Title: Five Years Later: A Short Story
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The characters belong to ABC/Disney. The song belongs to well, I'm not too sure the exact person, a couple different people sing it. But, it's not me.
Summary: Five Years into the future.
Note: This fic takes place after Arms of an Angel, which takes place after So Close, which takes place after French Connection. Sort of helpful to read the previous three stories to understand what's going on. This was a request from a supportive reader. I wasn't planning on continuing with this saga, but I found myself unable to resist this one last little bit. Hopefully you like it. It's nowhere near as long as it's predecessors, but more of a glimpse into the family's future. Let me know what you thought of it.
Bianca shuffled through the papers on her desk and quickly assorted them into two separate piles. The first pile was compiled of the documents she still had to look over and approve. The second pile was the finished group. She rolled her eyes in frustration as the first pile grew and grew while only a few stray papers found their way into the second pile.
This was getting ridiculous. It seemed no matter how hard she worked or how many hours she put in at the office, the amount of things she needed to do only got bigger. Recently Cambias Industries had acquired a fledgling technology company. While it was great for business, and the new addition was already proving to be a moneymaker, it brought in a lot of issues that had to be dealt with by her.
Rubbing at her tired eyes, she glanced at the clock on her desk. It wasn't even noon yet and she was already exhausted. Reading over financial reports and signing off on staff assignments was not something she was looking forward to at all. The CEO inhaled deeply and scanned the mountainous workload she would have to get through that day. Then, she let her gaze slide to the side. A picture of her two little girls smiled back at her, reminding her why she put up with all this headache. Her children meant everything to her.
She picked up the framed photo and brought it closer. Miranda had just turned ten in the picture. She was holding her little sister Gabrielle, both posing with wide cheesy grins for the camera. If she remembered correctly, this one was taken when the family took a trip to London for a long weekend. The kids loved taking in the sights and exploring all the old buildings as guides regaled them with stories of Kings and Queens of old. The train ride back also was rather special, but that was for a different reason altogether.
Bianca set the frame back down with a soft sigh. She loved her daughters. Both would be in school right now. Miranda had art that day, which was her favorite class. Gabrielle was taking part in whatever educational activity her private academy decided would turn five year olds into geniuses. Thankfully both kids loved school, though it had been difficult for Bianca to let either one of them go. It wasn't that she didn't want her daughters to get an education. It was more her babies were growing up. Hopefully she could get enough done that she wouldn't be too late in getting home. It had been a long time since her work kept her from being home on time, and this project was eating up every hour of the day.
Which made her all the more grateful for the final piece of their small family.
"Ms. Montgomery." a feminine voice spoke up from the doorway
"Yes, Marie?" Bianca responded to her secretary, coming out of her musings.
"Your appointment with Mr. Chaplin is at two today, and Mrs. Girard has prepared the presentation from the marketing department and would like to know when is the best time to meet with you. I penciled her in for two-thirty." Marie began to rattle off Bianca's schedule. She walked up to the large desk while she read from the appointment book.
Bianca sat and listened as her secretary ran down the list of everything she needed to do that day. Meeting after meeting, presentation after presentation. It was a cornucopia of busyness. After the woman finally got through the long list of work, Bianca waved her hand, "Thank you, Marie. Please hold all my calls and visitors except for my scheduled appointments." Hopefully, she could get through all of this, then.
Marie nodded, "Of course, Ms. Montgomery." She closed her book with a snap and marched out of the room, ready to do battle with the incoming calls of people vying for her boss's attention.
Bianca rubbed at her forehead as the door closed with a click. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the first paper from the 'to do' pile. Faced with a spreadsheet of numbers, she grit her teeth and started to scan the first column.
Thirty minutes later, Bianca was ready to throttle someone. One of the many accountants that made up the financial department typed an eight instead of a nine in one of the columns and therefore the entire layout the team sent to her was useless. She'd been forced to place a very forceful call to the head of said department and was assured a new batch of paperwork would be on her desk by that afternoon. Wonderful.
"Ms. Montgomery?" Marie's feminine voice crackled over the intercom.
"Yes, Marie." Bianca replied.
"There is someone here to see you." Marie answered.
Bianca frowned, "Marie, I said no visitors." Marie had never been needed to be told twice.
"Yes, Ms. Montgomery. But this visitor says it's urgent."
Bianca closed her eyes, "Perhaps Vice President Bonnet can assist them." She did not have time for this.
A pause, "Ms. Montgomery, they are adamant they speak only with you."
What was this? "Who are they?"
Silence.
"The love of your life." Frankie's roguish voice echoed through the intercom.
Bianca felt like a weight lifted from her shoulders, "The love of my life?"
"Think I can come in? You're scaring my girl Marie here. She thinks you'll figure out I actually came to see her."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, we're having a torrid love affair. Very hush hush."
Bianca snorted, "I thought that was with the girl who sold you coffee in the morning."
"I get around." Frankie shot back. "I'm told I can be kinda sexy in a ruffian sort of way. Chicks dig that."
Bianca rolled her eyes, "Get in here."
"So demanding."
Bianca pushed her seat back from the desk as the door clicked open. Frankie ambled in, a Cheshire grin on her face. "Hey boss."
"Hey," Bianca greeted back. She sat there for a second, drinking in the new presence. She'd seen Frankie earlier that morning when the older woman woke up curled in her arms. It was Frankie's day to take Miranda and Gabrielle to school, so they parted at the door with a kiss.
Frankie walked up to the desk, "Working hard, I see."
Bianca shook her head ruefully, "Always."
Frankie slid around the side of the desk, "Does that mean I can't talk you into playing hooky with me for lunch?"
Bianca reached out and snagged her hand. "I have to work through lunch."
Frankie pulled her to her feet, "Well, I am the head of Cambias security. It'll be a business meeting."
"A meeting where we talk about nothing work related." she brushed a kiss to Frankie's mouth.
"The best kind of meeting." Frankie winked.
"I thought you said the best kind of meeting was when I had you up against that wall." Bianca tilted her chin over Frankie's shoulder.
"We could have that meeting, too." Frankie playfully wiggled her eyebrows.
Bianca laughed, "Mr. Chaplin might not like it if I missed our meeting because I was making love to my girlfriend."
"I'd like it." Frankie shrugged.
Bianca absently swung their joined hands, "We'll do lunch tomorrow. I'll have Marie pencil you in."
"Ooh, pencil me in. I feel so important." Frankie lifted Bianca's hand to her mouth. She pressed a kiss to the back of her knuckles, "Will you be able to make dinner tonight?"
"I'm going to try."
Frankie nodded, "I'll see you tonight. Maybe we can have that meeting from before again. Personally, I liked the one of you on the desk better."
Bianca chuckled as Frankie stepped back, "I'll see you tonight. I love you."
"Love you, too."
Bianca slowly came out of the memory. She blinked, allowing her mind to adjust to the change in time. Had it really been almost a year ago since that day? The new venture had worked out splendidly for Cambias, and she could scarcely remember the work she did to ensure the smooth transition. So many things had happened since then.
Letting out a breath, Bianca looked into the large vanity mirror she was seated before. A beautiful face stared back at her. There were a few more lines around the corners of her mouth and eyes, both from stress and happiness. A lot had occurred in her still young life. But, what could one expect being born the daughter of Erica Kane and basically coming of age in Pine Valley?
A few of those lines also probably formed around a year ago. Frankie proclaimed her innocence, but the smirking grin that always formed whenever the topic came up definitely proved she wasn't. Bianca couldn't blame her, though. She found herself smiling and laughing as well.
As all major projects did, the one at Cambias dwindled down until it was over. After hours and hours of manpower, Bianca was finally able to get back to her regular schedule. She went to lunch with Frankie, was able to pick up the children from school a few days a week, and never missed dinner. She got to hear all about her daughters' days and cuddled with her girlfriend at night.
Then, though, something odd began to happen. Frankie, for whatever reason, began to act…differently. It wasn't necessarily bad different. It was just different. And after years of living in Pine Valley and everything that happened when they were first getting together, different made Bianca a little wary. It wasn't anything too out there. It wasn't like Frankie was out at all hours of the night or coming home smelling of smoke or booze. Nothing like that. She was just different.
It started out slowly. Frankie would get this odd look on her face, but would wipe it away whenever anyone looked at her. It grew to Frankie being distracted. Bianca found her watching her and the kids more. Frankie would be there with them, watching cartoons or eating a meal together. But, she'd be concentrating on them as opposed to Spongebob or the roast chicken. She had this gleam in her brown eyes. When it was just the two of them together in their bed, Frankie was more…she was just more. She kissed Bianca more. Touched her more. Held her more. Bianca loved it, and returned each touch and caress. But, then Frankie's behavior would turn on a dime. She would become standoffish. A few times she cancelled their daily lunch plans. And Frankie was restless. With their time together, Frankie had been subtly calming down. She was settling down and accepting her new lifestyle. One filled with happiness and love, not uncertainty and pain. But, there was that need to move, back again with a vengeance. If she was sitting down, her leg was bouncing. Her hands fiddled with whatever was in reach. Bianca had even found her pacing.
What was up with her? Was it something to do with Maggie? Frankie and Maggie had been working really hard on mending fences. They had a standing meeting for dinner and drinks once a week and both were loathed to miss it. It took four years, and they still weren't the best of friends, but with intense therapy sessions with Isabel, the Stones knew that they loved each other and liked to spend time together.
But, a quick phone call to Maggie thrashed that idea. Everything was going well with them. Frankie hadn't done anything to raise suspicion with her or Ally, Maggie's wife of a year. Then, it struck Bianca one morning like a ton of bricks. The family was going through their morning routines. Frankie was downing her third cup of coffee and Miranda was helping her sister check to see if she had all her school supplies in her blue backpack. It was when Frankie casually plucked her pill bottle out of her pocket and downed two of the prescribed medications for her heart that Bianca nearly dropped the plate she was holding.
Frankie's heart condition. Was something wrong with Frankie's heart? She wasn't sick again, was she? It would be just like Frankie to try and hide something like that. Then, to make it even worse, she found out she wasn't the only one noticing the changes. One morning, Miranda went up to Bianca and asked why Frankie was acting so weird. That was the clincher. If Miranda could see it, Gabrielle could see it. If the kids saw it, then it was time to worry.
"Ready for lunch?" Bianca asked lightly.
Frankie glanced up from her own desk, her phone cradled in one hand while the other skimmed the layout of what looked to be a security system for a hotel in Hong Kong. Bianca remembered two of her vice presidents were set to have a preliminary discussion with a rival company there. "Bianca?"
Bianca smiled, "Come on, I'm starving."
Frankie hung up the phone, "Wow, the CEO visiting the security department. Are you so desperate for a lunch date you'd scope out the guys with really big guns or am I just special?."
Bianca walked over to the coat rack and grabbed Frankie's jacket, "You already know you're special."
Frankie stood up and took her jacket from Bianca, "My fragile ego likes to hear it every now and then."
Bianca kissed her, "Your fragile ego is the size of the empire state building."
"Which, I might point out, is not the largest building in the world. I still have a ways to go." Frankie joked.
Bianca linked their hands and led her to the door, "If it gets that big, you might have to get your own bed. An ego that size doesn't fit in mine."
"Already kicking me out of your bed and it's only," Frankie looked at her watch, "12:18. It's going to be a good day today, I can tell."
Bianca chuckled, "Isn't every day a good day with me?"
"Depends," Frankie brought her hand to her mouth and brushed a kiss over her pulse point.
"On what?"
"On if I'm getting lucky tonight." Frankie winked.
They exited the Cambias offices, "Is that all you think about?"
Frankie didn't answer, and Bianca glanced over to see her looking at her with that odd gleam again, "Frankie?"
Frankie gently shook her head and smirked, "What? Of you naked?"
They crossed the road, "Is it?"
"Sometimes you're in a…"
"Don't you dare say nurse's outfit." Bianca cut her off as they reached the other side of the street.
Frankie's smirk deepened, "I was going to say bed sheet. But, now that you mention a nurse outfit, Maggie can get one from…"
Bianca threw her hands in the air, "I give up."
Frankie snickered as they entered a park. Gravel crunched under their shoes and people of all ages relaxed around them, enjoying the day. Bianca trained her eyes on Frankie as they walked. There it was. First, Frankie scanned the assortment of people. Nothing new there. The former agent had always been a bit cautious that way. But, then her free hand started to close into a fist and open up over and over. She rolled her shoulders and shoved her hand into her pocket, jiggling it around inside the small pouch.
"Ok, that's it." Bianca stopped walking.
"What?"
Bianca stood in front of Frankie, "What's going on?"
"Going on?"
Bianca nodded, "Something's wrong. What is it?"
Frankie frowned, "Nothing's wrong."
"I know there is. You can tell me."
"Bianca, nothing is wrong."
Bianca sighed, "Please, you can tell me. I need you to tell me. Is it your heart?" She pressed her palm against Frankie's chest.
"My heart is fine." Frankie assured her.
"Are you sure? I need you to tell me if it's bothering you. I know you don't like to talk about it, but I love you and,"
Frankie held up her hand, "Bianca, I'm as healthy as I've ever been. My heart is fine."
"Then, what's going on? And, don't tell me nothing. I know something's up, Stone. You're not as stealthy as you think you are."
Frankie's face was pure stoicism, "There is not a thing wrong."
Bianca released a breath, "Your poker face might work on criminals and uncaring security guards, but this is me. Your girlfriend. Your lover. I know when something is bothering you, and I know that you're going through something right now. What is on your mind?"
"Nothing, Bianca. Why are you riding me about this?" A tiny crack appeared in that blank face.
"Because I'm worried about you."
"There's nothing to be worried about."
"You're acting weird. Even the kids see it."
Frankie scratched at her head, "Bianca,"
"Just tell me. Please, sweetheart. We don't keep secrets from each other."
"It's not…"
"I'm scared. Please, tell me." the sad face was one Frankie could never say no to. Hell, she could never say no to Bianca period.
Frankie looked around anxiously. "Fine."
Bianca waited. Frankie took in the entire park, nervousness clear in her gaze. She bounced on the balls of her feet a few times, and her hand jingled in her pocket uneasily. Bianca held her breath, wondering what she was going to be told. She prepared herself for the worst. Then, with a rough swallow and a twitchy jaw, Frankie made Bianca's eyes widen to the size of saucers. Bianca felt her mouth drop open and a gasp filled her lungs.
Frankie had dropped down to one knee.
Clearing her throat, Frankie removed her hand from her pocket. A ring box sat snuggly in her palm. She began to speak, her fingers twisting the box.
"I…um…wasn't exactly planning to do this, this way. But, Kane women don't wait, right? Well, sometimes they do. You waited for me. That…you have no idea how much that means to me."
Frankie flashed a tiny lopsided grin and Bianca brought a trembling hand to her chest.
"I was trying to come up with some big elaborate speech about how much I love you and need you in my life. It was going to be this whole big thing, because that's what you deserve. You deserve a lot more than what I'm about to say. But, I never figured out what words to use. I guess, you know, all that poetry I read would help, but it didn't. Nothing did. Because, whenever I tried, all I could think about was that I love you. And, I do. I never say it enough, and I probably never will. I'm a really big mess."
She took a jittery breath.
"I've hurt you. I've done so many things wrong I wish I could take back."
"Oh, Frankie." Bianca wanted to tell her it was ok. They'd both hurt each other.
Frankie raised a finger, "Just, let me say this. I know you want to say I didn't or whatever, but I did. And, god, if you start talking I might not be able to finish this."
Bianca nodded and closed her mouth.
Frankie played with the ring box, "But, yeah, you…uh…man, you deserve so much more than me. I know I'll never be good enough for you. I…I just never will. But, I'm going to try. I'm going to try everyday to be that person you deserve. And the kids, I love them too. You have no idea how much I love all three of you. I mean, I look at you and I can't believe this is my life. I really got what I wanted all those years ago with you. Anyway, I'm…I love you. I love you so much. I know we said we didn't need to get married. We had our life together and that was more than enough. But, I lied. Because, god I want to marry you."
Bianca felt the first tear roll down her cheek.
"I know you hate secrets and lies. Hopefully this is a lie you'll be ok with. Because I think it's the only one I've gotten past you in four years." Frankie shakily flipped open the box to reveal a shimmering diamond ring, "So, Bianca'la Christine Montgomery, will you marry me?"
Bianca choked out a sob at the sight of the engagement ring beckoning to her from Frankie's hand. It was like something out of a dream. A young in love seventeen year old's imagination. It was everything she could have ever wanted, and she was finally getting it.
"You can say something now." Frankie fidgeted, "I'm looking for a yes…or a nod…unless you don't want to." Which would be really horrible.
"Oh god, Frankie." Bianca gasped again. This was really happening.
"Ok," Frankie clutched onto the box, her quivering hands almost dropping it, "is that a maybe?"
Bianca fell to her knees and crashed into Frankie, knocking her back into the grass. She wrapped her arms around her and smashed their lips together, kissing her with everything she had inside. Frankie returned the kiss, her hand cupping Bianca's face.
"It's a yes," Bianca whispered. Her salty tears coated both their lips, "Yes, I want to marry you."
"Yeah?" Frankie murmured in awe. Bianca was actually saying yes?
"Yes." Bianca couldn't stop kissing her, "Yes, yes, yes, yes."
Frankie accepted each kiss, a full blown grin on her face. "Wow."
Bianca rested their foreheads together, "You proposed!"
Frankie basked in the feeling of yes. Then, she blinked and scrambled for the ring box, "Not real till I put this on you, right?"
Bianca watched as Frankie produced the diamond ring. It was a simple white gold band with a princess cut diamond in the center. It was smaller than any ring her mother ever wore or even the one Reese got her. But, it was perfect. It was what she'd always dreamt of at night.
Bianca stuck out her finger and Frankie plucked the ring from its haven. With unsteady fingers, Frankie slid the ring onto Bianca's ring finger. It fit flawlessly.
"We're getting married." Frankie whispered in a daze, her eyes glued to the ring now residing on Bianca's hand.
"We're getting married." Bianca agreed.
Frankie looked into her eyes in amazement, "I'm going to marry you."
"I'm going to marry you." Bianca watched the diamond shimmer in the sunlight. "Oh my god, I'm going to marry you."
"Pretty cool, huh?" Frankie lightly rubbed her thumb over Bianca's hand.
Bianca wiped at her watery eyes, "Gosh, I love you."
"You are marrying me."
"Could be because of the sex." Bianca chuckled, tears still streaming down her face.
Frankie caught a drop on the tip of her finger, "You've been using me for sex all along. What a con."
Bianca captured her wrist and held her hand flush against her cheek, "I love you, Frankie."
"Good, cause man, do I love you too." Frankie ducked her head, the tips of her ears turning red. She rubbed the back of her neck and tilted her head, "Wanna skip work and let me show you how much?"
Bianca whipped her phone out and had the office number dialed before Frankie even finished her sentence.