My dear little broccolis💚💚💚,

💚 So, this is me doing a favour to the same someone who PMed me and asked to upload two of my stories with the FSOG names. I already did it for Forbidden Fruit, and now, here comes the second. The original fic is published under the Mortal Instruments franchise. If you're one of my old readers, well, you already know this story, so only read it if you want to read it with other characters in mind; if you're a new reader, well hang on and let's see how this Ana and Christian work in here.

Chapter 27 ~ How To Be A Father (3,3K)

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Franklin's PoV.

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Franklin watched with helplessness as his daughter was fussed over by a nurse in a pale blue uniform. Ana did not say a single word, only nodding or shaking her head when she was spoken to. The nurse pursued his medical exam, before glancing at Franklin and asking: "Could you go and fetch her some water?"

For a second, Franklin thought of refusing, but then the man gave him a pointed look, forcing Franklin to leave the room to do as he was told. Gingerly, he walked to the first vending machine he encountered, knowing that the nurse sent him mostly so he could feel like he was doing something for his daughter.

Several times before the trial, Christian had tried to convince Franklin that Ana would not be able to face the trial without having a panic attack; and though Franklin believed Christian knew Ana better than he did (even if it annoyed him), he still insisted on keeping a traditional trial. First, because Lily told Franklin and Christian again and again that Ana needed it to heal her past, that it wouldn't help her otherwise. Second, because the solution that Christian proposed to Franklin did not appease him as a lawyer.

Christian had proposed to settle this in tête-à-tête with Flynn in the Judge's office, but Franklin opposed at the idea. It wasn't that he was doubting Christian's abilities as a lawyer, but more than he was anticipating Flynn's abilities and so that he wanted the assistance of the jury to ensure that Ana had whatever support she could get on her side.

Especially since the chosen jury was a jury that would be keen to lean in Ana's favour. A golden jury, as Franklin would call it. Most of the jury was thirty-five and above, meaning that many of them had children or grand-children and were more receptive to her case. Franklin actually saw that several members had already made up their mind on the outcome of the trial after Ana gave her little speech on how selfish the world could be.

If he was honest with himself, Franklin had to admit that Christian was doing a good job so far. As a lawyer who already worked several times with Christian and who guided him, Franklin knew that Christian went easy on Ana and avoided making her talk about the true horror of what she lived through. Even though Christian had warned him that there were many typical questions that he would avoid, Franklin had still been surprised. But this was the reason why he asked Christian to take Ana's case. He knew that Christian would spare her morally, and would not be focused on winning the case at all cost, unlike any other lawyer that would try to win the case even if it destroyed Ana, inside.

Christian even took the case pro-bono, refusing for Franklin to pay him and making Franklin feel very uncomfortable about that turn of events. He knew that Ana and Christian had not talked outside her preparation, but he knew actually nothing of the evolution of their relationship. He assumed that Christian broke the thing off, due to obvious reasons, but that probably didn't stop him to still have feelings for Ana. Feelings that had been made even clearer when Ana confessed on the stand that Christian never touched her in any way that could be judged inappropriate.

When Franklin returned to the little room where his daughter was, with a bottle of water, the nurse left saying that Ana was alright and that she just had a little scare. Awkwardly, Franklin walked to his daughter, silently offering her the water bottle as she was bringing her knees to her chest; and he recalled how helpless he felt when she blacked out. It wasn't the faint in itself since it barely lasted five seconds. It was more the look Ana had on her face before she blacked out. The look saying that she clearly gave up, and was sure that she had lost her case. Countless times, Franklin had seen this expression on victims that he represented; and if he was honest with himself, that look never tore him as much as seeing it on his daughter.

"How are you doing?" He asked, just to break the silence between them, and Ana shrugged, mindlessly responding that she was fine. Franklin humourlessly smiled, before correcting himself and repeating his question: "I mean, how are you holding up?"

For a second, it seemed that Ana would not answer, but then she sipped on her bottle and whispered with a very small voice: "There were a lot of people."

"This happens a lot during trials in small towns," Franklin explained, somehow feeling relieved that Ana was asking about something he could explain to her without feeling helpless. "Michael might only be a teacher, but he is also a war hero and the son of the Chief of police. This kind of scandal draws people to hearings because they feel like they know the people involved."

Still, Franklin kept for himself the fact that having Flynn on her trial brought a couple of journalists that seemed thrilled to hear about the twist of her relationship with Christian. Lily had been concerned about this reveal in Ana's case, but Ana's little confession actually turned out to go in her favour. He was mostly worried about the journalists and how they would deform what happened and what Ana said.

"I think I saw people I know," Ana continued with her ever small voice. Franklin reached to rest a comforting hand on her shoulder but stopped himself when it occurred to him that maybe she would not appreciate such a gesture. And suddenly, he wished that his wife were here with them, just so she could appease both of them and make them feel less estranged.

"Did you?" He inquired, keeping for himself that given the fact that she was coming from a very small town, it was bound to happen.

"I think I saw Suzannah … She was my best friend when … before …" Ana said, her eyes lost into space, making Franklin feel once again helpless.

Several times, Lily had told her husband to break the ice with the young brunette, and that they should have a heart to heart conversation about her life before she came to their hometown. But Franklin never found in himself the courage to hear from his daughter's mouth the horrors that he heard in so many victims' mouths.

"There was Jason and Carrick as well… There was a lot of people," She added, lost in her thoughts, and when she did not elaborate about those two last names, Franklin asked:

"Jason and Carrick?"

"My best friend and stepfather," Christian suddenly said from the door, making both daughter and father look in his direction.

Christian had requested a meeting with both the Judge and Flynn as soon as Ana opened her eyes, and stayed there for a good half-hour, negotiating things that Franklin was sure he would not appreciate. But before he could ask any explanation to his assistant, Christian took two long strides and knelt in front of Ana, resting his hands on her brought-up knees as he continued: "They came to support you, Ana. Because you are important to them. Mom would have come to, but she had two surgeries planned today."

Ana looked away from him, holding her knees a little closer before she rested her chin on them. For five long minutes, the two of them remained silent, though Christian said Ana's name several times pressing her to look at him. And during this whole time, Franklin suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if he was watching a very intimate and private moment between the two younger people. Even if there was nothing more platonic than the way Christian was touching Ana, Franklin felt that aura around them that made him feel like an outsider, and even more of a stranger to his own daughter.

"Ana, remember what I promised you," Christian said with a very soft voice that was foreign to Franklin.

Franklin knew that he didn't personally know Christian all that well. After all, they only took a couple of drinks after work a few times; and the two of them were determined to keep their personal life...well, personal. They were more than simple coworkers, but they weren't friends. Christian knew of Franklin's familial struggles with Lily, and Franklin knew that Christian generally lost his girlfriends to work. Yet, Franklin never heard Christian talk to anyone the way he was talking to Ana now.

Part of what made Christian an efficient lawyer in Court was the fact that he had a strong voice and was sure of himself. His voice emanated confidence and surety and was very useful in front of a jury to assert his conviction in his case. But now, Christian was using a very soft voice, full of reassurance and care.

Ana still did not say a single word, doing her best to look away; but both men still saw a single tear escape from her blue eyes before she swiftly wiped it away. Franklin took a step toward his daughter, but Christian was quicker than him, and cupped Ana's face between his hands with care and delicacy to make her look at him, and making Franklin feel once again uncomfortable around them. But this time, he knew that it had more to do with what he was feeling than to the intimacy of the gesture.

He was annoyed that Christian was the one to comfort his daughter when she was in need. He was feeling that it was his job to do, not her lawyer, not his assistant, not her boyfriend. No matter what their relationship had been in the past, he was Ana's father and therefore the one who was supposed to console her and make her feel better.

"I will win this case for you, Ana. I gave you my word," Christian swore, brushing his thumbs on Ana's cheeks as if to appease her, but this simple promise made Franklin look at the young man with a whole new perspective.

It wasn't the lawyer who was talking to the little brunette, it was the suitor promising his sweetheart to be there for her. Both Franklin and Christian knew that this pledge that Christian just made was the thing to never do. It was probably one of the first things they would teach in Law School: to not get one's client false hopes up about the possible outcome of their trial. And now, Christian had completely forgotten about this golden rule and promised Ana something that he couldn't know for sure he could give her. Especially when the defence had lawyers as good as John Flynn.

"Have faith, babe," Christian insisted, making Ana refrain a sob and look deep in his grey eyes. Once again, Christian whispered her name with that sweet and caring tone that was making Franklin feel so uncomfortable, and the young couple exchanged a long and meaningful look that made Christian stand back up with panic as he took a step backwards.

"Are you breaking up with me?" He inquired, his gentle tone suddenly gone to be replaced by his tribunal and more usual voice.

Franklin frowned, a part of his mind wondering why Christian didn't actually break up with Ana as soon as he learnt her age. Christian was the lawyer, and was supposed to know better than to have a relationship with a minor, even if she was supposed to be 'sexually mature'. But another part of Franklin's mind mostly lingered on the fact that Christian and Ana just had a deep conversation before his eyes, without having to exchange a single word. Even if Franklin didn't want to admit it to himself, Christian and Ana's relationship was deeper than a simple fling, and he didn't need his wife to analyse that for him.

"I … I don't want us to come in the way, Christian. The trial ... your job ... I know you told me that you love, but … I am too damaged for you to love. And … I don't want to relive all those awful memories for nothing," Ana explained with a very small and uncertain voice, tears threatening to shed from her blue eyes.

As his daughter was pouring her heart and insecurities out, Franklin felt like he was intruding in their conversation. He might not know much about Christian and Ana's relationship, but he knew that Ana had always been rather shy about talking to him about her boyfriend and that she never mentioned Christian ever since Franklin took her in. And that was why he knew that she probably forgot about his presence in the room with them, for she wouldn't have talked so freely otherwise.

"Ana … Don't let him destroy us the same way he tried to destroy you," Christian begged, back on his knees, and his hands covering Ana's over her own knees; and Franklin knew that Christian was either blinded by love, either not completely honest with Ana.

It was obvious that Michael had destroyed Ana. Franklin could see it in the difference between the little girl with missing teeth in the class photo, and the girl he grew to love over the past months. He could see it right now in front of him as his daughter's blue eyes were gleaming with doubts and insecurities. He could see it in the way she seemed so scared to face this trial. Michael had destroyed the little Anastasia, no matter what Christian could say. And now, it was Franklin's job to make sure that she would get back on her feet, stronger if possible.

With stubbornness, Ana shook her head and straightened up, stating: "I … I need to use the bathroom."

As swift as the wind, she left the room while Christian was watching the empty space she left on her chair. For a minute, a heavy silence grew between the two lawyers, before Christian roared his anger and kicked the chair across the room, snapping Franklin back into his designation of mentor for Christian and father for Ana.

"Why did you promise her that you would win the case?! You don't know that! Especially when you have to face someone like John Flynn," He accused the young man, his heart wondering how he would handle having to pick up the pieces of an even more broken Ana, if the worst were to come. And if he was honest, this situation was awakening in Franklin a question that he had been asking himself ever since the hospital: how do one become a good father to someone who was so broken?

"I will win the case, Franklin. I have something worth fighting for," Christian retorted, not even bothering to look in the direction of his mentor as he helplessly passed his hands in his hair, like Franklin had seen him do several times since Christian started working on Ana's case.

"Another reason to lose. You are emotionally involved, and the opposition knows it and he is going to play with it," Franklin reasoned, hoping that his young assistant would see reason and would not let his emotions get the better of him.

Christian looked in direction of the older lawyer and snarled with emotion: "Whatever, Franklin. Either he legally walks the Green Mile, or I'll take the matter in my own hands and kill him myself."

At those words, Franklin took a closer look at Christian, curious of what had happened to his assistant. Christian had never been a pro-death penalty type of lawyer. He was actually firmly against it and argued several times with Franklin on this particular topic. He was even against guns and had the dream to one day sue the NRA so he could shut it down as many lawyers tried before him.

Franklin had seen several times Christian get very passionate over some cases, but it never got to the point of him wishing the culprit dead, even on the very hard cases they had. So Franklin wondered what Ana had told Christian that would suddenly make the young man change his mind? Or was it his feelings that were blinding his judgement and changing his mind on this particular case.

"How long have you been in love with her?" Franklin asked, curious to see if his latter theory was the right one.

Even though he just heard Ana state that Christian declared his love to her, Franklin had had the feeling that he already knew that. It was more than the confession that they never had sex and that Franklin knew that Christian was not a believer of abstinence before the marriage, it was … the way Christian looked at Ana, or even talked about her.

Christian glared at Franklin and accused him: "As my boss, or the person who asked me to take her case, or even the father of the person I love, this is none of your business, Franklin. What I feel for Ana is for Ana, and Ana only. I have nothing to prove to you. Especially to you who have been such a poor … father to her when all she was asking for was a Dad.

Do you know how many times I've seen her look at my stepfather with envy, or how many times she held her tears when a father would walk with his kid in the streets? Do you know how hard it had been for her to accept not finding her father because she didn't want to be a burden on him? And there you were, two feet away from her and not doing a damn thing to give her that little thing that she wanted more than anything but never dared ask!"

Christian's face was splotchy with pink, and Franklin watched on, speechless. What he said was true. All true.

"And I don't care what your excuse is, I don't care what she told you, you knew you were her father and you chose not to tell her. You were the adult, you were the one who was supposed to do the responsible thing. And you definitely do not deserve this chance she is giving you to finally own up to it and do what you should have done long ago!"

For a second, Franklin contemplated the idea of replying to Christian, but he thought better of it and just let it go, The two of them had already had this argument several times, and Franklin knew that Christian was better than Ana at holding grudges. He didn't know why Christian was so stubborn about hating him when Ana didn't, but he had to admit that the young man was right about several things.

Shaking him out of his reverie was a small voice: "I'm ready to go back."

Ana stuck her head out of the door.

Franklin saw how her eyes swiftly glanced at the chair on the floor with her brows frowned before she looked in his direction. He checked his watch, seeing that the hour the Judge gave for Ana to recover was almost up, and he walked to her with a little smile. As Christian joined them to their way to the courtroom, Ana subconsciously used Franklin as a human shield, and even though Franklin's heart was feeling his daughter's break, a little part of him couldn't help but be happy of that little gesture she made. Because she used him as a human shield, unconsciously trusting him to protect her.

As they were about to enter the Court, it occurred to Franklin that he would never be able to do his wife's job, for human emotions were too complex and conflicting for him to peacefully interpret and predict.

They all went back to their table, waiting for the Judge to come and sit; and in a brisk outburst, Christian turned to Ana, and told her, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination: "This conversation is not over, Ana."

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💚Your thoughts and opinions are always welcomed💚

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💚 So just to make it clear, I want you to remember that Christian's father is not Carrick. Christian's father walked out on Grace when they learnt that she was pregnant, saying that he never intended on starting a family. but he still recognised Christian, provided for him and was still here for Christian when Christian had questions about his father and the whys and the hows. Ana explains it in the first chapter she meets the Greys. This is why Christian is so angry at Franklin because his father, though refusing to be his dad, still took it upon him to be his father (even if somewhat distant); and so he does not understand how Franklin could not do that simple thing that is to recognise your own child when he still staid around.

💚 Also, I wanted to explain Ana's POV on capital punishment. She hates Michael, that is for sure, but Ana has a soft heart and soul, and no matter how she feels about Michael, she's not sure if she wishes him dead. I know it can seem odd, but there are some people like that who actually mean it when they say 'I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy'. This side of Ana is something that Christian is very well aware of, and that I want you to keep in mind to understand why she pressed charges n the first place. Because remember, she always refused, until Banner came in and talked her into it ...

~ Anyway, question times:

1. What do you think of Franklin and his feelings in all of this?

2. Our little couple is over, now ... They finally broke up ... Are you happy? 😈😈😈

3. Michael's testimony is next in line. What do you think will happen?

4. What was your favourite part?

💚Anyway, E.L James owns the names of the characters from the Fifty Shades franchise, everything else is mine.

Love, Mina 💚💚💚