If in the Beast's Castle the request is for time to pass as slowly, in a downtown hotel room the request is for the months to pass as quickly as they can. Gothel can't stand the anxiety any longer.

The villain isn't stupid; invading the castle now would be a foolish thing to do. With the wave of protests against Benjamin's reign, the palace is more protected than usual, so it's best to wait for the baby to be born and only then put the plan into practice. The plan consists of freeing Maleficent and stealing the child's magic for herself.

Her time until then was spent reading magazines and watching the news about the child. If she saw Snow White's face again, she'd swear she'd poison the journalist again. However, she waits as long as necessary for Maleficent's son, and Ben is worth all the effort.

(…)

Enchanted Forest

"Coming, just a second."

Nanny said, as she walked slowly towards the door of her house.

"Finally."

Fairy Godmother said as soon as the door was finally open.

"Finally? I've never had so many visitors; it takes a while to get used to." The lady reminded her, making room for the Fairy Godmother to sit down on the sofa in the living room. "So, what do I owe you for the pleasure of your visit?"

"Well, to cut to the point? I've been having that same dream all week, and I know you know about the queen's situation; is there anything to it?"

The Fairy Godmother hadn't had a restful night since she learned that she was partly to blame for the baby having Dragon's Eye magic. But this recurring dream about the book and a crying child had come back to haunt her, and was the main reason she hadn't closed her eyes all night.

"Well, things are always connected, Helena."

"No riddles, please. You know what this means; I just came to ask you to enlighten me."

Nanny could see fear in her eyes, and even though she couldn't tell her everything the future held, she decided to help her sister.

"All right, I'll explain. Mal and Ben are written in the Book of Fairy Tales."

(…)

Ben still hates the idea of Mal, but he's obeying, living one day at a time and enjoying every moment, even if it means spending time away from his duties as king.

"So, what do you want to do now?"

He asked, pulling his lips away from hers.

It's after ten in the morning and they're still the same. Reclining on the bed, Ben lies next to her belly and Mal strokes his brown hair. They watch the baby lightly kick his mother in the stomach. It's a perfect morning, a rare morning, which they haven't had since they left Auradon Prep.

"Staying here is fine with me."

She confessed, as she tried to lie down and get into a comfortable position.

"Is that your idea? Lying down all day?" He looked at her, who was now lying facing him. "That's an excellent plan."

"Shall we sleep some more?"

"Sleep more? My idea was different."

"Ben!"

It's amazing how embarrassed she feels sometimes.

"What? It's your plan to enjoy the time."

"Funny, now it's my turn to get cuddled."

She pushed him down to lie on his chest. Ben began to run his hand through her hair, but it was hardly necessary. Soon Mal was asleep, while her daughter continued to stir inside her. Ben watched the scene that was supposed to be cute feeling very scared. More magic kept going into the baby, which meant that Mal was getting weaker.

(…)

Rashid is no longer the same, no matter how hard he tries, he can't be. After a few days away, he returned to Auradon, more specifically to Beast's castle.

"That's so cute, look how her nose is like yours."

Evie said to her friend, pointing at the television set showing an image of her niece.

"Make your sarcastic comment, I know you're dying to."

Mal joked with Rashid, who was more focused on the baby's magic.

"What? Not today, I'm a bit busy." He knows that his job isn't to analyze the child's physiognomy and who it looks like. "You see where you're creating the…"

"Rashid, not now, please."

Mal asked. At the moment, she doesn't want to hear about anatomy or magic, she just wants to see the baby and think about what it will be like.

"Okay." He replied, turning off the devices. "If you'll excuse me." He left the room with his head down.

"What's wrong with him? I've never seen him without making a sarcastic joke."

Evie asked Mal as soon as he left the room.

"He just feels guilty, that's all"

She explained as she wiped her stomach and put her blouse back on.

"Yeah, I think I understand him."

She confessed, taking some water for herself and her friend.

"No Evie, please, let's change the subject?"

Mal was too tired to have the same discussion.

"What do you want to talk about then?"

"How about your pregnancy?"

She broke the news to the woman, who spat out the water she was drinking at the moment.

"What?"

"Come on, Evie. Did you really think I wouldn't find out? I know you better than anyone, and Carlos said it yesterday by accident."

The queen told her, who seemed unresponsive. Mal had been suspicious for a while, Carlos only confirmed it.

"I still don't understand why I tell secrets to that boy. Are you mad because I didn't tell you?"

She asked apprehensively, afraid to approach her dragon friend.

"Honestly? Yes, but I don't want to be angry with you right now, so I'll forget about it. So, you're how many months along?"

She forced her friend closer. The two sat next to each other, intertwining their arms.

"Seven weeks, I found out last week."

She sat down next to her, and they sat together, as they did when they shared a room at school.

"And how are you feeling? Not healthily, you know what I mean."

Mal asked what she'd wanted to know most since hearing the news. As much as she avoided the subject, the loss of her first child had always been difficult for Evie.

"Strange, emotional, afraid, missing Tommy, afraid of everything going wrong, afraid of being a bad mother again, did I mention afraid?"

She looked down at her hands, which were clasped in Mal's to stop herself from crying.

"Evie, you're the best mother I've ever seen. You did your best for Tommy. We don't have all the answers in the universe, but all the time he was with you, he was loved, and I'm sure he knows it and if you really want to discuss the fear factor, well, I'm way ahead of you."

"You think so?"

Evie isn't insecure. She thought she'd left it at that in her teens, but now she couldn't be sure about anything else.

"Evie." Mal looked at her, laughing. "I remember when I met a girl who I naively considered futile for worrying about her blush, even though she lived in a place where there was no sun." Evie laughed at the memory. "But when I really got to know this girl, I discovered how intelligent and strong she was. You've always taken care of my problems and those of the boys all these years. Your mother may have dreamed of having a daughter who was a spoiled princess, but you managed to transform the lives of hundreds of girls on the Island, inspiring them to be strong and independent. You are incredible as a stylist, counselor, mother, and woman. Tommy and this baby are very lucky to have you as their mother."

Evie laughed at her and the two looked at each other for a brief moment.

"What am I going to do without you?"

She couldn't bear it and started to cry. Evie hated to think about it, but every day it seemed that this was the reality, and she couldn't imagine a world without her sister.

"Evie."

"Okay, I know."

She said, sniffling and trying to hold back the tears.

"Have you thought about them growing up together?"

She changed the subject.

"Yeah, they'll go to school together, share a room at Auradon Prep." Good, changing the subject was better. Talk about the future. However, when Mal saw her talking all excited at the thought of children together, she couldn't take it. "M.?"

"I don't want to be without you."

She hugged her sister tightly, crying on her shoulder.

Mal is as attached to Evie as the blue girl is to her. The two of them are an intense part of each other's lives. Never in their lives since they were 16 have they been separated.

"You can find me, remember?" Even though she was crying, she wiped away her tears. "Where two worlds come to meet."

She said, waiting for her sister to continue their promise.

"And you know, I'll never be out of reach." Mal made that promise and she always kept it. "Cause you're a part of me."

"So, you can find me in the space between, can't you?"

Evie asked for confirmation of her promise.

"Always."