A/N: hope you enjoy!

Frankie stood as her mother picked up the phone. "Hello?" Her mother asked curious, not recognising the number. "Mom…hey."

"Frankie?" She asked, "well where have you been honey we've been trying to get hold of you for weeks and weeks now, we had to call Donna, she said you were okay just busy."

"Yeah…things have been pretty hectic alright." Frankie picked up a shard of glass from the floor of the coffee table, or what was left of it and took it outside.

"Well tell me what you've been up to?"

"Oh ya know… This and that." Frankie tried, not knowing what to say. "Well come on Frankie, you can make more conversation than that!"

"Well nothing much has happened!" Frankie retorted.

"Donna said you met someone, that's good news!" Her mother tried.

"Oh yeah? How much did Donna tell you?"

"That's all." Her mother stated matter of fact, "why what's wrong with him?"

"Nothing!" Frankie said protectively. "He's perfect!"

"Well I've heard this all before!" Her mother started a rant about her previous boyfriends. "Mom!" Frankie interrupted, "we're getting married and he wants you and dad to come!" There, she said it.

"What?" Her mother said shocked. "How long have you known this boy?" Frankie winced, knowing this would be the hardest bit.

"He's not a boy mom, he's a man, he came here to…" 'save me from my stigmata that almost killed me!' Frankie wanted to say but instead opted for; "he had business here, he lived in Rome and he came here, I met him at the salon and that's how we clicked." Frankie sat in the rocking chair on the porch. The oversized white jumper and jeans were the only thing protecting her from the cold.

"How long?" Her mother repeated.

"About six months." Frankie guessed. "Frankie!" Her mother shouted, "and how old is he?"

"41." She said and her mother went silent. "Frankie I feel sick, talk to your father." She went off the phone, they'd clearly been on speakerphone as he just said her name over and over disgusted. "What was he doing in Rome?" He asked her point blank.

"Just business dad, he worked as an organic chemist." It was the only thing she could think of. Frankie rubbed her face, she wished her parents weren't so bad at parenting. "Well at least you haven't shagged a priest!" He spat angrily, but that was normal for him. Frankie covered her face, she had them on speakerphone and Andrew was listening from the doorway.

"Even if he was a priest dad it wouldn't have made a difference we're in love!"

"Surely you've thought logically about this Frankie, the guys old enough to be your father! Would you have sex with me?!"

"Marc!" Her mum shouted from the background. "No dad that would be incest."

"Frankie send me your address, I'll be there with your mother tomorrow!"

"No dad!" She put her foot down, they had plenty of room but she wasn't having them here.

"Frankie!" He said sternly, "dad I have to go, I'll call you later."

"Frankie Paige, you hang up and I'll…" she put the phone down and threw it on the grass. "Stay out of my life!" She got up and almost bumped into Andrew. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough." He smirked his hands in his pockets. She walked around him and over to the glass table, picking up another shard. "Let him come." He said following her.

"Absolutely not!" She sighed. "Here." He said taking the shard of glass off her. "Frankie he's not wrong you know."

"About what?" She asked.

"About everything, you're his daughter he's trying to protect you, I'd be the same."

"He's over protective and over baring, mom is so dramatic. They are well off and dad has retired that's why they travel all the time."

"But?" He asked as he put the glass down outside. "But I was always left behind, always given something to occupy me so I wouldn't bother them, then when I was old enough dad moved his business abroad and he and mum treated me like a renter at their house. When I said I wanted to be a hair stylist he flipped and said I had to go out and make it on my own. That's how I ended up in Pittsburgh and how I got my degree. I didn't attend great schools when I was young, public schools and gangs. I had to fight people to be accepted, whilst dad sat on his high chair and told me how his dad did the same to him and look how he turned out. I didn't get a university education, I left school and was pretty much left to it since then."

"Do you have siblings?" He asked.

"No I'm an only child." She picked the phone up off the grass and walked back to the door, he stopped her and put his hands on her hips. "You're smarter than you think you are Frankie, not a lot of people could make it like you have, through diversity comes great determination…I'm proud of the woman you are. Smart and kind, funny and proud…you should let them see that side of you, let them come let's show them just how far you've come." He kissed her softly and she hugged him. "Thank you." She said and smiled… "I'll ring him later."

Walking over to where the remnants of the glass table were she sighed and put her hands on her hips looking to him. "I really did a number on this table huh?"

"You'd make a good rounders player." He said, correcting himself. "Sorry, baseball." He picked up the last large bit and she looked at him, "speaking of families." She started. "How about we invite your brothers over and your parents?"

"My dad has passed but my mother and brothers will come." She smiled. "I can't wait to meet your family."

"I haven't seen them for a long time, it will be nice to see them." He took the glass outside and got rid of it. "Looks like a full house then?" She laughed getting down on the floor and crossing her legs as she started collecting his paperwork.

"I think you're forgetting one very important detail." He grabbed the broom. "Where are they going to sleep?"

"Well we have two spare bedrooms, my mum and dad in one, your mum in another and your brothers can have our room and we'll sleep on the couches."

"You've got this all planned out haven't you?" He smirked she nodded. "Frankie you're a master planner."

"Andrew?" She asked.

"Mm."

"Where are we going to get married?" He stopped and looked at her. "I mean it's not like we attend a church anywhere? That's if you wanted a church wedding or a fly by wedding or whatever." He laughed.

"I think we'll have a fly by wedding." She laughed embarrassed.

"Okay, okay you know what I mean."

"Well if it's okay with you I wanted to have it here." She looked to him surprised. "Well I was going to suggest the same thing."

"Great minds think alike." He said. "Also I was wondering how you'd feel having my friend perform the service. I was going to fly him in from Rome to do it."

"Is that allowed?" She asked. "I mean will it be legal?"

"Yes he has a license to marry anyone anywhere, it's part of being a Vatican priest…Frankie he was of great help to us during your Stigmata, it would mean a lot to me."

"Of course." She agreed without question. "There's also something else I've been wanting to ask you, but I understand if you say no." She suddenly worried.

"You're not going to ask me to get married naked or anything like that are you?" She laughed, "the thought had crossed my mind." He said and walked over to her, getting down on the floor with her he took her hands and held them softly. Looking up at her asked, "Frankie in the eyes of the church our marriage would be null and void if they knew you weren't a catholic. That you didn't believe in God, that you weren't saved… I don't want them to hold that over you, if ever it comes around. Frankie I'd like to baptise you."

"Does it hurt?" She laughed he frowned and she gripped his hands. She hadn't ever believed, but here she was on the brink of marrying the man she loved. The stigmata had shown her god existed, now she had to choose her side. Evil or Jesus. "Sorry."she apologised and lifted his head. "I believe in him and I'd love for you to baptise me."

"Come on." He said excitedly and took her hand leading her outside to the waters edge. "What are we doing?" She asked. He was silent as he prayed, blessing the water. It wasn't a necessity but he felt better about it. Turning to Frankie he took her hands . "My love do you trust me?"

"Of course." She said. "I'm going to baptise you now." She looked incredulous at him. "Now?" She asked, "don't I need to go to church and do things?"

"Yes ordinarily it's quite a process, but we don't have the luxury of time and a church. I may not be an official priest anymore in the eyes of the law but in Jesus' eyes I can still do many things." He paused pulling her slowly down the bank with him, leading her into the water. "Oh my god it's freezing." She shivered.

"Frankie Paige." He held her hands looking into her eyes, he could feel her shaking hands and wasn't sure if it's because she was scared or cold or both.

"Yes?" She asked. He laughed a little and then got serious again. "Do you reject Satan?"

"Yes."

"Do you reject all his works?"

"Yes."

"And his empty promises?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe in God the almighty creator of Heaven and Earth?"

"Yes."

Do you believe in Jesus Christ his only son, our lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and buried, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the father?"

"Yes I do."

"Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?"

"Yes I do."

This is our faith, this is the faith of the church, we are proud to profess it in Jesus Christ our lord, amen."

"Amen." She repeated.

"Is it your will that you Frankie Paige should be baptised here today?"

"It is." They were up to their waist in water and she was absolutely frozen and shivering. He gently turned her so that she lay her head in the nook of his elbow, "trust me?" He asked. She nodded she had some idea she was going under water.

"I baptise you in the name of the father…" he dunked her fully underwater and brought her back up. "And of the son…" he dunked her again. "And of the Holy Spirit." He dunked her a third time, she came back up gasping for air, he held her in his arms steady.

"Amen… go in peace." He finished and she looked up at him. "Is that it?"

"You are saved." He said kissing her softly. "Thank you." He said and helped her stand and they both climbed out of the water. "I feel like I had an ice bath…" she said shivering. He wrapped his arm around her and walked her back into the warm house.

"I'm going to get changed." She said quickly running off into the bedroom ahead of him. His heart felt so full that she'd done that for him and for herself. He got into the bathroom where she was already in the shower, got out of his wet clothes, joining her. She cuddled up to him freezing cold and shivering. "Sorry." He said rubbing her arms to keep her warm.

She wrapped her arms around him and he held her as the shower ran over them, warming them.

After showering Frankie slipped on a fresh pair of jeans and a warm fluffy jumper and went out into the lounge, Andrew was on the phone.

"Yes mammy." He said. "I left the priesthood a little while ago." There was a pause whilst she spoke and he continued. "Of course I still believe, my faith is as strong as it always was except now I have someone to love. She's beautiful, mammy, I promise you'll love her." Frankie felt her heart warm and went over to the kitchen to prepare lunch for them both.

"Yes, in a couple of weeks will be fine, I'll send you, Liam and Sean's tickets right away. Bye mammy." He put the phone down and looked over to her. "They're coming." Suddenly she felt nauseous. "Is this really happening?" She asked, "what if they hate me?"

"They will love you." He smiled. "Liam is my older brother and Sean is my younger. Liam is married with two children and Sean is a bit of a wild child, lives rent free with mammy but he's hardly ever there, according to mammy."

"So they're not priests like you?"

"No!" He chuffed laughing, "mammy would have wanted them to be but I think my dad probably told her he wanted one of us to be in the army, that was Liam's mission."

"What about Sean?"

"Well mum wanted him to be a doctor, but Sean kind of got misled by the people he hung around with."

"A bit like me." She agreed. "I do worry about him." He said thoughtfully. "With a big brother like you? I'm sure he will be fine. Maybe you can talk to him whilst they're here?"

"Maybe." He said standing and walking over to Frankie, picking her up and twirling her around. "Woah!" She laughed and he kissed her, softly kissing her neck, "my handsome husband." She ran her fingers through his hair and lifted his chin, kissing him. "Andrew? Have you spoken to your friend in Rome? When can he get here?"

"Yes he's coming next month." Andrew said as he continued to kiss her neck.

"You do realise I have to find a dress before then don't you?"

"How about a naked ceremony?" He laughed, kissing her more, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to him. She whacked his shoulder and he winced. "I could get married in a mini skirt though?" He paused and looked up at her. "Gotcha!" She laughed.

He grabbed her and started tickling her…

A few weeks later and it was the morning of hell-day. Frankie closed the fridge door and looked at Andrew. "There's enough food here to feed the Vatican for a week."

"Mammy will be cooking, it's her thing." He said sipping his coffee.

"My mum will probably bring a chef." She said sarcastically. "What are their names I never even asked?" He said. "Janice is my mom and Marc is my dad. They should be here soon." She knew they planned to get here first so they could assess the damage Frankie had brought upon herself. They knew his family was coming too and they weren't happy with it all.

Andrew had on his formal waistcoat outfit and Frankie tried to dress as smart as she could. Frankie was about to say something when she caught the reflection of a car pulling up their driveway. "Oh god…" Frankie said, looking around. "I want out!" She panicked.

"Hey!" He grabbed her and kissed her softly. "I'm here okay?" He took her hand and led her to the front door, stepping out on the porch. The posh car came to a stop and they got out. A blonde haired, slim woman around the same height as Frankie got out, followed by a taller, smart looking brown haired man. A fairly younger looking couple considering he was retired, Andrew thought, he looked like him a little.

"Frankie!" Janice said running over to her daughter, Frankie hugged her tightly. "Hi mom."

"Oh my darling, have you lost weight?" She asked checking her over. "Frankie." Marc said and she hugged him. "Hi dad."

There was a pause as he turned to Andrew. "So you're the priest." He said, Andrew took his hands out his pockets shocked.

"Dad!" Frankie said shocked too, looking at her mother for answers. "How did you know?"

"I have a few friends at the Vatican." Marc said and went over to Andrew offering his hand. "They had nothing but praise for you and your work."

"I err…" he stumbled. Frankie stepped in. "He's not a priest anymore dad." Andrew shook the man's hand. "Andrew Kiernan am I correct?"

"Yes but…"

"Marc Paige, this is my wife Janice." He said simply.

"Nice to meet you finally." Andrew replied. Janice went over and shook Andrew's hand. "Well my daughter certainly knows how to choose them. You're a lot more handsome than I thought."

"Err, thanks!" He replied gratefully. "I'll show you to your room." Andrew said. They all went inside and Andrew left Frankie with her parents whilst he made drinks.

"He's very handsome." Janice whispered.

"He's amazing." Frankie smiled. "Finally someone you can actually communicate with."

"Frankie are you still doing drugs darling?" Janice asked genuinely. "You're too thin I don't like it." Marc interrupted, "he's not feeding you drugs is he?" He said angrily.

"No! Both of you!"

A little while later Janice and Marc went to lay down and it was Andrew's turn to be nervous. Frankie smoothed his waistcoat and kissed him. "You look amazing." He smiled and they went again to the porch as a car rolled up being driven by Sean.

"Andrew!" A typical Irish mother got out the car, wearing green and slightly ageing with glasses and a floral dress on. Andrew went over and scooped her up in his arms. "Mammy."

"And who's this?" She asked as Frankie came to greet them, "mammy sure this is Frankie."

"Oh sweetheart aren't you just…so young!" She said a little taken aback. "But also so pretty." She quickly added. Frankie smiled and hugged her. Andrew took Frankie's hand and led her to his brothers. Sean was first, he was the spitting image of Andrew, they could have been twins, she thought. Except he had a ring in his nose, ear and a tattoo on his neck. "Sean, Frankie Paige."

"You're fit." He said plainly. "If Andy doesn't give you a good boning come see me." Frankie just laughed out loud, Andrew shook his head, turning to Liam, who was completely opposite to Sean. Well dressed and clean shaven, barely any hair with a slight beard.

"Liam, Frankie Paige."

"Nice to meet you." He kissed her cheek and shook her hand. "You lied to me Andrew, she's not just beautiful, she's stunning." Frankie blushed and he smiled.

"How the children?" Andrew asked him. "Very good brother." They hugged and Frankie led everyone inside.

A few days later everyone had settled in nicely and there had been no arguments. Frankie was relieved and so was Andrew. They were both getting to know each others family really well, learning things about the other they didn't think they would know.

Andrew was learning that Frankie had a history of substance abuse and bad boyfriends, he knew she no longer walked that path but his heart hurt for her, to think he almost didn't get to meet her, had he not been sent from Rome and had she not have gotten the Stigmata.

Frankie learned that Andrew was a bit of a rebel in his day, until he joined a special program at school which allowed him to better himself. She learnt that Andrew had Sam meet his parents and they didn't like her either. He was their pride and joy.

"This is Andrew when he was a baby." She said turning the page. "Aww…" Frankie smiled. "He was so cute."

"Mammy, I think Frankie would not want to see pictures of…" he attempted but it was too late.

"The bathtub!" Frankie got excited, "yeah look he had a small penis then as well." Sean said as he walked past and out the back door, lighting up a cigarette. Andrew shook his head and got up walking out the back door and shutting it behind him. Frankie watched as they exchanged words and Sean stormed off. Andrew came back inside and just as her mother collard him. "Andrew do you think I could have a word?" Janice said and he nodded. "In private?" Andrew nodded again and Frankie frowned as they moved off. "Excuse me Connie." Frankie said and got up following Andrew and her mother to her parents bedroom.

Frankie stood with her back against the wall as the door was slightly ajar, listening to what was being said.

"Andrew, sit down." Janice said, he nodded and took a seat. Marc sat across from him with Janice on the bed.

"Andrew we want to have an open and honest conversation with you and we want to be clear, we don't think and wouldn't think of you any differently." Janice started, looking to Marc.

"Of course." Andrew said in response.

"Well you see, Frankie is a very troubled child. She's got issues…" He tapped his head. "She thinks we don't know what she got up to in her youth but we do."

"It's not that we don't love her, it's that we love her too much." Janice continued, "I've had to bail her out of jail more times than any father should, Janice wiped up her blood when she came home from wild all night parties." Marc said, shaking his head. Outside Frankie silently cried, tears running down her cheeks.

"Her insanity nearly drove us to divorce. When she said she wanted to be a hair stylist, I enlisted her in a top school and paid her tuition, her mother and I watched as she packed up her things and left, she never made it to college. She met a boy and did so much drugs a passing farmer found her passed out in his field. She'd been robbed of everything she had and dumped like trash in the side of the road." Andrew listened, his heart breaking for Frankie but also wondering where this was going and what they wanted from him.

"She met Donna in rehab and Donna enrolled her in a cheap salon, studying her hairdressers degree from some cheap scholarship."

"Forgive me if I sound blunt Mister and Misses Paige but what are you getting at."

"Basically we're trying to stop our daughter from embarrassing herself and you any further, this charade can not be allowed to continue. You're just her sugar daddy.." Janice said, Andrew interrupted…

"I beg your pardon…" He tried but they continued. "Your old enough to be her father, it's disgusting…" Janice started to cry crocodile tears. "Andrew be real with me, I'll give you a ball park figure and you tell me if you'll take it."

"Take what?…what?" He had no clue what was going on.

"Half a million." He said. "I think she's worth that."

"What are you asking me?" Andrew again asked, Frankie couldn't believe it and she also couldn't listen to Andrew's answer, it was too embarrassing…she walked away slowly, leaving the house unable to take it.

"Half a million, to walk away right now." Marc said holding out his hand. Andrew finally got it, he was truly gobsmacked, "you're offering me money to leave Frankie?"

"Yes, man to man. I won't think of you differently."

"Are you sick?" Andrew said and thrust Marc's hand away. "You couldn't pay me enough money to walk away from her." He got really angry. "Have you ever stopped to actually look at Frankie? Have you ever stopped to see the beautiful woman she's become? I'm not marrying her just because I love her, I'm marrying her because she's the most amazingly kind, attractive and funny, wonderful soul I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."

"Since I've been with her I've never been so happy, but you two wouldn't know about that would you? Going away on your fancy holidays and leaving her alone, to grow up and find her way. You two had enough money to put that beautiful girl in Hollywood but you sent her to a public school and shamed her when she failed!" Andrew was angry.

"Whatever happened in her past is hers to work through but I can tell you now that I'm not leaving her and I suggest if you ever want to see or speak to your daughter again you never mention this to her because a month or so ago she was pregnant and she lost it, she's barely surviving right now and if you do anything to bring her down I'll tear you apart so god damn far you'll be looking up your own ass!" He went to the door and stopped. Walking back… "you either start supporting Frankie or you leave and never come back, she didn't need you when you belittled her as a child, she didn't need you when she was expected to shut up and be quiet, she didn't need you when she was scared and had no-one to turn to… and she sure as hell doesn't need you when you try to sell her off…you make me sick!" He threw open the bedroom door and stormed down the hall, they chased after him.

"Andrew I'm sorry, we're sorry…we didn't know…."

"No you didn't that was always your trouble. If you'd taken the time to know your child you'd see how completely wonderful she is, how talented and precious she is. I love her and she loves me and if that's all you've come here for you can go, she doesn't need you anymore because unlike you I'll always be there for her!" Andrew turned and stormed into the now quiet lounge.

Sean and Liam and his mother sat quiet not sure what to say. "Where's Frankie?" He asked angrily not meaning to direct his anger at them. "She went that way, she looked upset."

"Shit." He said, knowing she'd heard some if not all of it. He quickly walked out the doors and began looking for Frankie. He followed the trail path through the woods, walking for a good 15 minutes before he came to a clearing, not immediately seeing Frankie.

"Frankie?" He shouted. "Up here." She said softly. A few trees had tipped over and created a ledge up high that was like half a bridge you could walk up if you were brave enough.

"Frankie come down." He said not risking it.

"Come up, it's nice up here."

"Frankie I'm not as young as I used to be…" she didn't move and he sighed looking for a way up. Finding one he gingerly made his way to the top where she was, holding onto branches and steadying himself as he sat down a leg either side of the bark. There was silence for a few moments whilst he tried to gauge how she was feeling, then he saw it, she'd been crying.

"Did you take their offer? Is that why you're here?" She picked at a leaf in her hands.

"Frankie…" he started scooting closer to her. "Frankie…" he said again finally close enough to her that he could touch her. He took her hands and spoke to her softly.

"Frankie you know me better than anyone, you know I wouldn't have accepted their offer if they'd offered me any amount of money."

"Please look at me." He said and pulled her down so she straddled the bark as well. She looked at him and shook her head, "they're right, I'm a fuck up. I don't deserve to ruin your life like I have mine."

"Close your eyes." He asked. "What?" She replied. "Just go with me here." She did and he brought her hand to his chest over his heart. "You feel that?" He asked.

"Yes." She said softly, tears forming.

"It beats only for you." He said simply. "No amount of money or goods or services will ever change that. I love you for better or worse, I'll love you even if you don't love yourself."

She opened her eyes and fell against his chest sobbing. "why do they hate me?"she asked trying to process it all. He held her in his arms and stroked her back softly. "They don't hate you Frankie, in their own weird, sick and twisted way they just want what's best for you."

"All I ever wanted was love, I wanted a hug when I cried or my mum to be there when I drew a picture." She cried. "I am all those terrible things they said."

"Frankie look at me." He got passionate again, "you are not those things, they are in your past, they made you who you are today, my wonderful, beautiful bride to be…my Frankie , my lover, the woman who makes me laugh or cry…" he felt the tears fall he felt so passionately about her he couldn't help himself. "Why can't you see how precious you are, have been and always will be to me? I adore you Frankie Paige, I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you."

"I want to too…I just don't want you to be disappointed when I fail you."

"Frankie you wouldn't be able to disappoint me, it's not possible."

"I adore you." She whispered and grabbed his shirt collar, pulling him in to kiss him passionately. Coming up for air she held him to her and he held her wrists. "Why do you always know what to say to calm me down?"

"Because you're my lady. I make it a point to know everything about you." He moved his hands down her arms to her body and stopped. "Frankie they know about the baby, I kind of lost my temper and it came out."

She shrugged, "they would have found out eventually." She ran her fingers through his hair and stroked the back of his neck softly, looking into his eyes. "You're so smart and handsome. How did I get so lucky?" He blushed a little looking down.

"Never stop Andrew, never stop being the amazing scientist, the most amazing fiancé and soon to be husband you are and will be."

"Thank you but… I'm flawed as well Frankie. We all have our demons."

"I don't care, you could be a boiled egg and I'd still love you." He laughed out loud and grabbed her in his arms. "There she is."

"Come on I'm getting vertigo…" he said standing up, almost falling but grabbing hold of Frankie. "Didn't you climb trees when you were younger?" She asked him.

"I was too busy reading the bible." She laughed. He did too, and jumped off the tree bark, he turned a put his hands on her hips lifting her down. She caught her foot and fell forward suddenly he lost his balance and she landed on top of him in the mud. Laughing hard she pushed her hands either side of his head. "Sorry are you ok?"

"Winded…" he winced out of breath. After a moment she got off him and he pushed her down onto her back, getting between her legs. "This is much better."

"Andrew!" She laughed out loud. "Get off me I'm getting all muddy!"

"I'll think about it." He said, smirking.

"Andrew!" She wrapped her arms under his and he pulled her up. Looking into each others eyes, they slowly moved in and started kissing. She ran her hands over his face and he pulled her to him.

"We've got time." He whispered into her lips.

"I'm up for it if you are." She started passionately touching him all over. Suddenly a shout of their names rang out over the woods.

"We should go." He rested his forehead against hers.

"Later then?" She asked he picked her up and swung her around, setting her back down. "We'll sneak out later." She whispered, Liam shouted their names as he got closer.

"It's a date." He kissed her and took her hand as they walked towards Liam.

"Liam." Andrew said and they walked over to him. "Are you two alright?"

"Yes." Frankie smiled and replied. "Frankie you're parents are packing up to leave I…" it's like he said it slow motion…Andrew went to grab Frankie but she just ran. She ran as hard as she could not wanting them to leave again, leaving her like they did every time.

"Frankie!" Andrew shouted, he and Liam running after her.

She pushed through the trees sobbing harder than she could, as she neared the house she saw them getting in the car and reversing, she ran like her feet were on clouds…

Diving out of the bush, she fell but quickly got back up, "mom, dad wait!" She shouted and ran down the driveway after them, Liam stopped when he got to his family, Andrew bolted past them after Frankie…

Frankie ran after the car, but they sped up…she followed them, running after them until she couldn't see the car anymore and she stopped in the middle of the road…. "Arghh!" She screamed after them as loud as she could.

"Fuck you! Leave!" She screamed, sobbing. "Nothing ever changes! I hate you! I fucking hate you!" She collapsed to her knees and sobbed. Andrew finally caught up with her and dived on her, wrapping her in his arms, just holding her. "It's okay.." he held her head to his chest protectively.

She screamed hard and hit him. "Don't leave me!" She screamed into him.

"It's okay…shhh!" He said holding her as tight as he could without hurting her. "It'll be okay I'm here…" he kept repeating over and over.

Eventually the anger turned to pain and she just sobbed. "I'm here, I'm here…" he held her to him, she collapsed into his chest he fell back and cradled her in his lap. Stroking her hair he kissed her head repeatedly just holding her.

"Why don't they love me? Why won't they try? What have I done so wrong?" She begged him for answers he didn't have. "It'll be okay my love, I'm here." After a little while he managed to calm her down a little and he stood, picking her up in his arms, he carried her all the way back to the house.

"We need some space." Andrew said, Sean stepped in. "Okay shows over, get in the car, let's go explore the town for the night, give them some space… we'll be back tomorrow." He tapped his brothers arm. They got in the car and left as Andrew walked in the cabin. He took Frankie to their bedroom, she'd fallen asleep in his arms. He put her down gently took off his shirt and and got on the bed in front of her, tears stained her cheeks and she looked exhausted. He pulled her head to his bare chest and held her so she would hear his heart beating whilst she slept. He stroked her hair slowly, kissing her head softly.

"I'm here." He whispered over and over. He'd kill her parents for doing this to her. "I love you." He cried for her, and held her tighter…

A few hours passed and he felt her stir, she pushed her arms up to push herself from his chest, she looked up at him and he kissed her. "I'm here my love." She nodded and pushed off her boots, her trousers and shirt until she just had her bra and panties on. She curled up in a ball into him, he stroked her back lovingly for a moment before bring his hands to hers, kissing them. "It's going to be okay Frankie." He said softly lifting her chin so she would look at him.

"Why don't they care Andrew?"

"They do, in their own way."

"If they cared they wouldn't have left… but it's what they do best, I'm just a leaflet they can throw away when they're done."

"Frankie you don't need them, one day we will sort this out, they will have to accept it but right now you're exhausted, you are going back into a depression, and I'm fighting to save you from it. Frankie I can't loose you, I might sound selfish over your parents but I need you here with me." She felt her heart breaking.

"I'm sorry." She cried into his chest, he held her tighter, loving her as much as he could. "I love you, stay with me."

She pulled herself up on top of him, she needed to feel him. "No Frankie, you're not ok right now, I don't want to take advantage of you…" he fought to stop her but she had to be with him she needed him…. Eventually he gave in as she was turning him on too much to resist.

Slowly but deeply they made love.

[insert detailed sexual scene here that I wrote but can't post because of ff rules]

Frankie panted and fell off him, their love making over she finally felt wanted again, he made all the hurt go away, he cuddled up to her wanting to do it all again. They'd just made love twice in a row, both were completely wiped, even so… he pulled the blanket over them as he spooned her, tightly wrapping her in his arms he held her protectively and wrapped his legs with hers. "I feel so safe with you." She whispered.

"And I with you." He replied, "my lover."

"My heart and soul." She said. "Thank you."

When morning eventually rolled around, Frankie slipped out of his grasp and gently kissed his cheek. Getting up she had a shower and felt him come in half way through. He kissed her all over, they somehow managed to dress and leave their bedroom after an hour of fooling around.

She was still very upset with everything but she tried to put it behind her like they had her. Walking into their room she found a note on the bed and sat down reading it. "What's it say?" He asked and she handed it to him.

"Frankie, we're sorry for everything. We can't stay and be a part of another one of your games, please don't ruin his life like you did yours. Your mother sends her love and tells you to stay safe and enjoy your wedding. Dad."

She put her head in her hands and he got down on his knees in front of her. Taking her hands away he leant up and kissed her softly. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

"I love you my sweetheart." She whispered and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her to him and they made out, tasting each others sweet scent.

After a few minutes Frankie's smiled and pulled away, he stroked her hair. "There's my girl."

"Hey lovebirds we're back!" Sean shouted walking down the hall. Andrew looked over his shoulder as he walked in. "They're down here, they're having sex he's just…"

"Sean!" Andrew interrupted. Getting up he went after his little brother stopping at the door he looked at Frankie. "He always was a fibber!"

Frankie laughed as she got up, screwing the note up, she chucked it in the bin as they entered the kitchen. "We brought fresh bread and food for everyone." They said getting the variety of things out.

"We don't have enough food I told you." She said to Andrew. "Err…" he looked around at them. She laughed and ate a bit of bread that Connie gave to her. Without her parents here she felt she could finally relax.