Love, in Progress

Francesca makes an entrance!

It had been a few months since Holly was attacked and she was being discharged from the hospital. Holly was super excited to talk to people, especially Francesca, who had visited her as often as possible. Fran had been so wonderful to Holly: she even promised her that if she made a good recovery she would take her out to dinner to celebrate, it made Holly blush just thinking about it.

Doctor Fear warned her to take it easy, as she was still technically recovering from an injury- but nothing was going to stop her from going out for that meal. She walked towards exit, but stopped just shy of the door. A sudden barrage of thoughts struck her: what if he was waiting for her? Was he going to try and finish her off? Holly had never thought about that.

Unfortunately, Holly also had the sinking feeling that the Goldsworth boy would breeze through the legal system straight to the 'not guilty' verdict. She decided that she was going to speak to her friend Stephanos, who happened to be a particularly skilled Lawyer. And Tinsley too, she would speak to Tinsley too- for moral support. Holly stepped out of the hospital, a little more secure.

Holly got back to her small apartment and locked the door after her, checking it twice just to be sure. She was half way across the room when she heard a knock at the door. The blood in her veins turned to ice. Holly crept across the room quietly and peered through the peephole. A wave of relief washed over her when she realised it was only Francesca.

"Fran you scared me!" Holly exclaimed, throwing her arms around the taller woman.
"Sorry to intrude on such short notice, but I do I believe I owe you dinner" she smiled.
"Colour me stoked!"
"I'll have a car pick you up in half an hour, and this is also for you".
Francesca handed Holly a small box neatly wrapped in swirling emerald fabric and tied in a bow with gold ribbon. She delicately pulled at the ribbon and it fell away. Holly eased the lid off of the box and gasped.

"Oh Fran, it's beautiful! But this is too much- oh I couldn't possibly-"
"Nonsense, it's a gift, a beautiful gift for a beautiful lady" Fran responded assuredly, "May I?" she inquired. Holly nodded, slightly weak at the knees.

Fran lifted the gift out of the box. It was a necklace- a delicate black velvet choker, with a pearl on a small silver charm. She gently swept the hair off of the smaller woman's shoulders and fastened it around her neck. Holly almost died when she felt the ghost of Fran's fingertips on the back of her neck- a giggle slipped through her lips before she could stop it. Fran smiled (no matter how many times she heard it, the sound of Holly's laugh always made her day).

"So I'll be seeing you?" Francesca mused.
Holly beamed back, "Definitely!"

6 hours and several glasses of champagne later, the two ladies sat in the back of the car, fully blissed out. At some point during the car ride their hands had become entwined, and they were both reveling in it, giggling and gently kissing each other on the forehead.

They pulled up outside their apartments and clambered out of the car, deciding to go into Fran's. Francesca pulled off her black heels and helped Holly out of hers. They collapsed onto the sofa, curling up into each other. Holly fixated on one of Fran's curls and began to play with it absentmindedly.

They sat in the quiet for at least a quarter of an hour before Fran spoke, "Listen, I know it's not my place, but I just wondered what-"
"Did you know it was him?" Holly interrupted, suddenly sobering up.

"Yes" Fran admitted plainly.
"You knew, you helped him-"

"No! God, no Holly!", Fran gasped, "If I had known what he was going to do, I'd've turned him in myself. Whether you press charges, or not, that man will never lay a finger on you ever again, you hear? "

"I still- I don't know if I'm going to press charges."
"No matter what you choose, I'm in your corner- that is, if you'll have me?"

After being quiet for a moment, Holly whispered softly, "Kiss me?"
"Of course" Fran replied.

The next day, Holly was doing her first day back at work- and she was incredibly hung over, but she was excited to be back in the office. When she walked in and sat down at the front desk, she was greeted by a few friendly familiar faces.

"How you doing Miss Horsely? Banjo McClintock asked leisurely as he walked over.
"Great, thanks Banjo"
"Well it's good to have you back! Say... is that a new necklace?"
"Yes it is! Thank you for noticing" She smiled, desperately trying not to blush thinking about the night she and Francesca shared. Banjo went back to his office, whistling some tune from an old western, leaving CC Tinsley with Holly.

Tinsley had a wide grin on his face.
"What're you smiling at?"
"Nothing, remind me later that Ricky now owes me 20 bucks" the Detective quipped mischievously.