Happy endings
This is the finale
A long chapter but a good one. I will be checking for grammatical errors and speech breaks etc.
That is if does not blow its lid and close down for another 24 hours again. *Runs in circles panicking* okay I'm calm now
This is just how I picture ArthurXfrancine in the future.
Yes its fluffy happiness and they're both Christian but guess what? Its fanfiction and my personal opinion.
No one has to agree with anyone else
Thank God for democracy!
Part one.
The clock alarm beeped at 5am before the normal time.
Even for the Reads, this was early.
Arthur kissed Francines eyes gently.
Francine woke up and stretched her arms out. It was still dark outside and the alarm clock boldly read 5:01
Even for the Reads this was early and it was still dark outside.
"Whats going on?" She yawned.
Arthur grinned.
"I wanted to spend some alone time with you." He whispered
His wife sighed. "Well we have the evenings but I see what you mean."
"Its been such a rough few months." Arthur said.
She clutched his waist.
"I know." She replied.
"I'm seeing Muffy today". "The kids are going back to school and Alice won't want to go to preschool". She felt stressed already just thinking about it.
"Then there's my parents flights and Milicents funeral, and..."
Arthur shushed her by pressing his finger on her lips.
"This is worry free time."He told her.
She stroked his arms. "Okay then boss."
"Good." He grinned. "Now I think a nice warm shower together will do the trick."
Francine closed her eyes and smiled.
"Will you wash my hair?" She asked.
"I'll do more than that, my dear wife." He winked.
Francine took Arthurs hand and they proceeded to the bathroom.
"Well you are the head of the house hold." She smiled.
"Indeed." Arthur replied, removing her night clothes.
"Who am I to say no to your request of me?"
Arthur laughed. " You're under strict orders to enjoy yourself."
Francine giggled. "Yes boss."
As Francine stepped out of the shower the phone started ringing.
She checked her watch.
"Holy cow its six o click already."
There was a familiar knocking sound at the door
"Mom, phone for you." AJ called.
Francine tripped over herself trying to find something to throw on.
Arthur stepped into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Who calls at this time of day?" He sighed.
"Maybe its someone from out of state." Francine said in between throwing on her pink dress and pair of tights.
"MOOOOOM" AJ knocked again.
"Alright already, come in" She yelled.
AJ came in and saw his mother, her hair was not brushed and her Dad just had a towel wrapped around him.
"Uh Mom, Dad Im gonna go..."
He handed the phone over to Francine.
"Did they say who it was?" she asked.
"Nope, just some random man." He said leaving the room.
Francine rolled her eyes. "Oh thats helpful"
Arthur got changed and laughed a little.
"Kids are so informative."
Francine yawned and rested her ear on the phone.
"Hello, this is Mrs Read speaking."
"Uh hello there Maam, I am hoping to speak with a Francine Frensky er..Read, yes thats it." A husky voice replied.
"That would be me" She replied.
Arthur looked up at her and narrowed his eyes.
"Who is it?" He whispered.
Francine shrugged and kept listening.
"This is the office that dealt with your Grandmothers WILL" he explained. "I take it you received the email we sent you last Friday?"
Francine bit her lip.
"Uh sorry, its been a hectic week with family plus another er crisis."
"Well Mrs Frensky Read, i am sorry to bother you at this hour" He replied. "I do however, think you will want to hear this."
Francine became more interested.
"I will?" "
"Yes Maam"
"You see, I a unable to disclose full information over the phone."
"You're family may or may not have been in touch with you yet but I suggest you make an appointment with the legal office of internal affairs in your area this morning" He said.
"You will be rather interested, let me just say that Mrs..Read?"
"Yes." "Yes." "Thank you very much." She looked over at Arthur with a stunned look on her face.
He became intrigued.
"Ill forward you the address and phone number via text." He laughed. "Since you have been rather busy to check your email."
"I have all your information." he said.
"Please bring in two forms of identification when you visit the office." "I suggest your bring your Husband with you."
"Thank you Mrs Frensky Read."
"Thank you very much." She replied.
Her body went numb and she froze for a second.
Arthur was now fully dressed.
He approached her and placed and arm around her waist.
"Is everything alright?"
She nodded. "I think its going to be, yes Arthur."
One week later:
Part two
Muffys Funeral
It has certainly been a week of both fortune and misfortune.
Muffy spoke about her mother, dressed beautifully with tears falling from her eyes.
"She was my inspiration and my role model."
"I will not only miss her, but will never ever forget her" She then burst into tears and broke down.
Laverne was there to catch her fall.
She hugged her tightly.
"I miss her so much." she wept into Mrs Frenskys black blouse.
"Sweet heart, off course you do."
"May the angels lead you to thy rest." Chip said with the tears falling freely.
Edward, did not know how to speak, his voice was raw and he had downed three scotches before standing up to talk about his best friend and love of his life.
"I...I will uh" He looked over at his daughter.
She hugged him. Edward asked if Oliver would get up and speak.
"You know how this feels." He wept. "Please say something."
Francine sat next to Arthur, clutching his hand.
The couple were no strangers to death in their families and had both experienced loss of their favored grandparents, especially Thora and Buby.
When Francines father got up to speak on Edwards request, it touched Francines heart.
Alice snuggled into her Daddy, in a little black dress with frills and stockings.
AJ sat beside Bunny who was at the front with Buster. His heart was breaking for Muffy because she knew how much Millicent meant to her.
Mr Frensky observed the crowd, in the large garden, where the black casket lay, in gold the letters Millicent Crosswire were engraved.
There were alot of successful people in the crowd whom Oliver did not notice. Edward looked at him with a small plea in his eye.
They both had the upmost respect for each other, being brought together by their daughters friendship which had lasted longer than most marriages...
"Hello, Shalom everyone" Oliver began.
"I am here on behalf of a good friend of mine" "Mr Edward Crosswire."
As he spoke he felt his own tears forming behind his eyes.
"To lose a person who you have loved, trusted and relied on is the most painful thing a person can bare."
"No one knows when their time is up." "We know death is certain but we do not expect it to happen to us." he said holding back his tears.
Lavern wrapped her arm around his waist while he carried on speaking.
"We don't always understand...why" "he choked a little. "Why, the ones we love so much in this world are taken so soon."
"Just one more month, one more year..." he looked at his daughter who smiled at him.
"Edward, while your loss can never ever be replaced" "A Mother and a wonderful wife."
He then pointed to Muffy and Chip standing together weeping.
"You must be thankful for the beauty in those that you and your lovely wife created together."
"For unlike you Edward, I was but a fool." "I almost ceased all knowledge of my own daughter." his eyes flooded with tears.
Francine cried into Arthur's shoulder.
"We can not make up for the time...the time...we lost." he wept.
"We can, start again and look to a brighter future."
He wrapped his arms around Edward who graciously accepted his hug.
"For I know my Mother is with Milicent now." He forced a weak smile.
"Looking down on us together."
After that he stood down and clutched on to his wife.
Muffy held her Father close and Chip apologized for not being around as often as he could be.
"Now, I believe Mrs Crosswire has something she would like to add."The vicar said.
She wiped her eyes.
"Will Francine Read and Buster Baxter come up please."
It was time for their eulogies.
Busters was not a long one. For he did not know what to say.
His Mother Bitzy sat their holding onto Bunny, with a tear forming in her eye.
"I am Buster and Muffy is my wife" he blurted out.
"My loving, kind patient wife." He looked over at her.
"Just like her Mom was."
"I should know." He said. "She was the first one to welcome me into the family."
Francine smiled and Edward could not control his sobbing.
"Muffy" Buster said turning to face her.
"I love you."
The crowd applauded while Muffy ran into his arms and laid a massive kiss on him.
"Never ever ever ever leave me." she wept.
"I promise." he replied, clutching her tightly.
"Cross your heart?"
Buster nodded. "Cross my heart."
Francine had a very moving speech prepared but could not bring herself to say it.
Finally she built up the courage to speak.
"Muffy and me have known each other for a long time."
"We were in elementary school together."
"Milicent accepted me straight away." "She liked me." Francine said solemnly.
"When I was at my most unlikeable or unlovable."she looked over at her parents with tear stained eyes.
Muffy ushered Arthur to get up there and stand beside her.
"I only wish I was there to say goodbye."
Everyone felt torn when she said that since no one was there to farewell Milicent.
"There's this well known um.." She wiped her eyes. "This well known poem people often say at times such as these."
Francine began
"Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there...I did...not...die."
Muffy wept uncontrollably onto busters shoulder. Laverne and Oliver held each other closely.
She walked off clutching her husbands hand and hugged Muffy tightly.
"Thank you." Muffy sniffled. Francine returned the hug and their friendship grew deeper once again.
Once the casket was lowered and the famous Psalm 23 red out. "The lord is my shepherd I shall not want." People dissipated and Francine took hold of her daughter who was almost asleep.
Muffy and Buster approached her.
"So?" Muffy said, a little more chirpy.
"What are you going to do with that 250,00 you were left with?"
Francine shrugged.
"I haven't even had time to think of it."
Arthur held AJs hand.
"Well, she fainted when they told her she was given fifty percent of Bubys savings."
"That was some will." Buster added.
Francine was worried her parents would be upset that half of her dear bubys will was being given to Francine and her family.
They were fine with it, they felt guilt ridden already for shunning her for eight years.
Muffy placed an arm around her best friend.
"Well, shopping always helps me." she started to smile.
"If it makes you happy, why dont you...come with me?" "Help me pick out some nice outfits."
Muffy hugged her.
"That will be great."
"Some nice things for Alice too."
Muffy then looked at Arthur and gave him a massive hug and small kiss on the cheek.
"I am so sorry Muffy." he apologized.
Muffy pulled away with a tiny smile.
"Its okay."
As more tears fell, she forced herself to laugh.
"You definitely need an upgrade."
Buster looked at him and nodded his head.
"Definitely." he said.
Arthur folded his arms and pulled his serious face.
"Excuse me?" "What do you mean upgrade?"
The four of them started talking about Arthur's lack of fashion sense which got Muffys mind off the sadness she was feeling.
"Not the most appropriate thing to talk about at a funeral" Francine laughed while wiping tears from her eyes.
"I'll say." AJ groaned.
"woah where did you come from?" Francine asked.
Bunny ran up to Buster who picked him up.
"We were waiting to leave so we could make you something um..." "Miss Muffy." AJ said.
"Awww." Muffy wiped more tears. "That is so sweet of you both, thank you."
Bunny asked Muffy for a hug, she gladly accepted and then looked up at Buster.
"Would you like to be a daddy again?" She asked.
Francine gasped. Arthur was astonished.
"I thought, you didn't ever want...?" Buster was cut off.
"Well life is precious." Muffy interceded. "Don't waste it."
Buster was smiling from ear to ear.
"Are you kidding?" "Id love that." He hugged her.
Bunny was excited. "Does that mean I get to have a brother or sister?"
"It sure does buddy." He replied.
"What about us mommy?" Alice looked up at Francine.
Arthur clutched his chest laughing.
"No sweetie, uh...you two are special enough." Francine replied.
Francine looked at Arthur afterward.
"That was funny, but you can't laugh in front of our little girl about it."
Arthur patted his wife on the back.
"Oh come on." "The idea of you and me having another baby..."
Francine shuddered.
"No freaking way." ...
Epilogue
So this begs the question:
What became of everyone?
Francine and Arthur used the money from dear Buby for various things.
A quarter was placed into a college fund for AJ and Alice while half was used to pay the remaining $100,000 left on their two bedroom town house.
Arthur got a new car and Francine upgraded her vehicle and took herself clothes shopping with Muffy as promised.
Arthur made sure the kids had a special Christmas that year with new toys and clothes for the kids including bikes.
Lastly after a celebratory dinner with family and friends, The Reads went to Florida and Oliver took Alice to Disney world and they rode the tea cups while Arthur took AJ and Francine on the larger adventure rides. Laverne spent alot of time with Francine and Muffy.
David and Jane went to the beaches and spent more time getting to know Francines parents all over again when they visited.
Muffy often paid for her new "Mom" to visit her and designed a special bedroom in her mansion just for Mrs Frensky to stay when she flew up to visit.
Oliver finally figured out how to Skype and spoke to Alice and AJ every weekend. He wasn't well physically as he had bad vertigo and was prone to ear infections, making it difficult to fly to Elwood but Alice was able to fly down over the school holidays to see her favorite grandpa with AJ.
They didn't mean to have favorites and the children loved Grandma Read (Jane) and their Buby Frensky Laverne equally. David cemented a much stronger relationship with his son. He was sorry for appearing to have Favored DW over him and did not intend for it to appear that way. He gave his Son a much needed hug and an apology. Arthur never forgot that day...
Muffy and Arthur were better friends than before and would speak to each other nicely which was a refreshing change. Muffy still cried at night for her mother. Buster was always there to provide his sympathy and affection while Edward Crosswire grew ever closer to his daughter. Muffy was alot more compassionate toward others and spent alot of time with Laverne and Francine.
Sadly, Catherine's jealousy over the money Buby had left her little sister in the will infuriated her and she seldom spoke to her parents and steered clear of Arthur and Francine. She despised Muffy for taking Laverne away, despite her Moms attempts to explain that Muffy had no mother any more and that Millicent and Laverne were close friends and had been for years, in fact Chip loved Laverne as a second mother too. He often referred to her as "Mom" on his visits home.
Muffy and Buster had a little girl who they named Milly in memory of Muffys Mom. She was alot like her mother, with red hair and green eyes but had long white ears like her father and a lust for life and lots of fun.
Ladonna married Binky in a ceremony down in Louisianian. Buster still shared custody with Bunny, but only visited Bunny on school holidays and over special holidays such as Christmas, Easter and new years etc. They did skype often.
DW Married Mollys little brother James and they went to live in CA where Dora Winifred pursued her acting career.
David and Jane stayed the same, and watched Kate grow up and move on to college, she became a vet as she said she had a "sixth sense" for knowing what animals were saying and what it meant.
So Arthur and Francine prayed over Jacob and Catherine in the hope they would one day make peace with large hugs and many tears
That never happened.
So it went as the years passed...
Arthur lay with his wife in bed clutching her waist and kissing her neck.
"Don't stop" she whispered.
"Now AJ and Alice are in college" he purred.
She sighed happily.
"Its just you and me baby."
He smiled at her.
"Time for a shower me thinks" "You and me, now"
Francine giggled like a school girl, not that of a woman in her thirties.
"Well." She bit her lip. "You are the head of the house aren't you?"
Arthur nodded.
"Indeed I am."
"Well I have no choice but to do what you say." She replied.
The End
