Author's Note: This chapter has a two alarm steam alert, it is Frank and Abigail's wedding night after all. If that is not your thing, when you get to the steam alert warning, skip to the next chapter
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Chapter 266 – Alone Time (short)
Thursday ended up being a quiet day in Hope Valley. With most of the extra people gone, people were trying to find a routine. Jack and Elizabeth missed their family, but knew they would be back before they knew it. Jacobs kept people in line and he was able to get through most of the rest of the paperwork that had been left. He got everything that he had gotten through packed up. He was glad that Frank and Abigail were getting some time away. Then a thought occurred to him, he wondered if they would get married without telling anyone. He smiled to himself and hoped so.
Patty and Ann had the same thought and were putting together a small gathering on Sunday when they returned. They wanted something to welcome them back and then they would plan something bigger for later. Patty had Jacobs and the cadets helping with supper, so it wasn't that bad. She insisted that Ann go home and spend time with her family since her husband had arrived home that afternoon and would leave right after Sunday services. They weren't having traditional services because Frank was gone, but most people had agreed to gather and sing and pray.
It ended up just being a nice day in Hope Valley and no one really knew that it was going to end up being a special day for years to come. Only a few had an idea of what happened in Union City but no one really knew for sure. The handful that were thinking that Frank and Abigail might get married, had not really discussed it among others. Only Patty and Ann talked about putting a small party together for Sunday evening.
Wynn and Elizabeth got everyone back to the hotel and got Cody and Becky ready for bed. They allowed them to stay up and play a few games before going to bed. Once they had turned in, Dee headed to his room. He said he wanted to go over some things. Wynn and Elizabeth talked about other things while they got ready for bed. Their plan was to turn in early because they still had long days of traveling ahead of them.
"Wynn." Elizabeth said.
"Yes, dear." Wynn said, turning to face his wife.
"Promise me things won't go back to the way they were." Elizabeth said. "Promise me that you will continue to make time for us."
"I promise." Wynn said.
"Are you still open to adopting an older child?" Elizabeth asked. "I just feel like my time as a mother is not over. I know it is a huge commitment, but we have the time, money and room."
"This is something you feel strongly about, don't you." Wynn said.
Elizabeth sat up and Wynn did as well. He wrapped his arms around his wife.
"I always thought we would have four children." Elizabeth said, tears in her eyes. "When we lost Jonathan, I was crushed. Then we had Dee and Sophie and it eased the pain some. But then I wasn't able to give you more children. I finally accepted that our family would never be what I had always thought it would be. But being in Hope Valley has renewed my feeling that our family is not complete. I know, I know, I should be grateful for what we have, because it is so much more than most people, but this desire to continue to be a mother is so strong that I just feel I am right that we should adopt an older child. There are many children who are approaching their teenage years and still in the care of an orphanage. I am sure there is at least one that was meant to join our family."
"Alright." Wynn said. "I can see how much this means to you. We will find that child that was meant to be a part of our family. Even with my status, it is going to take a few months. I don't see us finalizing things until the new year."
"That is fine." Elizabeth said. "But we can start looking when we get back."
"Yes, dear." Wynn said. "As long as we agree that we need to look at orphanages with a good reputation."
"Of course." Elizabeth said.
"So do you want a boy or a girl?" Wynn said.
"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "I do know that I will know the child when I see him or her."
"Alright then." Wynn said. "Now, let's lay back down. It has been a long day."
Elizabeth turned and kissed her husband. He in turn kissed her back and one thing led to another. Slowly they removed their night clothes and explored the body they knew so well at that point, quickly climbing that familiar mountain peak, falling over together.
Afterwards, they pulled the covers over them and fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms. Each was dreaming of their future. Wynn was dreaming of more grandchildren running around their place. Elizabeth Rose was also dreaming of little ones running around, but she didn't think they were grandchildren. Her eyes popped open and she looked down at her stomach where her husband's hand rested. She shook her head slightly, dismissed the thought and snuggled back down into her husband's hold.
Frank and Abigail walked around the park and then thirty minutes later they returned to the hotel and headed to their suit. Both were nervous, but tried not to let the other know. It wasn't something that was new to either of them, but it was different and they knew it. Frank and Abigail took a seat on the couch in the sitting room of their suite. Abigail leaned against Frank's chest and he wrapped his arms around her.
"I was going to ask you." Abigail said. "I know you said you were not on the right side of the law and changed your name when you were released. But why did you choose the name you did? I don't think you ever told me. I know that you told me about your mother's ring and losing your parents and then your grandfather. But I don't think we ever talked about your name."
"Nothing really special about it." Frank said. "I chose a name that I liked."
"Tell me." Abigail said. "Especially since you chose a name and then want to be called by a shortened version of it."
"Okay." Frank said. "I told you I was Matt before."
Abigail nodded.
"My birthday name was Matthew Alan." Frank said. "Alan was after my father who died before I was born. The father who raised me wasn't my biological father. My mother married him when I was six months old. As I got older, I spent more time with my grandfather, my mother's father. Especially after my parents passed. My grandfather passed when I was sixteen and that is part of what led me to a life of crime. Anyway, my grandfather was Franklin, but he always went by Frank. So I chose that. I wanted to keep my middle name, but Franklin Alan just didn't sound right. So after some research, I found my father was Alan Albert Hogan. So I chose to use my father's name and still honor my grandfather who helped to raise me."
"Thank you for telling me." Abigail said. "That is a special reason why you chose it. I like it. I am glad you came to Hope Valley."
"Me too." Frank said.
"When Noah and Peter died." Abigail said. "I thought my life was over. Even as I helped rally all them together, I felt dead on the inside. Then two people came into my life that allowed my heart to feel again."
"Cody and Becky." Frank said.
"Yes, but that was later." Abigail said. "I was referring to Jack and Elizabeth. They both needed a mother in different ways. Elizabeth needed someone to teach her how to survive on the frontier. Jack needed a mother who was soft and feminine to show him how to love again. Helping those two made me feel alive again. Seeing them fall in love gave me hope. Watching Mary and DeWitt fall in love and get married gave me more hope that there was life after tragedy. Do you know when I feel in love with you?"
"No, not really." Frank said. "I know the moment I knew you were the one for me."
"I definitely want to hear that." Abigail said. "But the moment I fell in love with you was the moment you took a moment to speak to Caleb. He had accepted DeWitt, but he was still struggling and you took a moment to talk to him. I don't know what you said to him, but you knelt down to his level, put your hands on his shoulders and spoke to him directly."
"I remember that moment." Frank said. "It was a couple days after I arrived. He was worried about his mother."
"It was that moment that I realized how much like Noah you were." Abigail said. "I swear I heard Noah speak to me at that moment telling me to open my heart to another good man. I wasn't sure, then suddenly I saw you turn and I saw the look on your face. And my heart melted. I resisted for so long because I was worried about moving on and forgetting Noah and Peter. It was Elizabeth Rose and Charlotte at Christmas reminding me that grief doesn't have a timeline and neither does love."
"They are right." Frank said. "I am glad you chose to allow me into your life, even with my past."
"Honestly." Abigail said. "Your past was never really a problem for me. I thought my past was going to be a problem for you."
"What? Being a widow?" Frank asked.
"Yes." Abigail said.
"It didn't bother me." Frank said. "I was struck by your beauty and then as I got to know you, your heart called to me. When you invited me to join you for fishing and supper, I was so happy. I know that you did at first to welcome me to the community and try to make me feel welcome, but I knew it was more. Also once I realized that you were one of the widows, I was going to have to put my desires aside and move on your timeline."
"Desires?" Abigail said, turning to look at Frank.
…. (Steam alert) ….
Frank leaned down and kissed Abigail, hard. At the same time, he brought his hand up and caressed Abigail's breast over her blouse. Abigail, moaned into Frank's mouth before pulling back and looked at her new husband.
"Let's go to the bedroom." Abigail said.
"Are you sure?" Frank said. "I promised you no pressure."
"I am sure." Abigail said.
Abigail stood up and took Frank's hand. Before they got to the bedroom, Frank stopped them, cupped Abigail's cheek and kissed her like he had been wanting to kiss her for months. Abigail literally melted into Frank's arms. When they pulled back, Abigail brought her hands up Frank's arm, then up his chest and over his shoulders, pushing his suit coat off his body. She then loosened his tie and started to unbutton his shirt. Frank started to unbutton Abigail's blouse. They ended up leaving a trail of clothes as they made their way to the bedroom.
Abigail inhaled sharply when she pulled Frank's undershirt off. She knew he was fit, but to see his taut muscles was better then she had thought. She slowly ran a finger over his muscles causing Frank to shudder.
"Do you have any idea what that does to me?" Frank said.
"Show me?" Abigail said, coyly.
Frank pulled her close and kissed her, pressing her body to his. Abigail felt his excitement. Frank reached up and undid the clasp on her bra, pulling it from her body. He then brought his hand up and cupped her breast. Slowly Frank started to trail kisses down Abigail's neck and down across her breast, until he took her breast in his mouth. Abigail arched her back and moaned with the pleasure she was feeling for the first time in so very long.
While Frank was playing with her breast, she shed the remainder of her clothes and started backing up to the bed, taking Frank with her. He never broke contact. She pushed his pants and underwear down his hips. He stepped out of them, picked Abigail up and gently laid her on the bed.
"God, you are gorgeous." Frank said, low.
"You aren't half bad there, yourself." Abigail said.
They continued to climb the mountain. Then Frank looked at Abigail and he could see that she was close as well. He ran his hand up her leg and Abigail opened her legs to Frank and he quickly entered his wife and drove them over the edge of the cliff together. They fell back onto the bed, breathing hard, covered in a sheen of sweat.
"Amazing." Frank said.
"Agreed, amazing." Abigail said.
"Thank you." Frank said. "I know we each have a past, but I can tell you, nothing I have ever experienced before was near that wonderful."
Abigail rolled over, looked at Frank, and put her hand on his heart.
"It only gets better." Abigail said, slowly. "Yes, the first time is amazing, but the deep loving connection that is created is even better."
"I will take your word for it." Frank said.
Abigail started tracing her finger in heart shapes over Frank's taut chest until he couldn't take it anymore, and flipped her over and took his wife fully again. After they were together a second time, they fell asleep both more content then they had been in a long time.