A/N: Enjoy!
The cab ride home was probably the longest in the world. She watched the world go by as they traversed the streets. Slowly they pulled up to the end of their driveway, the cab driver was unable to go up because of the 'police line do not cross' tape that closed their driveway. They got out and took the suitcases walking under the tape and slowly up the driveway.
As they reached where their cabin was they stopped and stared. "Oh my god." Andrew said looking at the biggest pile of ash he'd ever seen. Frankie couldn't believe what she was seeing, all their possessions were gone, memories and photos lay in ash being blown around by a gentle breeze.
Andrew walked towards the ash, stepping over what was their front door. Frankie followed him as they walked through what was their lounge. He stopped at the table picking up his computer the charred remains falling to pieces.
Frankie went to where their bedroom was, looking at what was left of their wardrobe, from the charred remains she picked up a single piece of lace attached to a bit of dress hanging on the remains of a hanger. He looked around, whoever it was really did a number on this place. He touched the glass on the coffee table and it shattered beneath his hand.
Frankie walked to the cabinet or what was left of it and pushed the ash away, underneath a half burnt ring binder was a box what contained all their photos. As she picked it up it dissipated in her hands. She fell to her knees and sobbed.
He gingerly made his way over to her and knelt down taking her in his arms. "It's okay….shhhh…" He said rubbing her back. "Don't cry baby." He kissed her forehead and then her lips. She let the tears flow unable to hold back. The emotion was raw and the pain real.
"I got you." He soothed her. "How are we going to replace this? How are we going to live? Where are we going to live?" She asked.
"You know I'm a man of many secret friends don't you?"
"Andrew you can't replace memories, we got married here, my dress will never be here again these photos…" she picked up the ash and threw it against a tree. "…nothings left!" She got up and went to the tree, kicking it forgetting she still had sandals on. "Owww!"
He chuckled a little and went over to her, picking her up by her legs and swinging her around. "Well I say let's make new memories."
She slid down in his arms and he softly kissed her, a man appeared out of nowhere and Andrew gave him the signal. A huge lorry started backing up the driveway with a trailer home on the back. "Please tell me we're not going to live forever in there…" she looked at it then to him.
"No silly, I'm gonna put this here for us to live in temporarily whilst we rebuild our new home."
"Andrew… you what?" She said shocked.
"I told you, you weren't wrong when you said I was a man of many secret friends."
"But…it's…you can't afford that, your work doesn't pay you that well…"
"Didn't I tell you to stop worrying about money?" He kissed her forehead. "Now we get to build our dream together." He offered her his hand, "ready to join me?"
She stared at him, how did she get so lucky? "I'll bring your dreams to life Frankie, just trust me."
"I do." She said and took his hand. He led her over to where they were unloading their temporary home…..
A week later and Frankie and Andrew were happily settled into their temporary trailer home. Living out of a suitcase was going to be hard for a while but the end result was going to be their dream home.
"How many?" Frankie asked shocked.
"4, plus our bedroom and a study."
"Andrew do we have enough room for that?"
"I've got a guy delivering dirt tomorrow and their out there now digging up the trees."
"Is it really necessary?"
"We need a room for the baby plus three guest rooms, I think that's ample don't you?"
"Well yes but… I feel bad ripping up trees for our pleasure."
"I promise I will plant new trees somewhere else." He stood up from the kitchen table and kissed her forehead. "Think of it as relocating them."
She nodded and took a sip of water as she meandered over to the table thumbing through the blue prints. "A basement?" She asked, she absolutely hated them.
"Yeah storage." He said grabbing his hard hat and a coffee.
"Please don't ever make me go down there, they freak me out."
"I promise, will you stop worrying…think of the baby." He touched her stomach and smiled.
"Okay but that's your domain I mean it Andrew I have a terrifying fear of basements."
He kissed her softly and pointed at the computer, "will you take a look at that church for me?"
"Sure." She wanted to feel useful so she was helping him with some research. Andrew went outside and walked across the ground to the tree surgeons.
Frankie sat down and flipped the laptop on, the company Andrew was working for sent him a brand new laptop. She started typing in the churches name to the search engine when she got a sicky feeling in her stomach.
"Not again." She said and ran to the bathroom chucking her guts up again for the third time that day. She sat there for ages until the feeling went away, cleaning up she finally left the bathroom and went to the kitchen.
"You're making mummy sick." She said to her tummy. She sat down at the computer and spent a couple of hours researching the church and taking key notes. Her eyes were starting to go blurry so she sat back and sat thinking she hadn't spoken to Donna for so long. She missed her best friend but she was also really upset with her.
Andrew had told her about Donna trying it on with him, she phoned Donna before they went away to talk to her about it and she denied it and slammed the phone down. Frankie got out her mobile and started a text message. She simply started with 'how are you?' And sent it. After an hour there was still no reply so Frankie gave up. Tossing her phone on the counter she picked it up again and sent another text. 'I'm pregnant we're having a baby. I'd love for you to be a part of our lives, I can forgive you for what happened and we can move on.'
Another hour passed and she hadn't even read the message let alone responded to it. Frankie sighed and tossed her phone down. "Hey beautiful." Andrew said as he walked in.
"Hey." She smiled. "You ready for lunch?"
"No thank you just came to get a glass of water." She leant on the counter and ran her hands through her hair. "You sure you're okay?" He said after he chugged the glass of water.
"Yeah I'm fine, I just text Donna but she won't reply." He wasn't exactly thrilled she wanted to get back in contact with Donna but he also wanted her to be happy and have her own friends in her life.
"What did you say?"
"I just said hey to start with then when she didn't reply I text her and told her I was pregnant and she still won't reply."
"Have you tried Jenn?"
"No she's like, all over Donna she won't reply if Donna won't."
"Why do you really want to talk with her again?"
"Because she's my friend, or I thought she was."
"And?"
"And…. I miss her." Frankie replied rubbing her face.
"You want me to try?"
"No, it'll make it worse." She sighed and stood up straight. "I feel like I have nobody to talk to, to vent to… I know I have you but… who can I talk to if I want to vent about you." She half laughed.
"I get it." He smiled walking around the counter to her. "Every girl needs another girl to talk to. Especially someone your own age."
"I didn't mean it like that."
"Frankie I get it…" he smiled kissing her forehead. "Try again and if she still doesn't answer then she can't exactly be a friend, a friend wouldn't ignore another friend when they've told them something big like that. Maybe you two have just grown apart? She was upset that she couldn't find someone to love her like I love you, maybe she's off doing just that."
"I know you're right but it still hurts."
He kissed her softly and stroked her cheek. "Give it time maybe she will come around."
"I'll try." She smiled.
"That's my girls."
She looked shocked, "you think we're having a girl?"
"Well I'm not exactly saying but maybe I would like it to be." He smirked.
"I'm happy either way." She smiled happily. He leaned in and kissed her. "Boss!" A man shouted from outside. "Coming!" Andrew replied and kissed her again briefly.
"Love you." He kissed her again and left. Frankie spent another couple of hours researching the church and she had to have a break, she stared out the window a little at the ash when she decided to put her boots on, put some gloves on and grab a bin liner. Going outside she went over to the heaping pile of ash and sighed. All the memories and moments had all passed in the burnt rubble. She stepped over a few piles and found a picture frame that she knew she could salvage. She picked it up sending ash everywhere she put the frame in the bag and moved over to what was left of their bedroom. She bent down and sifted through the ash and coughed as it blew up.
"Frankie." Andrew said coming over. "Will you please leave it, I don't want you breathing in all these chemicals." He put his hands on her shoulders and guided her out of the rubble.
"Andrew… I want to sort through what's left!"
"You've got to think of the baby, please don't…"
"I am thinking of the baby!" She interrupted angry. "For gods sake Andrew I can't just sit there and play the good housewife."
"Hey…look at me…" she reluctantly lifted her head. "I know you're frustrated but it's going to be ok, things will fall into place I promise."
She sighed and threw her hands in the air turning and walking back to the trailer, she flopped down on the chair and took her gloves off, tossing them in the trash can. She sat for a moment contemplating what she should do, she felt like a useless wrench, ready for work but unable to.
She got up and went outside, walking down the driveway she went to the postbox and opened it to find a handful of letters, pulling them out she started to flip through them as she walked back up towards home. She stopped when she got to a hand written letter it was addressed to her and she wondered who it was from.
Opening the letter she stopped walking and started to read:
Dear Frankie;
As per your request I'm writing to let you know that Bruno is now ready to leave his momma and is ready for adoption. If you're still interested I'll hold him for you till the end of the week.
Look forward to hearing from you,
Jessica Hunter
The humane Society,
Peace Valley.
Frankie smiled excited she considered asking Andrew to drive her and pick up their pup but she wanted to surprise him for a change. After all he said she could have one right? She thought and ran inside picking up the phone. Half an hour later she ran out the trailer and almost bumped into Andrew.
"Woah where are you going?" He asked.
"Oh I've got to go to town to pick something up." She wasn't exactly lying.
"What?" He asked.
"Err….well…" she stumbled, "…lunch!"
"Oh okay you not cooking?"
"Oh yeah there's lunch there for you and the boys, I gotta go I'm late I won't be long!" She said dashing off down the driveway. He furrowed his brow knowing full well she was up to something.
Getting in a cab she headed off towards her destination…and half an hour later she stepped into the Humane Sanctuary in Peace Valley. "Hi I'm Frankie Kiernan I spoke to Jessica?" She said to the receptionist.
"Jessica!" She shouted over her shoulder.
"Hi there, can I help?" A young brunette woman came out and spoke to her.
"I'm Frankie Kiernan…"
"Oh yes! Bruno!" She smiled and opened up the locked door to allow her to come back with her. Frankie followed Jessica to the very back and in a cage on his own sat little Bruno, surrounded by toys, laying his head on a pillow.
"Bruno you have a lady here to see you!" Jessica smiled as she opened up the cage and the little pup jumped up and started running around his cage, his little bum wagging in excitement.
"Hi!" Frankie said softly, the little pup was kind of scared and hid behind his toys. Frankie sat on the floor just outside his cage, "Bruno…" she smiled softly…he was tentative and approached low and scared as Frankie held out her hand. He sniffed her hand and she smiled, "it's okay I'm lost too." She whispered.
He walked up to her suddenly jumping in her lap and fussing her, she fussed him and he barked and howled and started playing.
"Thank you." She said as she got out the cab with a huge box of bits and a surprise under a blanket….walking up the drive Andrew stood talking to a worker and saw her.
"Thanks for today I'll see you tomorrow." He shook the man's hand as he left. Frankie reached the front door of the trailer and gently placed the box down on the ground.
"Hello my love." He said walking over and kissing her softly. "Where have you been I…" he paused as the blanket in the box moved.
"Woah!" He stepped back and Frankie laughed. She reached inside the box and picked up the blanket putting it to one side. Slowly she picked up Bruno and held him in her arms. "This is your daddy."
Bruno barked his sweet little bark twice, his tail wagging.
Andrew stood there open mouthed and stared between Frankie and the Doberman Pinscher puppy. "I…err…" he stumbled.
"You said we could have one." She smirked.
"I err…" he couldn't find his words. "Frankie, it's a Doberman, their not exactly a loving dog."
"His name is Bruno." She held him up and smiled. "Welcome home buddy." She kissed him.
"Frankie with a baby on the way?" He whinged.
"They will grow up together."
"Frankie it's an aggressive dog, I mean he's cute now but he's going to grow up I mean look at his pointy ears he's…" Bruno started licking his hand.
"Don't mind him he's always grumpy." She said to Bruno putting him down. She walked towards the pier. "Come on Bruno…" she called him, he came running, jumping on her leg.
"Frankie!" Andrew called after her. "We're not keeping him! Absolutely not!"
"Ok well I'm cutting you off then."
He stood open mouthed and shook his head. "Oh no you are not getting over me that way." She laughed, "we will see who caves in first then!"
"Frankie Kiernan!" Frankie picked up a stick showing it to Bruno and throwing it Bruno ran after it but didn't bring it back.
"Andrew!" She returned, getting to the end of the pier she sat on the deck chair and Bruno jumped in her lap, laying down. The sun was just setting over the lake and it was the perfect summers day.
"Frankie, absolutely not." He bent down to Frankie to reach out to touch her arm, Bruno jumped up and grabbed his shirt sleeve chewing it and mimicking a growl.
"See! Now I can't even touch you and so it begins…a long life of me waiting for the dog to die so I can have sex with you again!"
"Oh Andrew you don't know how right you are does he Bruno? Because that's what it will be!" She cooed him.
"You wouldn't!"
"Watch me!"
He stood silent for a few minutes before sighing and sitting in the deck chair next to her. "Okay…he can stay!" Bruno howled and jumped into his lap, settling down. Frankie smiled and looked at Andrew. "Thank you."
Andrew stroked the pup and smiled. "I guess he isn't so bad."
"And that's how women win the war." She crossed her leg over the other and laughed.
"I err…" he stumbled. She reached out for his hand and he gave it to her, holding it he softly smoothed his thumb over her hand.
A few hours later and after dinner Frankie decided to go take a bath, leaving Bruno with Andrew just as she was about to go Bruno started to bark, he jumped up and ran over to Frankie, pawing at her leg.
Frankie stooped down and smiled ruffling his head, "I'll be back soon."
Andrew smiled from the sofa, but the dog was insistent pawing and whining. "Looks like he wants to be with you."
Andrew said but Frankie didn't reply. Frankie fell back on her feet against the wall staring ahead, Bruno ran to Andrew barking. Andrew looked at him and reached down to stroke him when he saw Frankie's feet sticking out from behind the counter.
He jumped up and ran over to her kneeling down in front of her. She could hear him but it was all blurred. "Frankie?!" Andrew said, he knew she was having a panic attack again. "Breathe Frankie!" He said stroking her hand.
Tears started to fall as she felt the strangers hands touching her back, his breath on her neck, her naked body exposed to him. Bruno ran over and laid in her lap. "Breathe Frankie!" Andrew said urgently. He picked her hand up and put it on his chest and took slow deep breaths. "Breathe with me…" he slowly inhaled and exhaled deep and slow. She still stared her lips going blue, she started to shake and he knew it was nearly over….
"It's okay Frankie I'm here…I'm here my love you're okay you're safe…." She came out of it swinging her arms, leaning back and screaming. Bruno stayed put the whole time. She shook as she inhaled hard, she grabbed his arms as she shouted, "stop it!" And finally she collapsed back against the wall and breathed heavy, he kept her hand on his chest as he breathed with her, slowly in and out.
"It's okay I'm here." He said as she looked to him. "Andrew…" she leant towards him and he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her head and stroking her back. "It's okay I'm here…"
After a few minutes she calmed enough and Bruno stuck his head up in between them. "Good boy." He said stroking him. "He let me know you needed me."
She stroked him and he licked her hand. Andrew scooped Frankie up in his arms and took her to the bedroom laying her on the bed. He got on the bed next to her and held her to him. Bruno pawed at the bed sheets howling. Andrew reached down and picked him up bringing him to rest between them.
"Looks like you have a guardian angel." He said looking at Bruno curled up with them.
"I certainly do." She turned his face towards her and leaned in to kiss him lovingly. "I meant the dog." He smiled and said whilst kissing her. Picking up Bruno she got up and put him in the dog bed in the lounge. "Mommy and daddy need alone time." Bruno curled up and shut his eyes. Returning to Andrew she got on the bed and straddled his waist, he ran his hands over her hips and up her arms pulling her down against him.
She touched him all over, slowly they took each others clothes away, he pushed her onto her back, pushing away her trousers and underwear. He stayed over her just content to lay there and stare at her. He brushed her hair back and kissed her softly. "I love you." He kissed through her lips.
"I love you too." She whispered back as he stared at her, starting their love making, content to just stare into her eyes and hold her through it.
They woke up in the morning just before the alarm went off and Frankie yawned and stretched as Andrew got out of bed. "Don't go." She whined and held out her hand. He came back to the bed and picked her up out of bed and took her to the lounge sitting her at the table. "My beautiful wife…" he knelt down next to her, "you know how much I love you?" She picked up and put one of his T-shirts on over her underwear.
"I do." She nodded, he smiled and softly kissed her. "Good."
"I gotta get showered and dressed, gotta build my beautiful family a home."
"You want breakfast?" She asked.
"Just some toast please and a coffee." He got up and ruffled Bruno before going to shower. "How about you little man?" She asked stroking him. "Are you hungry?" He barked happily and went over to the door looking out of the screen door. "Go on boy." She let him out keeping an eye on him from the kitchen.
He didn't wander far, did his business and played in the grass for an hour before Frankie called him, he happily bounded in and scarfed down his food. Frankie finished making breakfast and put it on the table.
Andrew walked out fresh and clean smelling great and he thanked her for the breakfast sitting down to eat. Frankie heard her phone buzz and picked it up, a message from Donna simply read: 'congrats; we don't all get it handed to us on a silver platter, btw how's the stigmata these days?' followed immediately by another text; 'btw sent you a package, redecorated.' As she read it a man knocked the screen door, Andrew answered, signed for the big box and handed it to Frankie.
"What have you been ordering?" He said and she put the box down, opening it. She pulled out some of her old clothes, a torn photo of her and Donna, picking up the big item she pulled it out the box covered in broken glass, covered in nail polish, coffee stains and hair dye was what was left of her certificate. She looked at the message again and tossed her phone down and the certificate, running into the bedroom.
"Frankie?" Andrew said calling after her. He got up and looked at the box seeing what was inside. Picking up Frankie's phone he saw the messages from Donna and shook his head. How could Donna have done that to her?
Frankie ran into the room and got dressed, she was so hurt and angry. She pulled on anything and shoved her boots on, running back out she pushed past Andrew and grabbed the box taking it outside.
"Frankie!" Andrew shouted after her. Running over to one of the workmen's stations she grabbed a can of fuel and dropped the box pouring the fuel over it. Grabbing a box of matches and through tears she lit the match and chucked it on the box. It went up in flames and Frankie stood watching it.
Andrew came up behind her and turned her to him, wrapping his arms around her. She hugged him, crying into his shoulder. He soothed her back and kissed her head. Once the fire died a bit he turned Frankie and took her inside, sitting her down on a chair he knelt in front of her and took her hands. "What she said and did was downright ridiculous and disrespectful, you didn't deserve that. But don't let it define you Frankie, jealousy can make any one of us do stupid things we never thought we would. You are a wonderful person, soon to be mummy and dog mammy, you've got such a kind heart and soul you're a beautiful person inside and out, remember that, always."
Frankie cried and he held her again, "and Frankie before you go off thinking about what she said, your stigmata was nothing you asked for, you didn't deserve what happened to you and your life has been anything but handed to you on a silver platter, you've worked for what you have, you've suffered for years and I'm sure if you didn't get stigmata, the Lord would have found a way to push us together."
He loved this woman incredibly and he wasn't about to let Donna destroy what he'd fought so hard to rebuild. She sobbed on his shoulder probably more than she should, pregnancy hormones were raging and she knew to it.
"Here…" he gave her a glass of water and brushed away straggling tears. She drank the water and took a deep breath. "Boss?" A man called out and Andrew looked. "I'll be there in a minute go start." He called and the guy went off.
"Bruno…" Andrew called him over and picked him up, putting him in Frankie's arms. "I've got to go but Bruno's going to look after you okay?"
She nodded and apologised to him repeatedly. "I think we'll go lay down for a while." She said to Bruno and he yawned in response wagging his tail.
"That's my family." He smiled and kissed her forehead then her lips before grabbing some toast and coffee and leaving. Frankie sighed heavy and cuddled Bruno so glad to have him. Walking into the bedroom she took a long shower whilst Bruno slept and then she joined him. She slept away the morning getting up in the early afternoon to sounds of lots of men with heavy machines digging. Getting up she peered outside and saw them digging up the ground where their old house used to be. That bloody basement was going in, she thought.
"Hey Bruno you wanna go for a walk, get away from the noise for a bit?" He barked happily and his little pointy ears went up as he ran to the bedroom door. She got her walking boots on and some leggings and a light airy T-shirt. She put her cap on and grabbed her jacket tying it around her waist.
Walking into the kitchen she picked up her phone and read the messages again. Typing a response she put simply; 'messages received loud and clear.' And sent it. Chucking her phone down she grabbed Bruno's lead and put it on, he pulled her to the door, stepping out and shutting the door she looked around for Andrew, there were men in every direction and a few women too! Andrew was laughing with one of them and Frankie walked up behind him as he started to tell a joke. "I err don't think this lady will like this one." Frankie furrowed her brow at her then him, he about choked on his sandwich and Frankie smiled sweetly. "Sorry am I interrupting?"
"No boss man here was just about to tell a joke about a priest."
"Oh okay…" Frankie nodded, "wasn't one about the priest who got a divorce was it? No I don't think so!" She laughed sarcastically and turned walking with Bruno in the opposite direction.
After he caught his breath he ran over to catch Frankie up. "Frankie wait!" She carried on walking, turning to him when he grabbed her arm. "I was just joking with her." He stated.
"Looks to me like you were about ready to stick your tongue down her throat."
"No! Of course not! It was just a friendly thing!" Frankie rolled her eyes and carried on walking, he grabbed her arm again and stopped her. "Frankie don't leave it like this, where are you going anyway?"
"I'm taking Bruno for a walk." She stated, "should give you a couple of hours if you wanna take her in the trailer and fuck her brains out." She turned and walked and he ran in front of her stopping her, Bruno whinged. "Frankie…where's all this coming from? We're on about Donna being jealous…" well that just sealed his coffin.
She scoffed and stared at him, "jealous? Of THAT?" she huffed and went to walk away, "I am not jealous! You two can go and fuck in the middle of Pennsylvania for all I care!" She walked off but came back.
"And don't think you're sleeping with me tonight!" She shouted and walked away and he let her go rubbing his neck. Looking around at the shocked faces. "Okay back to work!" He tried to sound manly.
Frankie spent an hour just walking through the forest, it was so peaceful and quiet, she could hear herself think over the sounds of birds and streams, not oil and bravado. She sat on a rock for a bit just enjoying the sights and sounds when she noticed Bruno wandering away. "Bruno…" she called and went after him, following him through the bushes she pushed past thick leaves shouting his name over and over.
They were nearly home when she spotted him and pushed through the grass "there you…..are…." She said stepping out in front the house. There was a big rotten boarded up house that appeared through the bush Frankie slowly stepped forward and stopped as Bruno sat down looking up at the house. "Wow…" Frankie said, "it must have been really beautiful back in its day…" she crept forward towards the house entwined with vines. Bruno barked at her, she shushed him and moved towards the house, slowly peering in the broken half boarded window. "It's too dark to see."
She pulled the board on the pane and it came free suddenly sending her flying back onto her butt. Bruno ran over and put his paws on her legs licking her hand. "I'm ok." She stroked him. Suddenly the room she had been peering into was opened to some sunshine through the tall trees.
Getting up Frankie slowly stepped forward as the dust settled. The room inside didn't have much a few chairs, an old sofa covered in cobwebs and dust, an old fireplace…
"We should take a look…" she said and Bruno whined and went to her tugging her leggings at her ankles. She looked around the property from the outside for a few minutes it was a rather large property, she couldn't see another way in so she walked back around to the front and looked around. Finding an empty plastic crate she picked it up and brought it over to the window. Bruno whined and barked pulling at her leg, she again shushed him and stepped up onto the crate. "Bruno, stay." She said and his little butt sat down.
Lifting her leg up over the frame she gingerly put her foot down on the board and pulled her other leg over sliding down onto the flooring. The floorboards creaked and whined as she slowly stepped into the building, having not had anyone in it for so long.
Looking around Frankie felt like she was walking in a basement and it creeped her out, luckily there was enough light coming through cracks and broken boards to see where she was going. Rounding the corner she saw the kitchen, an old style stove, a dining table with a child's high chair and inside the high chair a doll with one eye missing.
There was graffiti on the walls saying not to go any further, it only peaked her interest more. Slowly creeping across the floor boards she rounded another corner that led to a set of stairs and the front door. Walking towards the stairs she slowly started to climb each step straining. Bruno started to whine and bark Frankie shushed him and he cried a little.
Going up the stairs she rounded the railing and walked down the hallway into one bedroom with an open door across the room, down the other end of the hallway was a room with a chain on. She went into the bedroom the place was incredibly dark and dank rotten and falling to bits, looking across the hall she saw a room with just a bed in, she walked in looking around her eyes adjusting to the darker room. The bed appeared to be covered in something that had long dried, there were ropes tied to the bottom and top bed posts and she furrowed her brow as she came around the bed. Underneath the bed was some sort of drawing etched into the wood.
Pushing the bed to one side slightly she revealed what appeared to be a satanic pentagram, next to it lay some sort of diary or journal. She bent down slowly and picked it up dusting it off she coughed. Opening it she began reading some sort of strange text…
"Frankie…" a voice whispered from another room. She went back to the other room and suddenly the door across the other side of the bedroom softly moved. "Hello…?" Frankie called out walking inside, something was drawing her in, she went across the room and opened the door that led up to the attic.
Slowly she walked up the steps and Bruno started barking insistently outside. Reaching the top Frankie saw a rocking chair to the left. She turned as she stepped up, the floorboards creaking worse than ever, the floor felt like it was moving and there was an audible groan from above her. Walking towards the rocking chair Frankie stopped when it started rocking. She shoved the journal in the hem of her leggings and grabbed the over head beam her foot suddenly went through the floor, the vibration caused a load of dust to fall and she got temporarily blinded as to which way she'd come in. Turning she walked and bumped into something, backing away she looked up at an old man, thin and tall with a white bushy beard and balding head. He went to grab her and she fell backwards into the middle of the room, the vibration caused a part of the chimney to collapse in on itself, rotten from years of weathering.
The chimney came through the roof narrowly missing Frankie it tore through the floorboards of each floor down to the basement, the floor shifted inwards and Frankie was thrust towards the gaping hole. She turned and managed to grab a piece of jagged board as she came to a halt hanging precariously in the gap by the skin of her teeth…
Bruno barked crazily as the house shook, he suddenly ran, barking like mad as he did so back towards the cabin.
"Boss where do you want the two by fours?"
"Lay them down over there." Andrew said signing for a delivery. A woman came over to him and smiled. "It's gonna be a beautiful property when it's done."
"I hope so." He took off his hard hat and wiped away the sweat.
"Aww look a cute puppy." She smiled and Andrew turned expecting to see Frankie. Bruno ran to him barking madly. "Hello boy." He smiled bending down to stroke him. "Where's mummy?"
Bruno barked and barked running off turning and waiting for him. Andrew frowned and looked out towards the woods, where was Frankie? "I'll be right back." He said to the woman and went running after Bruno.
Following Bruno, Bruno kept barking as he led the way back to where Frankie was and the house, Andrew pushed through the bushes and stopped when he came out in front of the house. "Woah…" he said looking at the house. He heard a cracking sound and Frankie scream.
"Frankie?" He shouted as he approached the house.
"Andrew help!" She called. "Where are you?" He shouted back, another loud crack and Frankie screamed again. "Frankie?!" Andrew walked towards the house and got up on the crate and slowly climbed in, the house was barely standing.
"Where are you?" He again shouted. Frankie clung to the beam precariously dangling over a large gaping hole.
"Fucking Beijing, where do you think?" He had to laugh a little to himself as he came across to the gaping hole. He looked up and saw her, "Frankie!" He said shocked and worried. "Hold on!"
"Oh no, you think? I was thinking of letting go and taking in the scenery as I plummeted to my death!" He carefully made his way around the gap, stepping on each board carefully.
"Don't get sassy with me Mrs Kiernan!" He laughed and found a way through the kitchen, slowly making his way up the stairs.
"I'm still angry with you!" She shouted her grip slipped and she screamed as she almost let go.
"Oh shall I leave then?" He asked and found the room with the stairs to the attic. He quickly made his way up and over to the gap. "Wow that's a long way down…" he said and reached over.
"You think?" She again said and he looked at her. "Frankie reach up with your hand and grab my arm I'll pull you up."
"I can't!" She said and the beam moved slowly towards the crack. "Frankie listen to me, I'll grab you but you have to let go and give me your hand!"
She slowly took one of her hands away and the beam suddenly gave way slipping into the gap Andrew reached down quickly and grabbed her arm, she swung in his grasp and slid through his fingers at the last second he grabbed her again and she screamed.
"I've got you!" He said as she started to panic. "Frankie it's ok I have you!" He called and started to pull her up, she eventually came to the ledge and he was able to pull her over it and into his arms. She clung onto him for dear life and breathed heavily. He held her to him breathing hard too, "are you okay?" He asked pulling back to look at her.
"I'm fine." She calmed and rested her head against his chest. "What were you doing in here Frankie?"
"Just looking around…" she replied and he shook his head. "Can't you see how dangerous this place is? For gods sake Frankie it's not just you anymore." He put his hand on her small bump, gently rubbing it.
"I know I'm sorry." She really was stupid for coming in here, being pregnant was messing with her emotions and she wasn't sure why she was acting the way she was. "Come on let's get you and Bruno home."
"Is Bruno okay?"
"He came and got me…" Andrew smiled and looked at her, "you definitely picked the right dog."
"You mean he can stay?"
"I suppose so." Andrew smiled and kissed her softly. "Can you walk?" He said as they got up. Frankie nodded and he took her hand leading her out of the house. Once outside she fussed Bruno and Andrew looked at her head. "You're bleeding." He looked at his top, he was covered in blood.
"Shit." She said touching the back of her head. He turned her around and pushed her hair back. "It's not too bad I'll look at it later for you just keep pressure on it."
She took her jacket from around her waist and screwed up on of the sleeves to act as a compress. "Come on Bruno." He said as they started to walk back to the cabin.
Once back and Frankie was no longer bleeding Andrew sat on his knees in front of her again and brought her to him kissing her softly. "Please don't go back there, don't go out looking for trouble, I don't want to loose you."
"I'm sorry." She sighed looking down. "You scared the hell out of me today, I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you or the baby or even Bruno for that matter, what you did was completely reckless and you need to start thinking about the baby."
"Ugh Andrew I am thinking about the baby, I just didn't think that man was gonna jump out and scare me!"
"What man?"
"The old creepy dude in the house…"
"Frankie nobody was there."
"Somebody was there…" she reiterated.
"Well if there was he was gone by the time I got there." She sighed and he lifted her chin. "I love you so much."
She stayed silent staring at him. "How's your girlfriend?" She finally said.
"Frankie…" he laughed and kissed her. She gingerly kissed him back until he started to make out with her and she came under his spell turning to mush in his arms. She started to make out with him too when he stopped.
"She's great." He smirked. "Not fair!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and made out with him some more before he had to go again. "Andrew?" She said as he was about to go out the door. "Hmm?" He replied.
"There was a man there, he went to grab me and I fell back, but he was definitely there."
Andrew nodded and stood for a moment before leaving. Frankie sighed and leant back in the seat, suddenly she remembered about the journal and pulled it out. Going over to the table she pulled the chair out and sat the journal on the table, sitting down she opened up the journal and looked at the pages. The first few pages were jumbled up text written in code or some different language. The journal pages started after a few drawings of different things. One of them devoted a full page to a picture of a man, the man she saw in the house.
She traced the picture with her fingers and turned the page to read the first journal entry…
September 1st 1893
Papa sent John to get Father Joseph again today, mama wasn't doing good and papa said she'll be singing with the fallen angels again soon. I always wonder what he means by that, I thought angels lived in the clouds?
September 4th 1893
Got John and me some candy today, off old man Johnson down the road. Papa found it and went to speak to old man Johnson, when papa came back he was different, like, he said we didn't have to pray that mama would get better anymore, old man Johnson had a plan to make things right.
September 8th 1893
Mama was screaming today, papa got old man Johnson and he locked himself in there with her, mama screamed and screamed, papa put me and John in the basement and told us we were to keep quiet, John cried like usual.
September 9th 1893
Was doing my chores when I had to go into mamas room, I opened the door and she was but tied to the bed! She called for me and I attended, she wanted water. I gave her some. Mamas lips were bleeding, her skin was…cracking like she aged but 100 years. She asked me to untie her, begged me to. I told her she'd be singing with the fallen angels soon.
Frankie flipped through the pages and then shut the journal, something happened in that house but what? She thought about going back but she knew Andrew would most likely divorce her. Still she had to know…
A few days passed and Frankie had been busy with other things, so she wasn't able to get back to the journal. She finally had some free time one afternoon so she flipped open the journal to where she left off…
September 13th 1893
Father Joseph came by again today, he had a jar with him. A small container with blood of the blackened lamb. He spent a lot of time outside mamas room spraying the door with the blood.
Frankie paused reading and furrowed her brow, why would he do that? Getting up Frankie walked outside and looked around Andrew was talking to a guy who was in a trench.
"Just a little further." Andrew said as Frankie walked over. "Hi beautiful, you okay?" He said pausing to pick up a wooden beam.
"Have you got a minute?" She asked and he nodded, putting the beam down and walking away from prying ears with her down to the pier. "You okay?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure what is it?"
"When you were a priest did you ever put blood over, on or around a door?" She asked. He looked quizzically at her. "No why?"
"Why would a priest do that?" He thought for a moment before he looked at her. "I don't really know, where did the blood come from?"
"A blackened lamb…" she replied.
"A blackened lamb?" He repeated… "sounds satanic to me."
"Would the blood be for protection do you think?"
"No, a blackened lamb would be a rotten lamb, a priest wouldn't use that. Blood over a door signified when the Lord sent the destroyer to kill the first born of the Egyptians, Israelites put lambs blood over their door so the destroyer knew not to kill them."
"So if the priest is putting rotten blood on the door would he be doing it to allow the destroyer to kill the person inside?"
"No I would say at a guess that the priest was putting rotten blood on the door to attract evil, the devil feeds on rotten lamb, he could have been waiting for the devil to arrive and feed on the rotten lamb but that goes against his religion, no priest would ever do that unless he wanted evil to come and destroy something."
"Evil killing evil?"
"Even the devil reserves a special place in hell for some people."
"Have you ever preformed an exorcism?" She asked he nodded. "On you." He smiled. "Oh yeah!" She laughed and came back to the point. "Aside from me?"
"I was a scientist, I didn't perform exorcisms but I have seen exorcisms performed."
"Do you think they were really possessed?"
"Always." He replied.
"But what if they weren't? Would they just stop pretending?"
"I would imagine if there was such a case the person would be taken as a mentally ill person and put in a centre of some kind." He paused and touched her arm. "Frankie where's all this coming from?"
"I think something happened at that house, something evil…. I think it's still there."
"Frankie…" he sighed. "Don't Frankie me Andrew, I know I saw someone!"
"There was no one there!"
"I suppose he just magically disappeared!"
"He probably ran out when you fell I don't know, but Frankie please don't go back to that place, promise me you won't, it's dangerous and you're pregnant…"
She sighed and looked away, crossing her arms.
"Frankie…" he touched her arms and turned her head to him. "Please."
"Fine I won't."
He kissed her lovingly and went back to work. Frankie stood there a moment before she went to the trailer and sighed looking at the journal on the table…sitting down she carried on reading.
September 15th 1893
Old man Johnson came today, he gives me the creeps. He stared at me like a slab of meat and gravy, he told papa whilst he thought I wasn't listening that it was almost time and mama wasn't going to last much longer, they had to do it at night time tonight…it's 1am and he's just arrived.
September 15th 1893
Papa has locked us in our room! John is crying as he can hear mama telling them to stop! The priest is here too I can hear him calling upon Satan to come forth….
Continued:
Something happened to the priest! Papa took him outside and buried him in the back yard, he's dead! Mama isn't screaming anymore but talking in tongues… I don't know what she's saying, I've made some attempts of repeating the words at the beginning of this book!
September 17th 1893
Mamas body doesn't look good, old man Johnson said it's too old, he came and took me into the room and made me stand in some sort of drawing on the ground… then he attacked and…did things to me. He said afterwards I didn't need to tell papa.
September 18th 1893
Mama died today, papa went in his room and didn't come out. I heard a bang but I think he just fell over the chair. Old man Johnson took John somewhere for to get candy again, it's late and their not back.
September 21st 1893
I don't know where John is…I think he's in the closet down the hall.
Papa won't come out of his room…
Mama is beginning to smell…
Old man Johnson hurts me on a daily basis now, he says I deserve it, I think he may kill me…
I'm in the closet with John at the end of the hallway he's chained us in here we're his forever…
Frankie finished reading the journal and got up, grabbing a pair of bolt cutters from the ground near the workers workstation and running, Andrew didn't notice her leave and she slipped into the tree line once again.
Bruno started going crazy, barking. His pointy ears all the way up and his paws scratching at the screen madly…Andrew had a digger next to him and he couldn't hear Bruno….
Frankie ran as fast as she could into the wood with the bolt cutters, she didn't know if Andrew had seen her and she wanted to get there and get that closet open before he stopped her. She had to know if they were in there, why were they in there, what happened?
She came across the house quickly and found the way back in, she quickly climbed in and as quickly but safely as she could she made her way upstairs. When she got to the top she saw the closet down the hall. Slowly she started walking towards it, the house rumbled as if it was going to collapse any second.
Bruno barked louder and more insistent the door screen almost coming off. A worker saw it and went to Andrew. "Boss is your dog okay?"
Andrew excused himself as he went over to the trailer. He looked up seeing the rain clouds and storm rolling in as he got to the door. "Frankie?" He called out. "Frankie what's up with the dog?" He called again but got no answer. He looked through the door screen but couldn't see her, managing to keep Bruno in he went inside and looked around but Frankie was nowhere. As he walked back out to the lounge he noticed the open book on the table. Walking over to it he read the words Frankie had read in the last journal entry. He closed the book and opened the first page reading the words in Latin. 'Satanae Dividendi' or Satan's Dividend. He read through some of the other scripture most of it non-sequential to the rest of what you would think. Then on the last page that Frankie was reading underneath the last sentence in English was more Latin. 'Is venit non aperire ostium.' Or 'he is coming do not open the door!' He thought about what Frankie said earlier about the man and then it all clicked, she'd gone back to the house to open the closet!
He threw open the door and ran out, running straight for the house…
Frankie reached the door and looked at the chain with the lock, there wasn't a whisper in the air, no birds or crickets or anything, even the trees didn't blow in the wind. A dark cloud had come over and the house was now plunged into darkness as thunder and lightning and heavy rain began falling around the town.
She brought the bolt cutters up to the lock and latched it on, they cut through the lock like butter and it fell to the floor. Reaching for the handle Frankie gently began to turn the knob and slowly she pulled open the door, there was a loud clap of thunder and flashes of lightning, the rain poured through the cracks in the ceiling and soaked her through to the bone but she had to know, she stepped forward when a child's face appeared and then another, two skeletons wrapped in each others arms.
Suddenly Frankie heard running steps on the floorboards behind her she turned around just in time to see the man from earlier come hauling himself at her pushing her so hard she went through the closet wall and out into another room the other side.
She slid across the floor colliding with the wall. The house began to shake the thunder and lightning and rain fell as hard as ever, Frankie started to sit up, falling back against the wall she looked up as through the gap she'd just made a ghostly silhouette of the old man Johnson disappeared and then reappeared in front of her face. He grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up, tossing her across the room into a beam. She fell to the floor holding her stomach to protect it.
She was in and out of it the house started to fall apart and beams started to collapse.
"Frankie!" Andrew shouted as he came through the bush and stopped in front of the house, he could see it collapsing and he panicked running over he jumped in the window looking around. "Frankie!"
He gingerly made his way upstairs and looked down the hall, he could see the figure of the man Frankie was talking about he walked slowly towards it diverting into a room and coming up behind it, he saw Frankie laying in a bundle on the floor. Andrew reached out to grab whatever he was but it disappeared and reappeared next to Frankie. He picked Frankie up by the throat and Andrew tensed, wanting to run in and grab her.
"Ea est mea!" He said meaning she's mine, Johnson said to Andrew. Andrew shook his head. "Go back to hell Satan!" He spat angrily.
Johnson threw Frankie across the floor through a wall and she came to stop precariously on the edge of the whole she'd been dangling from before. "Frankie!" He ran to get her but a fire suddenly engulfed the space between them.
"Let her go!" Andrew snapped and the figure moved slowly through the flames eyes locked with Andrew's, his figure never flinching in the flames….
"What do you want?" Andrew asked angrily. He pointed at Frankie lifting her up without touching her and moving her over the gap, flames erupted from below her as if hell had opened up.
"Take me instead I used to be a priest!" The figure laughed but no sound came out. Frankie was dazed but she could feel fingers still around her neck, the heat from the fire below her shot her into a panic and she fought with the figures hand, desperate for oxygen. Andrew had a wild idea and he wasn't sure it would work but he tried it anyway…
"Heavenly Father, I ask you to cast out this demon from this house, to send Satan back to hell where he belongs! Father I ask you to bless this house and punish within it any soul who should wish to create evil or do tyranny…." The figure started to shake and squirm, the house rumbled and started collapsing even more, walls started to come down, the ceiling below Frankie caved in creating a ledge, the figure threw Frankie against the wall behind her and she fell to the floor hard.
"The holy father casts you out demon! Jesus casts you out! Vade ad infernum satanas!" He shouted and the figure erupted in flames Andrew found a path through to Frankie, he picked her up, slid down the ledge and out the window just as the house completely caved in on itself. He ran with her until he was a little ways away from the house, stopping he put her down, the rain still poured down and he laid her gently down under a tree for some protection. "Frankie?" Andrew said gently shaking her. He brushed her hair from her closed eyes, she wasn't breathing…
"Frankie…" he shook her a little starting to cry. Picking up her head he put it in his lap and held her body to him tightly, crying into her neck. "Don't leave me Frankie, stay with me.."
There was nothing and he sobbed hard, holding her tight. Suddenly she coughed and brought her hand up to his face. "Andrew?" She whispered. "What happened? Where is the guy?"
"He's gone Frankie. But you're here, thank god."
"I'm sorry…" she tried to say but her ribs hurt.
"It's okay, I got you." He kissed her forehead and she smiled a little.
"He killed them…" she whispered through bated breath.
"I know." He said, "you set them free." Frankie sat up and he held her to him kissing her lovingly. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you."
She slowly got up and winced in pain, holding her ribs. "We should get you back…" he said and she moved back towards the house, he grabbed her hand. "Frankie please don't…"
For once in her life she agreed with him, she'd had enough and turned back to him. He put his arm around her and helped her to walk.
The rain didn't want to let up and the storm raged. Workers had clearly scarpered for the day. Andrew helped Frankie into the trailer and to the bedroom. He sat her down on the bed and she winced, he was angry at her for going against him again and now she was safe again it was starting to come out.
Frankie lifted her top up over her head slowly and her ribs were already tinged colours of bruising.
"Frankie, why did you go back? Why didn't you listen to me?"
"I had to know, I read her journal and I needed to know if she was still in there, to set them free." She took off her bra as he sat opposite her in the chair.
"You endangered the life of our baby again." He said sharply. "Are you trying to have a miscarriage?"
She looked at him shocked, "are you seriously asking me that?" she grabbed her pyjama top and pulled it on, pulling off her trousers socks and shoes and pulling on her pyjama trousers. "I can't believe you just asked me that!" She stood up too quick and winced.
"Well you seem to be doing everything you can to kill it!" He said angrily without thinking. She stared hurt at him. He sat there not saying anything. Bruno wandered in and started barking at them both.
"I asked you not to go to think of the baby so many times over the last few days, you went against me, you put yourself in danger and even worse our baby! God knows if it's even going to survive at this rate the way you were being thrown about back there!" He started getting more angry and he stood up coming over to her he got in her face. "When the fuck will you start caring Frankie, when it's too late or when? Will you expect me to sit idly by why you throw our life away for your own selfish gain!it's about time you grew up Frankie, stop being so selfish and start paying attention! You have a life growing inside of you that needs you and depends on you! Right now your acting like it doesn't even matter well here you go, you may as well take a swig in this while your at it!" He slammed the bottle down and turned around.
Frankie stood there staring breathing heavy and unable to say anything. "Is that what you really think?" She asked. "That's what you really truly think of me?" He didn't answer for a moment just leaned on the chair. "I don't know how much more I can take Frankie. You just won't listen and I don't seem to be able to change that about you." He sat down and she stared at him. Her heart was about to come out of her chest, she thought she would die right there and then. "It seems like all we do is go around in circles, I ask you not to do some to harm the baby and you go ahead and do it anyway!"
"So let's be clear what you're saying here?" Frankie said, "just so I'm clear one hundred percent." He didn't say anything but again just turned away. "Well let's just tie it off here then, I'll make it easy for you and get out of your life for good!" She snapped and he felt his heart skip a beat. She turned and ran out of the trailer and back out into the thunderstorm. It was raging and she didn't know what to do so she started walking fast towards the woods.
He stood staring at where she once was and he felt like his heart was going to come out of his chest, he couldn't move. Bruno came and hid in his basket under his blanket.
Frankie ran and even though her ribs and body were killing her she carried on running until she couldn't breathe, she was drenched again having only her pyjamas on and bare feet. Her pyjamas consisted of the thinnest cami you could find and a pair of short shorts, not quite hot pants. She stopped near a tree and bent down on her knees crying into her hands.
How could he say those things? Was she really that terrible of a person? Her anxiety began to get the better of her and she fell back against the tree staring out into the rain. Bruno's head whipped up and he began whining unconsolably. Andrew suddenly realised what he'd said and now felt incredibly guilty, of course he didn't mean it of course he didn't want to break up with her or any of those horrible things he said, he just said it because he was angry that she could of died, that he might not have been able to save her, he desperately loved her and nothing would ever change that.
He ran out the door and looked around shouting for her. "Frankie?!"
The thunderstorm was loud and bright and Frankie nowhere to be seen. He ran down the driveway and looked in both directions but he couldn't see her. The only other option was the forest so he started to run. "Frankie?" He shouted repeatedly over and over looking around for her.
Frankie came back out of her panic attack and suddenly took in a breath, she was finding it hard to breathe and the situation wasn't helping. She got up and ran a little more but she stopped again, sitting down and pulling her knees to her chest, she was soaking, drenched through and hurt more than ever, life seemed so pointless now without him.
"Frankie?!" He shouted again and again he ran up a slope and looked around, at first he didn't see her but her silhouette lit up in the lightning. He ran as fast as he could over to her and slid down next to her. He stared at her panting heavily, she looked back at him and he spoke. "I'm sorry." They both said at the same time.
He laughed a little and she did too through the tears. She looked away and then back again. "Just go! Live your life! Be happy much more than you will be with a fuck up like me!" She called over the noise.
"I'm pretty fucked up myself. Maybe we can make it work?" He called back.
"I didn't mean what I said I was angry and worried and hurt… I don't wanna break up and I don't think you're any of the things I said, I'm a fucking idiot and I…" he paused as she suddenly kissed him deeply.
He kissed her back passionately and they stood up. He grabbed her and held her in his arms her head to his chest he held her as if he could wipe away all the pain. "I'm sorry." He kept saying as loud as he could as the thunder and lightning and rain got worse, they again stared into each other eyes and he cupped her face taking her in, she started to touch him and that was it, he lost his senses.
Grabbing her he pushed her back against the tree and took her top off, she slid his off and he slipped away her shorts. She did the same for him. They didn't need any more he was desperate so was she. He pushed her up against the tree and lifted her up as they began to make hot wild love.
When they finished he collapsed against her supporting himself on the tree. He stared down at her as she looked exhausted, both of them wet through. He found his clothes and so did she, putting them on temporarily.
Picking her up so she wrapped her legs around his waist he kissed her, again pushing her back against the tree. He could see her start to shiver and he dropped her down so he could pick her up properly. He carried her all the way back and only put her down when they got to the door, they came inside locking it and turning off the lights.
Frankie went straight to the bathroom and turned the shower on tossing her wet clothes off she climbed in the shower, he followed her getting in with her he turned the heat up a little and turned her around so her back was against his chest. He kissed her neck lovingly telling her how much he loved her with every kiss. She held his arms around her as they stayed like that for a while.
When they were done she turned off the shower and they both grabbed dry clothes, he picked her up and carried her to bed putting her in it and getting in next to her, she turned to him and started making out with him, their tongues entwined in love. He pulled her hips to his as they started to make love again.
Again when they were both spent they redressed enough so they could sleep comfortably and he stroked her thigh which was draped over his leg. She ran her fingers through his hair.
"You drive me crazy my girl."
"Gotta keep it interesting." She half smiled looking away.
"Hey, you know I didn't mean what I said right? I don't know why I say hurtful things when I'm angry… I was so worried about you it just got to me." He kissed her and she nodded.
"I'll try and be a better wife and mom now."
"You don't have to try, I know you better than anyone I think, you're the most amazing woman. Not many women would have jungle sex with me."
"Ohhhh jungle sex?" She laughed.
"Hot, sweaty jungle…" he stopped when Bruno came in. "Dog treats." He finished she laughed out loud.
"Andrew?"
"Yes my love." He said picking the pup up onto the bed so he could curl up with them.
"Do you think after the scan we should tell people? Or should we wait a bit?"
"I'd say happy wife happy life." He smiled.
"Great help." She smirked. A sudden rumble of thunder and lightning close by sent the lights of in the trailer. "Wow it's really coming down on us."
"I think the powers off everywhere." Andrew said getting up and looking outside. "Probably hit a power line."
"Come back to bed I'm freezing." She whined. He clambered back into bed and they snuggled close. She wrapped her leg over his and rubbed his arms, covering them up with the blanket.
She ran her fingers through his hair and played with his hair on the back of his head. "You get more and more handsome every time I look at you." She whispered. "I just can't get enough of you, I want to be with you, on you, around you every second of the day…" she paused to run her fingers over his lips and kiss him. "I'm so lucky to have you, my everything."
He kissed her softly and she traced his lips again. "Promise we'll always be together?"
"Always my beautiful love." He replied. Wrapping her in his arms he kissed her repeatedly and softly they fell asleep in each others arms.