A/N: I haven't written in a very long time, but I really wanted to write again. And this is what came out of it, haha! I'm not sure if anyone will read this or want more, but I'm putting this out there because writing this makes me very happy! :)

Disclaimer: The Descendants series is owned by Disney, and I don't claim to have ownership over any of the characters from the franchise I use in the story.

The first time Ben meets his sister he was expecting a stuffed pony.

Okay, maybe not a stuffed pony exactly. A new Buzz Lightyear action figure would have been acceptable payment, as well. Actually, anything from Al's Toy Barn would have sufficed for the three-and-half year-old prince that understood that whenever Mommy and Daddy went away on royal business they brought back a special gift for their special little boy.

He wasn't exactly sure whether he was disappointed with the lack of a substantial addition to his vast collection of toys or not. All he knew was that a baby in the castle was . . .different.

His parents were acting different as well.

The castle wasn't expecting the king and queen back from their travels for another few weeks. So their mad rush into the castle with an infant cradled in Belle's trembling arms was a catalyst for chaos. Even the usually composed Mrs. Potts allowed the platter of sugar cookies she and the young prince had been baking clatter to the ground the moment she laid eyes on the sleeping child.

Of course, the loud crash startled the baby from her slumber, and she let out a discontented wail.

Mrs. Potts let out a string of apologies to the whimpering child, deft fingers brushing through the baby's tufts of dark hair. Over the baby's disturbed cries, the adults began to whisper frantically to each other. His father gave Lumiere and Cogsworth brisk orders, and they nearly collided in an attempt to reach the grand staircase. His mother mumbled something to Mrs. Potts all the while bouncing the baby in her arms.

The unwelcome cacophony caused Ben to place both his index fingers in his ears and to elicit a frustrated huff. But the moment he saw distraught tears flow down his mother's pale cheeks, he decided to be a big boy just for her.

His chubby toddler hand patted his mother's forearm affectionately, and, once the baby had been thoroughly calmed, he chanced to rest a rosy cheek against Belle's arm to catch a peek at the little surprise.

Curious blue-green orbs met chocolate brown ones framed in dark lashes. And the two were entranced with each other.

Belle gazed at the two so deeply engrossed in each other, and she took in a startled breath that paralleled the swelling of her heart.

"Wee lamb isn't she, Master Ben?" Mrs. Potts remarked at the clearly entranced boy.

Ben merely nodded, eyes still scanning the baby's petite nose and chubby cheeks.

"Sorry Daddy and I didn't pick you up anything before we came home, sweetie," Belle murmurs, slender fingers tracing the baby girl's cheek. "We were a little busy as you can tell."

But he doesn't mind.