AN: This is a short chapter, and it might seem like just a filler, but it will be vital later on.
"Okay, Penny," Emily spoke to her daughter as they entered the drug store. "You go pick out a candy bar or something for after dinner tonight, and then head up to the checkout counter so I can pay for that at the same time as the insulin and vitamins." Penny obediently moved off to the candy isle while Emily made her way to the window to pick up her insulin, grabbing a box of the prenatal vitamins Dr. Jordan had recommended on the way. The fact that she was carrying Roger and Mimi's son was just starting to show now. As a result, Nana was constantly after her to stay off her feet and just relax. Emily made a mental note to take her advice right after this trip to the drug store. She was already feeling worn out, even though she'd only walked a block from her apartment.
As Emily took her things up to the checkout counter to get in line, a familiar voice caught her attention.
"Emily?" Turning, the photographer momentarily froze at the sight of Benny. The landlord looked slightly awkward at running into her, possibly because the last time they'd seen each other, his wife's dog had attacked Emily's pet potbellied pig, Wenceslas.
"How… how's Wenceslas?" Benny asked.
"He's doing okay. Thanks for asking," Emily replied, feeling just as awkward. "What brings you here?"
"I like coming here for a few things. Mouthwash and shaving cream, you know?" After a brief pause, Benny got the guts to get to what he really wanted to say. "Listen, Emily. I, um, heard about Mimi's accident a while ago. Is she all right?"
"Yes, she's fine. Just had a slight bump on the head, but…"
"But what?" Emily thought for a moment, wondering if she should explain what had been going on in the Bohemians' lives lately. There was always the possibility of Roger hitting the ceiling if he found out Emily had told Benny about it. She's been on the receiving end of Roger's temper before, and wasn't interested in having a second helping. But the concern on Benny's face managed to convince her to explain everything, from Mimi's pregnancy, to the fall, and how she lost the baby, leading Emily to volunteer to be Roger and Mimi' surrogate mother.
"Wow," Benny breathed when Emily was finished. "Yeah, I thought you were looking a little larger, but I didn't want to say anything. How far along…?"
"It's the fourth month now."
"Is that why you have the cane?"
"No. Actually, I was in a car accident half a year ago, and my leg got banged up real good. There's some lasting trauma in my leg muscles now, so I need the cane to get around. It's not that bad, truthfully, but it does make the climb up to the Loft a little more difficult."
Any further conversation was cut short when Penny came back with a Crunch bar in her hand.
"Well, I'll let you go pay for your things, Emily," Benny announced. "Allison's expecting me back home. Oh, and….thanks for filling me in on what's been going on with the others. I always wonder, since Mark and Roger haven't called me since they found Mimi after her time out on the street."
"You know how they are," Emily replied in understanding. "It takes them a while to forget past grievances."
"Yeah, I know. Take care of yourself, then." Benny left the drug store without another word.
AN:I finally think I broke through my writer's block. But this doesn't mean updates will be picking up. Class work's building up, now that the end of the school year's approaching, and I'm trying to register for a class that, according to the on-line registering program, I haven't satisfied the requirements, even though my adviser said I was cleared, due to transfer courses. Thus, I have to try and find time tomorrow to see if I can figure this out with him. (Man, I can't wait until this semester is all over)
