Friendship, or Lack There Of- Chapter 4

Disclaimer: Enchanted and its characters are not mine. The story and the new characters are creations of my little mind.

A/N: I lost my muse for a little bit. I leant out my DVD to a co-worker and she took a while to get it back. I got to re-watch it and was inspired, once again. I needed to get Giselle's voice back in my head.

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Days passed and Giselle found herself increasingly busy with Andalasia Fashions. Dresses were being requested on a continuous basis. Projects of her own were lined up and ready to be worked on. Giselle was getting overwhelmed and didn't know exactly how to handle herself in the situation. She had plenty of helping hands (and paws), but she felt as though things were falling behind schedule.

During her 5 minute lunch break, she plucked out her cell phone with hopes of catching Robert on his. She scrolled through the speed-dial and selected his name. Giselle waited patiently as the phone rang, and rang, before his voice flowed through the speaker, "This is Robert Philip."

Giselle smiled into the phone, clutching it to her ear, "Hi Robert."

On the other end, Robert reclined in his desk chair, grinning, "Hey Giselle. How's work?"

"Oh, very busy," she nodded, as though he could see her, "that's why I called." Giselle picked up a pen and started to doodle while speaking, "You see, I don't think I'll be home for dinner. I think I need to stay here," she stopped drawing and looked up, "and finish my things." She tapped the pen, waiting for his response.

Robert sighed and ran his other hand through his hair, "I'm going to need to stay here later than I intended too." Still the divorce lawyer, he found himself trapped as one of two mentors in a heated battle. The client he was representing was too important to be put off until the next morning. The fight was raging on and needed his attention. He sat back up in his chair, "Well, maybe I can stop home and get Morgan; see if Kendra's mother wouldn't mind watching her for the night."

Giselle bobbed her head, blinking a few times. She placed a hand on her desk, bouncing in her seat, "Why not have Penelope pick her up?" She twirled a strand of hair on a free finger, "They get along and Morgan adores Lola."

"I guess that's an option," Robert contemplated. It was true; Penelope and Morgan had met. Penelope had stopped over one night when Morgan was home. She'd heard so much about the brunette and her bulldog that Morgan insisted on meeting Lola. On the other hand, Robert, himself, hadn't spent too much time with Penelope. To him, she was still a little bit of a stranger. "Do you trust her, Giselle?" he questioned.

"I do," Giselle replied with a smile. "I trust her. And if she brings Lola, I think everything will be fine."

"Yes," Robert chuckled, "I'm sure the dog is the key. Why not give Penelope a call and see if she'd mind."

"Okay. And Robert?"

"Yes, Giselle?" Robert said, leaning forward to pick up a stack of papers from his desk.

She smiled into the phone once again, "I love you."

"I love you too," his smile could be heard woven in his words. "Don't stress yourself too much," he chided, "go home if you need to."

"I'll be fine," she shook her head, "Good-bye, Robert!" She clicked the phone shut and glanced over her shoulder and the frenzy of work going on behind her. Giselle opened her phone once again and looked for Penelope's number.

Penelope had given her number to Giselle the day before. Giselle had forgotten her keys in the apartment and with nowhere else to go, knocked on Penelope's door. Penelope gave Giselle her phone number, just in case something similar was to happen again and Penelope wasn't there.

The phone rang three times before a rather frazzled Penelope picked up, "Yes? Yes, hello?"

"Penelope? Are you alright?" Giselle asked, standing to move to a dress table.

"I'm fine," Penelope paused, "who is this?" She shuffled about the apartment in her pajamas.

Giselle paused, slightly wounded at her not recognizing her voice, "It's Giselle."

"Ohhh," Penelope opened the fridge to pull out cold Chinese from the night before, "I'm sorry. I just woke up." Lola scurried around her feet, waiting for something to drop to her reach.

Giselle glanced to a wall clock, stretching a measuring tape over a selected piece of fabric, "But it's well past noon time now."

"I'm aware. I'm not a morning person, so I figure if I skip the morning time, I'll be all good," she replied through a full mouth.

"Penelope," Giselle started, wary at asking a favor from her, "could you do something for me?"

Penelope paused and looked down to Lola who looked up fondly at her. "I guess it depends on what it is," Penelope tossed down a piece of chicken for the dog to enjoy.

"You met Morgan," she started. "She likes you and she loves Lola," she picked her words carefully, "and we're in a bit of a situation."

"You need me to watch her?" Penelope connected the dots, placing the carton back in the refrigerator.

"Oh, could you?" Giselle stood back, watching as a pair of pigeons swirled a lace bottom onto a dress; one held it in place while Giselle inserted a pin.

"I guess so," Penelope rolled her shoulders and started back towards her bathroom, "I mean, yes. Just let me know where I need to be."

"You're sure you don't have too much work? I'll understand," she walked back towards her desk, popping a grape in her mouth, waiting for the answer.

"I work best at night time," Penelope said, "it's dark and quiet and I get shit done."

Giselle rattled off the address and some quick directions from the apartment building to the school. "Just take good care of her?" It was more a question than a statement.

"Don't worry," Penelope turned on the shower and scooted Lola out of the bathroom. "I've got your back."

Giselle paused, unsure of the meaning of the statement.

Penelope knew that Giselle wasn't quick on certain phrases. She was still very curious to know what her full story was, but for the time being, she was content to explain herself, "I'll take care of her. Relax."

Giselle sighed, feeling a slight weight lifted from her load ridden shoulders, "Thank you."

"No worries," Penelope glanced at herself in the vanity, "that's what friends are for. Give me a call when you're home or just stop by." Penelope snapped her phone shut and returned to her reflection, "This needs work." She tapped at the reflection, "Nothing cures frizzed hair like a good wash."

Lola was heard from the opposite side of the door, giving a slight scratch and a whine.

Giselle stood at her desk with her phone still open and in her hand. She called me her friend, she thought to herself, finally closing the device and placing it upon her desk. She grinned and skipped back to her work in progress, ready to conquer the project with a rejuvenated spirit.

Penelope refreshed and clean, made her way to the school, following the directions that Giselle had dictated to her. Lola hobbled alongside of her, tongue rolling out from her mouth. Penelope shuffled down the sidewalk, "You know, dogs are supposed to be active and fast."

Lola just peered up at Penelope with deep chocolate eyes, oblivious to the tone and just relishing in the voice.

Penelope couldn't help but smile down at her dog and give her a quick wink before checking their exact location on the street. "Well, I think we're almost there. You can finally take a breather," Penelope said as they stepped off another sidewalk to cross the street.

The school was just ahead on the left, so Penelope slowed their pace and sat herself on a bench. The school was visible, so once the kids were let out, Penelope would be able to catch Morgan's eye. Lola flopped to sit beside Penelope's feet, leaning heavily against her left calf. Penelope reached down to stroke lovingly at Lola's ears. "What're we going to talk about?" Penelope asked the dog, who was panting at her feet. "I mean, I don't have kids," she rested her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, "She's six." Penelope clucked her tongue at herself, "What did I like when I was six?"

At just after 3:00pm, the doors swung open at the school and Penelope quickly shuffled to her feet, startling the dog at her side. She moved closer to the building, watching as child after child emerged from the building. Morgan hopped out of the building and down the stairs, eager eyes searching the crowd outside the school.

"Morgan!" Penelope shouted, raising one of her arms high and waving it frantically.

Morgan heard the shout and turned her head to see Penelope throwing her arm around in the air. Morgan tilted her head and hurried over to her, dropping to the ground at seeing Lola at her side.

Penelope waved her hand around that was clutching onto the leash, "And a hello to you too."

Morgan smiled up at Penelope and stood in front of her, "Where is Giselle?"

"She was running late at work," Penelope leaned over to be more at Morgan's level, "she asked me to come pick you up."

"Oh," Morgan said, dropping her gaze, seemingly disappointed.

"Hey hey," Penelope said, kneeling in front of her and tipping up her chin, "I know I'm old and boring and you don't know me that well, but we'll have fun." She lifted up the leash and held it in front of Morgan, "Want to walk Lola? She likes you!"

Morgan grinned shyly and took the leash in her hand, "Really?"

"Yes," Penelope nodded, standing and started off back towards the apartment building.

Morgan fell in step beside her and stopped when Penelope did.

"Hey," Penelope placed her hands on her hips, "it's nice out. Let's go to the park." She reached over to relieve Morgan of her backpack, "It's not far and Lola could use the exercise."

Morgan shrugged the bag off her shoulders and smiled up at Penelope, "Can we?!"

Penelope tossed her head towards the park, "Let's go already!" She held out her hand for Morgan's while they crossed the street and made their way to Central Park.

The sky had fallen dark and it was coming up on 7:30pm. Giselle pushed her way through the doors of the apartment building. She'd gotten in touch with Robert around 7:00. He was just leaving work at that time and was stopping to pick something up for dinner. Giselle was off to retrieve Morgan at Penelope's.

The elevator ride provided a cool comfort for Giselle. She leaned her back against the wall of the car, looking up to the ceiling and closing her eyes. The chime alerted her to the arrival of her floor. The doors slid open and she turned towards Penelope's apartment. She rapped three times on the door, which was followed by shuffling around on the other side and the door swinging open to reveal Penelope smiling, "Hi Giselle!"

"Penelope. Thank you so much," Giselle strolled by her into the apartment, "it means a lot to us and I'm sure Morgan had a great time." Giselle looked around the apartment, brow knitting in question, "Where is Morgan?"

"She's in my office," she nodded down the hall way to an open door. Soft chatter floated down the hall.

"You have an office?" Giselle asked voice laced with shock, looking to the coffee table where her laptop and papers used to sit.

"Well," Penelope placed her hands on her hips, mock offended, "don't act so surprised." She smirked, "I had the room with a desk in it and it wasn't being used. I figured I could just throw all my junk in there." Penelope spun on her heals to move down the hall way, "Morgan? Giselle is here for you."

Morgan popped her head out of the doorway, grinning, "Giselle!" She hurried down the hall to hug at Giselle's legs. Lola came charging out of the room, quick on the heels of Morgan.

"Oh, Morgan!" Giselle leaned over to wrap her arms around her. "I'm sorry you had to wait so late," Giselle apologized, running a hand through Morgan's hair.

"It's okay!" Morgan release Giselle, looking over to Penelope, "We went to the park and I got to play with Lola there." Morgan turned to peer back up at Giselle, "I got ice cream too!"

"We had burgers for dinner," Penelope smiled and waved a hand trying to dismiss the ice cream, "I fed her dinner."

Giselle smiled. "It sounds like you had a fun day," Giselle said, resting her hand on Morgan's shoulder.

Morgan nodded with a smile on her face, "I did."

The phone rang and Penelope tilted her head, "That's weird. No one ever calls the apartment phone." She walked over to where a phone was mounted on the wall. Penelope motioned back to the office, "Don't forget your backpack!" She picked the phone off the hook, "Hello?"

Giselle nudged Morgan towards the office to go gather her things, before looking back to Penelope.

"He's here?" Penelope followed the wall, disappearing into the kitchen, her voice still audible, "Right now?" There was a pause for an answer on the other side of the line, followed by a raggedy sigh from Penelope, "Shit. Okay. I'll be right down." She emerged from the kitchen, color dropped from her face as she hung up the phone.

"Penelope?" Giselle called softly, stepping towards her slightly.

Morgan came bounding back from the office, her bag thrown over her shoulder. "I'm ready!"

Giselle tore her gaze from Penelope to look to Morgan, "Oh yes. Okay. Let's go see if your father is home." She walked over to Penelope, placing a hand on her arm, "Are you okay?"

"It's fine," Penelope shook her head, walking towards the door, "I'm fine."

Morgan had gone back to playing with Lola for a moment, distracted.

Giselle knew everything wasn't alright. Something was wrong. Giselle lowered her voice, "I don't believe you."

Penelope shot an icy glare towards Giselle, "I'm fine." Her voice was low, coming from between clenched teeth. She opened the door to the hall, "I need to go downstairs."

Giselle was taken aback, eyes wide, "Oh." She cleared her throat and held a hand out, "Morgan. We need to go home."

"Aw," Morgan gave a final rub to Lola's stomach before placing her hand in Giselle's. Morgan tugged at Penelope's limp hand at her side, "Thank you for taking me to the park."

Penelope gave a weak smile, "You're welcome, hon. Whenever you'd like."

Giselle ushered Morgan through the doorway to the hall. She looked back to Penelope, who was shutting the door behind the trio. "You sure you're-"

"I said," Penelope stopped her raising voice with a toss of her head, "it's fine."

Giselle stopped outside the door to their apartment. She inserted her key and opened the door. Morgan disappeared into the apartment. Giselle stood out in the hall, grabbing for Penelope's arm again. "Please," she pleaded, "if you need something," she tugged at her hand, "anything, please call me."

Penelope shook her hand free of Giselle's, moving down to the elevator, "I'm a big girl, Giselle. I can take care of myself."

A pout fell over Giselle's features as she watched Penelope take the corner into the elevator. She entered the apartment and closed the door.

Robert was standing at the kitchen table with a few bags of food when he caught the sight of a distressed looking Giselle. He moved to the door to capture her hands in his, "Everything alright? Work was too much?"

"Work was fine," Giselle peered up at Robert, squeezing at his hands, "Something is wrong with Penelope." She shook her head, "I think the doorman called and then someone is downstairs and then she got upset and-"

Robert shook his head and placed his hands on her shoulders, "People have personal problems, Giselle." He kissed her forehead, "You just need to let them work their own way through it."

Her bottom lip jutted out just so, "I don't like to see her like that though. You didn't see her."

Robert sighed, placing a hand on her lower back, guiding her towards the kitchen table to sit, "I know you're used to things happening to you, but sometimes, things need to happen to other people." He watched as she dropped herself into a chair and he sat in a seat beside her, "Everyone handles things differently. Just give her time. If she wants to talk, she'll talk."

Giselle clasped her hands together and placed them in her lap, "Is Morgan in her room?"

Robert nodded and lifted her clasped hands to drop a kiss upon them, "Yes. She's getting herself ready for bed."

"I think I'm going to go say good night and then get to bed myself," she stood and walked behind Robert's chair, placing her left hand on his shoulder briefly.

Good nights exchanged, Giselle found herself in bed at 9:00, which was earlier than normal for her. She pulled the emerald sheets up around her, lying on her side, staring at the city lights that filtered through the window. Behind her cerulean eyes, her mind raced. Who was downstairs? Why were they there? Why did it make Penelope so upset? She wanted to take Robert's advice and just let Penelope work through it on her own, but Penelope had called her a friend.

The door to the bedroom opened and then slid shut to leave just a crack open. Robert shed his work clothes and down to his boxers and undershirt. He slipped in bed beside Giselle, prompting her to roll over and snuggle against his side. He enveloped her in his arms and she placed a hand on his chest. Giselle rested against his shoulder, her mind continued to race, but she fell asleep in the warm embrace of Robert.

Three doors down and across the hall, however, was proving to be a long night for Penelope.