AN/
Hello! This is the first chapter with Franco! I know not all Friz fans like Franco individually as well but if you are one (I am) then you'll like this! It also has Ava in it!
To answer your questions yes Franco helps with the baby. Liz is taking a longer break from work then he is though to stay with the baby. Franco had to go back to work but def does his part (could even say he hos her when he gets home lol) and also as you'll find out in this has a side project.
Also tysm for reviewing and reading! Your reviews are so great! Love when you speculate and all! Hope you enjoy this one!
-end of an-
Ava walked into her Gallery, still shaken by the events of the day. It was Lunch time and she'd already had enough drama and terror for a whole week. But after she knew Avery was safe with Nikolas off to school and she could give her statement she had nothing to do but continue as normal.
"Uh, forget about me?" Franco said as he sat in Ava's white swivel chair, spinning it back and forth.
"Oh, Franco." Ava realized as she saw him sitting there. "I'm so sorry. I kinda did…"
Ava was planning to meet Franco about twenty five minutes ago. They had been in the discussion of Franco debuting a new collection at her gallery. Not only was Franco an amazing artist, but it was great financially for both of them. Neither were struggling, but Ava liked her money and Franco had a new baby. He was thinking about even using the new money to get them a bigger place to live now that their little girl had arrived. While Liz knew about him wanting to do the show, and in full support, he was keeping that as a nice surprise for her and the whole family really.
Franco feigned hurt feelings as he opened his mouth in mock-shock. "Me? Your best friend?"
Ava let out a sigh. A mix of exhaustion and being overwhelmed. Franco realized this and dropped his act.
"Hey, you alright?" He asked her, standing up out of the chair.
"No." She told him truthfully.
Franco realized whatever it was was serious. Getting Ava Jerome to admit something was bothering her was not easy and she just gave it up after one time asking. Even though Franco and her were friends and he'd get it out of her easier than others, this was too easy. Like she wasn't even trying to play strong, too distracted by it to remember to.
"Is everything okay with you and Nikolas?" Franco asked, his mind going to his friend's other half. It was common knowledge they never started out as lovers, they weren't even friends. He'd seen him hurt her and while he thought Nikolas would know better now, he couldn't help but assume.
"I went over to Sonny's to pick up Avery for school and-Oh god Franco….Micheal's dead." Ava told him shaken.
"What? Michael?" Franco asked, shocked. "How?!"
"That's the worst part. I was upstairs with Avery and a gunshot rang out-"
"Is Avery okay?!" Franco interrupted her, hoping that the little girl was fine.
"She's confused and she knows something is wrong but I managed to shield her from anything else. She's not a baby but she's still young enough that I hope she doesn't realize the sound was a bullet." Ava shared with Franco, placing her bag down on the desk.
"Where is she now?"
"School. I had Nikolas take her over. If I pull her from school she's only going to worry more. It's not like I could just tell her she's staying home because her brother's been murdered." Ava shook her head just at the idea of having to tell Avery any of it. She's sure nobody would say murdered to her, but death was a word that couldn't be softened regardless.
"Ava…" Franco got her to look up from where she was nervously playing with her ring. "Do you know who did it?"
Ava shook her head. She had no idea, and she was too worried to try to. The police had asked her the same question and while Michael had some enemies, Sonny had more. She knew what it could be but she didn't wanna say it outloud as if it would make it less real. She truly just wanted to forget about it, but she couldn't. Not with her daughter in the picture.
"Do you think it's….."
"The mob?" Ava filled in for him. There! She said it. It was in the open now.
Franco nodded, waiting for her reply.
"God, Franco." Ava sighed, holding her head in her hands. "I don't know for sure, but god dammit does it feel like it."
"Nobody has tried to go after Sonny in a while….I just thought maybe.."
"That it wouldn't happen again?" Ava asked him, her worry turning into anger now that she was faced with the reality. "It's happened before. I guess I was just too stupid to figure out it was more of a when then if."
"You aren't stupid." Franco corrected her.
"Aren't I? Dante was nearly shot by Sonny himself. This is Michael's last of his nine lives. Morgan….god, it's practically tradition with Sonny's children."
"But Ava, that's not on you. That's on Sonny."
"But it doesn't only affect Sonny. It effects Me. It affects my daughter!"
Franco just sighed. Yeah. She was right. He couldn't talk her out of the truth, and why should he? She had every right to be upset. If that was his daughter or any of Liz's boys he'd be a wreck and he wouldn't stand for their endangerment another second. Ava shouldn't have to either. Certainly not because of a man like Sonny.
"You know I left the mob for my daughters….and it's still a threat to Avery." Ava spat. "I won't do it Franco. I won't lose another daughter."
