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.

💚 Well, here is the last chapter of part one. I know that many of you expected to see a Christian or Ana's point-of-view, but for what I want to happen next, I decided to make it as Franklin's. Plus there is this little thing that I really wanted from Franklin's perspective.

Chapter 38 ~ Farewell & New Beginning (2,1K)

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Franklin's PoV

With love, Franklin watched his daughter nervously glancing once again all around her to see if Christian was finally arriving. They have been in the airport for more than half an hour, and he was still nowhere to be found. Over the past couple of weeks, Ana had stayed with Christian, though she still made a point on calling Franklin every day around her bedtime, and to have a few lunch dates with him.

Franklin had to admit that he had quickly grown accustomed to Ana's presence when she came live with him and Lily and that he had been scared that the fact she would go to stay with Christian would make distance grow between them, but it didn't. It even seemed like she felt a little bit more open to sharing things with him, even though neither of them ever broached the topic that was Christian. Which always felt like a weight to Franklin since Ana used to talk to him about her boyfriend when she only viewed him as her friend and not her father.

Still, Franklin noticed a few things of his own concerning Christian while Ana was staying with him. First, he would actually arrive at work looking more relaxed and rested than when Ana was staying with Franklin. Not that he cut short his hours to spend more time with Ana and away from work, but Christian simply seemed more relaxed just by spending a few hours a night with Ana.

And no matter how open-minded he had tried to be about Ana going to stay her last few days in the US with her boyfriend, Franklin couldn't help but think about some practical things. Which he shared with his wife, nightly asking her if him condoning underage sexual relationship was making him a good father. After all, why else would Christian seem to be in such a good mood after a night spent with his girlfriend? And of course, Lily always had the same answer. She repeated over and over that Christian would never touch Ana before she would be eighteen. He was a lawyer after all. She also added something that had the merit to appease Franklin's worries, it was the fact that, even without knowing her age, Christian never pushed Ana toward that line before. So it was only natural to assume that now that he knew about the age limit, he would try even less to have sex with her.

Franklin had to admit that he was surprised that Christian actually told Ana to go. He, himself had decided to not pressure her in any direction and support her whether she wanted to follow him, or stay in the US. But he also knew that had Ana decided to stay in the US, it would have been solely for Christian. He knew that she was not planning to open her bakery for another few years for business reasons, so it would have been only for Christian if Ana had decided that she did not want to leave the American soil.

For a moment, Franklin even thought that Christian would follow them to London. The very same day that followed the night when Franklin found Christian cuddling with Ana in her bed; Christian turned down the promotion that had been offered to him and resigned with a leave of two weeks. So at first, Franklin thought that Christian had decided to try his best in London as well, and follow Ana there. But when he mindlessly told Ana about his assistant resignation during one of their lunch dates, Ana told Franklin that Christian had been offered a job elsewhere. Which made Franklin curious. Not only because Christian was his soon-to-be former Assistant, but also because he was dating his daughter and that meant that Franklin had to get interested in his life, no matter what.

Especially since Franklin noticed on Christian's fourth left finger a ring that had never been there before. And it wasn't just the ring that retained Franklin's attention on it; it was also the fact that every time Ana's name would be mentioned, Christian would mindlessly touch that ring. After noticing the ring, the first thing Franklin did when he saw his daughter again was to check her fingers. But Ana had never been a jewel kind of girl, and so she wasn't wearing any ring.

Suddenly, Christian appeared among the crowd, startling Franklin out of his thoughts when his daughter had a little jolt of relief and brightly smiled to her boyfriend. It was obvious that Christian just came straight after work, everything in his demeanour indicating it; and as soon as Ana was in the reach of his arms, he hugged her and gave her a kiss. Franklin looked away, reminding himself that the few times Ana and Christian had been with him together, Christian never shied away to show Ana how he felt about her because Franklin would be there. And though he didn't like to admit it, Franklin liked this side of Christian. The fact that he would still put Ana first, even if it meant antagonising her father.

In order to give Ana and her boyfriend some privacy, Franklin registered them and their luggage for it was their turn and left them together to talk. And as the desk lady checked Ana's and his passport, Franklin suddenly found himself wishing that Lily would be here with him to support him as she did in the car.

Lily was supposed to join them in London by the end of the month, just to give her enough time to settle everything she needed to back at her workplace. And that's why they all had lunch together at a fancy restaurant in the centre of town, with Kate and Mrs Lincoln as well. Kate seemed very excited for Ana, and the two girls had already planned to see each other again by the end of next month, Kate stating that she would Christmas shop in London in order to get original this year.

When he was finished with the registration, Franklin walked back to his daughter, whom he heard say with a very soothing voice that was usually used for children: "Smile. I'm not walking the plank. I'm just taking the plane."

"There's nothing to be excited about," Christian immediately retorted, his face dark and his brows strongly furrowed. For a second, Franklin froze, trying to understand what he was making in the conversation; when he finally understood something vital. Something that explained why Ana never considered asking Christian to follow her, or why Christian didn't propose to go to London with her. Christian was a nervous flyer. And by the pallor of his face, Franklin could even tell that 'nervous' was an understatement. Christian seemed terrified of flights.

"Everything is going to be okay," Ana assured with her most calming and soothing tone, caressing Christian's cheek; but that didn't make Christian seem any less tense. He actually took her hand in his, resting his forehead against her before she said something that Franklin found very disturbing: "And now that you're finished with the Tribunal, don't let Flynn get the best of you. You make your points and demands, and don't let him get the best of you."

"I know what you're trying to do," Christian grumbled under his breath, straightening up while Ana innocently beamed at him with a smile that Franklin had never seen on her face. Not that he wanted to, for it was obvious that it was a smile she reserved only for Christian. "And I'm sorry to tell you that it's not working," He added at her failed attempt to make him forget about his fear.

With a little cough, Franklin let them know that they should start walking to the embarkation room, and all during the way, Ana talked about her friend, Mrs Lincoln, and all the recommendations this one had given her about settling in a new country. Franklin knew that if Ana chose this topic, it was because Mrs Lincoln was someone that both men knew, and so none of them would feel outcast from the conversation. Though it was mainly a monologue from Ana's part, with Christian and Franklin alternatively making noises to prove they were listening.

Once they reached the border for visitors, Christian swiftly glanced at Franklin before looking down at Ana; and once again, Franklin gave them privacy, not without giving Ana her passport for her to pass whenever her farewell with Christian would be over.

For ten minutes, Franklin sat on of the chairs in front of the improvised bar, endlessly stirring his coffee, but never drinking it; and wondering if he should have told Ana to stay. After all, the idea of going abroad only came into the picture because he was going. So why should he impose that on her? He knew that she was excited to go to London. There were many things that she wanted to do, personally, or professionally; but what would a real good father have done?

Suddenly, Ana sat next to him, a small smile on her lips; and for another five minutes, they stayed in one of those silences that Franklin hated so much. They still had plenty of things to learn about one another, but they were too afraid to ask.

"Is Christian a nervous flyer?" he suddenly questioned, decided to finally officially take this step into his daughter's love life. Ana turned her head to Franklin, her wet blue eyes showing a slight surprised before she nodded. "Did you want to stay with him?"

She frowned at that, before explaining: "I do. But … I also want to go to London. It's actually something I've always wanted to do, ever since I was little. Of course, now it's for different reasons. But … if Christian hadn't been in the picture, I wouldn't even have questioned the fact that I should go or not to London. So … here I am."

Franklin nodded, giving back his attention to his coffee while Ana ordered a lemonade. But then, something she said earlier came back to him: "Does Christian have a new case against Flynn?"

"What?" She seemed to think a little about it, before understanding lit up her face and she explained with a light tone: "Oh, no. It's just that Christian is going to work with Flynn as his new associate."

"And what do you think of that?" Franklin asked, curious of the answer.

"I think it's a great opportunity for him. And kind of an honour since Flynn is the one who asked him to join him," She earnestly said, making Franklin look at his daughter in a whole new light.

Rare were the persons who would manage to separate a lawyer from a person, especially when that said lawyer represented their worst nightmare. But Ana seemed to be one of those rare souls who knew that a lawyer's case didn't have to follow him everywhere. She even seemed genuinely excited for Christian and this opportunity that was given to him.

"It is a great opportunity indeed. And Christian is very lucky to have you," Franklin stated, not really thinking about what he was saying and mostly recalling the several times Christian praised his girlfriend for not minding him being a workaholic.

"This is so weird," Ana suddenly said, making Franklin snap his head to her:

"What is?"

"You, talking about Christian as my boyfriend. I don't know, usually, you treat this topic as if it's taboo, so I figured you didn't want to get involved in that part of my life," She explained and making Franklin feel like an idiot. He had tried not to intrude and to give her space, but it ended up looking all wrong and making her feel like he was indifferent concerning this part of her life. Well, that was for sure, it wouldn't be this year that he would receive a father of the year mug.

"I didn't handle that very well, did I?" He painfully uttered, stating the obvious. But Ana actually smiled and shook her head as she let her father know:

"It's okay. I think it's what makes you a good Dad. The fact that you're trying and failing, but that you still admit that you screwed up. At least, it shows me that you're a real human and not some fantasy I conjured in my head."

Franklin smiled back, amazed by this capacity that Ana had to always see the bright side. But what mostly warmed his heart and made him fly above cloud nine was the word she used to refer to him. Dad. Never before she had used this word, and finally this was what he was to her. He was her Dad.

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💚Your thoughts and opinions are always welcomed💚

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This is the end of part 1. Let me know if you want to read part 2, and when?

The reason I ended with Franklin's pov, it was because, in this part, Ana mostly searched herself. She is still a bit broken, but she found herself, and she found a family. And I wanted to show that, though it was the case, it was still something in the process. It didn't happen overnight. Franklin is still messing up, and she is still keeping to herself. But They are getting closer to be what Ana had always wanted.

~ Anyway, question times:

💚 So, what did you think of this last chapter?

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

Love, Mina 💚💚💚