CANNONBALL ⇒ jegulus

TWENTY NINE

Entering his nineteenth week, Regulus can feel his belly growing heavier each day. He is sunk beneath a soft blanket on his sofa, he hasn't changed his pajamas in a few days but he doesn't mind, Manon doesn't either. Some sort of soap plays on the television, a bowl of strawberries seated beside him. Manon is curled next to him, snoring lightly.

Popping a strawberry into his mouth, Regulus' phone rings loudly from the coffee table. Sighing uncomfortably, Regulus reaches out and checks the caller ID. Remus.

Regulus brings his phone to his ear. "Ello?"

"Reg, mate, hey," Remus greets. His voice is breezy and floaty. A clear sign of recent marijuana use and Regulus almost feels jealous.

It is a comforting sound.

"Hiya, Rem," Regulus replies. "How's things?"

The conversation feels casual, but it is anything but. Remus wouldn't call just to check in, would he? It's the first form of contact Regulus has essentially had with the touring band in the two weeks he's been home. He had dodged Sirius' calls, Peter and Mary's texts and Remus' calls and texts. James knew better than to reach out.

Regulus was the one who had essentially thought him to know better with his cold exterior.

"Good, good," Remus answers. "Er," He pauses and Regulus can hear a voice beside him. "Uh, Mary says hi, she hopes you're doing well. We all do, actually, you and junior,"

"Oh..." Regulus trails. Remus' voice is quiet. Regulus half wonders if he has company, perhaps a curious Sirius or a concerned Peter, a lingering James. "Er, tell Mary I'm doing fine," He answers, unsure of himself. He isn't quiet certain he is doing fine.

Remus sighs before. "How're you doing, Reg?"

"I'm afraid I've already answered that one, mate." Regulus answers, his suspicion growing.

Remus half chuckles. "No, silly. How are you actually doing?"

There it is. The weightful question that Regulus most certainty didn't want to answer.

Regulus bites his lip, his free hand rubbing soft, small circles against his bump. "I'm fine, Remus," He urges. "Everything is fine and no. I don't want to talk about it," He insists.

"I know, you can take care of yourself, blah, blah," Remus whistles. "But no matter how much you can do so, you still had a very scary experience and I know how scared you must've been,"

Regulus shakes his head, he can't find his words for a few moments. However, he keeps his fingers roaming along the curve of his belly; the baby acting as a means of grounding Regulus as he exhales. "Remus, it was...it was terrible, he could've," Regulus pauses. "God, my baby could've died, Rem,"

Remus is quiet for a few minutes. "But he didn't die, Reg. He's okay, you're okay. Everything is as it should be,"

Regulus nods. "Yeah," He utters.

"So everything's good then?" Remus inquires, his tone more upbeat. "Baby's growing as he should be?"

"Everything's fine, Remus," Regulus replies. "Send Sirius my love, yeah? Mary and Pete too,"

"Oh...." If Remus notices the absence of a mentioning of James, he doesn't speak on it. "Course I will, bud, I've go to go; Sirius is nagging," There is a smirk in Remus' tone which tells Regulus 'nagging' refers to activities Regulus would rather not know of. "Take care of yourself, love, eh?"