* Here it is! Chapter 5! FYI, I do not own these characters I will not disgrace Fran!( LOL!) I just love this fantastic couple! Here I go!*
The Next 2 Months...
February
Valentine's day! The most romantic holiday of the year. The day Fran hates, and Sarah loves.
" This horrible. Working on V day! It'll stop me from thinking?", Fran thought typing in her small office.
She was typing about romance she sees on the streets. She now she isn't suppose to but, she thought news worthy. People can't relate, but they get enjoyment reading it.
" I wonder if Ed, would let me, write this, I'll as when it's done", she thought, still typing.
She typed all morning, until the early afternoon. When, she made her office friend Denise proofread it, she printed it. Then, she walked up two flights to her bosses office. She knocked twice.
" Come in!", the grumpy boss said.
She walked in, to find her boss typing away on his laptop. He was chubby, balded guy, who was 5'1 , and weighed 120 pounds, and smoked cigars.
He looked at her.
" Oh, sit down Fran".
She did as she was told.
" So, what do you need?".
She bite her lip, and then, sighed.
" I want you to take a good look at something I wanna print in the column", she handed the paper to him , " It's about the love of ordinary people, the kind of love I want one day. The love I see walking to places, like in Central Park , on the sidewalk, at public pla-".
He put his hand up to quiet her. She stopped talking. He read it, glanced at her once or, twice. When, he was done, he gave her a scowl.
" Your not allowed to write this stuff. you now this!", he said.
" I now, sir, but if you only gave me a chance, I could write", she muttered, " Short stories".
" What was that?", Ed said.
" Can my column consists of Short stories and poetry?", she asked, confidently.
He laughed loudly.
Fran glared at him.
" Oh, Your serious?".
" Sir, with all due respect, I'm not laughing", Fran said,.
He ran his hand over his bald head, and groaned.
" OK".
She smiled.
"but, on a trial basis. I'll see if this works for a month. See if the sales goes up".
" They will, I promise. you will not regret this".
" I rather thin I will. You are dismissed".
She happily walked outta the office, and back downstairs, to Denise office.
" So, how'd it go?".
" I get to do it!", Fran said, smiling.
Denise ran to Fran and hugged her. They hugged and jumped around for a couple minutes.
" Oh! I have to call Max", she said walking to Denise's desk, " Can I use your phone?"
" Honey, put him on speaker!".
" OK".
So, Fran dialed Maxwell's number. It rang a couple times, and Max answered.
" Maxwell Sheffield speaking".
" Max! I have some joyous news!".
" Who's this?".
" Fran! Duh!".
He laughed.
" I know it's you. I was joking! What's up I'm kinda busy".
" Want me to tell you later? When, I come pick up Steven?".
" No, I said a little busy. So, why are you so excited?".
" OK. Remember, when a couple weeks ago we had the same conversation we had 2 months ago, about writing short stories?".
" Yes, what about it?".
" I can write short stories, and poetry! On a trial basis, but I'm still excited!".
Max smiled, his friend's dreams are coming true.
" Your excited? I'm-", he said.
" Well, I did say I was!".
" You didn't let me finish, " Your excited, I''m so excited for you!". We should celebrate! How about in 30 minutes you can meet me at Central Park?".
" Your probably busy? I' cant just leave here. what would my boss say, and I have my friend Denise here".
" Hey Max! Fran's told me alot about you", Denise said, waving at the phone as if he was really there.
" I'll have to as you now that?"
" U , could say, that you went on lunch break".
" I can't".
" Why not?", he asked
' I already ate", Fran said, " At 12, and it's".
Max checked his watch.
" 12:42".
" I can't just as for a break".
" Fran, a millionaire is asking you to lunch you should, GO!", Denise said.
" It is true. and it's Valentine's day", Max said, hearing what Denise said.
" Max! Can't you take Sarah. As you said, it is Valentine's day!", Fran said, not really wanting him to take Sarah.
" It is! I'm taking her to dinner tonight. I got her a present too", he said.
" Well have fun! I'll proabbly take the children over to my house and, take them to school tomorrow anyway, and you two need, privacy you know", Fran said.
Denise made a gag face, and the choke signal. Fran mouthed, " No".
"OK, Max. Gotta go, Denise is making nauseous!".
" Hey", Denise says, hands on her hips.
He laughed.
" OK, you go. Call me later"..
" K".
She hung up,and glared at Denise.
" You should've went!", Denise said.
" You should've went!", Fran said, mimicking her voice, walking outta the room.
" Haha!", Denise said, getting back to work.
At about 5, Fran got off work. She said bye to Denise, and fled. She drove to her house. She had to do something. She got there, 5-10 minutes later. She went to the basement, and pulled up a looseboard. There was a old box, with flowers on it. She took it up to the living room, where she opened it and, inside were things she had when she had Nick. She searched around in it until, she found a picture of Steven and Nick smiling. They were smiling and being happy. Nick, had to ruin it with that note. She was crying.
" Why did days like this end?", she thought, as she put down the picture on the coffee table.
She fumbled in the box again. She found a ancient glass cup, Nick got it for their 5th year anniversary. She through it at the wall, in anger. She got her phone and, texted Max.
" Help! My house, please".
" Give me 10-20 minutes. I have final touches to do to this play", he texted back.
" It might be life threatening, I need HELP!".
Max panicked.
" Life threatening? Please, don't tell me she's...Oh my god!", he thought.
He ran outta the theatre, and saw someone getting into a cab. He ran over and pulled the guy outta the cab and, got in.
"1231, N. Mediate St. Step on it!", he yelled.
So, the cab sped off the Fran's street, and Max jumped outta the cab without paying. He got to the door, and kicked it open.
" Fran! Fran!", he yelled.
He ran to the living room to find Fran with a piece of glass in her hand, crying.
" Fran! Oh my god! Fran, what are you doing?", Max shouted, standing in the doorway of the living room.
" I'm finishing this, I have to. He's the only thing that can hurt me. So, if I'm not here he can't hurt me. Please, protect Steven, and tell him I love him", she said, beginning to do it.
" Fran, you can't do this! Everyone will be devastated, I will be devoted. Fran, I love you, and I want to be with you, and for that to happen you have to be here with me".
She was crying uncontrollably, and was loosing her grip .
" Please, Fran, drop the glass. Remember, the second day I met you, Steven was crying because, he hurt you, he hates to see you in pain. Now, think of what he'll feel if you did this to yourself because of him", Max said, slowly moving over to her.
It took like a couple of minutes of total silence, but she finally let go of the glass.
He was crying, but he sighed heavily of the relief.
He walked around the coffee table and, got to Fran. He picked her up, and got her away from the broken glass. He began to kiss her, and she couldn't return the kiss she was to traumatized.
" Fran, never do that again", Max said, through his tears.
Fran nodded.
" Promise?".
" I promise".
" Pinkie?", he said, holding out his pinkie.
She made her pinkie grab hold of his.
" Pinkie promise".
They hugged tightly. Max rubbed her back until her tears subsided.
" Are you OK", he asked, concerned.
" Yes, thank you, and I love you too", Fran said, looking up into his eyes.
" Fran, I love you", Max said, gently stroking her cheek with his index finger.
She broke away from his embrace.
" What wrong now, my love?", Max asked.
" I don't know. Right now, sarah doesn't matter but,you told her about dinner you should go. I need to get rid of this box and, I need to pick up the children. none of this, will be spoken about again?", she said, going to the kitchen for a broom.
He followed.
" Fran, can I drive you to get the children? I don't think I can leave you here alone", Maxwell said.
" Yeah, and I'll let you drive, I...never mind. " Fran said, getting the broom outta the closet.
He chuckled.
" You're one messed up chick", he said, jokingly.
" Hey!", she walked over to him, and lightly pushed him. " That's not nice".
" I know! Happy Valentine's day, Fran. I love you, so much", he lightly kissed her.
" I love you to, Maxwell. Happy Valentine's day!", she kissed him again.
" OK, so where do we go from here?", Max asked.
" I'm guessing it, stops. I mean, Sarah the mother of those 3 adorable children, they can't go through what Steven went through because, of ME! I love them so much, I was right about fighting those boys off of Maggie to! She's growing up. She has had 12 date so far and, 3 were with the same boy, everytime I'm awake for her to tal to about them", Fran said.
Max frowned.
" Don't worry! I've laid down some ground rules, and she's followed them to the letter! Go get the kids. Matter of fact, I'll come with you, and take them here", Fran said.
Max looked at the floor. She used her index finger, to make him look at her.
" Max, I'm perfectly safe. I have my baby, and your babies in one car. They have so much to live for, why would I do that?", she asked.
" Your right. Come on, let me sweep up the glass", he took the broom from her and, walked to the living room.
Fran followed him, and smiled.
" How the wazz did I get so, lucky?", she thought, as she followed him. By passing him, to go to the living room.
He sweeped the living room.
" Fran, to the door. We have to go", Max said.
Fran was coming up from the basement.
" What were you doing down there?", he asked.
" I put the box in it's special place where Steven can never fun it, and neither can I " she said, walking toward the front door.
" Good don't want, THIS happening again!".
She stopped in front of him.
" What you don't like coming to my rescue?", she said, pouting, jokingly.
" Only in my dreams. It's to scarey in real life".
He smiled, and open the front door.
" Such a gentleman!".
" That's my middle name!".
She laughed, and then he laughed.
So, they both went back to Max's house to pick up the kids, happy that they both loved each other.
" Come in Fran", Maggie says.
Fran walks in shocked.
" How'd you now, it was...me?", Fran said, walking in.
"Becasue", Maggie got up from her bed, " your kinda, the only person who knocks!".
" OK? Well, came in here to as if, you would like to come over to my house like a sleepover tonight? You'd have to bring your school clothes, because your NOT missing school tommorow", Fran said, smiling.
" Yeah, I'd love that, you can show me your collection of romance novels!", Maggie said.
" OK, get packed. After, you all are packed then, I'll come up and get you guys and we'll go, we'll do", Fran said leaving, the room.
Fran went to the guestroom. Once, she was there she, sat on the bed.
" I love you? Why does that feel wrong? I'm happy he saved me from, myself and also, admitted his feelings, but we cant do anything about anything because of the kids, and Sarah", she thought, "Well, this sucks!"
She laughed, at herself.
She got up, and walked downstairs to Max's office. She knocked on his office door, and he opened it 2 seconds later. She came in.
" Hey!", she said.
He closed the door, and locked it and happily took Fran in his arms.
" Hi!", he said.
" I've missed you!", Fran said.
" I've missed you more", he said.
He kissed her.
" So, I've been thinking", Fran said , moving over to the green plush love seat.
" What have you been thining about?", he asked, following her.
" I've been thinking , that if, Sarah is with you, I can't be. It kills me that she has, you and I, dont. So, there's a way that she can be with you", she whisphered, " but then, that'll hurt the kids".
" OK, how about we stop the relationship right here", she thought.
" Fran?".
" OK, here's my thinking. I love you, and the kids equally and, for nothing to change, we can't be, together", Fran said.
" Are you, you know OK?", he said, in total shock of, her words.
" Yes. Max, I'm fine, I will not hurt those kids. I mean, I don't mind hurting Sarah but, those kids can't lose their mother, the same as Steven lost a father. I will not allow it. So, therefore", she stood up, " We can't be".
She left the room.
" What the h-e-double hockey stick happened here! OK, good day, suicde desions, love grows, love smashs. What the waffles!", he thought, as he ran his hand through his hair.
" God! Why me! ", he said, looking at the sky.
Fran was in the living room, with kids bout to leave. The kids were putting their coats on.
"OK, it's Valentine's day , go say bye to Maxwell before, we leave", Fran said.
Steven, Brighton, and Maggie dashes to Maxwell's office.
" Hey! You guys forgot Gracie!", Fran says her hands on her hips.
No-one answers.
2-5 minutes later, Steven, Maggie, and Brighton runs to the door. Max was a few paces behind.
" Can we seat in the car?", Steven asks, running to the door.
" Sure, but wait for Gracie to hug Max too", Fran said, walking to Max.
Gracie goes to her father and, hugs him. Fran takes her, gives her to Maggie, fumbles around in her purse and, gives Steven her keys.
" Please, be careful", Fran says.
" I can drive?", Steven said.
"HA! Not untill your 18!", Fran said.
Steven, Brighton, and Maggie walked outta the house to Fran sy blue ford.
So, Max and Fran were alone.
"So..", Max said, " Is this your final decison?".
" Yes, it is".
" Can't we just do, what we've been doing every weekend?", he said.
" Give me a quick kiss and we'll, see", Fran said.
He came over to her, and quickly kisses Fran's lips, the lips he'd come to love. After, he just held her in his arms. She put her head on his chest.
" You know, if we get caught we're in trouble", Fran said.
" I don't care, as long as I'm in your arms I'm in heavan", he said, kissing her forhead.
She looed into his eyes.
" Remember, when I said, ' what would I do with out you' and you said, ' Lets never find out'. I'm gald you said that because, then, we'd never be here right now".
He kissed her.
" Fran, I love you"
" I love you, too".
Fran, walked to the door to load up the car. She went to the car and back 2 or 3 times. Max stand in the doorway, looking longingly at the car. He closes the door, and goes upstair to get ready for his date with Sarah. 2-3 minutes later, Fran was un-loading the luagges and the kids. She gave Maggie the keys, and the teenagers run in the house. Fran takes Gracie in the house and, the bags of the children's clothes.
" You guys! We need help!", Fran said.
Maggie, Stevn and Brighton ran from the living room,to the front door. One minute later, the ids were gathered talking in the living room, and Fran was rumaging through her fridge figuring out what to make for dinner. She decided on chicken, string beans, and rice. They had a very loud dinner even, Gracie shouted random thing now and then. After, they went and got into pajama's and watched a movie, untill 10:30pm. Maggie slept on the floor in Fran's room, and Brighton slept on the floor in Steven's room. Fran hugged , and kissed them all. Gracie snuggled up, with Fran. So, Gracie fell asleep within a few seconds. Fran kissed her forehead.
" I love you, babygirl. Sarah's the luckiest person in the world to have all of you! I love you all!", she whisphered.
She smiled , layed down and fell asleep quickly.
* I had a hard time writing about Fran commiting sucide but, I did it! IDK, if you'll like it but, it took me a few days to get over that/ write that! :D*
*BUBBLE GUM*