"Bailey, get back here!" Mal yelled chasing after the naked toddler. Madelyn laughed and clapped her hands, entertained by her mother chasing her younger sister.
"No cwothes Mommy! No cwothes!" Bailey screeched as she ran through the living room.
"I swear Bailey, if you do not get in these clothes right now!" Mal said and Ben walked in just in time to catch the runaway.
"Is someone being bad for mommy?" Ben asked in a disappointing tone. Bailey shook her head.
"I'sa not being bad fow mommy," Bailey said.
"Well, how about we put your clothes on?" Ben suggested.
"No cwothes!" Bailey said.
"I think I see the problem," Ben said. "Come on," He took the clothes from Mal and started dressing Bailey.
"Maddie, you too," Mal said holding out Madelyn's outfit.
Madelyn sighed and slid off the sofa before walking over to her mother. Out of the two, Madelyn was definitely the more obedient one.
"How long have you been chasing Bailey?" Ben asked.
"For about fifteen minutes," Mal said putting Madelyn's dress on.
"Bai-Bai, can't you make it any easier on mommy?" Ben asked using his nickname for his daughter. Bailey squirmed in his arms. As soon as Ben set her down she took off running. Madelyn tried to go with her, but Mal pulled her back.
"Madelyn, let me finish your hair," Mal said pulling her daughter's blonde hair into a ponytail. "There, go play," she said and soon both the twins were running around getting into mischief.
Mal sighed and made her way into the kitchen where breakfast dishes covered the counters. "I'm sorry. I wish I could be here more," Ben said wrapping his arms around Mal from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"It's okay. I understand. You're the king. You have other people to take care of besides just us," Mal said shrugging.
"I wish I didn't. If there was a way I could, I would appoint another person to be king."
"Ben, I'm telling you. We're fine here. Besides, Belle is taking the girls to the zoo today. Oh, they can't wait. It's all I heard about at breakfast this morning," Mal said clasping her hands together.
Ben laughed. "After two kids you still have your sense of humor," he said. "Why don't you and Evie schedule a much needed girls day?"
"Because Evie also has two kids."
"But I'm sure she can have Doug watch them."
"She's coming over later with Eli and Dami to play with the girls."
"That'll be nice. What about the others?"
"What about them?"
"Why doesn't Jane bring Christopher? And Lonnie bring her kids?" Ben asked.
"Because Chris is running a fever and Lonnie has a one month old who is fussy all the time," Mal said as if Ben should know.
"Huh, that reminds of someone I know..." He said and glanced over to where Bailey and Madelyn were playing.
"I did not think she was gonna be this way," Mal shook her head. "She gets it from you."
"Excuse me? The rebellious, I'm not gonna do what mommy and daddy say thing is completely all you," Ben said. Mal chuckled and started clearing the table.
"Mommy!" The couple looked over to see Madelyn crying and holding her head while Bailey pulled her hair.
"Today has not been a good day," Mal sighed and held her arms out for Madelyn, who ran to her. "Bailey, go to the timeout chair."
"But I dwidn't do anyfing," Bailey said looking at the ground.
"You pulled Maddie's hair. That was not nice," Mal said standing up. "Go, now. For three minutes."
"No!" Bailey stomped her foot.
"Bailey get in that timeout chair right now," Mal said, almost fed up with her youngest daughter's shenanigans.
"I dwon't wanna," Bailey crossed her arms.
"Bailey Noelle Beast, that is it," Mal said and handed Madelyn over to Ben before picking up Bailey.
"Put me down!" Bailey screamed as Mal carried her over to the timeout chair and placed her in it.
"If you do not stay, you will not go with Grandma to the zoo, understand," Mal said, more like a statement than a question.
"I dwon't wike you mommy," Bailey turned away from her mother and Mal sighed as she stood up.
"She gets it from me huh?" Ben asked as Mal walked over to him.
"Save it. I'm not in the mood," Mal said and took Madelyn from her more than helpful husband.
"On that note... I'm gonna head back to the office," Ben said and kissed Bailey and Madelyn on the cheeks before giving his wife a quick kiss. "I'll see you later. Maybe I can help relieve some of that stress," He said with a wink.
"I swear Ben, you're worse than Jay," Mal shook her head.
"Hey, who has three kids?" Ben asked and with that he walked out of the room. Mal smiled slightly.
"Daddy siwwy," Madelyn said shaking her head like her mother.
"Yes, he is. Now, if you're good, we can have strawberries with lunch," Mal said.
"Strawberries! Yay!" Madelyn said. Mal smiled and kissed her daughters head before going into the kitchen.
Soon, she felt a tug on her dress and looked down to see the tear-stained face of Bailey. Mal knelt down and Bailey gave her mother a big hug. "I'm reawwy sowwy mommy," She said.
"Bailey, the reason why we do the timeout chair is so we know what's naughty and won't do it again. I love you no matter what, but you were a bad girl, do you understand that?" Mal asked and Bailey nodded. "Good. Now go play with your sister. I've got to finish cleaning up before Grandma Belle gets here."
Bailey and Madelyn's outfit:
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