Chapter Thirty Five
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!
Woo! Another chapter for the record books! Hard to believe we're almost at forty chapters! It's almost harder to believe that we're only 41 reviews away from 400! Thank you guys so much for your continued support with this fic! I promise, there'll be some conflict soon, you just need to sit through a bit more fluff and slice of life.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: That's a good point, and yeah it's probably going to be Aziz rather than Ashaki who has kids next :D
BAL4ever: Glad you liked the chapter!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Well you know one of the girls had to have a home birth, why not Emma? And yeah thank Gods for Dizzy and Anastasia…and oddly enough for Dizzy growing up on the Isle you know? Otherwise no one there would have known how to deliver Ethan!
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Ben woke up with a small smile on his face, as had been the case ever since his twins were born. Waking up every day next to the woman he loved, knowing his kids were safe and sound? What more could a father ask for?
Hearing the gentle snores of his wife, Ben gently slipped out from under the covers though he frowned slightly at the ease he was able to do so. Normally both he and Mal were pinned to the bed by their Cerberi until said dogs decided it was time for breakfast or to go romp around outside.
Maybe Dean let them out…or Mrs. Potts did if she came in earlier and we missed her, Ben thought as he made his way out of his room and over to the nursery to check on his kids. Of course, he had to smile as he walked in, the mystery of the missing Cerberi answered.
"So this is where you two were?" Ben whispered as he saw Estelle and Nyx lying on the floor in front of Stephanie and Maurice's cribs. "You were on 'pup protection' huh?"
Estelle looked up and nodded, giving Ben a doggy grin as Nyx continued to slumber away.
"Good boy," Ben smiled. "Anything to report?"
Before Estelle had the chance to respond, Stephanie started to whimper softly. Ben quickly made his way over and picked her up.
"What's wrong my sweet girl?" Ben asked, keeping his voice down as to not wake up Maurice. "You hungry? Need a change? Just want to be held?"
Judging by how Stephanie's whimpers seemed to die down as she was held in her father's arms, Ben got the answer to his question.
"It's okay sweetheart, papa will hold you for as long as you need," Ben whispered, going over to sit in the nearby rocker. It was amazing how much Stephanie had grown even in the past few months; something Ben attributed to her divine and Fae background.
Yes she was still a baby but the wisps of hair that had been there at birth had developed into full strands of light brown hair, though there were a few strands that were obviously blue and purple.
Looks like you're getting some of your maman's genes too, Ben thought with a small smile. Good. It means you won't always be compared to me or how I was as a baby. Plus it'll mean people will stop asking Mal if she adopted you. I love the general populace of Auradon but sometimes…they can be missing a few braincells as your Uncle Chip would say.
Though Ben had to smile as he thought of Mal's retorts to such questions, his favorites being 'How can she be adopted if she's a twin' and 'Considering I saw the doctors pull her out of me, I can assure you there was no adoption'.
Which, considering how some members of Auradon's populace acted concerning Lady Steph's adoption of Mal, you would think they'd understand the first time Mal had to say it.
Meanwhile Maurice had clearly inherited his mother's purple hair; no signs of Ben's genetics evident there at all. Ben didn't mind in the slightest though; he loved looking at Mal's purple hair when the sun would shine through it and having a mini-Mal was more than he could ask for.
I think Mal's just happy neither of the kids inherited her eyes though they did manage to get the gold flecks that Mal has in her's, Ben thought as he continued to rock Stephanie. I don't completely understand why, her eyes are beautiful after all, but if she's happy I'm happy. Besides, in a few years we'll try to give Stephanie and Maurice a brother or sister and maybe they'll have Mal's eyes.
They had talked about that, one night when they were both relaxing after the twins had gone to bed.
"Ben, our children are infants," Mal said as she looked over at her husband. "Not to mention you're not the one who'll have to carry this hypothetical child."
"I know, I know Mal," Ben said. "And I get it, trust me. I just…"
Mal gave Ben a small yet knowing smile and took his hand. "Ben, I won't lie. I love the idea of Stephanie and Maurice having a sibling. Gods know I enjoyed living with Hadie….well minus about six weeks after he was born but that's practically a blip so it doesn't count. I want the kids to have a younger sibling if we're lucky enough but they're not even a year old!"
Ben sighed but nodded, deciding not to comment on Mal's statement of not liking Hadie after he was born. If Mal wanted to expand on that, she would. "So…you're saying you want to table the conversation?"
"Maybe until the twins are five?" Mal offered. "Ben, I'm only in my twenties after all. That'll still give us time to have more kids…plus I'm a Godling and a Fae, the mortal biological system isn't exactly something I'm bound to."
"That is a good point," Ben nodded. "Plus if the babies end up getting our familial powers, we'll have some time to help them adjust before bringing in another baby into the mix."
"Exactly," Mal nodded. "Though I'm not going to lie, I'm a little concerned. Dad said I got really hot as a baby and that was a sign of my magic coming in. We haven't seen that with Stephanie and Maurice."
"Mal, don't forget, you were a baby under a magical barrier," Ben said, gently brushing a bit of hair out of his wife's eyes. "Not to mention, despite the gift your uncle gave me at our wedding, I'm still human. Just with slightly…Beastly enhancements. It might take some more time for our kids to have their powers come in than yours did."
"How do you always know what to do to calm me down?"
"It's a gift," Ben said with a smile before gently kissing the top of Mal's head. "Now come on, let's get some shut eye."
A knock on the twins' door broke Ben out of his thoughts. "Come in."
"Pardon me sire," Dean said, poking his head into the nursery. "But when you weren't in your office, some of the other attendants suggested I check in here. I hope you don't mind the intrusion?"
"Not at all Dean," Ben said as he smiled at his chief attendant. Dean had practically been a third shadow to Ben when he was in school and if Ben was honest, he had no idea where he'd be without Dean.
"Hiya!"
Dean flushed as a small voice came from the doorway and a little girl poked her head out from where she seemed to be carried on Dean's back. "Apologies your highness, I…our sitter called out unexpectedly and I didn't think you'd mind if I brought Dawn. I can assure you she shouldn't be a distraction and I should be able to get my work done—."
"Dean, it's fine," Ben said with a small smile. "I'm not going to turn your child away or make your life harder. Not after everything you've done for me. Though if you needed the day off, you could have asked."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "With all due respect sire, when was the last time you took a day off? If you're working, so am I."
Ben gave his chief assistant a smile before looking over at Dawn. "Do you want to come meet Stephanie?"
Dawn nodded softly and Dean smiled as he walked her into the nursery.
"Be very quiet, okay sweetheart? Prince Maurice seems to still be sleeping," Dean said, keeping his voice down while sneaking a glance at the very silent prince. While he knew not much could happen to the purple haired princeling, what with being a Godling and all, Dean still wanted to make sure nothing had happened to the prince during the night.
"This is Stephanie," Ben said as Dean knelt down so that Dawn could see the baby easier. "Stephanie, meet Dawn."
Dawn smiled as Stephanie looked up at her, the younger baby cooing in delight. "Hiya Effy!"
"…Sire I am so sorry, you know with young kids, words are hard—."
"Dean, do you really think I'm going to be upset over your daughter giving mine a nickname?" Ben asked. "Melody's said Maddie calls Emily 'Emmy' and Gil's told me numerous times about how Gwen's shortened Markos' name to 'Marky'. Nicknames happen, especially with young kids."
Besides, I think Mal'll just be upset she wasn't here to hear it happen for the first time, Ben thought. As well, if your daughter's anything like you Dean, chances are Effy here will have an assistant of her own. Well, if Dawn wants to of course. Hey, speaking of future careers…
"Hey Dean?"
"Yes sire?"
"Akiho's at least 23 now, possibly 24, right?"
"Considering he's your age, that would be correct sire. Why?"
Ben shook his head. "Akiho said, back when we were in school, that Arendelle does their coronations at twenty one. However King Kristoff and Queen Anna are still on the throne. I was just making sure I wasn't wrong about Akiho's age."
"Ah well you see, there's a reason why Prince Akiho hasn't been given solitary control over Arendelle, sire."
"And why's that?"
"Would you entrust Prince Akiho with the power to control a kingdom?"
Ben opened his mouth and then closed it once more. Dean had a point. Oh don't get Ben wrong, he loved his best friend but there was no denying the particular brand of insanity the blond carried with him.
"How'd you know that? About Akiho and everything?" Ben asked as he gently bounced Stephanie, the baby starting to fuss in his arms.
"Servants and attendants talk," Dean shrugged. "Plus I needed to reach out to make sure I was putting the correct title on the congratulations card after Princess Emily was born."
"You know Akiho and Elle wouldn't have taken offense."
"I'm aware but I'd rather the job be done correctly the first time than it not be done right at all. Oh that reminds me, I've gone through your paperwork sire, and these are the items that need your direct attention. I've printed out a summary as well, it's on top there."
"…Dean did you sleep at all?" Ben asked as he looked at the binder Dean seemingly pulled out of thin air.
Dean once again raised an eyebrow as he placed the binder on the nearby dresser. "Your highness, I mean no disrespect but are you really the best person to ask about someone else's sleep schedule?"
"…I've made improvements to my sleep schedule!"
"And that's something we all commend your highness but that doesn't answer my question."
Ben pouted slightly. "You know in some cultures they respect their king?"
"And as I believe Lady Uma once told you, your highness, in those cultures the king didn't spend years trying to get people not to treat him as a king," Dean said, shaking his head.
"I feel like you and Uma teaming up is a bad thing," Ben said.
"Really? You said the same thing when Queen Mal and I 'teamed up' as you put it," Dean said with a small chuckle.
"And I meant it!" Ben said just as Maurice seemed to wake up from his slumber. "Dean, would you mind getting him? I hate to ask but with my hands full with Stephanie…"
"Of course not your highness," Dean said and gently picked up the fussing baby. "Dawn, do you want to come and meet Prince Maurice?"
Dawn nodded and slowly toddled over to her father. "Hiya Weese," she said softly.
"Makes sense Maurice would get a nickname too," Ben said with a smile as he quickly cut off any apologies Dean looked ready to make. "And I think my kids are hinting that it's time for breakfast. Dean, have you eaten?"
"…Yes?"
"Were you asking me or telling me, Dean?"
Dean sighed and shook his head. "You do know I'm not your children right sire?"
"Doesn't matter, you're still one of my friends and I want to make sure you're taking care of yourself," Ben said. "So, from what I'm gathering you haven't eaten yet correct?"
"…Yes sire. I got caught up in summarizing the paperwork and then getting Dawn some breakfast."
Ben nodded. "Happens to the best of us. Emir and Akiho have even said they've forgotten to eat while taking care of their kids, and you remember what those two were like in school."
"I believe Prince Akiho was always pushing a sandwich onto you to make sure you had eaten sire."
"You got that right," Ben nodded. "And on that note, I should probably wake up my wife so that she can get something to eat as well."
"Will Queen Mal be taking a dragon flight today?" Dean asked.
"She hadn't mentioned it though I know she missed being able to do it while she was carrying the twins," Ben said. "Why?"
"I just wanted to know so I could alert the guards that there would be no need to panic," Dean explained. "It's been so long since Queen Mal went on a dragon flight that I think some of the guards have forgotten that she doesn't only dragon up when there's a threat to the kingdom."
Ben nodded. Dean had a point, since Mal had become pregnant they had hired on additional guards to be stationed near Stephanie and Maurice's room.
What? There may not have been any villains in Auradon but every parent knew the stories of what happened to Queen Rapunzel when she was a baby. Not to mention Mal had been kidnapped from her loving parents when she was mere months old, not to be reunited with them until she was five.
Ben might have been over protective but he would be damned if he let anything like that happen to his kids.
But anyway, since the new guards had never actually experienced Mal's dragon flights, it would stand to reason that Dean would need to alert them not to panic upon seeing Mal in her dragon form.
"I'll keep you apprised and if Mal decides to take a flight, we'll make sure to let you know so that we can keep the guards updated," he said.
Dean nodded. "Understood sire."
"Now then, how's about we get these three to Mrs. Potts so that they can get some food before I wake up my wife?" Ben suggested as he stood up; Stephanie still secured in his arms.
"I think that's a wonderful idea your highness," Dean nodded and the group quickly made their way out of the nursery; the two Cerberi plodding after them as they had also heard the promise of food.