"If we put all the kids in one bedroom, I think we can afford to feed them without going into crippling debt," Evie says, fingers flying over her tablet. She types faster than almost anyone Ben's ever seen, almost as fast as Lorne, his dad's secretary.
He should probably send Lorne a card soon. Or a gift basket. Something really good, to convince her not to retire when dad does. Ben doesn't intend on inheriting his dad's affair partners along with his titles, but Lorne really is a great secretary, and if he can convince her to stay, she'd be one less potential PR nightmare for him to worry about. "Of course, we'll get denied by social services if we do that, but maybe we can make an argument for the twins wanting to stay together. I can get a loan from the Charmington Treasury for the care of Dizzy, because they've already made a statement supporting her coming over, so that just leaves Celia. Maybe she can start a summer business, scam some Auradon brats out of their money, and pay her own way."
Ben makes a valiant attempt at sitting up. "No--"
"There's an alchemy chapter in my spellbook," Mal grumbles, swatting Ben's hand away. She's sprawled on top of him, curled into a compact purple curve, head on the middle of his chest. She shouldn't weigh enough to hold him down, but Mal's heavier than she looks. Not in a bad way. She's like a weighted blanket turned up by a factor of 10, and it's honestly sort of hot that she doesn't even have to try when it comes to holding him still. "I'll turn some lead into gold and we can sell it to get the money."
Ben kisses her head. God, he's a bad person. He loves when she says weird villain shit. "Mal, that's fraud."
"I will take fraud if it gets us more kids," Evie says, without taking her eyes off her spreadsheet. "Mal, you're old enough to go on record as a foster parent starting this summer. Who do you want?"
Mal shifts, burrowing her head against Ben's chest. "I want someone evil. The house is gonna be full of goody-two-shoes if you keep picking them."
"Okay so like," Evie lifts her right hand off the tablet to roll her wrist in a tight little circle, again and again until it makes a click. "Do you want to foster a baby pirate?"
"Names, babe. If you don't pick, I'll pick for you."
"Ugh. I hate kids," Mal grumbles. "Give me....Spencer and Lidya."
"You're allowed to have two."
"I'm better than you," Evie shoots back, tapping at her spreadsheet. "Actually, scratch that, I don't know if you're allowed to have any kids. We can barely afford the ones we're getting. Have you ever thought about selling your kidneys?"
"You have a magical healing factor. I...." Evie pauses, types something, and nods to herself. "I don't. I have healing potions, but they can only go so far. You have enough fairy blood to survive anything short of being burnt at the stake. One kidney, and we can give all the kids their own rooms.”
Ben would really like to think about other things now, thanks. Things that aren't his girlfriend being burnt at the stake are his favorite. He loves thinking about other things. Like his impending transition to full-time kingship, or the ring that's totally not in his backpack right now. Things that only make him a little queasy are fine.
Mal shoots up from his lap. "The fuck you won't! Keep your kidneys right where they are. The only one getting cut open for these kids is me."
"Not the kidney thing," Ben says, throwing his hands up under the force of Mal's glare. She probably wouldn't stab him, but he can't really be sure, and keeping his hands visible just in case isn't a bad idea around the VKs. "I meant paying for the kids."