Chapter 39

It was becoming more and more difficult for Regina to handle the stress of the work but that didn't mean she was about to give up quickly, with her pregnancy symptoms and her boss's demands and orders it was finally taking a toll on her. It was even becoming to a point where she wanted to just sleep in and not bother going to work and at those days Emmett would be so furious to send in one of the maids to wake her up. There progress had stalled at this point, she thought they would continue to get along well but for the past few days it seemed Emmett consumed himself in work more often and would arrive late to the mansion and on top of that Regina was running out of ways to not angry her boss even more than he already seemed to these past days.

She was so consumed in her thoughts she failed to notice Belle calling out her name for her attention," Regina!...REGINA?!"

"Whaa-t?!" Finally Regina startled awake from her thoughts of her and Emmett. She suddenly blushed and turned toward Belle who had rolled herself away from her table in her chair to sit by Regina.

Belle put her hand on Regina's shoulder and squeezed it lightly. "Are you alright? Your face is all red?" Belle put her other hand on her forehead to check if her body was heating up or something. Regina grabbed Belle's hand to move it off her face and shook her side to side. "I am alright Belle, you don't have to worry about me." Regina said, noticed Belle frowning at her statement.

"Alright" Belle put her hands up in a surrender motion, she was going to let it go for now and come back to it later. "Do you want to go grab lunch now. I have been waiting for you to get done with this paper work so we could get out for a while" Belle said as she put her hand on her stomach, " I am so hungry, I don't how you stand working for so many hours straight and stay hungry. Are you sure it's safe for the ba-ufff!" Before Belle could finish her sentence, Regina quickly leaned over to put her hand on belle's mouth to shut her up and glared at her.

Regina quickly got up from her seat and looked around to see if anybody had noticed them. Belle got up as well and they both walked out of the office. Both of them not commenting on Regina's actions. Going to lunch together had become there routine so nobody questioned as to where they were going, Belle knew Regina was not going to take a break from work if she didn't come drop by herself to the office to drag the girl out of there to eat lunch.

When they reached the restaurant where the usually went to they both ordered their regular meal and waited for it to arrive. They didn't discuss the baby talk, Regina always not feeling comfortable to let anyone in even if it meant her own best friend. After a while their food arrived and they began eating but could feel the tense aura around themselves.

"Regina?" Belle tried to break the silence and awkwardness of it all.

"No Belle!...Please" pleaded Regina. As she tried to focus on her food and not think about what Belle was pointing at.

"Have you at least been going to a doctor for check ups and everything?" Questioned Belle feeling worried for her friend and her safety.

"I-um-how can I? I am always at the office and well...I can't open discuss this with anyone or have anyone else at the work know about it. Honestly I have no idea what I am doing! This is so difficult for me, don't get me wrong but I am really worried about the baby as well, Belle." Regina spoke out her worries, hoping Belle will be understanding.

Belle stopped eating and looked over at her friend, she couldn't help but feel bad that she wasn't able to do much. "Don't you think...umm...you should discuss it with Mr. Swan so maybe you can try focusing on the baby and your health more" suggested Belle while letting out a deep sigh.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" Regina shouted out at the suggestion and quickly got up from her seat.

"Sssshhh...calm down Regina!" Belle harshly whispered as she looked around to notice few people were staring at them now. "Please sit down".

Regina let out a breath of air and sat down.

They continued to finish their food again not talking and letting the silence hanging on to them.

Now they were back at the mansion office.

"Listen Regina!" Belle called out stopping Regina in her tracks before she could open the door to go inside the mansion.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you" Regina turned around and looked at her friend.

"I just think it will be safer for you to talk to your boss about this. This is a really major situation you are in and you definitely can not continue to put pressure on yourself and the baby" Belle spoke out what she thought. Again Regina didn't say anything just stared at her.

"Look sooner or later he is going to know...Regina soon you will start showing what do you plan on doing then!" Belle asked, afraid what would Regina' s response be at her comment. She looked over at her friends face and noticed her smile a sad smile at her.

"You know Belle...it's almost hilarious how...I- I escaped my mother only to find myself trapped again" Regina swooped away at her tears before she completely fall apart in front of her friend. She already had them worried enough.

"Don't worry about me Belle, tell Kat I said 'Hi', I'll see you tomorrow" at that Regina quickly went inside before Belle could say or ask anything further.

"I know you are not okay" Belle said to herself as she watched Regina's retreated back. "I hope Kat found something of useful" Belle muttered out to herself again.

Em & Regina...

"Regina! Where have you been? I have been trying to reach you for the past few minutes?" Asked Emmett as he got up from his seat and walked to where Regina was now standing by the office door.

At Emmett's questions, Regina quickly schooled in her features and tried not to stutter while answering Emmett's questions.

She held up her gaze with her boss and replied, "I guess I lost track of time, I went to have lunch with Belle. I assure you it won't happen again, Sir"

"Alright well then...mind if I ask what's wrong?" Asked Emmett, then Regina gave him a curious look. "Not that it's any of my business, I was asking to make sure my secretary is well and uh..." he tried to add more but found himself stuck and quickly averted his gaze away from Regina.

Regina stood there dumbfounded, this was new , her boss never have asked her how she was before this time. "I-uh, yes it is none of your concern. But... I am doing perfectly fine." Regina said with certainty not averting her eyes away like Emmett had done before. They were lucky that none of the other members weren't present at the moment. They quickly went back to their spots and went to work. After few minutes or so everyone else made their presence known in the office and once again everyone was back to working.

And hour or so later Emmett again got up and was about to walk out the door when he turned around to stand in front of Regina's desk.

"Yes...Uh-Mr. Swan?" Regina inquired when she felt the shadow of someone standing above her in front of her desk.

"Well, I would like to let you know. I will not be back tonight at the mansion. See you tomorrow" he left before Regina could say anything in return. Regina kept her eyes on the door Emmett just walked out of.

Instead of being happy that she will have the place to herself, Regina felt the opposite, she didn't know if she was sad or just afraid of being alone in the mansion without Emmett. But it left her feeling uncomfortable. Sigh.

"Are you seriously plan on sleeping at my place tonight? Who are you trying to avoid this time, Emmett?" Questioned Ruben as he opened up he door to his apartment. It was 12 at midnight when they got back from the main branch office, Emmett not once going back to the mansion office.

"I just can't stand to be near her all the time, you know that, Ruben" Emmett let out as they both entered the apartment.

"Hmm I know, you have said that many times before. How can I forget?" Ruben then smirked at him. Emmett then gave him his infamous glare.

"Alright alright. I'll try not to say anything about her" Ruben promised as he took off his jacket and hung it up behind the door. Emmett did the same but kept his coat to himself.

"Hey, do you want something to drink?" Asked Ruben standing in front of his open fridge now.

Emmett leaned back in to the sofa and closed off his eyes and released a deep breathe.

"No Ruben, I'm good, I'm just gona head to sleep." He then got up and went to the spare room in the apartment.

"Alright man...listen if you want to talk you know I'm here" Ruben offered as Emmett continued walking to the rooms direction but nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Ruben took out a drink for himself and sat down on the same sofa Emmett was just sitting on. He put his drink on the table and leaned down to take his shoes off to lie them on the table.

After he was comfortable, he grabbed his drink again and took a sip. Belle.

He quickly grabbed his phone and clicked on her name.

After few rings Ruben responded when the line on other side picked up.

"Belle?"