Forever With You

Chapter Eleven

The next morning Bridget wakes to an empty bed and a headache. "What the..." She mumbles before noticing a text message from Vera on her cell. 'If you really think she's hiding knowing Erica was in town, ask Fessler. See you at lunch. V' Her heart begins to ache as she recalls the last conversation with Franky last night. "I would like to sleep alone tonight. I don't care if you stay or leave." Tears begin to form in her eyes as she remembers the look on Franky's face as those words traveled between them. "Oh, baby what have I done?" Bridget learned when Franky was reincarcerated that not trusting her was just as bad as walking away. She can only imagine what kind of setback this may have caused in their relationship. 'But she's younger than you, and they always leave you.' She tries to block the voice of doubt and is determined to work things out. At least hear Franky out. She owes her that much.

She makes her way out to the kitchen and sees Franky sleeping on the couch, still dressed in yesterdays' clothes. 'Shit. She thinks she doesn't even deserve a bed.' She walks over and gently places a hand on her shoulder. "Franky." She watches her mumble something in her sleep and pull the blanket closer. She lets out a sigh, then jumps back as Franky's phone alarm sounds off behind her. Franky jumps up and practically falls off the couch when seeing Bridget standing there. "Jesus Gidge! You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing standing there?" She reaches around Bridget to shut off her alarm. "I, I came to wake you." Bridget blushes as she realizes how it must look. "I'm sorry about last night. Can we talk after work? I promise to try not to jump to conclusions again." Franky sits back on the couch and looks up at Bridget. "You really hurt me last night. Not trusting me. You didn't even give me a chance to explain." Bridget nods as her eyes fill with tears. "I know baby and I'm sorry." She reaches out to Franky who hesitates before standing and taking her in her arms. "I'm sorry too. I knew her showing up was going to be a mess. I just wasn't expecting to have to work with her too." Bridget nods against her as her heart begins to ache. She doesn't know if it's because of her undying love for the brunette or her fear of losing her, but she holds her tighter memorizing the feel of her body against hers.

Franky has been at work for an hour when Fessler calls her into her office. "Everything okay Franky?" She asks as she motions for Franky to take a seat. Franky sits with a puzzled expression on her face. "Yeah. Why not?" Fessler looks at her trying to read her face. "Last night..." Franky looks down at the floor. "I knew Erica when I was in Wentworth. When she left, we, there were some things left unsaid." Fessler looks at her with concern. "If it's going to be a problem..." Franky shakes her head. "It's all good." 'Bullshit. My personal life is about to be shot to shit.' Fessler looks at her with doubt. "I only asked her to come aboard because of her knowledge of the inner workings of the prison system. I figured with you already on board, you two would be unstoppable." Franky blushes at the compliment. "I get that, really I do. And I want what is best for Boomer, so we will just have to put the past to the side and get on with business. We are both adults and have a job to do. I won't let Boomer get screwed out of lesser or dropped charges because of my past relationship with her attorney. I've worked too hard for this." Fessler shows a hint of shock at the mention of a past relationship but doesn't show any interest in pursuing it. If Franky has come to terms with it, then it's a done deal. And she has total faith in Franky to do the right thing if it becomes an issue. "Okay." Fessler says while standing. Franky stands and nods her head. "Keep up the good work." She says as Franky leaves her office.

"Bridget, Franky isn't the same person she was when she was in Wentworth. I've never seen her so head over heels in love with someone before. She was always flirting with anyone she thought she could bed." Bridget blushes slightly as she remembers how every answer had a sexual undertone. 'I have a slot open at two. Want me to fill it?' Bridget looks up at Vera. "I know I should trust her Vera, but Ferguson told me what was in those letters to Erica..." Vera reaches for one of Bridget's hands. "And you trust her? The Freak?" Bridget shrugs. "Franky never denied it when I asked her about it." Vera frowns. "But she wrote them before she met you. And she has been different ever since she laid eyes on you. Everyone saw it." Bridget looks up in shock. "Everyone?" Vera lets out a chuckle. "Those that paid enough attention yes. And out of those people, the ones that mattered knew how good of a thing it was...and still is." 'Dammit Bridget. Can't you see how much you matter to Franky? She won't risk that for a fling with her past.' Bridget wipes a tear from her eye. "You're right. And she has come a long way." Vera squeezes her hand. "Follow your heart Bridget. Do not let your past get in the way, as hard as that is. I have never seen you this happy for as long as I have known you. You two bring out the best in each other. I have never, never seen two people so meant for each other." Vera blushes, hoping she didn't say too much. "I just wish I could find someone like that." Vera places a hand on her stomach, feeling the baby kick. "How's it going with you and Jake? Any better than when we last spoke?"

Franky is unlocking her car when she feels a hand reach around her arm. She turns quickly as she pulls her arm away. "Jesus Erica!" Erica drops her hand. "Sorry Franky. I've been calling your name since you left the building." Franky blushes. She had been thinking about how to make things up to Bridget since she shut down her computer and gathered her things to leave. Running into Erica was NOT one she had anticipated. "Erica, you can't just show up like this. What if I was waiting for a ride?" Erica frowns. "You mean from whoever marked you the other day? You were always against leaving marks." Franky's face reddens, not just from embarrassment that Erica saw it too, but from the anger, simmering below the surface. "I heard the rumors Franky. About that shrink you were supposedly involved with. Almost got her locked up too didn't you?" Franky closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. 'Just breathe. One, two, three. Exhale.' "Didn't she work at Wentworth? Spoke on your behalf for your parole. You seem to have a thing for authority figures." "Yeah, ones that believe in me and don't run away when things get too complicated." Franky shouts out. She knows she shouldn't have, but she couldn't let her undermine her relationship with Bridget, or Bridget herself. Erica takes a step back. 'Yeah, that stung didn't it?' Franky smiles to herself. "She is someone who believed in me enough to sacrifice her career and her freedom if it came to that. And she loves me enough that she would have waited twenty-five years for me if I was convicted. You didn't even wait an hour." Erica's face begins to redden. "And I love her so much that I bought a ring three months ago. I even planned on proposing until you showed up." Erica's face brightens. "Nah, not because there is a chance between us Erica. I didn't propose because you fucked things up. You have the love of my life so insecure with you being here that proposing will seem insincere until I can erase any doubts about us being together." Erica begins to smirk. "I will work with you because it's in the best interest of Boomer, that's all. But if you fuck things up any more in my personal life.... God help you Erica." Without waiting for a reaction, Franky gets in the car, starts the engine and drives off.

Bridget sends a thank you text to Fessler and places her phone on the counter as Franky opens the front door. "You're home early Gidge. Everything okay?" She asks as they walk towards each other and kiss hello. "Yeah. Just...what's this?" She asks as Franky hands her a bouquet of flowers. 'I love you and I'm sorry. Please forgive me.' She reads from the card amongst the roses. "Baby..." She leans up and kisses Franky again. "You didn't have to do that." Franky kisses her again. "Yeah I did. I should have been up front about Erica being assigned the case when you first asked." Bridget blushes, knowing she went about getting the answer the wrong way. Franky couldn't say no to her when they were intimate and usually it was little things she would use that to her advantage for. But this, this was a big no-no and she knew it before she even asked. "I shouldn't have asked you when I did baby. I shouldn't have taken advantage of the situation like that and I'm sorry." Franky hadn't realized what it was that made Bridget stop like she did yesterday. She was too much in a daze to comprehend it all until it ended. But in the end, if she had told her at dinner, when she asked, it all could have been avoided. "Nah, I should have told you earlier. It's all good." Bridget smiles as she wraps her arms around her. "You sure?" She asks as she feels Franky do the same as she nods. "So, you want to go away for the weekend? Forget all this for a couple days." Franky hums as she smiles. "A two-day getaway with my favorite girl? I'd be crazy to say no." They smile as they close the gap between them. "On one condition." Franky says just before their lips touch. Bridget raises her eyebrows in question. "No marks. I have court next week." Franky watches as Bridget turns red from her head down her neck and along the top of her chest. "None?" She asks with a smile. "Well..." Bridget stops her with a passionate kiss.