Willow Valley (Frank Adler AU) 18+

20

"He's a big boy, he doesn't need help". Keaton stayed as Hassie got dressed the next morning.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "If it was you then you'd be asking for it, just like you always do".

"What's that supposed to mean?" He frowned.

"Asking me to do a track for Tornados? Asking me to make a big appearance at your show, the premiere? And I always help".

"To keep management happy". He finished the sentence.

She shook her head. "And you too, and the mostly for the fans. But Frank needs my help too and so do my parents, he can't work for a while and so someone's gonna need to help manage for a while".

"Yeah but why you? Your parents do a great job".

"Because I need downtime Kea, I need to feel some normality again. That was why I came back in the first place. To take time off and not have to worry about what I was doing or what country I'd even be in. I made exceptions for you, just like I've always done".

Keaton's eyes narrowed. "And are you gonna start making exceptions' for Frank or..."

"Someone has to help with Mary too. My parents can't do it all".

"I'm not talking about Mary, I'm talking about Frank. Answer the question".

Hassie glared at him. "Are you jealous of him?"

"What? No!"

"Yeah you are. Seriously Keaton? You're fucking jealous of Frank? He's a damn ranch manager!"

"Yeah and on the first sign of trouble you went running to him!" Keaton now raised his voice back at her. "You were straight out into that ring and by his side! That says a lot to me, actually no- it says more than enough. So answer me this - do you feel anything, for Frank?" Asking her angrily.

Hassie stared at him after his outburst, realisations hitting her like a truck. "And what if I said I did?" She finally asked quietly. "Would you go running to management to bitch about me, turn the media on me to make the villain? Because if that's the case and it's gonna be like last time? I'm out".

"What do you mean you're 'out'?" He snapped.

"Us, this whole dumbass narrative about being friends that we've built over the years to stay friends and keep a clean image. I'm out. If management dumps me then whatever. I'm tired of this shit Kea. If you cared enough about me then you wouldn't have fucked that girl years ago and perhaps we might still have been happily married".

Keaton exhaled loudly. "Hass, I do care. I care too much".

"No you don't. You only care about you and your image, just like you did before, and getting me was a way to cement that. You're doing again what you did before to win me over, but not this time. Over in that farmhouse is a little girl who needs me a hell of a lot more than you or the fans".

"So that's it? You're gonna throw away something good, ne, your career for some guy and a kid?!"

Hassie nodded. "I could have something good here".

"You'd be willing to take that risk?" He didn't even need her to answer and then began putting the last of his stuff in his bags, storming out to the truck he'd rented. Hassie followed. "You've fucked it up, your life, your career. Management will be dumping you from the label fast and then what? All that work for nothing".

She shrugged. "I can always find a better management when the time's right. But for now? I'm done. Don't call me or speak to me again. I'm cutting ties fully this time. Fuck you and management". She ended as he slammed the truck door and started it up, watching him finally leave and drive out of her life - hopefully forever.

It felt good, but also bad at the same time, and she knew her head was gonna be messed up for days, maybe weeks because of it. They had a long history and she couldn't just forget it all in the blink of an eye. As much as she cared about Frank, she needed time alone before going back into something again. Time to grieve in some ways. She'd not had that opportunity before, and the only way she could do that was writing her songs.

"Hassie? You ok?" Etta asked from behind her, having seen what had gone on from where she'd been sat on the porch.

She shook her head. "No, I'm not but I will be. You ok to go see Frank? I...I just need to time..."she trailed off, letting her tears finally get the better of her.

Etta wrapped her arms around her. "It's ok baby..."

"It's not. Everything sucks". Hassie said through sobs. "And I thought I'd be ok if I cut him off altogether and now I have I feel shit!"

"And you will, because you've done what you should've done years ago, but instead you bottles up all that sadness and no one gave you any chance to channel it".

Hassie pulled away. "I might be staying longer than expected now. I've pretty much gotta find a new management and..."

"Hassie, you need to find your old self and a label who won't treat you like a puppet! If it's a month or even a year, I don't care - but you're staying here". Etta told her. "Just enjoy life again, write, ride, go for walks on the trails - whatever it'll take to get you back and feeling happy again".

And she would do just that, however long it took. It was time to think about herself for once.