Frank walked down the street hoping to get home in one piece. He lived in a town that was often mugged. He was a block away from safety when someone jumped into his path. "Look who we have here boys. The boss would love to have him." Frank felt the blood leave his face at the idea of not seeing his family again. Before he could react a guy grabbed him and held his arms behind his back. He struggled but they held tight. "Oh we get a fight. When did you learn to fight Frankie?"
Frank stilled and looked at his captor. He looked at the men to see if he recognized them. Before he could figure it out they put a burlap bag over his head and shoved him into the backseat of a car. Two men sat with him so he couldn't escape. He closed his eyes and hoped everything would be ok.
Frank jostled awake when someone tugged on his arm. "Wake up Frankie, we're here." They dragged him out of the car and pushed him ahead of them. "We have a surprise boss; an old friend." The bag was pulled from frank's head; Frank gasped and the boss smiled. Frank stared at the face of his old boyfriend Len.
Len looked at the men surrounding Frank. "Leave us." The men acted like they would protest but left anyway. Len stood and walked to Frank. "Frankie, I haven't seen you in years, you look great." Len hugged Frank as he stood shocked. "Frankie please talk to me. I know we had a bad thing last time, but I still love you."
"Len! You cheated on me and got pregnant. That's more than bad, that's wrong! You hurt me bad. How do I know you're not happy with him and the child?" Frank moved away from him, "You broke my heart."
Len felt every word like a dagger to his heart. "Frank, he took me to court for custody of my daughter. The judge looked at my rap sheet and took her away without giving me a chance to defend myself. I don't even know if she knows about me. I named her Marie. All I have is a picture of her and a note saying they changed her name to Anne. Can't we just put it behind us? Wasn't I punished enough?"
"No Len, I can't…you cheated on me. There's something you didn't know." Frank sighed and looked at Len. "I was three months when you told me, that night I miscarried. We coulda had our own family, our own baby. I was gonna tell you that day. I will never forgive you for that. Now let me leave."
Len gasped. "But…you…how long did you know before you miscarried?" Frank said nothing. "Tell me Frank, it was my baby too. Now tell me."
"I knew for a week. Anytime I tried to tell you, you were too busy to talk to me. Then the day I was gonna tell you I lost the baby cause of the stress you caused. Now will you let me leave? If I don't get back before 7 the babysitter will leave the baby alone." Frank started to fidget nervously.
"Baby? You have a new boyfriend?" Len circled him.
"No, mom died in childbirth. Since I'm 18 they left her in my care. Please I need to go." He looked towards the door. "Please Len, Prue needs me."
"Fine, I'll take you. You won't make it if you walk." Len grabbed his keys and went towards the door. "You coming or not." Frank nodded and let Len take him home.
Frank ran into the house towards his sister's room. He found her in her crib crying. "It's ok Prue, I'm here. Don't cry honey." He rocked her and her screaming became a quiet whimper; Frank looked at Len. "Thank you Len, I don't think she was alone too long." He kissed Prue's head.
Len watched in utter surprise. "You look so gorgeous holding her. It looks almost natural. So how old is she?"
"6 months old 2 days ago."
"Wow, is there a chance I can hold her?" Frank scowled at him. "Please just a minute. I gotta do it. I promise I won't hurt her."
Frank looked at Prue and sighed. "You get a minute, that's it." He handed Prue to Len. "How long ago did you have Marie?"
"She'll be 3 months in 3 days. I miss her so much." Frank was shocked to see tears in Len's eyes. "When she was born she grabbed my finger and wouldn't let go for anything. When they took her away she wouldn't stop crying, not even when her dad held her. She wanted me, now she probably forgot me."
"Ok Len." Len looked confused. "I'll give you another chance. Your first test is helping me with Prue. But you can't tell your gang about her. Promise me you won't" Len nodded. "And I can't really leave so you come to me. If you hurt Prue in anyway you go. You understand all that?"
"Yeah I got it. Can I sit with her in the living room?" Frank nodded. "Thank you, really. she's gorgeous; she looks just like you." Frank blushed. "What happened to your dad?"
"I don't know. No one can find him. He left before mom could tell about Prue." Frank looked at Prue with love and admiration. "So now I got her." Frank looked at Prue when she cried. "Hush baby, it's ok." He stood when she continued to cry. "I'll get her bottle."
Len nodded and tried to soothe her. "Relax Prue, your brother will be back in a minute." He stod and walked the room with her. "You're ok baby girl, you're ok." When Frank walked back he was surprised to see Len had gotten Prue to stop crying. "Hey Frankie she likes me. She's so sweet." He took the bottle and handed it to Prue. "Is that better Prue?"
Frank looked at Len wondering if he should tell him. "Len." Len looked at him. "I…I love you." Len smiled at him and he sat next to Len. "Don't break my heart again ok?"
"I won't Frankie, I promise." He leaned on Frank and sighed. "Thanks for a second chance, I won't let you down." He laughed when he noticed Prue asleep in his arms.
~1 Week Later~
Frank woke to the sound of Prue crying. He looked at the alarm and saw it was 2 AM. He looked at Len and saw him sleeping peacefully. He got up and went to the nursery. "I'm here Prue, don't cry." He picked her up and carried her to the changing table. She still cried after he changed her. "Come on Prue, please stop you're ok." He tried to rock her. "Please Prue, please stop." He almost broke down in tears. "Aright Prue, mommy's here. Mommy's here." She stopped immediately.
"Mommy's here? Why did you say that, you're not her mother." Frank spun around to find Len. "How can you be her mother?"
"I'm not. I…just said that to calm her. I figured she needed it." Frank looked nervously at a laughing Prue in his arms. "She needs the security that's all. All babies need security." He rocked her and hoped Len wouldn't notice the similarities. "Len can we drop it? We're both tired and we need to get Prue to sleep."
"Yeah ok, but let's get her back to sleep." He went to Frank and hugged him. "Ms. Prue, when will you sleep through the night? You're 6 ½ months old, you can handle it." He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around Frank. "I love you Frankie."
__________________
--Blade on the floor, Blood on her wrist, She'll never know, How much she'll be missed--
Len laid on the couch with Prue lying on his chest. She was sleeping and he was watching her while Frank went out. After watching Prue for a while he noticed she had his nose. How can she have my nose? Frank said she's his sister. Maybe my nose is common. Frank wouldn't lie t me. Would he? he smiled when Prue opened her eyes and looked at him. "Hey cutie, did you enjoy your nap? And before you freak, Frank will be back soon. I promise."
Prue wrapped her hand around his finger and laughed. "You're so beautiful Prue. I would love to have a baby like you." He wrapped his arms around her and sat up. He hugged her close and went to the kitchen for her bottle. He smiled when she played with his shirt. "Prue you're an Angel from heaven, you know that right?" he laughed when she clapped. He walked to the fridge and retrieved her bottle. He tickled her as it heated in the microwave. Once it beeped he tested it on his wrist before giving it to her.
She grabbed it and he watched her drink. He looked towards the foyer when the door opened. Once the door closed he walked towards the living room. He stopped short when he saw the men from his gang pushing Frank towards the couch. "So Frankie, where's Len. We haven't seen him since we brought you to him. So what did you do to him Frankie?"
Before Frank could say anything Len walked in holding Prue. "Let him go! He didn't do anything to me." The gang gasped when they saw Prue. "He got Marie back for me. I'm staying with him. I want you to leave now. if you come near us again you'll regret it. Am I understood?" the gang nodded. "Then why are you still here?" the men left and Frank ran to him. "Relax Frankie I'm here, I won't let them hurt you or Prue." He wrapped and arm around Frank.
Frank cried as he took Prue from Len. "They won't take her will they?" Len shook his head. "Thank you keeping Prue safe Len. "I can't lose her, she's too important to me."
"Relax baby, I know she's all you have of your mom." Frank looked confused then nodded. "Go lay down Frankie, you need to relax. I'll keep you both safe. If that means calling Prue Marie around them I'll do it. Go lay down with Prue, I'll go get what we need from the store."
Frank went to his room and laid with Prue on his bed. "Oh Prue, I'm sorry you had to see that. I also wish your daddy knew about you. I know I should tell him but I can't." he smiled when he saw Prue sleeping next to him. He put pillows around her and went to sleep.
~~~~
Len went to the gang's hide out. "JON!" he tapped his foot as he awaited Jon's arrival. He saw Jon and his temper appeared. "How dare you try to hurt Frank? Just cause I don't visit for a few days you think I was kidnapped?! He helped me find Marie, he did what you failed to do. I swear if you come anywhere near Frank or my daughter again," he put a knife to Frank's neck. "I will kill you. Am I making myself clear?" Jon nodded and Len pushed him away.
Len went home after stopping at the store. He smiled when he saw Frank lying with Prue on their bed. He was about to leave the room when Frank started to talk in his sleep. "Mom I can't help you, I won't hurt my baby. Get someone else." Frank reached for Prue. "Go away mom, I won't endanger my daughter's life."
"Daughter? But he lost the baby, didn't he?" he looked at Frank and saw him holding Prue close. And looked at Prue and looked closely at her features. "Could she be our baby?" he walked over and sat next to them. He took Prue and contemplated what Frank said.
~3 Weeks Later~
Frank woke and noticed the sun was shining. He just noticed that Prue didn't wake him all night. "Len wake up." Len groaned and looked at him. I think Prue slept all night." Len looked at the clock and gasped. "Go get her bottle and I'll get her." Frank kissed Len and went to get Prue. He walked into the nursery. "Hey Prue, did you sleep all night baby?" he walked to the crib and found it empty. He gasped and ran to the kitchen calling Len.
Len met him in the hall. "Where's Prue?" Frank tried to answer but was too hysterical. "Calm down Frankie, you're gonna pass out."
"Someone took Prue. Someone took my daughter." Frank didn't even notice what he said. "Please get her back Len. I fought to much to lose her now." Len looked at him.
"What do you mean your daughter? You lost the baby." Frank just looked at him. "Frank answer me, is Prue my daughter?" Frank nodded. "So I didn't lie to the gang about finding my daughter. How could you lie to me Frankie?"
"Please Len, I'll explain once we get her back. Just please get her back." Frank looked at Frank's tear faced before nodding.
__________________
--Blade on the floor, Blood on her wrist, She'll never know, How much she'll be missed--
Len looked around the nursery for any evidence of who took his daughter. He still couldn't believe Frank lied to him about losing the baby. He felt a tear come to his eye. He looked around and saw something weird in the corner. He walked over and saw a red cloth. He picked it up and recognized it immediately. "Jon, dammit." He stood and ran into Frank.
"Len you need to find our little girl. I should told you immediately, but I couldn't. I was afraid, I'm sorry." Frank looked at and noticed his love's tears. "I'm really sorry Len."
"Not now Frank ok, later. I need to get my daughter back." He walked past Frank and out to his car. He sat in the car and rested his head on the steering wheel. "I'm sorry Prue. I'm sorry I didn't know I'm your dad and I'm sorry this happened to you." He started the car and drove away.
Frank sat on his bed holding Prue's blanket. "Oh god, what've I done? If I had told Len sooner Prue might be here now. I'm a bad mom." He held the blanket close and cried. "Please forgive me."
~~~~
Len parked across from the hideout. He heard his men talking and laughing. He walked in and saw everyone but Jon. "Where's Jon?" all the men looked at him then each other before shrugging. "When was he seen last?" again they shrugged. "Let me know if you see him." He turned and left.
Len drove back to franks. Frank ran to him and looked into his eyes. "Len where's Prue? Did you find her? Please tell me she's ok."
"I know who has her but I don't know where she is. Jon took her but no one has seen him in days. I will find her Frankie, even if it's the last thing I do." He looked Frank in the eyes to show his promise. "Frank I want to talk about Prue. I want to know what happened, I want to know everything."
Frank ran to the gang's hiding place. His hand was sitting protectively over his flat stomach. He walked into Len's room. "Len we have to talk."
"Yeah we do, Frankie I'm sorry." Frank looked confused. "Frankie, I'm pregnant."
"You're what?!" Frank's hand fell to his side. "That's not possible Len, you entered me. I never entered you! How could you do this to me? I thought we had something going between us." He saw Len tear up. He went to the dresser for his clothes. "I'm leaving Len, what you did was wrong. Never bother me again."
"But Frank you can't leave. I need you Frankie, please I'm sorry. I can't do this on my own." He grabbed Frank's arm.
He shook Len's arm off. "You'll do just fine, I know I will." Len didn't notice Frank put a hand over his belly. He grabbed all his clothes and went to the door. "Goodbye Len." He walked out with a hand over the surprise he had for Len.
A six month pregnant Frank laid on the couch reading a book while his baby kicked. He set the book down and looked at his belly. "What are you doing little one. Do you want to play honey?" he put his hand over a specific spot and the baby kicked there. He laughed. "I can't wait t meet you little one." He looked at his mother when she walked in. "What mom?"
"I need help moving the TV."
"No mom. I can't help you, I won't hurt my baby. Get someone else." He put his hands over his belly.
"Come help me NOW FRANK!" She tried to pull him up.
"Go away mom, I won't risk my daughter's life." He pulled his arm away and went to his room. He laid on his bed and faced the wall. He'd just laid down when his phone rang. "Hello?"
"Hey Frankie." Frank gasped and a hand went to his belly. "Frankie I'm sorry for what I did. Please come back to me Frankie, I really need you to help me. I can't take this anymore."
"I'm pretty sure you're fine Len. I'm surviving just as well without you. I think you're just fine with your child's father." He rubbed his belly when his daughter kicked hard. He wondered if his daughter knew he was talking to her father. "Go make out with your child's father and stop calling me." He hung up the phone and cried. "Oh god, what do I do? I'm sorry honey." He smiled when his daughter kicked at his hand.
"So the night I called you…you were six months huh?" Frank nodded and looked at Prue's blanket. "Frank we both did wrong. Right now all I care about is getting our little girl back. She's all I care about." Frank sighed and hid his face as tears flooded his eyes.
Frank had just lost his mother a month before. He sat on the couch with a hand over his large stomach. "Soon princess, we get to meet soon. I'll get to see your beautiful face and stunning eyes." he rubbed his belly and smiled. "My sweet little princess." He was about to stand when he felt a strong pain on the side of his stomach. "Was that you princess? Please tell me you kicked hard."
He felt the pain again but this time it surrounded his baby. "Oh shit." He cringed and tried to breathe. "Ok baby it seems we'll do this together, just you and me." He rubbed his belly trying to calm his daughter when she kicked in rapid succession. "We're ok honey, we'll make it."
~5 Hours Later~
Frank sat on the couch panting. "Oh god, why is this taking so long. You seemed so anxious to meet me and now you're taking forever. You're lucky I love you or I'd be insane by now." he rubbed his belly when a contraction started. Once the contraction ended he decided to walk around. He kept both hands on his belly as he walked around. He leaned against the wall as a strong contraction almost paralyzed him. "Oh god, this is the worst one yet." He screamed as the pain became unbearable. He fell to his knees when he couldn't stand anymore.
He felt the baby shift and knew immediately that his water was breaking. "Oh crap." He thought of calling Len. He even grabbed his phone and dialed the number. He hit send and put the phone to his ear. He gasped when Len answered.
"Hello?" Frank said nothing. "Hello? What the fuck do you want?" Frank just panted. "Listen asshole, I don't have time for this. Don't call again or I will kill you." When Len hung up Frank cried and threw the phone.
~7 PM~
Frank knew he was getting closer to holding his daughter. He awkwardly sat up and removed his pants and boxers. He fell back on the pile of pillows. He cringed as he got the urge to push. "Oh crap, now you're in a hurry after making me suffer for ten hours. Now you're rushing huh? Well here we go?" he put his feet on the bed bent at the knee. He put his chin to his chest and started to push.
"Oh god, why does it hurt so much. Are you trying to make me suffer? You're just like your father." He pushed again and screamed when his daughter pushed against his anus. He laid there panting as his body adjusted around her head. He prepared to push when his phone rang. "God, who is bothering me?" he looked to where he usually put his phone and saw it gone. He remembered he had thrown it. "Forget it."
He pushed again with his next contraction, he pushed with all his strength. "Come on princess, work with me here." He pushed again and grabbed his daughter as she emerged. He cried as he laid her on his chest. "Hey cutie, so you're the one that was always kicking me." He kissed her tiny head and smiled when she let out her first scream. He grabbed one of the towels he had set aside and started to clean her. She cried louder as he wiped the blood from her body.
"Don't cry baby girl. Momma's here. No one's gonna hurt you, I'll always protect you." He grabbed the second towel and wrapped his daughter in it. "Don't cry Prue, I'm here." He cut the cord connecting himself to his daughter before lying back into the pillows holding her close. "Hi Prue, you're as beautiful as I guessed."
"So yeah, I was the one who called when you were six months. I was in labor and thought I was being split in half. Once I heard you I had new energy to save our daughter. I know I shoulda told you about her sooner, but I was…am afraid you'll take her away." Frank looked at his hands. "I'm sorry Lenny."
"It's ok Frankie, I forgive you. I promise you I'll get Prue back. I won't let anything happen to our daughter. Prue and you are all I have. I forgive you since you forgave me." Len hugged Frank close and tried to soothe him as he cried.
__________________
--Blade on the floor, Blood on her wrist, She'll never know, How much she'll be missed--
Len pulled his car into the driveway of his house. He was hoping as he turned the ignition off and pulled the keys out, that Jon wouldn't hear him. Len wanted a confrontation and he wanted it to be a silent one. Prue had been gone for 1 1/2 days now and he had finally tracked down Jon.
When he first heard the news that Jon was the one indeed who had his baby, he had felt a fear well up inside him. A fear that he hadn't had in a really long time. Actually he doesn't remember feeling much the days after Frank had first left him.
He crept up the sidewalk and peered into his bedroom window. He saw Jon pacing back and forth across the floor. A look of aggravation and torment etched on his face. He could hear Pure crying and it made an unmistakable anger flared inside of him. Len sighed. "I'm coming Prue. Daddy's here."
He walked to the door, silently pushed, and didn't bother shutting the door behind him. He walked to the hallway with his bedroom on the second floor. He barely got to the door when Jon popped out. Len looked at him for a moment before Jon advanced and grabbed his arm. The weaker of the 2, Jon, managed to slam him against the wall. "Hey Len, I knew you'd come for your precious Marie. I can't believe you ditched us for this whiney brat. All she does is cry." Len heard pure screaming. "I can't believe it took you this long to find us. You're losing your touch."
"Let my daughter go Jon, let her go and I let you live. Let her go and I won't do anything to you." Jon pushed Len against the wall. Len understood that on wanted a fight. "Fine Len, if you want to fight for her I will." Len pushed back and banged his nose against Jon's nose breaking it. Jon screamed in pain and covered his nose. Len took the chance to run to pure and make sure she's ok. "Hey Prue, don't cry daddy's here." he did a quick injury check of his daughter b4 Jon appeared. He smiled at her hoping she wouldn't notice what was going on around her.
"You're gonna regret breaking my nose Len. I don't see why the men stand behind you. I am a much better leader than you ever were. I would never carry a child in my body and I would never leave my gang for and ex-lover and a baby." Len tried to hide his reaction to what Jon said about his kids. His heart broke at the memory of baby Marie. He saw in his mind the day that she was taken from him. "So Len, I thought her name is Marie. Why did you call her Prue?"
"That is none of your business Jon. You better not have hurt her or I will hurt you in the same manner." Prue heard his voice, stopped crying, and looked at him. She giggled and kicked her feet out. "Hey princess, I'm here. I'll take you home." Prue reached for him since he was in reach. He let her wrap her tiny hand around his finger. He leaned forward and kissed her little hand. He smiled at her again and this time clearly saw the resemblance between himself and his daughter. "I'm here princess, your momma misses you."
"Don't lie to her Len. She shouldn't be lied to at all, especially not her parents. So Len do I get to kill you while your daughter watches?" Len said nothing but sat on the bed by Prue. Jon got pissed cause Len was ignoring him and messing with the whiney brat. "Stand up and fight Len. Your daughter should see how much of a loser you are." Again Len ignored Jon and played with Prue. He smiled when she tugged on his shirt. He even laughed glad that he would get to do things with her that he never got to do with Marie. "Len you will fight me!"
"Fine Jon." He took off his shirt and laid it over Prue to keep her warm. He didn't want Prue to get cold since he just got her back. Now that he knew she was his daughter he had more of a reason to fight for her. "We'll fight, but I can promise you won't leave alive." He kissed Prue before standing. He turned and looked at Jon. He cracked his neck and knuckles as Jon watched. "Well Jon, let's fight."
He stood in front of the bed to protect Prue. "Now Prue, never copy what you're about to see." He turned to Prue to see her giggle and clap her hands at what he said. He looked at her and saw her nibbling on his shirt. He turned back just in time to dodge a punch from Jon. He twisted Jon's arm behind his back. "Don't you know you won't win?"
"I can win Len and I'll kill that brat once I kill you. I'll let her watch you die." Jon smiled evilly and kicked at Len's kneecap and both men heard a snap. Len still stood even though he was in excruciating pain. He refused to let Jon hurt his daughter. The anger he had when Marie was taken away was nothing compared to how he felt now. He felt a new strength and smiled at Jon. Len kneed Jon in the crotch and watched him fall.
"Who's Winning Jon?" He turned to look at Prue again to see that she was still ok. He had only been turned around for a second when Jon jumped onto his back. He backed away from Prue towards the window. He didn't want to let Jon get his child. He tripped over a sunken floor board and fell causing Jon to fall over his shoulders and out a window. Len heard Jon scream but sat there panting. He stood and looked out the window. He saw Jon impaled on a spike on the top of the fence.
He was glad the fight was over and looked at Prue. She laid there kicking her feet as she played with is shirt. He smiled happily at the sight. He limped to her and picked her up. He hugged her close to his body and kissed her tiny head. "I told you I would save you Prue. I won't let anyone hurt you honey, I promise." He sat on the bed with her and rocked her to sleep.
Len woke to Prue lying on his chest crying. He rubbed her back and smiled at her. "Hey honey, we need to get home to mommy. He's probably worried sick about us." He sat up and winced when he tried to stand. He remembered his knee was injured. He took a deep breath, stood, and fell back onto the bed. "Oh crap." He stood again succeeding this time and limped to his car holding Prue close. He sat with her in the backseat before setting her in her car seat. He left her wrapped in his shirt, got up, closed the back door, got into the driver seat, and drove home.
He walked into the house with a sleeping Prue. "Frank I'm home." Frank ran round the corner to them. He hugged Len and Prue; Len winced. "Careful Frankie, the ass hurt my knee. Get a bottle for Prue, she must be starving. I doubt that he fed her anything." Frank kissed Len and Prue before running for the bottle. Len sat on the couch holding Prue close.
Frank stood by the microwave as Prue's bottle warmed up. His heart warmed knowing that Prue was safe in the living room with her father. He heard Prue cry and his heart went out to her. He listened as Len started to sing in the attempts of calming their daughter. He walked back and sat down. He looked at his daughter and tears came to his eyes. "Can I hold her Len, I need to hold her." Len nodded and handed Prue over. Frank kissed Prue before handing her the bottle. Frank looked at Len as Prue suckled from her bottle. He leaned over to Len again and kissed him to show love and thanks for getting Prue home safe. "Len you should go to the hospital to get your knee checked. I don't want you in pain."
"I'm fine Frankie, it's not severe, or I wouldn't be able to walk. I walked, I drove; I'm fine. All I care about is you and Prue. You know Frankie, she recognized me. She stopped crying when she heard me, she even reached for me." Len looked at Prue and smiled. He put his hand by her cheek and she grabbed onto it and wouldn't let go. Tears came to Len's eyes at the memory of Marie doing the same thing as a baby. "From what you say she always knew me. I love you so much Frankie."
~3 Weeks Later~
Frank woke to find the bed empty. He sat up and looked for Len. "Len? Honey?" He stood and searched the house. He found Len in the nursery in rocking chair sleeping as he held Prue. Prue looked at him and smiled. "Hush baby." He walked to them and took Prue when she reached for him. "Hey princess, did you fall asleep with daddy?" she giggled and clapped her hands. "Hush baby, let daddy sleep." Prue looked at Len and smiled at him.
Len opened his eyes and looked at Frank and Prue. "Hey Frankie, what time is it?" He looked at Prue. He smiled when he saw the toothless grin on her face. "Hey princess, you look so cute. You're making me and your momma so happy." He stood, went to Frank, and hugged his family. Both men laughed when Prue grabbed Len's hair and tugged attempting to bring her daddy closer. "I have news Frankie, I left the gang." Frank gave a 'why' look. "I don't wanna risk the baby." Frank looked confused. "I'm pregnant Frankie, it seems Prue's gonna be a sister."
~Fin~
__________________
--Blade on the floor, Blood on her wrist, She'll never know, How much she'll be missed--