A/N: Hey guys this is my first Punisher FF, I'm a huge fan of the show and think Jon Bernthal plays Frank Castle perfectly. I also think Ben Barnes is amazing and amazing to look at. But so the story will be at first from my OCs teen years to the Daredevil s2 timeline all the way to the Punisher series timeline. Also, I edited and updated all of the chapters and will be replacing them because I changed quite a bit.

Teddy- Cristine Prosperi

Owen Murphy- Cillian Murphy

THEN:

It was a freezing December night in New York when he found her. Frank had just learned that his wife was pregnant with their first child. He and Maria decided to celebrate so Frank went to get some takeout from a restaurant that they both loved, on his way back he saw a small figure run into an alley with a car barely missing it. Out of curiosity and slight concern, he walked into the alley after the figure. He looked around and didn't see much besides the dumpster, but a sudden intake of breath made him turn to a pile of trash at the end of the alley. He noticed some of the garbage was pushed around, and the snow was burrowed so that someone or something, small could fit in it. The small figure was curled up in the middle of the hole, wearing a hoodie that looked like it could fit Frank himself. The figure was visibly shaking and shivering, so Frank knelt down in front of it and asked

"Are you cold?"

The figure looked up to him, and he saw that it was a little girl no older than 4 or 5, with big brown eyes. She was very small and thin and had a bluish-purple tint to her face and lips from the cold. She nodded her head

"Ok come with me let's see if we can't get you warm, maybe some food too," he told her, holding his hand out for her to take. Instead, she stared at him for a moment, trying to read him, then she threw herself into his arms, wrapping her own little ones around his neck. He wrapped an arm around her, keeping her steady on him, reached for a ratty little-stuffed rabbit that laid in the snow next to the hole, then the food and continued back to his home.


By the time they had returned to the house, the little girl had stopped shivering so bad. He walked inside and Maria was quick to come to the door

"That took awhile is everything-" She stopped mid-sentence "Oh my God"

Frank put the food on an end table, then put the little girl down on the sofa

"Oh my god, who is this?" Maria asked

"I don't know. I found her freezing in an alley with some garbage" Frank replied

"Did you get her name?"

"No, Jesus, I was more worried about her freezing to death then I was her name"

Maria sat next to the little girl on the couch "Hi sweetheart"

The little girl looked at her

"Can you tell us your name?" she asked

The little girl blinked at her, then pointed at Frank and said "Bunny"

"Did she just call you 'Bunny'?" Maria asked

Frank shook his head "No, I think she wants this" he held up the ratty toy

Maria wrinkled her nose at the toy "Ew, can we please throw that thing away?"

"Why don't we take care of her first?"

"Yeah come on let's go"

"Go?"

"The hospital. She has to be checked out"

Frank agreed "Come on sweetheart," he said reaching out to her. She leaped back into his arms without hesitation, and the three left for the hospital.


When they were finally seen at the hospital, they were taken to an exam room by a nurse named Rose and Frank explained how he found her, the nurses having Frank and Maria leave the room while they examined her. After 15 minutes they let the pair go back into the room, the little girl was in a pair of plain blue pajamas with an IV sticking out of her arm, coloring on the bed. Rose saw the couple in the doorway and went to speak to them,

"You guys brought her in at a good time. She's malnourished and damn near hypothermic. Plus when we were examining her we saw bruises on her ribs, so we did an x-ray. She's got healed fractures on a few of her ribs. Wherever she came from, personally, I'd rather she didn't go back" Rose explained

Maria gasped and put her hand to her mouth

"Did you get her name?" asked Frank

Rose shook her head "No, all she's done was ask for her bunny"

"We are not giving her that thing" stated Maria giving Frank a look.

Frank thought for a minute remembering the gift shop they passed on their way in. He told his wife to wait with the kid, then he went quickly down to the shop and searched for a rabbit. He finally found a medium, cream-colored rabbit with long ears that had silk on the inside and on the bottom of its feet. He paid for it then hurried back up to the kid's room. He showed the rabbit to his wife then went into the room.

"Hey, sweetheart" he greeted. The girl looked up at him and smiled "I brought you something"

He held out the rabbit and her eyes widened in shock

"For me?" she asked

"Yeah just for you" Frank replied

"Thank you!" she cheered, grabbing the rabbit and squeezing it to her

Frank chuckled "What's your name?" he asked

"Theodosia" she answered, playing with the rabbits' ears

"That's a nice name," said Maria coming into the room

"Thank you" replied Theodosia

"I'm Frank Castle and this is my wife Maria," said Frank "Can you tell us how old you are?"

"This many" Theodosia told them holding up seven fingers

Rose came back in the room and called the pair back into the hallway.

"She's pretty small for seven," said Maria

"That's the malnourishment. She should hopefully start growing once we get her eating, but there's the possibility that her growth is permanently stunted" Rose explained "She's taken to you very well, I'm actually a little surprised"

"Why's that?" asked Frank

"Because usually when a child is abused and denied affection, it can be very hard for them to display it themselves," she said

"So what now?" asked Maria

"Well she'll be here for a few days, but then she'll be put into foster care"

"Then what?" asked Frank

"I don't really know for sure" Rose replied

Frank looked at Maria then in the same beat asked, "What if we took her?"

"What?" asked Rose

"Frank" Maria began

"I'm just saying maybe we can keep her with us, at least until they find her a family"

"I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem with it, but the CPS worker will be up any minute so you can talk to them," Rose told them


Just a few moments later a tall, slim woman came out of the elevators and came to look into the room that Theodosia was staying in

"You must be the couple that found her. I'm Alice Williams with Children's Services" she introduced

"Frank and Maria Castle" Frank replied shaking her hand

"I'm glad you found her before it was too late. This time could have been so much worse" Alice explained

"This time? So you've seen her before?" Asked Maria

Alice nodded and opened up a file "Unfortunately yes. Theodosia Xitano, age 7. She comes from a Romani family just outside of Alphabet City. Dad beats the hell out of her, and mom just watches. Last time I saw her she had 3 broken ribs, bruises covering most of her body, and a broken arm from having it twisted behind her back."

Maria gasped and put her hand on her chest to keep from vomiting "Oh god, that poor baby"

Frank put an arm around his wife "Wait, so you know this is going on and you still send her back there?"

"We put her in foster care for a while, but then the courts rule to put her back with her parents"

Frank exhaled and opened his mouth, but Maria cut him off

"Can we take her in? As a more permanent thing," She asked

"Maria, are you sure about this? We can't just take her in and then give her back" Frank told her

"We can't just let her go back to those people, Frank. We can give her a good home, a place for her to be loved and to be healthy"

Frank nodded in agreement "Well, can we take her?"

Alice looked at the pair "There'd be a lot of paperwork, and a background check on you both. But if you're willing to take her and raise her as your own, I don't see a problem with that, especially since it looks like she's grown attached to you both"

"How soon can we start the paperwork?"

"First thing in the morning. But for now, she's going to stay in the hospital for a few days"

Frank and Maria thanked Alice and shook hands before going to Theodosia and sitting with her for the rest of the night.


The next day the paperwork was started and almost a month later the Castles were allowed to adopt Theodosia. She called them 'Mom and Dad' and she was affectionately called 'Teddy' by her parents. She got healthier as time went on, gaining weight, learning how to speak proper sentences, and how to read and write. She was very smart and enjoyed reading with Frank, whom she had become very close to. When Lisa was born, Teddy was over the moon with joy that she had a new sister, and again two years later when Frank Jr was born.

The years went on and the family grew up and grew closer, dealing with Frank's ins and outs with the Marines. Teddy was 13, Lisa 6, and Frankie J was 4. She had grown gracefully, becoming a healthy weight but remained at a fairly short 5'1 not growing anymore. Frank was back and forth for months being deployed with the Marines, and all the kids sent him letters every day until he returned on leave. When he returned in time for her 14th birthday, he brought over two men named Curtis Hoyle and Billy Russo, who he worked with and became good friends with. Curtis taught Teddy how to play chess and it became a ritual for them to play every time Curtis went to the house and Billy was all about books, always recommending something new for her to read.


Years Later

Teddy now 17, sat anxiously at her school desk waiting for the bell to ring, so she could leave. For weeks prior, a rose was left taped to her locker door, but that morning a note was left with the rose asking her to meet the admirer after school in front of the building. She had no idea who was sending them and she intended on finding out. Finally, the bell rang and Teddy rushed to grab her belongings and go to the front of the school.

Outside she looked around wondering who it was that sent all the roses and the note when suddenly, a hand tapped her shoulder. She spun around and saw a handsome boy, with mesmerizing blue eyes, holding a small bouquet of roses. He smiled at her and cleared his throat

"Hi," he said

"Hi" she replied

"I got these for you," he told her, handing her the flowers

She took them with a smile and slight blush creeping on her cheeks "Thank you. So I guess it's been you leaving these on my locker?"

"Yeah, I'm a bit shy and wanted to get your attention. I hope I didn't scare you or anything"

"No, I think it's sweet. I'm Teddy Castle"

"I'm Owen Murphy"

"I'm also very late. I have to go pick up my younger brother and sister from school"

"I can drive you if you'd like" Owen offered

"Thanks, but my mom would kill me if I had them in a car with someone she didn't know" Teddy explained

"She's very smart" he chuckled

Teddy nodded with a small laugh "That she is"

"Can I walk with you then?" he asked

"I'd like that" she smiled

Owen reached out his hand for her to take, and she did intertwining their fingers walking off toward the elementary school, talking as they went.

Teddy learned that he was an 18-year-old Senior, his mother owned a bakery, his father made furniture, he had 4 siblings, wanted to go to school for business, and that his parents and oldest sibling all immigrated from Ireland. They arrived at the elementary school and got Lisa and Frankie J, Teddy introduced them to Owen and Frankie asked if Owen was her boyfriend. Teddy just blushed and told him to hush up while they continued to the house. When they finally arrived back to Teddy's house she let the kids in the house and turned back to Owen

"Thanks for walking with me, and uh, sorry about my brother" she apologized

Owen laughed "Don't worry about it. And besides, you never know"

Teddy cocked her head in confusion, and Owen leaned down close to her

"Maybe I will be your boyfriend" he whispered

Teddy felt the blood rush to her face as Owen leaned back

"Maybe" she whispered

Her mother opened the door behind her "Teddy, I need you to come inside please"

"Ok mom" she replied

"Who's this?" her mother asked

"Owen Murphy ma'am" Owen answered sticking out his hand

Maria shook it "I'm Maria Castle, Teddy's mother"

"That's Teddy's boyfriend" Frank Jr sang

"Uh, not yet ma'am, but here's hoping," Owen told her

"Oh, well I'll let you two finish up and I'll take these and put them in water," Maria said taking the roses, before heading back inside

Teddy's face was a deep shade of red

"Well, I should let you go," Owen said with a slight blush on his own face

"Yeah" she replied

"Do you mind if I pick you up for school tomorrow?" he asked

"Not at all. I'd really like that" she answered

"Ok, I'll see you in the morning," he said, squeezing her hand

"Bye" she headed inside

"Wait!" he called

Teddy turned back around and Owen grabbed her hand again

"Will you come to the formal with me? Like a date?" he asked

"Yeah. Yes, I'd love to" she replied

Owen smiled "Ok, I'll see you in the morning then"

"In the morning" she repeated

He leaned down once again and pressed his lips to her cheek before pulling away and walking down the street. Teddy went inside and closed the door, resting against it. Her cheek tingled from where he had kissed her and she couldn't help the squeal of delight that escaped her lips.

She walked into the kitchen, where her mother had put the roses in a vase on the counter by the sink

"Mom?" Teddy asked

"Hmm" her mother replied

"Um, can we go dress shopping this weekend?"

"Dress shopping? Why?"

"Owen asked me to formal, and I said yes"

"The boy from outside?"

Teddy nodded

"How old is he?" her mother questioned

"18, he's a senior. But he's really nice" Teddy replied

"18? I don't know Teddy"

"Mom, come on, please. I get straight A's and you know I'm good and don't get into trouble"

Maria cupped her daughters face lightly "I know you're good, but it's not you I'm worried about"

Teddy gave her mom a wide grin "Please mom"

Maria sighed "Ok, we can go on Saturday and I'm going to be telling your father, so there's going to be ground rules"

"Ok! Thank you, mom!" Teddy cheered

Maria laughed as her daughter raced out of the kitchen, wondering what her husband was going to say. She didn't have to wait long since the Skype call was ringing.

Maria sat at the computer and answered the call "Hi baby!"

"Hey, sweetheart. How's everything?" Frank greeted

"Oh you know, same old same old. How about you?"

"Same old same old. Are those Roses behind you?"

Maria turned and looked at the vase "Yeah"

"Who gave you roses?" Frank asked slightly angry

"They're not mine, they're Teddy's" Maria replied

"Oh," Frank said, "Wait, who the hell gave Teddy a bouquet of roses?"

"A boy at school. The same boy that I told you has been leaving her flowers every day. He also asked her to the winter formal."

"What boy? I hope to hell you said no"

"He's a senior, 18, I met him today his name is Owen Murphy"

"18!? She's only 17. No. No way and I hope you told her that"

"I told her we would have ground rules," Maria told him slowly

Frank groaned "You gave in"

"She's 17 Frank. She's not a little girl anymore" reminded Maria

"I know" Frank sighed "I want her home at 10:03 exactly. Not a minute later or sooner"

"She'll be glad to hear. And I'll make sure she sticks to it"

Frank finished the call with his wife and went back to the bunks and sat on his bed with a frustrated sigh

"Everything good man?" asked Russo

Frank nodded "Teddy's making me crazy"

"Making trouble?"

"Worse. Boyfriends."

"How old's the boyfriend?"

"The boy is 18. She's way too young for this"

"She's going to do it anyway though, she's a teenager. But at least she told you about it"

"I'm just not ready for this man"

"Don't worry Frankie, if he tries anything I'll gladly put him in a hole for you" Russo laughed, going back to his book, Frank chuckling and throwing a plush football at him.