𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐘 | mal and ben

please please please

Mal woke up to the soft light of morning filtering through the curtains, her eyes feeling heavy and puffy from the tears she'd cried the night before. As she blinked away the remnants of sleep, she instinctively reached out to the other side of the bed, only to find it empty. A pang of loneliness hit her as she realized Ben wasn't there.

Sighing, she pulled herself out of bed, trying to shake off the lingering sadness. She checked on Lil Ben, who was already awake and fussing in his crib. Mal picked him up, holding him close as she rocked him gently, finding some comfort in the warmth of her son's tiny body.

After a few minutes, she handed Lil Ben to his nanny, offering a soft smile before heading down the hallway. Her feet carried her toward Ben's old room, where she suspected he had spent the night. As she approached the door, her heart raced with a mix of anxiety and hope.

She opened the door quietly, peeking inside. Ben was standing by the window, looking out at the grounds below. His back was to her, his posture tense. Mal felt a lump form in her throat as she saw the distance between them, both physical and emotional.

"Ben?" she called softly, stepping into the room.

He didn't turn around, but she saw his shoulders stiffen slightly at the sound of her voice. She walked closer, her heart aching as she reached out and gently took his hand. But instead of the warm, reassuring squeeze she was hoping for, Ben pulled his hand away, the rejection cutting deep.

Undeterred, Mal leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek, trying to show him that she was still here, that she still loved him. But Ben didn't respond. He didn't lean into the kiss, didn't turn to face her. He just stood there, silent and distant.

"Ben, I'm so sorry," Mal began, her voice trembling with emotion. "I never wanted to hurt you. I was just so overwhelmed by everything—by the pressure from the council, by the thought of a second child, by... everything. I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong."

Ben's silence was deafening, his lack of response more painful than any words he could have said. Mal's heart sank further, but she pressed on, desperate to reach him.

"Please, Ben, don't shut me out. We need each other. I need you," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Finally, Ben sighed, turning slightly toward her, though he still didn't meet her eyes. "We'll talk later," he said quietly, his tone neutral, devoid of the warmth she was used to. "I just need some time to think."

Mal's chest tightened, but she nodded, understanding that she had to give him the space he needed, even if it hurt. "I'll be here when you're ready," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

She lingered for a moment, hoping he might say something more, but when it became clear he wouldn't, she turned and walked out of the room, her heart heavy with the weight of their unspoken pain

flashback 

Four days after Lil Ben was born, Mal sat alone in a small chamber within the palace, facing the council members who had requested her presence. Despite her exhaustion and the newness of motherhood, she had been summoned for a meeting she already dreaded.

The room was occupied by key council members, including Lumiere, the stern gray-haired advisor, and a few other senior members who held significant influence over the kingdom's decisions. Mal could feel their eyes on her, studying her every move, as if they were assessing her capability as both a queen and a mother.