Always and Forever

by

Casey
(SingC25@aol.com)

Fran was sitting on the couch of their new California mansion, reading a magazine, as Val sat leaning over her shoulder, reading along.

"This is interesting Fran…"

"What? Her hair? Oh I know…it always baffles me how high they get it to stand up!"

Val shook her head stupidly. "No. That's not what I meant Fran, I meant the top 10 things husbands and wives fight about."

Fran casted her eyes upon what Val was reading. " Oh, sweetie. Those aren't right. Me and Max never fight about any of that stuff." She cocked her eyebrow and pointed. "Except that one," She laughed. Val giggled.

"Well, how do ya know?" Val asked.

"Know what?"

"If these are things that you guys would really fight about." Val answered. "I mean, look at this one. 'What he would do if you died.'" She read.

Fran looked interested. "Ya know, I've never thought about asking him that. Meanwhile, I really doubt whatever he said would be something we would fight over."

Val nodded in agreement. "Maybe so, but I think you should find out. Wouldn't it be kinda interesting to hear what he says?"

Fran stared up into the air, "Maybe…" she sighed. After a few seconds, she looked back down to the magazine and flipped the page.

"MMM…"Fran smiled. "John Travolta is lookin' good!"

"Honey, you're married." Val reminded her.

Fran raised her eyebrow in Val's direction. "What's ya point Val?" She asked jokingly.

They giggled for a while staring at his picture. "What I wouldn't give to be in a movie with that man!" Fran said with a wide smile and a wink.

*****

Max and Fran were lying in bed, Fran was still looking at a magazine, and Max seemed to be looking over a script.

Fran gazed over at him and broke the silence. "Did I ever tell ya that ya glasses turn me on?" Fran smiled as she leaned over to give him a kiss.

Max smiled at her and leaned over to her now. "I dunno." He laughed. "But did I ever tell you how much you turn me on?"

"Oh, Max!" She exclaimed as she pushed him away. "Uh, sweetie…I kinda got a serious question to ask ya." Fran stated.

"Oh really?" He asked as he removed his glasses and set them on the bedside table.

"Yeah…uh, see, me and Val were reading this magazine…" She said as she held the magazine over for him to see. He took it from her and replaced his glasses.

" 'The top 10 things couples fight about'" He read aloud. "Interesting." He flipped to the page and read the first couple to himself. "Preposterous. We don't fight about any of this stuff." Then he read another. He smiled. "Except that one." He said as he pointed one out to Fran.

She giggled reminiscently about what she had said to Val earlier.

"Well, ya haven't read all of them honey." She said.

"What would I do if you died?" Max seemed shocked. "Is this what you wanted to talk to me about Fran?" He looked at her inquisitively.

She hesitated for a moment, now unsure about whether or not she wanted to know. "Uh…yeah."

Max raised his eyebrow. "You know how sensitive that subject is for me."

"ooh…" Fran realized that that question really hadn't been a good one to ask, being that his first wife had actually died.

"But, I suppose this question was going to come up sooner or later." Max sighed.

"Geez." Fran breathed. "You're makin' me feel like I'm a little girl getting her first 'talk'"

Max laughed. Fran could always make him laugh. Even in serious situations. How does that woman do it? He often found himself asking.

"Well," He started, "What would you want me to do?"

"Oy. I'm not gonna tell ya what I would want ya to do, because then your answer might not be honest." Fran answered.

"OK then…" Max stopped to think the question over for a second. "You know, I don't really know." He stated simply.

"Whaddaya mean ya don't know?" She asked.

"Simply what I said. 'I don't know.'"

"Wha???" She cried. "If I died tonight, you don't know what would run through ya head?"

She was angry now, but she tried to contain her anger in order for him to give her another answer.

"Well…" He was trying to think of something to say. He really wasn't very good at answering these kind of questions or showing his emotions. "I would probably…"

"Probably what?" Fran asked.

"Oh…I don't know." Max retorted. "This is a really touchy subject."

"Honey," Fran started angrily, "I-I-I…" She wanted to finish her sentence, but then she realized she didn't have the heart to. She knew that the loss of his first wife had been devastating to him, but she wanted an answer. And she felt terrible for feeling that way. She didn't know why though. She had never felt like this before when she was asking him a question. But then, she might not have ever asked him a question this serious.

"Fran, I just don't know what too tell you. Honestly, I really don't know what I would do…I would be devastated…but I don't know what I would do."

"Just-Just-Would ya just STOPPIT!!??" You telling me that you have no idea what you would do if I died is making me mad!!!"

"Well, you asked the question darling." Max stated smartly.

Fran looked at him and squealed angrily. "What is your problem???!!" She exclaimed, not really expecting an answer.

"It seems I'm not the one with a dilemma sweetheart."

"OH!" Fran exclaimed. "You have just earned yourself a spot on the sofa Mista!!!" She said in her thick Queens accent.

"The sofa!?" Max yelled. "Me? Why? What the bloody hell did I do?"

"You know what? Just leave…right now!" She threw off her blankets and grabbed some spare ones from the closet and threw them at Max's head. She opened the door and waited for him to exit. "Good Night!" She yelled and watched him stomp out down the hallway.

"Good Night and Goodbye!" He called back.

*****

Fran lay in their bed alone, mulling over the day's events. Then, suddenly, what he had said in the hallway finally processed completely. "Good Night and Goodbye! Oh God." She cried.

She walked down the stairs trying to convince herself that he had only said that to make her mad and invite him back, and that he was probably sound asleep on the sofa at that moment.

When she got to the foot of the stairs, she immediately looked to the couch, only to find it empty. A chill ran down her spine. "Oh God." She whispered. Fran, stop worrying, everything will be OK, he's probably just in anther room…maybe the kitchen…no wait that's Ma's hang-out, not his…She had not meant to be funny, but smiled at her joke anyway. I'll check anyway. She tried to convince herself that he was in another room of the house, after she left each empty one. She grew more and more worried, and each time she walked into another empty room, a single tear rolled down her cheek. She didn't know why she was being so sensitive. During all of their other fights she never cried. She knew he would come back.

She had gone through every room in the house, and was weeping quite uncontrollably, before she realized there was one more place to check. The guest-house.

She walked slowly over there, imagining him sleeping on the extra bed, dreaming of her and the way they loved each other.

She quietly unlocked the door, so as not to wake her sleeping husband, only to find more empty rooms, and an even more empty heart.

She wept silently and dragged herself to their front porch. It was gorgeous. She, however, at the moment, could not appreciate its beauty. She squatted in the corner of the steps, holding her knees to her chest, with her head in her lap. She sobbed to herself, hoping that Max would be coming home any minute. He didn't. And as for her, she fell asleep there, waiting for him.

*****

In the morning, Niles was alarmed to find her there, lying on the porch. It couldn't have been safe. Then, the dreadful thought that she was dead crossed his mind. Oh No, old man, you're being ridiculous. He thought to himself.

He walked over to her and placed his hand on her face. She was cold. "Oh God." He thought aloud. "She could be dead." He then lay his hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat. He sighed heavily. "Thank God."

He shook her lightly, attempting to wake her up. "Mrs. Sheffield…Mrs. Sheffield…Fran….wake up." He said.

She rolled over gently. "Oh Max…Ow…" She looked up into Niles's face in pain. "Oh my God! You're not Max…you're Niles…and I'm asleep on the porch??? It wasn't a dream???" She sobbed.

"Calm down Mrs. Sheff-Fran. What's the mater?" He asked solicitously.

"Whaddaya mean Fran??? Oh my God!!! He's filing for divorce???" She exclaimed.

"That's your name, you told me to call you Fran, and what do you mean divorce?" Niles asked.

"Oh my GOD!!!" She cried.

"Will somebody please tell me what the bloody hell is going on here!?" He yelled.

"Where's Max? Did he come home yet?" Fran asked.

"Uh-oh…whaddaya mean come home yet? Did he ever leave? Oh God."

"Oh my God…you don't even know where he went Niles?"

"I didn't even know he left!" Niles exclaimed.

Fran started to sob, and Niles knew something was horribly wrong. He sat down next to her and held her, knowing that she didn't want to talk, that all she wanted was to be comforted. He couldn't have been a better friend at that moment.

*****

"Fran…where's Daddy?" Gracie yelled from her room. "I need to borrow $20."

At this simple remark, Fran broke into tears. Grace and Brighton walked down the stairs. "What's her problem?" Gracie asked. "Must be PMS." Brighton muttered as he walked out of the living room and into the kitchen. Fran smirked at his remark and dried her tears, in attempt to hold it together for Gracie.

Fran looked at Gracie lovingly. "Well sweetie, ya know, you could ask me for the money too."

Grace cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, but if I tell Daddy I love him he gives me an extra $20."

Fran laughed, though she didn't think that was possible that day. Somehow, the kids helped her take her mind off of everything. "OK…here sweetie…" She handed her $20 and looked back down to her purse. "If ya tell me ya love me…maybe I'll give ya an extra 20 too."

Grace smiled and walked over to wrap her arms around Fran. "I love you Fran." She cooed with a laugh.

"Honey, ya hugged me too. If ya want that much money I think ya need to go find someone else." Fran teased.

"Thanks Fran." Gracie said with a smirk and started to walk through the front door.

Fran stopped her. "Sweetie, when will ya be back?"

"Uh…I guess in a few hours…we're just…"Grace defended herself.

"Ya didn't have to explain yourself, but since ya sound defensive…now ya do!" Fran laughed.

"Fra-an!" Gracie begged. "Puh-leeeease!!!! I'm going on a date and he's really gorgeous!!!"

"Oh! Sweetie that's FABULOUS!!!" Fran exclaimed. "OK…have fun…but if you're not home by morning…I'm gonna have to kick your tush." She cocked her eyebrow. "Actually, if I give ya till morning, it probably wouldn't matter anyway…"

Gracie smiled. "Fran! Oy! I'll be good!"

Fran looked at her with a smile. "Gee, ya know if you've picked up much more from me, and he's really that cute, ya really gonna have a hard time bein' good."

Gracie threw back her head and laughed as she exited. "Then I have your permission?" She yelled back jokingly.

*****

Niles sat beside Fran on the sofa with a tray containing a glass of water and a few Aspirin. She was holding her head in her hands, and Niles figured that bringing her pain-killers would be the logical thing to do. Little did he know, he was going to have to be the pain-killer.

"Oh, Niles, thanks, but I don't think I really need these right now. In order to feel better, I'm just gonna have to stop crying." She said.

"OK…well, would you like to talk about it now?" He asked.

Fran drew in a deep breath, and began the story. "Max and I had a fight last night." She stated.

Niles looked at her inquisitively. "And…?"

Fran cocked her eyebrow.

"I'm sorry Fran, it's just that as long as I have known you, you have always been a strong person. In my opinion, not one to cry easily."

She nodded. "Oh. Meanwhile, it all started when I showed him the list of things couples fight about most often. One of the things on the list was 'what he would do if you died.' And when he saw it, he knew that was the question I had wanted to ask him. He got really sensitive…and…and, well, I sent him to the couch when he told me he didn't know. I guess that was dumb on my part. Then I went downstairs to make up with him, and he wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere. So I went to the guest-house, and when I saw that he wasn't there I-I-I…" Her voice trailed off into sobs.

"You what?" Niles asked.

"That's when I sat on the porch to wait for him, and…he…he…he never came home." Tears were streaming down her face now, and Niles brought her head to his shoulder.

"Shall I call Miss Toriello?" Niles asked softly. "Do you want to talk to her?"

Fran sat up and smirked a little at Niles' question. "Niles, have you known Val for the past 9 years?"

Niles looked up into the air. "Yes, I suppose so."

"And has she ever known anything about relationships?" Fran joked.

Niles giggled for a short while, so as to respect the solemnity of their current situation.

"I-I just want him to come home. I want him to hold me in his arms again. I want to feel him near me. I'm really starting to worry Niles. Where could he have gone?" Fran asked.

"I'm not sure. This certainly is out of character for him."

"Yeah, I know. I just don't know what to do." She whimpered as she lay her head back down on Niles' shoulder.

*****

"No Val, ya don't need to come over I'm fine." Fran spoke into the receiver. "Yeah, I know I sound like I've been crying."

"Val, how am I supposed to know that?" Fran asked. Val always asked dumb questions, and this one was no different. "Sweetie, you called me!" Fran exclaimed. She really had no idea what her friend was blabbering about. She had other things on her mind. "Yeah, OK, love you too. Bye honey." She hung up and sank into her bed.

Oh God. She thought to herself. Please let him be OK. I would die if anything happened to him. I love him so much! I wish I never woulda read that dumb magazine. She let a tear roll down her cheek.

Max sweetie, She wondered if somehow she could connect with him. If you can hear me, I love you and I want ya to come home. I never meant to hurt you. I can't live another minute without you. Please, oh please hear this. I can't bear to live without you. Come home honey.

*****

Max sat on a park bench, alone. Suddenly, as Fran was thinking, a chill was sent down his spine. Her thoughts ran through his head over and over again. How could he be hearing this?

Oh, come on Max. You've got to be hearing things. There's no way you could be reading her mind right now. You're going bloody crazy! What's the matter with you? He thought to himself. Oh God. I miss her so much I'm having hallucinations or something. Maybe I can try to connect with her. No, no way. That can't be possible. There is absolutely no way. This thought ran through his mind a few times, but he couldn't stop himself from trying.

Fran, darling, I know you probably can't hear me right now, I'm not even sure if I heard you, but if I did, I want you to know that I'll never stop loving you. But you hurt me deeply last night. Images of you dying flashed through my head. I couldn't bear to think of it. Losing another wife would crush me. I love you dearly, and I just needed time to think your question over, alone. I finally have an answer darling. I love you. I couldn't bear to see you die. If you died, my emotions would be a wreck. When I would think of how your life was taken from you, I would cry. You've probably never seen me cry. I would continue to take care of the kids, as I know they are the most important thing in your life. And I would never let your dream be ruined. I would raise them to be as perfect as you would have, and hopefully find something to make me happy again. If you died sweetheart, I would know that I have found a way to communicate with you. I didn't think it worked at first, but I think if I just believe in it, now, and forever, it may work. I hope you don't die before me darling, but if you did, I would talk to you every night. Pray to God every night, and love you, always and forever.

*****

A strong chill was sent down Fran's spine. She had heard every word he had thought. How, she did not know, but she believed.

Suddenly there was a knock at Fran's bedroom door. "Fran, how are you feeling?" Niles asked.

Tears streamed down Fran's face. "I'm fine Niles. He's coming home. I can feel it."

*****

Fran sat on the front porch, waiting. She soon heard the sound of footsteps. She looked up automatically, and into her husband's deep, forest green eyes.

Fran ran to him and was embraced tightly. Tears of happiness were now pouring from her eyes. He pulled her into a mad, passionate kiss. When it was finally broken, he looked into her eyes.

"Darling, I love you. Always, and forever."

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