"Cessation"
Distribution: CD as always. Anyone else please ask.
Summary: Will and Francie's burgeoning relationship takes a pause.
Rating: PG/PG-13
Classification: Drama/Angst/General.
A/N: Thanks to Robin and Celli for the wonderful beta.
Feedback: YES!
Email: jch114@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Alias. I do not receive any royalties from Alias. Alias and all its elements are owned by ABC, Touchstone Television, JJ Abrams, Bad Robot Productions, and anyone else who gets a paycheck from the show. Alex Cooper is all mine.
***
Francine smoothed the tan shorts she was wearing as she sat on Alex's front porch. The afternoon sun had started to set, and he hadn't made it home yet. She looked down at the picnic basket she had spent most of the afternoon preparing; her face grew warm as she thought of the teasing that she had endured from Sydney.
"You didn't go through this much trouble for Charlie."
"Of course not, Syd. This time it's different."
"But why?" Sydney asked, smirking.
"It just is," Francine had said, before leaving the apartment.
"Francine? Is everything okay?"
"Oh. Hey, Alex, I didn't see you pull up," she replied, looking up at him. He had an easy smile on his face, and was dressed in gray gym clothes. "How are you?"
"I'm good. What are you doing here?" He sat down next to her on the porch and stretched his legs out. God, he still has great legs. "Francine?
"Bringing you dinner," she spit out. "You haven't eaten yet, right? Tell me you haven't eaten."
"Actually, I hadn't. I was going to order Chinese food." He reached behind her and opened the basket. "You know that you didn't have to do this for me," Alex said, a warm smile meeting his eyes.
She found herself looking into his eyes and blushing. "I--I know I didn't, but you were such a great friend to me the other day. It was really the least I could do."
"Thank you, Francine," he said, his hand brushing her shoulder. "I appreciate it," he said softly.
"You are more than welcome," she replied.
"Tell you what." He stood up from the porch and held his hand out to her. "I'm not exactly smelling like a bed of roses. Let's go inside--I'll get cleaned up, and then we can eat. Deal?"
"Deal," she answered, taking his hand.
****
"I moved in a little while ago, so I just haven't had the time to get everything the way I want," he said as he led her into the living room. "The kitchen is to your left, and you should be able to find everything you'll need."
Francine looked around the spacious living room. "This is gorgeous, Alex." She walked over and ran her hand across the Asian sculpture that was sitting on the shelf. "I didn't know you were into art."
"I didn't either, until I went to Beijing earlier this year. I found this piece in a flea market, and before I knew it, I had three boxes filled to the brim with Asian art. I didn't really have a place in my apartment in Philadelphia to show it off the way I wanted, but since I'm back home, I have all the room I can ever need."
"How did you find this place?" she asked as she ran her hand across the dark beige bookshelf. He always had good taste when it came to decorating; it was more evident now that he had a bigger house.
"A friend of mine lives down the street, and I was out jogging. I ran into the owner as she was trying to set up the for sale sign in her yard. She mentioned that this was her third attempt at selling the house, and she wasn't having any luck with potential buyers. At that time I was still sharing a house with my friend, and his girlfriend was spending a lot of time there. So—"
"She needed a buyer, and you needed a place to live," she said finishing his sentence. "It worked out for the best, Alex. This place is really beautiful." And it was. The walls had been painted a stark white, and the furniture was a pale beige color. There were three windows in the living room-one picture window and two on both sides of the entertainment center. Various pieces of Asian artwork had been placed throughout the living room.
"Thanks, Francine, I worked hard on it. I'm going to go clean up, and then we can eat."
****
Alex felt a smile coming to his face as he walked towards his bedroom. If someone told him that he'd see Francine again, he would have told them that they were crazy, but here she was. In his house. Alone, and looking beautiful. He wondered if this was his opportunity to try to get her back. "You took too long with her, Alex." He frowned as his cousin's taunts came into his mind. Charlie was the one who always got the girl, while he was the one who took things slower. Admittedly, he had taken longer to tell Francine how he had felt, and by the time he had gotten around to telling her, she was already with Charlie.
"Alex, I want to thank you for introducing me to Charlie. He's wonderful."
"A wonderful bastard," he muttered as he looked at himself in the mirror. It had been over six months since he'd seen his cousin, and it would've been longer had it not been for the family reunion in San Diego.
"Charlie, how's the planning going for the wedding?"
"There isn't a wedding, now, Alex. Francie and I broke up."
"What? Broke up? What-what happened?"
"She found out that I had been cheating on her."
"What? Cheating on her? What the hell is wrong with you?"
Charlie threw his hands up in dismissal. "What can I say? The ladies love me, little cousin."
Alex rubbed his forehead. It had taken all he had not to punch Charlie out. He had no idea of the kind of woman he'd had in Francine. She was kind-hearted, funny, easy to talk to, and beautiful. Charlie had been lucky to have her, and even if he hadn't realized it, Alex did.
Confident that his appearance was okay, he walked back into the hallway and towards the kitchen.
*****
Francine's eyes widened as she stepped onto his patio. She thought that she and Sydney had a big backyard for L.A., but his was easily twice the size of theirs. She placed the basket on the table and started to set out their dinner.
"Red or white?" Alex called from the open window.
"Do you have a Merlot?" Francine asked as she reached into the basket and set the napkins out on the table. "It'll go good with dinner."
"By the way, what is for dinner?" Alex asked as he walked out to the patio, bottle in one hand and two glasses in another.
"I remembered that you didn't eat red meat, but that you loved lasagna." She pulled the top of off the white container. "So, I made vegetable lasagna. I just hope you like it."
"I'm sure that it's fine. It doesn't matter to me what you brought for dinner, it's enough that you're here. Thanks," he said, smiling.
Francine felt her heart skip a beat as he smiled at her. His smile was almost as nice as Will's. The thought of him made her face fall, she hadn't talked to him since he had been at the apartment, and she missed him.
"Francine, you okay?"
She came out of her trance and looked over at him. Here she was with a great guy, and all she could think about was Will. The Will who wouldn't tell Sydney about them. The Will who would ask her to meet him in clandestine areas just so they could go out. The Will who could still make her smile with just a glance. This isn't fair.
"Francine, are you okay?" Alex asked, concern showing in his eyes.
Suck it up, Francie. She took a deep breath and smiled at him. "I'm sorry, Alex. I'm just a little distracted." She picked up a loaf of garlic bread and cut a slice for him. "Let's eat."
****
Alex couldn't stop smiling as he looked across the table at her. She hadn't changed much over the past few years. Her hair had gotten longer, but the smile and the expressive eyes were still there.
"So, tell me about your job? I remember not so long ago, you were still in a cubicle at an office building. Do you like it?"
"I really do. For a long time after I got out of school, I wondered if I had made the right decision, getting involved in public relations. It was a lot of work, but after a few months, and a lot of networking, I'm now the team leader for several new campaigns," he said, sitting back and interlocking his hands behind his head.
"You've done well, Alex. I'm very happy for you. I meant to ask you the other day, but I didn't get around to it. Is it okay if I ask you now?"
"Sure, Francine. Shoot." He took a sip of his wine and waited.
"Where's the girlfriend?"
"What girlfriend?" A flush came over his face. There were no women, not even a dog. It was just him in the house by himself.
"You're telling me that you aren't seeing anyone at all? You haven't dated anyone since you've been back."
"I've been out with people, but nothing has ever come from it. Dating in LA isn't a walk in the park. Why?"
"I was just curious. A good-looking guy like you; You should have women beating down your door. It doesn't make sense to me at all." She stood up and reached for the plate sitting in front of him.
"No, let me get those, you've done enough for me today." He pulled the dish out of her reach. "I'll take those inside, and you just relax. If you want to really relax, there's a hammock between those two trees over to your left."
"You have a hammock?" She said her mouth hanging open in surprise.
Alex shook his head in response. He always received the same response. Alex Cooper the urbanite was more content sitting in his hammock than he was with going out all the time.
"Why does that sound odd or something?" He asked. He could feel the amusement at Francine's reaction on his face.
"I just never pictured you sitting on a hammock. It's a surprise, that's all."
He set the glass on the table and stood up from the table. "Care to try it out? It's really relaxing."
He held his hand out to her and waited. What am I doing? It had to be the wine talking. She's going to tell me no, and that will be that.
He watched as a slow smile came to her face. "Sure, Alex, let's go." They both stood up from the table and walked over to the hammock.
****
"I love it, Alex," she told him as they swung the hammock back and forth. It was between two large trees, and she thought it was just perfect for a lazy afternoon. She reached back and stretched. "You're right, this is very relaxing."
"I'm glad you're enjoying it," he murmured. This is heaven. The woman that he thought he'd lost was back. She was still hurting over a relationship, but nonetheless she was back. Now, if I can just move my arm to the left. I'll have more room, and she'll be more comfortable. He reached over and placed his hand over his head.
He caught his breath as his hand grazed over hers. "I'm—I'm sorry Francine. I didn't mean to—" Yes, you did. You did mean to touch her. In fact, you'd like to touch her again.
"Alex," she said softly. "I don't have the Ebola virus. You can touch my hand, I don't mind." She took his hand in hers. "I really don't."
Alex looked at her with a blank stare. Did she just say she doesn't mind? He looked over her had towards the half empty bottle that they both drank heavily from. It's the wine talking, it's has to be the wine.
"You okay over there, Cooper?" She's still holding my hand. "Alex," she said quietly. "You okay?"
"I'm fine, Francine. Just thinking."
"About what?"
About you. About missed opportunities. "Nothing really. Just about how glad I am to see you, and to see that your ankle seems to be doing better"
She smiled broadly as she held her ankle up for inspection. "Yeah, it is. After you left that morning, I stretched it out, and did some of those exercises you showed me. The next day, my ankle was fine. Thank you." She moved up the hammock and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks a lot."
Did she just kiss me? "You're welcome. Anytime I can be of service, let me know," he responded, rubbing her cheek. "You're taking too long again, little cousin." Alex shook his head to clear the taunts of his cousin. He would not take advantage of the situation; it wouldn't be proper, or appropriate. Sure, the woman he was in love with was here at his house, sitting with him on this hammock, and smelling very nice, but taking advantage would be wrong.
"Penny for your thoughts again, Alex. You've been a little too quiet. Am I crowding you out of the hammock?" She poked him in his side.
"No, that isn't it at all. It's built for two people. I've never had anyone over here long enough to join me." He poked her back. "So, please crowd away."
"Then what is it?" She asked as she moved closer to him. "Why are you so quiet?"
Just tell her. Tell her how you felt then.
"I was in love with you," he blurted out.
"What?" She said, turning around to face him. "You were in love with me? What are you talking about?"
"Back when we first started going out. I was in love with you." He took a deep breath. Okay, it's done. I've said what I have had to say. Now, if she runs out of here screaming, at least I've finally said what's been on my mind for a while.
"Alex," Francie said her eyes showing confusion. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you were falling for Charlie, and besides it wouldn't have been right for me to spring that on you. It wouldn't have been--"
"Proper?" She finished for him. "You really should've told me. Who knows what would have happened with us?"
"I know you're right, Francine, but I guess we'll never know." He looked and met her sad glance with one of his own.
"Maybe we should find out," she said quietly.
"What?"
"I said, 'Maybe we should find out'," she repeated, leaning over to kiss him.
A shock went through his body as her lips met his. This is really happening. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.
This is wrong. He tried to ignore his conscience as he ran his fingers up her arm, and she shivered in response. Francine was here with him, and he should be happy. Wrong. Wrong.
"Francine, wait a minute." He gently pushed her away from him.
"What?" She said breathlessly, and leaned in to kiss him again.
He moved away from her and sat up.
"What's wrong, Alex? I thought this was what you wanted"
He looked over at her, and felt his heart stop. So beautiful. "It is what I want, Francine. There were times over the past year that I thought about kissing you like that. I still do. It's just that I don't want you like this. Your heart isn't clear."
She sat up next to him. "Alex, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Would you be here if you and Will were getting along right now?"
"Of course, I would, Alex," she said matter of-factly
"Would you have kissed me like that if you two were still together?"
He looked at her and waited for her response. He felt a sinking feeling growing in his stomach as she bit her lip. He already knew what her response would be. "You wouldn't, Francine. I know you wouldn't."
Standing up from the hammock, he held his hand out to her. "Look, I won't lie. Having you over here has been wonderful, but the next time you kiss me like that, I don't want any doubt in your mind as to why you're doing it. Okay?"
She looked him over and smiled. "You've got it."
