#OC: Libby Bannister

[inevitablemoment]

Happy Birthday to Libby Bannister!

So, today not only marks the 26th anniversary of when The Frighteners was released into theaters...

But it also marks the twelfth birthday of Frank and Lucy’s youngest daughter, Elizabeth Serena Bannister, nicknamed “Libby.” Here she is at age six (fun fact: this is Hallie Eisenberg, who played Marie Alweather in the movie Paulie; Trini Alvarado, Lucy’s actress, played Marie as a grown-up).

And here she is today:

She will be celebrating her birthday with her family, going to the Fairwater Town Center Mall for some shopping and seeing a movie at the Cineplex. On Saturday, she will have her birthday party.

She takes dance classes and hopes to dance professionally one day.

Happy birthday, Libby!

[inevitablemoment]

Frightober Day 1 - Home

Word Count: 573

Warnings: Childbirth mention, emergency c-section mention, hysterectomy mention

Fandom: The Frighteners

Pairings: Frank Bannister x Lucy Lynskey

Welcome to my first installment of Frightober 2023! Oh, I'm so excited to not just work on these prompts, but for this little peek into Frank and Lucy's life.

This will later be featured in my upcoming fic, Never Simple Or Planned, which will follow Lucy's pregnancy with Baby #5, Libby.

Enjoy!

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Lucy rested her head on Frank's shoulder, taking in the scenery around them as they drove on. He had rolled down the windows so that the both of them could take in the fresh air after spending five days in the medical center. She looked in the rear view mirror at the car seat that was turned to face the back.

She let her hand drift down over her belly, stopping it before it could touch the bandage that covered up the stitches. She sighed mournfully as she thought about the surgery.

Even compared to the terror of Julia's birth, this had been the scariest experience that she and Frank had with childbirth.

Despite her doctor's brain telling her how c-sections and hysterectomies happened everyday, she was afraid that she might not wake up. That she might not get to go home with Frank and this baby, and to their older children.

And, of course, there was the sense of grief that she wouldn't be able to have any more children. But, when she had learned that she was pregnant this time around, one of the thoughts that had been there from the beginning was that she was closer to fifty and than forty. Libby was going to be their last baby anyway.

So why did it hurt so much?

"I know I've said this ad nauseam for the last few days, but I can't wait to get home," she suddenly said quietly.

Frank smiled, kissing the top of her head. "Me, too."

"A part of me is afraid that the kids forgot us," she told him.

"How could they, Luce?" he asked. "They visited us everyday after school, and we called them before school and before bed."

Lucy sighed. "I know. I guess I'm still a little worried for when the excitement of a new baby wears off of them."

"I don't know-- our kids aren't really the jealous type," Frank said. "I mean, they might have little fits when they can't get what they want, but you know how much they love each other. And you saw how much they already love Libby in the hospital."

Lucy smiled up at him. "You're right."

As they pulled up to the house, they saw all of the kids, accompanied by Scarlett, Dean, and Mina, on the front yard. Both Mina and Julia had one of the twins on their lap, but all of them stood and jumped with joy as they saw the car pulling up. Frank and Lucy looked out the window, seeing pink balloons saying "It's A Girl!" and a pink and blue banner spelling out "Welcome Home, Libby!"

"MOM! YOU'RE HOME!" Julia cried out excitedly, running to the car once it was in park.

Frank and Lucy exited the car, with Frank going to take Libby and Lucy embracing her daughter as best as she could with her stitches and bandage.

"Oh, I missed you, Jules," Lucy murmured into her daughter's raven hair.

Seth, Maddie, and Adrian ran up to join their big sister, almost knocking Lucy over.

"Remember what Aunt Thea and Daddy said?" Julia scolded. "We need to be gentle--"

"No, Julia, it's okay," Lucy assured her. "It's okay."

Frank came back from around the car as Scarlett, Dean, and Mina came up to them. He held the carrier up so that everyone could get a better look at the newborn baby.

"Hi, Libby," Julia knelt down. "Hi."