Mal's POV.
Sat in the limo with the rest of the girls, mom and Jasmine, I couldn't help but let my mind wander to this morning. I woke up this morning with one thing on my mind. I marry Ben tomorrow. Yeah, I know I'm becoming one of those annoying people who counts down the days until they're married but I can't help it. I'm so excited to marry Ben.
I was brought from my thoughts by an extremely loud "Oh my God!" I spun my head around to find the sound had come from Audrey. The car had come to a stop outside the spa Belle had booked for the entire day for us. "This is the best spa and nail salon in Auradon. How did you manage to book this for the entire day!? It's impossible to even get an hour booking." Audrey asked Belle. Mom just smiled at her and looked like she was about to say something but Evie beat her to it.
"Obviously rules and bookings don't apply for the current and future Queen of Auradon." Evie joked causing us all to laugh. I got out of the car as a second car pulled up. I looked over while the others climbed out and found Snow White getting out of the other car. I smiled at her happy she could come not only because she was my mom's other best friend but also because Evie would love it. Evie was always phoning, texting or skyping Snow White since our engagement ball and the two had grown very close. I hadn't told Evie she would be coming, since Snow White wasn't 1-% sure she would be able to make it, so when she got out of the car my sister said "M? What are you smiling at?" She hadn't even looked over in that direction yet thankfully so I just pointed at Snow White alerting Evie to her presence. I had to actually cover my ears with my hands at the squeal Evie let out of her mouth.
I shared a smile with my mom as Evie ran to give her sister a hug. I'm glad Evie had developed a good connection with her sister. I know when we were growing up and she learnt of her mother's history she always wanted to meet Snow White.
I linked my arm with Belle's as we all headed into the building. We were met by a tall blonde woman who curtsied to myself and mom as we walked in, probably more to mom then me to be honest. "Your Majesty, Lady Mal." She greeted us. "How are you both today?" She asked us both as I heard the others enter behind us. Either Snow White or Jasmine must have entered behind us as the woman curtsied once again before turning back to us.
"We're fine. Thank you." Belle answered for us.
"Are you excited for tomorrow, Lady Mal?" She asked me. It took me a second to register she had asked me a direct question.
"Oh, yeah. Of course." I answered. "I can't wait." In truth tomorrow couldn't come fast enough although the thought of being queen was still terrifying to me. But I know Ben and our parents will be there to help me through it. The woman nodded to me and smiled.
"Well the spa and nail salon are yours for the day as you know. If you have any problems please don't hesitate to come and find me or just ask a member of staff for Kirsty." She told us before gesturing us through the double doors behind her and leaving.
We all walked through the double doors Kirsty had pointed too and I could easily hear the girls talking behind me. What worried me though was that I knew from internet research that not all spa treatments were safe while pregnant but I didn't know which ones to avoid. I leant a little closer to mom. "How do I know what's safe and what isn't?" I asked her.
She clearly knew what I meant since she just smiled at me. "I have given them specific instructions not to give you those treatments. Obviously I didn't tell them I did a little research and told them not to allow you to take part in those as you had very sensitive skin." I smiled at her. I really should have known mom would have thought of something. She never is one to walk into a situation blind. I shot her a grateful look before turning to the girls.
"Oh M, this place is amazing." Evie exclaimed.
"Yeah, it really is." Jane voiced her agreement. I had to agree with them both the place was lovely. Although how I was going to hide my bump I didn't know yet. I mean if I didn't have on a jumper that was like three sizes too big all the girls would know by now.
I quickly decided to go and get my nails done first. Since I was considering acrylics I would need a day to get used to them. I turned and started to walk towards the nail salon area but was quickly stopped my a voice. "Where are you going Mal?" I turned and found it was Ellie that had asked me. Evie was talking to Snow White, Mom and Jasmine had disappeared and I know Audrey, Jane and Lonnie wanted massages but since I had said no to that earlier (due to my bump) they were already heading there.
"Oh, sorry. Just going to get my nails done for tomorrow." I explained to them. I felt kinda bad. I had asked them to come then just tried to walk off knowing they were still a little closed off around us all.
"Mind if we come with you?" Ali asked me gesturing between herself, Ellie and Kristin.
"Of course I don't." I told them causing them all to smile and start walking towards me. "E? You coming?" I asked knowing she also wanted her nails doing.
"I'll meet up with you later if that's okay, Mal? Me and Snow are going to get massages as well." Evie explained. I couldn't help but smile at how close the two were becoming. It was a lovely sight to see.
"It's fine, E. You go. Have fun." I told her before starting to walk away from her, Ellie, Kristin and Ali right behind me.
As I opened the door I let the other three go first and they all went and sat down. I quickly checked my oversized jumper to make sure I wasn't showing and of my bump before entering myself. What was totally weird was the four members of staff in the room curtsied as I walked in. I checked behind me to see if maybe Mom or Jasmine had entered behind me without me realising but was puzzled when I found the space empty. I shrugged it off and took the empty seat between Ellie and Ali, Kristin had chosen to sit the other side of her cousin.
"So are you excited for tomorrow, Mal?" Ellie asked me as I placed my hands on the table and the woman sprayed them with a little antiseptic spray. "It's okay if I ask right?" She asked and I noticed out of the corner of my eyes the other two turned to look at me at the sound of that question.
"Course it's okay. When will you three realize your our friends and you can ask us anything you like." I told them. Hopefully over the course of the day their hesitance around us would disappear. "And yes. I am beyond excited to marry Ben tomorrow." I told Ellie. I then noticed the woman had stopped working on my nails and turned to look at her.
"Sorry Lady Mal but you haven't actually told me what you would like." She explained why she had stopped a little shyly. I hadn't even realized that.
"Sorry. Acrylics please with a purple nail varnish base coat and a blue and yellow design on them." I told her. I felt bad for not explaining what I wanted. The other girls obviously had since their nails were being furiously filed and shaped. The woman, who's name tag read Charlie, nodded before beginning to file my nails and shape them a little.
"So, how are you girls liking Auradon?" I asked the three of them. They had only transferred to Auradon Prep in September when the new semester started.
"It's certainly different to school in Arrendale." Ellie told me.
"Yeah, it's a lot more laid back here and even though people here still don't like what Aunt Elsa did they don't make fun of us or insult her here." Kristin told me. I nodded to her knowing exactly what it was like to be thought of the same was your family was thought of after they did something bad or something they couldn't control. Me and my siblings could easily relate to that.
"I love being here. There's more course choices here." Ali said. "And I get to spend more time with Jordan now. She was my best friend growing up and I hated when she came here but I had to go to Agrabah Academy. My grandpa said being princess I had to at least try it out." She explained.
Sensing a change of topic would be useful right about now I decided to ask them something else. "So you girls are staying for the reception tomorrow right?" I knew they would be at they wedding but the reception wasn't a big deal to some. I had been hoping to get them on their own to ask yesterday but after Leah it just didn't happen.
"Of course." The three of them said in unison.
"We wouldn't miss it." Ellie added.
I smiled at them and continued making small talk while we had our nails done. The more I talked to them the more relaxed they became and I knew then I had made the right decision inviting them today. A bonding day like this was all we needed for them to realise how much we valued their friendship. Once my nails were finished I thanked Charlie since she had done a fantastic job and left with the three others who had decided to wait until I was finished before leaving.
As we walked back out to the 'lounge' type area we noticed everyone was there. Even mom and Jasmine had shown up from wherever they had disappeared to. We walked over and I automatically sat between my mom and Evie. "Why are we all sat out here?" I asked no one in-particular.
Surprisingly it was Jasmine who responded to my question. "Well they're bring out lunch since it's past twelve then we were all thinking of getting in the plunge pool. If your up to it?" She explained as some of the members of staff including Charlie brought out some food for us. I didn't know what to say to that. I hadn't brought any type of swim suit of bikini because I was wanting to avoid showing off my bump. Both me and Ben had agreed to wait until after our wedding before showing off my bump but could I really say no? I was just so damn confused right now. I decided to just ring Ben and see what he said. It was only a day early so I really didn't see the harm. Especially since my bump would be on show all day tomorrow anyway since the dress is skin tight.
"Excuse me a moment." I said as I pulled my phone from my pocket. Quickly walking over to the furthest corner away from the group I dialled Ben's number and just hoped he wasn't too busy to talk.
"Mal? Is everything okay?" Ben asked me after picking up his phone almost immediately.
"Yeah, I guess." I told him not quite sure how to tell him why I had rung. I mean it would probably just sound pathetic to him right?
"What's wrong?" Ben questioned his concern clear in his voice.
"Nothing it's just Jasmine wants us all to go in this plunge pool thing and I don't know if I should." I explained to him.
"Why don't you know if you should?" Of course Ben wouldn't get why it was bothering me. He was unbelievably thoughtful but sometimes could be so clueless.
"Because it will show off my baby bump. It's not like I'm ashamed of the twins or anything like that it's just we agreed to wait until after the wedding to have the kingdom find out about the pregnancy." I rambled out in one breath.
"Mal, I don't care if you want to show off your bump. I will be incredibly proud of you for doing so when people like Leah are always trying to tear you down." Ben said. I was about to reply when he carried on talking. "Wait, is this why you have started wearing baggy clothes and having Evie make your dresses looser?" He questioned.
"Yes." I admitted. It was all I said I really didn't know what else to say.
"Just go and enjoy yourself, okay? Don't worry about people finding out. No one there will say anything anyway." Ben stated. I realised then how ridiculous I was being. I trusted these people. They were my closest friends and my family so why the hell am I hiding my babies!?
"Okay. Thanks Ben. Love you." I said.
No worries. Love you too." He replied before hanging up the phone.
I walked back over to the group who were all looking in my direction and probably had been since I left to ring Ben.
"Mal, I'm sorry if I upset you. If you don't want to go in you obviously don't have to." Jasmine apologised.
"You have nothing to apologise for." I told her as I sat back down between Mom and Evie. "Honestly." I added after seeing her face. "I'd love to go in but I had nothing to wear."
"Actually I brought your purple bikini just in case." Evie told me. So that's why she had a slightly larger bag then normal. That little sneak. I couldn't stay mad at her though she was just looking out for me and making sure I was prepared for anything I wanted to do.
Barely an hour later everyone else was in the plunge pool and I was still in the small changing cubicle looking at my reflection. I had changed into my bikini and only now did I realize just how big my bump had gotten. It was clear to see I was carrying twins. Taking a breath I stepped out of the cubicle ready to face everyone in the pool but I instinctively ran a hand over my bump. I was shocked however to find my mom still in the room.
"Mom, you okay?" I asked her. I thought she would have left with Jasmine and Snow White when the other girls left.
"Yeah, I just thought you might like a bit of company for you first time showing of your bump." She explained and I couldn't help but smile. I felt myself relaxing already knowing mom would be right next to me the entire time. There was no way she would let anyone say anything out of order to me. It was then I noticed the fact she was in a bikini similar to my own.
"One of Evie's creations?" I asked gesturing to her swimwear.
"Of course. Who else?" She asked making me chuckle a little. It's true only Evie would design something like this for the Queen of Auradon. Other tailors would be too scared of getting in trouble or sacked to even ask about something like this. "Now, lets go show the girls your beautiful little beastie and faerie." Mom said but as she said their nicknames I felt a little flutter in my stomach.
"Wow" I breathed out and placed my hand over my swollen belly.
"Mal, you okay?" Mom asked. She was by my side in a heartbeat.
"Yeah. I just got this weird feeling in my stomach when you mentioned the twins." I told her.
"What kind of feeling?" She asked, I could see her concern but I don't think it's anything bad. I mean if anything was wrong with the twins I would have pain right?
"It was like a fluttering. Like I literally had butterflies in my stomach." It was the only way I could think of to explain it. Because that is what it felt like. I noticed the concern fall from my mom's face and she began to smile.
"Oh Mal, that's great. The babies are starting to move around." She told me. I couldn't help but match her smile as my brain registered what she was saying. I had read about this and I know that means the babies are fine. The stress caused by everyone and everything going on lately hadn't affected them and I was beyond happy right now.
"Let's go." I said as I once again linked my arm with hers and we headed out to the plunge pool wearing matching smiles. I just hoped Ben would be around the first time they kicked. He would be gutted if he missed that.
The closer he got to the pool the more people noticed us. We had walked around to where Evie was and as I stopped next to her and sat on the edge of the pool ready to slide in I heard a few "Oh my God's." From various people. Evie simply smiled at me as I slid in next to her, Mom doing the same on the opposite side to Evie.
"Wait, your pregnant!?" Jasmine stated/asked. I just nodded to her as I turned to face her. I was expecting to be met with angry or even repulsion but what I saw was the same thing I saw in mom's eyes when she looked at me, care and love. "I guess a congratulations are in order then." She said. I couldn't help but smile at her. She truly wasn't like some of the more 'old fashioned' royals. Then again this is the princess who fell in love with an orphan when there was a law that she had to marry a prince.
Ali, Kristin and Snow White also offered me their congratulations but it was easy to see they were shocked. Yet when I turned to Ellie she seemed perfectly calm. "Congrats." She said to me.
However, my curiosity got the better of me and I couldn't help but say to her. "You don't seem very shocked Ellie."
She just chuckled slightly before responding to me. "Well Ben and the others have been around you a lot more the past month or so and have been a lot more protective of you. You being pregnant was the only thing that made sense for this change." She explained and I couldn't help but chuckle along with her. They were all being very obvious and come to think of it I'm surprised the entire school didn't already know.
"Yeah they could have been a little more subtle, couldn't they." I joked with Ellie sending mock glares to Evie, Jane, Lonnie and Audrey. We all shared a laugh at this before Evie decided to 'defend' their actions.
"Hey we had to protect you and the little beastie and faerie, didn't we." She said sending me a playful glare of her own.
"Beastie and faerie?" Kristin questioned. I was glad they were joking around about this with us. I just proved they were becoming more comfortable around us. I couldn't help but laugh at the way she had said their nicknames but I couldn't stop laughing to explain their names.
Thankfully mom took over for me. "Yes. They decided since Ben inherited some of Adam's 'beastly tendencies' and Mal is half faerie they would nickname their babies their little beastie and faerie." She explained to the group and no one had a straight face once she had finished. Even mom herself was laughing. After that the conversation turned to more small talk and getting to know each other better.
After a while in the plunge pool we all decided to get a facial before heading back home. I knew everyone would be staying there tonight, even Lonnie, so it made getting home a lot easier. After getting out of the pool I had decided to leave my jumper off and just wear my vest top for the rest of the day. Since we weren't expecting anyone and most of the other royals now knew about the pregnancy I saw no harm in it. Although I did see a fair few people (Jasmine, Snow White and surprisingly Evie) stealing glances at my stomach. It was a little annoying but hey there's nothing I can do about them looking. However, when they start touching my stomach that is an entirely different matter. People will lose hands if they try touching me without asking.
We got home in what felt like minutes but in reality was over half an hour. I was just so damn tired. It felt like I hadn't slept for 48 hours but in actual fact it was only tea time and I had woken up late this morning. This pregnancy was really taking it's toll on me but I wouldn't change a minute of it. As we walked through the castle doors we were immediately stopped by Mrs Potts. "Belle, Mal, Snow, Jasmine your needed in the council meeting room by Ben."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I knew exactly why we were needed there and could explain it in one word. Leah. Why she couldn't just leave us alone I had no idea.
"Do you know why Mrs Potts?" I heard Mom ask.
She was about to reply when I cut her off. "I think the answer is pretty obvious. Queen Leah. And let me guess she's trying one last time to stop our wedding?" I asked Mrs Potts directly. A look of shock crossed her face, no doubt because my first guess at what was going on was the correct one. She nodded to me and I walked off in the direction of the meeting room knowing if I didn't get there soon Ben would most likely say something he would later regret. I hadn't noticed Mom, Jasmine, Snow White, Evie and Audrey following me though. I was much to determined to get to Ben.
Lumière was stood at the doors when I walked down the corridor and made a move to open the door and announce us but I just walked straight by and walked through the door as quietly as possible.
"How can you call yourself a good father when you are letting your son marry that evil faerie! That thing doesn't even deserve to be alive let alone be allowed anywhere near Ben or the crown!" Queen Leah shouted.
"Enough, Queen Leah! How dare you say such things!" Dad all but actually roared as he responded to her with such temper it honestly scared me, and it wasn't even directed at me. Once the shouting had stopped it took me a second to realize I had entered the room at the opposite end to Ben but once people noticed I was there I had everyone's attention or it would be fair to say my swollen stomach had everyone's attention.
In my haste to get to Ben I had forgotten to put my jumper back on. If at all possibly I think I saw Queen Leah get even more mad then she already was but I really didn't care. I was just focused on Ben. I walked towards him not even realizing the others had followed my across the room until they got to their seats.
As I reached Ben I placed my hand on his arm. He was leaning on the table and his grip on the edge of the table was that tight his knuckles were going white. "Ben, calm down. This won't help anything." I whispered to him. Thanks to my sensitive faerie hearing I heard our Mom say similar things to our Dad and they both seemed to calm, but not much. Ben turned to face me and he smiled realizing I was just in my vest top. He placed a brief kiss on my lips and placed his hand on my stomach. This seemed to calm him down significantly until Leah spoke again.
"What the hell is that!" She screamed at us, pointing at my stomach.
I saw Ben tense, the anger returning quickly to his face, even Dad's anger seemed to flare back up as she spoke. Jesus what had she said before we got here. I decided to answer her before either of them said something they regretted. "Funny, I would think you would recognize a baby bump when you see one." I stated in the calmest voice I could muster. It wasn't until I heard muffled giggles coming from behind me that I realized someone had followed me. I turned and found Evie and Audrey stood there.
"Is this why you are marrying that thing, Ben?" She asked him, completely disregarding my statement. "Because it is pregnant? How can you even be sure it's yours! Her mother slept with half the damn royals in the kingdom what makes you think she isn't just as much of a slut!" She shouted. That was when all hell broke loose. Evie and Audrey had to leap forward to help me hold Ben back and luckily Fairy Godmother was there and able to help Mom hold Dad back. Both were in what I can only describe as beast mode and both looked ready to kill. Thankfully, for some reason Leah, Aurora and Philip were sat at the opposite side to our parents. If they were sat in their usual seats at the same side I don't think anyone would have been able to stop Dad from getting to her.
"Enough!" I shouted having stopped trying to hold Ben back. The other two girls seemed to be handling it fine. Both guys seemed to calm slightly at the sound of my voice. "Does anyone else share the opinion of Queen Leah?" I asked the table and everyone shook their heads, even Aurora and Philip who gained a rather dirty look from Leah for having a different opinion to that of her own.
Satisfied they were telling the truth I continued talking to Queen Leah. How I was remaining this calm was completely beyond me but I am not about to let her get to me. "Queen Leah, may I remind you that I am currently engaged to Ben and tomorrow will marry him and be coronated as Queen of Auradon. Making me by extension your Queen." I stated. "While you may not like me for whatever reason I will tell you this and consider it a warning. Should I ever hear you say one derogatory term to or about me or my family I can promise you, you will be stripped of you title so fast it will make your head spin and your Kingdom will pass to Princess Aurora and Prince Philip, as according to Auradon and Auroria laws it should have been passed to them years ago." I told her not missing the way her face had fallen. Both she and I knew what I had said was right. It was for reason like this I was taking Poly Sci (Political Science), Auradon History and History of Auradon Royals and I have never been more thankful that I actually pay attention in classes now.
"You do not have that kind of power." She stated sounding a lot more confident then she probably felt.
"No, I don't." I said but carried on when I saw that smug smile returning. "But as I said my coronation as Queen will happen tomorrow immediately after the wedding ceremony and I will have the power to make it happen then. I wouldn't push me if I were you, Queen Leah because you will not get a second warning." I told her. I didn't miss the proud look on my families faces not the shocked yet agreeing faces of the other royals.
"Now if you don't mind it's the night before my wedding and I would like to spend some time with my fiancée and family." I stated. Hearing no objections I grabbed Ben's arm and pulled him from the room, our parents, Evie and Audrey following us.
"Oh my God, M! That was amazing!" Evie said before quickly hugging me.
"Yeah, I've never seen anyone put Grammie in her place like that." Audrey told me before she too hugged me.
"Spoken like a true Queen." Mom stated. She didn't hug me as she still had a grip on Dad's arms, probably to keep him from going back and killing Queen Leah.
"Yeah well I've had enough of her crap lately. It was time to take some action." I explained to them. The sound of mine and Mom's voices were enough to bring the boys out of their beast mode before they hugged us. "You sure you have to go Ben?" I asked, knowing him, our Dad and the boys were staying at a hotel tonight.
"Yeah, we have to at least keep the not seeing the bride before the wedding tradition don't we? I mean everything else is out of the window." He said making us all laugh.
"Okay." I said before giving him a kiss. "See you at the alter." I said to him before him and Dad went to find the other boys before leaving. I couldn't help the sigh that escaped my lips as I watched them walk away. I knew it would only be a few hours but I knew I would miss Ben greatly, I always did but the pregnancy had intensified those feelings and I knew I would struggle to get to sleep tonight. But I also couldn't wait for tomorrow. I'm going to marry the best thing that ever happened to me and not even Queen Leah and all her crazy accusations could stop me feeling happy.
Me and the girls continued the rest of the night in high spirits. We sat and watched a few films in our pyjamas before we all headed to bed but once the other girls had left I found myself saying something I honestly never thought I would say. "Mom?" I said to gain her attention. She turned to face me as fast as possible a questioning look on her face. "Would you maybe be okay with erm... staying with me for a bit?" I asked her.
I didn't miss the shocked look that crossed her face before she replied. "Of course Mal. Come on sweetie." She followed me into mine and Ben's room and I quickly went to the toilet knowing it wouldn't make a difference and I would still be up in a few hours anyway.
When I came out of the bathroom I noticed Mom was sat with her back against the headboard of the bed. She patted and space next to her and I half laid on the bed half laid on her and cuddled into her. I felt my eyes began to droop as soon as I found a comfy position and Mom started running her hands through my hair. What I didn't realize was that Mom was almost asleep as well.
"Night Mom." I whispered.
"Goodnight sweetheart." She responded before I drifted off into sleep.
Author's Note: I hope you like this chapter. I realize not a lot happened in it but I figured the girls all need a break from the stress and some bonding time. The next chapter will be Ben and Mal's wedding along with Mal's coronation as Queen. If there is anything you would like to see happen let me know and I will try and include it if it fits with the story's timeline and plot.
I would also like to thank everyone for all your lovely reviews. But I would like to give a huge thank you to PinkSakura271, Kingson24601, Dreamer447 and Boris Yeltsin for their continued support on not only this story but my others as well. Your reviews/PM's have been amazing and so encouraging. They have made my day so thank you.
Please leave me a review and let me know what you think. x