Chapter 5

After fulfilling the rest of the plan accordingly and returning to her home, Mal eagerly told her father of what transpired nearly an hour before. Although he found her reaction entertaining, Hades admitted he acted in similar fashion when he first felt Mal kick in her mother's womb. In fact, the god was so in awe by incredible sensation that he annoyed his ex-wife when he always had a hand on her baby bump so he wouldn't miss any kicks.

It wasn't hard to believe that Mal somehow inherited her father's admiration for the 'miracle', as Hades had called it. From that day onward Mal kept a gentle hand on her baby bump, which continued to grow little by little with every passing day. There were quite a few times where Hades would catch his daughter trying her hardest not to lull to sleep so she wouldn't miss a single kick. The god thought the action was amusing, considering he would wake up to her squeal in the middle of the night due to feeling the baby move around.

As the months passed, Mal became impatient about her daughter, or son, making her grand entrance. There was one night where the fairy dreamed about her little girl being in her arms, but then suddenly shouted for her 'daddy' as she jumped toward a handsome stranger. The man, either a prince or king with auburn hair and green eyes, happily swoop Mallory into his arms and blew thousands of kisses on the girl's cheek. Mallory giggled a squeal before begging her 'daddy' to stop.

Obviously, Mal was immensely confused by her vision. When she first heard her daughter shout, she believed the man was Harry, but was very surprised to see the stranger. From his spic-and-span fancy blue suit and the gold crown on his head, it was apparent that he had to be some kind of king or at least a prince. The way he treated Mal's daughter made her believe that he truly cared for Mallory. Still, Mal knew that would never happen. The prince-king wasn't even real!

. . . Right?

Now that she thought about it, Mal could have sworn that she's seen the mystery man before. Though he appeared to be older, if she considered Mallory appearing to be older, he may actually Mal's age.

But where could she have seen him from?

Speaking of her baby's 'daddy', a small encounter occurred during the summer months, just a month or so before Mallory would come into the world. Jay, being the amazing best friend that he was, reluctantly traveled to the only fish restaurant for Mal's favorite craving, while Hades ventured to the barges. Hades's brothers, unsure it was one or both, had learned about the baby from him and wanted to do something to help, so they sent the basic essentials: diapers, milk formula, a black baby blanket with the insignia Mal described previously—which found its way on every shirt or jacket she owned—and practically anything else you can think of.

Anyways, Jay had been tensely waiting for the food to be cooked when Harry approached him again. The thief advised to let him be, but the pirate refused, wondering once again if Mal had her 'thing' yet or if finally she decided to get rid of 'it'.

"Her name is Mallory," Jay hissed quietly as customers mingled around them. "And no, she hasn't had her yet. We're thinking one more month. Why? Have you finally decided to step up?"

Instead of answering, Harry scrunched up his nose at the name reveal. "Mallory?" He repeated incredulously, mindful to keep his volume down. "Where did she come up with a name like that?"

"She combined her name with yours to spite you about keeping her baby." Jay finally turned his head to gaze at the pirate with an inquisitive eyebrow. "So? Are you stepping up?"

"No," Harry quickly denied with a head shake. "Like I told you before, I never will because it will never be mine. I would rather forget that this whole scenario is happening."

"You know how you could have prevented this?" Jay questioned rhetorically, his anger spiking but still being somewhat maintained. "By not getting my best friend drunk and then raping her for your sick pleasure."

The infamous thief paused his scolding for a moment to pay for the food. Grabbing the grocery sack, he spared a moment to glare at the cowardly pirate. "As I said before," Jay continued as his glare sharpened, "stay away from my side of the Isle. Don't you ever come near Mal or Mallory."

Harry scoffed at the threat. "You don't have to worry about that. The last thing I want is for that baby to know that I'm its father. After this situation, I am more than content with being single for the rest of my life."

"Yet I doubt that will stop you from hooking up with random chicks that you don't give a shit about," Jay retorted bitterly before brushing pass the pirate, not caring about his reaction to the assumption.

The thief walked briskly to the entrance as he silently fumed at having to deal with the encounter and that the pirate didn't feel any genuine remorse from what he had done. Resting his hand on the swinging door, Jay hesitated before turning to face Harry again.

"You know, I used to have a crush on you," Jay revealed, finding himself somewhat amused by the pirate's shocked expression. "I thought you were a well-fit, handsome guy that could potentially be my life partner, but you became off-limits when I discovered my friend was crushing on you too. Now, after what you did, I am repulsed by you. I thought about becoming asexual since you nearly ruined my views on dating males. The next time we cross paths, you better pray to the gods that I don't kick your ass."

Taking in the customers' reactions at the 'big' reveal—though they still had no idea what was going on—Jay dramatically pushed through the exit, finding himself surprisingly relieved at revealing his 'dark' secret.

Now the only thing he had left to hide was his beautiful niece, who has yet to make her grand entrance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Returning to the cave where he accidentally awoke the napping pregnant fairy, Jay tensely informed her of what transpired nearly half an hour ago.

"I told you he wasn't right for you," Mal reminded somewhat teasingly as she graciously took the main food she's been craving throughout the whole pregnancy, comically resting it on her enormous baby bump. "You need an Auradon thief. Someone who can match your skills with ease."

Jay chuckled at the advice. "There isn't anyone that can compete with my talents, especially someone from a kingdom filled to the brim with goody-goodies. You would have a better chance at finding yourself an Auradon prince."

Tensing up at remembering her dream, Mal scoffed to advert her friend from her reaction. "A prince won't want to be with me," she insisted bitterly, "not once he finds out I have a daughter at such a young age. Besides, I'm not exactly looking for someone to date. In a few weeks, I have my little girl to worry about raising."

"Speaking of a few weeks," Jay began with a smile, purposely changing the subject so the pregnant fairy wouldn't get emotional, "your birthday is coming up next month. Is there anything you want for your big fifteen? Something to make it special?"

Pondering on an idea or two, Mal shrugged carelessly, though she had something in mind. "Just to spend the day with my little girl," she decided with another shrug. "She would be the best gift I could ever ask for now."

Mal didn't realize then that her wish would come true. Or that a few years from then, Jay would give her something that would nearly top being with Mallory—

Since the mother would be missing her daughter so much by then.