Forbidden
This chapter has been prompted by in-my-head749 and the prompt was All hell breaks loose when Joe sees Freddie and Lindsey kissing.
Hopefully the amount of Joe in this chapter will help heal everyone's broken hearts after last week's episodes, though I'm not totally convinced he's dead!
Freddie didn't know why he had done it, didn't know why he had even entertained the idea of kissing Lindsey, let alone acted on his inhibitions, after all he knew that no good would come of it, but he'd had a bad day and well, what else did he have to lose?
He and Sinead hadn't been seeing eye to eye all week, and despite their wedding being only a few weeks away, all they seemed to be doing nowadays was fighting, even the silliest of arguments turning into full blown screaming matches between the young couple.
Freddie hated it, but he didn't know how to stop their relationship from self destructing right in front of his very eyes, because even when he tried to fix it and be a romantic sap as Sinead called him, it never ended well, and one of them always ended up storming out to spend the night on a friend's lumpy couch.
The stress of knowing about Fraser's other life had also been steadily building, and he hated seeing the older man so well inserted in his family's... in his mum's life, when Freddie knew exactly what he was capable of.
But he couldn't tell anyone, couldn't run to the police and lock the madman up forever, to prevent Fraser from being able to hurt anyone ever again, just as every fibre of his being was begging to be done. Because if he even seriously entertained the idea of telling anyone about Fraser was really like, Freddie knew he wouldn't live to see another day, after all the gangster had too many connections, all of whom would be perfectly happy to rip Freddie limb from limb because of his betrayal.
So he was forced to keep his mouth shut, despite wishing for any other alternative to raiser its head, the stress growing with each passing day.
As he watched his life and all potential happiness crumbling before his very eyes, Freddie found himself turning to Lindsey, his closest confidante and the person who knew the most about him and all the damage he'd caused over the years, though even then, she didn't know the half of it, she couldn't know, after all, it would only endanger their lives.
But even though he couldn't tell her everything, Freddie found a lot of comfort by spending time with the brunette and it gave him hope, hope that maybe everything would be okay if given enough time.
Though of course he had to ruin it once more, because that was what Freddie did, whenever there was something even vaguely good in his life, he just had to screw it up and lose that little thing that made life living for that short period of time and this time, well this time had been no different. He'd been at the Dog with Lindsey, the pair steadily working their way through a bottle of wine as they waited for the others to catch up, and they'd just been chatting like they always did, having a laugh.
In that moment, as Lindsey giggled at whatever lame joke Freddie had just made, he couldn't contain just how much he loved the woman in front of him and in that moment, he completely forgot about Joe, how there would never be a chance and he leant forward and kissed her, skin prickling as their lips connected.
The kiss couldn't have been longer for more than a second, though it felt like a lifetime for Freddie, but it ended brusquely when Lindsey roughly pushed him away, eyes wide at what had just happened.
"What the hell Freddie? What are you playing at?"
"I was just about to ask the same question myself," Joe said from the pub doorway, having obviously witnessed the whole thing, his voice cold and ringing through the now silent pub. Pure dread ran through Freddie as he realised this was it, the game was now over well and truly. He had to face not only Joe, but also the whole family's scorn towards him, and he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle it, because it wasn't going to end well, not in the slightest.
"Joe calm down," Lindsey said, trying to sooth not only her husband with her words, but also herself if the slight tremors in her hands were anything to go by.
"Don't tell me to calm down Linds, not when I walk in here, fully expecting a relaxing evening with my family, only to come face to face to you two kissing!" Lindsey's head snapped towards Joe's direction then, a furious look on her face and all plans of trying to defend Freddie, to help where she could went flying out the window as she realised what Joe was implicating.
"We weren't doing anything! Freddie kissed me, but if you saw everything as you say you did, then you should know that I pushed him away!" All dreams of Lindsey feeling the same way as he did during their impromptu kiss left Freddie feeling even more down, and he wanted nothing more than to run and hide, knowing there would be no-one fighting in his corner, not after this.
"So what do you have to say for yourself then Fred? I mean, you were the last person I expected to betray me like this," Joe growled, stalking over to the table that Lindsey and Freddie were still seated at, ignoring Jack's warning for him calm down.
Freddie remained silent, knowing there would be nothing he could say to make the situation better, words failing him completely as he wracked his brain for something, anything that would help him even a little bit.
"Tell me why you would do this?" Joe practically shouted, his fists slamming onto the wooden table and making the people nearby flinch at the sound.
Freddie knew there was nothing he could say to make this even a little bit better, but the truth was begging to be let out and he wasn't sure if it was the alcohol in his system or simply because he had lost everything already, so where was the harm in causing a little bit more trouble? But before he knew, Freddie found himself opening his mouth, words spilling out fast and furious.
"I love her," Freddie breathed, refusing to look into anyone's eyes, ignoring the gasps from the rest of his family who had arrived just in time for the latest revelation. "I love your wife okay, always have and always probably will. I'm sorry okay, I hate myself for betraying you like this Joe, but I can't help the way I feel!"
Joe was silent for a second, face reddening as his fury grew, until it became too much for him and he ended up punching Freddie square in the jaw, ready to do the same again, though he was stopped by Darren and Dodger, both men trying their best to restrain him, though it was clear they were struggling.
"Stop it Joe!" Lindsey screamed, standing up so she was blocking Joe's path, hoping that he would calm down, though her actions only seemed to enrage him once more.
"Are you defending him?" Joe screamed, still struggling to get back at Freddie, who was cradling his jaw and trying to cut himself off from the whole situation, after all it would probably hurt a lot less if he did so.
"Of course I'm not, but Freddie's your brother, you can't try to basically kill him over one mistake. You're better than this Joe, I know you are." Lindsey's words seemed to have the desired effect and eventually Joe calmed, till Darren and Dodger felt little need to keep on restraining him, though Freddie couldn't help but note Ziggy edging his way forward, well used to Joe's temper and in full knowledge that it could reappear faster than it disappeared.
After seeing that her words had partly calmed down the mechanic, Lindsey went to take a step forward, to lead Joe out of the pub and get him to cool down properly, though as she got closer, she realised that Joe was still as angry as he had been seconds ago and was only not showing it.
"Did you know how he felt for you?" He asked, voice low and soft, though it only made Joe appear more dangerous.
"What? Why are you asking that?"
"Because Freddie said he's loved you for years and I find it pretty damn hard to believe that he hasn't told you once in all that time."
"Joe-" Lindsey began, though was cut off by Freddie. For once, everyone was relatively on the same page and Freddie was damned if he was going to look like the only one keeping secrets in all this.
"Yeah she does. I told her exactly how I felt on your wedding day after that massive argument," he spat, words slightly slurring as the wine finally caught up to him.
"And you didn't tell me?" Joe asked Lindsey, fully ignoring Freddie as Jason moved to calm him down. "We promised there would be no more lies, no more secrets between us. You made that promise whilst knowing all about this!"
"It's not like that Joe," Lindsey protested, turning to glare heavily at Freddie and trying to keep restraint over herself, though it was getting harder second by second. "Freddie told me he was lying, that he only said that because he was scared about his feelings for Sinead. I didn't tell you, because I didn't think it was relevant, I didn't think it was even true."
"Yeah you say that, but then I see you kissing him and having learnt all this, it's hard to know what to believe."
"I wasn't kissing him!" Lindsey screamed in anguish, hating the distrust in Joe's eyes and hating Freddie for making it be there. "There's nothing going on between me and Freddie, there never has been, you have to believe me!"
"I don't know what to believe anymore," Joe admitted, turning to leave and visibly flinching when Lindsey tried to grab his arm to make him stay. "Just stay away from me Linds, I need time to think this all through. And Freddie, just stay away from me completely, I don't want anything to do with you."
Ignoring the cries for him to stop, both from the woman he loved and his brother, Joe ran out of the pub, desperate to be on his own and wrap his head around what had just happened. The second he was gone, Lindsey whirled around, her cheeks flushed and eyes flashing as she made her way over to Freddie, ignoring all his protests and apologies, too worked up herself to even care about that.
"If me and Joe break up, if we aren't okay because of this, because of what you did, then I'll never be able to forgive you Freddie."
"Linds I-" Freddie's apology was cut off as the young doctor slapped him hard, the sound resonating through the pub, quickly followed by Lindsey's broken sobs as she realised her life could be over by something she had played no part in.
"Come on love, lets get you home," Sandy soothed gently, moving over to Lindsey and guiding her out of the pub, shooting an apologetic look to Freddie as she passed by. The moment they were gone, all eyes were on him, judging him and what he had just done, and Freddie found himself unable to breath.
"Mate," Ziggy said, going to move forward, though Freddie had long since barged past, unable to deal with anyone crowding him, even if they were his own flesh and blood. He had to get out of there, had to have some breathing space and to think about everything that just happened, unable to believe what he had said and how he had broken two innocent peoples hearts, hating himself more than ever at that moment.
Letting out an anguished scream, Freddie began running. There was no destination in mind, no plan laid out, but he just knew he had to get out of there, away from the lives he'd mercilessly ruined in his own desperate bid for happiness, after all he should know better by now.
He, Freddie Roscoe deserved no sort of true happiness, not after all the destruction he had caused in his twenty seven years, and he really didn't deserve to get the girl of dreams. That was after all, something you got as a happy ending and that only came to people who deserved it, who had worked for it. Freddie didn't deserve a happy ending, he deserved to rot in hell, though no doubt after today, that would be his future destination.
It was no more than he deserved after all.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thank you all so much for the lovely feedback that I received last chapter, there was well over twenty reviews which is a lot more than I usually get for one chapter, and they were all absolutely amazing and truly made me smile! Thank you guys for all your lovely words.
For the people wondering, I am still taking prompts about Joe, whether he's dead in the show or not (though I really hope not!) And I update every five days, so the next update should be on the Saturday.
Next Chapter – It's Sandy's birthday and the whole family gather to celebrate it. But can a Roscoe family day really happen without a massive disaster? You'll just have to wait and see - CBurns1995 Upcoming Prompts
68 – After Robbie humiliates Finn in the worst way possible, the young schoolboy decides his friend needs to get what's coming for him, though he knows nothing he could do to Robbie would hurt him. But Robbie's always been over-protective of Jason and Finn isn't scared of hurting others to get his revenge – anon from tumblr (warning - rape)
69 – Jason and Robbie do love each other, of course they do, though like most teenagers don't show that. Well, until they've got a bit of alcohol in them, then they can't stop declaring their love for one another, much to the amusement of their friends. - anon on tumblr
70 – Where and what exactly Joe and Lindsey got up to on their honeymoon - Fex98x
71 – Fraser's a complete gentleman and wouldn't hurt a fly, or at least that was what Sandy thought. But after getting on the gangster's bad side, she learns exactly how evil her husband is - Chandy (warning – abuse)
72 - Jack confronts Ziggy about the affair with Frankie - Ellie
73 – A tragic accident strikes the Roscoe family when Sandy dies. Without their beloved mother, just how will the Roscoe boys cope without her? - CBurns1995
74 – Ziggy always as strong and unbreakable, but when he sees her with cocaine on New Years, because of him, he realises just how much he has broken the girl he loves - DBS2000
75 - The Roscoes play their traditional yearly football match, but in doing so one of them suffers a serious injury - Mollie (any preference on who you would like to be injured?)
76 – Ruby didn't take back Ziggy in the hospital after her heart attack, he's hurt her way too much already and she can't cope with all his games. Too bad Ziggy just can't let go, and he's going to win his girl back - DBS2000
77 - Robbie ends up developing feelings for Holly and becomes jealous of her relationship with Jason. At a party they get with each other, but Jason spots them. Realizing that they are both in love with the same girl Jason and Robbie decide to go head to head in a boxing match, whoever wins gets the girl but unfortunately during the fight something goes wrong! - matthew (by something wrong, do you mean injury or neither of them winning Holly over (I can't imagine she'd be too impressed with being fought over) or one of them stepping down, as they realise the other truly loves Holly more than they ever could and she feels the same)
78 - Jason falls into a diabetic coma after somebody repeatedly spikes his drinks at a late night party and Robbie tries to find the person responsible. - georgia may(Would you like for it to be an OC or a specific existing character? Also, do you have a reason why they'd be spiking Jason, like a joke gone wrong or they're getting some sort of 'revenge', or do you want me to think it up?)
79 - Sandy's reaction to one of the boys announcing that they want to sign up for the army – guest (Any specific brother?)
80 - Robbie and Jason have both been swimming for as long as they can remember, that doesn't change when they move up to Chester. Though when Jason doesn't disappears under the water after a dive, Robbie worries that something has gone terribly wrong – mucusshifter50 (Would you like Jason not appearing from the under water to be quite dangerous, or just something that looks a lot worse than it is at first glance?)
81 - Robbie suffers from a seizure, but what caused it? – rhea sutton
82 – After Joe's death in the demoltion of the council flats, Freddie finds he can no longer keep quiet and works it so his brother's body is found and everyone can properly grieve for him. This is his funeral - buttercrisp
83 – Ziggy Roscoe has always been one for dramatics, and when he's ill it's no different. His gruelling demands rub everyone up the wrong way, though the Roscoe's are always good at revenge - bella (Got any types of revenge in mind, or do you want me to sort that?)
84 – One of Roscoe boys are diagnosed with any kind if mental illness, see how they cope with it in everyday life - Jaymie (Any preference on which brother it could be or mental disorder?)
85 - One of the twins need an urgent transplant, but will they find a suitable donor in time?- Jacques
86 - Sinead is pregnant, but after spending the night with Robbie, who's the father, Robbie or Freddie? - cookie monster (Do you know who you want to be the father, or do you want me to choose?)
I'm truly amazed by the number of prompts I have, 86! That's huge and thank to everyone who has ever prompted for making this story what it is, I honestly couldn't do this without you.
Till next time!