I'm older now but still running
Against the wind
- Bob Seger, Against The Wind
She woke up to being prodded awake gently, a steaming cup of coffee being held out to her as she sat up, stretched. "You're up already?"
Franco nodded then said casually, "Never have really been a late sleeper. I've been up for a while now, Janey, sort of thinking.. I submitted my DNA, that cheek swab you did also. We'll know in a few hours with any luck." as he studied the sandy blonde female with curiousity. What had her first word been? When had she taken her first step? He found himself wishing that things hadn't worked out the way they had, that he'd actually been there, been her father through all of it.
If the tests came back the way he had the gut feeling they would, then he was going to have to make up for a lot of things he'd missed out on in her life and maybe, hopefully, he could help her through this difficult time in her life now. Grief was never a fun experience, maybe them finding each other now, when he was so bitter about his own life, and her so grief stricken and obviously having had the life she'd had, was what they both needed. He wasn't promising that this was going to be perfect, but he wanted to be her father.
"So.. did they tell you when they're letting you out today?" Janey asked as she wiggled her feet into her shoes, stood, popping her back, her knuckles as she looked at her father. Somehow, she knew the tests were going to prove her mother hadn't been lying, she could just sort of feel it, really. And when they did, she was going to be there for her father, because she was almost certain that he had nobody in this whole town willing to look after him after his having had a serious brain surgery as he'd just had. Apparently, judging by last night's reaction at her appearance from the nurse, nobody in this whole town was fond of him.
Of course, the person he'd been before the tumor was discovered, Janey wasn't alluding herself, that had a lot to do with it. But she could sort of see what her mother had seen in the man, now, having met him for herself. And she knew where a lot of things about herself came from now too. "Want some breakfast?" she asked as she studied him and managed a smile.
"Yeah. If you don't mind." Franco said as he dug through pockets and handed her money.
"I've got it, I have a little bit, okay?" Janey said as she pulled a hoodie down over her t shirt and walked out into the hallway, promptly bumping into the nurse from the night before.
"How'd it go in there?"
"It went.. Look, I realize that he's some monster to you guys, but he could possibly be my father and.. I'm going to do my best to be there for him." she stated as she sighed and then said quietly, "If you happen to see my aunt Ava, or that bitch I call a younger cousin, I'd appreciate it if neither of the two were allowed into his room. I'm almost certain my aunt will play on this somehow and he'll wind up worse for the wear because of it."
"What'd Ava do to you?"
"She caused my mother's problems and as a result, she messed up my life. So yeah, I hate her. No, it won't change." Janey said honestly as Elizabeth nodded, thinking about her own reasons to hate Ava Jerome as of late. "Trust me, I know and I don't blame you."
She nodded and then made her way down to the cafeteria in the building, having said what she meant to say for the moment. She'd just sat down, waiting on the servers to finish stocking the food when a guy about her age flopped down nearby, his eyes angry as he stabbed at jello.
"Careful there.. " she muttered as he said "It's better than what the Jackyll feels like doing at the moment."
"Hmm.. Okay then." Janey muttered as she said "Well, I hope it gets better for you. I'm gonna be around here a lot. My dad, he's kind of in recovery now.. Just had brain surgery. I mean at least I think he's my dad.."
Spinelli looked at her, brow raised as he sipped his orange juice quietly. Mostly, he was thinking about the betrayal he felt currently, from both of the women he'd once loved. There really wasn't much the two could say to each other, as Janey seemed to be lost in thought herself, currently. She rolled her eyes as she saw her aunt slinking in, her younger cousin and her younger cousin's mobster prince fiancee walking in.
"Really? This shit? At 9 am?"
"What?" Spinelli asked as he saw the three of them too. "Do you not like them either?"
"I hate two of them. Feel sorry for the guy though, if my gold digging cousin's tricked the poor kid into marrying her already." Janey muttered as she heard Ava's throat clearing from behind her, turned just in time to see the sweet yet menacing smile.
"Janey?"
"Aunt Ava."
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, somebody had to fix the mess you created, didn't they? Did you think I'd never found out that because of you, my mother fled to raise me completely alone? That I wouldn't ever find out who my father was?"
"I did nothing. I see you're still confused or on drugs, whatever it is that my little sister allowed you to get mixed up in."
She tightened her hand around the fork, for a moment, fantasizing about splashing the walls in Ava's blood when she stabbed her in the jugular. But she bit her cheek and said quietly, "I see you're still sticking by the 'if they're not a gold digging whore like me, they're insane, obviously, theory.'" as she gave Spinelli a nod, stood and grabbed her father's food and drink, then her own food and drink.
As she got halfway to the door, Kiki called out casually, "I do hope you're feeling better. I can only imagine how hard one would take losing a child. Especially at your age."
Janey growled as she shoved her fist into her pocket and then casually stuck up her middle finger over her retreating back. Spinelli sat taking in the whole argument.
Somehow, he got the distinct feeling that there was no love lost between the three women. And somehow, he got this feeling that maybe Janey wasn't the evil spawn of her father, which made him curious. But he shoved it out of his head, got back to his own thoughts about everything he was about to give up, just so two dear friends could be happy.
And how it was all his once fair Maximista's fault.
Upstairs, Janey walked into her father's room, a grim and angry expression on her face. "Hey.. Are you okay? Did somebody say something to you?" Franco asked, surprised at how quickly the fatherly instincts seemed to take over.
"No, I just had a run in with the wicked witch of the North and her ugly little offspring."
"Ahh.. So they did find you."
"And proceeded to make my life a living hell, right in front of god and everyone. I swear to Christ, sir.. If I ever snap.. They will be found, backside up, knives in their back."
Franco sighed as he said quietly, "The results are in.."
"Well?"
"I waited on you to come back before I opened them."
They sat in silence as Franco tore into the envelope, hesitating for a moment, blinking. The smallish smirk filled his face as he said "You are my daughter. And this brings us to my next thought."
"What's that?"
"I'd really like it if you moved here."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
Janey thought it over and nodded as she said quietly, "I suppose I can give this town a chance."
( A/NS:)
Okay, so this came to me when they made the poor guy think Kiki was his daughter and then ripped that right out from under him. It was mostly written after seeing the episode where Ellie and he have that talk on the hospital's roof.. My ofc is the daughter of another ofc who's the sister of Ava and Julian Jerome. Yes, I realize that this is not true, it's not historically canon, but hey.. I'm writing it anyway.
If it's dark, I'm sorry.. These two people both have their own intricate inner workings and issues and I thought after seeing Friday's episode, the 'redeeming' points of Franco's character, to me were pretty obvious and yeah.. I wanted to play on those a little.
Now on to the fun part, pairings.. I'm seriously considering Spinelli for this one, due to the simple fact that both Ellie AND Maxie pretty much betrayed the poor guy with their secret. But if any of you see her with a different guy then by all means, speak up. I've also considered Morgan or Michael, but hey.. Just whatever you guys suggest, for the most part, will be toyed with..
Probably won't be a whole lot of certain characters in this one, due to the fact that some of the characters I really don't feel comfortable writing as.
This is me, giving that poor guy a damn kid so this idea will get the hell out of my head.. If you hate it, I'm sorry, but if you like it, let me know, please and thanks?