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nadja-antipaxos · 2 years

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DON’T LET ME DOWN

Title: Don’t Let Me Down

Fandom: GIfted (2017)

Pairing: Frank Adler x OFC

Summary: Mary befriends a literature professor at the university who catches Frank's eye, Samantha Harris. She teases him and Frank falls hard when he least expects it.

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: : Smoking, sex, oral sex, vaginal fingering, swearing, former cheating (not Frank), pregnancy scare

Word Count: 10,603

Author’s Note: Watching Gifted again, I wanted to give Frank some love. I think he and Brie should do a romance because they're both mega hot. This is for two special Desis who enjoy Frank as much as I do. Thank you for reading. Comments and kudos are encouraged, but only if it strikes you. Moodboard by me. Happy Holidays!

AO3

Samantha has been squinting for five minutes and yet, there is still a small child reading a book in the shade on one of the planters.

“Who is that?”

“Oh, the prodigy.”

“Huh?”

Ella takes her confusion as a moment to steal Samantha’s cigarette.

“She’s like 6 and she’s a math genius.”

“Jesus. I wish I was a genius at 6.”

“Maybe then you wouldn’t be teaching English Lit in Florida.”

“Fuck you. Art History teacher.” Samantha gasps and steals her cigarette back then playfully tugs Ella’s auburn hair.

“Okay, but you dress like one.” She gestures to the blue scarf in her blonde hair.

Samantha flicks her cigarette on the ground and stomps it out with her shoe. She pulls the perfume out of her purse and sprays it before approaching the child.

“Hey.” She nods. She keeps a safe distance, not wanting to crowd her.

“Hey.” The child doesn’t look up.

“You cool? I mean. You okay over here?” She rests her hands on her knees.

The little girl has very blue eyes and enviable dark lashes. The sour, annoyed expression on her face fades as she focuses in on Samantha’s dangling rose earrings.

“Those are cool.”

“Thanks.”

“Where’d you get ‘em?”

“Flea market.”

“I’m Mary.”

“I’m Samantha.” She throws up a peace sign because it’s too weird to shake a child’s hand.

Mary chuckles and does the peace sign back.

“I’m a teacher—professor here.” She tugs on the lanyard around her neck to prove it. “Can I walk you to your next class?”

“Nah. Frank is coming to pick me up. He’s just late.”

“Okay. Nice meeting you, Mary.”

“Bye.” Mary waves and looks back at her book.

Samantha scurries off but only so far until she sees a tall, dark-haired guy walk up to the bench. His loose white shirt is dirty as are his jeans. If she was a gambler, she’d bet mechanic. Maybe it’s an Atticus Finch thing and she calls her dad by his first name. She’s just glad the kid isn’t alone. Her office hours can wait if it means she prevented an Amber Alert.

The next time she sees Mary, she’s waiting outside White Hall on a different metal bench. She removes her earbuds.

“Hey, Mary.” Samantha waves.

“Hey.” Mary looks up briefly from her notepad before going back to it.

“He late again?” She can’t actually remember his name.

“Class got out early. He’s on his way.” Mary shrugs her tiny shoulders.

Samantha nods. She feels weird leaving her.

“Can I sit?” She points to the bench.

“Yeah.” Mary moves her backpack over even though there’s more than enough room already. “Whatcha listening to?”

Samantha looks down at her phone glad it’s simple electronic music and not something more adult. She hands one of the headphones to Mary who puts it in her ear immediately and hits play. Mary bobs her head to the beat and Samantha smiles before doing the same. They sit in relative silence just listening to the music. She’s only with her for ten minutes before the guy whose name she still does not recall shows up. Mary hands her the earbud and they both stand up.

“This is Samantha. She teaches here.” Mary takes his hand automatically.

“Hi. I’m Frank Adler. Mary’s uncle.” Frank extends his free hand. They both have the same insanely dark and thick eyelashes. He’s very ruggedly handsome up close like if she 3-D printed the Brawny towel guy. Beard, biceps, all of it.

“Hi. I’m Samantha Harris.” Samantha gives him a peace sign and for some reason that makes Mary laugh. Frank raises his eyebrows before stuffing his hand in his jean pocket.

“That music was fun.” Mary beams.

“Age appropriate, don’t worry.” Samantha waves her hand.

“So, no N.W.A.?” The tiniest smirk lingers on his mouth.

“Maybe next week.” Samantha shrugs.

Frank chuckles.

“Well, say goodbye. We got Girl Scouts. You’ve got Girl Scouts.”

“You said we.”

Mary waves with enthusiasm before skipping off with Frank.

Samantha falls into a habit of spending time with Mary if she catches her sitting by herself. It’s not so often that it’s a concern. Most of the time, Samantha finds them leaving just as she’s walking toward the building. They’ll exchange a smile and wave, but not too much because after all, Girls Scouts are a priority. Samantha asks Frank if it’s okay to exchange numbers in case he is running late because she’s already on campus. She has nieces and nephews and she wouldn’t want them waiting alone on a college campus. He’s surprised when she asks, but gives her the number all the same. It does give him peace of mind.

Mary seems quite taken with Samantha’s style like her jewelry, scarves, and even hairstyles. it makes Samantha wonder how much of a maternal presence she has. She mentions someone named Roberta a lot and a few of her teachers. After the nonstop praise for her French braid, Samantha brings tiny hair ties for their next visit. In a flash, Mary has two small braids that she can’t stop staring at in Samantha’s compact mirror. She hugs her and that makes Samantha laugh. She’s jumping up and down when Frank arrives.

“Look at my hair! Look! Loooook!”

“Wow. Impressive.”

“Sammy did it.”

“Sammy?”

“I’m Sammy now.”

“Yep. My hair is so cool. Much better than when you do it.”

“Ouch.”

Mary rolls her eyes and Samantha hides her smile behind her hand.

“See you later. Have fun, Mary.”

“Bye, Sammy.”

Frank leads Mary to the car. She clicks her seatbelt and looks at him.

“Sammy’s fun.”

“Yeah.”

“Can she come to dinner?”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

“Why not? What about making friends?”

“Friends your age.” Frank puts his hand on the head of Mary’s seat as he looks out the back window. He’d be lying if he hadn’t thought about using texting her for other reasons than keeping an eye on Mary, especially when he’s had a few beers. She’s beautiful with a slender, tall frame. Like really beautiful with a perfect smile that makes her soft honey eyes crinkle. Her dark blonde hair flows on her shoulders making her look like a movie star when she puts scarves in her hair. But it’s not just looks—she’s obviously smart—she’s a professor. And she’s kind enough to keep an eye on a little kid she has no obligation to. Still, he’s lucky things ended so well with Bonnie. He doesn’t need to hook up with someone else in Mary’s life and still have to see them.

This is what he tells himself, but then he sees her in a blue sundress with white flowers on it—he forgets. She’s making Mary laugh or Mary’s making her laugh—he forgets. Her head is thrown back as she claps—he forgets. Mary gathers up her backpack and he steps closer to Samantha. The wind ruffles the hem of her pink skirt.

“Hey, do you wanna go out sometime?”

She furrows her brow, confused.

“You seem really nice and you’re pretty. You…” The more he talks the more she tilts her head. “What?”

“You don’t date a lot, right?”

“Not really. No. Why?”

“Well, you kinda just blurted that out.”

“Out of practice, sorry.”

He’s used to making glances at Ferg’s that ends in his bedroom. He doesn’t exactly have to chat them up first. She takes a moment before speaking. He looks back at Mary who is fine but bound to interrupt this conversation at any time.

“Mary’s great. You’re clearly good with her, but uh, no, thanks.”

He stares at her for a moment. She’s a lot smarter (Bonnie aside) and more sober than his usual type. He should give up. He should grab Mary and take her to Girl Scouts.

“Fair. Only for academic purposes, can I ask why not?”

“Wow. Well, I’m not going to ruin your educational pursuits. ” She’s laughing with her hands on her hips. “Honestly, not really looking to relive college. I don’t need the…trouble. I hope that helps your study.”

“I’m trouble?” He places a hand on his chest.

“C’mon, dude. It’s written all over that handsome face.” Her index finger gestures broadly.

“Oh, so I’m handsome?” He smirks.

“Don’t. You know you’re hot. And that’s why you’re trouble.” She rolls her eyes.

“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful, Miss Harris.”

Samantha playfully shakes her head. Mary sprints over and the conversation promptly changes.

The first time he sees her outside of the college is like seeing a lion in the wild. Tight jean shorts showing off her perky ass. Tall thin heels. Cherry red lipstick. Gone is the sweet woman who listens to music with Mary and braids her hair. She doesn’t put up with any of the drunken advances as she orders whiskey, neat, at the bar. She doesn’t even talk to these guys. She just holds up a hand and waves them off. Her indifference goes straight to his dick due to the beers he’s had. Throwing caution to the wind, he sidles over to her.

“Nice technique.”

“Ah. You like this?” She puts her hand in his face. She doesn’t look disappointed to see him like he thought she might.

“It’s effective. What brings you here?” He’s never seen her at Ferg’s before.

“Date. Guess she couldn’t make it.” She shrugs and downs her drink in one big gulp.

She? Did she say she?

“So, you’re a lesbian?” He nods. “That’s—”

Her hand covers his mouth with ease since those heels make her practically his height. Her skin is smooth on the scruff of his beard.

“No no. I’m gonna stop you before you say something stupid. I’m pansexual. And that’s not why I won’t go out with you.” She withdraws her hand.

“Got it.” He nurses his beer before looking at her with his best puppy dog look. “What about friends?”

She laughs again like she did when he asked her out. She doesn’t look annoyed. She looks amused. If she really wanted him to stop, he would. He’s not one of those people. But right now, he’s enjoying this and so is she.

“I don’t know if you can be friends with a woman you’re attracted to.” She arches an eyebrow doubtfully. The bartender looks at her as she steps back and she holds up a pack of cigarettes. He nods and she walks off down the stairs. She moves fast in those stilettos. Frank trails a healthy distance behind her.

“You could teach me, Doctor.” Yes, he looked her up on the college faculty page.

She lights up her cigarette and shakes her head before blowing smoke out the side of her mouth.

“Mary wanted me to tell you. She saw you smoking with another professor and it’s bad for you.” He wrinkles his nose.

“Well, tell Mary thank you, but I’m a lost cause. Smoking got me through my Ph.D. program.”

“Where you studied Women’s Literature with a focus on intersectional literature.” He stuffs his hands in his jean pockets. Fucking hell her legs go on for miles. He wouldn’t be able to concentrate as one of her students.

“And you taught philosophy in Boston. Google is very useful.” She takes another drag, not impressed. But she did look him up.

“Listen though that braid you did for Mary.” He gestures to his non-existent long hair. “How’d you do it?”

Her eyebrows go up.

“You want me to teach you how to braid hair?”

“Maybe.”

She stubs out her cigarette underneath that thin black heel and pops a piece of gum in her mouth. Her brown eyes rake over him cautiously, but with interest. They linger on his broad chest and arms before going back up to his face. She blows a bubble and doesn’t even smear her lipstick.

“I gotta say I have a hard time believin’ you’re not the least bit attracted to me.” He smirks.

“I never said that I wasn’t attracted to you.” She takes one step closer. “You’re very fuckable.” Another step and his face burns. “But you know it.” They’re almost pressed together now. “And I don’t think anyone’s made you work for it…” She leans in and he inhales sharply. “for a very, very, long time.”

Before he can say anything, she dashes back up the stairs leaving him alone with a rock-solid hard-on in his jeans. Fuck. He should just shake this off. He has never had a serious girlfriend with Mary around. It’s not worth the risk.

Eventually, Frank decides his best move is to give her some space. He’s not the kind of guy who does romantic gestures or romance at all, really. He’s stubborn and hates rejection, but he knows she can see right through him. He acts like the moment at Ferg’s never happened (and he definitely didn’t fuck his fist in the shower thinking about those legs of hers). The more he’s around her, the more he likes her. It’s going against every one of his rules about keeping things separate for Mary’s sake. He hates how coolly she rejected him and he’s stubborn as hell, but that won’t do him any favors with her. He flirts with her and she flirts back and it’s harmless. Sometimes, he sees her at the different bars in the area with her friend he recognizes from the university. She doesn’t always see him or so he thinks.

Ella’s green eyes narrow.

“That’s the guy with the smart kid?”

“Mhmm.”

“Sam, what the fuck is wrong with you? He’s hot!”

“I don’t want trouble,” she tells them. “He’d fuck me and be gone. Not worth it.”

“Um? You do that all the time.”

“Yeah, well…whatever.”

Ella shrugs knowing the conversation is over. Samantha catches a beautiful brown-skinned woman eyeing Ella and elbows her in the ribs. The woman sends Ella a drink and Ella goes to talk to her. It doesn’t take long before they’re grinding on the dance floor. She whispers a hurried apology to Samantha before driving off with “Sonya”. Samantha has been there before, so she isn’t judging. She can call a Lyft or something when she wants to go home.

Without her wing woman, Samantha tosses back quite a few shots in rapid succession. She slams cash down on the bar. Frank watches silently as she moves around like a woman possessed on the dance floor: throwing her hands in the air, shaking her ass, and stomping her feet. Her blonde curls whip back and forth and the way her cleavage bounces in her scoop-neck top doesn’t go unnoticed. There are quite a few eyes on her and none of them are good. Frank sees a guy stalk towards her and swoops in front of her. The guy curses and stomps off.

“Okay, I think you’re done.” He tugs her hand gently.

She just stares up at him with big glassy eyes trying to catch up on what he said.

“Hello, Fran.”

“Hi, Sam. Need some help getting home?”

“What’s your…” She blinks. “You have a twin?”

“Let’s go.” Frank nods. He’s still holding her hand and she hasn’t pulled away.

He pays his bill and walks her to his truck. She makes three failed attempts to get inside before he lifts her up. She whistles. Her spine turns into jelly as she slumps against the seat.

“What’s your address?” Frank leans over.

She points out the window and he sighs. Her eyes close, so he grabs her purse and checks her ID. It has a Florida address and he hopes it’s the right one. She’s asleep, snoring lightly when he parks in front of her apartment building. He shakes her slightly and she opens her eyes.

“Hey! Know that place.”

“Good. You live here?”

“Yeaah.”

Frank helps her out of the car and sees her name on the directory for 6D. She practically falls asleep on his shoulder in the elevator while he fishes through her purse for keys. Her perfume fills his lungs every time he inhales. He finds her keys amongst a pair of heart-shaped red sunglasses and three chapsticks. She flops face-first on the bed immediately once they get inside. He takes off her tall heels and tosses them on the floor. He’s never done this for someone, ever. Does he leave? What if something happens? Would she find it weird? Roberta has Mary, so she’s okay. Suddenly, she stumbles to her feet and rushes to the bathroom. Yeah, he’s gonna stay. After a while, he knocks and only hears her snoring. He wedges the door open and sees her on the tile floor. It takes some convincing but she moves away from the door enough to let him inside.

“Like it here.” Her face smushes into the cold tile.

“Your bed is better.” Frank lifts her off the ground and places her on the bed. She’s out. Still breathing, but completely out.

He leaves the bedroom and stretches his legs on her sofa. It’s actually very comfortable.

The sun hits her right in the eyes and her head won’t stop pulsating. What the fuck? She feels like shit. She doesn’t have any idea how she got home. It takes five tries to get out of the bed without falling to the ground. On shaky legs, she makes it to her living room and sees a blue flannel on her sofa. What the fuck? Her brow furrows at the realization that she isn’t alone. A sizzling sound from the kitchen echoes in her ears. It’s painful. Her hands cover her ears as she stumbles along and sees the man at her stove. A muscular back wrapped in a white t-shirt. Dark brown hair. Flipping eggs with her favorite green spatula.

“Hey.” He turns before adjusting the burner flame.

“Shh. Inside voice,” Samantha whines and struggles to connect the thoughts in her brain. “Why you here?”

“Somebody had to make sure you lived through the night. You practically drained Ferg’s tequila supply.”

“Who says chivalry is dead?” She carefully lowers herself into a chair at her kitchen table.

“Here.” Frank hands her a glass with clear fizzing liquid.

“Poison?” She deadpans.

“Alka-Seltzer.” There’s a tiny smirk on his lips.

She takes a few sips and sighs.

“Thanks.”

He sets a plate with a breakfast sandwich on it in front of her before taking a seat. Her stomach flips at the idea of food.

“It cooks!”

“It does. A little. Considering how organized this place is—it’s not hard.”

She shrugs her shoulders in defeat. She likes things the way she likes them.

She eyes the identical sandwich on his plate before looking at her own. There’s a fried egg with bacon in between two pieces of toast. It looks good but greasy. Very greasy.

“Best hangover cure I know. Drink more of the Alka-Seltzer and you should be able to eat.” He nods.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Samantha grumbles.

“You really can’t help yourself, can you?” Frank chuckles.

“Sorry.” Samantha pouts making Frank laugh harder. Her head is killing her and her defenses are down which means she’s willing to admit how cute he is. And apparently, sweet.“Thank you. For all this.”

Frank just lifts his eyebrows before biting into his sandwich. She gives in and takes a cautionary bite. The fact that she doesn’t throw it up immediately is a good sign. They eat in silence.

“I can pay you for the sitter.”

“Hm?”

“They had to stay overnight, right?”

“No. Roberta, our neighbor, and landlord watches her Friday nights until noon.”

Samantha rolls her eyes.

“I need to keep things separate."

“You get to go out and fuck around while someone watches her for free?”

Frank cards his hand through his hair. The only acknowledgment he gives her is a brief lift of his brow. She looks down at her plate.

“I’m not separate.”

“What was that?”

“I know Mary. I’m not separate.”

He nods for her to continue. Her eyebrows knit together.

“But you…”

Samantha looks down at her plate.

“Okay.” She takes a deep breath. ”I’ll go out with you.”

His ocean blue eyes shine as the smile grows across his face.

“Yeah?”

Samantha nods.

“Yes,” he whispers as his fist struggles not to punch the air.

“Okay, now I’m reconsidering.” She giggles.

Samantha spots Mary sitting on the bench and checks her watch. Frank should be there soon. She wasn’t sure about this date. What had she agreed to? And how would Mary feel? Where was this going to go?

“I like your nail polish, Sammy,” Mary scooches over to make room.

Samantha looks down at her pastel-colored nails.

“Thanks, Mary.”

Mary’s small hand takes hers as she touches each of the individual colors. Yellow. Pink. Green. Blue. Purple.

“So, um, Frank asked me on a date and I said I’d go. What do you think?”

“You’re gonna try to sneak out on Saturday before I get home?”

Samantha closes her eyes. She knew Frank fucked around. She just didn’t know how much Mary saw. Apparently, it was enough. Mary flops Samantha’s hand at the wrist making her bracelet jiggle.

“No, no. Probably like go to dinner? Maybe a movie?” Samantha shrugs.

“Are you sure you wanna go to dinner with Frank?” Mary grimaces.

“I’m willing to try it.”

“He talks with food in his mouth, sometimes. Make sure he doesn’t do that. It’s gross.” Mary lets go of her hand.

“Thank you. I’ll keep an eye out for it.”

“It’s a lot more fun to see me and Roberta do karaoke. If he does something stupid, you can join us.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Samantha offers her pinky finger and they do a little shake.

“Oh no.” Frank saunters over in his dark shades and blue plaid. “What trouble’s happening here?”

“No trouble.” Samantha smiles.

“I told her she can hang out with me and Roberta cause it’s gonna be really boring to hang out with you.”

“Thanks for the support, Mary.”

“Just being honest.”

Samantha grins with a slight shrug at Frank.

“So, Sam, does Friday at 7 work?”

“Don’t call me Sam.”

“Why not?”

“We’re not there yet. Depends on how the date goes. Friday’s fine.”

“I’ll text you the address.”

“Cool. See ya later, Mary.”

Samantha walks across the wooden dock in her flats and blue sundress with white flowers. The boats in this marina cost as much as a house. She checked Google three times before giving the Uber driver the address of a marina. Why the hell were they here? She sees him at the end of the dock.

“This your murder hideout, Dexter?”

“Clever.”

“I’m here all night.”

He has on jeans and the most ridiculous mustard yellow Hawaiian shirt.

“That’s a shirt and a half.” Her eyebrows wiggle.

“It’s Jimmy Buffett meets Tommy Bahama.”

“Jimmy Bahama.”

“Jimmy Bahama,” he repeats with a laugh. “Well, you look beautiful.”

She’s about to make fun of him when she sees the look on his face. He’s completely serious. It makes the back of her neck heat up and the warmth spreads to her cheeks.

She follows him down the pier to where the even more expensive boats are stored.

“So, I’m currently working on this boat.” She was right. Mechanic.

“Okay…”

He steps onto the small yacht which bobs under his weight. He extends his hand to her.

“Which means I can come see it whenever I want.”

She takes his hand. It’s bigger than hers and strong as he pulls her aboard. She doesn’t take her hand back and lets him lead her along the boat she will never be able to afford.

“Do your clients know that you take their boats out to romance poor, unsuspecting women?”

“I don’t take many people here. Just Mary and one ex.”

“Ex-girlfriend? Ex-wife?”

“Ex-almost-girlfriend? Who was Mary’s teacher.”

“Oof.”

Frank chuckles and helps her up to the top deck finally letting go of her hand. There’s a table with LED candles, beers, and two takeout containers. She takes a seat on one of the chairs and he does the same.

“Do you have any ex-wives?” He jokes.

“No.” She reaches forward and grabs a beer. “Just an ex-husband.”

Frank doesn’t hide the surprise on his face. She has a Ph.D. and has been divorced? She had to be in her early thirties, but he became a dad at thirty, so who is he to judge? And for people who actually had their lives together, it wasn’t that strange.

“College sweethearts. We got married too young.”

“You still keep in touch with him?”

“He cheated on me with my maid of honor, so no.”

Frank leans forward and clinks his beer bottle against hers.

“Good thing you got out of that one.”

She laughs loudly making him smile. She has a great, genuine laugh. He reveals the Italian food he ordered. He took a bit of a gamble, but her eyes grew hearts when she saw the chicken pasta primavera.

“This is really nice.” She swirls the pasta around her fork. It’s not too humid out. The moon reflects brightly in the black water. She can hear all the crickets and critters talking back and forth to each other. She had thought he would want to go to a bar, so this is definitely a surprise. They talk about college and jobs then Frank brings up Mary’s mother, Diane. He sees the tears glisten in her soft brown eyes.

“She’d be really proud of you both. You’re really taking care of her baby.”

Frank doesn’t know what to say. Samantha blinks back the tears and squeezes his hand. He sighs and looks down at her long, slender fingers.

“So, now that you fix boats, do you daydream about Kant while you play with your socket wrenches?” She gives him a small smile.

A loud rumble of laughter erupts from his chest making her smile grow.

“Sometimes.”

“You know, you really surprised me.” She laces her fingers through his. “I really thought you just wanted to fuck me.”

“I did, honestly. I’m kinda used to women coming after me.”

“See! I knew it! You know you’re hot.”

“Some say fuckable.”

Samantha giggles.

“I said no and stood out.”

“You surprised me too.”

She looks up at the starry black sky.

“It sure is beautiful out here.”

Frank looks up and nods knowing it’s not the only thing. His eyes stay on her while she gazes at the stars. She’s special and he knows it.

He walks her up to her building when he takes her home. Their fingers are tangled together. Before he can ask how the date went, she presses a light kiss on his cheek.

“Does that mean I get a second date?”

“Maybe. You gonna work for it?” Her eyes light up as she tries to hold back a smile.

“I’ll even beg.” Frank laughs. He has a wonderful hearty laugh.

“Prove it.” Samantha arches an eyebrow.

“I’ll do anything.” Frank drops her hand and falls to his knees. It makes her giggle like a schoolgirl.

“Even kiss me?”

“Absolutely.”

Without another word, she cups his face in her hands and covers his mouth with hers. It’s sweet and chaste and doesn’t last long enough.

“Call me later.” She steps back.

Stunned, Frank looks up at her, still on his knees. She moves to her door and he can see the pink in her cheeks.

“You just look so pretty on your knees, Frank.” She squeals and disappears inside before he can say anything.

Frank lets out a deep sigh and closes his eyes. He’s so screwed.

Samantha suggests their second date be at his place with Mary because it’s bull that Roberta has to watch her and doesn’t even get paid. Even though Roberta loved having Mary, she thought that answer was pretty great. Samantha parks her car and carries her supplies up to Frank’s tiny concrete porch. She knocks and Mary answers.

“Sammy!”

“Hey!”

Mary throws her arms around Samantha’s legs.

“Ahh, I’m gonna fall over.” Samantha laughs.

“Come in.” Mary jumps back to open the door.

Mary leads her through the apartment to the living room. There are Legos, lots of DVDs, and complicated textbooks strewn about the floor.

“Mary, I told you to clean up.” Frank rushes over to them in a grey t-shirt.

“It’s okay. We got this.” Samantha sets her tote bag down. “Then I can show you what I brought.”

Mary’s eyes light up as she eyes the mystery bag. Ignoring Frank’s protests, Samantha helps Mary put everything in its proper place. It doesn’t take long with the way Mary gets into it. Suddenly, she wants it done as soon as possible so they can have fun.

“Now, your reward.” Samantha smiles watching Mary dive into the bag. She pulls out the nail polish, remover, and cotton rounds. Her head snaps up.

“You’re gonna paint my nails?”

“Yep. I shouldn’t be the only one with cool nails.”

She keeps digging and pulls out a DVD with a young Chinese woman with a red dragon on it.

“Mulan?”

“Have you seen it?”

“No.”

“I didn’t think so, but it’s classic. Trust me.”

Mary’s blue eyes squint as she thinks it over, but then she nods.

Frank orders pizza while Samantha paints Mary’s nails. He tries his best to ignore the tugging in his stomach. Seeing her blow on Mary’s tiny nails makes something swell in his chest. When the pizza arrives, they eat at the small kitchen table. Mary has her hand stretched out to admire her nails. Samantha raises her eyebrows at Frank who smirks.

Mary gets sucked into the heartwarming world of Fa Mulan.

“He’s a lot scarier than I remember,” Samantha mumbles to Frank as Shan-Yu gives orders to his men.

“Listen to Mulan!” Mary yells at the television.

As Mulan saves all of China, Mary moves next to Samantha on the couch and holds her hand. Samantha squeezes it. Frank sees a kind of recognition in their gaze. Something he doesn’t know, but it makes his stomach jump. Mary dozes off Samantha’s shoulder before Mulan reunites with her family. Frank smirks when he catches Samantha’s gaze. He nods his head towards where her bed lies in the living room. He’s been talking to Roberta about getting a different apartment so she can have her own room.

“Do you need me to go?” Samantha whispers, finger tapping her chest.

Frank shakes his head.

“Where do I—”

“There’s a TV in my room.”

Her blonde eyebrows shoot up to her hairline and Frank immediately waves his hands.

“I didn’t mean it like that—”

“It’s okay. Put her to bed, Frank. I’ll be outside.” Samantha watches as he lifts Mary off of her. They disappear down the hallway to the bathroom and she can hear grumbles about brushing her teeth. Samantha spies the small bed in the corner under the shelf. Fred, the orange, one-eyed feline displays himself in a regal stance on top of the comforter. She gets up and offers her hand. He sniffs her before letting her scratch his ear. He purrs softly making her smile before she slips outside.

The door closes softly and she turns her head to see Frank. She smiles.

“I didn’t mean anything. My room is the only one in the apartment with a door.”

“Sure. No, it’s fine. Really.” Samantha smirks. “I should get going.”

Her slender fingers brush the top of his hand. They move down his wrist, up his forearm, and settle at his bicep. Her touch starts a fire that spreads all the way to his chest. His blue eyes are darker now as he locks eyes with her. His large hand cups her face and she sucks in a breath.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.”

He gives her a bruising kiss that makes her stomach jump. The softness of his lips paired with the pressure of his fingers on her waist makes her gasp. He takes the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth. He tastes good almost spicy and a little sweet. The pads of her fingers comb through his beard as she presses her chest against his. Her shoulder pushes into his door. One hand in her hair now tugging ever so slightly causing her to moan into his mouth. There’s a throbbing between her legs and god, she wants him to scratch that itch. It’s like he can read her mind when his rough, calloused thumb brushes the skin peeking out from the end of her shirt.

“But…” Samantha forces her brain to work. “We’re outside…”

Even though she wants to know how his hands feel all over her body, she doesn’t need public indecency on her record.

“Then come back inside.”

“If I go inside, I’m gonna fuck you.” Her breathing hitches as his beard scratches her neck.

“You don’t wanna fuck me?” His mouth is hot on her delicate skin.

“Mmm…” She struggles to keep her eyes open. “I do. But not with Mary home.”

She takes him by the shoulders, but he moves off of her.

“Thank you.”

“At least now I know you wanna fuck me.”

“Was that ever in doubt?”

Frank chuckles, tucking his chin into his broad chest.

“No, but I like hearing you say it.”

She playfully rolls her brown eyes.

“I’ll text you, yeah?”

She gives him a quick kiss before dashing off his porch. Frank sighs and watches her go.

The following week, at the university, Samantha sees Mary sitting on the bench. Her nails are chipped now, but the color is still there.

“Hi, Mary. Can I sit with you?”

“Yeah, duh.”

Samantha sets her purse between them on the bench.

“Sorry I missed the end of Mulan.”

“It’s okay. We can watch it another time.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, duh.”

Mary giggles. A thought crosses her mind and she gets quiet for a few minutes. Samantha almost asks what’s wrong when she speaks:

“Do you like Frank? Cause I think he likes you and it’s so weird.”

“I do like Frank. He’s not what I thought he’d be.”

“He’s grumpy but he’s okay.”

“Yeah, he’s okay.” Samantha nods as he walks over to them.

Unfortunately, their schedules are too busy to meet up for another date. When work hits a groove for Frank, he can’t really take a break except for Mary. Samatha understands that. Once his schedule becomes more open, hers ramps up for mid-term exams. They see each other on campus when he picks up Mary and of course, they text when they can.

Samantha is surprised to find out her workday is lighter than she thought, so she goes to the marina. She knows he’s working because he sent her a text bitching about some part she doesn’t remember the name of. She spies him on the boat, grumbling under his breath. His t-shirt leaves nothing to the imagination over his defined back. His tan skin glistens under the sun. She steps forward onto the dock as he turns his head. Before she can say anything, her sandals get caught and she stumbles forward into the water. With a loud splash, she disappears. Frank knows the water isn’t deep, but it doesn’t stop him from putting his tools down and leaning over the end of the boat. She surfaces and coughs. She feels Frank’s arms as he pulls her out of the water. She’s sopping wet. Her hair. Her dress. Everything.

“Surprise.” She blushes at how stupid that was.

“You okay?” Frank touches her shoulder.

“Very embarrassed.” Samantha covers her face with her hands.

“Nothing’s sprained or broken?”

“My pride?” She sighs.

Frank removes her hands and gives her a kiss. She shivers against him.

“We gotta get you some dry clothes.”

“Y-Yeah.” Her teeth chatter and she nods.

The sound of her shutting her front door echoed in his ears when he realizes how tight that dress clings to her curves. He watches as she undid the straps on her shoes and sets them down. He kicks off his own while his heart hammers in his chest. She smiles.

“All my dry clothes are in my bedroom.”

“I’ll help you find them.”

He practically chases her into the room and pulls her to him.

“Now your clothes are wet again.” She pouts and gives him a soft kiss.

In one swift motion, he lifts her dress over her head and tosses it into the bathroom. It splatters on the tile loudly and they laugh. He pulls his t-shirt over his head and she unbuckles his jeans. He captures her mouth in another kiss as he unhooks her bra with one hand.

“Fuck, look at you…” Her body is even better than he imagined.

She rolls her eyes playfully.

The last of their clothes find the floor and the back of his knees hit the edge of her bed. He sits up with his back against the pillows. She wastes no time getting on top of him. She runs her mouth down his neck and along his collarbone. He grips her hips as she kisses the dark hair on his chest. She licks his defined stomach making his hips stutter.

“C’mere.” He groans and she hovers her face over his.

Frank strokes her cheek with his thumb and kisses her. His tongue massages hers and she moans loudly. He cups her large breasts and her head falls back. She feels heat pool below her waist as his big, calloused hands move over her body. He’s everywhere. She bites her lip. He flips her onto her back with no warning knocking the breath out of her lungs.

“Tell me what you want,” he asks, mouth on her shoulder.

“Touch me.” She sighs.

His fingers trail past her stomach and she whines as he teases her. Her hips jerk up seeking more. Her hands find his hair when he slips those thick fingers inside her. He loves the way his name tumbles off her lips when he stretches her out.

“Fuck, Frank I wanted this so bad.”

“How bad, baby?” His teeth graze her hip bone.

“I was touching myself after our date wishing it was you.” She bites her lip feeling him drive in and out of her.

“Dirty girl.” He chuckles before latching his mouth onto her bundle of nerves.

She clutches her sheets as he relentlessly makes her come with his mouth and fingers.

Her chest tightens again and she cries out. She has to push his hand away because he doesn’t stop. He kisses her shoulder again as her breathing returned to normal. She looks up at him like she wants to devour him. She kisses him greedily, sucking on his tongue. She needed more. She breaks the kiss to get something out of her nightstand. A condom.

“Are you sure?” he asks staring deep into her eyes.

“Yes.” Samantha breathes heavily looking down. No wonder he was so arrogant. He has every right to be with that between his legs.

Frank takes it from her and puts it on, but he lets her take the lead watching when she straddles him. As Samantha sinks down onto him, she presses her forehead against his. They gasp at how good it feels. She’s so tight and warm. She feels so full. It’s delectable. She’s never felt like this.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

Samantha smiles at him. Her lips cover his in a gentle kiss. One hand stays on her hip and the other got tangles in her hair as he deepens the kiss. Her eyes stay closed until he kisses her cheek. She rocks her hips slowly, but it’s not enough for him. He snaps his hips up and she lets out a wanton noise. He presses hot, open-mouthed kisses on the valley between her breasts. He thrusts up into her again and her hands desperately grab his shoulders to steady herself. Her body is on fire.

“Oh, Frank,” her nails raked through his dark hair when he bites her chest.

Their rhythm was perfect. Hearts racing, sheets of sweat glistening on their backs, it’s all too much and not enough. From how he grips her waist and the way her hips speed up, this isn’t gonna last much longer. Her brown eyes found his blue ones and he places a soft kiss on her throat before sliding a hand between them. Her head tips back as he touches her perfectly. It’s exactly what she needed. She feels that wonderful familiar feeling on the pads of her feet and the base of her spine. She keeps moaning his name and it’s the best thing he’d ever heard. Her nails dig into his back as her body shakes. He rolls them over chasing his own release. She locks her ankles over the small of his back and elicits a growl from low in his throat as he bottoms out. His movements become more frantic and his hips began to stutter.

Yes!” She breathes.

“You feel so good, Sam.” He buries his face in the crook of her neck.

Her hands gripped onto his shoulders as he pounds in and out of her. He’s hitting that spot inside her that makes her scream.

“Harder.”

His thrusts are getting sloppier and she know he’s close. She starts to shake again and it sets him off. He isn’t making coherent words. He’s just grunting with every thrust as his body explodes with pleasure. His eyes jam shut as the sparks fly behind his eyes. He relaxes his grip and slumps forward, face in the pillows. Their heavy pants and sighs are the only sounds in the room.

“Wow.” Samantha couldn’t think.

“Fucking awesome.” Frank chuckles.

“Definitely.”

“When do we go get Mary?”

“We got an hour. So buckle up, baby.”

Just like that, Samantha becomes a part of their lives and they become a part of hers. She and Mary play around on her piano or her guitar. Mary loves both. Frank thinks it’s nice, but can’t help it when all of Samantha’s attention is on his niece. He’s there too. No surprise, he’s not the most romantic guy around. She starts to wonder if that first date was a fluke. He usually wants to go to a bar or restaurant, have a few drinks, and head back to his bedroom for some amazing sex. Sometimes, they visit one of the nicer boats he’s working on, but not often. The only time she can get him excited about going somewhere is if it’ll make Mary smile like the zoo or an aquarium. They get to pet snakes and Frank’s stunned at how fearlessly Samantha handles them.

Due to how her marriage ended, Samantha admits she’s a jealous person, so when she sees someone beautiful talking him up at Ferg’s, she turns a little green. He wants her to trust him. He’s not going to cheat on her, but he’s a flirt and that’s hard to turn off. Frank is smart, but his favorite answer is a grunt instead of using his words. He’s more willing to tell her what he likes in bed than how he really feels about her. It’s fine for the first three months when she’s closed off too, but as they approach six months, it stings. She knows he has a hard time trusting people but hasn’t she proven herself? She’s even stopped smoking.

She has a bad habit of holding onto her resentments instead of talking about them, so it usually comes out in a big fight where Frank shows up with flowers at her home or office. They make sure not to fight around Mary because they don’t want to upset her and because sometimes, she’ll jump him mid-argument. She’ll call him an asshole as he bends her over her dresser. Instead of being put off by her years of casual sex, Frank is impressed. She knows what she likes and what she’s doing. And she knows what her touch does to him. It works wonders when he finds out about a kid bullying Mary and she comes up behind him, wrapping her slender fingers around his waist, and kisses the back of his neck. He’s an angry Boston boy and more than once she’s let him fuck his frustration out.

Samantha sees a black Mercedes Benz pull up and Mary practically jumps out of the car.

“Sammy! Sammy!!” She hugs her waist and nearly knocks Samantha off her feet. “We went to lunch and Evelyn has been to so many math conferences. All-day long. She just talks about my mom’s work. Isn’t that cool?”

“That is so cool!” Samantha grins and pulls Mary in for a tighter hug. It was only a two-day trip to Boston, but she missed her all the same.

“I gotta go the bathroom and see Fred!” Mary bounces back from their embrace.

“I think he missed you. My cheer didn’t get approved.” Samantha shrugs.

“You made a Fred cheer?” Mary’s eyes light up.

“I tried, but Research and Development didn’t like it.” Samantha scrunches her nose.

“I’ll talk to them after you show it to me.” Mary shakes her head and goes inside.

A tall woman with red hair and a blue cardigan draped over her shoulders eyes Samantha cautiously. She’s exactly how Frank described her like a museum piece—exquisite but cold. Samantha steps off the small concrete porch and walks over in her wedge sandals. Evelyn takes a step forward, but her thin heel gets stuck in the grass.

“Yeah. Just rained. Not great for pumps and small heels. You must be Evelyn.” Samantha extends a hand. Evelyn accepts it gently as Samantha shakes only two of her fingers.

“And you must be Samantha. Frank’s girlfriend.” Evelyn’s deep sapphire eyes sparkle. They’re darker than Frank’s or Mary’s. What was with this family and looks?

“Mhmm.”

“You met at the university?”

“I’m an assistant professor there.”

“STEM?”

“English Literature.”

Evelyn hums her disapproval.

“Well, we do need humanities, I suppose.”

Samantha just tilts her head. Disappointment flickers across Evelyn’s face that her jab didn’t land.

“Where’s Frank?” She pretends to look around for him.

“Grocery store. We’ve spent the past two days living off beer, cigarettes, and sex,” Samantha deadpans.

“I see you and my son share the same sense of humor.” Evelyn purses her lips.

“Among other things. We both think Mary’s pretty awesome.” Samantha shrugs.

Evelyn takes a deep breath before stepping forward once more.

“Look, I can see you’re fairly astute or at least you read as such for a pretty face.”

“Mary’s probably going come out here in five minutes, so cut the bullshit and say what you wanna say.” Samantha doesn’t flinch, but neither does Evelyn.

“The women in this family continue to make advancements in mathematics even after death. Mary’s only 7 and she’s at university.”

“It’s an impressive gene pool.”

“My son tends to rotate through his conquests without involving Mary. I hope you understand the kind of person she should have as a role model. She’s fond of you. I pray that’s not misplaced.”

Samantha presses her lips together and looks down at her shoes. Before Evelyn can gloat, she looks up with a smile on her face.

“Listen, Evelyn, I know I’m not a mathematician, but I do have a doctorate. Frank and Mary don’t care about that. He knows I love that little girl. He allows you to visit because Mary loves you. I’d focus on that.”

“Or what? You’ll make it difficult for me to see my granddaughter?”

Samantha lets out a heavy sigh and shakes her head. This is an exhausting conversation.

“No. That little girl is special and not just cause she’s a genius. She’s the important part of all this. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Before Evelyn can answer, Frank’s blue truck pulls up and parks next to the Benz. He shuts off the engine and gets out with two paper bags in his hands. He has his black sunglasses on.

“I see you’ve met.”

Mary comes running out of the house and Samantha takes the bags before she knocks them out of his hands. They hug and she sees Frank’s broad shoulders relax. She can’t help but smile. Mary pulls back.

“Hey, kiddo, can you take this inside?” Samantha hands off the lightest bag.

Mary takes it from her and stops running before she’s told off. Samantha grabs the other paper bag. She gives one last glance over her shoulder before going in with the groceries.

When Frank comes back in fifteen minutes later, he’s fuming. He lets the front door slam shut. Mary looks up with her big worried eyes. Samantha nods that it’ll be okay. She gets Mary to help with cooking dinner (she allows her to put the green beans on the baking sheet with the other vegetables). They eat the roast chicken while Mary goes on about her trip and have the peach cobbler Samantha made that morning for dessert. The door slamming incident is forgotten. Mary watches the Scooby-Doo DVD Samantha got her for her birthday after she brushes her teeth. It’s classic Scooby-Doo Where Are You?! They watch two episodes before Mary falls asleep on Samantha’s lap. Samantha puts her to bed before joining Frank’s sulking frame on the couch.

“How was catch up with Mommy Dearest?” Her fingertips trail his beard from his jaw to his neck.

“It’s not enough that she got what she wanted. She’s always gotta find something to disapprove of.”

“Lemme guess, it’s me?”

“I’m a goddamn adult. She has no right to say who I bring into Mary’s life and—”

Samantha brings a finger to his lips. He’s raising his voice.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

She dashes off, in those wedges no less. She returns with Roberta.

“Heard you can’t use your inside voice, huh?”

“He’s not a lost cause yet,” Samantha smirks.

“I don’t know where she gets the patience.” Roberta raises her eyebrows.

“We won’t be long. I just gotta take him somewhere he can yell.” Samantha pats him on the shoulder.

“Not a problem.” Roberta nods.

“Oh, I made peach cobbler if you want some. It’s in the fridge.”

“She’s too good for you, Frank.”

Samantha hops into the driver’s side of the truck, waiting. He hands over the keys and gets in the passenger’s side. She stops at a very empty park. The moonlight peeks through the trees through the windshield.

“Evelyn didn’t like you.”

“Uh-huh. The feeling was mutual.”

“She said you were mouthy and not the kind of woman that should be around Mary. Like you were a stripper—”

“Don’t slut-shame.”

“Sorry.”

Samantha unbuckles her seatbelt to slide over next to him. She puts her hand on his chest and looks into his eyes.

“Baby, your mom is the Queen of Bitch City.”

A low rumble vibrates through him as he laughs. He’s never heard it put so perfectly.

“I hate that she can get to me like this.”

Frank stops talking because Samantha’s delicate fingers are trailing down his grimy white shirt. She really needs to have him do his laundry in her building. The washing machines are better. She gives him a soft kiss as her hands unbuckle his belt and shove his boxers down to his knees.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Can’t have you bitching all night. Gotta calm you down,” she says before taking him in her mouth to sluice him up. He lets out a choked gasp. She nibbles the shell of his ear while her hand pumps him into a stiff peak.

“F-Fuck, baby.” His eyes are closed.

The noises are wet and filthy once her mouth envelopes him again. His large hand spreads out through her hair. Her tongue is unreal. He grunts and bucks up into her mouth. She coughs and looks up at him with those brown eyes, annoyed. He grimaces.

“Sorry. You feel so good.” His hand cups her jaw and pulls her onto his mouth. He can taste himself as his tongue licks over her lips. She sucks on his tongue and her hand grips him again. He gasps and lets go of her.

Her head moves back to his lap and the hand not in her hair moves down her shirt to squeeze her breast. She moans and he nearly passes out from the sensation. His chest heaves up and down and he knows he’s gonna come soon.

“Sam, s-stop.” He stares at her with heavy-lidded eyes.

“What?” She just stares at him.

“C’mere.” He tugs her into his lap and she giggles. “Gotta have you.”

She pulls down her underwear and rucks her skirt up.

“Can I touch you, baby?” He kisses her neck.

“Fuck, yes. Please.” She rests her cheek on his broad shoulder.

His fingers find her glistening when they dip inside her. She lets out the most delicious whine of his name.

“Sucking me off got you all hot and bothered?” He teases before kissing her.

“Uh-huh.” She hisses feeling his fingers stretch her. She can feel his laughter vibrate against her chest. He knows exactly how to touch her. “Frank, I need you.” The way her soft voice begs him he can’t deny her. Not when he needs her just as badly. The sexiest woman alive wants him. He thrusts into her and her nails dig into his shoulders. Her muscles clench around him and his mouth goes slack. She rocks back and forth while his giant hands grip her slim hips. His naughty angel rides him in the cab of his truck and he never wants her to stop.

“I’m so close.” A small whimper escapes her lips. “Frank, harder, please.”

A long moan and the sharp snap of his hips are exactly what she wants. She’s praising him over and over begging him for more.

“Frank, Frank, yes, yes, Frank, yes.”

His truck is filled with the harsh slaps of skin paired with their gasps and moans. It’s filthy and perfect. Her breasts bounce through the thin fabric of her top when she grinds faster. He can’t even remember feeling angry. All he knows is her. Their eyes lock for a moment and a small smile spreads across her face. Frank kisses her gently despite the relentless pace. His thumb finds that sensitive flesh rubbing it until she yells his name. He follows soon after stroking her blonde hair. She sighs struggling to catch her breath. He kisses the underside of her jaw.

“You’re amazing, sweetheart.” He smiles.

“I know.” She chuckles.

“Shit, the seats,” Frank says once she gets back behind the steering wheel. It’s one of the reasons why he hasn’t fucked her in the truck before. He’s learned from experience and a judgmental look from Roberta. He went beet red from his ears to his neck and drove off. Roberta watched Mary no questions asked.

“Don’t worry.” Samantha pulls out of the parking lot.

To his surprise, she finds a gas station with vacuums, brushes, and shampoo and lets him clean the seats while she gets some ice cream for Roberta.

Things are busy again, but they are better at keeping in touch now. She has papers due, so she spends all of her time outside of class doing office hours. She doesn’t think much of it when her period doesn’t come because of how stressful things are. It’s happened to her before. But then another week passes and nothing. Was she pregnant? Should she take a test?

They had gotten so caught up that they didn’t even think about protection. How could she be so stupid? She’s just paralyzed with fear and can’t answer Frank when he tries to get in touch with her. She buys a pregnancy test at the store, but can’t bring herself to use it. She just sat there—a body filling a room. What would Frank want to do? Would they keep it? Would they get married? Would he just abandon her? Frank leaves worried voicemails. She doesn’t know what to tell him. On the third day, she dials his number and he picks up immediately.

“Sam, what’s going on, baby?” He sounds distraught.

She bursts into tears.

“You’re scaring me.”

“I’m late.” She sobs.

The line goes quiet and she cries harder.

“Did you take a test?”

“What are we gonna do? You already have Mary and I’m—"

“Sam, you’re getting ahead of yourself. Did you take the test?”

“No.” She wipes her eyes. ” I’m so scared.”

“Okay. I’m coming over.”

Frank arrives thirty minutes later and wraps her up in a hug.

“I was so stupid—”

“Shh, shh, Sam, we’re gonna be okay. I promise.”

“But I—”

“C’mon, let’s take the test. I got a few more.” Frank leads her to the bathroom.

Time ticks by torturously slow as they wait sitting on her bed. Frank looks at her. She keeps clenching her fists.

“I love you. No matter what that test says.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“It’s true.”

“Frank, I’m not—this isn’t—I don’t wanna be an obligation. Not to you.”

Samantha goes into the bathroom to check, but can’t look at them. Frank squeezes her shoulders and looks.

“They’re negative.”

“What?”

“They’re negative. You’re not pregnant!”

Samantha throws her arms around him. He let out a slow breath and looks at her.

“I’ve never said this to anyone which is why… I shoulda told you, but I’m a fucking idiot. I love you. Today. Yesterday. Day before that. I’m sorry. I don’t know how to do this. But I know I love you.”

Samantha lets the tears fall. She nods. She’s scared too. It’s hard to let him in after what happened with James, her ex. But he’s not James.

“I love you too.” She laughs as the tears fall down her face.

Frank takes her face in his hands, brushing her cheek with his thumb. Their lips meet.

Samantha goes to her doctor later that week and finds out she’s anemic. Frank waits by the car and she gives him a double thumbs up. He flashes her a smile as she walks over.

“You really love me?” The wind blows her blonde hair across her face.

“Yeah, of course, I do. You love me?” He tucks her hair behind her ear.

“So much.” She sighs.

“It’s not gonna be easy, but I’m not going anywhere.”

“I believe you.” Samantha moves her arms around his waist and he pulls her into his chest.

The holiday season seems different this year. Frank and Mary always did something, but coming from Boston it always felt strange to be somewhere that didn’t snow. He always put up a plastic snowman and their fake tree and called it a day. Samantha’s from Southern California, so she’s never really had snow on Christmas, but she’s much more into the season. He doesn’t see her for two weeks due to grading exams, but after that, he gets used to seeing her car waiting when he gets home. Mary gets tired of seeing her on the porch, so she badgers him into making her a copy of their keys. That’s how he comes home on Christmas Eve to find they’ve decorated everything for Christmas including Samantha herself. Gold tinsel sits on top of her yellow hair while a garland is wrapped around her neck like a scarf. She puts her hands up in defeat when Mary plugs in the lights. Frank can’t help but bowl over with laughter. Mary tells him it’s part of the Christmas play that she and Fred wrote. She has one final touch and disappears. Frank leans down and kisses Samantha on the lips.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Mary comes back with a script and performs the play about a lonely Christmas tree saving Christmas. They have dinner and watch Home Alone. Samantha helps Mary get ready for bed while Frank puts their gifts under the fake tree. He becomes a little suspicious when he hears them whispering in the hallway.

“Is the ring under there?” Samantha giggles.

“Mary! You told?” Frank sighs.

“No, I swear. It’s not my fault she’s smart.” Mary puts her hands up.

“And that you’re stupid.” Samantha raises her eyebrows causing Frank’s brow to furrow. “I found the box in your sock drawer when I did your laundry.”

Frank groans and closes his eyes. He should’ve found a better hiding place.

“My answer is yes, by the way.”

His eyes snap open. He rushes over to her and lifts her off the ground. He’s about to kiss her when he pauses.

“Shit, I wanted to ask you.”

“Then let’s do it. This never happened. I wanna see.” Samantha smiles down at him.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“God, I love you, Sam.” Frank crashes his mouth onto hers.

“I love you too.” She giggles. “Now, put me down.”

He does as he’s told and goes back to the main room. Samantha follows with Mary and they sit on the couch. He places a bag covered in blue snowflakes on her lap. She smiles, blinking back the tears stinging in her honey brown eyes.

“It’s not Christmas yet.”

“I can’t wait. Open it.”

She pulls out a red velvet ring box and raises her eyebrows.

“Frank…” She sighs as she pops it open. When she found it before, she didn’t have the guts to actually open it, but she was 98% sure it was a ring. It’s a gorgeous, modest round diamond ring. She wonders how long he had to save for this. She honestly would’ve accepted a crackerjack ring. She loves him so much and she loves Mary. She hadn’t expected them to change her life when she saw Mary on the bench, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Oh, Frank, it’s lovely. It’s too much.”

“No, it’s not enough.” He takes the box from her hands and gets down on his knee. “Samantha Harris, I don’t really do speeches, but you make my life better. You make Mary’s life better—“

“Yeah, you’re the best,” Mary adds. “Ask her already.”

Samantha chuckles at the interruption. He knows some people take proposals so seriously and would’ve snapped at Mary, but she doesn’t. And that’s why she’s the one. She would never ask Frank to choose. She always wants Mary to be first. She just completes them.

“You make Mary’s life better. You make my life better. There’s no one else. I love you. Please, marry me.” Frank swallows hard as his vision blurs. She slides off the couch and crawls over to him.

“Yes, I will marry you.” Samantha cups his face in her hands before kissing him. Her heart soars at how softly he kisses her back. He sighs and pulls her to her feet. He places the ring on her finger before kissing her again. Frank breaks their kiss at the sound of Mary’s voice. This is the most PDA they’ve ever done in front of her, so she’s probably annoyed. His arm stays secure around Samantha’s waist as they look at Mary.

“Fred thinks we should move to Sammy’s.”

“Oh, he does?”

“Yeah, it’s bigger with a piano.”

Samantha throws her head back against Frank’s shoulder as she laughs.

“I was thinking a house,” Frank smirks.

“And we’ll bring my piano.” Samantha smiles at Mary.

“Yay!” She hugs Samantha’s legs.

Samantha giggles at the fact that Mary is more excited about the piano. Frank gives her a wink. This is more than enough.

#gifted #frank adler #frank adler x ofc #frank adler x oc #fan fic

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