Note: this chapter contains sex.

When Bernard woke up, it was already getting dark outside. Another wasted day, blurred by alcohol, but at least his headache seemed to have subsided. He lifted himself off the couch, yawned and stretched.

He flicked on the lights and walked over to his desk. Fran had been here earlier, she left his coat on the back of his chair. She was going to come over soon probably so it would just be him and her this evening. No Manny to get in the way for once.

Bernard felt a tingling in his lower abdomen followed by a familiar little jolt in his trousers. He panicked slightly and looked down at his apparent erection.

"Oh god, no," he groaned, "Stop that. She's not into you, Bernard, she's just your friend."

He put his hand into his pocket and stroked himself a few times. That was it though. He had to stop thinking about Fran that way. Plus he figured he should probably shower and brush his teeth after throwing up this afternoon.

Sighing, he made his way upstairs to clean himself up. He stepped into the shower and began scrubbing at his hair. For whatever reason, he seemed to be subconsciously making sure he was extra clean tonight and he wasn't quite sure why. His usual five minute rinse off became about fifteen minutes of scrubbing.

After a half hour or so, he emerged back into the front of the shop, right as there was a knock on the door, followed by Fran entering. She was in her usual get-up for a night at the pub.

"Hello, Fran," Bernard smiled.

Fran looked over at him, "Oh wow, Bernard, you- you actually look really cleaned up tonight."

"I thought a nice shower might help me feel better," he replied.

"Well, you look nice," she said.

Bernard looked at the ground, sheepishly, "Thank you…so, um, where do you want to go?"

"I dunno, grab some chips and some booze?" Fran asked, "You hungry?"

For whatever reason, Bernard didn't really want to go out tonight. He instead really wanted to just stay in the shop with Fran. They could probably find something fun to do here.

"Well, we've been to the pub the past, what, four nights?" Bernard asked.

"That isn't normally an issue for you," Fran laughed, "I mean, unless you're still feeling sick."

"Oh no, no, I'm fine, er," Bernard shuffled around awkwardly.

"What is it?" Fran asked, concerned slightly.

Bernard figured he should try to get a hold of himself. It might be weird if he asked Fran to just sit around with him in the shop. After all, there really wasn't anything to do besides talk and drink wine. Maybe going out and about would help quell these feelings he had been having for Fran.

"Ah, nothing, nothing," Bernard said, shaking his head, "Still waking up. A bit out of it."

With that, the two of them set off to the pub.

Bernard couldn't quite understand what it was that made him so awkward around people he liked. He could very easily tell someone off or converse with anyone normally, but if he happened to have a tiny bit of an attraction to someone, he stuttered and stammered and couldn't figure out what he was doing. Maybe it was due to all of his past relationships being major failures that exploded in his face. That probably had at least something to do with it.

He and Fran ordered chips and an array of drinks. Fran joked about not letting Bernard have any tequila tonight, which he completely agreed to. He really didn't want to have Fran walking in on him puking his guts out again.

By 2am, the pair were a bit more than hammered and stumbled back in the direction of Black Books.

"That was fun for a change without Manny," Fran admitted, swaying a bit from intoxication.

"I know," Bernard laughed, "I know, right? Right, he would be all 'ooooh, I don't think I should eat that, might get it in my beard.' Haha, what a wanker."

Fran laughed and bumped into his shoulder. Bernard's inhibitions were a bit lowered and he took this opportunity to put his arm around her. To his surprise, Fran threw her arm around him as well, and they laughed and made fun of Manny all the way back to the shop.

"Aye, so what do you want to do now?" Bernard asked as they entered the shop.

"I dunno, you still have wine in here?" Fran smirked, "Course you do! Let's open a bottle!"

"Just what I was thinking," Bernard smiled, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a bottle from the refridgerator.

When he re-entered the room, Fran was surprisingly on the couch, rather than at her usual chair beside the desk. Bernard grabbed the corkscrew off of the desk and popped open the bottle.

"Ah, I forgot glasses and they're all the way in the kitchen," Bernard said.

"No worries, we'll just take swigs outta the bottle," Fran replied, "Sit down."

Bernard sat next to her and handed her the bottle. She took a swig and handed it to him as he took a swig. He placed the bottle on the floor for the time being, as he felt a hand on his lap. He looked over and saw that it was Fran's.

"Is there something on my trousers?" Bernard asked sheepishly.

"No no, just admiring the fact that you're wearing clean ones today," Fran smiled.

"Ah, good good," Bernard laughed nervously.

He nervously put his arm around Fran and expected to get beaten for it. Instead, it seemed like Fran welcomed it and put her arm behind Bernard, ruffling his hair.

"Er, so, what are we doing?" Bernard asked.

"I'm not sure," Fran replied, "But it feels right."

Bernard rubbed his face against Fran's. He was enjoying this cuddling that seemed to be happening. He couldn't actually remember the last time he was physically this close to a human being as most of his dates never really made it to this stage.

Fran touched his scruffy face and turned it toward her. He tilted his head to meet hers and the two began to lock lips. Bernard wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped hers around his shoulders, gripping at the back of his hair.

Bernard panicked for a second when he realized that he was getting hard and he pulled back, "Fran, are you sure this is okay then?"

"Of course, Bernard," Fran replied.

"And this isn't just because we're both drunk?" he asked, panting.

"Bernard, I want this. I've been wanting it for awhile now," Fran smiled, "Now shut up."

She pulled him back to her and they began to kiss passionately once more. Fran began to nibble at Bernard's neck causing him to moan audibly with pleasure. He leaned back on the couch as they continued making out, Fran now on top of him. She reached her hand down to his crotch and felt his erection pulsating against his zipper. She unzipped him and pulled out dick, rubbing her hand down his shaft.

"Oh…oh god," Bernard gasped. He had forgotten how a strange hand felt down there.

Fran continued to stroke him and nibble at his neck, causing him to grasp onto the side of the couch with pure bliss. He felt his balls tense as his entire body tingled.

"Fran!" he gasped, panting, "If…if you want more than what we're doing right now, uh, we're gonna have to do it soon. I'm not going to last much longer."

"My, it has been awhile for you," Fran smiled. She pulled a rubber from her pocket and waved it in his face, "Come on then, let's get to it."

The next thing Bernard knew, they were in his bed and he was thrusting deep into Fran. She gasped with pleasure and gripped her nails into his back as he reached a hand down to stimulate her clit as they fucked. She cried out as she came, approving greatly of his skill and she wondered how he had possibly gotten so good at what he did, considering he hardly got any.

Bernard felt his balls tensing once again and he knew he was seconds from exploding. He tried to prolong it but Fran began to bite at his ear and he completely lost his load. He thrust hard into her one last time and gasping loudly before falling in a heap next to her. He panted hard, sweat dripping from his brow as Fran cuddled close to him.

"F-fuck…" Bernard gasped, "That, that was fucking amazing."

"It was," Fran replied.

Bernard pulled her close to him, snuggling his face against hers. For once in a very long time, Bernard Black fell asleep with a smile on his face.