This came about after I saw a prompt that the lovely Joodiff shared. I was struggling to write anything, but the muse decided it loved the prompt and wrote this. I had planned on it being just the one chapter, and more importantly one pairing. But as per usual the muse had other ideas. This is, of course, the Boyd/Frankie chapter as they are my ship. The muse, however, wanted to try its hand at Boyd/Grace. Chapter two was born from that idea, which I will post once I edit it. The prompt that Joodiff shared was...

Person A: Wow, your family is shit. You should get a new one.

Person B: Yeah, well, that's impossible.

Person A: Not really.

Person A: You could always start a new one with me.


Frankie looked around the bar, the usual crowd for a Friday night filling out the small pub. She didn't know any of the people around her, just faces she had seen when sat with the rest of the team on many a late night after working a very long day. She sipped her drink, not really knowing why she had ended up at this particular pub. It was miles away from where she had started her night, a posh restaurant attempting to play happy families as she celebrated her brother's engagement. She knew it was a monumental mistake going, she should have cancelled, made up an excuse for not being able to show. That way she could have just had the lecture on the phone about what a disappointment she was.

Finishing off her drink she raised her empty glass to the barman, a fresh drink appearing almost instantly. She paid for the drink and turned in her seat, surveying the bar, looking for someone, anyone that looked smashed enough to want a quick shag so she could forget how lonely life was if only briefly. A group of rowdy young blokes caught her eye, four or five of them all loud and drunk. They all looked young, very young, but still just as shaggable given the chance. Taking small sips of her drink she honed in on one of the young men, a tall man with broad shoulders and dark hair. She was so focused on watching the group of men she didn't see the man approach from her right, the newcomer stopping right beside her as he ordered a drink.

"Didn't expect to see you here tonight." The man's voice so close to her making her jump in fright, some of her drink spilling down her front.

"Shit, Boyd," Frankie exclaimed as she placed her drink on the bar and grabbed for the serviette that had been brought over with her drink.

"Sorry." Passing Frankie his serviette from his drink to help her clean up the spill.

"I thought you were out at a family do tonight?" Boyd's question surprising Frankie.

"I was, I gave up being criticized and came here instead. What are you doing here anyway? The rest of the team not lurking in some corner somewhere are they?" Scanning the room with her eyes even though she knew they weren't there.

"No, just wanted somewhere familiar to have a drink." Taking a large drink of his pint before putting it back on the bar.

"Is your social life that abysmal, Boyd? Drinking alone on a Friday night in the pub we use to hang out in after work! I would have thought you had better taste, like a fancy restaurant somewhere." Seeing Boyd smirk at her remark.

"Like the fancy restaurant, you started your night at? Do you really think that's my kind of thing?" Knowing Frankie knew him better than that.

"No, you really are a pint and packet of pork scratching type kind of guy under that expensive suit and shirt." Laughing for the first time in hours.

"That's better." Boyd smiling when he saw Frankie laughing. "Now, how about we go find a table and you stop eyeing up the local talent, or lack of more to the point." His eyes drifting to the group of drunken men Frankie had been watching.

"You saw that, eh?" Knowing Boyd never missed a thing.

"Mhhh. Not exactly what I expected you to be doing on a Friday night unless it's a regular thing?" The slight edge to his words surprising Frankie.

"No, it's not. But everyone needs someone, even if it's just to scratch an itch." Her cheeks turning just a slight hint of red at her rather personal confession.

"Scratching an itch is good, but it never lasts. The itch comes back, then you have to find someone else to scratch it, or do it yourself." Boyd now being the one to duck his head to hide his own embarrassment.

As they sat down at the small table under the window Frankie watched as Boyd sat down opposite her, his long legs brushing hers under the table as he tried to fit his large frame on such a small chair.

"Sit beside me, I don't bite, much." Hiding her smirked as Boyd glared at her.

Frankie shuffled along the bench seat, making room at the table for Boyd to sit beside her. It was a tight squeeze, the corner bench not really meant to hold two people side by side. He did manage to sit down, their thighs barely touching. It was then Boyd seemed to register what Frankie was wearing, her usual attire of jeans and sweater completely absent. He couldn't help staring, mostly at her legs, her very bare legs. Frankie felt him watching her, her eyes following his as she saw him staring down at her legs under the table. She swallowed the lump in her throat, suddenly very aware of not only how close he was, but of what she was wearing.

The dress she had picked out the back of her wardrobe wasn't exactly revealing in any way, but the fact it was a dress was bad enough. It was dark blue and sleeveless. The skirt ended just above her knees, the rounded neck showing just a tiny hint of the top of her cleavage. She had worn a light jacket over the top to fend off the chill getting in and out the taxi, she hadn't expected to end up anywhere else but the restaurant. Now though, the jacket was like a barrier between her and the man suddenly sat very close beside her. Glancing back at Boyd's face she saw he was still transfixed by her legs, his featured unreadable as he continued to stare.

"Have you never seen women's legs before, Boyd?" Attempting to break the nervousness she suddenly felt.

Boyd blinked and dragged his eyes slowly up Frankie's legs, taking his sweet time to work his way up her body before reaching her face. He licked his dry lips, words suddenly becoming very alien to him.

"I just, I never knew, I've never seen, you have really nice legs." The words that came out his mouth a complete surprise to both of them.

Frankie was taking a sip of her drink when he said she had nice legs, her drink suddenly going down the wrong way causing her to cough and splutter. Boyd reached instantly, one hand resting in her thigh as his other hand sliding under her jacket and up her back as he gave her a couple of sharp hard thumps to stop her choking. Frankie coughed a few more times as she cleared her windpipe, the drink finally going where it was supposed to. It was then she felt the heat from his hand on her thigh, his fingertips resting on her naked skin just above the back of her dress.

"You okay?" His voice seeming to be very close to her ear even though he hadn't moved any closer.

"Yeah, I was just surprised that all." Feeling his hand on her thigh shift just slightly.

"You mustn't get many compliments then. You look good in a dress, you should wear one more often." Boyd having no clue how he was suddenly sat in such quarters with Frankie complimenting her.

"A dress isn't much use when your elbows deep in a rotting cadaver, and the paper suit doesn't fit well over the top anyway." Trying to make the conversation a little less heated.

"Understandable." Removing the hand he had on her back to take a rather large drink of his pint as a distraction.

The air between them was thick and heavy, his other hand still placed on her thigh. The chemistry between them tonight was electrifying, way past the office banter and flirting that usually took place. She was a beautiful, headstrong, intelligent woman, who could stand up and hold her own. Yet he saw a vulnerability to her, aside she kept hidden when she was barking out orders to her team or slicing and dicing a corpse up.

"You want another?" Seeing her finish her drink and put the glass on the table.

"I should get going, go home while I'm mostly sober." Not really wanting to but knowing it was probably for the best.

"Mostly sober! How long have you been here and many have you had?" Knowing Frankie was no lightweight when it came to drinking.

"Couple of hours at least, and about six I think." Looking at her watch as she tried to work out how long it was since she left the restaurant.

"What the hell happened at you brothers engagement? You couldn't have been there more than half an hour." Knowing Frankie had left her lab at around four o'clock to get ready.

"It would be easier to tell you what didn't happen. I didn't stick around for the meal, didn't congratulate the happy couple, and most definitely did not let my family tell me what I should be doing with my life." Slumping back in the seat as Boyd just watched her.

"You haven't eaten?" Asking even though Frankie had already said she had left before the meal.

"No, unless the packet of smoky bacon crisp count I had with my first vodka and coke." Seeing Boyd shake his head.

"Come on, I can't let a lady starve." Finally removing his hand from her leg as he finished his pint.

"What? Where are you going?" Frankie looking absolutely lost at Boyd's words.

"We are going to find some food, even if it is nearly eleven o'clock at night." Standing up and holding out his hand to Frankie.

Frankie without much thought for consequences held out her hand and took Boyd's, letting him guide her out the seat and help her stand up. She went to let go but he held her hand tightly, tugging her body nearly flush with his.

"What are you doing Boyd?" Feeling Boyd look past her to the other side of the bar.

"Keeping your virtue intact, and making sure mister muscles over there stays away." Inclining his head towards the group of men Frankie had been watching earlier.

Frankie looked around and saw who Boyd was talking about, the tall rather well-built man eyeing her up with a smirk on his face.

"Ahhh, you gonna come to my rescue if he tries anything?" Feeling Boyd let go of her hand and slid his arm around her waist instead.

"He's not gonna get the chance to." The alpha male streak in Boyd coming out full force as he pulled Frankie right against his side.

Frankie wasn't sure if she should be flattered or annoyed. She didn't need protecting, she could look after herself. Then again, the feel of Boyd's warm solid body pressed against hers was doing funny things to her insides. While her mind told her to pull away, her body was crushing itself impossible closer to him, his warmth, his scent, permeating every pore of her body. Boyd kept one eye on misters muscles as he guided Frankie out the pub, her body seeming to meld with his as they walked. Stepping out the pub into the cold night air Frankie shivered, the wind whipping around her bare legs. Boyd looked up and down the street before steering Frankie across the road to the silver Lexus parked on the side of the road. He opened the car and held the door open for Frankie, closing it when she was seated inside. Getting in the driver's seat he started the engine and put the heating on, making sure the airflow was on Frankie's legs to keep her warm.

Frankie smiled as the warm air washed over her legs, Boyd not noticing as he put his seatbelt on and drive the car away from the curb and up the street. Frankie sat in silence until the car slowed and parked up outside a small Italian restaurant. Boyd cut the engine and got out the car, holding open Frankie's door as he again held his hand out to her. In for a penny, in for a pound Frankie decided as she took the hand, climbing out the car and stopping beside Boyd. They stayed hand in hand until they were shown to their seat, only letting go to sit down.

"Good evening sir, madam." The waiter greeted them as he stopped beside their table. "Our menu is a little restricted this late at night, but we do have a full drinks menu. What would like to drink?" Holding out the drinks menu towards Boyd.

"Bottle of white okay with you?" Taking the menu but not opening it as he spoke to Frankie.

"Sure." Just agreeing as she saw Boyd pass the drink menu back to the waiter.

"What do you have to eat since the menu is restricted?" Boyd looking straight at the waiter.

"Lasagna, pasta salad, macaroni cheese, meatballs, and plenty of pasta." The waiter looking at his small notebook before answering.

Boyd looked at Frankie, letting her choice first.

"I'll have the meatballs and spaghetti, please." The waiter writing it down before looking at Boyd.

"I'll have the lasagna with some pasta salad, please." Boyd turning his attention from the waiter back to Frankie after he had given him his order.

"How did you know this place would be open?" Frankie curious how he had no known any restaurants that would be open this late.

"Too many late nights working. I drive past this way most nights on the way home, grab a takeaway to eat before I go to bed." Stopping when the waiter returned with the bottle of wine and two glasses.

Both of them mumbled their thanks as Boyd opened the bottle and filled both glasses, passing one to Frankie before taking a mouthful of his own. Frankie looked around the restaurant, seeing only one other table occupied by an older single gentleman. She wondered if that was what Boyd looked like sat by himself eating after everyone had left.

"So, you going to tell me what actually happened at your brother engagement party? You've told me what didn't happen, but I'm lost as to what did happen." Frankie taking a drinking of her wine and sighing.

"You really don't want to know, Boyd. Family politics is not your strong point or mine after tonight." Putting her glass down and starting to fidget.

"Frankie, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know. Come on, it can't be that bad, can it?" Not really knowing anything about Frankie's family background at all.

"Don't say you haven't been warned then." Clasping her hands together on the table in front of her before making eye contact with Boyd. "My brother is the favourite, always has been. Then comes my sister, then me. James can do no wrong, not in my mother's eyes. When dad left he was promoted to man of the house, and he's become an even big knob then. He's the family success story, own house, solicitor, owns his own law firm to boot. Now he's engaged with a baby on the way. No one can beat James, but Jessica comes in a close second. She's a hairdresser, works for a really successful company, has her own house, and a boyfriend in tow. Then, of course, comes me, the middle child who doesn't fit in any of the success boxes." Frankie looking down at her hands just as the waiter arrived with their meals.

"Bon appetit." He said cheerfully placing the meals on the table.

Frankie was grateful for the interruption, her eyes starting to sting a little betraying how upset she actually was with the night's events. The fact she was becoming upset hadn't been missed by Boyd, his temper slowly flaring the more she spoke. They ate in silence for a few minutes, neither wanting to start the conversation again, until the silence became too much for Frankie.

"My family think my choice in work is odd, unfitting for a woman. That I should pick a better career, a doctor or something less gruesome. Apparently cutting up people and finding out how they died is not a conversation that can be had at the dinner table or a great conversation starter with men. At my age I should own a nice family home, have a man and a ring on my finger, and at least one kid hanging off my tit." Frankie's words now harsh as her own temper flared.

She stabbed a meatball with force before looking up at Boyd to see him sat staring at her, his mouth froze in a mix of surprise and a mere hint of a smile. Frankie thought back over what she said and a blush starting in her cheeks, then spreading up to the tips of her ears and down her neck and chest.

"Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away." Releasing how crude her words had sounded.

"It's fine. I just never expected to hear such words cross your lips. Do your family have any idea the amount of work and effort you've put in to get where you are today?" Scraping together the last few bites of his pasta on his fork.

"God no! They think I spent my college and uni years getting pissed and shagging anything with a pulse. Sodding of to Cyprus for a year with Andreos the tattoo guy didn't help their mindset on that score." Frankie laughing as she saw Boyd's fork stop half way to his mouth. "What? Has Grace not told you that story? It was only in my gap year, and I didn't marry the bloke." Boyd's fork making it to his mouth before it stopped again.

Boyd finally managed to get the remains of his food in his mouth, seeing Frankie was nearly finished hers. He sat back in his chair and watched Frankie finish her meal, then wipe her face with the napkin. He picked up his wine to give his hands something to do before they did things he wasn't quite sure he wanted them to do, or that Frankie would want them to do. Frankie saw him watching her and smiled nervously, her hands clasped together on the table.

"What? Have I got sauce on my face?" Nibbling her bottom lip as she spoke.

"No, I'm just not very good at this sort of stuff, you know." Not really sure what stuff he was talking about.

"Stuff? As in family stuff, stuff as in having a meal, stuff as in what, Boyd?" Frankie having a slight idea where Boyd was heading with his words but wanting to actually hear them herself.

"Stuff as in, talking. Stuff as in getting past the usual office flirting and subtext. Stuff as in working out if taking the risk is worth losing what we have already." His own hands now clapped together on the table in front of him.

"You may not be good at talking, but you make a good listener. You've sat through me going on about my crap family, and I haven't even told you the part where I slapped my brother's fiancé for calling me a tomboy and a slapper. Or the bit where everyone jumped to her defence. That was about the time I left, and here we are." Raising her glass and draining the last of the wine before reaching for the bottle.

"Wow, your family is shit. You should get a new one." Hoping as the words left his mouth he wasn't about to make another monumental mistake in his life.

"Yeah, well, that's impossible." Frankie sighing as she swirled the wine around her glass and brought it to her lips.

"Not really." Pausing until he saw Frankie look at him. "You could always start one with me." The whole world seemed to pause as Frankie's eyes went wide and most of the wine in her glass completely missed her mouth and ended up down her front.

"Shit." She exclaimed loudly as the wine seeped through her dress as she quickly placed the glass back on the table.

Both of them stood up at the same time as they reached for the napkins on the table to dry Frankie's dress. Frankie patted her dress as Boyd held out another napkin and placed his other hand on Frankie's bare elbow, her jacket removed when the entered they warm restaurant.

"I give up, least it won't stain." Frankie looking up into Boyd's dark brown eyes only then seeing how close he was.

"Sorry, didn't know that was going to happen." Throwing the napkin in his hand back on the table as he closed the gap between them.

"Did you mean what you said?" A mix of hope and trepidation in her question.

"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't. Not how I ever planned to ask you out, but I meant it, yes." Reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips skimming her cheek.

"You've thought about asking me out before?" Her head tilting towards the hand he now had resting on her cheek.

"Mhhh. Gonna kiss you now, okay?" His face mere centimetres from hers.

Frankie didn't answer with words, just closed the gap between them as she placed her lips firmly against his. His fingers slid into her hair as he angled her head just enough to deepen the kiss, nipping at her bottom lip until she parted them. Frankie moaned when she felt his tongue brush hers, her body seeming to tingle from head to toe. She had wanted this for years, wanted him, but he always seemed off limits, just out of reach. Now though he was well within her reach, and she made sure to hold on to him just in case. They didn't break apart until they heard a small cough behind them, the waiter standing looking a little sheepish.

"We are closing now, signore, signora." The waiter said looking apologetically between them.

"Let's go home," Boyd said smiling down at Frankie.

"Home together, I like the sound of that." Frankie smiled back at Boyd as he held out her jacket for her to put on.

Boyd settled the bill, much to Frankie's protest at being a modern woman who could pay her way. After she was settled in the passenger seat and Boyd had started the engine did it occur to him to ask.

"Who's house?" Realising he had no clue where she wanted to go.

"Your place might as well start where I plan on ending up." Grinning when she saw him smile.

Later that night as they lay side by side naked in bed, Frankie couldn't help but laugh. Boyd looked down at her a little concerned at her sudden outburst.

"What's funny?" Shifting just enough so he could see her face.

"I never expected a family get together to end with me being naked in your bed." Seeing his grin growing as he hugged her just a little bit tighter.

"You forgot a bit." Seeing her frown. "You missed out the part about starting a new family with me." The full and true meaning of his words suddenly hitting Frankie full force.

"A family, as in an actual family?" Making sure she was on the same DNA sample page as him.

"That's normally the meaning, Frankie. You deal with the DNA and know how it works." His hand running up and down her spine as he spoke.

"We only just had sex, Boyd. I know your good," seeing his grim grow into an all-out smirk. "But you're not that good. Let's get used to me and you, to us first. Then in a few months, we'll talk again, see about stopping my birth control and talk about the DNA combination thing. Doesn't stop us practising thought." A wicked grin on her face as she covered his body with hers and sat up.

"Good idea, Doctor Wharton. Practise makes perfect." Boyd quickly flipping them over so she was pinned under him.


Eight months later.

Frankie and Boyd started at the small black and white pictures in Frankie's hands, both grinning like fools.

"See, told you practise makes perfect." Boyd's words making Frankie laugh.

"Practise did make perfect didn't it." Her finger ghosting over the small antenatal scan picture.

"Of course it did. Half you, half me, equals perfect." Leaning in to place a kiss on her temple

"We did it, we started our own family." Taking his hand from where it rested on her thigh and placing it on her lower abdomen, on the very small bump that was now evident.

"We did, now let's go home and celebrate. Get some more practice in for the extension of said family we just started." Boyd winking at Frankie as he stood up and pulled her towards the parked car.