Chapter Twenty Three

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.

Hey guys, sorry for the delay in uploading this chapter! Unfortunately, the Fourth of July has been a monopoly on my time so I haven't had much time to write. But thankfully now that the holiday has ended, I should have more time to write! Hopefully I should be able to update Truth or Fiction and Half and Half soon as well!

Smh, how are we 36 reviews away from 300? Thank you all so much for your constant support here! I hope to continue to provide content you enjoy! :D

Tracie Adams: I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Lauriverfanboy1: With how many chapters this fic is going to have (77), it's why the twins were born so early into the fic. And yes Estelle and Nyx need to meet the babies but they can't really be in a hospital, no matter how well trained they are!

Marcus Emrys: Yeah, it's really hard to picture Melody grown up—and yep, there's going to be another one. Just one more though!

AmethystDragon14: Yay! I'm so glad you liked it! Yep the babies are here! Ben and Mal are officially parents! :D As for Harper and Hayden, I checked over in WAL since that's where Harper originated and nope, Harper's a guy. So I wanted to keep it consistent across series :D

SnowWhite45: Yep Maurice and Stephanie are finally here! And honestly I could see Beast and Hades competing like that :D And to answer your question, yes, he's finally with Alex—I think you might enjoy chapter 15 for Alex/Hadie content :D

OceanBlueSeaEyes: Nope, I can promise that there'll be more!

danifan3000: yeah that'll be interesting, Hades or Hadie teaching Virgil how to use the mental link!

BAL4ever: Glad you enjoyed the chapter! And happy to answer!

Katt Kiki: Glad you enjoyed the chapter!

Flaresouth: Glad you enjoyed the chapter! For Rea, she probably would have stayed three had it not been for LotusQuil letting me know about Rea having an April birthday. So Rea's birthday party probably will be covered by LotusQuil when they get to the Choosing Life stage of their stories :D As for Virgil, he'd probably have shapeshifting powers since his father has the ability to shapeshift :D

jessHQ: I'm so glad you're liking the fic! Virgil'll definitely be shocked at that change though I'm sure he'd love his 'niece' and 'nephew' just as much as Hadie and Rea will!

IWantColouredRain: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! :D

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

The next day arrived faster than it had any right to, and yet no one seemed to mind. Ben smiled as he woke up, having fallen asleep at the hospital with Mal as she'd been asked to stay for a couple of nights. Just to make sure there were no ill effects from the c-section.

Mal thought they were being ridiculous but she agreed to the two night observation.

"Morning," Mal said softly as she saw that he was awake.

"Morning," Ben said, looking over at her. "The twins wake you up?"

Mal shook her head and then paused. "I mean…they were up every couple of hours for feedings but the hospital team mainly handled that. I mean I wanted to but they wouldn't let me."

"Sounds like they were doing the right thing," Ben said, walking over and kissing Mal on the top of her head. "You just relax and heal up."

"As long as you relax too," Mal told him. "You were more tense than a long tailed cat in a room filled with rocking chairs when your dad was holding Stephanie."

"I had good reason to be tense!"

"He was being perfectly calm though, and you are already becoming an overprotective father."

"Says the woman who was just complaining that the hospital team wouldn't let you feed the babies."

Mal shook her head but smiled at her husband. "Can you believe they're finally here?"

"I know, it feels like a dream," Ben said. "We're parents."

As if he knew they were talking about him and his sister, Maurice started to whimper slightly.

"You okay there bud?" Ben asked, walking over to the bassinet Maurice shared with his sister.

"Do you think he's hungry?" Mal asked.

"You said they were woken up ever couple of hours for feedings though, and would the whimpers be louder if he was hungry?" Ben asked. And wouldn't Stephanie be whimpering as well?

Almost as if she read his mind, his daughter started to whimper as well. Not as loudly as Maurice, but the whimper was still audible.

"I think that answers that," Mal said with a small chuckle.

"I'll go and get a nurse," Ben said.

Mal shook her head. "Ben, I am capable of feeding my own children."

"Mal, I know you are. But I'd rather you not potentially rip your stitches," Ben said. "Besides, your phone was pinging all night. I think you've got some friends wanting news."

"…Fine," Mal said with a small chuckle. "But only because I know you're probably right about that. Uma and Harry could just ask Hadie for an update though."

"I think they'd rather get the update from you though," Ben said as he headed toward the door. "After all, they knew your due date."

"The whole kingdom knew my due date from when we announced it with Snow," Mal told him but grabbed her phone. Sure enough there were messages from her cousin by blood, her cousin by marriage, and her best friend.

Yesterday was the day! You're okay though right? -J

Also Lonnie says hi - J

So happy for you Mali! Can't wait to see them! - UH

How's Benny? - HH

Mal shook her head, though she hadn't expected anything less. She quickly typed out some replies just so her friends wouldn't stress out though she was sure Dean had sent out a press release by this point. Or at least she hoped.

Actually…had anyone informed Dean that the twins had been born so that a press release could be sent out?

Deciding she could worry about that later, Mal drew her attention back to the matter at hand.

Yep yesterday was the day Jay. I'm tired and still slightly drugged up but I'm fine. Tell Lonnie I say hi back - MBLB

Thanks cuz! Come over whenever you like though I think Ben's family's going to come this morning. Geene and Chip weren't here when the twins were born and they want to meet them. But enough about me, how're you doing? My niece or nephew being good? - MBLB

Over the moon and in love with them already but then again, did you expect anything else from Ben? - MBLB

As long as you're okay that's all that matters. Well you and the twins of course. - J

The little guppy was active last night Mali but Harry insists they were just practicing their footwork for sparring. - UH

Why does that not surprise me? *laughing face* - HH

Mal chuckled as she continued to text her friends, Ben arriving with one of the nurses to get Stephanie and Maurice fed.

"I really wish I could help," Mal said, looking up from her phone.

The nurse smiled at her. "I know your highness, and had your delivery not involved a caesarean, normally you'd be able to by this point. But we don't want you potentially pulling your stitches so the doctor said for the next day, no heavy lifting."

"…Is this doctor a robot?"

"We do have Baymax robots if you'd like to have one visit to get your children used to him. They're normally in our pediatric wing so adults aren't likely to interact with one."

Mal shook her head. "Why am I not surprised?"

Ben chuckled. "Go back to your text chain, Mal. Your phone's going crazy. I'm guessing Uma, Harry, and Jay?"

"How'd you know?" Mal asked, giving her husband a small smile.

Ben shook his head. "Who else would they be?"

"Emir? Akiho? Elle? Macaria? Gil? Hadie? Rea? Chip?"

"Emir and Akiho have pregnant wives of their own, Elle and Macaria have the mental link and why Uma's not using that herself I don't know, Gil's at work, Hadie and Rea have the mental link and Chip's coming this morning."

"He is?"

"Of course he is! You honestly think he'd turn down the chance to see his niece and nephew?"

"I thought we were keeping the twins away from Chip until we knew whether or not his insanity was contagious though?"

"You know we can't do that," Ben said with a small chuckle as a very excited Genevieve raced into their room. "Hey Geene!"

"Young lady, you were told not to run ahead of your maman," Beast said as he walked in, his voice firm but his fond head shake lessening the scolding effect.

"Sorry papa," Genevieve said with a small smile. "I was just excited to see les bebes."

Belle smiled as she walked into the room. "I think we can forgive her just this once."

"Yes, I suppose we can," Beast nodded, a smile gracing his lips as he saw his grandchildren. It was honestly amazing that they were here, that they were in the world.

"Here Geene, let me lift you up," Ben said as Genevieve was standing on her tip toes to try to see the twins. "Which one do you want to see?"

"I think she's so excited right now, it won't matter to her," Mal chuckled as Ben scooped up his little sister.

"Speaking of family, are your brother and sister going to come today Mal?" Belle asked.

"Hadie might come with Uma when she comes in the afternoon," Mal said, smiling as Chip slid into the room. "But Rea probably won't meet the twins until they come home."

"And have you been given a release date?"

"Barring any complications, I'm looking to be released tomorrow," Mal said with a small smile. "Being part Fae and part God has helped in the healing process."

"I would imagine so," Chip nodded, causing Belle and Beast to jump since they hadn't realized he was there. "Seriously? I rode in with you two!"

Ben shook his head as he looked down at his sister. "Well Geene, you've got your pick of who you want to see. Do you want to see your niece Stephanie or your nephew Maurice?"

"He's got purple hair like Mal!" Geene said, pointing at Maurice in the bassinet provided by the hospital.

"Yep," Ben nodded, smiling slightly. "He takes after his Maman that way."

Genevieve grinned. "Looks like he has your eyes BB!"

"They both do, in fact," Ben grinned back at his sister. While it was more than likely too soon to confirm that the eye color that both Stephanie and Maurice had upon their birth would be the eye color that they stuck with, currently both babies had the same hazel green eyes of their father.

"Really?"

"Yep!" Ben nodded as Chip walked over to the bassinet. "Chip, do you want to hold one of them?"

"I'm surprised you're offering that Benji. According to your dad, you were a nervous wreck when he was holding them," Chip chuckled.

Ben shook his head. "Yeah well, it had been a pretty eventful day alright? Now, which one do you want to hold?"

"I'll hold Stephanie," Chip said and shook his head as he looked at his niece. "Ben, I swear, she looks just like you when you were a baby. Only difference is that she's a girl."

"Trust me, I'm just as shocked," Ben said and then paused as Uma and Harry appeared in the doorway.

"Apologies, your highness, I tried to stop them—," one of the nurses said as she appeared in the doorway as well, panting heavily.

Mal shook her head. "No need to apologize, that's my cousin and her husband. They're more than welcome here even though I thought you guys were coming in the afternoon," she said. "Come on in you guys. I take it Jay had practice?"

"Actually no, he's parking the car and we would have but someone was getting so antsy I thought she was going to teleport here," Harry said, giving a fond yet exasperated look to his wife. "And yes Benny, the hook is in the car. I'm not going to risk the little ones getting scratched and getting turned into ash by an angry dragon."

Mal chuckled and Ben shook his head. "That's very appreciated, Harry," he said.

"How…how is your pregnancy going, Lady Uma?" Belle asked and Harry and Uma jumped slightly, having forgotten that Ben's family was in the room. Either that or they just didn't realize it.

"It's going fine," Uma said. "And um…you don't have to call me 'Lady'."

"Aye, Captain is the only title that Uma'll answer to," Harry said as he gently wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders.

Mal snorted. "Alright Lord Harry," she said, teasing the boy who was practically a brother to her.

"…I'm sorry, what?"

"What'd I miss?" Jay asked as he slid into the room. "Hey Chip."

"Hey Jay," Chip nodded. "And you didn't miss much. Just Uma telling Belle that she didn't have to use the 'Lady' title, Harry establishing that 'Captain' is the only title Uma will use, and then Mal called Harry 'Lord'."

"Oh right! I forgot that when Harry married Uma, he gained the title of Lord," Jay said, chuckling and shaking his head.

"No one is calling me that! It's First Mate or nothing," Harry said firmly.

Stephanie cooed from her spot in Chip's arms.

"Oh really? Is Uncle Harry being silly?" Mal asked, smiling at her daughter. "I think so too."

Harry shook his head. "Well I don't know about you lot, but I left the hook in the car for a reason so I'd like to hold one of Mali's kids!"

"Hope you're happy with holding Maurice because I don't think that Chip'll let Stephanie go for a while," Ben said, gently picking up his son and placing him in Harry's arms. "It'll give you practice for when Uma gives birth."

"Doctors are still saying your guppy'll be born in December right?" Mal asked Uma.

Uma nodded. "Beginning of December, still two days after CJ's."

Harry couldn't help but smile as he heard that, though privately he'd been hoping that his guppy would surprise everyone and make it so that they would share a birthday with their aunt CJ.

He…he spent so many years treating CJ's birthday as something to avoid, to hate. And that wasn't fair to his sister. Even now, he still found it hard to celebrate CJ's birthday on the day proper but CJ seemed to understand and it wasn't as if they never did anything.

Either the day before or the day after, Harry made sure that he had a brother-sister day with CJ. Whatever she wanted to do, he'd do it with her. And of course he made sure she got a card and present the day of. But…even as the memories of his mother faded, he just couldn't celebrate on the day that he lost her.

"Wow…they're so small…" Genevieve said, breaking Harry out of his thoughts.

"You were that small once," Ben told her.

Genevieve looked up at him. "Really?"

"Uh huh. We've got the pics to prove it too," Ben said with a chuckle.

Uma shook her head. "These are the calmest babies I've ever seen. Though granted I've ever only been around Celia as a baby. And Hadie. Maybe Clara and Hali, or the few times I was around Ari and Paige."

"You weren't around Gwen and Markos?" Jay asked.

"Not all that often," Uma said. "Not with the deliveries. Evie probably has been around them more than I have if Gil ever brought them with him to work."

"I know there was one time, when Macaria was pregnant with Markos, that Gil was able to bring Gwen to work with him," Mal said. "Granted Dizzy ended up being the babysitter but according to Evie, she was completely fine with that."

Uma shook her head. "Of course she was. Honestly can the fireball get upset?"

"The world may never know," Jay said and smiled as he looked at the scene in front of him.

It honestly was more than a little weird to think about, how much things had changed. Gil was a father, Henry was a father, Mal was a mother, Uma was about to be a mother…not to mention Harriet's constant attempts at getting pregnant herself from what Harry had told him.

And then there was him…happily engaged with a wedding hopefully on the way because there was a part of him that wanted the same future.

Only if Lonnie wanted it as well though. She was at the top of her game in the R.O.A.R. circuit and he had seen from Mal and Uma what pregnancy did to a woman's body. Though knowing Lonnie like he did, he also knew that she wouldn't stop until she got back to fighting form.

"You alright there Jay?" Mal asked, noticing her other surrogate brother seemingly lost in thought.

"Oh yeah," Jay nodded. "Just thinking."

"Oh? About Lonnie?" Mal teased.

Jay shrugged. "Why wouldn't I think about my fiancee?"

"Speaking of that, when is the title going to change from fiancee to wife?"

"Let me talk to her and then we'll tell you. Though I'm sure it'll be after you're all healed up from getting cut open."

Mal made a slight face at the reminder but nodded. "Fine, though I'll just say this. I don't care when or how you get married but if I find out that you eloped and you didn't tell me…"

"Don't worry Mal, even if we elope you'll be one of the witnesses," Jay said with a small chuckle.

"That's all I ask," Mal said, giving Jay a small smile. "Now…am I going to get to hold my kids again?"

Chip chuckled. "Here you go Mal, one daughter ready to be held."

"Thank you Chip, you're my favorite brother-in-law," Mal said before pausing. "Where's Lucas?"

"Sorry I'm late," Lucas said as he walked in. "Took me thirty minutes to understand Chip's note. You could have just told me."

"You were in the zone! You told me to never talk to you when you're in the zone!" Chip shook his head before walking over and kissing his husband. "By the way, I'm Mal's favorite."

"I thought I was her favorite!"

Ben shook his head. "Supposedly they're grown adults," he said.

"Ah Benny, that's the fun of it!" Harry grinned.

"I suppose that's true," Ben nodded. There was honestly nothing that could have made this moment any better for him.

Well…there was one thing but there was no changing the past. The only thing he could do was look toward the future, and that was exactly what he was going to do.