After the contentious custody battle, Frank & Mary go on with their lives as usual. But it isn't until an eventful night at Ferg's that Frank starts to wonder if maybe his life might be missing something. Now that his niece has a normal life, maybe...
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Authors Note:Thank you so so so much for reading this story! You guys have been amazing and I'm so thankful for all of the interest and feedback you all have given me. It was so hard for me to finish this book because it meant so much to me and I really didn't want to mess it up (I also didn't want to say goodbye either!)
But I am currently working on a Chris Evans alternate reality multichapter fanfiction called "From Ashes" and have developed a new original character called Harper (Alexandra Daddario faceclaim, as well) I really like Harper and I hope you'll love her as much as you loved Joey. The first chapter should be posted soon!
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It was maybe 8:30 the next morning when Frank and Mary began to walk hand in hand down the hospital hallway. Both were exhausted but humming with excitement and living off of adrenaline and pure bliss. They would have both loved to have stayed with Joey and the new baby a little bit longer in their hospital room, but they had a waiting room full of people to share the big news with.
"You ready kiddo?" Frank sighed with a proud smile knowing that Mary wanted nothing more than to announce the baby's birth to everyone. He was looking forward to telling his son about this day when he was older; the day that his big sister/cousin walked into a room full of people anxious to hear about his birth and proudly announced his arrival into the world.
"This is a big deal." Mary beamed. "If there's ever a time in the baby's life when he feels unwanted or unloved, I can tell him about this day and how happy we were that he was born. The same way you did for me. I really hope I don't mess it up."
"You won't." Frank assured her. "You were so great all night. I know Grandma Jess, and Alice helped Joey out, but seeing you step up and be there for your mom when she needed you like that..." Frank stopped walking and ushered Mary to a quiet part of the hallway to get something off his chest before they got to the waiting room and were surrounded by people. "You know, I don't think that I ever told you, but I was terrified the day you were born."
"Really? Babies being born scares you? I couldn't tell." Mary teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You were white as a ghost all night."
"Punk." Frank smirked at her as he ruffled her hair. Mary had not only been great to Joey all night but really supportive of him, as well. He was so proud of her and how she handled herself under pressure. Qualities that his niece surely got from Joey. "You know, when you first started calling Joey, mom, I'll admit. I was worried."
"You were?" Mary scowled with confusion as she fixed her hair with her hands. To Mary, calling Joey mom had been the most natural thing in the world and she couldn't think of a single reason for him to second guess it.
"Yeah, I mean..." Frank paused for a moment to try and find the right words. "I knew that Joey would be great mother to you and that she loved you in a special forever way; not in just a fleeting cute kinda way..."
