Here's the next part of "Reclaiming Forever." I hope you all enjoy it.
Amy
"Reclaiming Forever," Part 10
"You are definitely your daddy's son, Wally," Frankie crooned to their baby boy as he nestled his little head against her shoulder with a soft sigh as she set his empty bottle aside, then brought her hand up to rub his back.
"Uh oh, what did he do now?" Cass asked as he entered the living room and sat next to Frankie and Wally on the couch. "He's usually only *my* son when he's being really stubborn or contrary."
Frankie looked at her husband and smiled. "Not this time," she replied. "He's like you because he likes to snuggle with me, don't you, baby boy?" Wally's answer was to give another soft sigh as he burrowed deeper into her shoulder, his little hands resting palms flat so that his chin was perched on the backs of his little hands. Frankie continued to rub his back in an effort to get him to burp.
Cass smiled as he laid his head on Frankie's other shoulder, nuzzling her cheek. "When the kid has a great idea, he has a great idea," he said softly, his breath causing Frankie's hair to stir and tickling her neck.
Charlie came downstairs then and stomped over to the couch where her parents and baby brother sat, a frown on her face and her arms folded over her chest. "Daddy, why do the boys always save the girls?" she demanded.
Cass stopped nuzzling Frankie's cheek, and he and Frankie both turned to look at their daughter. "What?" Cass asked, slightly confused. "I thought we were going to read a story, Charlie."
"The boys always save the girls in the stories!" Charlie exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "Why don't the girls ever save the boys? Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, it's always the boys! And girls can save boys just as well as boys can save girls, right, Mommy?"
Frankie couldn't hide her smile. Wally burped, and Frankie lowered him onto her lap after he did so. "That's right, honey," she said. "But sometimes the girl does save the boy, like in Beauty and the Beast, remember?"
"Yeah!" Charlie exclaimed, her frown turning to a smile. "I like that! Belle saved the Beast at the end 'cause she loves him. And she helped him when he got hurt, even though he was mad."
"I did that with Daddy long before you were born," Frankie said with a smile. "He got hurt, and I helped him."
Charlie's eyes grew wide. "Daddy was like the Beast?" she asked. "You mean he had hair all over and a tail?"
Frankie couldn't stop herself from chuckling. "No, baby," she said. "He was just...well, snarly, like the Beast. He yelled and he growled--"
"I did NOT growl," Cass protested.
"Actually, Counselor, you did," Frankie replied. "And a lot of it was directed at me in the early days."
"But you still kept coming back to see me," Cass reminded her.
"To help Daddy?" Charlie asked eagerly.
"Yes, Charlie, to help Daddy, so that he didn't hurt anymore," Frankie replied. "Because I love your daddy very, very much, and I didn't want him to hurt."
"Like Belle loves the Beast!" Charlie exclaimed. "And the Beast loves her too, like Daddy loves you!" Then she scrambled up into Cass's lap.
"I do love you, Mary Frances, but we were nothing like Beauty and the Beast," Cass said, holding Charlie on his lap as he turned to look at Frankie and Wally again.
"Yes, you were!" Charlie insisted.
"Face it, Cass, we really were," Frankie said, her eyes sparkling. "I saw your heart beneath all of your growling and snarling and yelling."
"I'll show you growling," Cass said as he playfully leaned closer to Frankie to kiss her neck. She squealed from the ticklish sensation, which made Charlie laugh and made Wally gurgle in Frankie's arms as Cass wrapped both arms around his wife, daughter and son, smiling against Frankie's neck as he kissed her there.
The doorbell rang then, and Cass reluctantly pulled back from Frankie, still keeping his arms around his family, and called, "Who is it?"
"It's me!" Felicia called back.
"Come on in, the door's open!" Frankie called.
Felicia entered the house and smiled at Cass, Frankie, and her godchildren, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "You think that girls can save boys just as well as boys can save girls, right, Aunt Felicia?" Charlie asked.
Felicia looked to Cass and Frankie, puzzled. "We've been talking about fairy tales," Cass supplied.
"And how girls can save boys, even though most of the stories have boys saving girls," Frankie added.
Felicia had left the door open, and little Lucas Frame came running inside, followed by Dean and Jenna, holding hands. They let go so that Dean could usher Jenna through the door ahead of him, and then Dean closed the door and took Jenna's hand again as they came into the living room. "Hey, guys," Dean greeted them as he and Jenna headed over near the fireplace, where Felicia was standing.
Greetings were exchanged all around, and Dean gently ruffled the curly hair on Wally's head and high-fived Charlie. Jenna hugged Felicia, then asked, "So what were you guys talking about when we came in?"
"Boys saving girls in fairy tales versus girls saving boys," Frankie replied.
Little Lucas, meanwhile, had gone running upstairs but came running right back down and went to his parents. "Mommy? Daddy?" he asked. He was frowning much as Charlie had been earlier.
Jenna knelt down so she was at eye level with her son. "What is it, little man? Why the frown?" she asked.
"I thought we were going to see Gampa Luke!" Lucas exclaimed. "When do I get to see him again?"
Jenna looked up at Dean helplessly, as Cass and Frankie exchanged a look and then looked to Felicia, who stood there looking uncomfortable at her grandson's question.
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"Paulina!" Iris exclaimed in surprise when she opened her front door to reveal her sister standing there. "Is something wrong?"
"I hope not," Paulina replied. "Can I come in?"
Iris wordlessly stood aside and allowed Paulina to enter her home, closing the door behind her. Paulina walked into the living room with Iris following her. "Are we alone?" Paulina asked, turning to face Iris.
"Yes," Iris said. "Vivien is at the market, and Dennis and Sarah have gone to surprise Kelsey by kidnapping her from her office to go to the zoo. I decided it was too nice a day to be cooped up in the office, so I brought some work home. What's going on?"
"You tell me," Paulina replied.
"You're going to have to be more specific," Iris said.
"I saw you and Lucas at the Paradise last weekend," Paulina informed her sister. "After Lucas nearly punched Carl's lights out?"
"Well, Lucas was shocked to learn that Rachel had married Carl. Sometimes it still shocks me that she married Carl, after all those years she spent with Daddy, and the things that Carl tried to do to him...to Rachel herself...even to the ever-absent Amanda," Iris said, flipping open the file folder in her hands again. "Now if that's all--"
Paulina yanked the folder out of Iris's hands. "Nice try," she said. "Felicia has to decide for herself if she wants to get back together with Lucas or not, and she needs time to do that."
"I completely agree," Iris replied.
Paulina's face reflected her shock. "You do?" she asked.
"Didn't you hear me at Rachel's the day they came home from Lorna's wedding and told us Lucas was alive and back in Bay City?" Iris inquired. "I said then that I knew that all Lucas wants is his precious Fanny. Jake tried to make a tasteless comment about my comment...."
"Then you meant that? You're not trying to start something romantic with Lucas yourself?" Paulina asked.
"I'm not in the habit of throwing myself at men who are obviously in love with another woman," Iris replied. At Paulina's look, she added, "Anymore."
"No, that's not what I was looking at you like that for," Paulina said. Iris reached out and took her folder back from Paulina. "I'm just surprised, that's all. I mean, I know that I'm there for Felicia--"
"You are? As a confidante, you mean?" Now it was Iris's turn to be surprised.
"Well, her family's driving her nuts about Lucas, I can relate, she needs someone to talk to, why shouldn't it be me?" Paulina challenged.
Iris laughed out loud.
"I don't think there's anything funny about it, Iris!" Paulina exclaimed.
"No, of course not," Iris replied, recovering herself but still smiling. "But do you realize this is the first time in our entire relationship that you and I have ever been on the same side of something, even though we're backing different people?"
"You mean you're being a friend to Lucas, and I'm being a friend to Felicia, because we want them to get back together?" Paulina asked.
"Exactly," Iris replied. She laid the file folder on the desk, then looked at Paulina. "Who would have thought it would take Felicia and Lucas to truly bring you and I together as sisters?"
Paulina relaxed a bit. "Well, after Jake came back, I started believing that anything is possible," she said. "Felicia needs time. Lucas has only been back a few weeks. I don't think they've really even talked yet. They need to talk before any decisions can be made."
"Well, we know what happened when Felicia thought she lost Lucas before," Iris said. "No one wants that to happen again."
"I really think Felicia is stronger than that now," Paulina replied. "But it's not easy. She has to be able to trust him again. I don't think loving him is a problem. But trusting him..." She trailed off, remembering her own struggle to trust Jake again, and how worth it that struggle had turned out to be.
"Then you think that Felicia just has to be able to trust Lucas again, and she'll take him back?" Iris asked.
Paulina frowned at her sister. "I forbid you to go to Lucas and quote me on that!" she exclaimed.
"Well, of course I'm not going to do that," Iris says. "Give me some credit, Paulina. It's just that you understand what Felicia's going through better than anyone could, and you did take Jake back--"
"If you're going to insult Jake, don't bother finishing that sentence."
"I already told you, this is about Lucas and Felicia. He loves her so much, and he really wants her back. He wants to make it all up to her, and he deserves that chance!"
Paulina looked at Iris speculatively. "You sure feel strongly about this, Iris," she said. "I know that you and Lucas are ancient history, but I'm surprised that you're actually trying to play Cupid for him and Felicia."
Iris stared at her desk, not seeing any of the contents on the desktop. "I just think that Lucas deserves the chance with Felicia that I never got..." She didn't finish the sentence.
"With Dad?" Paulina finished after a pregnant silence.
"Yes." Iris still didn't look up from the desk.
Neither Paulina nor Iris said anything for a moment. Then Paulina broke the silence. "I know that I never knew him...but I think, from what Rachel and the others have said, he would have forgiven you eventually."
Now Iris did look at Paulina. "I like to believe that he would have. But I'll never really know. Lucas shouldn't have to live with that uncertainty hanging over his head for the rest of his life," Iris replied. "If I can spare him this, I'll do whatever I can to help him and Felicia."
"Okay," Paulina said.
"Okay?" Iris asked.
"Yeah. I was just making sure that you weren't trying to compete with Felicia for Lucas's affections," Paulina began.
"I couldn't do it seven years ago. What makes you think I could do it now?" Iris asked.
"The point is, we're both on the same side here, like you said," Paulina continued. "So you be there for Lucas and listen to him and help him, and I'll be there for Felicia and listen to her and help her."
"And perhaps we could compare notes once in a while?" Iris asked.
"As long as it stays between us," Paulina said. "Nothing I tell you gets back to Lucas, and nothing you tell me gets back to Felicia. Deal?" She stuck out her hand.
"Deal," Iris agreed, and they shook on it, then smiled at each other.
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Since Felicia and Jenna were frozen in place after little Lucas asking when he could see his "Gampa Luke," Dean bent, picked up his son, and parked him on his hip.
"Lucas, d'you remember how I told you that Gampa Luke didn't really go to Heaven?" he asked.
The boy nodded solemnly. "'Cause you can't come back from Heaven. But isn't he tired of playing?"
"Playing what?" Dean asked.
"You said Gampa Luke was playing hide-and-seek wif the Feds. If he's been playing hide-and-seek all this time, isn't he tired of it yet, Daddy?" little Lucas asked with the wide-eyed innocence young children possess.
Dean winced, and behind him, he heard Felicia's sharp intake of breath, and beside him, Jenna remained frozen while on their couch, Cass and Frankie remained silent, their own children in their arms. "Uh..." Dean began. "Well, son, yeah, I think he would be tired of playing hide-and-seek."
"That's why he came back, I bet," little Lucas said.
Cass and Frankie exchanged a look at how perceptive their godson unknowingly was.
"I think you're right, little man," Dean said. "But you know how sometimes grown-ups have to take a lot of time to talk and we can't just run out and do things right away like kids can?"
"You and Mommy and Grammy need ta talk ta Gampa Luke?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, we do," Dean replied.
Lucas considered this for a moment. "Well, can I see him after you talk to him?" he asked. "I won't ask him to play hide-and-seek. Could I show him my fire trucks instead?"
"We'll talk to him, and then we'll get it all figured out so you can see him," Dean promised. "Okay?"
"Okay, Daddy," Lucas said. Then he hugged Dean around the neck, and Dean hugged him back. "I love you, Daddy."
Dean closed his eyes and squeezed his son extra hard. "I love you too, Lucas," he said. Then he set Lucas down. "Why don't you and Charlie go upstairs and play for a while, huh?"
"C'mon, Lucas, the grown-ups wanna talk," Charlie said. "You can be the Prince who's locked in the tower, and I'll be the Princess who saves you."
"Girls don't save boys!" Lucas protested as he and Charlie hurried toward the stairs.
"Belle saved the Beast!" Charlie exclaimed triumphantly.
"No running in the house!" Frankie shouted after the kids. Their footsteps obediently slowed on the stairs. When they were upstairs, Frankie said, "I'm proud of you, Dean. You handled that really well."
"You're a terrific father, Young Dean," Cass added.
"Yeah, well, I learned from the best," Dean replied, sharing a significant look with Cass. Then he turned to face his wife and mother-in-law. "I promised our boy the day he was born that I'd never lie to him," he said.
"I remember," Jenna replied.
"I'm not saying I forgive the guy," Dean continued, "but he's Lucas's only grandfather. And our boy really wants to see him, Jen."
"So he can fill Lucas's head with lies too?" Jenna asked angrily. "I made a promise the day our son was born too, Dean. I promised myself that my child would never be subjected to the lies that I was subjected to! Lucas lying about being dead is as bad as Gloria lying about my entire existence to everyone but the nuns!"
"Jenna, as difficult as this is, ignoring Lucas isn't going to make him go away," Frankie said.
"Frankie's right." Everyone turned to look at Felicia, who had spoken those two fateful words.
"Mom," Jenna said, a note of pleading in her voice.
"Jenna, honey, we're going to have to talk to him sooner or later," Felicia replied, reaching out and clasping Jenna's hands in hers.
"I can't," Jenna said softly. "I'm not ready. Not yet."
"I understand," Felicia replied. "But will you and Dean let me take Lucas to see Luke? I'll be there the whole time. I won't let Luke say or do anything to spoil Lucas or to hurt him or lie to him in any way."
Dean put his hands on Jenna's shoulders. "It's okay with me, Felicia."
Jenna looked at Felicia uncertainly. "You won't let him lie to Lucas? About anything?" she asked.
"I promise," Felicia replied solemnly.
"And you won't fight with him in front of Lucas?" Jenna asked.
"I'll be on my best behavior," Felicia vowed.
Jenna looked over her shoulder at Dean. He squeezed her shoulders encouragingly. Then Jenna looked back at Felicia. "You set it up with him and then get back to us," she said.
"All right," Felicia said.
Dean kissed the top of Jenna's head. Cass put his arm around Frankie and pulled her against his side. Wally was almost asleep in her arms. "We're just going to go put Wally down for his nap," Cass said.
"And check on Charlie and Lucas," Frankie added as she rose from the couch. Cass followed Frankie and Wally upstairs.
"It'll be okay," Felicia tried to assure Jenna...but Felicia was worried herself. She would stay in control of her emotions for her grandson's sake, but the thought of being around Luke again made her very nervous for reasons she didn't want to consciously explore yet.
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When Felicia arrived back at Love Tower, she was surprised when the elevator doors opened on the ground floor and Lorna and Luke emerged, Lorna's arm through her father's, the two of them laughing about something.
"Mom!" Lorna blurted when she saw Felicia standing next to the up and down buttons.
"Fanny!" Luke blurted in the breath after Lorna's.
"What are you doing here?" Felicia demanded of Luke.
"I live here," Luke replied coolly.
"Mom--" Lorna began.
But Felicia cut her off. "Not now, Lorna." Felicia didn't take her eyes off Luke. "No, you don't live here. Not anymore."
"Yes, I do," Luke retorted, a patient smile on his face.
"Uh, Daddy..." Lorna tried again.
"Not now, Lorna," Luke said. Although Lorna was standing there, her eyes going back and forth between her parents as if she were a spectator at a heated Wimbledon match, Felicia and Luke were staring only at each other.
"Even if you still had your keys, I've had the locks changed in the last five years. And I'm certainly not going to let you camp out on my couch, or in Jenna's old room," Felicia informed Luke.
"I don't need the couch OR Jenna's old room," Luke said. "I have my own place."
"What?" Felicia asked.
"Mom--" Lorna tried again.
"Not now, Lorna," Felicia repeated. "What do you mean, you have your own place?"
"Daddy--"
"Not now, Lorna," Luke said. "Well, Fanny, it turns out that my old apartment was vacant."
"Your old apartment," Felicia repeated.
"Yes, the suite one floor directly below yours, the place where I lived when I first came to Bay City," Luke replied. "You remember it, don't you, Fanny?"
"You got your old apartment back?" Felicia asked incredulously.
"Yes, he did," Lorna interjected. "You and Daddy are living in the same building again, Mom. How about that?"
Felicia and Luke both turned to just look at their daughter.
"I know," Lorna said, correctly reading the looks from her parents. "Not now, Lorna."
This is great, especially the truce between Paulina and Iris. I like how you are using those two to help falicatate Felicia and Lucas getting back together. I am egearly awainting Part 12!!
Thank you, everyone! I'm thrilled you're all enjoying the story so much, and I hope you continue to do so.
In upcoming installments...
Spoiler:
Fanny and Luke are going to be talking even more soon, when they both spend time with little Lucas at Felicia's apartment. What happens when Dean comes to pick up little Lucas, though, and Fanny and Luke are alone in the home they once shared?
Lorna will also be finding out about Paulina and Iris helping her parents, so she'll enlist them in her master plan to reunite them when she realizes that a master plan is needed.
Dean and Jenna still have to forgive Luke...but which of them will forgive him first?
And Cass and Frankie's night of romance faces multiple interruptions after Fanny and Luke reach a breakthrough that freaks out one and confuses the other. (Hint: Felicia and Lucas's honeymoon afternoon in 1991, but with the roles reversed.)
I know that that your old hard drive crashed so you lost notes about fan fics that were on that hard drive. You previously said that Lorna has a caper planned for her parents and drags Joe, Iris, Paulina, Cass and Frankie into it in another post. You mentioned something about Lorna and company locked Felicia and Lucas into a storage room at Cafe Paraside so Felicia had to talk to Lucas. I guess maybe that will not happen because you lost notes from your old hard drive.
Oh no, Lucas and Felicia will still be locked in. That's the master plan. Joe won't be a part of it because even in the note-taking stage, I couldn't figure out how to make him fit what with Paulina there, but Lorna, Iris, Cass and Frankie, and Paulina will all be involved in the locking in of the bickering couple so that they HAVE to talk. And a few pretty big things happen during and after the talk that affect not only Felicia and Lucas but everyone else. I'm still working that part out. Right now, I'm about 90 minutes away from going on shift, I just finished uploading a half dozen new 1992 clips to YouTube, and I'm brainstorming the next chapter, which will include Felicia watching as Lucas spends his first significant time with his grandson and namesake.
Nettie, if I do this right, you're going to LOVE the ending on part 11. A little something for you to look forward to when you get back, I hope.
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