The Brambilla's, The Beginning

Eleonora was now in her seventh month and was getting ready to go to a party that Leone had to attend. She turned to him when he walked into the bedroom, placing her hands over her belly. "Do I look okay in this dress?"

His eyes sparkled as he approached her. "The dress is beautiful and you look amazing." He placed his hand on her stomach. "Our little guy is quite active," he said, loving how it felt feeling the baby move inside her.

She loved the way he would always touch her belly, and at night he would kiss it. He was such an attentive husband and father to be, always making sure she was comfortable. He even insisted on having Molly come back to cook their breakfast and dinner so that she wouldn't have to lift a finger.

"It's getting late so we should leave for the party now," she said, giving him a kiss.

"Are you sure you want to go? We could just stay home and cuddle on the couch and watch a movie."

"I'm looking forward to the party and seeing some of the other women again. Besides, once the baby gets here we won't be able to go out as much as we have been."

"Okay, we'll go. But if you start feeling tired let me know."

When they got to the party he stayed by her side until she told him to go ahead and talk to some of the men that were there. She knew that there were things they needed to talk about and that she wasn't allowed to hear. So she wandered over to some of the other women that she knew and had met previously. There was one woman there in particular that she wasn't too fond of. Caitlyn, she was a young brunette who could never keep her eyes off of Leone and was quite the snob.

"Eleonora, it's lovely to see you again. Oh my, what are you, nine months along?"

"Actually I'm only seven months."

"Oh excuse me. Leone must be thrilled to have an heir to his fortune. I do assume it's a boy you're having."

"We don't know the sex of the baby yet, we want to wait and be surprised."

"I'm sure he wants a boy. So I have to ask, how are you adapting to practically being a prisoner in your own home?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Considering who your husband is I'm sure you are not allowed to go anywhere without him. It must be terribly boring being stuck inside all the time but then again, maybe that's why you're having a baby. Something to keep you occupied while Leone is out doing whatever it is he does."

She was getting so fed up with this woman and how she was insinuating that he was cheating on her. "I am not a prisoner, I can come and go as I please. Nor do I get bored because my husband and I spent a lot of time together and he takes me practically everywhere he goes. So if you are insinuating that he is a cheater, then you are a very stupid woman."

"Men like him always cheat."

"Maybe the men you go out with, but my husband is not a cheater. I think you are just jealous because you haven't found someone as good as Leone. I also think that you're jealous because he's with me and not you. I see the way you look at him and how you flirt. I feel a little sorry for you when I see how hurt you are when he ignores your advances towards him."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yes you do, now if you will excuse me I think I will join my husband. I'd love to say it's been a pleasure talking to you, but it hasn't been."

When he saw her walking towards him he reached out his arm and put it around her waist. "I noticed you talking to Caitlyn and she didn't look very happy."

"That is one woman I cannot stand and she always has something insulting to say to me. Can you believe that she thought I was nine months pregnant?"

"Pay her no mind, she is just a wicked and jealous shrewd."

"Do you think that I look that big that people think I'm that far along?"

"Of course not, and everyone can't believe that you are as far along as you are. So my love, ignore her."

"Were you and her ever a thing?"

"Why would you ask me that?"

"Because of the way she keeps looking at you and flirting. I know she's jealous of me and that's why she keeps putting me down every time we see each other. So I want you to be honest with me and tell me if you and she ever slept together."

"This isn't the place to have this discussion but I will answer you honestly. No, I have never once slept with that woman. We were at the same function way before I met you and she did try to seduce me into bed. But I turned her down and the reason I turned her down was because I found nothing attractive about her. Not her looks or her personality."

Eleonora smiled up at him. "I am mature enough to know that you have been with other women and that doesn't bother me because you're with me now. But I am really happy to know that you have never been intimate with her. Oh I love you so much."

He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. "I love you too baby, and you look absolutely gorgeous. Pregnancy really suits you."

They mingled for a bit longer and after four hours she started feeling tired so she told him that she would like to go home. Saying their goodbyes to everyone they headed home.

Sitting in the car on the drive home she looked over at him when he placed his hand on her thigh. "I really had fun tonight and it was too bad that Eddie couldn't be there."

"He was taking care of a few things for me. I really like having him here, he's been a good friend to me." Yes, he liked having his best friend around, it was nice having him to take care of certain things when he himself had other engagements to take care of. Such as spending time with his wife and taking her out so that she wouldn't become bored or lonely. He depended so much on Eddie and William who he knew without a doubt he could trust.

When they got home she went upstairs to get ready for bed, asking him first if he would get her some ice cream.

She was sitting in bed when he walked in with a bowl of butterscotch ripple. It was one of her favorites these days. As a rule, she didn't eat a lot of junk food, but now and then she would indulge in some ice cream.

As the days flew by it was now time for another doctor's appointment. After examining her the doctor praised her for how well she was doing. The baby was doing fantastic, the heartbeat was strong and was growing as he or she should be.

"Well, Mrs. Brambilla, it won't be long now. Just continue doing what you have been doing and get plenty of rest."

They left that doctor's appointment happy, going to a nearby restaurant to celebrate.

"I can't believe how well this pregnancy is doing, I just hope the rest of my pregnancies will go this smoothly," she said as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"I am too and now that you are getting closer I want you to take it easy."

"I'm already taking it easy. I stopped doing my painting because I don't want any of the fumes from my paint harming our baby. I sleep all the time and I eat all of the right foods."

"The doctor did say that your paints would not harm the baby, it's more household paint that you have to stay away from."

"I know, but I just want to make sure. I will not do anything to harm this child of ours," she said rubbing her belly.

"I know, and you are doing a marvelous job. Our baby is going to be so lucky to have a mother like you."

He did love how she was taking extra care in everything she would do and the things she would eat. She checked to see what fish was okay for her to eat during her pregnancy, some she had to stay away from, others were okay to eat. She even enrolled them in a Lamaze class which he wasn't too excited about. But for her he went along with it and found it to be very informative. He learned how to help her during childbirth and her breathing among other important things.

He would surprise her every night he came home with packages of baby clothing, little sleepers, blankets and other things that a newborn baby would need. He would make sure she was comfortable at night, buying her a couple of body pillows so that she could have one in front of her and one behind her back. He would rub her back and feet whenever they got sore. The one thing he regretted was that because of a shipping problem some of the materials for the mansion were late which meant there was no way it would be ready before the baby was born. But she was very understanding, saying that it would be worth the wait.

Eddie was around constantly, especially when Leone had to go out. She knew very well that her husband asked him to stay with her to make sure that she and the baby were okay. So during those times, when he was there she would sit down with her sketch pad and draw his picture, that way when she got back to painting she would have it.

Her pregnancy was going smoothly except for the fact that she was always tired and spent a lot of time in bed. By this time their sex life stopped, as much as he wanted it he knew that she wasn't in the mood or feeling up to it. But he was okay with that because he loved her so much and thought only of her comfort.

Now she was in her 8th month, Leone was in his office having a meeting with some of the his men while she was laying in bed. The last two days she hadn't noticed any movement from the baby. She wasn't worried the first day but when on the second day she still felt nothing and she began to panic. Getting out of bed she went downstairs to talk to Leone. As a rule whenever he was conducting business in his office she would stay away and not bother him. But her gut was telling her that something was wrong and with tears in her eyes she went to his office and without knocking walked right in. Every man in that room including her husband turned their heads to look at her.

She suddenly felt nervous and wondered if she was just being paranoid and that he would be angry she interrupted him.

"Eleonora, did you want something?" he asked, getting up from his chair.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt you, but I really need to talk to you."

He could tell something was terribly wrong by the look on her face, her eyes were full of tears and she was so pale. Walking towards her and without looking at the others barked out an order. "Everybody out, now." He reached her and took her hands in his. "Tell me what is wrong?"

"I'm so sorry I interrupted you, I know how much you hate that and have told me never to do it."

"Never mind that, and I know you wouldn't have unless it's very important. Are you not feeling well or is something wrong with the baby?"

"I'm not sure, but I haven't felt any movement in the last couple of days."

"But isn't the normal when you're close to your due date?"

"Sometimes, but I just have a feeling in the pit of my gut that something is not right and I am so scared."

He too felt a tremor of fear coursing through his body, he knew her and knew that she would never interrupt him if it wasn't of dire importance. "I will take you to the hospital now. Do not worry my love, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," he said, stroking the side of her cheek and bending over to give her a quick kiss on the lips.

He opened the door and waved Eddie over.

Eddie could see the look of fear on both of their faces. "What's happening?" he asked, looking at her he could tell that something was wrong with either her or the baby.

"I've got to take her to the hospital so I need you to stay here and continue with the meeting."

"Of course, just get her to the hospital and I'll be there as soon as the meeting is over." And then he looked at her and touched her arm. "Don't worry sweetheart, I know everything will be okay and I'll be there as soon as I can."

Leone then told William to bring the car around. He grabbed her sweater and placed it on her. "It's a little chilly out."

She couldn't help breaking down and crying, and all the way to the hospital she kept praying that her baby was okay.

He held her in his arms, trying to console her even though he was worried sick. He had called the doctor to let him know they were on their way in. As soon as they arrived at the hospital she was taken in right away. Of course, he went also, there was no way he was not going to be by her side during the examination.

Once she was in the gown that was provided for her she laid down as they waited for the doctor to come in.

Neither one spoke, not knowing what to say. Each one was suffering their grief at knowing there was something wrong. They both looked up when the doctor walked in and started to examine her.