#[ darlin don't be so shy; I'll see you at midnight ]

[sleepingwithinkink2-0]

PVRIS - Mirrors

"Darlin', don't be so shy

I'll see you at midnight" - PVRIS

[franniexxfabray]

"You don't have to go back, you know. You could always just stay here, Fran."

LAST DAY IN NEW YORK; 

[retoxx]

when lynn gunn said "darlin don't be so shy i'll see you at midnight"

[yourprince-fromthepast]

Darlin' don't be so shy, I'll see you at midnight

[franniexxfabray]

a trace or an outline;

    WHO: Frannie Fabray & April Crawford      WHEN: Monday Evening 4/19     WHERE: New York     Warnings; -

Frannie had been ecstatic since booking the flights, all through packing, and especially so once she had confirmed that April, an old friend, would be available to see her during that week. Her nerves hadn’t truly kicked in until she was in the private elevator on her way up to the Crawford penthouse. Frannie kept it together through the reunion, managing to accept the greeting of a double kiss of her cheeks without going red. However by the time they were standing in April’s kitchen waiting for the electric kettle to boil for tea and simply staring at each other, Frannie could feel herself growing more anxious by the moment. There were questions coming. Then as if right on queue, the first one dropped. What was she doing back in New York. “Oh we...” Frannie cut herself off, her gaze jumping to April’s and then away for a moment. She’d gotten so used to brandishing her claim in conversation to sell the lie she nearly did it on habit. “I had a break from classes at finishing school, thought it’d be nice to head home for a bit.” She shifter her weight and peer hopefully at the kettle for signs it was done so she could have something better to do with her hands than wringing them together. “I was so glad to hear you had the time, it’s been... a while. And it’s really nice to see you.”

It took everything in April to keep from asking the question when she first received the message from Frannie, asking if she had a moment to spare to see an old friend. But she knew better and she could be patient. These conversations were better had in person. And the truth was she was still a little confused about the way they ended things. Not that there was anything to end. One day Frannie was a permanent fixture in her life and the next she was gone and claiming some boy. The water seemed like it was taking forever to boil and April didn’t do well with silence. “Oh so you’re still with what’s his face?” April knew his name she just didn’t care to acknowledge him. She slid her hand across the counter and flipped Frannie’s over, confirming her suspicions with an engagement ring. “Does he know you’re here?” April really was happy to hear from Frannie, as was evident by the way she flew across the country just to see her, but there was still some things to work through. She clicked off the kettle as she waited for an answer and filled the two cups waiting on the counter.

The inspection of her ring surprised her, Frannie lifted her hand from the island top and tucked it under her elbow. Suddenly she was considering how she maybe should have taken it off. She rarely did. It was a comfort, and part of her protection even if her mark change made her seldom need physical evidence of her relationship status. Had she not been distracted trying to subtly hide the red tint coming into her cheeks by turning her head she wouldn’t have missed the water boiling. Frannie watched April as she prepared their tea, fidgeting where she stood.   “He does...” She replied, it was the truth. “Our situation...” It was right there at the tip of her tongue and Frannie did want to explain but for the most part she just wanted to spend the time she could with April and not thinking about the life she was leading in her web of secrets. “We have an arrangement.” She concluded, keeping it simple.

April wasn’t trying to make Frannie feel bad or uncomfortable, she was just trying to get a handle on the situation. And it seemed like her and LJ’s suspicions were right on. April pursed her lips and reflected on how she wanted to address this. Did she try to talk Frannie out of her situation and to try and find happiness? Or did she just enjoy the short amount of time they had together? “Still milk and no sugar?” April asked as she poured the milk into her own tea. By the time she was handing Frannie her cup of tea, a decision was made. She touched her knuckles to Frannie’s cheek as her eyes scanned her face, trying to see how much she’s changed in the years they were apart. “I’ve missed you and I’m glad you messaged me. But why did you message me? After all this time?”

Frannie silently nodded at the question of her tea to confirm and when she had her hands on it her attention was immediately stolen from the hot cup. Her stomach flipped and even just being under April’s gaze, it sent a shiver through her torso. It was an anxiety shake but Frannie took in a long breath to fight off another and set the tea down without even considering a sip to keep from spilling it. “I...” Suddenly Frannie felt guilty. She maybe hadn’t thought all the way through contacting April, with how they’d left things. Disappearing acts were in Frannie’s wheelhouse. She had a knack for slipping out of people’s lives when things got too hard or too serious. Making her decision to commit to her claim with Sebastian had taken a lot out of her and she’d cut ties to keep distance with too many people she had grown near to in an effort to avoid questions. April and LJ included. “I trust you.” Frannie answered, unable to supply anything else. “With time away from... responsibilities I just wanted...I was just hoping to unwind. Here in New York, like before all...” She waved the ring, feeling a tad self deprecating. “THIS.” Her stomach sunk and all at once it felt like the worst idea. “I’m sorry. It has been a while, that’s my fault. Maybe I shouldn’t have... oh, maybe I shouldn’t have asked after you I just thought... we may be able to catch up and and well, you’re the first person I thought of here in the city besides...” Frannie shook her head, unwilling to say the name. She guessed she hadn’t quite considered that April might be upset with her and that was beginning to feel overwhelmingly foolish.

April was a bit surprised with the reply or more like the string of replies she got from the other woman. It was the most honest she felt Frannie’s ever been with her and that deserved some credit. April could feel the stress and the anxiety surrounding her and immediately reacted by putting her cup down and grabbing Frannie’s cup to do the same. April slid both hands down Frannie’s arms until she took both hand ms in her own. “No no, shh. It’s fine. I just wanted to know. It’s just you disappeared on me you know? I just assumed I’d never see you again. That you were just another girl on the straight and narrow who got it out of her system after the ‘experimenting stage’. But I was happy to hear from you.” April released a breath and offered a soft smile trying to catch Frannie’s eyes. “As soon as I got your message I was on a plane. I couldn’t pass this up. To see you.”

In all honesty Frannie could probably partially credit LJ for making her think of getting in contact with April. Things had gone so well when she’d reconnected with them, Frannie may have been trying to replicate those same results. It gave her the confidence to at least try anyhow. April’s touch pulled her attention from the spiraling in her head, every moment until then from the moment Frannie had texted her last week was swirling around and coming into doubt. Somehow though, the words straight and narrow made her stomach hurt in almost the same way it did when she heard her father use those awful hateful words. “It wasn’t an experiment.” She attempted to assert, hoping that it sounded as truthful as it was. Frannie didn’t have any evidence or intention to back that up but she at least wanted April to hear it. She was about to launch into an explanation about just how much April had helped her discover things, including a shred of acceptance even though self acceptance was never enough but then her brow furrowed and the other woman’s words finished processing in her mind. “Wait, you got on a plane?” Then it dawned on her, “Oh no, did you come back to New York just for... you weren’t already here??”

At this point, the words weren’t needed. Frannie’s actions were enough to let April know that those assumptions, that mostly came out of disappointment and confusion, were false. Because if they were true, she wouldn’t be standing there in front of her. So instead of reassuring her with words, April just cupped Frannie’s face and soothed her cheek with her thumb. ‘It was fine,’ was what April hoped to convey with her actions. As Frannie’s brows furrowed, April just assumed she was still upset about her previous words and it didn’t dawn on her until her next words registered what she just admitted. It was no big deal to her but of course it bothered the other woman. “Of course I got on a plane for you, silly girl,” April offered with a slight nudge of her hand to the other woman’s chin. “Would you still have texted me if I wasn’t already here?” She asked. “Because if the answer is no, I’m glad you didn’t know.”

Frannie tried to determine an answer but she was distracted with April’s hands on her face. Surprisingly it didn’t make Frannie blush, she’d blinked a few times in surprise at first but very easily melted into the other woman. Frannie angled herself forward and widened her stance slightly so that she could better accommodate for their height difference, lilting toward April subconsciously. “I.. well I wouldn’t have asked to interrupt your life to that extent.” April was right, she wouldn’t have asked had she not assumed her friend still lived in New York. Regardless Frannie warmed under the other woman’s sweet tone and somehow it already felt as if no time had passed since they saw each other last. “So, I guess I’m glad too, Miss.”

April couldn't help but straighten her back when Frannie lowered to her level. It was the only thing she would change in their dynamic if she could, to make herself taller or at least eye level with the other woman. Well, there was the secrecy as well, but she wasn't allowed to have an opinion on the way Frannie chose to come out or not. "So I'm glad you didn't know because this right here..." April whispered, leaning in close enough for Frannie to smell the mint on her breath. "Was more than worth the 6 hour plan ride here." Then before Frannie could pull away or change her mind, she kissed her. It was soft and gentle, but firm enough that it wouldn't be mistaken for anything else. "I'm glad you texted me, love."

Her breath caught as April leaned in and Frannie could feel her entire body still, frozen beneath a steady gaze and words. Warm breath tickled across her face causing her to shiver before April even had a chance to close the distance and when the other woman was kissing her Frannie closed her eyes and for the first time in a while really indulged in something intimate. Desperate hook ups in bathrooms with strangers couldn't bring her the swell in her stomach that someone that knew her like April did. When their lips parted for April to speak, Frannie could only nod. The tea was forgotten entirely and instead of a response, the taller brunette chased after another kiss, exhaling relief when she was allowed it. Frannie already felt so much better, and the week had just begun.