Hi everyone! I bet you guys weren't expecting this one!

Just so you know, the fact that the sequel is out will ot change this story. There may be a new story with kiddos that goes along better with both movies, but this one will remain as is.

Enjoy!

*Warning: mentions of blood tests, needles and pokes*

Ben was reading on the bed, absolutely engrossed in whatever book it happened to be, when Mal came into the room with a heavy sigh.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked, glancing up from the novel's pages.

"I'm late," she said, all but collapsing on her side of the bed.

"It's eleven o'clock at night. I think the only thing you could be late for at this hour would be a slumber party." Ben replied, confused as to what she meant. He slipped a bookmark into his book and closed the cover, setting it on his nightstand, beside the glasses he should probably wear more often than he did.

Mal rolled her eyes. "No Ben, I'm late. Almost two weeks late. I haven't been late in years."

"Oh," Ben said, finally getting a handle of what she was saying. Mal and Evie tended to call it Shark Week, because they found it hilarious. They got Lonnie, Jane, and Audrey to call it that too. "Well, you have been very stressed the last few weeks. That'll do it."

Getting the Isle adoption program set up had been a lot from the very beginning, but the last few weeks had been anything but easy. It had only been a few days since the first group of children had gone home with their new families, just about 72 hours since Evie and Doug officially had two children. Things hadn't slowed down quite yet, as there were many things that needed to be fixed for next time. Ben predicted things wouldn't really slow down until the fourth or fifth lot of kids came over, which was a few months away.

"That's what I thought too at first," Mal said. "But then I… I did some math." She slid her phone across the sheets towards him. It was open to the app she used to keep track of all things Shark Wise related.

Ben peered down at her phone screen and frowned a tiny bit before looking back to her. "Oh… do you know for sure?"

She shook her head and took her phone back. "No, I'm just guessing. But it lines up… and it would make sense. I think I'd like to have another baby, but I… just don't feel like this is the right time. There's so much going on right now-!"

Ben put his hand on her back cutting off the nervous rambling he felt coming. She looked at him. "Mal, deep breath. Calm down. Let's be sure and find out before we start worrying, okay?"

She took a deep breath.

"There we go," he said gently.

She looked down again. "I'm sorry, it's just… Jay and Audrey have twins- twins!- and Evie and Doug have two now. They can handle two kids, I should be able to handle two kids too, but I really don't think I could."

Ben gently tips her face up with a finger under her chin. "Hey, hey. We aren't Jay and Audrey or Doug and Evie. And you shouldn't base what you think you should be capable of off others. That's not fair to you. And we still don't know for sure."

"It's probably too early on to find out for sure." She replied, feeling anxious. To be unsure for weeks would be worse than just knowing in her opinion.

"Blood tests at the doctor's work earlier on than the at-home ones. They're more accurate too."

"But that means needles." Mal made a face. She hated needles. She was rather scared of needles. She had enough in her when she was in labor with Henry to last her a lifetime. She tried to avoid them at all costs, even going with the nasal injected flu shots no matter how much she hated those too.

"Yeah, it does." Ben frowned, rubbing up and down on her back. He knew how much she hated getting poked at. It took them forever to find her vein for an IV when she was having Henry and that certainly didn't help with her disdain of needles.

Mal bit her lip. She supposed finding out as soon as possible would be better than waiting for weeks. "Would you… come with me if I did that?" she asked, feeling rather shy.

"Of course I will," Ben assured quietly, gently, leaning closer to kiss her cheek.

She turned a bit and wrapped her arms around him and he returned the action. He could feel fear seeping from her and that only made him hold her closer. She nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck.

Ben had always wanted a sea of children. Or at least, more than one. He was an only child, just as Henry was now, and he had been jealous of those who had older or younger siblings when he was growing up. He also loved kids. Having more than one of them would be a dream come true for him. But the last thing he wanted was for Mal to be upset or unhappy.

After a while, the lights were off and they were laying in the dark still holding each other. Each thought the other was asleep, but both of their minds were buzzing with thoughts.

Not too many days later, Mal and Ben were on their way to the appointment for the blood test. It was obscenely early, before the doctor's office officially opened. Usually, ben and Mal avoided special treatment at all costs, but the nature of the appointment and their titles had prompted the office to suggest they come in before operating hours to keep Auradon City's gossipy residents out of their personal life.

Mal had been very quiet the last few days and Henry had noticed. He had asked Ben the night before if Mommy was sad, Ben had told him she was worried about big people things and not to worry too much. Henry had said he would give her extra hugs and he had.

One of the nurses was waiting just inside of the doors of the building to open it for them. "Good morning," she greeted kindly. Some people were always a little star struck around the two of them, but not the people at that doctor's office. Mal had joked for years that it was probably hard to be star struck by someone when you've seen more of them than they have. Ben had almost choked on his drink the first time she said that from laughing so hard.

"Good morning," Ben replied. Mal smiled but didn't say a word. Ben squeezed her hand a little tighter. He had never seen her look so tired and pensive.

The nurse led them up the stairs to the office with pleasant small talk. Ben did most of the talking until she asked if Henry was four or five now, Mal replied that he was four, but he would be five in a few months.

When they got to the office, the nurse took them directly into a room. Mal was weighed and other regular vitals were checked and the nurse asked the standard bout of questions before double checking that they were, in fact, there for a blood test. When Mal responded that yes, she was, the nurse said she'd be right back with the things she'd need for that. Just as the door closed, Ben saw a tear streak down Mal's face and he immediately moved to sit next to her on the bed.

"Don't cry," he said gently, wiping her tear away before she could. "It's okay. It's going to be okay." He wasn't sure if the tear was because of the impending needle in her arm or because she was so worried about possibly having another baby or both, but he certainly didn't want her feeling like she was alone in it.

She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned against him, desperately trying not to cry. He wrapped his arm around her and rubbed her arm up and down trying to comfort her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

A moment later, the nurse returned and Mal sat up. She whimpered a bit when she caught sight of the vials for blood. Ben squeezed her arm reassuringly. The nurse was very gentle with Mal as she knew Mal was both uneasy with needles and having a bit of a rough time with the potential outcome of the test. The nurse tied the blue band around Mal's upper arm tightly and that's when Mal returned her face to Ben's shoulder. He held her close. The nurse continued, wiping Mal's arm with the alcohol wipe to clean the area.

"I'm going to use a butterfly needle," the nurse explained, putting the needle on a vial. "It's very tiny, so there shouldn't be much of a poke at all, but because it's so small, it will take a little longer, okay?"

Mal nodded.

"Would you like me to tell you or just… go for it?"

"Tell me,"

"Okay," The nurse counted back from three and Mal's free hand tightened on Ben's shirt in an effort not to make any noise at the poke, however slight it was. Ben held her tighter.

After what seemed like an eternity to Mal, she felt the cotton ball and tape get stuck to her arm.

"It's over," Ben told Mal quietly. She looked up.

"You did fine," the nurse replied with a smile. "No more pokes, I promise."

Mal smiled a bit.

"I'll take these down to where they need to go. Doctor Richards should be here in about fifteen minutes with the results."

"Thank you," Mal replied.

The nurse took the supplies and left Ben and Mal alone.

"You did great," Ben said, kissing Mal's forehead. "You took it like a champ."

Mal smiled at him. After a few beats of silence, she spoke. "I think we're both hoping for different results."

"I want whatever will make you happiest." Ben responded. And he was being completely honest.

"You want a lot of kids, Ben."

"Mm, I might have but nowhere did I ever say I wasn't already happy with the family I have. You and Henry mean everything to me."

"I was so scared when I found out about Henry, but I love him with all my heart. I'm being ridiculous about this."

"You aren't being ridiculous. You're allowed to be afraid, Mal. You're allowed to feel anything you ever feel."

They fell into a long silence again.

"I love you so much." Ben murmured. "Always,"

"I love you too," Mal replied.

When the doctor came in, it was with a bright smile, but the mood in the room changed the expression on her face quickly. Doctor Richards was a kind older woman. She had been there when Henry was born and had also helped to deliver Talia. Mal and Evie both knew her well.

"Hello, Mal. Lovely to see you."

"Hello," Mal greeted.

"It's been a while since I've seen you, Ben. How are you, dear?"

"Fine, thank you. And you?"

"Just fine," Dr. Richards smiled. "How's Henry?"

"He's great." Ben answered.

"Wonderful," The doctor smiled again. "Now, I believe you're anxious to hear the results of the test, yes?"

Mal nodded. Ben squeezed Mal's hand tightly.

"Mal, you are pregnant."

Mal closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Ben was unsure of what to do. Yes, he did want more kids, so part of him was excited. But part of him was more concerned with Mal's happiness than his own. All he can do is hold her hand.

Mal is certain she's never felt quite so scared. Her breathing is shaky as Doctor Richards reminds her what she can and can't do, things she should do, and things to try and avoid, all the things that were mandatory for her to say, but she said it in a tone that both ben and Mal had never heard from her before. An appointment was set up for a little over a month away. Ben thanks the doctor and they leave, hand in hand. Neither of them speak until they get to the car.

And then Mal dissolves into tears. And Ben panics. She hasn't cried like that in ages. Her face is in her hands and she leans away from his touch, shrinking against the door. Seeing her like this makes tear's prick at Ben's eyes.

"I can't do this," she finally manages to say. "I can't have two kids. I'm-I'm not a good enough mother to handle two kids, Ben. I'm not a good mother."

"Hey, hey," he soothes. "You are a wonderful mother to Henry, Mal. Absolutely wonderful. Please don't say that again. It's not true, sweetheart." He's relieved to notice she's stopped crying so hard, but heartbroken that she thinks she's not a good mom.

"I don't think I can handle two kids, especially now. It's… it's not a good time."

"It's okay. If you don't think you can, that's okay. There are options."

"I couldn't."

"Couldn't what?"

"Do either. I'd just feel guilty. On the Isle, there was no putting your kid up for adoption. You gave it to the orphanage or kept it, and depending on your parents, either could be worse. Even though I know everything would probably go fine here, I don't think I'd be able to stop thinking like that."

"There's always-"

She wipes at her face "Don't even say it. Please. A girl I went to school on the Isle with tried to do it herself and she didn't make it. Even with doctors and whatever here, the idea scares me."

Ben didn't know how to respond.

She sniffles. "I'm sorry, Ben. I should be happy. This is what you want. I know it is. I should be happy. We're having another baby."

"You don't have to be happy if you don't feel like being happy, Mal. You are entitled to your emotions."

She sighs.

"And I am with you. No matter if you decide to go through with this or not, I am always here for you. And I will always love you. No matter what." He hoped he sounded as sincere as he felt.

She looks at him then, her eyes red and puffy, tear streaks down her face. "I love you, Ben. So much."

"I love you too." He reached for her hand and squeezed.

That day, Mal had holed herself up with some paperwork to keep her mind busy and she worked until it was time for bed, only stopping to eat when Ben insisted. Henry had come in to kiss her good night and give her a big hug and that's when she figured she should probably stop. She was in bed and asleep before Ben even made it to the room.

That night, she dreamt she was standing in the empty room cross the hall, holding a baby. At first, she thought the baby was Henry, but the baby's eyes fluttered open. Henry took after his daddy in looks and had honey brown eyes, this baby's eyes were green. She smiled in the dream and when she looked up, the room that had been empty was now decorated in a rainbow of colors with plain white walls. It was bright and colorful and in her dream, she felt indescribably happy.

"Mommy! Look what I made for the baby!" Dream Henry announced, running into the room, holding up a colorful abstract painting.

"It's beautiful," she replied in her dream.

The baby in her dream started to fuss and she woke up then, only to find herself tucked in Ben's arms, like usual. The warm, happy feeling from her dream lingered and she smiled. Sometimes her dreams were capable of predicting the future in a sense, like when she dreamt about Ben before coming to Auradon, but she wasn't quite sure why. She had a feeling this was one of those dreams. Maybe she could handle two kids after all.

Ben woke up not long after she did. He kissed her cheek, still half asleep. "Good morning,"

She smiled at him. The first real Mal smile he had seen in several days. He missed that smile. "Ben?"

"Hm?" he stretched.

"I want the empty room across the hall to be the baby's nursery. And I know exactly what I want it to look like."

He smiled brightly. He wondered what had changed her mind, but he could ask that later.

She leaned over to kiss him. "We're having another baby, Ben."

He laughed a little and kissed her back. "I guess we are."

A/N: Henry is going to be a big brother! What do you all think? I'd love to read your thoughts and comments so please review!

You'll meet Felix next time!

Thanks so much for reading!