Cheating Hearts
So this isn't chapter isn't written from an exact prompt, but I have had many people asking for a Freddie and Lindsey story. Well ask and you shall receive! As the title suggests it's not all rainbow and puppies, but nevertheless, I hope you'll all still enjoy it.
Lindsey remembered the exact moment that it started, the day her heart betrayed her. It was a day of happiness, of celebration. After a few trying weeks, the garage had been given the get go to expand and so the whole family had gone down to the Dog to revel in their success and good fortune.
Despite a shaky start to their business, Roscoe's & sons was fast becoming the best garage in all of Chester, only six months after setting up.
Lindsey also remembered that by the time the sun was setting, they'd all had a few to drink, except Robbie and Jason much to their annoyance, and the night raced by because of this, becoming a big blur.
Around eleven Sandy called it a night, making her way to the house and dragging the twins back kicking and screaming, whilst the others stuck around. After all, they were young and so was the night. In fact they were having such a grand time, that when Jack shut the pub, they decided to head to The Loft instead, not satisfied with their current alcohol-blood levels.
The music was booming and all too soon the four had split up, Joe and Lindsey grinding on the dance floor as Ziggy started chatting up members from a hen party. Freddie though?
Freddie was at the bar, ignoring the interested looks that were sent his way (and there were a lot of them), instead staring into the bottom of a beer bottle and looking like his entire world was ending. And maybe it was.
Seeing her future brother in law looking down, Lindsey did what any brilliant best friend would do, and left Joe with the promise that she'd be back soon, settling herself on the bar stool next to Freddie with a quiet ooft.
"You okay Freds... Fredss... Fredster?" She slurred, only noticing the amused smile he sent her way and not the completely pained and heartbroken look in his eyes.
"Better than you," he laughed, exchanging money for another beer.
"Nonsense. I'm absolutely fantastic," Lindsey declared, almost hitting the guy sitting next to her as she flung her hands out in the air.
"You won't be tomorrow though. My guess is, you'll have a killer headache."
"Shh," Lindsey motioned, placing her index finger onto Freddie's lips, effectively silencing him, though not for the reason she thought. "Just live in the moment yeah, stop being such a Mr. Grumpy Pants."
Freddie pulled away from Lindsey (though to a passerby it looked like it physically pained him to do so) and jumped off the bar stool he had been sat at for the past twenty minutes. "Well, I think I'm going to head home," he told the surprised doctor, before making his way to the stairs and out of the club as quickly as possible.
Lindsey never knew why she followed Freddie. Maybe it was because she was simply being a good friend who could tell when they're closest confidante was extremely upset.
Maybe she was too drunk to realise that going back to her loving fiancée was the best course of action.
Or maybe she could sense what was going to happen. Could feel the electricity that crackled between them every-time they were in the same room, and tonight, when she was full of peach schnapps and lemonade, with a hint of vodka, she subconsciously decided to do something about it. Decided to give Freddie the chance to make his move.
"Wait," she called after him, once she had stumbled out of the club and was weaving down the street. She could see the outline of Freddie in front of her, thanking every God there was when she saw him stop just under the bridge. "Why did you leave?"
"You shouldn't be out here Linds," Freddie replied, ignoring her last comment completely. "There's a lot of dangerous men out here. Who knows what will happen."
"Oh don't be such a drama queen," Lindsey laughed. "Anyway you'll protect me, won't you Freds, you're so big and strong, you'll fight everyone off." Lindsey laughed again, pulling Freddie into a tight hug and sloppily kissing him on the cheek.
As she did so, Freddie stiffened completely, telling himself not to do anything that he shouldn't, though he still enjoyed the moment, pretending for just one second that she was his. And that he was hers.
Unfortunately for him, Lindsey noticed and pulled away, a hurt look clouding her eyes. "You always do that," she said softly, refusing to look at him as she played with the hem of her dress. "Every-time we hug or talk or whatever, you always freeze. Like you wish you could be anywhere else. Do you? Wish you weren't near me that is?"
"What? No, of course not," Freddie exclaimed, horrified that Lindsey could think that. How could anyone ever wish they weren't with her? He couldn't even wrap his head around the concept.
"It's just... just, you do that, and it's like you wish you didn't have to be there, and if that's true just say, because I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable, although it'd suck because you're like my best friend Freddie and I just love you."
Although that statement did sound lucid and more understandable than when Lindsey had been in the club, Freddie knew she was still drunk due to the fact that she had burst into messy and very dramatic tears halfway through her speech.
"I could never think that Linds," Freddie soothed, hoping beyond hope that Lindsey wouldn't remember what he was about to say as he lifted her head so her eyes would meet his.
"You Lindsey Butterfield are amazing. You're so funny, kind and pretty. And sometimes I hate Joe a little bit, because he was the one who met you first. He was the one who you fell in love with and I just wish it was me. So don't you ever think that I can't stand you, because when you talk to me, well it's the best bit of my day."
Lindsey was silent for a moment, her head racing (though that was a bit of an exaggeration, the alcohol had really slowed down her thinking time), and as she worked her way through what Freddie had just declared, said man was stood by her side, growing more and more worried as time passed.
Eventually Lindsey moved, though Freddie would never have foreseen what happened next. He had been expecting a slap, after all she was getting married in two months time and he was the best man for God's sake. Instead, he got a kiss.
And it wasn't just any old kiss, no this was a kiss that people dreamed about. It warmed you through, though you were covered in goosebumps. You forgot the world and your surroundings, but you saw fireworks. You didn't breath, but it was better than the purest of oxygen.
They pulled away far too soon for Freddie's liking, but he was instantly mollified when he saw the dazed look on Lindsey's face. "Wow," she whispered, laughing breathlessly.
"Yeah," Freddie replied, before reality hit. Despite the amazingness of that kiss, he couldn't help but hope that Lindsey wouldn't remember it in the morning. He really didn't want her to feel guilty about it, not when it was his fault. That feeling was only intensified when Lindsey turned away and very nosily threw up in a nearby bush.
Oh dear, he was going to hell.
}}}}}}}}}
When Lindsey woke up the next morning, her head was banging. "I'm getting old," she muttered, regretting it as her own voice only worsened her headache. She tried to cast her mind back, but the night was a blur, hell she didn't even remember how she had gotten home!
Joe was still sleeping next to her, but even his breathing was too loud for her delicate being, and with an almighty push, Lindsey made her way out of bed and staggered to the kitchen, desperate for a paracetamol and a glass of water.
When she made her way there, she realised she wasn't the only one up. Freddie was slumped over the table, looking every bit as hungover as she felt.
"Morning," she croaked, wincing as the glasses clattered when she went to grab one. Even in her hungover state she saw the way Freddie stiffened when he realised that she was there. A pang of... something hit her hard, though she couldn't identify what it was.
"Uh... morning," Freddie said, stumbling over his words and his feet as he tried to make a hasty retreat.
"Woah, what's going on?" Lindsey asked, worried for her friend as a look of extreme guilt fell over his face. She grabbed his arm so he couldn't make an escape and sat him back down on the chair. "Are you okay Freds?"
"You don't remember," he muttered, though it sounded more like he was talking to himself than to her.
"Remember what? What's happ-" As she spoke a wave of images passed through her head and she realised exactly why Freddie had been acting strangely. Freddie's declaration, And then the pair kissing.
"Oh no. No no no no," Lindsey gasped, panicking as she tried to wrap her head around what had happened between the pair of them, whilst simultaneously trying to forget it. "We didn't? We can't have? This can't be happening."
Realising that Lindsey was getting incredibly worked up, Freddie made his way over to her, trying his best to calm her down. "Shh, it's okay."
"How is this okay? I cheated on my fiancée."
"Maybe not so okay then," Freddie wilted under the glare that Lindsey shot his way. "Look it's fine, it didn't mean anything and we were drunk. If we don't say anything no-one will find out."
Lindsey nodded, contemplating what Freddie had said. "I just feel awful lying to Joe, I don't think I can do it."
"Well tell him if you think you have to," Freddie shrugged, hoping that if he acted more casual than he was feeling, Lindsey would be less likely to spill the beans. "Just be prepared for Joe to freak out completely, you know he won't take you being drunk as an excuse."
Lindsey wilted by his side, seeing the truth in his words. Although she loved Joe, she knew that he could be completely unreasonable if angered and this wouldn't certainly set his temper right off. "So what do we do?"
"Like I said, forget it ever happened."
Freddie went to leave, but Lindsey's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "But you won't forget. I don't just remember that kiss, I remember exactly what you said to me."
Freddie's eyes hardened as he realised what Lindsey was implying. "And what would that be?"
"You said that you wished that I was in love with you, instead of Joe. Do you... like me?"
The pair were silent, one waiting for the answer that could and probably would change everything between them whilst the other frantically tried to think of ways to get out of their current situation.
"I... I... yes! I bloody love you okay. Have done for ages in fact and I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner. But I was trying to be a good friend, a good brother. I didn't want anyone noticing, I even tried to distance myself from you in the hopes that I would stop feeling this way. But it just never works and I'm sorry for doing what I did last night I ju- hmmph,"
Freddie was cut off as Lindsey moved forwards, pressing her lips against his. It was a short kiss, nothing more than a peck really, though the spark that had been there the previous night was still there. As one they both shot back, eyes wide..
"Oh my God, I am so sorry!" Lindsey spluttered, unable to believe she had kissed someone who wasn't her fiancée (and his brother at that) twice in the last twenty four hours. "I don't even know what I was thinking. I am so sorry,"
"Shh it's okay," Freddie soothed, hoping that she'd quieten down. The others were all sleeping and they were incredibly lucky that no-one had entered the kitchen, but he had no idea how long that luck would last. "You're probably still drunk and if not, you're sleep deprived and incredibly hungover. Either way, you're not thinking straight. We'll just forget about it, like it never happened."
"But I can't," Lindsey admitted in a small voice. "You do something to me Freds... something that I don't have with Joe. I can't just forget it."
"So what do you want to do?"
}}}}}}}
Although they both knew it was wrong (and that they were probably going to go to hell) Lindsey and Freddie continued with whatever they had. If anyone ever found out they'd both be ruined and a whole family would be broken beyond repair but the pair just can't stop. They simply couldn't deny their attraction to each other, it became impossible the moment they acknowledged it.
They were both wracked with guilt, and knew what it would do to Joe if he ever found out,the last thing they'd ever want to do was hurt anyone, but they need each other like oxygen. It's difficult to sneak off, living under the same roof with five others means that the house is rarely empty, but they do it.
They always manage to sneak out of the house or into one another's bedroom without raising anyone's suspicions. Even if it's just five minutes in a day, their pure passion they share for one another means that Freddie and Lindsey always find a way to spend time with each other.
One on one. They're passionate, more passionate than Lindsey and Joe have ever dreamt of being and Lindsey couldn't help but love it.
But she knows she has to choose and soon. Her wedding was only two weeks away and Freddie had made it clear that he couldn't continue if she married Joe. The ultimatum had been set and the clock was steadily ticking. But she was at a complete loss about what she should do. No matter what she chose, someone would get hurt and if she could prevent that from happening she would, in a heartbeat.
That wasn't an option though and whilst she was still in daily contact with both brothers, Lindsey knew she'd never be able to choose. So she left Chester, telling the Roscoes she's spending the weekend at her sister's to plan the last few details of the wedding, though the look Freddie gave her showed her that he knew better.
He knew that this would be it, it was make or break and as they waved her off from the train station she couldn't stop the single tear that fell down her face. Instead of getting off in London like the Roscoes believed, Lindsey jumped off the train only two stops later, making her way to the small B&B that she'd spend the next few days residing in.
The weekend was a stressful one and she couldn't have gotten more than seven hours of sleep in total. Every waking moment was spent on one thing though.
Joe or Freddie?
Freddie or Joe?
Her heart told her Freddie. Despite only being together (although sneaking off together didn't really count as a healthy solid relationship) for a month and a half, Lindsey could see a real future with him. They connected in ways that she had never done with Joe and she knew they never would. They flourished in each other's company and their chemistry was what people dreamed about.
Her head told her Joe. They were getting married for God's sake! They'd been dating for five years Though if she did decide to stay with Joe, would she really be able to lie to him for the rest of their lives? It would be easier though, she wouldn't be responsible for breaking a whole family apart, splintering it beyond repair until nothing remained.
But she didn't want to choose something because it was easy. This wasn't just her own life she was messing with, no matter what she chose there would be a fallout, but one would just be a lot greater than the other.
At the end of the weekend, Lindsey's mind was made up and she left the B&B with her shoulders high, ready to face the destruction head on. She greeted the family quickly before retiring to her room, feigning fatigue, though really waiting for the right moment and preparing herself.
It didn't take long, though she knew it wouldn't, and less than five minutes after she had arrived at the house, Freddie was stood at the foot of the bed, hands in his pockets trying to appear casual, but the hard set of his shoulders showed Lindsey otherwise. He was terrified.
"So?" he asked, voice cracking on the one worded question.
"I chose you," she said quietly, standing from the bed to meet her lover halfway. "I couldn't not."
"Really?" Freddie asked, looking ecstatic though there was still a trace of fear on his face, like he thought it was all a cruel joke.
"Really," Lindsey smiled, trying to reassure him. "I love Joe, but it's nothing like the love I feel for you. I can't live without you Freddie Roscoe and I don't want to try."
They kissed after her declaration and it's all kind of perfect. As they pulled away from one another, Lindsey's pupils were blown with lust and she was panting lightly.
"We can't," She informed Freddie regretfully as he moved in once more. "Anyone could walk in and I still need to tell Joe."
The younger man nodded, though it looks like it physically pained him to do so. "When?"
"Later tonight. We've got the house to ourselves remember? I need to do it before the wedding and if I do it now then all the stuff can be sent back in plenty of time and we can inform everyone."
"Ahh such a saint," Freddie chuckled before sneaking out of the room, leaving Lindsey to compose herself and get ready to break a completely innocent man's heart.
All too soon the others had left, leaving only the engaged couple in the house. Lindsey made her way down the stairs when she heard Joe calling her, fiddling with her engagement ring that by the end of the night would no longer be on her finger. It was a scary thought, the weight was a familiar thing and she had taken great comfort in it in the past, but she was still adamant that her decision was right.
She didn't want comfort, she didn't want to stay with Joe because he was safe, she needed passion, she needed pure, hot, fiery love. Something that he didn't provide. Though she knew she had to do it, she couldn't help but almost start crying when she saw that Joe had prepared a lovely home-made meal.
"It's your favourite babes," he said, leading her to her seat, seemingly not noticing her discomfort. "And don't worry, Mum hasn't helped, she always murders lasagne."
Lindsey quietly laughed, mainly because it was expected of her more than anything else, but also because she knew this would be the last night she'd spend with Joe like this for a long time.
Maybe forever if they couldn't even salvage a friendship out of the tatters of the relationship. She began delicately eating the lovingly made meal, but found she couldn't stomach more than a couple of mouthfuls, the knowledge of what she was going to do next making her feel sick to the bone.
"You okay Linds?" Joe asked after a few minutes, noticing her lack of appetite.
"I'm fine," she snapped, wincing as she saw the hurt look on her soon to be ex-fiancé's face. They sat in silence for a few more moments, Joe looking like he wanted nothing more than to ask what was up, though he was still fearing of Lindsey's acid tongue. Finally Lindsey broke, she couldn't do this anymore and she stood, grabbing Joe's attention. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" A bemused Joe asked.
"I can't do this," she said softly, taking the engagement ring off her finger and placing it onto the kitchen table. She looked away from the ring, glittering forlornly under the lights, her heart breaking once more as she saw the absolutely devastated look on Joe's face.
"What – what are you doing?"
"I can't marry you Joe. I'm so sorry."
"But... but why?" Joe asked, at a complete loss to the breakdown of his relationship. "Why are you doing this? Is this a joke?"
"No, it isn't. I wish to God it was, but this relationship just isn't working for me anymore."
"It isn't? Because this is the first time I've heard this, in fact I thought we were doing better than ever." Joe spluttered, though he silenced suddenly as a mixed look of realisation and anger crossed his face. "Is there someone else?"
"What?" Lindsey asked, completely shocked that Joe would guess it so suddenly. "Why do you say that?"
"Because it's the only thing that makes sense. We don't have any problems, not that I know about anyway, so to say that our 'problems' is the reason you want to end this relationship is complete bull Linds and you know it,"
"I am so sorry," Lindsey whispered, a lone tear making it's way down her face. "I am so sorry."
"So who is it? Is it someone I know?" Joe demanded and Lindsey knew she had to tell him the truth. She couldn't lie to him anymore, so taking a deep breath, she wiped the tear away and looked straight at Joe.
"Freddie. It's Freddie."
"My brother? You've been fooling around with my younger brother?" Joe shouted, unable to contain his rage.
"We're not fooling around," Lindsey shouted back, too lost in the argument to stay logical. "We love each other!"
"Right," Joe spat. "Just get out Lindsey. I hope you two will be very happy together." The young doctor didn't move for a moment, shocked that Joe wasn't doing anything else though she realised he was breathing heavily and visibly trying to keep control of his actions.
Freddie would be at the brunt of Joe's anger when he decided to release it and it was definitely going to be a messy affair when the two brothers ran into each other. "I said GET OUT! AND DON'T COME BACK," Joe yelled, startling Lindsey, who ran through the living room and into the street outside.
Slowly the situation began hitting home and loud, angry sobs made their way through her body. She knew Joe wouldn't react well to the breakdown of his relationship (who would), but to actually throw her out? She didn't have anywhere to go, all her family were hundreds of miles away and Freddie would soon be in a similar situation no doubt.
There was only one person who could fix this and that was Freddie. Turning and running in the direction of the Dog (they had agreed to meet at the pub earlier that day), Lindsey didn't slow down until the familiar building was in sight, but even then she kept up a light jog, too determined to reach Freddie to take note of her appearance.
Dozens of concerned looks were sent her way as people saw the tear stained mascara smudged around her face and her messy hair which was sticking up in every way known to man, due to her having run her hands through it constantly.
She pushed open the pub door, freezing when she saw not only Freddie at the bar, but Ziggy, Robbie, Jason and worst of all Sandy. She loved her once to be mother in law, she really did, but Sandy had a fiery temper at the best of times and was fiercely loyal to her family.
If she learnt (and it was looking incredibly likely that she would), that Lindsey had been sleeping with someone behind Joe's back, well they might never find her body. Never mind the fact that she had been sleeping with Freddie. Though that probably made the whole situation worse.
"Oh my God Lindsey," Sandy gasped, taking in her shodden appearance and leading her to seat. "What the hell's happened? Where's Joe? Is he okay?"
Lindsey moaned softly, leaning into Freddie who had sat down on her other side. She didn't have the strength to completely ruin a family, not tonight of all nights, but the comforting squeeze Freddie gave her and the small smile too at least gave her the courage to meet Sandy's eye.
"Me and Joe," she begun softly, wanting nothing more than to look away from the older woman, but not being able. "We... er we've broken up."
"What?" Sandy gasped, pulling Lindsey into a hug. "What's happened? Isn't there anything you could do? Surely you two should be talking things through not sitting at opposite ends of the village."
"Uh yeah... that's the other thing," Lindsey muttered. "He kind of kicked me out." Sandy looked ready to march back to the house and demand answers from her eldest right then and there, but Lindsey stopped her. She had to do this, she had to tell the family herself, it was her fault for causing this pain, she had to own up to it.
A gentle squeeze on her thigh reminded her the Freddie was sat next to her, supporting her along the way and reminding her that he was there for, ready to take his portion of the blame.
"It's my fault Sandy, and you're going to side with Joe on this, hell you might help him pack." Before she could continue, Freddie leaned forward, successfully interrupting her.
"Me and Lindsey love each other. We've been in a relationship for the past few months and we couldn't keep up with the deceit anymore. It wasn't fair," he blurted, successfully silencing everyone, though Lindsey didn't even look to see how they were reacting, staring in wonder at Freddie.
Once he had spoken, he sagged back down, like the confession had taken all the strength out of him, though he kept his arm around Lindsey's. At that moment she loved him more than ever, he could have easily sat back and watched the carnage unfold as Lindsey tried to explain what happened, but he had jumped right in there and told his family the hardest thing he had ever done.
"Mum? Say something." Freddie pleaded and Lindsey made herself turn away, though she squeezed Freddie's hand, knowing it was the best thing she could do at the moment.
"You're going to have to give me a second," she said, and although her words were quiet, her tone was hard and Lindsey couldn't stop the fear rising to her chest.
"Wait, so you's have been sleeping together," Robbie said, sharing a shocked look with Jason.
At her son's comment, Sandy tore her eyes away from Freddie to look at her three youngest. "Can you three go to the house, make sure Joe's okay."
"But-"
"Now," she demanded and Ziggy, Robbie and Jason shuffled out, looking over their shoulders every so often to see if anything had happened. When the pub door closed behind them, Sandy turned back to the two lovers, still obviously reeling from the recent declaration. "Now you're going to tell me everything."
And so they did, from their first drunken kiss under the bridge, to the first time they admitted that they loved each other, to Lindsey spending the weekend away, desperately trying to make her mind up about which brother she'd stay with.
After it had all poured out Sandy sat in silence, trying to get all the information sorted in her head. "I can't believe you would do that to your brother Freddie, and to your fiancée Lindsey. You're meant to love him, not hurt and beat him down like you've done."
At this both Lindsey and Freddie wilted, knowing that what she said was true, not that it made it any easier to accept. "But I get what it's like to be in love. You can't help who you fall for and if our parents had anything to do with, me and my Alan would have been mortal enemies from day one.
"It's going to be difficult and I certainly do not approve of your actions, but you'll both have to properly talk to Joe about this. I'm guessing you didn't tell him what you told me Lindsey? I'm not saying it will be all sunshine and rainbows, but Joe deserves, more than anyone else, to get the full story."
"Course mum," Freddie said softly, nodding frantically. Lindsey knew he'd been dreading telling the rest of the family, lest they all turn their backs on him, but Sandy's current reaction had lifted a huge weight off both of their shoulders.
"I'd suggest going to a hotel or a friend's for the night though, this is going to be difficult anyway, but with everyone living under the same roof it doesn't help." The couple nodded, and Sandy grabbed her bag, ready to go. "Come over tomorrow though, the sooner you talk to Joe the better."
She shot them a small smile before leaving and once she was out of sight Freddie deflated even further.
"Well that could have gone worse."
"We'll be fine, as long as we have each other." Lindsey soothed, kissing him gently. "Now come on, lets go find a B&B." She stood up, dragging Freddie with her, their hands tightly entwined as they moved to the door.
As they made their way through the village they felt closer than ever before. They had no idea what the future held for them, no idea if Joe would ever speak to either of them again, but as long as they had each they knew they would be okay.
And they all live happily ever after! ;)
I loved writing for this couple, I seriously ship them so hard on the show, but I had to end it somewhere (one of the worst things about writing oneshots). I obviously left a lot of questions unanswered but I think it was the best way to leave it, otherwise it just becomes too long and heavy. If this was a full fic, then I'd have obviously gone into Joe's reaction and more, but it wasn't so I'll leave it up to you guys. And if you do want more Frindsey then feel free to ask and I'll see what I can come up with, maybe it'll even be a cheerier one than this one was.
Next Story – Something Old, Something New – To one Roscoe couple to another. It's Lindsey and Joe's wedding day, but will it all go off without a hitch? - prompted by reallyme