Hey, so obviously Bal is the main pairing but I am open to hearing people's opinions on other pairings in this story so feel free to make suggestions, obviously I am not Disney so all I own is the plot idea. The fic will be focus on Mal.
Also I'd like people to vote on what you want Ben to be called at first because he'll be going by a different name.
Reuben, or Braeden.

It had been a year. A year since Belle's precious son had been taken from her in the night. He'd been barely two years old at the time, such a bright cheerful baby. And he was gone without a trace.
They had searched of course, they'd searched all of the Kingdom and they'd even sent men to search the Isle but there was no sign. And Bell wasn't coping. She longed for her little boy, for a child to love and care for. And so did her beloved Adam she knew.

She also knew that they wouldn't be able to have another child, Ben's birth had been hard on her, and she'd been told that she'd never be able to have another child.

There had been some discussions of adoption but there weren't that many babies put up for adoption in Auradon.

It was after one of these discussions, when the latest search party from the Isle returned that things changed. She had been in the library reading while Adam talked with the guard, when she heard startled yelling from outside, and a moment later a tiny figure burst through the door, shoving it closed behind her and rushing to hide under one of the tables, shaking. So scared that she hadn't even noticed that the room had someone in it.

Belle lowered her book quickly, her eyes wide as she stood and moved, heels clacking on the floor as she reached the table the girl had hidden under. Then she crouched down carefully, her eyes focusing on the small figure curled into a tight ball, knees clutched to her chest.

It was a child, a little girl, she couldn't be over three, and if she was three she was small for her age, thin little arms and a gaunt pale face. Her hair was rather different than most people in Auradons, she could see it was a pretty shade of purple, though she imagined it would be lighter than it looked now after a good wash to get the muck out.

The girls eyes were a pretty shade of green and they were brimming with tears, and fear. Belle felt her heart break. The dirt on her face couldn't hide the bruise, shaped almost like a hand print across the girls cheek, and the clothes didn't cover the marks on her arms, more bruises and scrapes. And the clothes themselves were rather poor to say the least, scraps of purple fabric tied together mostly. "Hello little one." Belle pitched her voice low, "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. How did you get here?"

"Car." the girl's voice was almost painfully quiet as she watched Belle, mistrust in her gaze. "M'ther wasn' lookin' so I ran."

"And you saw a big car and snuck into it." Belle nodded to herself. That made sense. The child was clearly from the Isle. "You poor thing. It's alright little one. No one is going to hurt you I promise. My name is Belle."

"M-M'ther' gon' be angry."
Belle's brows furrowed, "Does your mother hurt you little one?" and the girl nodded at that and Belle felt a surge of fury, she didn't have her husbands temper but she felt like she could match it now, but she hid it well.

"Do you want to go back? Or do you want to stay here?" she wouldn't send a child back somewhere she'd be hurt.

"I-I can stay?" the girl blinked slowly, "Really?"

"If you'd like. We can find you a nice home... or there's pleanty of space here." Belle held out a hand, slowly as if she was worried that she'd frighten the little girl away. "Tell me little one. What's your name?"

"M-Mal."

"That's a pretty name." Belle smiled ever so softly as Mal slowly reached out with her own hand and took Belle's, letting the woman guide her out from under the table.

"Thank you." Mal was smiling very slightly, blushing at the compliment.

"Now Mal, can you tell me what the shouting was about?"

"One of the scary men saw me hiding so I ran."

"Well, they won't hurt you if I'm there. So shall we go and tell the scary men to leave you alone?"

"O-okay." Mal's shy smile warmed Belle's heart, though it caused a twinge of pain. Because how may children on the Isle were like Mal. She was so soft and innocent. She could make a guess as to who the girls mother was, though she couldn't know for certain without asking, and she wasn't going to push Mal into telling her things she wasn't ready to.

Perhaps she could make Adam send more food and clothes. She knew that he wouldn't risk the Villains escaping to free their children and they couldn't just steal the children from their parents. Even villains had to love their children.. most of them at least.

It hurt that there was no right answer, no way to save them, but the parents couldn't be allowed to roam free. It wasn't safe. But still she could protect Mal at the very least, she thought as she led Mal towards the door, opening it and stepping into the hall, where the guards were searching room by room-and Mal pressed closer to her, still holding Belle's hand as she hid behind the woman's legs.
"You can stop your search." Belle's voice drew the guards attention.

"Your Highness." one of the guards, Marcus Belle believed his name was, stepped forward quickly. "We're so sorry, we didn't know one of the Is-"

"I would watch your tone." Belle interrupted, voice firm but fair, "She's a child. Not some monster, an innocent little girl. And after I speak to my husband I believe she'll probably be staying in Auradon."

"But your highness she's from the Isle!"

"She is a child." Belle's voice was slightly sharper, "A little girl who has committed no crime." she shifted, twisting and reaching down, picking Mal up, letting her instantly wrap her skinny arms around Belle's neck, uncaring of the dirt that was getting on her dress as the girl hid her face in Belle's neck. "I won't have any child treated poorly in my home. Now either you escort me to my husband or I will make my own way to his office. I assume there was no luck in the search?"

"None your highness." the guards face turned to one of shame "I am sorry-"

"No, no it's almost expected now." Belle smiled sadly, shifting her grip on Mal as they moved towards Adam's office, and Belle didn't bother to knock, opening the door and sighing at the sight of her husband sat at his desk, a tired look on his face. Lumiere was stood just behind him, and she imagined the guard who had led the search party had just left.

"Love." she smiled softly when both men turned their heads, and she heard the guard close the door behind them.

"Belle I-" Adam looked up and his eyes widened, "What on Earth-"

"It seems that we have a little guest, a runaway from the Isle who snuck into the car." Belle explained softly, "Adam she's just a little girl, she's not going to hurt anyone-"

"Shall I arrange for a bath and some clothes your Highness?" Lumiere asked smoothly.

"Yes please." Belle nodded, "Mal, sweetie, I want you to meet my husband. His name is Adam." and Mal did lift her head at that, turning her face slowly to peer at Adam, who's confused and worried gaze softened slightly.

"Hello Mal." his eyes flicked to his wifes, and he knew that look in her eyes. "Not everyone will be happy about this my love."

"Adam, the poor little thing doesn't want to go back there. She's covered in bruises. And I want to try and send more clothes and food there too."

"We'll see what we can do." Adam stated after a moment, "Shall I assume that we'll be needing to make an announcement about us adopting a child soon?"

Belle's face lit up, "You're okay with it?"

"I don't want to rush into it. Let her stay with us for a week, if she isn't happy then we'll see if she can find another family. If it works... then we shall see."

"Thank you love." Belle smiled brightly.

Their son had been taken from them, and they'd never forget him, but perhaps they could at least find some happiness and have a family. If it worked out... they'd have a child, a little Princess, a future Queen. And if not, well, they'd never send her back to the Isle.