TITLE: The One Constant
AUTHOR: Minn
DISCLAIMER: Wells/Chulack/Bernero et al are the rightful owners of Third Watch - God Bless You! I am merely borrowing and intend no disrespect or harm. None of us do. This is fun. No character was actually harmed in the typing of this nonsense. Nothing I say or do will probably ever make a blind bit of difference to what happens on the screen - dammit!
I'M FOREIGN! If you don't understand anything, it'll be 'cos I'm using a uniquely Kiwi expression, something I do try to avoid, but hell, t'ain't easy!
A MILLION THANX! To: Maartje: *hands M her Cheshire Cat* Here! Take it! It's tearing up the furniture!
Winterwolf: *taps foot* And just WHERE were you last chapter, hmm? Aw, all forgiven babe
Angie: have no fear precious, ain't no mountain high enough, no river wide enough to keep me from this fic...*big Minnhug* thank you for your concern!
Mauriceboscorelli: As above and btw, LOVE jasonwiles.net! Favourite part: the picture galleries. OH BAYBAY!
Kate Anderson: I had this image in my head of what Jimmy's reaction would be and voila! Twas born!
Jenn B: Aww, thank ya babe! Glad you enjoyed and welcome! Don't just restock the tissues - take out shares in a manufacturer!
Lifesaver55: Right back at ya precious!
AnnaDelAmico: Awwww, thank ya sweetie. Ah, the delinquency of minors...yep, birds of a feather, that's us...
Jimmyschick: Jeez, I wish! Sigh. Don't think they'd wanna know a 'shipper to be honest...
Jazz: You're welcome, precious. *starts to bounce* Damn, this is addictive!
Courtnee: Ah, threats. Always an incentive!
JEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS! Hah! I'm trying to convert Junglegirl too, but dammit, she keeps resisting the lure of shipperdom...
Kim1989: *plugs new super duper battery into bunny* Onward!
SSS: Cheers babe!
Kellycass: You're welcome!
Kerrip43: Ditto!
And to everyone else who has in the past so kindly reviewed this wee epic - a big hearty Thank You All!
---
THE ONE CONSTANT
PART 27
Faith stared at the house for some time, while beside her Bosco sat, quietly waiting.
"You want me to come with you?" he asked finally.
Faith thought about it. "If Dad sees you he'll probably take a swing at you."
"I can take him," Bosco grinned.
Faith smiled. "Sure you can honey," she said, shaking her head as she exited the car.
It was Charlie who opened the door. Faith was heartened by the small look of delight that registered briefly on his face before it was once more replaced by a look of suspicion.
"Happy Birthday sweetheart," Faith said, handing him the gift she had brought with her.
After a moment's hesitation Charlie took it and stood gazing at it mutely.
"I tried calling you this morning," Faith said brightly.
Charlie shrugged. "We went out."
"Somewhere nice?"
He shrugged.
"Everything OK with you?" Faith asked as she realised there was no further explanation coming.
"I'm having a party on Saturday - me and Ryan, cos its his birthday on Wednesday and we decided to have a party for the both of us at his place," Charlie announced and then fell silent once again.
Faith flinched. This was the first she had heard of it, and it didn't look as though an invitation was in the offing.
"That's great Charlie," she said, giving an attempt at enthusiasm a good honest try. "Are all your friends gonna be there?"
Charlie nodded.
"I hope it goes well," she said awkwardly. "Hope you have fun."
Charlie's gaze drifted down to the gift he held and he began to fidget. Eventually his eyes travelled to where Bosco sat waiting patiently in the car.
Faith followed the look and bit her bottom lip.
"Is gramma cooking you something special for your dinner tonight?"
Her son nodded.
"Great," she said, stung by the unbelievable awkwardness of the moment.
Charlie's eyes met hers briefly and then settled back on the gift.
Faith felt tears beginning to stir. She may as well have been some obscure relative Charlie had never seen before.
"Thank you," he mumbled, indicating the gift.
"You're welcome," she said, fighting the waver in her voice. "Hope you like it. If it's not what you want, I can get you something else, OK?"
Charlie nodded.
Unable to bare the tension any more, Faith kissed her son. "If there's anything you need Charlie, just call me, OK?" she said, and turned to leave.
"Mom?"
She paused and turned back expectantly. Charlie stared down at the gift, and struggled to form the words
"Mom, why did you stop loving Dad?"
Faith stared at him, appalled. "What?"
"Why'd you stop loving him?" he asked again, a small frown furrowing his brow.
Returning to where he stood, Faith put her hands gently upon his shoulders.
"Listen to me Charlie," she said, her voice heavy. "I NEVER stopped loving your father, you hear me?"
Charlie looked up at her steadily, but the look of doubt in his eyes was plain.
Faith leaned forward and took his face in her hands. "Charlie, you gotta believe me. I never stopped loving your Dad. Ever. It's just..." She paused, searching for words she knew couldn't possibly make things better. "It's just...I started loving Bosco too."
Charlie stared at her, the frown still tapping at his brow.
Faith stepped back slightly and looked briefly away. "Charlie, I know this isn't easy for you to understand. I never set out to hurt anyone, least of all you or your dad. But adults sometimes do stupid things, you know? And all they end up doing is hurting the people they love most in the world."
Charlie watched her, clearly struggling to comprehend.
"I never stopped loving your Dad, Charlie," Faith reiterated softly. "I miss him so much. And I'm never gonna forgive myself for all the pain I caused him," she swiped a stray tear from her cheek, "or the pain you and Em have had to deal with. I'm so sorry for what I've done."
She reached out and touched his cheek. He didn't flinch from her touch, but his eyes were full of suspicion and confusion. Faith's discomfort intensified.
"I'd better go," she murmured. "Remember Charlie. If there's anything you need, just call."
Charlie nodded and stared silently after her as she walked away.
Bosco handed her a crumpled box of tissues he'd found jammed in the glove box as Faith climbed back into the car. "Rough huh?"
She dabbed a clump of tissues at her eyes. "He asked me why I stopped loving Fred."
"Oh jeez..." Bosco murmured. "What'd you tell him?"
"That I never stopped loving his Dad..." she replied, then added softly, "but that I loved you both..."
Bosco regarded her fondly. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," she murmured, a small, hesitant smile creeping across her lips.
A movement beside the car caught her attention. To her surprise Charlie stood on the sidewalk eyeing them both warily.
"Hey," she said cautiously.
Charlie looked at her, then at Bosco, and finally his eyes settled upon the gift he still held in his hands. After a prolonged moment of silence he spoke.
"Can I come over and see Gracie sometime?"
Faith felt her breath catch in her throat. "'Course you can Charlie," she said brightly. "Any time. You just call me when you want to come over, all right?"
"Can I come next Sunday?" His voice was small and unsure.
"Sure," Faith said. "Gracie will be pleased to see you again. I'll call you Sunday morning, OK?"
Charlie nodded mutely, paused a moment, then headed back toward the house.
---
"You should see Gracie."
The cold grey headstone Bosco crouched beside stared back at him, unmoved.
"She's just starting to figure out how to get about the place," he chuckled, drawing a photo from one of the pockets of his jacket. "She's trying to make up her mind if crawling on her stomach or shuffling on her butt's the fastest way to get from A to B. The butt's winning so far."
Bosco held up the photo of Gracie caught mid-shuffle, a smile on her so wide it just about took over her face.
"I hung this up on the noticeboard at work on a wanted poster - you shoulda heard Faith when she saw it," he chuckled.
The headstone remained a silent, uninterested observer.
"Things are nice between me and Faith right now," he murmured, shrugging. "We have our moments. Isabelle straightened Faith out the other week by tellin' her 'things might go smoother for you both if you would stop talking to Maurice like he is a piece of crap.' You shoulda seen Faith's face."
Smiling broadly, Bosco picked absently at the weeds despoiling the turf at his feet.
"I really like Iz - she lays it on the line. Mind you, she's sorted me out a couple of times too..."
A flock of pigeon's wheeling overhead distracted him.
"Faith's son Charlie? He's over at Isabelle's visiting his mom and Gracie. He hasn't wanted anything to do with her since Fred died, 'cos of Gracie bein' mine...so him comin' over today's a big thing. Thought I'd leave them to it."
Bosco rose slowly, stretched, and placed his hand upon the headstone.
"Mom's speaking to me some more," he murmured. "Took her a couple of photos of Gracie the other day...she didn't tear them up in front of me, so that's a good sign...I guess." He paused and stared down at the plot at his feet. "Looks like she's hammerin' the bottle again..."
He shifted uncomfortably and took a moment to gaze around him.
"I don't wanna be like them, Mikey," he murmured finally as he turned back to contemplate the grave once more. "I don't want my daughter goin' through what we went through. That's why I'm doin' what I'm doin', you know?" He fingered the photo of Gracie that dwelt in the pocket of his jacket. "I don't wanna make the same mistakes."
After observing a moment of silence, Bosco stepped away from his brother's resting-place and then paused, turning back to let his eyes retrace the lettering etched into the unforgiving grey of the stone.
"I'm sorry Mikey," he murmured. "For..."
He let the rest go unsaid.
The headstone stared mutely back at him.
As Bosco neared the exit he looked up to find Rose just entering, a small bouquet of flowers clutched in her hand. The look of open contempt that usually greeted him was absent today, but his mother's care-worn expression told of her inner pain.
"Ma," he said simply as he approached.
"Maurice," she acknowledged him quietly.
"Just been visiting..." he muttered, shrugging.
Rose nodded. "I'm glad you bother."
Bosco gazed at his mother a moment. "You want some company?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I prefer to be on my own."
Bosco nodded and began to fidget. "I'd better be goin'..." He smiled tentatively and moved to take his leave.
"Maurice."
He stopped and gazed at Rose with a small shadow of expectancy stroking his face.
"How's that beautiful little girl of yours?" she asked after a moment's hesitation.
Bosco beamed. "Great. She's great Ma."
"You and Faith still workin' it out?"
He nodded. "We're gettin' there."
Rose's eyebrows, he noticed, flicked upwards in a quiet expression of surprise.
"You wanna come over some time, get to know your grand daughter?"
Rose's face softened somewhat.
"I'll think about it," she answered quietly. With that she turned and walked slowly away.
---
Charlie's eyes were wide and gleamed with fascination.
"You took these?" he inquired of Isabelle, who chuckled quietly.
"Photography is a hobby of mine," she smiled as she turned another page on the album. "You know, I must've been about your age when my Uncle gave me an old box camera for my birthday. It was basically a box with a shutter and a viewfinder but I KNEW I'd been given a small piece of my idea of heaven."
Charlie gazed down at the images before him, clearly enthralled.
"Don't you love the way each picture tells a story?" Isabelle asked.
Faith watched, intrigued, as her son nodded vigorously.
"I love that one," he said, pointing to a shot of some children in a street setting playing soccer with what was clearly a basketball.
When Isabelle came to the end of the album, Charlie reached eagerly for the next.
"Ah, now this one's special," Isabelle murmured. "This one's full of people who are important to me."
Faith couldn't help admire Isabelle's seemingly endless store of patience and good humour as Charlie bombarded her with questions about each portrait. But a quiet observation of something by her son put Faith on alert.
"Everyone looks so happy," he murmured.
There was just something about the look on his face and the tone of his voice that disturbed Faith. Isabelle caught it too and they exchanged a glance.
"These ones coming up are some of my absolute favourites," Isabelle said, flipping the page to reveal an exquisite family portrait.
Like most of her work it was not a posed shot but an impromptu study, a moment of time captured forever of two people clearly revelling in each other's company and that of their baby girl.
Faith held her breath and watched Charlie's reaction carefully. As her son stared at the picture mutely, Faith began to fidget.
Isabelle turned the page. More photos of Faith and Bosco with little Gracie stared up at them.
"Now this one has to be my all time favourite," Isabelle murmured.
It was a beautiful photograph without a doubt. Bosco lay on his back on the floor bathed in a shaft of afternoon sunlight. Faith was beside him, one hand resting lazily on her partner's chest while her head was propped up on the other. In Bosco's up-stretched hands was Gracie, clearly laughing fit to burst as she gazed down at her parents from on high.
Charlie stared at the photo for some time.
"You and Uncle Bosco look really happy too," he observed sombrely.
Faith watched him carefully. "Charlie? Is everything alright?"
Her son shrugged self-consciously, fingering the edge of the album.
"I'll go mess with something in the kitchen," Isabelle said quietly as she rose from the couch.
Faith beckoned Charlie over to sit beside her.
"Are you upset about seeing me and Bos together?"
He quickly shook his head.
"You'd tell me if anything was up, wouldn't you honey?"
Charlie studiously regarded the floor, and Faith felt compelled to reach under his chin and gently turn his face to her.
"Charlie, I need to know. Is everything alright at home?"
His sad eyes regarded her gravely.
"Grand-dad scares me sometimes," he murmured.
Faith tensed. "How?"
Charlie squirmed. "He gets drunk...and yells a lot..."
"Not a lot's changed then," Faith observed stiffly.
"Did he used to yell at you for no reason too?"
Faith nodded and put a comforting arm around him. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Charlie," she said softly. "I really am."
Charlie lay his head against her shoulder and let his eyes drift to the album that lay open on the coffee table.
"Does Uncle Bosco yell at you and Gracie?" he asked.
Faith shifted back a little and gazed into her son's eyes.
"Never," she said firmly.
Charlie nodded and lapsed into a thoughtful silence. Faith drew him closer and kissed the top of his head.
"Would you like to come stay here with me and Gracie occasionally?" she asked after a while.
What seemed to be a small spark of enthusiasm ignited in Charlie's eyes as he cautiously nodded his approval. His gaze travelled again to the album.
"Mom? Does Uncle Bosco live here too?"
Faith ran her hand down her son's cheek. "No, he has his own apartment - down the hall," she answered gently. "But he stays occasionally."
Charlie frowned, glancing at the album.
"Is Uncle B having dinner with us tonight?"
Faith shook her head.
Charlie's expression seemed caught somewhere between surprise and apparent disappointment. "Why not?"
Faith couldn't quite hide the look of surprise that sprang to her own face. "I...ah...we thought it'd be better if..."
"I don't mind if he has dinner with us," Charlie announced firmly.
Faith threw a quick glance in Isabelle's direction. "We'll give him a call."
There were some initial moments of awkwardness when Bosco arrived. To Faith her partner seemed cautious and ill at ease, while her son wasn't entirely sure how to react to Bosco's presence.
In a surprisingly short amount of time, however, Bosco found himself being bombarded with questions and stories and opinions on a huge and seemingly endless range of subjects. It was like the doors of a sealed room had been suddenly flung open.
"When did he turn into a chatterbox?" Bosco asked quietly when Charlie excused himself and headed for the bathroom.
"I don't think he has a lot of opportunity to talk at home," Faith murmured.
"Your father?" Bosco observed.
Faith nodded. "I asked Charlie if he'd like to stay here occasionally. Is that OK with you?"
Bosco's eyebrows flicked upwards. "It's nothing to do with me, Faith."
"Yeah it is," she said quickly. "If things work out between us you're gonna end up the father-figure in Charlie's life, Bos."
A thoughtful look crossed Bosco's face as he nodded quietly.
"Frightening huh?" Faith said, impaling him with a penetrating gaze.
"Yeah, but I'm tough," Bosco responded with a smirk. "And Charlie's a good kid."
"He's gonna be a teenager too soon," Faith murmured, shifting closer.
Bosco reached out and ran his hand over her back. "First sign of trouble, we start cuffing him to the furnace in the basement."
Faith resisted the temptation to smile.
"Nice to see you've been giving the prospect of bein' a responsible father figure to my son some thought..."
"You should see the plans I have for the cage I'm gonna lock Gracie in the minute she hits puberty," Bosco grinned.
This time the smile won. "Oh my god, Maurice Boscorelli the protective father," Faith chuckled. "Just remember, it's probably gonna be just as illegal to shoot your daughter's boyfriends in sixteen years time as it is now."
"Eighteen years time," he corrected her flatly. "Not negotiable."
Faith began to laugh.
They put a little distance between themselves, as they had been careful to do from the moment Bosco arrived, when they heard Charlie making his way back into the room.
Charlie watched them like a hawk the rest of the evening. He watched them with Gracie and seemed especially fascinated by the way Bosco and Gracie interacted as the pair indulged in pre-bath playtime. But rather than being standoffish as Faith somehow imagined he would, Charlie, to Gracie's obvious delight, joined in.
"That's a good sign," Isabelle observed quietly as they watched the unlikely trio from the kitchen.
"I think I have my father to thank for it mainly," Faith grumbled.
"It's a gift, however it comes," Isabelle replied.
As Faith watched Bosco with her children she couldn't help feeling a small sense of amazement.
"He's good with them isn't he?" she murmured softly.
"He shows a lot of promise, Faith," Isabelle smiled. "I think he may be one of the better ones."
"You think?"
Isabelle smiled cheekily. "Good with kids and has a great body. What more could you possibly want?"
Faith felt a small grin play on her lips. "You forgot 'dynamite in bed'."
Isabelle chuckled. "Are you trying to make me jealous?"
Faith smiled and watched the scene before her some more. After a moment she felt a hand push her gently from behind.
"What are you doing hanging around in here?" she heard Isabelle murmur quietly.
With some hesitation Faith went over to where her family played and found herself welcomed warmly.
---
TBC - seatbelts on...
AUTHOR: Minn
DISCLAIMER: Wells/Chulack/Bernero et al are the rightful owners of Third Watch - God Bless You! I am merely borrowing and intend no disrespect or harm. None of us do. This is fun. No character was actually harmed in the typing of this nonsense. Nothing I say or do will probably ever make a blind bit of difference to what happens on the screen - dammit!
I'M FOREIGN! If you don't understand anything, it'll be 'cos I'm using a uniquely Kiwi expression, something I do try to avoid, but hell, t'ain't easy!
A MILLION THANX! To: Maartje: *hands M her Cheshire Cat* Here! Take it! It's tearing up the furniture!
Winterwolf: *taps foot* And just WHERE were you last chapter, hmm? Aw, all forgiven babe
Angie: have no fear precious, ain't no mountain high enough, no river wide enough to keep me from this fic...*big Minnhug* thank you for your concern!
Mauriceboscorelli: As above and btw, LOVE jasonwiles.net! Favourite part: the picture galleries. OH BAYBAY!
Kate Anderson: I had this image in my head of what Jimmy's reaction would be and voila! Twas born!
Jenn B: Aww, thank ya babe! Glad you enjoyed and welcome! Don't just restock the tissues - take out shares in a manufacturer!
Lifesaver55: Right back at ya precious!
AnnaDelAmico: Awwww, thank ya sweetie. Ah, the delinquency of minors...yep, birds of a feather, that's us...
Jimmyschick: Jeez, I wish! Sigh. Don't think they'd wanna know a 'shipper to be honest...
Jazz: You're welcome, precious. *starts to bounce* Damn, this is addictive!
Courtnee: Ah, threats. Always an incentive!
JEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS! Hah! I'm trying to convert Junglegirl too, but dammit, she keeps resisting the lure of shipperdom...
Kim1989: *plugs new super duper battery into bunny* Onward!
SSS: Cheers babe!
Kellycass: You're welcome!
Kerrip43: Ditto!
And to everyone else who has in the past so kindly reviewed this wee epic - a big hearty Thank You All!
---
THE ONE CONSTANT
PART 27
Faith stared at the house for some time, while beside her Bosco sat, quietly waiting.
"You want me to come with you?" he asked finally.
Faith thought about it. "If Dad sees you he'll probably take a swing at you."
"I can take him," Bosco grinned.
Faith smiled. "Sure you can honey," she said, shaking her head as she exited the car.
It was Charlie who opened the door. Faith was heartened by the small look of delight that registered briefly on his face before it was once more replaced by a look of suspicion.
"Happy Birthday sweetheart," Faith said, handing him the gift she had brought with her.
After a moment's hesitation Charlie took it and stood gazing at it mutely.
"I tried calling you this morning," Faith said brightly.
Charlie shrugged. "We went out."
"Somewhere nice?"
He shrugged.
"Everything OK with you?" Faith asked as she realised there was no further explanation coming.
"I'm having a party on Saturday - me and Ryan, cos its his birthday on Wednesday and we decided to have a party for the both of us at his place," Charlie announced and then fell silent once again.
Faith flinched. This was the first she had heard of it, and it didn't look as though an invitation was in the offing.
"That's great Charlie," she said, giving an attempt at enthusiasm a good honest try. "Are all your friends gonna be there?"
Charlie nodded.
"I hope it goes well," she said awkwardly. "Hope you have fun."
Charlie's gaze drifted down to the gift he held and he began to fidget. Eventually his eyes travelled to where Bosco sat waiting patiently in the car.
Faith followed the look and bit her bottom lip.
"Is gramma cooking you something special for your dinner tonight?"
Her son nodded.
"Great," she said, stung by the unbelievable awkwardness of the moment.
Charlie's eyes met hers briefly and then settled back on the gift.
Faith felt tears beginning to stir. She may as well have been some obscure relative Charlie had never seen before.
"Thank you," he mumbled, indicating the gift.
"You're welcome," she said, fighting the waver in her voice. "Hope you like it. If it's not what you want, I can get you something else, OK?"
Charlie nodded.
Unable to bare the tension any more, Faith kissed her son. "If there's anything you need Charlie, just call me, OK?" she said, and turned to leave.
"Mom?"
She paused and turned back expectantly. Charlie stared down at the gift, and struggled to form the words
"Mom, why did you stop loving Dad?"
Faith stared at him, appalled. "What?"
"Why'd you stop loving him?" he asked again, a small frown furrowing his brow.
Returning to where he stood, Faith put her hands gently upon his shoulders.
"Listen to me Charlie," she said, her voice heavy. "I NEVER stopped loving your father, you hear me?"
Charlie looked up at her steadily, but the look of doubt in his eyes was plain.
Faith leaned forward and took his face in her hands. "Charlie, you gotta believe me. I never stopped loving your Dad. Ever. It's just..." She paused, searching for words she knew couldn't possibly make things better. "It's just...I started loving Bosco too."
Charlie stared at her, the frown still tapping at his brow.
Faith stepped back slightly and looked briefly away. "Charlie, I know this isn't easy for you to understand. I never set out to hurt anyone, least of all you or your dad. But adults sometimes do stupid things, you know? And all they end up doing is hurting the people they love most in the world."
Charlie watched her, clearly struggling to comprehend.
"I never stopped loving your Dad, Charlie," Faith reiterated softly. "I miss him so much. And I'm never gonna forgive myself for all the pain I caused him," she swiped a stray tear from her cheek, "or the pain you and Em have had to deal with. I'm so sorry for what I've done."
She reached out and touched his cheek. He didn't flinch from her touch, but his eyes were full of suspicion and confusion. Faith's discomfort intensified.
"I'd better go," she murmured. "Remember Charlie. If there's anything you need, just call."
Charlie nodded and stared silently after her as she walked away.
Bosco handed her a crumpled box of tissues he'd found jammed in the glove box as Faith climbed back into the car. "Rough huh?"
She dabbed a clump of tissues at her eyes. "He asked me why I stopped loving Fred."
"Oh jeez..." Bosco murmured. "What'd you tell him?"
"That I never stopped loving his Dad..." she replied, then added softly, "but that I loved you both..."
Bosco regarded her fondly. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," she murmured, a small, hesitant smile creeping across her lips.
A movement beside the car caught her attention. To her surprise Charlie stood on the sidewalk eyeing them both warily.
"Hey," she said cautiously.
Charlie looked at her, then at Bosco, and finally his eyes settled upon the gift he still held in his hands. After a prolonged moment of silence he spoke.
"Can I come over and see Gracie sometime?"
Faith felt her breath catch in her throat. "'Course you can Charlie," she said brightly. "Any time. You just call me when you want to come over, all right?"
"Can I come next Sunday?" His voice was small and unsure.
"Sure," Faith said. "Gracie will be pleased to see you again. I'll call you Sunday morning, OK?"
Charlie nodded mutely, paused a moment, then headed back toward the house.
---
"You should see Gracie."
The cold grey headstone Bosco crouched beside stared back at him, unmoved.
"She's just starting to figure out how to get about the place," he chuckled, drawing a photo from one of the pockets of his jacket. "She's trying to make up her mind if crawling on her stomach or shuffling on her butt's the fastest way to get from A to B. The butt's winning so far."
Bosco held up the photo of Gracie caught mid-shuffle, a smile on her so wide it just about took over her face.
"I hung this up on the noticeboard at work on a wanted poster - you shoulda heard Faith when she saw it," he chuckled.
The headstone remained a silent, uninterested observer.
"Things are nice between me and Faith right now," he murmured, shrugging. "We have our moments. Isabelle straightened Faith out the other week by tellin' her 'things might go smoother for you both if you would stop talking to Maurice like he is a piece of crap.' You shoulda seen Faith's face."
Smiling broadly, Bosco picked absently at the weeds despoiling the turf at his feet.
"I really like Iz - she lays it on the line. Mind you, she's sorted me out a couple of times too..."
A flock of pigeon's wheeling overhead distracted him.
"Faith's son Charlie? He's over at Isabelle's visiting his mom and Gracie. He hasn't wanted anything to do with her since Fred died, 'cos of Gracie bein' mine...so him comin' over today's a big thing. Thought I'd leave them to it."
Bosco rose slowly, stretched, and placed his hand upon the headstone.
"Mom's speaking to me some more," he murmured. "Took her a couple of photos of Gracie the other day...she didn't tear them up in front of me, so that's a good sign...I guess." He paused and stared down at the plot at his feet. "Looks like she's hammerin' the bottle again..."
He shifted uncomfortably and took a moment to gaze around him.
"I don't wanna be like them, Mikey," he murmured finally as he turned back to contemplate the grave once more. "I don't want my daughter goin' through what we went through. That's why I'm doin' what I'm doin', you know?" He fingered the photo of Gracie that dwelt in the pocket of his jacket. "I don't wanna make the same mistakes."
After observing a moment of silence, Bosco stepped away from his brother's resting-place and then paused, turning back to let his eyes retrace the lettering etched into the unforgiving grey of the stone.
"I'm sorry Mikey," he murmured. "For..."
He let the rest go unsaid.
The headstone stared mutely back at him.
As Bosco neared the exit he looked up to find Rose just entering, a small bouquet of flowers clutched in her hand. The look of open contempt that usually greeted him was absent today, but his mother's care-worn expression told of her inner pain.
"Ma," he said simply as he approached.
"Maurice," she acknowledged him quietly.
"Just been visiting..." he muttered, shrugging.
Rose nodded. "I'm glad you bother."
Bosco gazed at his mother a moment. "You want some company?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I prefer to be on my own."
Bosco nodded and began to fidget. "I'd better be goin'..." He smiled tentatively and moved to take his leave.
"Maurice."
He stopped and gazed at Rose with a small shadow of expectancy stroking his face.
"How's that beautiful little girl of yours?" she asked after a moment's hesitation.
Bosco beamed. "Great. She's great Ma."
"You and Faith still workin' it out?"
He nodded. "We're gettin' there."
Rose's eyebrows, he noticed, flicked upwards in a quiet expression of surprise.
"You wanna come over some time, get to know your grand daughter?"
Rose's face softened somewhat.
"I'll think about it," she answered quietly. With that she turned and walked slowly away.
---
Charlie's eyes were wide and gleamed with fascination.
"You took these?" he inquired of Isabelle, who chuckled quietly.
"Photography is a hobby of mine," she smiled as she turned another page on the album. "You know, I must've been about your age when my Uncle gave me an old box camera for my birthday. It was basically a box with a shutter and a viewfinder but I KNEW I'd been given a small piece of my idea of heaven."
Charlie gazed down at the images before him, clearly enthralled.
"Don't you love the way each picture tells a story?" Isabelle asked.
Faith watched, intrigued, as her son nodded vigorously.
"I love that one," he said, pointing to a shot of some children in a street setting playing soccer with what was clearly a basketball.
When Isabelle came to the end of the album, Charlie reached eagerly for the next.
"Ah, now this one's special," Isabelle murmured. "This one's full of people who are important to me."
Faith couldn't help admire Isabelle's seemingly endless store of patience and good humour as Charlie bombarded her with questions about each portrait. But a quiet observation of something by her son put Faith on alert.
"Everyone looks so happy," he murmured.
There was just something about the look on his face and the tone of his voice that disturbed Faith. Isabelle caught it too and they exchanged a glance.
"These ones coming up are some of my absolute favourites," Isabelle said, flipping the page to reveal an exquisite family portrait.
Like most of her work it was not a posed shot but an impromptu study, a moment of time captured forever of two people clearly revelling in each other's company and that of their baby girl.
Faith held her breath and watched Charlie's reaction carefully. As her son stared at the picture mutely, Faith began to fidget.
Isabelle turned the page. More photos of Faith and Bosco with little Gracie stared up at them.
"Now this one has to be my all time favourite," Isabelle murmured.
It was a beautiful photograph without a doubt. Bosco lay on his back on the floor bathed in a shaft of afternoon sunlight. Faith was beside him, one hand resting lazily on her partner's chest while her head was propped up on the other. In Bosco's up-stretched hands was Gracie, clearly laughing fit to burst as she gazed down at her parents from on high.
Charlie stared at the photo for some time.
"You and Uncle Bosco look really happy too," he observed sombrely.
Faith watched him carefully. "Charlie? Is everything alright?"
Her son shrugged self-consciously, fingering the edge of the album.
"I'll go mess with something in the kitchen," Isabelle said quietly as she rose from the couch.
Faith beckoned Charlie over to sit beside her.
"Are you upset about seeing me and Bos together?"
He quickly shook his head.
"You'd tell me if anything was up, wouldn't you honey?"
Charlie studiously regarded the floor, and Faith felt compelled to reach under his chin and gently turn his face to her.
"Charlie, I need to know. Is everything alright at home?"
His sad eyes regarded her gravely.
"Grand-dad scares me sometimes," he murmured.
Faith tensed. "How?"
Charlie squirmed. "He gets drunk...and yells a lot..."
"Not a lot's changed then," Faith observed stiffly.
"Did he used to yell at you for no reason too?"
Faith nodded and put a comforting arm around him. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Charlie," she said softly. "I really am."
Charlie lay his head against her shoulder and let his eyes drift to the album that lay open on the coffee table.
"Does Uncle Bosco yell at you and Gracie?" he asked.
Faith shifted back a little and gazed into her son's eyes.
"Never," she said firmly.
Charlie nodded and lapsed into a thoughtful silence. Faith drew him closer and kissed the top of his head.
"Would you like to come stay here with me and Gracie occasionally?" she asked after a while.
What seemed to be a small spark of enthusiasm ignited in Charlie's eyes as he cautiously nodded his approval. His gaze travelled again to the album.
"Mom? Does Uncle Bosco live here too?"
Faith ran her hand down her son's cheek. "No, he has his own apartment - down the hall," she answered gently. "But he stays occasionally."
Charlie frowned, glancing at the album.
"Is Uncle B having dinner with us tonight?"
Faith shook her head.
Charlie's expression seemed caught somewhere between surprise and apparent disappointment. "Why not?"
Faith couldn't quite hide the look of surprise that sprang to her own face. "I...ah...we thought it'd be better if..."
"I don't mind if he has dinner with us," Charlie announced firmly.
Faith threw a quick glance in Isabelle's direction. "We'll give him a call."
There were some initial moments of awkwardness when Bosco arrived. To Faith her partner seemed cautious and ill at ease, while her son wasn't entirely sure how to react to Bosco's presence.
In a surprisingly short amount of time, however, Bosco found himself being bombarded with questions and stories and opinions on a huge and seemingly endless range of subjects. It was like the doors of a sealed room had been suddenly flung open.
"When did he turn into a chatterbox?" Bosco asked quietly when Charlie excused himself and headed for the bathroom.
"I don't think he has a lot of opportunity to talk at home," Faith murmured.
"Your father?" Bosco observed.
Faith nodded. "I asked Charlie if he'd like to stay here occasionally. Is that OK with you?"
Bosco's eyebrows flicked upwards. "It's nothing to do with me, Faith."
"Yeah it is," she said quickly. "If things work out between us you're gonna end up the father-figure in Charlie's life, Bos."
A thoughtful look crossed Bosco's face as he nodded quietly.
"Frightening huh?" Faith said, impaling him with a penetrating gaze.
"Yeah, but I'm tough," Bosco responded with a smirk. "And Charlie's a good kid."
"He's gonna be a teenager too soon," Faith murmured, shifting closer.
Bosco reached out and ran his hand over her back. "First sign of trouble, we start cuffing him to the furnace in the basement."
Faith resisted the temptation to smile.
"Nice to see you've been giving the prospect of bein' a responsible father figure to my son some thought..."
"You should see the plans I have for the cage I'm gonna lock Gracie in the minute she hits puberty," Bosco grinned.
This time the smile won. "Oh my god, Maurice Boscorelli the protective father," Faith chuckled. "Just remember, it's probably gonna be just as illegal to shoot your daughter's boyfriends in sixteen years time as it is now."
"Eighteen years time," he corrected her flatly. "Not negotiable."
Faith began to laugh.
They put a little distance between themselves, as they had been careful to do from the moment Bosco arrived, when they heard Charlie making his way back into the room.
Charlie watched them like a hawk the rest of the evening. He watched them with Gracie and seemed especially fascinated by the way Bosco and Gracie interacted as the pair indulged in pre-bath playtime. But rather than being standoffish as Faith somehow imagined he would, Charlie, to Gracie's obvious delight, joined in.
"That's a good sign," Isabelle observed quietly as they watched the unlikely trio from the kitchen.
"I think I have my father to thank for it mainly," Faith grumbled.
"It's a gift, however it comes," Isabelle replied.
As Faith watched Bosco with her children she couldn't help feeling a small sense of amazement.
"He's good with them isn't he?" she murmured softly.
"He shows a lot of promise, Faith," Isabelle smiled. "I think he may be one of the better ones."
"You think?"
Isabelle smiled cheekily. "Good with kids and has a great body. What more could you possibly want?"
Faith felt a small grin play on her lips. "You forgot 'dynamite in bed'."
Isabelle chuckled. "Are you trying to make me jealous?"
Faith smiled and watched the scene before her some more. After a moment she felt a hand push her gently from behind.
"What are you doing hanging around in here?" she heard Isabelle murmur quietly.
With some hesitation Faith went over to where her family played and found herself welcomed warmly.
---
TBC - seatbelts on...