The car ride to Auroria had been troublesome to say the least. Mal had been having Braxton Hicks contractions all the way there, couple that with the twins being extremely restless and Mal not having enough sleep and she'd had enough. Mal was five weeks away from her due date and it couldn't come fast enough. But she also didn't mind coping with this as long as they were happy and healthy.
As the car pulled up outside Castle Beauty, Mal immediately opened the door and climbed out. Usually she waited for Kyle to open the door but she wanted out of the car as fast as possible, she knew they were running late. Once Ben was out of the car they took hold of each other's hands and headed inside the castle as fast as Mal's pregnant stomach would allow. It took them a while but eventually they came to the familiar doors leading to the ball room.
Slipping inside they were immediately met with all their friends and family, baring their parents. Mal looked around and found all their friend. Audrey and Jay were stood with Carlos & Jane, Chad & Freddie and Diego. Aurora and Philip were talking to Evie & Doug, Cinderella & Charming and Holly. Lonnie & Aziz, Ellie, Kristin, Aaron, Alison and various other royals could be seen around the room. What worried Mal was that Queen Leah was nowhere to be seen.
The young royals quickly found themselves wrapped in a hug by the brunette princess. "Hey! So glad your here." Audrey told the two as she took a step back and Jay hugged his sister and brother-in-law.
"Sorry we're late, we hit a ton of traffic." Ben informed the brunette. He was annoyed they had been late but he knew they couldn't have controlled it. Mal had offered to simply transport them but with Mal only being five weeks away from her due date Ben didn't want her using magic unless it was necessary. But both Jay and Audrey nodded to the couple, showing they understood. It was beyond anyone's control.
Before long the party was in full swing. Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves, Audrey and Jay were simply glowing with happiness and their friends couldn't be happier for them. It seemed the two brunette's truly were made for each other. Leaning into Ben's side Mal watched her friend and brother dancing together at their engagement party. The couples happiness was radiating off of them. They were currently slow dancing with each other and no matter how much applause came from the crowd the two teens only had eyes for one another.
As the dance came to an end everyone applauded them and the DJ. Mal was smiling from ear to ear at how happy the pair looked. But as everyone's attention was on Audrey and Jay her attention was drawn to the ball room door, where Leah was standing. The purplette watched as the former Queen got Aurora and Philips attention, beckoning them over and leading them from the room. Mal had a feeling she knew what they were going to be talking about and she had two options, tell Audrey or leave it and hope she was wrong.
It didn't take long for Mal to decide as she turned her head back and saw Audrey walking towards them. She quickly took the brunette's arm and led her from the ballroom, confusing both Audrey and Ben. Audrey followed without question but one look from Mal and Ben stayed where he was. He knew she needed to talk to Audrey alone and respected that, even if he was worried.
Mal led Audrey out of the ballroom and into the nearest door which happened to be the library. After a quick scan to ensure no one else was in the room Mal turned to face the confused brunette. "I think Leah and your parents know." Mal stated and Audrey's confusion quickly changed to worry.
"What do you mean?" She asked the purplette.
Sighing Mal locked her eyes onto Audreys. "Leah hasn't been in the ballroom all night and a few minutes ago she pulled your parents out of the ballroom as well." She explained, but before Audrey could respond the library door burst open. Acting on reflex Mal turned as fast as she could and placed herself between Audrey and whoever had just entered the room, the purplette frowned as her eyes landed an Leah, Aurora and Philip. None of them looked happy at the moment and Mal knew this wouldn't go very well.
The purple haired teen noticed Leah glaring at her but chose to ignore it. "Excuse me but you need to leave. We need to have a talk with my granddaughter." The woman practically ordered the pregnant teen. Mal however simply returned the former Queen's glare before turning to face Audrey.
"Your call, Audrey." She told the brunette. "If you want me to stay I will." Mal's green eyes locked onto Audrey's worried brown ones. The brunette teen nodded and took a step closer to Mal, as she turned to face the three adults. "I'm staying." She stated. The purplette took Audrey's hand to support her as she took a breath and looked at her family.
Once she had taken a deep breath Audrey spoke. "What do you want to talk about?" She asked her parents and Grammie. She had a good feeling but she wasn't about to mention the baby in case they were on about something else. Although from the shock on her parents faces Audrey knew this was about her being pregnant.
The two teens attention remained on Leah as Aurora and Philip seemed to shocked to even move. "Are you pregnant?" Leah asked. Both girls were surprised at how bluntly she had asked the question and while Mal wanted to shout at the former Queen for speaking to her friend like that she bit her tongue and let Audrey handle it. She didn't want to interfere unless it was necessary.
"Yes." The brunette princess stated, hating the way her parents faces fell into disbelief. Although her Grammie's face was hard to read. Audrey couldn't tell what the old woman was thinking and she didn't have to wait long to find out.
Leah scoffed at the brunette before speaking to her. "How could you!?" She shouted at Audrey, confusing the two teens. "How could you be so stupid and irresponsible!? Do you realise the shame that will befall this family!? You need to have that thing taken care of and fast." Leah told her granddaughter. Neither teen could believe what they had just heard. It angered Mal to no end and Audrey started crying upon hearing what she had said.
"That thing?" Audrey whispered to herself as she unconsciously placed a hand on her stomach, but Mal standing so close and having fairy hearing heard the brunette perfectly.
Mal felt her anger rise even more at the sight of tears falling down Audrey's face. How anyone could say that to a pregnant woman was beyond her and while Leah had said many horrible things to Mal throughout her pregnancy the purplette never thought she would say such a thing to her granddaughter. Placing a protective hand on her large baby bump Mal moved so she was stood slightly in front of Audrey. "I'm sorry but it sounded as if you just insinuated your granddaughter should abort her baby." Mal said, wanting the old woman to admit to it before she ripped her a new one.
Clearing her throat Leah responded "Not that it's any of your business but yes, I did."
"Not my business!" Mal shouted, not caring if anyone heard her at the moment. "Like hell it isn't! It most certainly is my business when your making one of my best friends and someone I class as my sister cry because your stuck in the past and care more about your families reputation then your daughters happiness!" The purplette ranted. "Who in their right mind tells their granddaughter to abort their baby! Maybe Audrey doesn't want to get rid of her baby, maybe she wants to keep it and raise it! Did you ever think about that!?"
Leah scoffed at the purplette's rant before turning her glare towards her granddaughter. "If she wants to continue to be a part of this family and live under this roof then she will get rid of it." She stated like it was the easiest thing in the world.
What surprised Mal was that Audrey stepped past her and towards her grandmother. "I'm keeping my baby Grammie. It's my decision not yours." She said, her voice strong and unwavering. Faster then either teen could react Leah's hand collided with the Audrey's face, causing a scream of pain to come from the brunette.
Mal quickly reached out and moved Audrey back towards her. "You ungrateful little witch! We gave you everything you could ever want and this is how you repay us! Get the hell out of this castle! I don't want to see you again!" Leah shouted.
Audrey nodded slowly to her grandmother before turning to Mal with worried and scared eyes. "Don't worry Audrey, you can come stay with me and Ben. Go get Ben and Jay to help you pack what you need and take it to the car. I'll be there in a minute." She said, watching carefully as the brunette slipped past her family and out the door. Mal kept the three adult where they were using her magic so they couldn't get near the brunette. She really wanted to slam the former Queen into the wall but resisted the urge. She hadn't chosen good to them hurt someone like that, even if she did deserve it. Once she knew Audrey was safely out of the room Mal dropped the magical barrier and rounded on the three adults. "How could you do that! I always knew you were evil but to do that to your own family!? And how the hell can you two just stand there while she kicks you daughter out of her home!?" Mal began ranting again her anger getting the better of her.
What angered her more was Aurora and Philips lack of reaction to the fact they just watched the pregnant daughter get kicked out. "You know what, with the way you three have just treated Audrey she's probably better of staying with me and Ben." Mal stated and moved to leave but was stopped when Leah grabbed her arm tightly.
"Just because you're Queen doesn't mean you can speak to me like that." The former Queen sneered at the pregnant teen. Mal raised her eyebrow at the older woman before pulling her arm free of the woman's grip, rolling her eyes as she did and noticing Aurora and Philip leave the room.
The young Queen couldn't stop the slightly evil smile that came over her face of she tried. "Really? Because last time I checked you weren't even royalty. You were stripped of your title for helping the villains to attack me and try to take my babies." She would have said more but she was cut off by the former Queen.
"And I would gladly do it again. You and those villainous spawns your carrying don't even deserve to be alive let alone in Auradon with a claim to the throne." Leah spat at the pregnant teen. Both Leah and Mal were so focused on each other that neither noticed they had an audience.
The purplette narrowed her eyes at the former Queen. "I would chose your next words very carefully if I were you." She stated.
"I agree." A voice said from the door. Both Leah and Mal turned to find an angry looking Ben in the doorway. "How many times do I have to tell you to stay the hell away from my wife, Leah?" He asked, moving towards his confused wife.
"Shouldn't you be helping Audrey?" Mal asked him.
"Evie, Doug and Jane overheard Audrey asking for our help and when she told us you were arguing with Leah they offered to help so I could come check on you." The teen King explained. Mal couldn't help but smile at the way her friends/family were always around and ready to help, having a family to rely on and help out was new to the purplette but she was getting used to it and beginning to like it.
The sound of Leah clearinng her throat loudly brought the married couples attention back to the former Queen. "You can not just walk into my home and start dictating how I speak to people." She stated, clearly annoyed and offeded by what ben had told her.
Ben couldn't help but scoff at the old woman. "I can what your insulting my wife and your Queen. One more insult or threat of any kind I will not hesitate to have you sent to the isle of the Lost permanently." He stated, smirking as Leah frowned before storming out of the room and slammed the door behind her. Ben wrapped an arm around his pregnant wife's waist as she breathed a relieved sigh and her body finally relaxed.
She didn't have long to recover from her altercation with Leah and Ben didn't even have time to ask if she was alright before there was a knock on the library door. Turning their heads they saw Evie stick her head around the door. "Hey guys, everything okay?" She asked, knowing it sometimes took Mal a while to calm after she got mad. Seeing them nod the blunette smiled at them. "Audrey is packed and ready to head out. Me, Doug, Jane, Carlos and Ellie were hoping we could stay with you guys for the night? We won't pressure Audrey to tell us what happened but we want her to know we're there for her."
Nodding Mal moved over to her sister. "That sounds like a lovely idea. She needs all the support she can get right now." Ben followed his wife and the three teens headed out to the car, ready to head for home. Mal just hoped Audrey and the baby would be okay after all the stress of everything that's happened today.
Author's Note: So I would love to hear your thoughts on if I should write a sequel, let me know with a review. Hope you like this chapter. Please review and let me know what you think x