Author's Note: This will include the prompt I received from silverwolf on Gaining a Family. Hope you guys like this chapter x
Mal's POV.
I was regretting agreeing to this already and we had only been out for about half an hour. Ben, mom and dad had convinced me that it would be a good idea to get some baby shopping done. Now the actual baby shopping I have no issues with but I don't understand why they picked Christmas Eve. The crowd out doing what I can only assume is last minute Christmas shopping is absolutely insane. How this many people are not prepared for Christmas yet is beyond me. Combine the large crowds with the fact that the four of us have six guards with us and it becomes almost impossible to move at a decent speed.
Thankfully we came to a store I had wanted to visit the other day but I thought it would be better if I waited until Ben was with me to start baby shopping. I pulled on Ben's hand and gestured I wanted to go in. He realized rather quickly what I meant and the four of us headed into the small store. To my great relief only one guard followed us inside. I know the guards are here to protect us but it's a little smothering at times.
Dad picked up a basket just in case and we started looking around. There are so many things we need to buy, I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed. But with Ben and our parents I quickly realise they are actually willing to buy anything I want for the babies. So as we walk around instead of saying something is nice and one of them putting it in the basket I've simply started throwing it in the basket myself.
After grabbing what feels like way too many bottles and pacifiers we came to the clothes section and I couldn't help but 'aww' at the small sizes. I picked up a couple of baby grows, mittens, hats and socks all in white and cream (neutral colours) but as we carried on walking around I spotted the cute gender specific clothes. It was in that moment I decided there was no way I could wait until the babies were born to find out the gender. I am finding out in a months time.
After paying for what we had bought Kyle took our bags to the car while the other guards walked around with us.
"Hey kids." Mom called out to us. We stopped and turned to face our parents. "How about looking in there?" She asked. We glanced over at where she was pointing and found a cute little furniture store. I nodded before leading the way across the street but as I was about to enter I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, like I was being watched. I just hoped it wasn't the villains. I think I'm the only magic user in Auradon right now and I can't cope with them all by myself.
Shaking off the feeling I walked through the door to the furniture store. As I looked around I noticed immediately that everything was hand made. I couldn't help but run my hand over the smooth wood of the chest of drawers.
"Your majesties." An older man said as he walked towards us, bowing slightly as he did.
"Geppetto." Mom greeted him warmly while she briefly hugged him. "You know my son Ben and this is Mal." She introduced us to the elderly man. To my surprise he turned and hugged us both.
"Of course how lovely to meet you in person. What can I do for you?" He asked me directly.
"Erm... Well I was hoping to see some of the baby furniture you have in." I told him. I knew what I wanted but I didn't know what it would look like if he made it. I clutched my sketch pad in my hands a little tighter. I had sketch the type of baby furniture I wanted in the car on the way here hoping to find something similar hopefully now I may get exactly what I want for the twins.
"Of course. Did you have anything specific in mind?" Geppetto asked me before looking down at my sketch pad. I opened it to the design for the crib and chest of drawers and handed it to him. "These are very detailed." He stated, smiling at me. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Would you be able to make two of each?" Ben asked as he moved to stand next to me. I instinctively leaned into his side. Just as Geppetto started nodding a commotion outside with the guards drew our attention. Ben ran outside, our parents following.
"Mal stay here where it's safe." Dad said as he followed mom out of the store. Like hell. I thought to myself. After a few minutes I moved to follow them.
"It must be one of Shere Khan's cubs!" One of the guards shouted. I felt my breath catch in my throat. It wasn't possible, was it. As I side stepped around a few observers I finally got a a glimpse at what the guards were fighting. Sure enough it was a tiger.
"Stop!" I shouted as I pushed through a few civilians. My eyes widened at the sight of the tiger in front of me.
"Your majesty it's not safe for you to be this close to this animal." Ron said as he gently grabbed my arm ready to pull me away. But as he did this a growl was heard from the tiger who had turned to face me. I would know that growl anywhere.
I went to step forward but felt Ron's grip tighten on my arm. "Let my arm go." I practically ordered him. I could tell he was reluctant but after a few minuted he released my arm and I walked towards the tiger, gasps being heard from everyone. "Shelby?" I asked. At the sound of my voice the tiger walked forward and sat in front of me. "Hi." I greeted her as I stroked her on the top of her head. I have regretted leaving her behind since I got here.
"Mal?" Ben said as he walked forward, our parents not far behind. Shelby started growling again trying to protect me.
"Hey Shelby, it's okay. That's Ben. His my husband." I explained to her. She stopped growling at him but cocked her head to the side a little looking at him. "Ben this is Shelby. She's Shere Khan's daughter. She was left alone at a few weeks old to fend for herself. I found her and took her in." I explained. A look of understanding crossed all their faces.
"So this is why you regretted leaving the isle?" Mom asked. I couldn't help but nod.
"Okay well why don't we head home and we can get Shelby here something to eat." Dad suggested and we all nodded before heading back to the car.
After an early dinner tonight I was just about ready to turn in. I am sat in my studio/study wrapping the last of Ben's presents with Shelby laid beside me. She hadn't left my side since being in town. It was kinda nice to have this time with her again. The couple of presents left to wrap that I got him from the twins when I heard a knock at the door. I quickly covered the last present I had to wrap before calling "come in." to whoever was at the door.
I turned and watched as the door opened to reveal my siblings. "Oh my god guys!" I exclaimed as I god up and hugged them. "I didn't think you would be back until Boxing Day."
"Well Belle rung and said she had a little something for us so she asked us to come get you." Jay explained.
"Is that Shelby?" Evie asked. I nodded to her briefly before she went okay and hugged Shelby. I couldn't help but smile. It was crazy. Shelby being here. Maybe I should question how she got off the isle but right now I couldn't care less.
"We should go before Belle comes looking." Carlos said. We all agreed before following our youngest sibling out of the room. Once we were all out of the room I locked the door with my magic and we went to find my parents.
It only took us a few minutes to locate them in the family room with Ben. I quickly took the empty seat next to Ben and curled into his side. "Hi." I whispered to him as I got comfy. He didn't respond verbally he just smiled down at me and kissed the top of my head. I couldn't suppress the yawn even if I tried.
"Tired?" Mom asked me. I nodded my answer to her. "This'll be quick I promise." She told me before she handed out small boxes. I looked at it rather curiously but didn't open it. I watched as she gave my sibling a box similar to the one I was holding. The only difference was the colour of the ribbon that was tied around the box.
"So we do this every year." Dad started to explain. "Each year we buy a new tree ornament that represents the past year. This year we decided since you four are our kids now we bought one for each of you as well." He told us. I couldn't help but be surprised that they had included the four of us in this.
"Open them." Mom said and me, Evie, Carlos and Jay shared a look before opening the ribbon on the boxes. I watched as Ben opened his and saw a replica of his crown with a ring around it. Evie opened hers next and pulled out an ornament that was shaped like a chemistry set. Carlos pulled out an ornament shaped like Dude and Jay pulled out on that was shaped like a tourney kit. Before I knew it everyone was looking at me to see mine. I took the top off the box and found a beautiful dark purple heart with two babies in the centre surrounded by a gold ring. The sight of it brought a smile to my face.
"Why don't you go put them on the tree." Mom suggested. The five of us nodded and Ben helped me up off the couch. Damn I hate the size of my stomach. I'm only four months along and I look more like six months. I gave him a quick kiss before walking over to join the others at the tree.
I placed mine at the top and watched as the others placed theirs around mine. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of the ornaments on the tree. I know they always said they classed us as family but them including us in things like this just kinda makes it all real. I turned and smiled at our parent, noticing mom had her phone out, before I yawned again.
"I think I'm going to finish in my studio then turn in." I told them. The faster I wrapped that last present the faster I could do to sleep. I'm knackered.
"Okay, Mal. I'll be in my study. Come get me when your done." Ben told me. I nodded to him before leaving the room with a last hug to my siblings and parents.
Author's Note: So just a quick response to a review left by Anna, obviously this is the next update to Family & Revenge and Back To The Beginning will be updated tonight. I apologise for not updating this story sooner. I hit a little bit of writer's block with it but it will be updated tonight. So I hope you guys like this chapter. Please leave me a review and let me know what you think x