All Good Things Must Come to an End
Chapter 1: The Fight that Started it All
Summary: Happily married for 14 years, Cornelius and Franny were bound to be together forever. But the expansion of Robinson Industries puts their marriage to the test. Can they make it? Or do all good things come to an end?
Author's Note: Hi MTR fans! This is my first fic, starring our favourite couple Franelius! It was inspired by a dysfunctional relationship I saw on TV once. Enjoy and review!
Disclaimer: Disney owns Meet the Robinsons, and I do not.
Wilbur smiled as he abruptly landed the time machine on the front lawn of Robinson mansion. As he disembarked the vehicle, he looked up to see the serious expressions of his parents who had been anticipating his return from the past. It was then that Wilbur remembered the consequences of getting back from taking young Lewis back to the past. Cornelius Robinson glanced at his watch before turning to Franny who nodded. Wilbur gulped.
'Okay mister, just because you didn't fail to restore the time space continuum does not mean that you will not be punished.'
'But Mom'—Wilber protested.
'No Wilbur,' Cornelius interrupted sternly. 'Your mother and I will discuss the nuts and bolts of your punishment while we arrange the time machines back into the garage.'
Wilbur scowled as his mother continued,
'And in the mean time, you will wait for us in the living room. I have already spoken to Uncle Art and Uncle Gaston and they will not save you this time. What happened here was serious and extremely risky Wilbur, and it cannot go unnoticed.'
Wilbur sighed and drooped his shoulders before heading back to the Robinson mansion. As Wilbur disappeared into their family home, Cornelius and Franny taxied the red time machine into the garage. Once it was completely inside, the door closed and Cornelius began a frantic search of the machines to ensure everything was in place. Franny smiled as she watched her husband concentrate. He was always so pedantic when it came to his work.
'What are we going to do with that boy?' Franny asked, shaking her head helplessly. Cornelius smirked and replied without facing her,
'Hmm yeah, he gets it all from you I think...'
'Hey!' Franny shrieked, throwing a nearby polishing rag at her husband. 'I was never mischievous! Does your sneaky use of my under garments for experiments in college ring a bell, Lewis?'
'Hey now!' Cornelius began as he burst out into laughter. 'Firstly...they've never confirmed that! And secondly, you haven't called me that in years, honey!' Franny giggled and sat beside her husband who took off his lab coat and embraced her. She paused and said softly,
'Look at how our lives have changed Lewis. All this talk of time travel and changing the future gets you thinking, doesn't it?'
Cornelius sighed and kissed Franny on the forehead. 'Yeah it does...'
'Honey, speaking of which, do you think that'— Franny started hesitantly before Cornelius interrupted,
'Hey Franny, you know what we haven't done for ages in the garage?' He raised his eyebrows and tickled her. Franny looked into his burning eyes and pulled away.
'What? Lewis, everyone is home... are you crazy?' she began, giggling and trying to escape. He held her by the waist and whispered,
'You bet I am.'
Franny had an unusually tentative expression on her face as she lay in bed, waiting for Cornelius to finish brushing his teeth and join her. Momentarily, her husband made his way out of the bathroom and curled up beside her. She turned to face him.
'Cornelius, I-I need to ask y-you something,' she began nervously. Her eyes widened as she stared into his blue eyes. 'And you have to be completely honest, okay?'
His eyebrows furrowed as he listened to her carefully, lying sideways and resting his head on his bent arm. 'Yeah, of course honey.' Franny bit her lip before blurting out,
'Did Wilbur take you to see your Mom before he took you home?'
Cornelius winced in confusion. 'What?'
'C'mon Lewis you know what I mean!' she hissed. 'I know that this means that you met Wilbur 25 years ago!' Cornelius closed his eyes and sighed.
'Yes.'
'So then why did you tell me and everyone else that you had never seen her? Why couldn't you at least tell me that this whole time travel fiasco would happen?'
'Franny, c'mon if I told you then, the time space continuum would have been affected! You know that!' His wife frowned.
'Oh please! If you could knowingly "play along," I could have to! How could you keep something like that from me? Cornelius rolled his eyes and extended his arm to turn off the bedside lamp.
'Honey, please I'm really tired from the business trip and I don't want to deal with this right now.'
'But, I need to know'— Cornelius gave her a stern look.
'Please Franny, not now okay?'
'Okay,' she agreed after a long pause.
A Week Later
Cornelius and Franny revisit her issue about withholding the truth for the fourth time that week as they argued again before going to bed.
'Fran, you are being ridiculous! I clearly explained why I didn't tell you I knew, I'm sick of going over this again!' Cornelius said impatiently, reaching out to turn off the bedside lamp. 'You are really overreacting!'
'NO I am not!' Franny exclaimed, slapping his extended arm. The couple were sitting up now, and Cornelius winced in pain.
'Oww, Franny!--'
'If you are so happy to "play along", how the hell am I supposed to know when you're telling the truth, huh?' Cornelius opened his mouth to protest, but Franny continued.
'So how am I supposed to know if you actually meant half of the things you say to me or Wilbur? What are you trying to hide?''
'Franny'— His wife's darted the room in realisation.
'I mean you're the one who always said "honesty, trust and love"' she mimicked sarcastically. 'Why? Did you know it'd work beforehand? You knew it'd score well huh? Talk about honouring the commitment! She angrily moved out of the bed with pillow in hand.
'Franny, just calm down!' Cornelius yelled, grabbing her arm. 'You're really blowing your theory out of proportion!' Franny hastily pulled her arm back and yelled,
'You want to talk about theories?' she fumed. 'Who sat there and loved you anyway even if a lot of your theories for invention were out of whack? Who listened to your bullshit and took it seriously?'
Cornelius stared at his wife in silence. His hurt face burned in her eyes. She'd finally done it, she hit a nerve with him. After a long pause he managed to reply,
'I-I'm sorry I put you through that.'
Franny shut her mouth and looked away, kicking herself mentally. Another pause.
'Cornelius'—
'I think I will sleep downstairs tonight, don't trouble yourself,' he blurted quickly and left without another word.
Author's Note: Yes I know I was being lazy with the 'A week later' thing but I realized making them fight straight away was unrealistic. Please tell me what you think! Btw, next chapter will deal with the globalization of Robinson Industries cos I need to get on with it...
