Chapter Forty Eight

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.

*blows horn triumphantly* We did it you guys! We made it to 500 reviews! That is…that is the most incredible feeling, especially with the issue with the notifications on FFN going on so thank you all so much for your reviews (and your reads, your follows, and your favorites)! They truly do mean the world to me!

Oh, so NaNoWriMo is coming up and I'll be using this fic as the writing goal for the 50k (yes I know ToF technically won the Tumblr poll however I feel weird doing a reaction fic for NaNoWriMo, even if it's a reaction fic of my own writing).

Tracie Adams: Well it'd technically be Mal's second pregnancy but I can see what I can do ;)

AmethystDragon14: Yay! I really didn't want to have the stereotype of 'clueless father and all knowing mother' but for something like this where it was mortal and Godling, you almost had to have it lol. And yep! Huma's having another kid! And another Jarlos kid! Oh yeah, you know full well Ryan's asking both Harry and Harriet for permission! :D

CrystalKaouri: Lol I'm sure the number would be amusing! I'm so glad you like the chapter! It was a lot of fun to write, especially the different meetings and giving Jane and Carlos another kid! Yep, Ryan's gonna pop the question!

Estela234: Glad you liked it!

danifan3000: Well by the time they get to this, Audrey may be humbled a bit to avoid any such comments.

SaikoGoyangi: Thank you so much!

Guest: I promise, it's soon!

greeky-geeky: Hey! Yeah I can certainly make a timeline! There was a mini time jump though between those chapters so that might be why there's some confusion.

Guest: Anything's possible! :D

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D

Mal had to smile as she took in the sight before her. For the first time in what felt like a long time, she was relaxing with her husband and their friends while their children played out in the yard.

Okay, not all of their friends were present if she was honest. According to Uma, Harry was still in shock over the fact that she was pregnant again. Meanwhile, Carlos and Jane were taking a well deserved staycation at home while Caroline and Jason romped around at the Dalmatian Plantation. Well more like Caroline romped and Jason got gently introduced to the multitude of Dalmatians. Plus Ben, Emir, and Akiho had ducked up to the castle to get some refreshments and snacks for the kids.

"You ever think this would be our life?" Jay asked as Jaxson dug happily in a sandbox by his feet. Yes Jaxson had hit every milestone that the other kids had (well with the exception of starting potty training), however Jay wanted his son close by. Mal knew he was worried about the possibility of a magical flare up even though they'd been in Auradon for about nine years now and there'd been no sign of magic from Jay.

Mal really had to wonder if that was because Jafar hadn't been a born genie when he was defeated but rather he had been made into one so genetically, there were no genie abilities to pass down.

"I think you know the answer to that Jay," Mal said with a small smile as she listened to the squeals of the kids along with the occasional yip from their Cerberi. "Relaxing in Auradon, feeling the sun on our skin, being able to know our kids are safe and that they won't ever have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from? None of us thought that would be something our future would hold on the Isle."

"…Man did I pick a depressing part of the conversation to bring snacks," Akiho's voice broke into the conversation and both Jay and Mal looked up to see the blond holding a tray of sandwiches.

"Hmm, probably but then again we're former VKs, Akiho," Mal said as she snagged a sandwich from the tray. "Any time you come into a conversation between two VKs, there's a good chance it'll be depressing."

"Well if we're talking about the past. Talking about the future's going to be a lot more upbeat," Jay said as he smiled at Jaxson, his son still happily digging in the sandbox with not a care in the world except when snack time was. Speaking of which…

"Emir's got the tray of kid friendly sandwiches," Akiho told him, seeing the look on Jay's face. "And yes, each one has been made to each child's discerning specifications."

"Have they really?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow.

Akiho sighed. "Effy's sandwich: peanut butter and jelly, grape jelly, sandwich cut in a triangle with no crust. Reese is the same but with strawberry jelly instead. Emily's sandwich is peanut butter and blueberry jam cut to look like a snowflake, Ethan's sandwich is peanut butter and grape jelly because even though he hates grapes, he wants to do everything that Effy does, and Jaxson has no cares about the sandwich as long as there is no crust and it's rolled as thin as humanly possible."

"Huh…he's right," Emir said with a chuckle as he came up with the kid friendly sandwich tray.

"Did you seriously doubt me when it came to sandwich knowledge?" Akiho asked, looking over at him.

Mal shook her head. "And out of curiosity, where is my husband? Please tell me he didn't duck away to do more paperwork when you three went to make lunch?"

"Oh ye of little faith," Ben chuckled as he walked up. "The guys couldn't carry everything so I said I'd carry the drinks. Juice pouches for the kids…and you and Jay, and water bottles for me, Akiho, Elle, Emma, Lonnie, and Emir."

"Awesome," Jay said as he grabbed one of the juice pouches. He was glad he had friends who didn't question why he and Mal gravitated toward the juice pouches despite them being for the younger kids. It was just…they'd never had them growing up so Jay at least wanted to know what he'd missed out on.

Lonnie loved watching him try new things they got for Jaxson, even going as far as to call Jay their son's 'taste tester' which was a title Jay wore with pride.

"You know, I have to say things have really changed," Ben said as they all sat down. They knew the kids would come over if they got hungry but they usually knew when sandwiches were available. If anything, the little toddlers didn't want Mal and Jay drinking all the juice pouches. "Us being parents? Feels weird not being able to summon Emir and Akiho just by saying their names anymore…"

"Papa! Mama!"

"Maybe you can't summon us Ben, but we can always be summoned," Akiho said as he looked over at Elle. "I can go if you want."

"I should go too," Elle said with a small chuckle. "After all, no one wants you to panic again."

"You panic one time," Akiho said, shaking his head in amusement. "Emir, you coming?"

"Might as well," Emir nodded as he got up. "I didn't hear Ethan calling me but that doesn't mean he doesn't need me. Emma, are you okay—?"

"Emir, again, I'm pregnant, not unable to move," Emma said, shaking her head as she got up. "And if you honestly think I'm not going to see if my son needs me, especially when I'm only in my first trimester, you've got another thing coming."

"I still can't believe you're pregnant again," Ben said. "Do you know how odd it's going to be not having a kid for your kid to shadow since Effy and Reese will be two years older than your kid?"

"Eh, I'm sure you and Mal will surprise us with a kid long before your five year goal," Emma shook her head. "Now come on, time to see which one of our children need us."

"Is it bad parenting that we left them unsupervised?" Ben asked Mal.

"They were with Estelle and Nyx," Mal pointed out. "Plus you kept the extra guards after what happened when we left the hospital bringing the twins home. They've been patrolling out here in shifts and we made sure that Effy and Reese know all of the faces of the guards so no one could try to sneak in by pretending to be one of the guards or a new hire."

"I'm so proud," Akiho said and Ben shook his head.

"You are aware I had guards back when we were teens right?"

"Oh I know," Akiho nodded as they grew close to the group of toddlers. "You just didn't use them."

He grew quiet as Emily came toddling over to him; tears in her eyes and her quick pace making it clear she was upset.

"What's wrong my little snow angel?" Akiho said, kneeling down to wrap her up in his arms.

"I…I made the icies again," Emily sniffed.

"Were you hurt?"

"…No…"

"That's a good thing," Elle said. "Remember? You promised papa that you'd use your powers."

"But…mama, Tan licked the icies! His tongue got sticked!"

Emir's head sprung up as he heard the toddlerfied version of his son's name and Ben bit his lip to avoid laughing at his internal thought comparing one of his best friends to a merecat.

"No one's tried to do a fireball to melt it yet, have they?" Ben asked instead. Did either of his kids know how to do a fireball? He wasn't sure. But he knew it'd be their luck that it would be this moment that they'd try and they'd be dealing with worse than just a stuck tongue.

"No Unca Ben," Emily shook her head.

"Well then good thing we have someone skilled at controlling fireballs," Ben said, grinning over at Mal.

Mal nodded. "I'm on it. Also, Emir, why am I not surprised it was your son who decided to lick ice that just suddenly appeared?"

"It looked yummy!" Ethan called but his voice was rather muffled because of his stuck tongue.

"No talkkie Tan! You talk or move and you hurt!" All the adults heard Effy tell Ethan.

Emir sighed but nodded. "Listen to her Ethan, last thing we want is you hurt," he called to his son as they all walked up to the sight of Effy and Reese surrounding Ethan who was stuck to a chunk of ice that was climbing up the wall; said chunk had not been there previously.

Mal had to smile as she saw her son and daughter standing next to their friend, both their hands on his shoulders in comfort. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Emma take out her phone and snap a photo and Mal had to make a mental note to ask for that photo when all of this was settled.

"Let maman do that sweetheart," Mal said as she noticed a tiny fireball in the palm of Effy's hand.

"Are…are you sure maman?" Effy asked softly.

"I'm sure sweetheart," Mal said with a kind smile as she nodded her head.

Emily bit her lip as she curled into Akiho's arms. "Sorry Tan…"

"It's not your fault Emmy," Ethan said though his voice was still muffled by his tongue being stuck.

"No talkie Tan! We don't want you hurt!" Effy and Reese said at the same time.

"Okay, okay," Mal said, and tried to resist smiling at how adorable the whole scene was lest the kids thought they weren't being taken seriously. "Ethan, honey, I'm going to need you to hold very still. Can you do that for Auntie Mal?"

Ethan nodded his head slightly, not wanting to talk and risk being hurt.

"Very good," Mal said with a smile as she brought up her trademark lilac fireball though she made sure to keep it as low powered as possible. Slowly, she brought it closer to the ice and the ice started to melt; though Mal made sure to move the fireball around as to not make it too warm for Ethan.

"There we go, we're almost done…" Mal said softly as most of the ice liquified. Now comes the hard part…the piece attached to Ethan's tongue…

"It's okay Tan," Effy said from her spot by Ethan's shoulder. Their stubborn child had refused to move when Ben had pulled their children out of the way of the fireball and while Mal could applaud her daughter for her loyalty, it did make her job harder. "Maman's the best! She no hurt you!"

Any frustration Mal felt at her daughter's stubbornness melted as she heard that. Effy would probably never know how much hearing that warmed her mother's heart.

Thank you sweetheart, I'm so glad you trust me, she thought. I'm glad I can be a parent who can be trusted and that you, your brother, and any future siblings you may have will never know the difference. Between me and your papa…you will be loved and protected.

"There we go, no worse for wear," Mal said with a smile as the last of the melting ice trickled down Ethan's chin. "Just a damp top."

"Tank you Auntie Mal," Ethan said softly as Effy and Reese wrapped him up in their arms.

"You're welcome Ethan honey. Why don't you go give your papa a hug? I know he was a little worried."

That's an understatement, Ben thought as he glanced at Emir, who looked like he was contemplating ways to get around the barrier of toddlers to fuss over his son.

"Effy, Reese, let your Uncle Emir see his son okay?" Ben said with a slight chuckle in his voice. "You did your job and now it's time for Ethan's papa to do his, okay?"

Effy shook her head and tightened her hold on Ethan. "I keep Tan safe!"

"It's okay Effy," Ethan said softly. "If papa wants to see me, he can."

"Oh well I'm glad to hear that," Emir chuckled as he made his way to his son and scooped Ethan into his arms. "And what have we learned today?"

"No eating icies?" Ethan asked.

Mal couldn't help the soft snort that escaped her lips and gave Ethan a fond smile.

"Yeah bud," Emir nodded, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "No eating icies. Unless it's an ice cube which is small, or ice cream which is soft. Okay?"

Ethan nodded. "Okay papa."

"There's my good boy," Emir smiled. "Now I think it's time to get you changed out of that top before you get cold."

"…Okay papa," Ethan said softly.

Emir smiled as he gently kissed the top of his son's head before looking over at Emma. "Do you want him or you want me to take care of him?"

"I'll take him Shadow," Emma said with a fond smile. "You get your hangout time. It's shockingly few and far between nowadays."

Emir gave his wife a smile as she used her pet name for him. It was obviously based on his role as one of Ben's shadows in school but Emir didn't mind. In fact he loved it.

"Come on Ethan, let's get you changed." Emma said, reaching to take Ethan's hand.

"Yes mama," Ethan nodded, gently taking Emma's hand.

"There's my sweet boy," Emma said, giving Ethan a loving smile before looking at the others. "We'll be back shortly."

Mal nodded before smiling as she scooped up Effy, Ben doing the same with Reese.

"You two don't need changing do you?" Mal asked as she looked at both of her children.

"Maman…" Effy said softly, and it almost looked like her cheeks were flushed.

"Yes honey?"

Ben leaned over so that his mouth was by Mal's ear. "I think she would have preferred if you had asked her that more quietly," he whispered.

Mal flushed slightly. "She's two, I didn't think she could get embarrassed so young," she whispered back to him.

"Well, looks like she's apparently inherited my sensitivity," Ben whispered with a soft chuckle.

"Makes sense, she's practically you in miniature."

Ben couldn't help but grin as he heard that. He loved hearing that so much, but despite how much he loved that he had a 'mini me', he was very much aware of how his daughter was her own person. And he would never want her to be anything else and he knew Mal did as well. After all, his wife sadly had experience with someone trying to turn her into their clone even if it wasn't for long.

"Do you want to get changed sweetheart?" Ben whispered in Effy's ear. "you can tell us if you do, you know you can tell us anything."

Effy bit her lip slightly before she nodded. "I'm cold papa…" she whispered. "My shirt is wet."

"Okay honey, we can fix that," Ben whispered to her, giving her a small smile.

"But Tan…"

"He's getting a change of clothes from his maman, sweetheart. Now it's time for your maman and I to take care of you, and Reese if he needs it. Come on, let's get you all cozy okay?"

Effy looked up at him and nodded.

"Seems like the playdate's over guys," Mal said as she looked at the gathered adults.

"Why?" Akiho asked. "I think Emily might need a change of clothes too and then maybe we could put them down for a group nap?"

"I think that might be a fantastic idea Akiho," Mal said and looked at Effy. "What do you think sweetheart? Is it time for a nap?"

Effy shook her head. "Need Vi-Vi for naps, maman. And Reese needs Cerbi."

"Who—?"

"The names of their plush creatures they got for their first birthday," Ben said, answering Jay's question.

"Don't worry honey, we'll get them," Mal reassured her daughter. "In fact, why don't we have the group nap in maman and papa's bed? That way Estelle and Nyx can be with you too!"

"But…I wanna play…" Emily said softly, rubbing her eyes. "You can't play on a bed…"

Emir gasped. "Emily, has your papa not taught you the importance of pillow forts?"

"Those are for…reading though…"

Everyone looked over at Akiho in slight surprise and the blond shrugged. "That was Ben's doing."

"That makes more sense," Jay told him.

Ben shook his head. "Sue me," he chuckled.

"I don't think that's an option," Mal said with a chuckle audible in her own voice. "Now come on, we have kids to get down for their naps and plushies to collect."

The group headed off to the castle, Estelle and Nyx following once they realized that their charges were no longer with them. Mal quickly got Effy into a new shirt before joining the group in her's and Ben's bedroom.

"Okay, here we go," Mal said with a smile as all the kids scooted close to each other.

"Wait maman!" Reese said, his voice tinged with sleep. "Jax in middle!"

"Yeah!" Effy nodded.

"We keep him safe!" Ethan promised.

Mal looked over at Jay and shared a smile before looking back at the kids. "I think that's a wonderful idea. Let's make a gap here…"

The kids scooted back a bit and Jay gently put Jaxson into the spot that had been created. Mal had to smile as Effy wrapped an arm around Jaxson, as if he was her favorite plush dragon.

"Looks like the protector role's been reversed," Jay whispered to Mal.

"Looks that way," Mal whispered back with a small smile.

Akiho smiled softly as he brushed back Emily's hair. "Where the North wind meets the sea, there's a river full of memory…" he sang softly as all of the kids' eyes began to close.

Mal smiled as she watched the kids fall asleep; Estelle and Nyx curled up on the sides so no one accidentally rolled off the bed. She might have never thought this would have been her life but she wouldn't trade it for the world.