Frankie was woken suddenly by a very loud banging coming from some unknown place as her brain waded through the fog of sleep. The banging did stop briefly but then started again as she closed her eyes and buried herself back under the quilt.
"I don't think they'll give up until you answer it." The gruff sleep-laced voice beside her mumbled as she felt an arm snake around her waist just before she was spooned from behind by a very warm, very masculine body.
"You answer it then." She protested as she again tried to bury herself under the quilt.
"Not my house so they won't be looking for me." He pointed out as he rolled away from her and lay on his back, freeing her to get up. "It's probably just a courier trying to save you both a trip or one of your neighbours isn't answering either and he's trying to save himself time." Seeing Frankie slowly shift into a sitting position as he spoke.
"Well whoever it is can sod off, it's not even nine o'clock on a Saturday morning. This better be bloody important." Frankie grumbled as she stood up and stretched her arms above her head.
"I hope you're putting something on before you answer the door. While I enjoy seeing you naked, I am not sure some random stranger might. Then again, you look rather shaggable from here. You better hurry up as this quilt is starting to tent at the view." Seeing Frankie turn at his words giving him a full frontal view of her naked.
Frankie just shook her head before she scanned the room for something she could answer the door in. There was a mix of clothes all over the floor, some of them hers and some of them Boyd's. She could see her underwear, her bra and her sweater somehow tangled together while her jeans were partially inside out with her knickers still attached to one of the legs. The knocking continued at the door as she reached down and picked up a shirt that she knew was Boyds. Flipping it over her head she quickly slotted her arms in then hastily started to do up random buttons. Looking down she saw the shirt come to mi-thigh, long enough to cover up the fact she had no knickers on.
As she walked out of the bedroom she yelled down the passageway.
"I'm coming for fucks sake, calm down."
If she had more sense she would have checked to see who was on the other side of the door before she turned the keys hastily and yanked the door open sharply. The fact she hadn't taken the chain off made the door come to an abrupt stop and bounce back into the frame. Realising her mistake she undid the chain and pulled the door back open to reveal Mel stood there with two coffees in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.
"Fuck." Was the only word she said as she looked her colleague and best friend up and down.
"You forget didn't you?" Mel said as she took a step forward to enter Frankie's flat.
Frankie stood stock still, her mind whirling over several different things as she tried to process what the hell was going on. It was Saturday morning, very early Saturday morning. Mel was there for a reason, an important reason that had slipped her mind. Frankie stepped aside to let Mel step past and enter her flat, the very same flat that currently held their boss naked in her bed.
"Yeah, I did. Any chance of a refresher?" She asked as she closed the front door and watched as Mel stopped beside the kitchen door.
"You said you'd come shopping with me, more precisely wedding shopping." Mel attempted to remind Frankie of their plans as she stepped through the kitchen doorway.
Frankie became even more confused if that was even possible. Why the hell was Mel going wedding shopping? Had she missed something over the past week as she delved elbow-deep into the three corpses that had crossed her table?
Following Mel into the kitchen she saw Mel had seated herself at the table and was in the middle of opening the brown bag to take out whatever she had brought over for breakfast.
"Mel, it's some ungodly time on a Saturday morning. I'm missing something as I can't remember you dating anyone let alone getting married. Why are you going wedding shopping?" A random image of Boyd in a tux crossed her mind as she mentioned getting married.
"I know it's been a tough week or so but Christ Frankie. My brother is getting married next weekend and I'm sick of trying to find something to wear. You said you'd come and help me find something to wear." Seeing Mel look her up and down as she finally took in what she was currently wearing.
"Yeah, now I remember. Yet I'm not sure why I agreed when I have no dress sense unless it involves various pairs of jeans, a sweater or hoodie, or very rarely a trouser suit for appearing in court." Frankie pointed out as she followed Mel's eyes and saw her take in what she was currently wearing.
What she was currently wearing was Boyd's dark purple shirt. The very shirt Mel had seen Boyd wearing many times over the years they had worked together, but most recently the day before as they wrapped up the latest case and finished the day sat in the pub drinking and unwinding together.
She saw as the comprehensive slowly dawned on Mel, watching as a mix of panic and amusement crossed Mel's face.
"Don't say a word, not one fucking word ." Holding her hand up as she saw Mel was about to speak. "I'll be back in a minute." Turning on her heels and leaving Mel in the kitchen as he headed back to her bedroom.
As she neared the bedroom she heard movement behind the door, no doubt Boyd hearing Mel's voice and getting up. Sure enough, as she pushed the door open she found Boyd sitting on her bed half dressed, the only item of clothing he was missing was his shirt, the shirt she currently had on.
"I take it you heard all of that?" Frankie indicated to the passageway behind her as she entered the bedroom.
"I'm old, not deaf Frankie. Where's she now?" Asking where their impromptu visitor was as he stood up and walked towards her.
"Kitchen with coffee and breakfast. It looks like you'll have to fend for yourself though as," the rest of her sentence cut off as Boyd's hands settled on her hips and his lips pressed against hers.
Frankie considered pulling away but realised it would only be her who missed out. She returned the kiss as her hands slid up Boyd's chest and around his neck. When they broke apart for air Frankie smiled and rested her forehead on Boyd's shoulder as she started to laugh.
"Care to share the joke," Boyd asked as he looked down at the top of Frankie ahead.
"I think our secrets out." Frankie managed to say as she stopped laughing and looked up at Boyd.
"You think! I wonder what gave it away." Each word indicated a shirt button being undone until his shirt hung open revealing a strip of skin from Frankie's chest down to the neatly trimmed hair on her groin.
"I need my shirt back and you need your own clothes on." Reaching for the cuffs of his shirt as he lifted Frankie's arms above her head and pulled the shirt off her.
Frankie just stood watching him as he took the shirt and put it on, his long fingers working from top to bottom to do up the buttons before tucking it in his trouser and doing the belt up.
"I'll go entertain your guest while you get showered and dressed." Kissing Frankie on the forehead before he left the bedroom and headed to the kitchen.
Frankie stepped up behind the bedroom door as she listened to Boyd walk along the passage and head into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Mel." She heard him say as he stepped into the kitchen without missing a beat.
"Morning, Boyd," Mel replied, the humour evident in her tone as she spoke.
She could just picture the small smirk on Mel's face as she saw Boyd enter the kitchen wearing yesterday's clothes looking rather crumpled and rough around the edges.
Frankie would have happily listened to see how the conversation played out between her colleague come best friend and their boss but she was naked and getting cold. They were both adults and could deal with the awkwardness by themselves if needed. Grabbing some clothes and underwear she headed to the bathroom to get washed and ready.
"So you and Frankie?" Mel said as Boyd took the seat opposite her.
"Frankie and I," Boyd repeated as he watched Mel closely.
"Again." Mel's voice not giving any hint as to where she was heading with her line of questions.
"Frankie knows what she's doing." Knowing Mel would push him no matter what he said.
Sure enough, she did.
"Did you not hurt her enough last time?" Mel's voice now full of git in defence of her friend.
"As I said, Frankies a big girl. She can decide for herself what she wants and doesn't want." His voice took on a steel edge Mel had heard him use many times in integrations.
"Okay. But just so know, as her best friend it's my job to warn you, hurt her and you will have me to answer to. That's just as her best friend of course, not her work colleague." Making sure she looked directly at Boyd as she issued her warning.
"As her best friend, I would expect nothing less. As your boss, and of course hers, it would be unwise to cross either of you, professionally or personally." Picking his words carefully before taking a drink of his coffee.
"Good. Now we've got that sorted, how long have you been shagging my best friend since she's kept this whole thing a secret?" Laughing as Boyd nearly choked trying to swallow his coffee.
"As tactful as ever Mel. Why don't you ask Frankie instead since she's your best friend?" Attempting to dodge the question just as Frankie entered the kitchen.
"Ask me what?" Frankie enquired as she picked up the coffee cup on the table that Mel had brought in.
"How long we've been shagging." Boyd waited for just the right moment to repeat Mel's words as Frankie took a sip of her coffee.
After a quick thump on the back from Boyd Frankie stopped coughing and choking on the coffee she had swallowed the wrong way.
"A few months." Taking the last seat at the table between Mel and Boyd. "But we wanted to make sure this was going to work before we told anyone. Work and pleasure didn't work last time so we wanted to be sure this time." Looking between Mel and Boyd as she spoke.
"It didn't work last time cause he was married with a kid on the way." A touch of venom in her words as she glared at Boyd.
"Careful Mel." Boyd half growled out as he looked straight at Mel.
"Okay both of you, simmer down. I get what you're saying Mel, but it's different now, I promise." Reaching out to take hold of Mel's hand and give it a gentle squeeze before letting go. "As for you," Frankie turning her head to look at Boyd, "she's doing what any best friend would do, interrogating her best friend's boyfriend. Work stays out there, not in here." Now reaching for Boyd's hand, his fingers instantly lacing through hers locking their hands together.
"Okay. As long as you're sure. I'm not sure I get paid enough to keep up with you drinking me under the table again." Mel pointed out before taking a drink of her coffee as she looked between Frankie and Boyd.
"I won't be, I can't afford the therapy or be arsed with AA meetings either. They were bad enough the first time round so that wagons now been permanently derailed." Feeling Boyd squeeze her hand as the subject of alcohol and her struggle was mentioned.
"Shit, sorry Frankie." Mel looked sheepish as she recalled the problems Frankie had dealing with her addiction to alcohol after her assault and then her break up with Boyd the first time.
"It's still a struggle some days but I'm in a good place now." Knowing that some days were tough and without Boyd beside her she may have jumped straight back on the wagon and drunk herself unconscious, or to death.
"Well, now you ladies have finished your coffee, how about I drop you in town and you can call me when you're done? I'll pick you both up and bring you back here for your car, Mel. That way you can shop until you drop and not have to worry about parking." Looking between the two women sat at the table.
"Perfect," Mel replied, knowing how expensive and tough it was parking in London.
"You're a star, you know that right?" Frankie added before standing up and leaning down to kiss Boyd.
"Okay, not in front of the kids please," Mel said as she got up from the table as the kiss between Frankie and Boyd became more than a peck on the cheek.
Frankie ended the kiss and stood up, her face a lovely shade of red. The next five minutes were spent making sure that Frankie had everything before heading out the door. When they arrived in town Boyd dropped them both off saying he would go home and wait there as it was closer. Frankie leaned across the passenger seat and kissed him goodbye while Mel stood on the pavement with her back to them.
Frankie joined Mel on the pavement and watched as Boyd drove away before turning to face Mel.
"Let's go shopping." Mel squealed all excited as Frankie groaned. "And you can tell me all the details about your relationship with Boyd now he's not here." Laughing even more when Frankie hung her head as she shook it.
"Fuck off, Mel. Let's just go shopping." Knowing she was going to be interrogated no matter what she said.
She linked arms with Mel as they started to walk down the street, life wasn't perfect, but it was close enough for Frankie and that made her smile.