Frank sat up on the sofa with a cup of coffee; he was planning an attack, an ambush actually. He couldn't let this continue.
Rob dragged in around one in the morning. Frank could smell the booze and perfume as soon as he walked in the door.
He turned on the light like a father waiting up for a wayward teen and stood, hands on his hips, staring the other man down.
"What?"Robert slurred
"I think I should be asking you that question," Frank replied. "Do you have any idea what happened here tonight?"
"No," he said.
"My daughter, my wife, and I had to hold your wife down while we gave her medication for her pain. I had to carry her from the dinner table because she couldn't walk, I had to put her to bed, I had to hold her and rock her until the pain died down enough for her to sleep, why am I the one doing this?"
"I'm sorry, I lost track of time," he offered. Frank wasn't buying it. "I'll go check on her."
"Not before you shower," Frank hissed and got closer. "You cheating with just one or is it several?"
"I'm not cheating!" he said defensively.
"Smell like Chanel, never here, wrinkled clothes, lipstick on your tie."
He sighed. "Okay, it was a onetime thing."
"Had to be more than that if she flies to Virginia on Christmas Eve," Frank challenged.
"It's my ex-wife," he said.
Frank nodded, "Rob, she's going through enough, really. Just...just let her be, if you can't love her, let her be."
"I do love her," he insisted.
"Then be here with her, be her nurse, hold her, or the next time I won't be so generous."
He nodded and went to shower and check on his wife.
He went to the bedroom, looked at his wife, so tiny, looking so very weak, he backed out.
He went back to the living room to sit after showering to wait for her to wake up.
Frank was still there, "If you can't do this, just admit it."
"No more slip ups," he promised.
"Then why aren't you holding her?" Frank asked. "Just...if you are going to leave her, do it now."
"I'm not," he said just as they heard Denise waking up.
Rob was still frozen, Frank was pulled to her. "Hey, ssh."
"I don't feel well," she said weakly.
He stroked her forehead, "I know you just lay here and rest. Can you move your legs?"
She moved her legs a little "Where's Rob?"she asked. She rarely asked for him, but she knew she should.
"He's in the living room," Frank replied. "He got in a little while ago."
"Can you get him for me?"she asked.
Frank nodded and put her hand down on the bed. "I'll get him."
Frank went back to the living room "She's awake and she wants you. Don't screw this up," he warned.
Robert nodded and went to be with his wife, she was lying on her side, she was pale and shaking, that scared him.
"So I guess the cat's out of the bag," Rob said. "He's mean when he's mad."
Denise laughed "He's all bark and no bite. Where have you been?"
"At a Christmas party," he replied. "I'm sorry I wasn't here."
"It's okay, you're here now," she said reaching for him.
He smiled and lay with her. "You sleep?
"Yeah after they drugged me," she sighed. "I'm going to kill Frank as soon as I can get up!"
"You needed it, honey," he replied. "You need to be regular on your pills."
"They don't help anymore," she admitted.
"Then we need to change them, we will," he promised then she took a breath and coughed.
"Denise, you okay?" he asked concerned.
"What's that...Rob...where were you tonight?"
He froze solid and that gave her the answer she feared. "Get away from me!" she demanded.
"Denise, honey..."
"No, get away from me!" She started to cry.
Frank heard her getting upset, "Denise?"
He walked back to see her crying "Frank, get him out of here!"
"Robert, let's not make a scene okay, get a bag and go, I'll see you get the rest of your things."
"Denise! Please, honey it was a mistake!" he begged.
"No," she replied. "It wasn't a mistake. A mistake is what I did, a mistake is a one night stand that hurts someone you love, this is an affair! This has been ongoing and I was just too blind or too stupid to see it."
He sighed but got a bag and left the house if she didn't want him, he didn't want her either.
Frank sat on Denise's bed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She shook her head "He cheated on me, that's all there is to it."
"How's your pain? Do you want me to stay?" he asked gently. He knew her heart had to hurt, his hurt for her and from her, even now.
"I can't breathe," she gasped.
"Okay," he sighed. "Sit up for me and try to calm down."
She sat up and took deep breaths to try and calm herself down but it wasn't working.
"Let me get Tanya."
"No, it's okay," she said starting to calm down. "I don't want her anywhere near me"
"Why?" he stroked her hair as he rocked slightly as if he never stopped.
"Because she jabbed that needle in me when I told you all not to!"
"I told her to jab that needle in you, you have no idea what you looked like screaming in pain like that, both Jordana and Tanya broke down and cried, Jacob screamed his little head off!"
"Well don't do it again," she said with very little conviction.
"Denise, you needed it. You felt better and you went to sleep and now it's not as bad, why are you so against it?"
"Because I just am!"
"Not a good enough reason, give me a god reason and you know it Denise I'll fight like the Devil to back you."
"I don't want it because it makes this all too real," she murmured.
"It is real," he replied. "It is real and it'll be real and it'll be worse if you just leave it. That baby boy was terrified. Terrifed."
She took one look at Frank and burst into tears.
He sighed, now they were getting someplace.
She reached for him,she wanted him again.
He held her close to him, "You listen, you start on your pills, we get you some treatment, I'll be there, Dee, ever minute of every day, every pain, every fear, every victory I'll be there if you do this, please. I need my best friend.'
She nodded and just laid in his arms
"Good. Can you lay and sleep by yourself or you want me to stay?"
"Stay with me," she said softly.
He nodded, "Lay back." He tucked her in and sat at her bedside until morning.
That's where Jordana found him when she woke up and it hurt, he was still in love with Denise and she knew it, she wanted to change it but she didn't know how.
She just would be natural, "Frank, let me take over, you get a little rest before the others arrive. Jeremy invited the Holdens and Burtons."
"No, it's okay. She'll be up soon anyway," he said.
"How is she?"
"She finally realized she needs the medicine. She's okay, found out her husband is a scumbag though," he said.
"Oh? Oh, no, that...that snake in the grass, that lowdown conniving little…that's just downright cruel!" Jordana replied and cuddled to Frank. "Did I tell you I love you lately?"
He smiled and held her. "Yeah,you did."
"Well it's true, we both love you," she told him. "Let me help her get dressed you shower and play with your grandson, go on now."
He nodded and kissed her "I love you"he said and went to play with Jacob.
By noon everyone was up and getting ready for the day, even Denise was up. She wasn't in any pain and loved it, she got up and played with Jacob, showered and got ready for the day. She did all she could to keep her mind off of Robert and the fact that she was alone again. Frank got up and was helping Jeremy fry the turkey while Tanya and Jordana sat on the porch and watched them.
"I'm worried about this," Tanya laughed. "Two Thanksgivings ago they got drunk and tried to deep fry everything even their shoes."
Jordana laughed. "I remember that, right after Frank tried to murder Rudolph for not staying on the roof. You never did want to decorate before the first of December after that."
"I never wanted to see a turkey fryer again after that," she laughed. "They are so cute; you'd never guess he was his dad though would you?"
Jordana laughed again and shook her head. Jeremy favored his mother in appearance.
Denise came outside with Jacob, "Tanya, where are the extra wipes, honey?"
"In my bathroom under the sink," she replied turning to face her mother-in-law and son.
"Jordana, you might want to practice this," Denise told her. "Frank isn't good at changing diaper. He tries but he makes a mess."
Jordana laughed "Okay, do you mind if I practice on your kid?" she asked Tanya.
"Go for it," Tanya laughed. "Frank, Jeremy time to wash up the Holden's will be here any minute.
They both whined, they were having fun.
"You can play later boys," she laughed. "We want to have a nice home for the general."
Before they went in though the Holdens arrived and Michael joined in with Frank and Jeremy's "chore" without even saying hello.
Emmalin laughed, "My father is such a kid."
"They've been at this at all morning," Tanya replied. "Gifts under the tree."
They walked in to see Denise with Jordana. "That's too tight, it's gonna rip."
Jordana was getting nervous and fumbling as Denise tried to help her.
"It's okay, as long as he's covered he can't get you," Denise said being infinitely patient.
Jordana tried again but once again she failed and this time Jacob did get her, actually he got both of them.
Denise just laughed, "Try again, then change your clothes."
Jordana looked at her and after the next time of not getting it she just gave up and went to change clothes. Denise heard her crying in her room.
It was only then Denise noticed Claudia Joy.
"Hey," she said smiling. "He got me!"
"Hey," she replied smiling. "Why were you teaching Jordana the fine art of diapering?"
"She's gonna need to know how. She's pregnant."
Claudia Joy was shocked, "Wow, that's...Denise are you feeling okay?"
"Of course." Again with a fake smile.
"You look pale, honey."
"Just a cold, I'm okay," she lied.
Frank came inside a second later, "Hello ladies...we're missing a lady."
"Yeah, she's in the bedroom, she's upset because she couldn't get the diaper on right," Denise told him.
"And so it begins," he laughed. "I'll get her then we can do the rest of those gifts."
Claudia Joy and Denise nodded then Frank went to check on his wife, she was sitting on the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Oh, Jordy," Frank sighed. "You're all right Sweetie pie. Come here."
"I can't do this Frank," she said sniffling.
He sat by her, "Can't do what honey?"
"Have a baby," she said. "I'm going to be a terrible mom."
"No you'll be a wonderful mother," Frank replied. "You just need to learn a few things and God willing Denise will be with us when the baby comes and she can help out."
She nodded and laid on his shoulder, she was starting not to feel well.
"Almost time to eat and do gifts, come on out." He kissed her cheek.
She nodded and got up and they went back out to the living room. "You okay Jordana?"Denise asked
She nodded, "Maybe we can give it another whirl after dinner."
She nodded and Tanya came into the living room and told them to come eat.
The meal was wonderful, even the turkey and ham Frank and Jeremy deep fried. Denise barely ate a bite but she was smiling.
"Denise you sure your okay?"Claudia Joy asked.
She nodded, "I'm full, that's all."
She only nodded and let it go for now, she'd ask Frank later.
He whispered to her, "Dee, pain back?"
"Yeah but it's not bad."
"When dinner's over I want you to go with Tanya for a shot then you can sit out here, okay?" he asked.
"Not while they're here," she said.
"Denise, no one will notice you going to the bathroom but they will you screaming in agony."
She sighed "Fine." She knew he was right, she just didn't like it.
He smiled and after supper Denise and Tanya went to the bedroom.
"This is ridiculous," Denise sighed.
"Why?" she asked injecting the drugs.
"Having to take a freaking pain shot everyday just to get peace," She groaned. "This was not the way I wanted to do this but...I have no choice."
"Denise, this is all you're going to do," Tanya explained. "You aren't going to just let the cancer go and not hurt. Bone cancer is painful; you have to control it to have a peaceful death. If that's what you want, you need to control your pain."
"I'm going to do chemo," she sighed.
"Good for you!" she said excited. "That's the Denise I love! Let's go out now so Jeremy and I can give you a Christmas present."
"Let's just hope this doesn't make me sleep like it has every time I've taken it," she laughed.
"It won't, it's a new drug, a day version if you will. I'll give you the night version later."
While Denise was gone Claudia Joy cornered Frank, "Spill."
"What?" he asked confused.
"Denise, what's wrong and where is Robert?"
"Ask her," he said and walked away.
A little while later they joined for the presents, there was a lot for the baby and other children, then finally one from Jeremy and Tanya to, "Mom AND Dad."
Denise looked a little confused at her ex husband.
"Ladies privilege," he replied and let her open the box. "It was a picture of Jacob and a ?" It said, "To Grandma and Grandpa love Jacob and Julie or Justin."
Denise's eyes shot wide open and she squealed and got up and hugged her daughter-in-law and son.
Frank was right behind her congratulating them both, there was hugging and kissing galore as congratulations swept the room and Frank got caught up in the moment.
He turned to Denise to offer a hug and without realizing or thinking they both kissed each other, and not just a kiss between parents with a shared child or two friends with a romantic past, this kiss was more than a merging of mouths, more than the joining of hearts, this kiss was so much more, it was a union of souls.
A/N: Sequel to follow after the New Year.