A/N: OMG! I'm so sorry for taking so long to post this chapter! I feel so guilty for not 'borrowing' my friend's laptop when I had the chance. Actually, my laptop died on Christmas Day when my brother accidentally spilled his drink on it(epic way to die). So all of my drafts for this story were lost and I had to rewrite them on paper for quite a while.(I'm still looking for another good friend of mine who might be able to fix my laptop.) I'm sorry for the long wait! I'm not sure if I can go back to regular updating since I just lost my files. Hopefully, I can type up the rest in the coming weeks.
Antonio was an expert in dealing with children. Sadly, he was no expert in dealing with pregnant women. One could safely assume Francis would, seeing as he was the self-proclaimed expert in love, romance, and women. Unfortunately, his expertise also fell short in the same area where most men fail. Dealing with pregnant women, especially like one Gillian Maria. But surely there was a way? Truly, in the throes of love, passion, and friendship, there would be a way.
"I am sorry if I offend you, mon ami, but I really must point out that you need to shop for more fitting clothes and lingerie." Francis murmured contemplatively as he gazed at his friend, who was munching contentedly on some toasted garlic bread. At his words, Gillian's head snapped in his direction with undeniable curiosity, although there were underlying tones of a challenge that sparked in her eyes as she smirked.
"Care to enlighten me? My underwear not to your tastes? I'm sorry to disappoint you since Roderich has tightened his budget and won't let me buy something hot and lacy. I don't think I should be wearing any lace in my condition either." she quipped. Antonio took a seat next to her, a mug of steaming coffee in his hand. He sighed happily before taking a good look at his female friend, and the smile left his face.
"I think Francis is right, Gil. Maybe you should change your entire wardrobe."
"I believe we should shop for something befitting that of a pregnant woman. Perhaps you need some clothes that would make you look more…" the Frenchman trailed off as Gillian's eyes hardened and her lips curled into a frown. Beside her Antonio was painfully oblivious to the rising tension. The grin on his face was making Francis more nervous as each second passed by. "Explain what this pervert is talking about, Tonio, or I'm going to make sure he isn't capable of spreading any of his amour to many other hapless women anymore.
"Come now, Gil. Let's go shopping. We can help you with whatever problem you're facing. We can even do better than your husband when it comes to picking all the good stuff. Franny is merely suggesting that even as a pregnant woman, you still have to look sexy!"
Silence pervaded the dinner area as Francis' jaw dropped in shock, and Gillian froze in her seat as their undivided attention was soon directed towards their cheery friend who sipped his coffee without a clue.
"Tonio, what the heck is in that coffee? Are you sure you're okay? What you suggested just made my day!" Gillian shrieked the moment she got over her initial surprise. She got out of her seat as fast as she could and crushed her friend into an emotionally-charged embrace. Antonio had his moments of brilliance, and when he did, he outshone Francis in literally everything. Yes, Gillian decided from that moment on to listen to whatever the carefree Spaniard had to say, for today at least.
Hours later and the trio found themselves cruising the malls searching for the 'perfect maternal wardrobe' as Francis coined it. The Frenchman offered to pay everything of course, claiming that he had to do it as a peace offering to appease Gillian, who had held a grudge ever since he mentioned the forbidden 'F' word.
Soon enough, all three were carrying shopping bags filled with an assortment of what Gillian needed to wear. Antonio was rattling off the names of different pregnant women he had met who wore this and that, and Gillian tuned it out rather admirably, her attention caught by the trinkets sold in one shop. Francis was checking his wallet every now and then to see if he could still manage to pay for the next batch of lingerie he was sure Gillian would like to have. Surely her husband should know what to buy for her! A pregnant wife's needs came first! But then again, Francis sighed; Roderich could be very dense and insensitive at times. Which reminded him he never really knew the real reason why Gillian married the snobbish, old-fashioned musician.
"For curiosity's sake Gillian, would you mind telling us why of all people did you choose someone like Roderich? You could have picked me, or someone that would have suited your personality and tastes more, you know." Francis whined mockingly, his lips in a childish pout as he poked Gillian's shoulder. The pregnant woman turned to shoot him a withering glare.
The trio slow down for a moment; Antonio humming a happy tune as he shifts the bags in his hands, his gaze focused somewhere far away, and Francis challenging their female friend with his baiting words. Finally, Gillian picks up the pace for them.
"Pick you? You're my best friend, Franny. And I know you too well. You'd bore me to death sooner or later. You may have all the fine points of a romantic Frenchman but I am quite immune to your little flair for romance. As for other men," Gillian sniffs disdainfully before flashing both of her friends a devilish grin. "You know only few are able to handle someone with this level of awesome!"
Francis' face breaks into a mischievous smile. "Oh? And you're saying Roderich is one of those impossibly few who can stand your level of awesomeness?"
"No, Roderich provides me with entertainment! He's the kind of guy you'd like to mess with for fun." Gillian replies with brimming glee before her attention is entranced by one of the shops they pass by.
"Doesn't that sound a bit cruel now, coming from you, his wife?" "Nah. He doesn't mind as much, he's built up a tolerance actually. But I've studied him for a while now; he's got the potential for awesome." Gillian replies after a few seconds of contemplation.
There is something akin to fondness in the gleam of her eyes, and Francis does not miss it. Truly his friend was changing.
"And what about us? We have stuck with you far longer than he did, and we understand you pretty well! Why can't you compliment us too?" The teasing whine in the Frenchman's voice increases dramatically, making Gillian roll her eyes at the expression on her friend's face. Next to her, Antonio's grin doesn't fade.
"Come now, Francis! Think of it this way, we're already part of Gillian's list of awesome people to be with because she hangs out with us, we're her best friends!"
"Tonio, why are you so strangely brilliant today? You say all the right things!"
And so the bickering went on for another several minutes before they found the specific shops which catered to their needs (and to Francis' tastes).
"What's your size?" Such an innocently placed question coming from not-so-innocent lips.
"Huh?"
"Your bra size, Gil."
"Perv. Why are you asking me that?" Francis shrinks a bit at the venomous glare from his friend.
"No, no. You misunderstand me, mon ami. We're buying you extra bras just in case. Don't you think you'll be needing it very soon?" Francis casually replies, eyeing her chest knowingly.
Gillian grits her teeth and suppresses a growl rising in her throat. "Fine, pervert frog. I'm keeping an eye on you. No wait, maybe Tonio should come with me instead."
"Does our dear little tomato-loving friend know anything about women and their boob obsession?"
"Not all women are obsessed with their busts, you sick pervert. And if you try anything, absolutely anything in the ladies' department store, I am going to hang you with the straps from the brassieres, and I don't care how much they're going to cost if I'm going to use them on you."
"Oui, I understand your concerns, my dear. Now let's go! The fancy lingerie staff await our grand entrance."
"Tell me where you have taken her, Bonnefoy." That stern voice over the phone is most definitely familiar, and not the person the Frenchman is hoping to converse with.
"Don't worry about her, she's in good hands!" Both Gillian and Antonio pause as they watch Francis attempt to placate the yells coming from the other end. People are already turning to stare at them in confusion, and the last thing they need is unwanted attention.
"We're shopping…eh, no, shopping for lingerie of course!" Heads whirled in confusion as Francis dropped his phone as if he had just been burned. What seemed like a loud explosion echoed from the other end as Antonio gingerly picked the device up and held it at arms length.
"I think your husband is throwing a fit. Maybe you can calm him down before he comes after us with musical instruments that can be used as weapons, mi amiga. I think Francis' phone cannot take the endless stream of ranting and raving anymore "
"Eh, give it here. Roddy is merely making mountains out of molehills. Franny's words have multiple meanings most of the time, so it's normal to make wrong assumptions." Gillian muttered in resignation, her eyes gleaming in warning towards the sheepish Frenchman. In a cool, clipped voice she answered the phone above the intense piano racket her husband was performing as an expression of his anger.
"Yes, yes, Roddy, we know you're livid, we know you care deep down in that pianist's heart of yours but there's really nothing to worry about. In fact, you should rejoice and be thankful that Francis is the one who's paying for our little shopping trip! Now don't you start-! You won't have to waste a single cent; isn't that nice? Yes, yes, I'm perfectly fine except that my feet are aching from all that walking, but-no, nobody's molesting or harassing me. I feel awesome! Ah, well if you feel so left out then come join us and share your biased opinions!" Gillian grinned at her best friends; Francis crossing his arms over his head and silently mouthing his objections to Roderich shopping with them, Antonio smiling and nodding his head in agreement. Francis wanted to snatch his phone back and tell Roderich to simply stay at home and play his sonatas. This was a Bad Friends Trio moment, damn it!
When Gillian's conversation with her husband had ended, Francis was sulking. Wondering what was going on in that head of his, Antonio tapped him on the shoulder and offered him some churros which he had bought from the nearest stand he had spotted several minutes ago. Francis wasn't moved.
"Gillian, your husband is going to ruin the fun we're supposed to enjoy for the rest of the day. This is an exclusive Bad Friends Trio shopping trip! Why did you have to go and invite him to shop with us?" Again with that annoying whine.
"Whoever said Roderich accepted my offer? He only told me to take care and have some fun with you guys. He's busy composing another piece so he declined right away. You're right Francis, this is our BFT moment, so having my husband around would only spoil whatever stuff you planned for us. So don't worry about extra company because this is a shopping trip for our awesome trio."
The Frenchman brightens considerably and with a dramatic sigh returns to his normal cheery, perverted self.
"Really? Then come, dear friends of mine! We, the Bad Friends, shall spread awesomeness and amour to the rest of the malls in the district. Our adventure has just begun!"
"Eh? I thought we were going home after this, Franny. You did mention something about only having spare change left in your wallet!"
"Oh Antonio, my silly friend, did you not realize I was merely joking? I still have my credit cards! Let us hurry, the beautiful ladies at the department store must not be kept waiting!"
"I believe the smile is slipping from your face, frog. I bet Antonio's telling the truth. You don't have enough money huh? Come on, man up! I can tell when your smiles are becoming way too fake."
"Non! Don't say such horrid words, Gillian! I can prove it to you!"
"Nah, don't worry about keeping your image up when you're among friends. Tonio and I will be pooling our budget together to buy you something nice in return…As thanks for treating us to this shopping trip."
"Yep. Gil's right. We won't be your awesome bad friends if you're the only one spending, Francis. Here, want some churros?"
A/N: Please be patient with me (again)! I'll try to post the next chapter up as soon as I can. (I hope I can still retrieve my old files, and I hope I can leech off someone else's computer~). Anyway, please read and review! Thank you very much to everyone who liked this story~!Hopefully, the next chapter will be pure PruAus.