Chapter 7

"Elle, wake up," a voice interrupted Elle's dreams.

"Mm?" she responded, burying her face in her pillow. She felt hot breath on her neck and then a lick, and finally, a shrill bark. She laughed and kissed Bruiser's head.

"Honey, if you ever want to get to work, you'd better wake up," Emmett continued with a laugh.

"Work?" Elle cried out, perking up at the word.

She jumped out of bed, and rushed to the bathroom, fixing her hair and washing her face. Then she ran back to the room and chose out clothes to wear. Suddenly, she remembered something. "Emmett...I'm not sure I fit in my lawyer clothes anymore," she said with a frown.

Emmett had to laugh. "Do you necessarily have to wear lawyer clothes today, Elle?" he inquired.

Elle put her hands on her hips. "Yes, I do since I'm going to my office, where I'm supposed to look like a lawyer apparently," Elle said as if making a point.

Emmett thought for a moment. Elle was about three months and a week along, and because she was naturally thin, her belly couldn't get too big with pregnancy. She didn't look too different from her usual self anyway. "Why don't you wear that black skirt? The one with a white line running down the skirt," Emmett suggested.

Elle perked up again and rummaged through her closet until she found that black skirt which she had never worn since it was always too big for her. Now it should be perfect on her. Then she pulled out a pink maternity knee-high mini-dress. She grinned widely as she took it out. "I knew this would come in handy!" she exclaimed.

Emmett had to laugh. Elle always thought of everything, before it would actually happen. He shook his head and went into the kitchen to make breakfast and coffee for the two of them.

Elle got dressed as quickly as she could. She brushed her long blonde hair and then curled it a little. Then she added makeup to herself, but not as much as she usually put on. She decided that all her fooling at Harvard should have been enough. She didn't want to set a bad example for her new baby. All she put on a was a pink lip gloss color and a little mascara. She decided against the blush, since her cheeks now had a natural blush to them. Finally, she looked in the mirror one last time and then smiled. She had a feeling that so many things were to happen that day.

"Well, well, look who decided to finally join me for breakfast," Emmett said, handing Elle her plate.

Elle sat down and smiled. "I don't think I'm going to eat though, honey. Thanks anyway. But I am going to drink the coffee," Elle said, grabbing her mug.

"Woah, woah, woah," Emmett said, taking the mug from Elle. "You are not going anywhere without eating, Elle. I know you're probably not hungry, but you're not the only one in there that needs to eat anymore. And I'm pretty sure that soon you're going to have to stop drinking coffee unless you want little Squirt in there to be more energetic than you are."

Elle stuck out her lower lip in a pout. "Please Emmett? I really don't want to eat. If I do, I'm afraid I'm going to be at the bathroom throwing up all day, and I don't want that to happen. I'll get a salad at lunch. Now give me my coffee, before I start yelling," Elle said calmly.

Emmett sighed and gave her back the mug. "Elle, I'd be surprised if that fellow is on time," Emmett remarked.

Elle took a sip of her coffee. "Why do you say that?" she asked.

"Ok, I know I'm not the mother of it, but I did manage to read a few books on parenting. First of all, it's logic. You're its mother. Anything that comes out of you is bound to be stranger than you are," Emmett said with a smile. As Elle was about to protest, he went on. "Second of all, it's rare that babies are born exactly on time. They're almost always either late or early."

Elle never thought of that before. "And what would it take for him or her to be on time?" she inquired curiously, putting a hand on her stomach.

"I don't think you could control that, Elle. It's coming when it wants out. That's the decision. No one can change that," Emmett said, feeling awkward that he knew so much.

"And yet, I'm wondering how you know so much about this. I mean, even I didn't know all this...yet. Or...maybe I heard it few times but..." Elle's voice trailed as she finished her coffee.

"You know what, Elle? I came to the conclusion that you're officially delirious. Go put on your jacket or you're going to be late for work. And I just happen to be a boss that hates tardy people," Emmett teased.

Elle didn't say a word, but smile. She put on her pink wedges and her pink and red light coat. As she was buttoning up her coat in the mirror, she suddenly stopped to think about it. Was the baby going to be early? If it was, then Elle would need time to plan everything. She would be over stressed and always on alert, not being able to enjoy herself. But if the baby would be late, then she'd be worrying about it nonstop and impatient of course. The perfect baby would be if he or she would be on time. That's exactly what she wanted.

"Well then, Mr. Boss, you can excuse me on two terms. One, I'm pregnant and I cannot be as fast as I used to be. And two, I just so happen to be your wife who loves you very much and could convince you otherwise," Elle said, sitting in Emmett's lap, giving him the puppy-dog look.

Emmett laughed at her, then gathered her up in his arms. "Alright then, you may be excused on the second term. The first one cannot be an excuse. I'm sorry, but I don't make the rules, I enforce them," he said, kissing her head.

"Sometimes I wonder why I'm still your wife..." Elle said, shaking her head.

"Gee...I wonder why. Maybe because you love me so much, and I love you even more in return?" he asked innocently.

Elle tried keeping a straight face, but couldn't. She grinned widely, then got off his lap. "Alright, you win...this time. It's not over, Emmett," Elle warned him. She took her car keys out of his pocket and gave him a quick kiss. "I'm leaving now to get better acquainted with my new office, but I'll see you later, ok? You are coming in an hour, aren't you?" she made sure.

"Of course, don't worry, Elle. Just enjoy yourself," Emmett said, looking innocently at her glares.

"Yeah, I would ask what my car keys were doing in your pocket, but I don't think I even want to know. Goodbye, Emmett!" Elle called from the door.

"Bye! Have fun!" he replied.

Elle rolled her eyes. "Like always..." she said to herself, but Emmett heard and laughed at her nonsense.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elle unlocked the door of her new office and walked in slowly. Sure enough, her things were there. She knew Emmett had previously taken all of her "lawyer" things and set them up in the office. She went to her clean and polished desk and smiled when she saw the scrapbook on it. She never yet opened it, but of course, the scrapbook never crossed her mind. Elle took the scrapbook in her hands and sank in her office chair. She put the scrapbook on the desk and read the cover again out loud.

"In Memory of Emmett and Elle Forever," she read then smiled. "They're so sweet. Don't you think, boy?" she asked her dog, and he whined when he saw himself on the first picture. He cocked his head and barked, then wagged his tail. Elle grinned and knew he loved it too.

She opened to the first page where she saw a picture and a beautifully decorated page of the day Elle got accepted into Harvard. On the second page was Elle's first day at Harvard. On the third, there was a picture of her and Emmett sitting down at the benches, talking. Elle smiled and couldn't wait to get to the last few pages. She knew what they were.

At last, she was at the last bunch of pages. She turned the page and saw a picture of Emmett wrapping his arms around Elle from behind her. Then another picture was taken while Emmett was on one knee, proposing, and it had captured Elle's "yes" face. Then there was a picture where everyone was facing the camera, but were gathered around Elle and Emmett who were in the middle, sharing a kiss. The last pages had to be Elle's favorites. There were multiple pictures from their wedding.

She never knew how much her sorority girls cared to practically stalk her throughout Harvard, taking pictures, to Emmett and Elle's wedding. But now she did know that she was loved. If not by whom she wanted to before, then by everyone else.

Elle put the scrapbook on her shelf, then rummaged through her things. She turned on her laptop, her phone, and took out a pen and notebook. Her "lawyer" things were set. All she needed now was action. She knew that as a lawyer, she'd always have something to do. Even now, she knew she had to copy down Emmett's agenda unto her computer, but didn't want to. This was the first time in all of her lawyers months that she didn't want to complete a task that she was assigned to.

As Elle reached over into her drawer, the phone began to ring. She pushed the answering button. "Elle Woods...Forrest...speaking," she answered.

"Mrs. Woods, you have an anonymous caller on the other line. She won't tell me who she is, but she says she needs to talk to you urgently," the voice on the other line said.

Elle almost flew out of her seat. She's recognize that voice anywhere in the world. "Vivian?!"

"Actually...it's Miss Kensington to you," Vivian said with a giggle.

Elle cleared her throat and played along. "Miss Kensington, I never knew you were working here," Elle said formally.

"I didn't either. Until we came back from California. We'll talk about it in our lunch break. You have a caller on the other line. Do you want to answer?" Vivian inquired.

"Yes. Yes, of course. I'll answer," Elle said, then immediately switched lines. "Forrest and Smithson Law Firm, Elle Woods speaking."

At first, nothing was heard but a little buzzing sound. Then a voice began talking timidly. "Elle, I need your help," it said.

Elle stopped for a minute. She didn't know why the caller would call her by her first name as if they were friends. Also, she didn't know why, but she had a sinking feeling that she knew this person and that something wrong had happened.

"Before you say anything else, can I please know who I'm speaking to?" Elle inquired, looking a bit confused.

"Elle, I need your help. I won't say anything else unless you agree to see me Thursday at ten in the morning," the voice urged.

Elle felt her heart leap from her chest. She'd know this demanding voice anywhere. She knew the little accent when the person said her name. She knew who this person was, but didn't want to believe it.

"Ok. I'll agree to it. But you must promise me that when you arrive, you tell me all that you need from me. Is that clear?" Elle asked with a sharp edge in her voice.

"Yes, Elle. Thank you," the person breathed, then the line went dead.

Elle stared at her phone for maybe about twenty minutes, wondering what her caller could possibly want. What her caller could possibly need. And why was the voice so frantic and desperate? And why that specific date and not the next day?

"Mrs. Woods?" a voice asked from outside her door.

Elle woke up from her daydream, and shook her head as if to clear away the thoughts. "Come in," she called out.

The door opened slowly and the person walked up to Elle's desk with a few folders in her arms. "Mrs. Woods, there was a faxed paper in your husband's office with your name on it."

Elle reached out and touched Vivian's arm. "Vivian, just call me Elle. I don't want anything too formal. It makes me feel old," Elle said, wrinkling her nose.

Vivian laughed. "Ok then, Elle. But here. You might want to take a look at these. I think this might be tied to your caller," she said, giving her a light blue folder.

Elle opened the folder and took out a paper. She scanned over it, then looked up at Vivian. "Viv, this is the phone number she called from, and her address. Did you read it yet?" Elle asked.

"No. I'm not allowed to read anything that's yours. Just inform you of callers and messages and of the sort," Vivian said, shaking her head.

Elle nodded, then handed Vivian the paper. "I think the caller sent this in case no one would pick up. It's exactly what she told me on the phone. Thursday at ten in the morning, she's coming here to my office to discuss something. But she won't tell me who she is, or why," Elle said, looking frustrated.

"Well, you'll find out next week," Vivian said after reading it, giving the paper back to Elle. "Do you need anyone to go out to the address that is sent?"

"No. I don't think it's necessary. And besides, I don't think this is her address. She is smart enough to know that we'd probably go find her. But just leave her be. I already think I know who it is, but I won't breathe a word to anyone just yet," Elle said, getting up and putting the folder in her file cabinet.

"Alright, Elle," Vivian said, opening the door. "If you need anything, just call me. I'm on the same floor, four offices away. Good luck!"

Elle sank into her office chair with an audible sigh. She wondered what could possibly be wrong. Will she be taking on this case? And if she will, will the case take longer than the baby's probable due date? What will she do after?

Elle wasn't that kind of person as to think ahead, in the future. That was Emmett's job. Elle's job was that she'd focus on the things in the present. But lately she hadn't been focusing on present things. It was the future that had caught her up now. She had wished for a day filled with action. Now she had one.

---------------------------------------------------

"Emmett, we need to talk," Elle said the second Emmett walked through the door.

Emmett's smile turned into a worried look. "Elle, what happened?" he asked, running to sit next to her on the couch.

"Oh, no, no, it's not about me or the baby. I promise," Elle reassured him as he took her hand into his. "It's about work..."

"What did they do to you?!" he exclaimed.

"Emmett, calm down. It's nothing that has to do with me. It's about a call I got today..." Elle said, biting her lip. She was a little disturbed about the call for a new case.

Emmett felt like grabbing Elle by the shoulders to get the information out of her. "Elle, what happened?!" he almost shrieked.

Elle felt nervousness rising inside of her as Emmett kept asking. "Please stop. If you don't calm down, then I can't tell you," Elle said, sounding calm.

Emmett took a deep breath. "Ok, I'm good. Go ahead."

"Ok. Well, I received a call. I was informed of it by Miss Kensington, whom I never knew was my secretary," she smiled. "Anyway, I answered the phone and the woman on the other line said, "Elle, I need your help." Then she told me that she'd see me Thursday morning at ten."

"I was worried about that? I don't get it," Emmett said, looking confused.

"The thing that I'm worried about is that the woman wouldn't tell me who she was or why she needed me to be her lawyer," Elle said, looking worried. "But I have a sinking feeling that it's..."

Emmett looked into Elle's eyes. "Elle, who?"

"Brooke," Elle whispered, looking troubled as she fell against the back of the couch.

Emmett was a bit speechless before finally responding. "As in Wyndham?"

"How many Brookes do you know, Em?" Elle asked, giving him a look.

"Only the one whose case I co-counseled. But why would she call you to be her lawyer?" Emmett inquired.

"I don't know, Emmett. But she sounded very desperate and urgent. That's what worried me," Elle said, fiddling with her fingers.

"But how are you so sure it's Brooke? It could be countless people that heard of you," Emmett protested.

"I highly doubt that. Besides, she said, "Elle, I need your help." And you know how Brooke says my name with a little southern California accent, since she grew up there. And the same accent was heard three times when she said my name. It's Brooke. I'm telling you," Elle said, sounding urgent. Bruiser barked and gave Emmett a look. "See? Even Bruiser witnesses it!"

Emmett put her hand on Elle's. "I believe you, honey. We'll figure it out. Do you want me coming with you on Thursday?" Emmett asked with a soft expression.

"No, it's fine. It's Brooke I'm worried about, not me. I could take care of myself," Elle said with a smile.

"Yeah, after someone steals you or something. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that happened to you. But the again, I'd have to go rescue you, since you are my wife and I'm forced to save you," Emmett said, pretending to be sarcastic.

Elle suddenly looked a bit worried. "You're joking, right? I mean, you would rescue me, wouldn't you?" she asked quickly.

Emmett laughed and embraced her. "Of course I would, Elle! Stop taking things so seriously these days. You're going to be fine, the baby's going to be fine, I'm going to be fine, Brooke's going to be fine, everyone's going to be fine," he assured her.

"Promise?"

"On my life," Emmett grinned.

Elle leaned forward and pressed her lips unto his. No matter how many times they'd kiss, she felt she could never get tired of it. Emmett put his hand on Elle's soft cheek and kissed her back.

"I'm so glad I have a wonderful husband that would save me if I was in trouble," Elle said quietly, making Emmett laugh.

"I'd save you even if you weren't in trouble, Elle! You know that," Emmett chuckled.

Elle shrugged. "I'm sure you would. But I mostly said that because I like saying that I have a husband. It still feels like a dream to me," Elle smiled.

"Well for me it feels real, because it is."

"Actually, you don't exactly understand me. I mean, I remember that ever since I was twelve years old I always watched romance movies for some reason, and I always wished that I'd someday get a kiss. But not just from anyone. I'd had to find the perfect guy. And then in high school I got together with Warner, and I thought he was perfect," Elle said and then paused to make a face. "We were together for three years before he dumped me and I followed him to Harvard...where I met you. Now I realize that even though I've already given away my first kiss, I'm not going to make the same mistake as before."

"I should hope not!" Emmett exclaimed with smile. "And wow, I never knew the story behind you following Warner to Harvard. You were that much desperate for love?"

"Sadly, yes. But now it's not so sad because I'm already married and have a wonderful husband that I could love," Elle said with a laugh.

"And to think that about ten minutes ago you were worried about Brooke," Emmett said, shaking his head.

"I still am. I will probably worry until Thursday. I just hope she's ok. She didn't even come to our wedding. I'm not offended because I know Brooke would do anything to be there for her friends, unless something urgent happened or she had to do something important. I mean, she's a good person and never lies, but she does know how to get herself into trouble," Elle told him.

"No kidding. She was accused of killing her own husband who was exactly thirty years older than her," Emmett said, making a point.

"Ok, I get it, but she'd never do something like that. I know her too well. She's never go so far as to break the bonds of sisterhood," Elle shook her head.

"As long as you and the baby stay safe, then I don't care what you do," Emmett said, kissing her once more before standing up to go to the kitchen. "Take care of yourself, Elle."

"I promise!" Elle exclaimed then laid down on the couch, thinking.