When Boyd woke he was disoriented, the room lighter than his bedroom and the bed softer than his own. As he went to roll on his back he stopped when the person sleeping beside him moved. Frankie felt Boyd stir, her body automatically shifting with his, her leg wrapped around his so he couldn't move away.
"Morning." His voice gravelly with sleep.
"Morning." Frankie's voice just as sleep laced.
"You sleep okay?" Boyd asking as he kissed Frankie's head and tucked her body closer to his.
"Like a log, but now I need to pee." Kissing his chest before wriggling out of his grasp.
Boyd let Frankie go, watched her make her way around the bed and out onto the landing. He then rolled onto his back looking up at the ceiling, listening to Frankie move about in the bathroom. He looked at his watch and saw it was just gone six, time he was getting up and making a move to get washed, ready and head into work. When Frankie came back from the bathroom she climbed back into bed, settling herself along Boyds side. They lay in silence, Frankie's fingers dancing across Boyds chest as she made patterns on his skin.
"I wish I could stay here all day but I can't, I have to head into work. But hey, only three days and we have all weekend together. We can do whatever you want to do, even stay in bed if that's what takes your fancy." Feeling Frankie hug him just that little bit tighter.
"Can I come in for a visit? See everyone. I'll stay out the way." Looking up at Boyd hopefully.
"Can't see why not. If we get a case I can drop you back off here." Seeing Frankie's huge grin when he said she could tag along. "Let's get up then, I have a shirt to iron. You do have an iron, right?" His wisecrack earring him a quick slap from Frankie.
"Of course I do, and an ironing board. You get showered and I'll iron your shirt." Not missing the look of panic on Boyd's face as she suggested ironing.
Half an hour later Frankie was taking a shower while Boyd checked over every inch of his shirt. He was pleasantly surprised that it was pristine, not a crease in it. After putting it on and buttoning it up he tucked it in his trousers, looking himself over to make sure he looked okay. Making coffee for himself, tea for Frankie and a stack of toast he took a seat at the table, listening for Frankie coming downstairs.
"I smell toast and coffee." Frankie stepping into the kitchen wearing a pair of jeans that sat just under her bump and a t-shirt hung just low enough to cover her. "Where's my coffee?" Frankie asked as she picked up a slice of toast and started to eat.
"Coffee, I thought you drank tea now?" Watching as she eyed up his cup.
"I do, but I do have two cups a day, sometimes three depending on how much work I have to do. One with breakfast, one with lunch, and possible one mid-afternoon if I'm working late." Her hand was quick as lightning going to snatch Boyd's coffee cup.
Boyd didn't even try and stop her, the triumphant smile on her face was worth not fighting over the cup for. She sat down opposite him and continued with the stack of toast, Boyd only actually getting two pieces. He didn't even try to drink the tea he had made Frankie, getting up and pouring it out before he made himself a cup of coffee.
"Come on then, I'm sure Grace can share her tea with you before we start the day." Seeing Frankie stick her tongue out at him as she stood up and brushed the crumbs from her top.
Boyd hovered around Frankie as they left the house and got in the car, making sure her door was shut and her seatbelt was on properly. Even when they arrived at the CCU Boyd was practically glued to her side, his hand constantly touching her somewhere. Grace saw them first, jumping out her chair and near racing to greet them.
"Ohhh, Frankie." Grace enveloping Frankie in a very motherly hug.
When the finally broke apart Grace didn't let go of her, just held her at arm's length as she looked her up and down.
"Someone definitely suits the new look." Grace's eyes lingering on her bump.
"So I've been told. Doesn't feel like it but if you both say so." Frankie's eyes flirting to Boyd as he hovered on the sidelines.
"Spence and Stella aren't in yet, I think Felix is though. Come on, let's have a cup of tea and you can fill me in, I want to know everything." Boyd still hovering beside Frankie. "She's perfectly fine with me, Peter, I promise." Linking Frankie's arm and leading her away from Boyd and into her office.
Frankie took her coat off and took a seat on the customary settee that they all tended to end up sitting on at some point having a heart to heart with Grace. Grace made tea and took a seat beside Frankie, her eyes again scanning Frankie as Frankie looked out the window and across to Boyd.
"He's not the only one who's got it bad has he?" Seeing Frankie turn back to look at her, a slight blush on her face.
"That obvious, huh?" Smiling as she knew Grace was right.
"I suppose thinking back it always was, I just chose to ignore it. I never thought it would end this way, but there we go. As long as you are both happy, that's what matters." Passing Frankie her tea as she sat back. "He's besotted, you know?" Grace looking past Frankie to see Boyd watching them.
"He's going to make an amazing dad, no matter what he says to the contrary." Frankie's hand resting on her bump as she took a sip of her tea.
"I'm not just on about the baby. We never did talk at the hospital did we?" Taking a drink of her own tea as she watched Frankie shift in her seat.
"Not really." Frankie not saying anything else as she had no idea where to start.
"How about we rewind the clock back six months and start with Mel." Frankie automatically going ridged beside her. "It's okay, I know it's hard. We've all suffered, some of us more than others." Both women looking towards Boyd's office.
"The police memorial was tough, watching him stand up there and give the eulogy, hearing him talk about Mel. It was worse than the actual funeral. Afterwards, in the pub, I lost it, drink and pain, I was so raw. I went outside, I needed air, I needed to sober up, I need a cigarette, I needed the ground to open up and swallow me. Then he was there, beside me, just standing there, caught me when I stumbled. He all but carried me home, made sure I was okay, held me as I cried at the injustice of it all. It just sort of happened, we were sat on the settee, I was just about in his lap, my head on his shoulder as he stroked my hair. It was easy, a distraction from the pain, the suffering, the hurt we were both so obviously feeling. I don't know who moved first, but it was mutual, a mix of drink, pain, and I suppose something we had both avoided for longer than either of us wanted to admit." Frankie pausing as she went to wipe her eyes.
Grace put her cup on the table and moved so she was sat beside Frankie, her arm going around Frankie's shoulder.
"There was always that spark between you wasn't there? Yet you kept it professional, never crossed the line until that night?" Grace seeing Frankie nod her head in agreement. "Is that why you avoided each other when we came back? Did you never want to discuss what happened?"
"It was so awkward, seeing him every day, remembering how he felt, how he tasted, how completely different he was to the man I saw every day. I tried, god Grace I tried. I was going to put in for a transfer anyway when I found out I was pregnant. Between constantly expecting to see Mel at her desk, hear her voice, and seeing him every day, it was too much. It was easier to just cut all ties and leave, come in early, pack up and leave. I wanted to come back as soon as I left, I missed you all so much. I waited to see if he would come after me, part of me hoping he would while another part prayed he wouldn't. I wasn't even sure I wanted the baby back then, to have a constant reminder of him and Mel. I was so messed up Grace, then you came and I made my mind up. I didn't have Mel any more, and I didn't have Boyd, but I had something else, something wonderful." Frankie finally crumbling as Grace wrapped her in her arms and held her as she cried.
Boyd was watching through the window, saw when Grace put her arms around Frankie and hugged her. He had no idea what was happening, what they were talking about, or how Frankie was. All he did know was that something was telling him she needed him. Throwing his glasses on the table he got up and all but stormed through to Graces offices, every nerve ending tingling as he grew closer. He didn't knock, just opened the door and barged in. He could see Frankie's whole body shaking as she cried, Grace, trying to comfort her as best as she could.
"What the hell happened?" His accusing tone making both women pull apart just enough to look up at him.
"Take her home, Peter." Helping Frankie stand up and hugging her one last time as Boyd stepped up and wrapped her in his arms.
"Hey, you okay?" Boyd looking down at Frankie as he brushed her hair away from her face.
"I'm okay, just learning that you're not the only one who has issues when talking." Leaning into Boyd's hand as he went to brush some tears from her face.
"Let's get you home. So much for visiting, you haven't even seen Spencer or been down to your old haunt to see Felix, make sure she's looking after everything." Boyd kissing Frankie's head as he led her out of Graces office and towards the double doors.
Boyd held Frankie all the way to the car, watched her like a hawk the whole drive home, constant glances making sure she was okay. When they got back to Frankie's place he was again glued to her side, fussing over her.
"You sure you're going to be okay?" His hand on her thigh as she sat on the settee, feet on the coffee table and a cup of tea in her hand.
"I'm fine, really. It was just overwhelming, talking about everything, remembering. Go, do what you do best. You belong at work, not here fussing over me. I'll see you later, okay. We'll get a takeaway, watch a movie, enjoy the moment." Using the lapel of his jacket to draw him closer, brushing her nose with his before she kissed him.
"Okay, I'll see you later." Giving Frankie one last kiss before he got up.
When he reached the living room door he turned back and looked at her, her left hand resting on the side of her bump as she took a drink of her tea. As he drove back to the office he didn't realise that taking her home when he did would be the thing that kept her safe when all hell broke loose in the CCU.