Forever With You

Chapter Seven

Bridget shifts her weight on to one foot.  "Okay."  She says while looking deep into her eyes.  Franky lets out a heavy sigh.  "I ran into Erica today.  At the wine store."  She bites her lower lip as she watches Bridget process the information.  Bridget loosens her arms around Franky.  "And?"  Franky feels her shoulders slump.  "She made a move and kissed me.  Told me she's been waiting to do that again and..."  "Did you kiss her back?"  Bridget asks before she can finish her sentence.  Franky looks at her in disbelief.  "No.  And I told her it wasn't going to happen.  That I was in love with someone."  She touches the side of Bridget's face. "I'm in love with you and nothing is going to change that."  Bridget thinks back to her session with Joanne.  'She hasn't left you for a younger model I see.  Her smell is still on you.'  She wonders how long before Franky gives in to her past feelings for Erica and leaves her.  Erica is a lot closer to her own age and it's only a matter of time before she grows old of the older woman.  Her heart aches as she realizes Ferguson once again got into her head.  "Gidge?  What are you thinking?"  She looks back into Franky's eyes and shakes her head.  "Nothing baby.  Thank you for being honest with me."  Franky notices the clouds in her normally bright blue eyes but can't pinpoint the emotion behind it.  Anger no, but doubt and hurt are surely on the surface.  She cradles Bridget's face in her hands.  "You're the only one I want Gidge.  Please don't ever doubt that."  Bridget smiles slightly and leans up to kiss her briefly.  She nods her head, then releases her and walks over to get a glass of wine.

Dinner was more quiet than usual.  It was obvious to both that Erica showing up, however temporary, was going to cause problems.  "Gidge?"  Franky says quietly.  "Hmm?"  She replies as she pushes the food around on her plate.  "What's on your mind?"  She puts her fork down and picks up her glass for a long sip of wine before shaking her head.  Franky frowns.  She can feel the tension but doesn't want to push and cause a fight.  She stands up and takes their plates to the kitchen.  When she's done cleaning the plates and putting them in the dishwasher, she turns and looks at Bridget still sitting at the table.  She watches as she empties the rest of the wine bottle into her glass.   She lets out a sigh as her heart aches at the sight of her lover's inner turmoil.  She hadn't thought about Erica since she fell head over heels for Bridget, but her love letters were given to her by the Freak with the intent of breaking them apart.  The Freak had failed then, but now Franky wonders if any doubt still lingers in Bridget's mind.  "Don't let her get to you Gidge.  She was wrong then and she's wrong now."  Bridget looks up in surprise.  Franky read her thoughts quite well, except it wasn't the Freak in the past that's playing on her mind.  "I'll be in the study if you want to talk." 

By ten o'clock, Franky has finished all and any prep work for Boomer's case.  All that is left is their meeting at eleven the next day.  Franky walks to the kitchen and notices all the lights are out in the house.  'Guess Gidge went to bed without me'.  She thinks to herself with disappointment.  She was hoping they would talk about what was bothering her before things got blown out of proportion.  Bridget's concern over their age gap has caused jealousy and insecurity more often than either would have liked.  The fact that Erica and Franky were on the brink of a passionate relationship in the past can't possibly be helping.  Franky decides that all she can possibly do now is show how much she loves Bridget.  She'll have to put off proposing for now.  It will only seem like a quick fix and definitely won't be the reassurance Bridget needs.  People cheat all the time.  Marriage doesn't prove anything.  No, she will have to do something bigger to prove her love.  She just has to figure out what. 

Twenty minutes later, Franky is quietly slipping between the sheets on her side of the bed.  She turns on her side and gently kisses the back of Bridget's neck before resting an arm over her body.  Bridget doesn't react so Franky decides that moving any closer probably isn't a good idea.  She leaves her arm draped over her, to show she's there if she's needed....or wanted.  As she lays her head on her pillow, she feels Bridget take her hand that's draped over her.  She does nothing more, so Franky sighs softly and closes her eyes to sleep. 

Two hours later, Franky gives up on trying to sleep.  She can't stand the silence between them; they always have their deepest and most heartfelt conversations before bed.  It's like clearing the air of any issues and reconciling before the start of a new day.  It's the only time Franky ever felt at ease enough to go into detail about her past with her mother, among other issues.  She presses her body up against Bridget's back.  She gently moves a strand of hair off her face and feels a slight dampness.  Bridget has been crying.  "Gidge.  Talk to me."  Bridget lets out a sigh and turns to face Franky.  "I saw Ferguson's niece today."  Franky stays quiet and gently caresses the side of her face.  "What she said didn't bother me earlier.  The barbs she throws about us, courtesy of her Aunt.  But when you mentioned Erica..."  She trails off as a tear slips down her cheek.  Franky gently wipes it away then softly kisses her lips.  "I don't want Erica Gidge.  I want you.  I want only you..." She stops herself before saying too much too soon.  She's still afraid it will just cause more doubt.  Bridget looks up into her green eyes.  "I want you too baby."  She touches the side of her face.  "But" Franky stops her with a passionate kiss.  Bridget moves her hand behind Franky's neck pulling her closer.  When they break for air, Franky looks deep into her eyes.  "Let me show you how much I want you.  How much I need you here with me."  She slides a hand up the back of Bridget's shirt hearing a soft moan escape her lips.  She smiles before leaning in to kiss her.