Eva's mother was pacing around the apartment, anxiously waiting for her daughter to return home. When she heard a key hit the lock she froze, not knowing whether to expect the best or the worst. The door opened slowly and Eva walked in. Immediately, her mother ran to her before she could utter a word. She hugged her daughter tightly and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw a bedraggled Frank standing in the doorway.
"Frank," she gasped. She let go of her daughter and smiled at her before approaching Frank. She looked at him in a way only a mother could and put her hand on his face. Her eyes began to well with tears as he gave her a shaky smile. He was unsure whether or not he was still in her good graces. "Are you all right?"
"I will be," he replied in almost a whisper.
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a warm, comforting hug. "I'm so glad that you're back, Frank. We've all missed you so much."
Frank hugged her back, happy that there weren't any cross feelings toward him. "And I missed you too." He then heard crying from the back of the apartment.
Eva's mother broke her embrace. "Faye's been awfully fussy all night, Eva, I'm afraid she's hardly slept."
"That's all right, mom, I didn't want to wait until morning anyway." She smiled at Frank. "Sit down, darling, I'll be right back." He complied.
"Frank, dear, can I take your coat?"
He responded quickly, but nicely, "Um, no thank you, Audrey, I'm a bit chilled." She smiled at him.
Eva reemerged in the living room, a cooing bundle in her arms. She sat next to Frank and looked at him in the most loving way imaginable. "Frankie, meet Faye."
Frank gazed at the round pink face that was peeking out from a blanket. He was awestruck. She truly did have his eyes, green and full of life. He bit his lower lip to keep himself from crying; the night had been full of so much emotion already. He let one of his fingers delicately touch her warm cheek. The baby cooed.
"Here," Eva said, motioning for Frank to take the baby from her arms.
"No, I can't…I've never…I'm not quite sure how to hold something so fragile."
"It's O.K., trust me." She put Faye in Frank's arms and showed him how to support her tiny body.
Audrey smiled and looked at her daughter. "I'll leave you all to get reacquainted," she said cheerfully.
Eva got up and hugged her mother. "Thank you, mom, for everything."
"You're welcome, sweetheart. I'm just so glad that Frank's home. I'll wait until you've both rested before I ask where on Earth he's been."
"Good idea, mom. Good night."
"'Night, dear. Good night, Frank."
"Good night, Audrey," he replied, nervously holding his daughter.
Audrey left and the new family was on their own. Eva retuned to the couch and smiled. She ran her fingers through Frank's hair and he looked at her.
"She's so tiny," he said softly, "and so perfect. I can't believe that I had a hand in creating this…outside of a laboratory. She's beautiful, like her mother."
"And her father." A strange looked crossed Frank's face. "Frank, are you all right?"
"I never want her to know about…" his voice trailed.
"She won't, darling, there's no need."
Frank stared into his daughter's eyes and smiled at her. "I'm going to do the best that I can, Faye. I want to be a good father to you."
"You will be," Eva said smiling at him. She looked at Faye. "She's asleep."
"I bored her?"
Eva chuckled. "No, love, you soothed her. Let's put her to bed." Frank followed Eva to the nursery. He was surprised to see how elaborate it was. He saw the crib and was nervous about putting Faye down and waking her. "It's O.K., Frank," Eva whispered. "Just lie her on her back, she won't wake up." He did as Eva instructed, then covered her with a blanket.
"That wasn't too hard," he said looking at the baby…his baby.
"Let's go get a little warmer," Eva said, taking his hand. She led him down the hall to the bedroom. When she flipped on the light Frank saw several pictures around the room, he was in every one.
"You really missed me, didn't you?" he asked.
"Of course I did, baby. I thought I'd never see you again…I've never been so happy to be wrong." She touched his face. "You're absolutely freezing, how 'bout a nice hot shower?"
"Yes, that sounds nice."
"Would you like some company?" Eva asked hopefully.
"Um, would you mind if I passed tonight, love? After everything that…I feel a bit, er…unsanitary."
"I understand," she replied, masking her disappointment. "You've been through so much, it was silly of me to…"
Frank put a finger to his wife's lips. "Not silly at all, love." He kissed her forehead.
"I'll get you some clean clothes, go ahead and get in the shower." She went to the dresser to get Frank's things as he went into the adjoined bathroom. She heard the water start and paused for a moment. Her husband was finally back; her family was complete. She smiled as she entered the bathroom. "Your things are on the counter, Frankie, take your time in here."
"Thank you, darling. I'll leave some hot water for you, promise." He let out a small chuckle, the first Eva had heard since she saw him several hours earlier.
When Frank reentered the bedroom, he looked like the man that Eva fell in love with. His now dry, curly hair framed his very attractive face and his corset-less torso was still slender and strong in appearance.
"Your turn, baby," he said smiling.
"You look like you feel better," Eva responded.
"Amazing what a little hot water can do. Um, can I crawl in?" he asked looking at the bed.
"Of course. I'll try to be quick in there." She disappeared into the bathroom.
Frank pulled back the covers and got into the bed. It was so warm, so soft, nothing like what he had in the castle. He looked at his left arm, his veins still horribly visible where the morphine was religiously injected; he quickly hid it beneath the covers.
A short while later, Eva walked out of the bathroom wearing a dark blue, floor length, satin nightgown. She walked toward the bed; Frank was already asleep. She tried to get into bed without waking him, but didn't succeed.
"Hello," Frank said softly.
"I didn't mean to wake you."
"I'm glad you did." He kissed her softly on her lips. "Come here." He pulled her close to him and held her. "I'm home," he said softly; they both drifted off into the most peaceful sleep they'd had in months…Faye must've known that her parents needed the rest; she didn't make a sound the rest of the night.