dresses. This one Evie had picked out it was a lovely light purple, halter neck, knee length dress which she had added some small blue gems around the waist to. After a final look in the mirror I heard a knock at the door. "Come in!" I called out, hoping this was Ben.
Surely enough when I looked over there was Ben. For some reason he just stood there staring so I cleared my throat which seemed to bring him back to the present. "I finally understand the difference between pretty and beautiful." He said. His voice matched the dreamy look in his eyes causing me to chuckle.
"You said that before our first date, Ben." I told him. He just smiled back at me before shrugging and taking my arm. "So are you going to tell me where we are going now?" I asked as he lead me from the room but he just ignored the statement. I wanted to push for an answer but the growing tension radiating from him made me rethink and let it drop. He was so worked up. Has he had another run in with Chad maybe? Leah causing trouble? I couldn't think why he would be like this but I knew better then to push him. When it came to talking about things me and Ben were much the same person, we would not open up if we were pushed into it.
As we got into the car I decided to change the topic. "So, how's school?" I asked him. "Okay. It's lonely without you there though." He told me. Seriously I have like two classes with him. I doubt he's that lonely. Still I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. As I looked at Ben's small smile.
It wasn't far into the car journey I started to recognise where we were going. I kept my suspicions to myself until the car stopped near an all too familiar bridge. I let Ben help me out of the car as I asked "The enchanted lake?" Ben merely nodded his response but the smile on my face soon mirrored the large one on Ben's face as we began to walk to the place we both went when we needed space from things or to just be together.
Ten minutes later found us at the lake. As my gaze fell to the pavilion (ruins) the smile on my face grew. There was a picnic much like the one we had on our first date. Ben's smile matched my own as he helped me down the slope leading to the lake and then helped me to sit on the picnic blanket he had laid on the floor. Hopefully this over-protectiveness would ease after a while. I thought to myself as Ben sat next to me. I spotted the bowl of strawberries immediately and began tucking into them much to Ben's amusement.
"Are you sure your feeling better Mal?" Ben asked me. With a mouth full of strawberry I could only nod in response to his question. "Good. So you will be okay for the Halloween dance on Friday? We can just have a night in of you like?" It wasn't hard for someone who knows Ben well to see he was worried. His voice told people that quite clearly. And okay I kinda understood it but not wanting me to go anywhere was taking it a little far when you think I already had to take someone with me everywhere I go lately anyway.
I swallowed the strawberry in my mouth so I could respond to him. "Ben, I will be fine to go. I promise." I could tell this wasn't easing his worries at all so I decided to make him a promise. "How about this, if I feel sick or dizzy or anything to that effect, I promise to let you know I'm unwell and we can go straight home. Okay?" That seemed to put his mind at ease a little and his shoulders visibly lowered showing his comfort. Although whether it was my answer or the fact that I have referred to the castle as home again I'm not sure. I honestly don't know what he thinks will happen. It's not like I will be on my own. He will be there as well as Evie, Jay, Carlos, Jane, Audrey, Lonnie and Fairy Godmother. Like any of them would let anything happen.
As we worked our way through our picnic I had no idea how much time had passed and was sure Ben should have gone back to school by now. That was until I remembered we always had Wednesday afternoons free. Damn. A week and a half off school and I'm losing track of what day it is. As Ben began to put things back in the picnic basket I realised I had to tell him about going into town. "Hey Ben?" I said, gaining his attention immediately. "I need to go in town for some supplies for your parents Christmas present. I know it's early but if I don't start it soon it won't be finished in time." I explained.
"Okay." He stated. "Did you want me to go with you?"
Hopefully Ben would agree to this. "Erm... No. I was actually hoping you wouldn't mind me going with Evie, Jay and Carlos? By ourselves?" I asked. I could tell by his face he wasn't completely comfortable with this but I think some part of him knew I would be safe with them since he answered with "Okay but just this once yeah?" I nodded extremely happy to spend some quality time with my siblings soon. I love Ben, his parents and the babies but I missed my friends/sibling so much. I began to feel quite uncomfortable sat on the hard floor and Ben noticed as I began to shuffle a little trying to get comfy.
"Come here." Ben said as he held his hand out of my to take. As I placed my hand in his I felt a little tug on my hand and he helped me to stand up and to sit on one of the patio chairs that were there for some reason. We had been coming here for months yet as I sat down on the chair I couldn't think of any reason for them to be there. Ben's next action shocked me out of my thoughts. I noticed out of the corner of my eye he had leant down and I assumed he was picking something up but when he didn't get back up for a while I turned my head and noticed he was knelt in front of me, on one knee, with a small leather box in his hands. I couldn't help the gasp that escaped my mouth as I recognised this position from all those romantic comedy films. Is this seriously what I think it is!?
"Mal..." Ben started. "I have loved you since before I met you. Ever since I had a dream about a beautiful girl with purple hair trapped on the isle. When I was choosing the first four children to come over from the isle I think my heart knew something my head didn't at the time. That was that I loved you," As Ben kept talking I began tearing up and it wasn't long before the tears were spilling down my cheeks. "Since you have been here everything has felt complete for me. It's like my entire life I have been waiting for you to come along. You are the most loving and caring person I know Mal and I am beyond happy you are with me and are going to be the mother of my children. I know in my heart as I have since I first saw you there is no one else for me. You are it for me, Mal. You are my soul mate, my one true love. Mal Bertha..." As he said my name he finally opened the small box he had been holding to reveal a lovely ring. "Will you marry me?"
Do you even need to ask me that, Ben!? I wiped my cheeks and eyes a little as I nodded yes to him. Seconds later he slid the ring onto my finger with the largest smile I've every seen on anyone's face. I couldn't help but mirror his smile on my own face as he leant back a little but his eyes never left my own gaze. I leant forward and kissed him briefly before I looked down at the ring now adorning my left ring finger. It was a simple gold band with a raised amethyst in the centre with small sapphires surrounding it. I love how Ben included both our colours in the ring.
Although I knew now we needed to talk. I know Ben is asking me so we are at least engaged when the babies are born and I know he will wait until I am ready before he even talks about when we will get married but I really want to talk about this now. "Ben, I think we should talk." I told him and I saw his smile drop instantly. Worry settling on his face straight away. It didn't take a genius to work out what he was thinking and I knew if I didn't explain myself soon his worry would turn to panic. "No!" I practically shouted at him as I lunged forward, grabbing his hands as he started to lean away from me. "It's nothing like that. I just want to talk about when we should get married." I explained. I saw some of the tension leave his body but he was still a little on edge. "I don't want to marry you when I'm the size of a whale." I stated.
Ben just laughed and couldn't seem to stop no matter how much he tried. I wasn't until he saw the glare I was sending his way he was able to calm down enough to talk. He was still laughing at what I had said but at least he wasn't that bad now, he was only chuckling. "Mal, you wont be the size of a whale. And it doesn't matter to me if you are showing when we get married. But if you want to wait until after the babies are born then I have no problem with that."
You could tell by looking at Ben he wasn't completely happy with waiting practically a year but that he was serious and wouldn't push me. "No Ben, you don't understand. I don't want to be showing or wait until after the babies are born." Ben was suddenly sporting a confused look. "I want to marry you before I start showing. Besides if we waited until after the babies were born it would defeat the object of you asking since they wouldn't be a legitimate heir to the throne." I told him. As a worried and anxious look settles across his face I smiled. "I know why you asked. It's so the babies wouldn't be born out of wedlock and can be the next ruler. I think you forget sometimes that I'm taking both Auradon history and political science classes this term. But Ben you have to know something, pregnant or not, I would have said yes anyway."
I have never seen Ben look as relieved as he does now and as he brushes his thumb over the ring on my finger his smile returned full force. "Okay so what about a date 4-6 weeks from today? That would mean you would be around three months and slightly showing but if needed we could easily hide it?" He asked me and getting married never sounded so good, even if it was a little rushed. I was a little worried about some peoples reactions, Leah and Chad mostly, but our family would support us regardless and that's what mattered right?
I began to get lost in my thoughts when I heard Ben talk to me. "Can I ask you something Mal?" I nodded my head for him to continue. I really wasn't sure where this was going I mean we had discussed the important stuff, or so I thought. "Would you consider moving into the castle after we got married?"
"Of course I would Ben. I would be nice to have a permanent home not to mention it will be very handy with your mom there if I needed to ask something." His smile got larger as I spoke if that was even possible. "Besides I would have to wouldn't I? Since getting married to you would mean I became Queen of Auradon." I joked. Both me and Ben laughed a little at this before Ben replied with "Yeah, you would be." Shit! I thought to myself as panic set in. I would become Queen! In 4-6 weeks! I couldn't help but panic at this realisation.
As I glanced at Ben he thankfully hadn't seemed to notice yet he pulled me from my internal panic attack when he cried out. "Oh crap! Mom!" I looked at him a little confused and waited for him to elaborate. "Should we go tell my parents? Get my mom's squealing over with?" Now I understood. Belle always was excitable with good news. Although the news of the twins has been overshadowed quite a bit I have no doubts she will make up for that with this news. "Since it's already gone 3 do you think you could just teleport us home? I wouldn't normally ask but you also need time to get ready for your magic class tonight." I didn't answer his question I just reached my hand out and took his with a smile on my face.
Seconds later we were stood in Belle's garden facing both Belle and Adam who were completely oblivious to us being there. We stood there for a few minutes before Ben cleared his throat signalling we were there. They turned immediately "Ben! Mal! What are you two doing here? We thought you would be out all afternoon." Belle asked/stated as she came and hugged us both. Which since Ben was tightly holding my left hand made hugging Belle easier.
"We actually had something we wanted to tell you both." I told her as she pulled away. As me and Ben took a step back I noticed a skeptical look on Adams face and a rather confused one on Belle's. I suppose after already telling them I'm pregnant with twins I guess they're wondering what else we could possibly tell them. As I looked to Ben I found him already facing me. Nodding to him he turned back to his parents smiling.
"Mal, said yes." He told them. The smiles that spread across their faces told me all I needed to know as I removed my hand from Ben's and showed them the ring currently sat there. Belle grabbed my hand straight away to examine the ring while squealing excitedly as Adam pulled Ben into a hug. "Told you she would say yes." I heard Adam say as Belle pulled me into another hug. This was getting to be a recurring thing lately.
"Oh, we will have to have a ball to celebrate you engagement. When do you plan to get married?" Belle rambled a little. "Belle dear give them chance to talk about it. Ben only asked this afternoon." Adam told her causing a little snigger from me and Ben.
I moved back to Ben, who's arm immediately went around my waist. "Actually we have spoken about that." I told the pair in front of me. "We would actually like to get married in the next 4-6 weeks." Ben explained for me. The look of shock on both Belle and Adam's faces didn't get missed by either of us. I glanced at Ben before he continued. "Something wrong?" He asked them.
"Nothing." Adam told us. The disbelieving look on Ben's face forced Adam to continue. "It's not an ideal time frame but it's certainly do able." He told us. I couldn't help but smile. This really was my family and now I would officially be a part of it. The whole Queen thing is still terrifying me but with Ben's help I could get through it, I know I could.
"When will you be announcing your engagement? It will have to be soon with the time frame you have set." Belle asked us as she leaning into Adam. It made sense. But Ben beat her to a response. "I was thinking instead of doing an interview of posting a picture online since almost the entire kingdom follow me on SpellBook anyway and we could maybe have a ball to celebrate?" The last part Ben asked directly to me.
I nodded to my fiancee, god that was weird to say before turning to Belle. "As long as when it's being planned both our colours are involved in the decorations and the same goes for the wedding." I told everyone. It was my only condition/demand for the wedding.
Not long after we moved into Adam's study to plan things out more. After a while of talking about the ball we all decided on Sunday since we had a long weekend and the Halloween dance was on Friday. It was then I realised I had ten minutes to get to Fairy Godmothers office for my magic lesson. We couldn't put it off for another week. "I'm sorry, I have to go to magic class." I told the trio sat with me. Ben and Belle nodded before Adam spoke. "Do you need a car or someone to walk with you?" He asked me. Urgh, here we go with the not going anywhere on my own again. I honestly hadn't expected him to stick to that. "No thanks, Adam. I'm just going to transport there. I will text you once I am there." I waited long enough to see him nod before I disappeared.
Author's Note: I am sorry for the length between the last chapter and this one. I'm not 100% confident with this chapter but I hope you like it. Please let me know what you guys think.