Hey my buddy LaylaLovely2011 and I wrote this. You should totally check her page out, that is where most of our Army Wives stories are. Anyways I hope you like it and PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter 7: Mother Know's Best

Frank didn't know what to say. He felt like it was his fault.

After an hour of silence Denise finally spoke "I'm sorry"

"For what?"

"For dragging you into this mess." She said. "If you want to rethink everything I'll understand."

"I won't." He said.

She gave him a small smile then it faded.

"Everything will turn out fine." He said.

She nodded and he reached for her hand. She gave it to him and kept looking outside

He kissed her hand. "You hungry?" He asked.

She nodded.

"What are you in the mood for?" He asked. "Anything you want."

"Anything." She said looking out the window.

He sighed and pulled over beside of the road.

"Frank we out of gas?" She asked. "Because I can't walk out like this on these shoes, and mother would faint if I walked around bare foot."

"No." He replied. "Denise look at me."

She did.

"Denise nothing that has happened is your fault, okay?" He said putting his arm around her shoulder.

"It is. All this mess."

"No, it's not babe" He said. "You have done nothing wrong."

"I did. It's all because of me." She started crying again.

Frank sighed and got out of the truck and walked around to her side and opened the door "Come here"

She did as told.

He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. "Denise honey you didn't do anything." He said gently.

She wasn't going to fight him on it. She only held him. Frank kissed her head and swayed side to side to help her calm down, he hated seeing her so upset, he wanted to kill her family.

"Frank lets keep on going. Please."

He nodded "Only if you stop crying." He said tickling her ribs. She started giggling. He smiled "That's much better"he said and opened her door for her.

She got inside and the two started talking till they hit the post. Denise took a deep breath

"You want to go get your things or go see the apartment and I'll go get them?" He asked.

"I'll buy new ones. I don't need to go back." She said.

He nodded and turned around. "In that case we don't even have to be on post." He said. "I live off post." Denise was thankful for that.

She smiled and leaned back. They drove about five minutes off post and Denise saw the apartment building, it was big and there was a pool right outside of the doors. "Have plenty of neighbors but it's still nice." He said.

"Its perfect." She said as she got out of the car.

He smiled. "Wait until you see the inside." He said and they walked in and took the elevator to the third floor and walked down the hall to Frank's apartment. He opened the door and Denise was shocked, it was beautiful, she didn't expect it to be this nice.

"How can you afford to live here?"

"Easy, I make sure I have money in savings to cover the rent at all times." He said. "I don't really spend a lot of money unless it's necessary."

"Ohhh." She smiled. Catalina wouldn't have wanted Denise to live in an apartment but Denise liked it.

He shocked her when he picked her up and carried her across the threshold. "Welcome home." He said smiling.

She was giggling uncontrollably till he opened the door He ran with her and dropped her on the couch, She starting giggling again. She never knew what would happen next with him.

"What are you laughing about?" He asked going to lay beside of her.

"You're too funny."

He smiled. "So are you." He said pulling her closer.

She gave him an Eskimo kiss and giggled again.

He laughed "You are adorable you know that?"

"A little." She blushed.

He smiled. "You still hungry, I'll make us some lunch."

She shook her head. "Let me." She said.

"Nope,your getting spoiled for the day." He said getting up. "What re you in the mood for?"

"A Georgian." She said giggling. She hadn't realized the sexual conduct in the joke until she saw his expression.

His eyes widened. "Why Denise, I do believe you took that wrong." He said.

She covered her face not knowing whether to be embarrassed or laughing. He laughed and pulled her hands away from her face, she was laughing and her face was blood red. Denise tried to hide her face again.

"I'm sorry." She said. Giggling.

He smiled. "Denise it's me you are talking to, you don't have to apologize." He told her. "No walking on eggshells here honey."

She only peeked at him. He smiled at her and pulled her hands away from her face and kissed her cheek. She giggled and got up.

She sat up as Frank went to the kitchen "So what do you want to eat?" He asked.

"Whatever you're making."

"How about Chicken and dumplings green beans and salad?" He asked Denise was shocked that he knew how to make more that frozen pizzas.

"You can cook?" She asked.

He laughed "Of course"he said "You seem shocked"

"I figured toast is as fancy as you get."

He laughed and threw a dish rag at her. "Get ready to be impressed." He said.

"I am." She smiled. As she leaned in the wall. He looked over his shoulder and winked at her. "Are you flirting with me private?"

He smiled "Maybe, you have any objections to that?"

"No fraternizing solider." She winked.

He laughed. "I'm not the dirty one." He joked

She blushed. He laughed as he started cooking, Denise walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him.

"They don't have to know." She whispered. "That you're fraternizing."

He looked over his shoulder and smiled and turned around in her arms and held her. "Now that's just not fair." He said.

"What is?" She asked.

"You come over here and distract me and I can't do anything about it without me looking like an ass." He replied and kissed her.

"What do you mean private?"

He laughed. "Nothing at all." He said holding her tighter.

"Tell me." She whispered on his lips.

"Nope." He said and kissed her again.

She kissed him and asked him again

"Tell me."

He picked her up and carried her over to the couch, both totally lost in the moment. She kept kissing him and completely forgot about the question she was. He kept his arms around her and one of them slipped under her shirt. Denise foze solid and Frank regretted that move immediately and let go of her.

"I'm sorry." He said.

She jumped up pulled her shirt down. She looked like she was either going to cry or faint. She just stood there looking at him. He sighed but didn't say anything else

"Mother was right."

"Right about what?" He asked

She glared at him. She started to cry. He got up and went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Denise I'm sorry." He said again.

She pulled her arm away and went out the door. She was going to go home even if she had to walk there. Frank went after her and grabbed her arm to keep her from leaving.

"Denise don't do this." He pleaded.

She only glared at him. " I won't stay here." She said.

He didn't let her arm go, hoping she would realize he wasn't trying to hurt her or make her feel uncomfortable. She pulled her arm away but didn't move.

He didn't speak fro a moment "Will you please stay?" He asked after a moment

"I guess...because I have no where else to go." She finally said.

He would take that for now, the two of them walked back inside and the smoke alarm started going of, lunch was burning. Denise didn't even acknowledge it. She went towards the couch and sat.

Frank opened a window to let out the smoke and the alarm stopped beeping, he got the chicken and dumplings out to find they weren't ruined after all. "You hungry?" He asked

She shook her head. Hunger was the last thing on her mind. He only nodded and put it in the fridge in case she got hungry later, he didn't know what to do,so he just sat at the kitchen table.

"Can I see the house?" She finally said.

He smiled. "Sure," He said getting up.

She was still giving him a death glare but follow him anyways. He took her and showed her the rest of the house,he took her and showed her the guest room where she would be sleeping,it was large and decorated very well. She was surprised he was...so well kept.

"You like it?" He asked from the door.

"It's nice."

He smiled. "Good." He said still not going near her, he was afraid she would get angry or upset.

Denise went in and locked the door. Frank stood there and waited to see what she was doing. Denise just looked around the room. She knew she was going to start avoiding him. Finally Frank gave up and went to the living room, when she was ready, she'd come out and talk to him, the main thing he had learned from watching his father around his mother is never to push a woman, especially if she is mad.

Denise finally did come out.

Her eyes were swollen and bloodshot, she had been crying. Frank did not move, he wanted to see what she would do. She sat on the farthest end of the couch and stared at him.

He looked back at her "You okay?" He finally asked.

"Perfect."

He got quiet again, he didn't know weather to go and hold her or leave her alone.

"How are you?"

"Nervous"he replied

"Funny." She said.

"Denise I'm not trying to be funny." He said. "I don't know weather to come near you or stay the hell out of your way."

"Guess I hid inherent my mother's glare." She laughed.

He laughed a little. "You forgive me?" He asked.

"Yes."

He still didn't move. "If I come over there are you going to slug me?" He asked.

"I'd sooner let do that then ruin my mother's reputation by slugging a man."

He laughed. "You are nuts."

"No. I'm honest." She had no warmth in her eyes.

Frank did not dare move a muscle. Her look only dared him to come closer. He knew he was breaking her with very mistake he made. He finally got up and went and sat next to her. She looked at him. He slowly put his arm around her shoulders. She smiled. She gave him her sweet smile. He smiled at her and pulled her closer, he was hoping she wouldn't get mad. She kissed him. Foolish, but she did it anyways.

He pulled back this time. "I love you Denise." He told her and for the first time, she actually believed it.

She smiled at him. She didn't love him...yet. she was going to squeeze until she had him where she wanted. And then. If a better man doesn't come along, she'll let herself love him. She kissed him back. He kissed her then smiled when she yawned.

"Good night Frank." She said walking away.

"Goodnight." He said.

Denise went to her room and laid down, she couldn't help but think what their life would be life, if this did work out. She'd be the one thing worst then Catalina. An Army wife, by chose.

The next morning Denise whined when she heard Frank's alarm clock going off across the hall, she was not a morning person She put her head under all the pillows. When she heard Frank get up she decided to get up as well, she came out to see him making coffee. She went and sat at the table.

Frank looked over. "Good Morning." He said smiling.

"At least at Joe's I got to ride horses at 5 in the morning." She teased.

He laughed. "Not a morning person I take it." He said.

"Noo." She stressed.

He laughed. "Well you look pretty if that helps." He said.

"I'm in days old clothes. Bad hair. Nails. No make up. Don't lie."

"Not lying." He said smiling. "You are beautiful without all that stuff."

She rolled her eyes, but she smiled nonetheless.

He kissed her head. "Want some breakfast?"

"Sure. You going to cook again?"

He nodded. "Eggs and bacon sound good?" He asked.

She smirked. "Always."

He nodded and made them both breakfast. "You have any plans today?" He asked sitting down with two plates.

"Probably go back to the hospital." She said. Frank for some reason didn't want her going back. That's where he meet her and fell for her.

"Why?" He asked.

"To finish my nursing degree." She said eating her eggs.

"Denise, you know you don't have to work" He said.

"But I want to. Why?"

"Denise, I don't like you working at that hospital." He said.

"Um. Why?" She asked looking at him with that face again.

"I just don't okay." He said getting up. "I have to go to work."

"And I don't?" She to got up.

He sighed. "Denise I'm serious" He said. "For me, just find another job."

"Why? Frank? You had no problem with it before."

"I don't like the way those men look at you." He said.

At this she couldn't help but smirk. "You did it."

"Yeah exactly." He said.

"And so what if their nice to me?"

"I still don't like it." He said.

"What are you afraid off?"

"Nothing." He said.

"Then why can't I be a nurse?" She pouted.

"Because I said so." He said trying to pull the tough guy thing.

"Then I'll sit here and watch Oprah all day and get fat."

He laughed. "You can't get Fat, that would take years considering how little you are."

She smirked. "I want to nurse. Besides men will always notice me."

"Not if I can help it." He said.

She only laughed.

She couldn't see why he wasn't laughing at all, she got up and went and put her arms around him. "What are you so afraid of?" She asked.

"I want you Denise. I want you to never love any man but me. I want you pampered and spoiled. I'm afraid that another man can give you what I can't."

She couldn't help but smile. She kissed him "I'm here aren't I?"

"Only because you have nowhere else to go. No Denise, you're not here."

"I shouldn't have said that." She said. "I was just upset, I'm sorry."

"Doesn't matter, you did mean it."

She let go of him and looked at the floor. "I can leave if you want me to." She said.

"I want you here baby." He said kissing her head.

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, he'd made her cry again for the third time in two days. "Then why are you being like this?" She asked, her voice cracking.

"I want you here." He said holding her.

She nodded and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry I'm so emotional." She said. "I'm not always like this I swear."

He laughed. "I know." He said as he left the house.

Denise didn't know what to do, she didn't want to go to work if he really didn't want her to but she didn't want to just sit on her butt all day. For the next few weeks she literately say at the house and watched Oprah while eating chocolate covered fudge. Frank came home ever day to see her sitting on the couch watching TV. The apartment was small enough where cleaning was no big deal.

On the fourth week after Denise had lived in with him, he came home that night to see her pacing the house.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Besides going crazy?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Frank I can't stayed cooped up in this apartment another minute." She said. "I can't do this!"

"You need a car."

"My dad took my car remember?"

"What do you mean he took it away?"

"When I was on the phone with one of my girlfriends, Violet, she said my dad sold my car." She said, she was sweating bullets just talking about her father. Frank had never seen her like this, the thought of her father near her made him worry.

"Denise, does your father abuse you?" He boldly asked.

"No." She said avoiding his eyes, that alone made him not believe her.

"He did didn't he?"

She looked up at him after about five minutes and nodded. He stood there not knowing what to say.

Denise thought he was angry at her. "Frank, please don't be mad." She said. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"Denise that man abused you!"

"Only when I got him angry." She said.

"And how often was that?"

"I don't know." She said, she was starting to tremble.

He picked her up and sat her on the counter. "Denise you know you can tell me anything."

"Please don't say anything." She pleaded. The Branches had been very respected on post ever since Catalina stepped foot with her husband. Even though Denise hated them right now she couldn't bear to ruin their reputation.

"Only if you promise to tell me everything."

She nodded. "Okay." She said.

"Start talking."

"It started when I was about nine." She said. "Daddy came home from his third tour to Korea, he was different, scary different...at first it was just yelling, then..."

"Does your mother know?"

She looked at her lap and nodded.

"Wait, Catalina knew all this time and did nothing about it?"

"She would knock him out whenever he got too hard on my sisters and I. She couldn't do too much about it. It would have ruined her image." She said wiping the tears from her eyes only for them to fill up again.

"I hate her." He said hugging her. She said leaning into his chest, the poor thing was trembling. "I'm so sorry honey." He said holding her.

She nodded. "I'm scared Frank."

"Of what?"

"Him." She said. "He sold off my car. He must really hate me."

"I'll buy you a new car." Frank said.

"No, Frank that's not it." She said. "He is going to come and try to hurt me."

"No he wont."

"How can you be so sure?" She asked sniffling.

"I wont let him."

She only nodded and slipped off the counter and went to the couch and sat with her knees up to her chin, she was shivering. Frank went back and hugged her. She moved so her head was laying in his lap, he hated the Colonel for what he had done to his poor girlfriend.

"Frank but I still love him." She said.

"Of course you do baby, he's your father"he said rubbing her hair "He just needs help"

"He wont get help."

"Then you are not to go near him." He said.

"I will have to face him at some point."

"When I am there." He said.

"Oh no Frank, he hates you."

"I don't care if he hates me." He said. "As long as you are safe I don't care."

"Oh, he'll be so upset."

"Shh, it doesn't matter sweetheart." He said.

"I'm going to bed." She finally said after a while.

He nodded and kissed her. "You know where to find me if you need anything." He said.

She got up and was about to walk away when he grabbed her hand. "I love you Denise." He said when she looked at him She gave him perhaps her most sweet smile and hugged him.

He accepted the fact that she had not yet told him she loved him and was okay with it. She'd say it when she was ready. He hugged her back and kissed her again. "Get some rest babe." He said.

She nodded and went to her room. Frank sat on the couch for a few hours longer, the thought of someone hurting Denise made him angry, but he knew he had to let it go, at least for now. He decided to go bed when Denise showed up.

"Hey what's the matter?" He asked.

"You said I know where to find you if I needed anything."

"Of course." He said. "What do you need babe?"

"I don't want to be alone."

He smiled at her and pulled on her arm and she laid in his lap with her head on his shoulder. "You are never alone honey." He said.

"Thanks." She said.

He kissed her head and rocked gently. "Sleep angel." He whispered.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep.