A/N: I hope you're enjoying this beautiful couple!
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"Miss Paige, I believe this may belong to you." Andrew said as he came from the kitchen to the bedroom. They had been staying in temporary accommodation until Andrew had got back from Belo Quinto, Frankie was too scared to go back to her apartment without him, it was the psychological effect more than the fact that anyone might be there… only he knew what she'd been through and how it had affected her. "I was looking for that!" She joked "I kind of remember it resembling something more of a top last night though?"
"Good morning." He said wrapping his arms around her waist and softly kissing her neck.
"Hey you said that already." She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms about his waist. "Where did you go so early?"
"Couldn't sleep, so I went to the church – I guess old habits die hard."
"You know you don't have to stop going just cause they kicked you out, remember you don't owe them anything." She kissed him softly but just long enough.
"I know." Andrew brushed a stray strand of silky blonde hair from her eyes behind her ear. "Are you ready to go?"
"No…" she scoffed and pulled away turning back towards the counter top of their shared dresser where she pulled out the last of her clothes that Donna had leant her. "We don't have to do this today you know." He said. "If you want we can leave it another week or-"
"No, Andrew, I can't keep putting this off, the place is flooded and a wreck, the landlord is gonna sue my ass if I don't go back today."
"Look I'm just saying…"
"I know…" she softly groaned. "I'll meet you outside."
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Sliding her key into the lock Frankie turned the key but the door was already open, softly she pushed on it until it swung open gently colliding with the wall behind it. "That's strange I'm sure I locked it before we left for…" Andrew began but the sound of heavy set footsteps coming from inside the residence made them both stop short of entering. Frankie looked at Andrew and vice versa, he slid past her and told her to wait at the door, taking slow but methodical steps into the room he looked around just as he turned to his left and the bathroom area he got the shock of his life, a heavy built and overweight man came barging out and headed towards Frankie. "Oi Paige I told you to get this place sorted last week or I'm gonna kick you out!"
"For fucks sake Mackie what the hell are you doing here?!"
"Don't give me that!" He stopped next to her at the door, "look at this place it's a dump! It's gonna take me weeks to fix up and find someone worth living in it!"
"Hey what's that supposed to mean!?" She retorted angrily. "And besides you never fixed my damn faucet!"
"You still owe me rent Paige!"
"My names Frankie!"
"Your names whatever I choose it to be!"
"No, my name is Frankie and if I were you…" Andrew stepped in and came between the two pushing the man by his bare arm towards the hallway. "Can we have a moment we'll come speak to you soon." He nudged him in the direction of the stairs and turned back to Frankie as he walked away mumbling.
"Asshole!" She grunted and looked up at Andrew "what? He is!" Andrew rolled his eyes and took Frankie by the hand gently pulling her into the room with him and shutting the door behind him. Frankie stepped in slowly one pace at a time, her hands were trembling and Andrew gave hers a reassuring squeeze. It was as they had left it the night Daniel came, looking back now he should've kicked his ass then but that was moot point now. Frankie let go of his hand as she rounded the corner into her living area, she slowly motioned forward into the room and crunched broken glass as she walked eventually stopping at the red wall…Andrew patiently waited and watched, his eyes fixed on his angel.
Frankie touched the painted wall her hand lingering a second longer than it should, a flashback to that man inside her, she squinted her eyes. Turning she made her way across the room to the bedroom area and what was left of the bed she'd shared with Andrew that night, her sheets were soaking and there was shattered glass and candles on the floor. A flashback to the bed flying out from under her and being raised on the cross in mid air. She winced as she turned and saw the bathroom and the tub she had sent Andrew flying over, more water everywhere.
"It smells dank."
"It'll be the mildew." There was a momentary pause as if taking it all in was a slow process. Silence filled the room and Frankie fumbled with the edge of the blanket between her fingers, a second later she broke down and sobbed. "Hey!" He crossed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. "Frankie it'll be okay.." he cooed letting her sob, "we'll fix it."
"It's not that." She choked back a sob. "I just can't believe what's happened to me and what I did to you."
"Don't," he whispered stroking the back of her head softly, "don't be sorry for me or you, you couldn't help what was happening to you Frankie. If it hadn't have happened I never would have met you, I never would have known love again or taken this new path with you so don't ever be sorry for that my love." He kissed her forehead softly amongst the scars and stroked her cheeks lifting her chin up he placed a gentle kiss to her lips. Staring into his eyes she choked back sobs and slid her hands inside his long black jacket around his waist and up his back. He held her there against his chest for a long moment, taking her in.
"I can't stay here anymore." She whispered, "it's too painful and too many memories I'd rather forget."
"Then don't," he pulled back to look in her eyes and smiled a little. "Let's get a place together, somewhere away from here." She looked confused so he elaborated, "not very far. How about a penthouse?" He didn't have a lot of money but he wasn't exactly living in poverty, all the years as a bio-chemist saving every penny, waiting for a better life had saved him a little nest egg. Enough so he could afford somewhere nice for he and Frankie to live. "I understand if you want to slow down though, maybe think about it?"
"There's nothing to think about, I don't want to be separated from you I couldn't imagine going to bed and you not being there…" Her hands cupped his face and she pressed her forehead to his. He closed his eyes for a moment in silent relief, worried that he was pushing too hard for their relationship. "I love you so much…" she whispered, "thank you for everything." He held her to him as if afraid she might shatter like the glass around them. "Come on." He said taking her hand and leading her away from the bed and to the dresser, she pulled open the duffle bag and slid open the drawer. Everything was soiled, not a dry clean piece of clothing in sight. She pulled out a few random objects from the draw, some photos from around the rooms and whatever she basically could and shoved it in the duffle bag, barely nothing for what she had lived there.
"I'm ready." She said rounding the corner and spotting him thumbing through one of only a few books she had. He nodded and placed the book back on the unit, he turned back and eyed Frankie holding her temple with her palm and wincing. "What is it?" He quickly rushed over to her and took her hand away from her temple. She didn't respond, she heard him but she could also feel as if something was still inside her head tormenting her, forcing her to re-live the memories, the pain and suffering that she had gone through. "Frankie?" He said more forcefully, "talk to me."
"I'm ok…" she winced and came back from whatever hold it had over her. "Let's get out of here." He took the duffle bag and swung it over his shoulder taking her hand with him he led her out of the apartment and to the landlords office where he tossed the keys back at him through the plexiglass gap. "We've got what we need, do whatever you want with the rest."
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"Frankie…"
"Frankie?"
"Hey!" Donna touched her best friends arm and jolted her back to reality. "I think Jessie is waiting…" Donna pointed across the room and Frankie peeled her eyes away from the mirror and towards her customer. "Sorry." Frankie replied meekly and went over to Jessie waiting by the window. "Come on and take a seat sweetie I'll be right with you."
Jessie smiled and sat down as Frankie wrapped a gown around her neck and grabbed her brush. "Usual today?" She asked this particular lady came in at least twice a month to stay on top of her curls. "Yeah girl." Jessie replied "you know how I do." Frankie laughed and began styling the woman's hair, "so who's fresh off the dating list ladies?" Jennifer called out "your girl is seeing Ryan haha." She pulled out a strip of candid mall photos from a photo booth of the two of them making funny faces into the camera. Donna walked over and let out an excited eep, "girl you know he's hot between the sheets." A round of laughter filled the salon.
"Girl he knows just how to rub my feet." Everyone stopped and looked at her in shock, expecting a totally different response. " What? He does!" Jennifer said incredulously "hey whatever floats your boat Jen." Frankie chimed in although in hindsight she probably wished she hadn't just opened those flood gates. "You can talk Mrs 'I date a priest!'" Jennifer retorted.
"He's different and he's not a priest anymore."
"No you definitely expelled that out of him." Cheryl chimed in with laughter from the others.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Frankie stopped and looked at her.
"Girl…" Cheryl huffed and trailed off.
"No, go on."
"Well Frankie we all know you like to sleep around that's why you could never keep Chris."
"Really?" Frankie scoffed. "Is that what you really think?" She tried to continue Jessie's hair cut but the dead silence that filled the air was so uncomfortable that not even a nat could keep still. "F.Y.I I only ever saw Chris for sex and even that was desperation."
"Really I heard you were trying for a baby!" Cheryl stopped and looked directly at Frankie, Frankie's eyes immediately darted to Donna who stammered in shame. "Frankie…"
"Save it for someone who cares, I thought you were my friend!" Frankie ripped off her apron and tossed it to the side as she walked out, grabbing her coat and slamming the door shut behind her. "Frankie!" Donna shouted glaring at Cheryl, "thanks!" She spat running after Frankie, running outside Donna saw Frankie crossing the road way ahead of her there was no way she would catch her up and despite repeated calls she didn't stop. "Shit." She said storming back into the salon.
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"Andrew!" Father Durning greeted the former priest, "hi." Andrew replied with a smile gripping the other man's hand. "How are you?"
"Well, yourself?" Durning asked.
"I'm here on business Father." Andrew pulled a book out of his pocket, a little notebook he'd been keeping on his dealings with the scroll and such. "Of course, my office?" He directed as they walked. Stepping into his office Andrew read a name from the book "I'm here about Sam Westall?"
"Ahh yes they arrived early last night I'll go and see if they're awake."
"Thank you." He sat down in the chair opposite the Father's chair and waited patiently. There was a brief momentary silence when a man walked into the room.
"Sam? A pleasure to meet you I'm Andrew Kiernan…" Andrew stuck out his hand.
"Not quite." The man shook Andrew's hand. "Names Kurt, Kurt Williams, this is Sam." He directed over his shoulder.
"Hello Andrew." She smiled brightly holding out her hand, all too knowingly. Andrew paused and he was sure his mouth was hanging open…
"Lord above!" He finally spoke after a long few minutes of silence. A woman with perfect auburn hair and a silhouette as perfect as it was the day they had been dating stood before him, bright eyes of brown and lips like roses. "Samantha!?" He finally choked out…