Mine To Love (manxman)

17-Don't Leave Me

FRANKIE

"Frankie?" I almost didn't hear him. His voice was barely above a whisper and almost drowned out by the sound of my sobbing. I hated myself for being such a girl, but on the other hand... I hurt too much to really care. A gentle hand running over my head had me looking up and into those beautiful smoky grey eyes that I loved. "Why are you crying?" He lowered himself onto the floor next to me.

"Jeremy." I couldn't resist the urgent need to pull him into my arms. He stiffened slightly before relaxing against me. "Don't leave me again." I buried my face in his hair breathing him in, taking comfort in his familiar scent.

"Frankie," He pushed me back until he could look at my face. "This hasn't changed anything. We're still broken up, and you shouldn't be here. Let me have time away from you. Let me get over you." His eyes betrayed his words by telling me something else. He didn't want me to let him go, he wanted me to fight for him. And with everything I had in me I would fight.

Jeremy let out a squeak of surprise as I pushed him back and rolled over on top of him. Looking down at him I gave him a moment to realise my intentions, then swooped down and took his lips with my own. It was such a bittersweet kiss. It tasted of tears and desperation, both of which I was certain were mine. My lips moved gently, coaxing him to respond. My heart was pounding ferociously at his refusal to kiss me back, but then something amazing happened.

Jeremy moaned and arched beneath me, his arms wrapping tightly around my chest and his hands fisted the back of my T-shirt. My tongue delved inside his warm, welcoming mouth. The kiss quickly turned to a smouldering tangle of tongues and roaming hands and I couldn't get close enough to him. In the back of my mind I knew that this wasn't the way to solve our problems but I just needed to feel close to him again.

"Would you two come inside before one of my neighbours calls the cops on you for having sex in a public hallway?" Sam's voice penetrated the lustful haze enveloping us like a bucket of ice water. Jeremy pushed me away and sprang to his feet like he couldn't get away from me fast enough.

"You better come in so we can talk." He said while avoiding eye contact with me. He turned away with slumped shoulders and walked into the apartment.

Once I'd taken a few deep breaths in a fruitless effort to calm myself down, I followed after him. He was in the living room area of the apartment sitting on a big old arm chair. Sam was nowhere in sight so I could only presume that she was trying to give us some privacy and I appreciated that.

"Sit down Frankie." He watched my every move as I took a seat on the sofa. "You were talking to Deb?" His face was a mask blocking me from reading his emotions. And I do so wish I could read them now. I need to know.

"Yes. She told me that she talked to you. I know how your mind works, Jeremy. I know that you're bowing out so I can be a father to my kid, but baby, I don't need to be with Deb to be a father to my child. She knows that too, and she doesn't want to be a mom. She knows I love you too much to just let you walk away from me."

"Let me?" His eyes are spitting fire at me as he leaves the armchair and stomps over to me. "Oh, no. You don't let me do anything. I have a mind of my own and I'm not afraid to use it."

I chuckle as he pokes a finger into my shoulder. I grab a hold of his fist and yank him down into my lap. "I love your mind. I love you. But I don't like you trying to leave me. I need you, Jer. I'm useless with kids, you have younger siblings. Teach me how to be a dad. Raise this baby with me." I nuzzle against his ear as I speak, taking comfort in the fact that he's leaning into my touch and not pushing me away.

"What?" His voice is pitched high with shock. "You want me to raise a baby with you? We've barely begun dating, we aren't ready for a step like that." He pulls back to look down at me.

"We've been best friends for years, you know all of my secrets, my likes and dislikes. You know my Mom. You know my dreams for the future. Most importantly, you hold the most precious thing I possess. You hold my heart. If you walk away from me now it'll have the same effect as dropping a china plate. You'll smash my heart to pieces and I know I'll never be able to fit all of those pieces back together. I'll be incomplete without you. Please, please, tell me you'll give us a chance?" My eyes are watering and my chest is aching as I wait for his reply. I'm not trying to sound like some cheesy guy in a film, I'm speaking from my heart which already feels like it's breaking. The longer he looks at me, searching my face, without replying, the more my heart breaks and I'm sure he'll say no.

"You really are a cheesy bastard." He chuckles, pulling my face closer and kissing me until I'm breathless. This is good, right? He wouldn't kiss me if he was about to kick me to the curb. "I have conditions if we're going to do this." He states.

I nod my head emphatically. I'd agree to anything right now, I'm willing to bend to his needs and put them before my own. "Anything, just name it."

"No spending time alone with Deb. I still don't like her, and I seriously don't trust her." I run my thumb over the crease that appears between his brow.

"Done."

"I want to be included in all the baby stuff. Doctor visits, scans, parenting classes, whatever comes up. If this baby is to be yours and mine then I want to be it's daddy from the start." He pouts. It's irresistible to keep from nibbling on that lush lower lip, so I give in to temptation.

"You didn't even need to make that a condition. I'd never think of doing anything without you. I want you holding my hand when we see our child for the first time and hear it's little heartbeat. I want to share my joy and tears with you when we welcome our baby into the world. And believe me there will be tears, I'm man enough to admit that." I rejoice at the sound of his laughter. He tucks his head under my chin and his fingers tickle at the small amount of my flesh that's available over the top of my shirt.

"I always wanted children. I used to dream about what our kids would look like. Maybe they'd have your hair and flawless complexion, with my eyes and lips. I know that's stupid because obviously the kid wouldn't get both our genes, but that didn't stop me dreaming of it."

I let my hand rub soothing strokes over his back and place kisses to the crown of his head. "It doesn't sound stupid at all. I think we'd make beautiful children if it was possible." He pushes up and swoops in to kiss me thoroughly. I moan and suck his tongue deeper into my hungry mouth. When he pulls back he's panting and his eyes have a lust filled glaze to them. "So we're doing this?" I ask to clarify.

"Yeah." He bites his bottom lip and I'm tempted to once more kiss him. "We're going to be daddies." The joy that breaks over his features is a wonder to behold. I am always in awe of how beautiful he is and right now he is breath taking. My heart fills to overflowing with love for him and I once again wonder how I got so lucky as to have him love me back.

"Come home." My voice is deep from my held back emotions. I want him with me, I never want him to leave again. "Move in with me." I beg.

"Are you serious?" His eyes are wide and his mouth is agape. "This is a lot to take in, the baby, being a parent. Now this." He looks so torn and I know I'm putting a lot on his plate in one sitting, but I can't hold back anymore. It's all or nothing. I really hope it's not nothing. "This is not a no. I just need a bit more time, let me think it over."

I nod, even though it's not the answer I was hoping for there's still hope that it will be. "Don't take too long, please."

"I promise." He whispers against my lips mere seconds before kissing me senseless again.

A/N: Sorry for the late update I promise there will be more soon.