𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚

𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦

The car ride home from the beach was an awkward one, especially since Max had fallen asleep so both Ben and Evie had to sit in complete silence, enduring it.

As the car pulled into the castle driveway, Evie unbuckled Max, pulling him gingerly into her arms, hurriedly rushing off to shower and tuck him in before she could return to her private chambers.

Ben and Evie never exchanged a word in the next two days, other than stolen glances.

Unfortunately, it was in those two days when Evie's health took a turn for the worse.

She began vomiting every morning and her entire body felt weak. She refused most foods because they smelt terrible to her, which said something from all the rotten food sent to the isle that she had had to survive off as a child.

Ben could only watch this from afar, utterly worried and thus unfocused from his work. He knew Evie would refuse him still, however, so the best he could do was order the servants to do the best they could to make her feel better.

The Royal Doctor was only free from his duties a couple of days later, since Audrey's little daughter was ill and had taken up his time, which was exactly when he was called in to take a look at Evie.

Ben was told the news first. Evie was 3 months pregnant with Doug's baby.

He didn't know how to tell her, especially since they weren't on speaking terms anymore, and she probably wouldn't want anyone to know before her, so getting someone else to tell her was no option either. He knew had to tell her, however, so he did.

He crept into her chambers in the late afternoon when the sun was no longer as bright and thankfully, she was awake, sketching out designs for her new clothing line in bed.

Her face was pale and she looked so frail, which made Ben want to grab her and pull her into his arms, never letting go.

He had already known that since a couple of days ago at the beach- that he loved her. He had already let go of Mal, even now unsure of where she was in the entire United States of Auradon. She had been gone for months now, never bothering to check up on her son or husband.

Evie's voice interrupted his train of thought. "Ben," was all she could say. She had missed him so much, but the guilt that she was betraying Mal was so piercing that she refrained from running in his arms and crying. She didn't know what was happening because nobody had permission to tell her. Was she dying? Maybe that was a little over dramatic.

"Hey," Ben replied, snaking his fingers through his hair before sitting at the edge of her bed. She scooted to her left to make some room.

"What's wrong with me, Ben?" She whispered, worried, putting her drawing pad and pencil on her bedside table.

"N-nothing. You're a little sick is all." He replied, unsure of how to phrase what he was going to tell her next.

"You're lying." She said, looking away, eyes scintillating hurt and distrust. Why would he lie to her?

"No, really," he pushed, taking one of her delicate hands in both of his. It was ice cold. "I... don't really know how to say this, Ev, but... you're pregnant."

He felt her hand tense up, though she didn't say a word, so he just sat there in silence, waiting for her to process that information. When she didn't reply after a long time, he contemplated leaving the room to give her some space. He didn't want to abandon her if she needed companionship and comfort, however, so he stayed.

He heard sniffling. Evie's head was turned away from him, so he couldn't know of sure, but he was sure she was crying. Almost instinctively, he pulled her into his arms and was glad when she wrapped her slender arms around his neck, sobbing silently into his shoulder.