A/N: I hope you're enjoying the story!

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"Samantha?" Andrew could barely believe the woman he used to date, used to swoon over like a love sick puppy was stood right here in front of him.

"It's nice to see you again Andrew, or should I say 'Andy?'" Her thick British accent gave away her stature, upper class and wealthy. Aside the fact he was stunned to see her, he also had an inkling as to why she was here and that hadn't a lot to do with being an amazing anthropologist. "Err," he stammered, "it's not very often I catch you at a disadvantage." She chuckled. "How about you buy me a tea and I'll tell you why I'm here?"

"Of course, yes!" He finally managed to choke out and lead the way out of the priests office. "Father Durning will you join us?" Andrew asked.

"No I have important matters to attend to here." He made his excuses and left. "Kurt why don't you make yourself scarce for an hour and I'll meet you back here at 1?" Kurt reluctantly agreed, Sam turned back to Andrew and linked arms with him walking down the isle and towards the exit.

More than an hour later Andrew laughed hard as he sat back in his chair drinking his coffee and talking of old times with the woman he'd pretty much known since his university days in Belfast. "But seriously Andrew what have you been doing with yourself these days? I heard you got mixed up in a stigmata case with a young crazy woman?"

Andrew paused this time not laughing or reacting the way she had expected him to, Sam sensed this and wondered if she'd said too much. "Sorry."

"No it's okay." Thoughts of Frankie began dancing in his mind again. "Her name is Frankie Paige." He paused unsure of how to proceed. "And you're no longer a priest?" She tried to elaborate for him.

"You seem to know all my answers." It wasn't difficult to see he was trying to justify getting involved with someone he was studying as a scientist when he very first came here. "How are you involved in all this Sam? I know it's your field of work but surely this didn't just fall into your lap one day."

"You've got me there." She smirked and reached across the table placing her hand on his. "You know I've been following your work at the Vatican quite closely, the cases you've worked on are quite remarkable." Her thumb began stroking his hand and he pulled it away, leaning back in his seat and resting his coffee in his lap.

"The scroll has many benefits to providing anthropologists like me a chance to study the links between our origin and…"

"I don't have it." He interrupted.

"Well where is it?"

"Safe." Was all he replied. "Look Father Delmonico told me you might be able to help me? He said you wanted to talk and as much fun as it has been wandering down memory lane with you Sam, I take it that's not why you're here?"

"I can't keep anything from you can I?" She giggled like a little school girl. "Okay Andy, don't get all bent out of shape, I know about the scroll and I'm interested in it, I've seen the pictures and I want you to come work with me, in Belo Quinto. I'd obviously pay you handsomely for your services, you've a brilliant mind – one of the best in the field. I couldn't imagine working with anyone else."

"No." He said flatly without much thought. She never expected that. "What? Why on earth not?"

"I've commitments here." He said matter of fact. She scoffed and rolled her eyes, "you're surely not talking about that crazy girl are you now?"

"Her name is Frankie and she's not crazy!" He took his wallet out and thumbed a few notes, tossing them between them on the table. "If that's all you came here for Sam I think we're done." He got up from the table and started to walk away when she called after him "Andrew wait!" She got up from the table and walked towards him. "Look I'm sorry about Frankie, you know my mouth works quicker than my brain, I want you on board with this and if you can't come to Belo Quinto with me I'll move my work to this god forsaken town." He looked at her incredulously. "Why?" He asked.

"Because you're the best god damn scientist, priest and friend that I could ask for, I've been studying your work over the past few years and I know what you've seen and the places you saw them. Houseman isn't going to let this lie Andrew, he screwed Delmonico over and he's going to try to destroy this before we get the chance to study it. He'll bury it so far not even you'll be able to find it!" He turned to walk away and she grabbed his arm turning him back. "Don't let us both loose the chance to study this because of our personal differences."

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"God damn it Cheryl if you weren't one of my best customers I'd throw you out right now!" Donna said as she slammed the salon door shut behind her.

"When did Frankie get so up her own ass anyway?" Jennifer chimed in, in Cheryl's defence. "That shit was personal Cheryl!"

"Hey she's the one acting all psycho! Everyone knew about her and Chris were not blind!"

"Oh shit…" Donna trailed as a familiar figure walked up to the door pushing it open and coming in. "Hi Donna." Andrew said not taking his jacket off this time. "Is Frankie here?"

"Err," she stumbled and yet again Cheryl chimed in. "She just stormed out!" Donna glared at her and dashed over to Andrew taking him by the arm and leading him out the salon.

"Look I don't know what's got into her. Her and Cheryl, well they had words and she stormed off, last time I saw her she was crossing the road going that way." She pointed, he nodded slightly worried and started to walk in the general direction. "When you find her, tell her to call me!" Donna called after him.

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Frankie sat down on the sofa and kicked off her boots, she sighed deeply and laid her head back. Softly tears began to form in her eyes she squinted trying to hold them back but a sob choked her and she gasped out bringing her hands up to cover her face. The sound of cars passing and horns blaring outside seemed to slow, everything seemed to gradually go still and silent, no tap dripping, no neighbours moving about and talking. The room was almost bare save for what was furnished when she and Andrew moved in. A penthouse with a beautiful view, noises seemed to echo in the halls, the voices in her head or all around her seemed to grow and accumulate into one "Frankie…" a ghostly man's voice rasped. "Frankie…" She sobbed out, "leave me alone!" The voices grew louder and louder a room full of them until the door slammed shut and broke her trance, she jumped turning to look suddenly.

"Andrew?" She asked and he tossed his jacket on the side, moving over to her. "Are you alright? I've been looking everywhere for you?" He came to her side on the couch and sat down next to her, he could see she'd been crying and he gently put his hands to cup her neck, bringing her head gently to his lips he kissed her longingly. The kiss lasted longer than it should, she returned the kiss with as much passion and desire as she could, she wanted him, wanted him to take away all the echoes of sadness plaguing her mind, to feel his touch, his warm hands on her cold body. To know she was safe in his arms, she broke the kiss and rested her head against his chest. "Hold me." Was all she could muster. He did so, pulling her onto his lap he laid back on the sofa and she scooted on top of him. He wrapped his arms around her protectively, feeling her breath against his chest he just held her for as long as she needed.

Some time seemed to pass and Andrew gently sat up with her still in his arms he brushed back the blonde hair from her eyes and kissed her again lovingly. "Are you okay?" He asked and she solemnly nodded. "I got into it at work." She said and he nodded "I stopped by looking for you."

"What?" She stated worriedly.

"Yes I was looking for you."

She jumped up out of his arms and stood. "What did they say?"

"Nothing, you had an argument with someone and you left." He paused wondering "Frankie what's going on?" She stopped, looking at him and rubbing her face with a sigh. "Nothing." She picked up her boots and walked them to the front door dropping them down.

"Frankie?" He followed. "Frankie?!" He repeated. "What's going on?"

"Look before I met you I was with this guy called Chris, it was just sex and nothing else."

"And?" Andrew furrowed his brow following her to the bedroom where she started to undress. She pulled off her skirt and tossed it aside, reaching up she pulled off her top and he stopped her, taking her wrist gently. "Frankie?"

"Nothing." She said, "it was nothing!"

"Don't lie to me Frankie, I know you better than that." Andrew grew kind of hurt. She stopped what she was doing and looked down at his hand on her arm gently resting in her stomach. "I was trying for a baby." She whispered her palm resting on the flat of her stomach. "I realised during the Stigmata that I was glad that I hadn't become pregnant, but ya know. Babies are hard work and I'm still young and Cheryl found out from Donna and it got out of hand and…" A tear crept down her cheek splashing on his hand.

Andrew stood there shocked unknowingly he was thankful she hadn't been otherwise the risk of all that was happening to her would have been ten fold but at the same time he now wondered if Frankie wanted them to have children? Was he ready to become a father? A real father. "Frankie..?" He tried but words failed him.

"I'm sorry." She whispered pulling away and sitting on the edge of the bed with her face in her palms.

"Is that what you want? A baby?" He asked sitting next to her.

"No of course not." She replied and he sighed heavily. "Well don't sound to relieved." She said upon hearing his relief.

"Frankie it's not that, it's… it's a million things, but right now I want you, just you. We've got time to think about these things. I don't want us rushing into anything without thinking things through."

"I don't either." She agreed and looked to him cupping his cheek this time, he kissed her palm and leant in to kiss her sweet soft lips. "I just hadn't told you and I didn't want you to, to think less of me because of it."

"Frankie my love for you is as unwavering as my love for God. I won't let anything come between us okay? Whatever you want I'll do it."

"Don't give up on me okay?" She asked.

"Why would I?" He pushed her strands of beautiful hair from her face and pulled her into a loving kiss. She pushed him flat on his back on the bed and straddled his waist, he wrapped her in his arms and began stroking her back gently, after a few moments she was sound asleep and he shifted out from under her, pulling the blankets up around her he kissed her head before moving out into the living room.

His shirt was crumpled and he kicked his boots off at the door. Sighing he pulled his shirt out from his trousers and went to the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a bottle of juice. After pouring a glass he went and sat down on the sofa and opened up his paperwork that had been neatly sitting there stacked up on the table. He read through some of the notes he'd made about the scroll when a creek came from the doorway. He looked over his shoulder towards their bedroom but saw nothing, he half expected Frankie to be stood there. Turning his attention back to the paperwork he again began thumbing his way through sheet after sheet, trying to find something in particular. Again another creek came and again he turned towards their bedroom door expecting to see Frankie. Nothing.

"Frankie?" He called out but got no response. He took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes and laid back against the sofa.

"Andrew?" Frankie called, not feeling him in the bed beside her. There was no answer and she grew worried that he'd gone and left her again. The trouble with him was that he couldn't sit still, his mind was always turning and she tried her best to keep up with him.

"Andrew?" She again called out to no response. Sliding herself to the edge of the bed she pulled the sheet up around her half naked body and wrapped it over her shoulders. "Frankie…" an eerily unfamiliar voice echoed from the dark living room. "Andrew?" She whispered and got up walking small steps to the door and stopping, her eyes trying to focus in the darkness. "Hello?" She called out walking out into the living room and not seeing anyone.

Across the hall she could see a light on beneath closed door, sounds of passionate moaning came from within. Slowly Frankie took steps towards it, her heart racing as she heard a familiar pleasurable grunt. "Don't stop!" A voice said, "fuck me!"

Taking steps to reach the door handle she turned the knob and slowly pushed open the bathroom door. On the counter top with her dress hitched up was a woman with auburn hair, slim with brown eyes and a stunning figure wearing a red dress. She was moaning hard as the man between her thighs, his trousers down thrust into her over and over.

"Andrew!" The woman pointed at Frankie's shocked face. Andrew turned and looked at Frankie as he fondled the woman's breasts.

"Andrew?" Frankie broke a sob.

"Oh shut up you pathetic little cry baby!" He said between thrusts. Reaching out he slammed the door in her face and she fell backwards against the wall. Lurching forwards she grabbed the door handle and tried to open it but it wouldn't budge, she pounded on the door! "Andrew!" And again "Andrew!" She shouted.

"Frankie!" Andrew said gripping her shoulders, she sat bolt upright in bed and screamed, thrashing him away. "Don't touch me!" She cried, "how could you?!"

"Frankie!" He shouted over her, "Frankie it's okay! You were dreaming!"

She panted heavily and looked around. "What?!" She breathed grabbing his arms she looked at him. "It's okay, you were having a nightmare, it's okay. Shh…" He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. She couldn't catch her breath and choked back tears. "Oh my god." She breathed. "Oh my god…"

"Shh, it's okay." He cooed and rocked her gently. "What the hell is wrong with me?" She sobbed. "All I do is cry and whinge." She paused to wipe her tears, "and now I'm having nightmares."

"Frankie you've been through a hell of a lot these past few months, you've got to give yourself time to deal with it all." Andrew replied stroking her hair softly.

"I just want it all to stop."

"It will Frankie I promise you that."

"When?"

"As soon as you let it go." Andrew held her. "Whether that's three weeks, three months or three years I'll be here, I'm not leaving you my love."

"Thank you." She whispered and leant up to kiss him, he replied pulling her down onto the bed with him, this time he wasn't leaving her side. He wrapped her up in his arms and placed butterfly kisses over her head. Again slowly but surely they both fell into a peaceful sleep.

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Frankie's eyes fluttered open and as the sun beamed through the blinds, the birds were singing and there was a faint smell of bacon and eggs in the air. Sitting up she found one of Andrew's shirts and slipped it on, passing the mirror on the dresser she bent down to look at her eyes, "what the heck Frankie…" she took a wet wipe to her mascara soaked face. Finishing up she slipped out the bedroom quietly and crept up behind Andrew in the kitchen, wrapping her arms around him from behind.

"Morning." She nuzzled into his back.

"Good morning." He smiled turning in her arms, frying pan in hand, glasses on the bridge of his nose. "You're up early, I was going to surprise you with breakfast in bed."

"Hey you still can." She smirked, "I mean before the food." He blushed and got lost for words. It was so different for him to be this way with a woman when he hadn't for so long . So many years training his mind to ignore his sexual urges. "Is the priest blushing?" She jibbed.

"Just flushing." He tried to get out of it. Frankie laughed out loud and pulled away to go sit at the table where pieces of paper were scattered. "What are you up to today?" She asked.

"Err, well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about Frankie." He started, picking up two plates and carrying them over to the table. "What's that?" She asked in return.

"Well you see the thing is, Father Delmonico put me on to this…person… who said they could help me with deciphering the scroll and the words in Alameida's journal. You see she wanted me to go back with her to Belo Quinto, but I said I couldn't so she's moving her work here."

"She? Wow she must really like you." Frankie hinted some slight jealousy.

"It's nothing like that." He started picking straight up on it. "It's just business."

"With benefits?" She pushed the food around on her plate.

"You've nothing to worry about, trust me." He said.

"I'm not worried so long as she doesn't think differently."

"No, she doesn't." He half debated trying to be more open with her, he wanted to tell Frankie the truth about Sam but somehow he couldn't, like that was a part of his past he'd rather forget.

"So when can I meet her?" Frankie asked wanting to know what she was up against.

"Tonight." He said between more mouthfuls, she's hosting a dinner for some very important guests, scientists and priests that she thinks I'll have some help from."

"Tonight?!" Frankie exclaimed…

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"Tonight?" Donna asked incredibly and Frankie dropped defeated into the chair. "It's a dress up occasion as well! Apparently she's some upper class British woman with lots of money and friends."

"So what are you going to do?" Donna asked.

"Andrew gave me some cash and told me to go and buy myself a really nice outfit…" she rolled her eyes at her best friend. She hadn't forgiven Donna for her indiscretion but she wasn't about to loose her best friend over it.

"He thought your mini skirts were OTT?"

"I guess I'm not going to make a good impression in them!" She scoffed. Although Andrew wasn't as posh as all that, he was from a completely different background than Frankie. Whereas Frankie had attended public schooling in a lower class neighbourhood surrounded by even lower class gangs and hoodies, Andrew had probably attended some 'well-to-do' school and had a proper education. Andrew had made a name for himself whereas she had, had one given to her and it wasn't exactly classy.

"Well girlfriend there's only one thing to do."

"What's that?" Frankie replied looking at herself in a floor length mirror inside Donna's apartment.

"Make you look so hot Andrew won't be able to take his eyes off you."

"Hell yeah!" She nodded and high fived her friend. "What time are you leaving?" Donna asked nonchalantly. "I think he said seven, what time is it now?"

"3:45." Donna and Frankie jumped up and ran to the door.

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"What about this Frankie?" Donna said showing the figure hugging sage green dress with ruffles down one side. "Or this number? I think Andrew would LOVE you in this one." A hot orange with slits down the sides and corset back, no longer than thigh high – if that!

"I think he'd think I was possessed again!" Frankie chuckled from behind the changing room door, taking off the frilly dress she was wearing and taking another.

"Well he's Irish, the green one would probably be his favourite." Donna said putting it back on the hanger and hanging it back up, she's scanning other dresses.

"I don't want an old grandma dress either, I figure why not show a bit of leg." Frankie pulled the curtain back and Donna eep'd, "oh girl he gonna be drooling over you."

Frankie laughed, laughed for the first real time in ages…

"Girl it's five o clock I've got to go!" Frankie said quickly drawing the door shut and changing. After paying for their goods they both left and got in Donna's car. "You want me to come with and help do your hair and makeup?" Donna asked as she pulled up outside Frankie and Andrew's apartment complex.

"Would you mind?" Frankie asked genuinely.

"No girl, I got you." Donna replied excitedly, "let me just pull up." Frankie got out with her things and waited by the car park whilst Donna found a space.

"Frankie…" a voice echoed in the wind. "Frankie…" voices got louder as if she was stood in a crowded room, suddenly everything around her stopped, cars frozen in place and people moving stood frozen in their mid motion. "What the?" Frankie breathed heavy as she looked around. "Hello?" She shouted out, nobody moved and there wasn't even a sound that filled the air, only her voice and the voice of her predator. "Frankie…"

Donna put her hand on Frankie's shoulder, she seemed lost in thought. Frankie jumped scared to the core and turned to Donna. "Are you…okay?" Donna asked worried.

"Wh-what?" She stumbled a sharp pain in her temple. "Yeah I think I'm getting a headache."

"Come on let's get you in and get you dressed up, you'll feel better about all this soon enough." Donna played it off as if Frankie was nervous about the upcoming event.

Frankie held her temple with her palm softly for a few minutes as they got in the elevator. "Frankie? You okay?" Donna asked again.

"I don't know." Frankie let out a frustrated sigh and smiled at her friend, "I'll be fine, you're right this is all just nerves and shit. Once I'm dressed up I'll be a lot better." They stepped off the lift and walked the hallway to the apartment penthouse Frankie turned the knob and pushed the door open, Andrew looked up over the rim of his glasses and from his paperwork. "Good afternoon ladies." He gave a small hand gestured wave to Donna, she returned it.

"Hey." Frankie said walking over to him, kissing him softly and giving him a small securing hug, he kept his arm around her as they turned back to Donna. "What are you two up to?"

"Donna's gonna help me get dressed for tonight."

"About that, Frankie, Sam is sending a car to pick us up so we don't have to drive." Andrew sat back down and Frankie walked over to the kitchen cabinet to find the painkillers.

"Looks like you both get to ride in style." Donna chimed in.

"Oh this guy gets to ride in style all the time." Frankie took the tablets with a glass of water. Andrew furrowed his brow at Donna then back at Frankie. "Well you can't tell me the pope drives around in a beat up old corvette!"

The three of them all laughed out loud and Andrew shook his head, "I never drove around with the pope!" He paused, "but if I did I would have loved to have seen him in one of those." Donna and Frankie chuckled and Frankie took Donna by the hand. "Come on girl I gotta get ready."

"Have fun!" Andrew called after them.

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An hour and a half later Andrew paced the living room to put his grandfathers watch back on around his wrist, his finely pressed suit completely wrinkle free, bow tie and little spikes of hair sticking up around his head giving him the handsome man look.

"Frankie? Donna?" He called through the door. No response, a horn sounded outside and he went to the balcony to look down. The car was here it was now or never. "Frankie? Car is here I don't want to be…" He stopped mid sentence completely awe struck. Frankie and Donna emerged from the room and Frankie appeared dressed in a figure hugging black dress, bare shoulders with long black sleeves, coming down around her immaculate figure and stopping mid way down her thighs. It shimmered in the light and perfectly matched her silver clutch bag and silver heels. Her blonde hair with curls gracefully danced around her face and down across her shoulders, a beautiful pendant locket hung from her neck and crystal long earrings swaying with every move of her head.

Her makeup was perfect and she looked as stunning as she possibly could. Andrew was sure his mouth was hanging open and it took him all his time to regain control of his mouth and brain. "Frankie." He spoke softly walking over to her. "My god."

"I think he likes it." Donna whispered loud enough for him to hear.

"You look absolutely stunning." He couldn't remember the last time his heart had skipped a beat when looking at a woman so amazingly beautiful. He couldn't love Frankie anymore than he did in this moment, she looked like a perfect angel just one drop and she could smash, he felt the need to protect her to step up and be a man – her man, how could he deserve such grace? He thanked the lord for her every night but tonight he would thank him extra for allowing this beauty to love him and him her.

"Come on, we'll be late." He gave her his arm to link.

"Thanks." She said proudly. "You don't look too bad yourself mister."

"Err, I'll walk out with you guys." Donna laughed grabbing her jacket…

Arriving outside Donna hugged her friend as Andrew opened the car door, "ready?" He asked Frankie.

"Have a great night girl and call me tomorrow, I wanna hear everything!"

"Oh you know I will." She smiled and waved her off walking over to Andrew he smiled and kissed her lips softly. She brought a hand up to his lips and wiped her lipstick off his lips gently.

"How the heck did I get so lucky?" He asked. She cupped his face in her hands and gently brushed her thumbs over his cheeks, he closed his eyes, his heart skipping a beat. "Not you, me?" She said and started to get into the car, he stood there with a broad smile for a moment and got in after her.