Auto

27

Auto finally got both the boys down. Finally. God, he missed his girlfriend so much. He just wanted to hold her.

And maybe even make love.

God, it had been so long. Tonya had passed months ago. Tommy was in remission. Grim was in Mexico last time he heard, but he'd been MIA for a few weeks.

Said something about finding Nabis.

And Frankie? Frankie had pulled away from him. Tonya's passing really hit her hard, and she hadn't gotten used to it yet.

Sometimes, she would walk into a room and see her, dancing and cooking. Other times, she'd smell her perfume.

Rose water.

When she was in a crowded place she could even hear her voice.

But then she'd remember that her best friend was dead. And it felt like Tonya died every time she remembered that.

It felt like Frankie was killed right with her.

Tommy and J.R. were crawling, and getting into various trouble. Nothing was the same, and yet, a new normal had taken its place.

A normal with Grim, without Tonya. A normal where Auto and Frankie barely talked.

He stepped into the room. Frankie was staring at the ceiling.

“Babydoll?”

She looked at him. “Hey,” She smiled softly.

He tugged his lip ring between his teeth, making the metal wink at her.

“I...I have something to tell you.”

Frankie frowned, examining him.

“What is it?”

“I miss you.”

That made Frankie mad. “I thought you did something. You scared me!”

“You're scaring me! I miss you babydoll. I really do.”

Sighing, the woman patted the spot next to her on the bed.

Auto took it. He faced her, brushing a strand of hair back.

“I love you,” He whispered.

“I love you,” She whispered back, leaning in for a kiss.

He met her halfway.

Their kiss resounded through the room.

Auto smiled goofily, tracing her ring finger.

“One day,” He promised lowly.

Frankie pretended she didn't here him. She pretended the conviction with which he said those two words didn't send shivers down her spine.

“How's my little girl?” He put his hand on her belly.

Frankie did a double take. “What little girl?”

“The one we're about to make,” He smirked, climbing over her body.

“Get me pregnant again, and I'll kill you.”

Auto merely grinned wider. “But we make such beautiful babies.”

Frankie couldn't help but smile. They did, didn't they?

“See, you know I'm right.”

“Shut up,” She shyly pushed him, ducking her head down.

Even she had to admit they made adorable babies. But that was no reason to have more.

“Oh, don't be shy. Think about this way: You already gave me two sons, and you didn't even know me then."

Frankie scrunched up her nose. “That sounds horrible."

“It does, doesn't it? Aren't you a naughty girl,” He teased her, nipping at her neck. His hadn't cut his hair, so it fell over her eyes, covering the faint scar that went through his left eyebrow.

“Shut up! I don't like you,” She complained with a pout.

“You love me!”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Never.”

“Always!”

Burying his face in neck, he played around with her, bantering, teasing her, kissing her, nipping her nose.

She scrunched it up. “You're such a weirdo!”

“Am I?” He replied seriously. “I'm a skilled nose remover, ask Tommy. I take his nose on a regular basis.”

Frankie burst out laughing, snorting.

“How do you make something so silly sound like Mission Impossible.”

He shrugged, nipping her nose again. “What can I say? I'm a sexy man of many talents.”

Frankie rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. Be sure to include nose remover on your criminal resume.

He took the jab in stride. “Oh I do. It's actually a very tedious job by hand.”

She stared at him. “Seriously?”

“Hey, there's four bones in the nose, not to mention cartilage, and don't get me started on Voldemort. It's hard to cut someone's nose that well.”

Frankie laughed, even though they both knew he wasn't kidding in the least.

***

In the aftermath of their love making, they laid cuddled up in bed, minds roaming, but at a calm, serene pace.

“Something you would die for,” Auto blurted softly.

Frankie looked at him. “Hm?”

“What my mother used to say. She used to tell me, that when I found the thing I would die for, I'd find what I would live for. Fight for.”

The silence was a peaceful filled with so many heavy words. Still, it wasn't a burdening heaviness. It was a sort of weight that made your heart pound trying to lift it.

The kind that made butterflies of fire take up residence in your belly. Because you know.

You know that all that words above your head, the person beside you, sharing your heat, is trying to find a combination of those words to tell you.

Tell you how they feel.

And no matter what choice, what combination of syllables they choose—nothing will ever be the same.

It can't.

“Do you remember a lot about your Mom?”

Auto held her hand. “I couldn't spend a lot of time with her so the what time we did get together... I'll never forget.”

Frankie reached her hand up, smoothing his sweat beaded brow. “Tell me about her.”

He smiled down at her. “You remind me of her a little. She always called me Jase. She used to tell me that rain was better than sunshine.”

“She said too much sunshine, and a rainy day seems like a flood. But when you have a flood everyday, a glimmer of sunshine is Paradise.”

Frankie frowned in thought. “I never though of it that way. Your mother was very wise.”

Auto sighed. “She still is. About some things. But she can no longer communicate, move. She doesn't remember me most times. I told her about you, and the boys.”

Frankie thought his Mom was dead.

“Why don't you go see her?”

“When I was younger, my father kept my mother locked up. He wouldn't let us be together. Said she made me into a b***h. Now, she isn't herself. I don't want the memory of her to be replaced by the broken woman she is today.”

“I know she wouldn't want that either.”

But Auto felt guilty. What if he was wrong? What if his mothers remembered more than he thought, and just couldn't comunicate it?

“Jase,” She said softly, combing through his hair, making his eyes find hers.

“I'm sure your Mom would want you to remember her, and not her illness.”

Auto kissed her lips tenderly. “I love you.”

He never thought he'd say that to anyone but his Mom. But now, he couldn't stop saying it.

“I love you,” She echoed with a smile.

“Marry me.”

Frankie gave him a flat look. “Seriously?”