The Great Pumpkin
Title: The Great Pumpkin
Author: Fab_fan
Fandom: All My Children
Pairing: Bianca/Frankie
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me.
Summary: The Great Pumpkin comes just once a year...
Note: Happy Halloween All!
Bianca strolled down the sidewalk, shopping bags casually swinging in her hands. She’d gotten a lot done in the few hours she’d had after school ended for the day. In one hand was more candy than any person should ever consume. The other - a perfect assortment of ghoulish horror films. Just what one needed for a night in with their girlfriend on Halloween.
A smile spread across her face as she thought about her upcoming plans with Frankie that evening. They’d planned to meet up at Opal’s around seven, order a pizza, and crash out in front of the television until they couldn’t stay awake anymore. Bianca couldn’t think of any other way she’d want to spend the holiday than cuddled in Frankie’s arms, hiding her eyes from the scary monsters on screen by burrowing into Frankie’s body.
Or, Frankie could kiss her. That was another good way to chase away the demons and nightmares.
She bit her lip. Maybe Frankie would be the one to be scared. Her girl acted tough as nails, but she knew deep down she was a fluffy teddy bear. A tiny fluffy teddy bear. Frankie didn’t show it all that often, especially not when other people were around and watching, but Bianca’d gotten her glimpses of the real Frankie. The one who held her and whispered words of comfort as she cried after another fight with her mother. Who hiked all the way to the high school before work because Bianca had forgotten her history textbook there one day and might need it.
The one who looked at her with such soft adoring gazes that Bianca could melt into a puddle of mush with one lopsided crooked grin.
Yep, that was her girlfriend alright, and she could just imagine being the one allowed to protect Frankie. For a few hours Frankie would let down her walls and curl into her embrace, trusting the younger woman to keep the ghosts at bay. She would be able to show Frankie that the vagabond could trust her to do that during Halloween…and every day after that.
How she would love for Frankie to trust her completely with who she was - fears and all. Not see her as this rich breakable teenager who wasn’t able to handle being the strong one and see her as the brave stalwart woman Frankie’s presence in her life made her feel she could be, that she was.
Stepping around a group of small children gleefully chatting about their costumes as their parents watched on fondly, she opened up the bag with the candy. There was a little of everything in there. Peanut butter cups, caramel bars, suckers, nougat wafers…she wasn’t certain what Frankie liked so she got all of it. With this much candy, they’d be up all night on a sugar high to rival all sugar highs.
Her cheeks dusted red when thoughts of what they could do in the early morning hours with all that energy played in her head.
Spending the night with Frankie would be wonderful. She knew it would. Being in those arms as more than a friend, as more than simply someone resting in the same bed, was something she thought about more and more as time passed. During class she daydreamed about kissing Frankie with everything she had, letting these feelings that coursed through her veins whenever she was near the shorter girl consume her until all she saw were those hazel eyes and inviting lips. More than one night she’d woken up breathing heavily, bed sheets twisted around her legs and heart thundering from envisioned touches that felt so real she cursed the alarm clock.
Bianca was a healthy happy teenager with wants and needs. Most of those wants and needs happened to center around her girlfriend. She knew how good the touch of another woman felt. Sarah and her made love once. It was special in its own way - her very first time with anyone. With Frankie, though, Bianca knew it would be unforgettable. The emotions she felt for Frankie surpassed anything anyone had ever instilled in her. One gentle brush of their hands, and Bianca cared for her, wanted her, more than the most sensual kiss from Sarah ever made her feel.
She loved Frankie.
Was in love with her.
Maybe tonight would be the night she could fully show Frankie that. If not, that would be ok. As long as she was in Frankie’s arms, she was happy.
Turning the corner, Bianca came out of her thoughts with a crash.
Literally. She crashed right into another person.
“Oh!” she cried out as she tumbled forward, slamming the other person to the ground.
“Oomph.” The unknown body groaned as they hit the concrete.
“Oh my…I’m so sorry…are you…” her words died away as she saw exactly who she knocked over. “Frankie?”
“What the…Bianca?” Frankie brought a hand to the back of her head with a wince.
“Are you ok? Honey, I’m so sorry.” Bianca scrambled to her feet. She reached down for Frankie, helping her up, “Here, let me see. Did you hit your head?”
“I’m ok.” Frankie grimaced and wobbled on her feet. She tried to bat Bianca’s hands away. It didn’t really work.
“Stop. Let me look.” Bianca gently pressed her fingertips along the back of Frankie’s head. A sigh of relief left her when she didn’t feel any bumps, “I think you’re ok.”
“Hard head is good for something.”
“Guess it is.” Bianca smiled at her, “Hi.”
“Hi.” Frankie’s lips involuntarily turned up.
“How are you?”
“Besides getting ran over? Peachy. You know, you’re family really should look into this running people over thing. Must be hell on the insurance.”
“We only run over you, Frankie.” Bianca smirked.
“I’m honored.”
“As you should be.” She glanced around, “What are you up to? We’re still on for tonight, right?” Did Frankie have other plans?
“Of course we’re still on. I’ve been looking forward to this. Gory films and candy are awesome.” Her eyes sparkled, “Oh, and this hot chick I know might show up, too. But, you know, not as interesting as Frankenhooker.”
“Frankie!” Bianca giggled and playfully pushed her shoulder.
“What? You got Frankenhooker, right? It’s a classic!”
Bianca rolled her eyes.
Frankie scuffed the toe of her sneaker against the ground, “Besides, if this chick doesn’t show up, I won’t have anyone to watch the movie with. That’d be totally lame.”
“Really lame.” Bianca carefully traced the curve of Frankie’s wrist with her finger.
Frankie glanced at the touch before turning her hand slightly. Their fingers entwined naturally, “Don’t need an epic fail like that on Halloween.”
“Not at all.”
“The world needs to be shown the greatness that is Frankenhooker, one person at a time.”
“Yeah, you totally need me to show up so you can show me Frankenhooker.”
A shrug, “I’m expanding your film repertoire. You gotta branch out from those cryfest love movies a bit.”
“I only made you watch one movie like that.”
“Yeah, and the whole theatre was bawling like babies.” Frankie shook her head, “Give me a good horror flick any day.”
“Well, I got plenty for tonight, so don’t worry.”
“Never did.”
They smiled at each other, getting lost in the peaceful moment.
It broke as a gust of autumn wind kicked up, forcing an envelope near the blue mail drop box beside them to flutter and catch Bianca’s attention, “What’s that?” She frowned, “Looks like someone missed the slot.”
She didn’t see Frankie’s eyes widen and panic flash across her face as she bent down to pick it up, “I’ll put it in for them.”
“No, wait.” Frankie almost fell to her knees to grab it first, “you don’t know what’s in there. We should leave it alone.”
“Frankie?” Bianca shot her a confused look.
“What, it could have razor blades or something in it. Or it could be a prank. You know how Halloween is.” Frankie scooped the letter up. “It’s probably just junk. Trash.” She pressed the envelope against her leg, silently breathing a sigh of relief. Bianca hadn’t seen it. Thank god. She thought the damn thing got in the box before Bianca barreled into her. That was way too close. She couldn’t let Bianca see it. Man, she would think she was such a loser if she did.
Bianca stared at her. What just happened? One moment they were talking and the next Frankie was freaking out over some letter on the ground. “Frankie?”
“Yeah?” she had to get rid of this thing.
“If I ask you something, will you tell me the truth?” she bent her head to capture Frankie’s eyes.
Maybe she could get it in the box before Bianca could stop her. Then, it’d be gone and no more worries. They could go on as if nothing happened. Frankie dropped her gaze away from the searching brown orbs. “No, Bianca, I will not dress up for Halloween. You’ll have to find someone else to wear that getup you found.”
She did want Frankie to put on that ‘getup’ she’d found because Frankie would look super cute and charming as hell in it, but that was a whole different conversation. “Frankie.”
Don’t look, just get the envelope in the box. She wasn’t sure why those eyes held such power over her, but she’d spilled enough inner thoughts to know they were dangerous.
“Franks, sweetheart.”
She looked.
Might as well throw out the white flag and fall to her knees, because it was game over. “Y-Yeah?”
“Will you tell me the truth?”
Say no, “Yeah.”
Bianca stepped closer to her, “What’s in the envelope.”
You don’t know. Anthrax. Something dangerous. A switchblade. Subscription to Reader’s Digest. “A letter.”
Bianca nodded, “Is it yours? We’re you sending it to someone?”
She bit her lip to stop herself from speaking. Instead, her traitorous body forced her head to nod the affirmative.
“Ok,” Bianca slowly slid her hand over the one grasping the letter, “can I see it?”
Frankie’s voice came out more pleading than she wanted, “Bianca…”
“What?” she caressed Frankie’s hand, “I don’t care, Frankie. You can send a letter to whoever you want. That’s fine. But, you’re acting really weird about this, and I’m kind of worried.” Was Frankie ok? In some sort of trouble?
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Can you tell me at least who it’s to? That’s it. You don’t have to tell me what you said or anything.” She coaxed. “I care about you so much.”
Damn it. Wordlessly, Frankie held out the envelope, her head falling shamefully.
Bianca cautiously took the envelope and read it over.
Then, she read it again.
The third time, warmth bloomed in her chest, “Frankie? Are you writing a letter to the Great Pumpkin?”
Frankie crossed her arms tightly and kicked at the ground, “It’s stupid, I know. Ok? Can we just forget about it and go back to Opal’s?”
This was so…heartwarmingly adorable, “You wrote to the Great Pumpkin. Like Charlie Brown.”
“Linus wrote to him.” Frankie grumbled under her breath.
Bianca pursed her lips to hold in the chuckle. Her willful rebellious girlfriend was sending a letter to the Great Pumpkin. “You know…”
“Yeah, he’s not real or whatever.” Frankie hastily interrupted her. She snatched the letter back and shoved it in the pocket of her sweatshirt. “I get it.”
“That’s not what I was going to say.” Bianca soothingly placed her hand on Frankie’s elbow, “You shouldn’t always assume you know what I’m thinking.”
Frankie exhaled, shoulders slumping.
“I was going to say that I haven’t seen that show in a long time.” She rubbed her thumb along Frankie’s arm, “I remember I liked it, though.”
Frankie shifted on her feet, clearly battling over what she wanted to reveal. Her jaw clenched and she breathed deeply before speaking, “I used to watch it every year. We only got like three channels on the tv at home when it worked, and that show always came on. No one else was around usually, so I’d always watch it by myself. I’d sneak out before anyone came home. Sometimes I went to this pumpkin patch that was a few miles outside of town. I’d walk or hitch a ride or whatever. It was nice out there. No one yelling or looking at me like…well…anyway, I spent almost every Halloween out there. It was something I could plan on doing. Something that was nice, you know?”
“Yeah, Frankie. I know.” It broke her heart to hear how Frankie was all alone on the holiday. She pictured a younger Frankie falling asleep surrounded by pumpkins, waiting by herself out in the cold because it was better than being at home.
Frankie sniffed and wiped her sleeve across her nose, “It’s dumb.”
“No, it’s not.” Bianca’s mind whirled with this new information. With a nod, she tugged on Frankie’s elbow, “Come on.”
“What? Where’re we going?” Frankie watched her pick up the shopping bags.
“To Opal’s.”
Frankie cleared her throat, willing away the emotional moment. Cool, they would act like this never happened.
Bianca linked their arms together, “I have that coat in your room still, right?”
Frankie’s eyes narrowed, befuddled, “Yeah, you left it last week.”
“Great. I’ll definitely need it tonight. It’s supposed to get a bit cold.”
“What are you talking about? Opal has heat.”
Bianca grinned at her, “The pumpkin patch doesn’t.”
----------
“This is nuts.”
The two teenagers hopped out of the car. The sun was setting behind them, casting a brilliant sea of pinkish orange over the empty acres of orange pumpkins. Bianca walked around the front of the car, keys jingling as she dropped them in her purse. Frankie leaned back against the closed door and crossed her feet at the ankles.
“Come on,” Bianca slid up to her and leaned against her, “it’ll be fun.”
Frankie eyed her, “You’re nuts.”
“And you’re secretly enjoying this as much as I am.” She pecked Frankie’s cheek and opened the back door, pulling out the bag full of supplies. Candy, flashlights, sandwiches, water, blanket, and a camera. Perfect.
Frankie rolled her eyes and pushed off the door, “Whatever.”
“Let’s go.” She took Frankie’s hand and began to march over the vines and dirt. Frankie walked along with her, and though she pretended otherwise, Bianca could feel the excitement brewing inside her companion. She couldn’t help but lean over and kiss her cheek again. Frankie never stopped surprising her.
They walked for a few minutes before Frankie pulled her to a stop, “Here. This is good.”
It was good. A nice flat area clear of those hard wood like vines and roots but there were pumpkins scattered around too. Bianca set the bag down and pulled the blanket out. She quickly spread it over the earth and plopped down, drawing Frankie down beside her a second later.
“Tell me about the Great Pumpkin.” She wrapped an arm around Frankie’s shoulders.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, Frankie, I am.” Bianca rubbed her shoulder, “This isn’t a joke or something. This is important to you, whether you’ll admit it or not, and I think it’d be really cool if we could, I don’t know, share it together.”
Frankie subtly snuggled into her, taking a moment before speaking, “Well, on Halloween, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch. He, uh, goes around the world giving toys and stuff to kids. He picks the most sincere pumpkin patch to rise up out of.” Her mouth quirked, “The patch I used to go to wasn’t very sincere. Nothing up there was.”
“Well, I think this looks like a very sincere pumpkin patch.” She shivered as the wind picked up.
“Here.” Frankie bent over and picked up the edge of the blanket, tugging it over Bianca’s legs.
“Thanks.” Breathed out as Frankie began to lean back. Halfway, she peeked over at Bianca.
The brunette’s chest constricted at the swirling green and brown eddies of color so full of hidden hope and care. She cupped the loveable face and guided her into a kiss. Frankie returned the touch, slow and tender. The arm around Frankie’s shoulders tightened and the older girl pushed closer. Gently, Bianca leaned back, the blanket cushioning her. Frankie followed, the kiss never breaking. Unhurried, their mouths met again and again. Each savored the touch. The spark that burned strong and steady between them infused each caress. This wasn’t lust. It wasn’t carnal hunger. It was…emotional. A connection. Building and grounding themselves in a soulful bond.
Bianca nipped affectionately at Frankie’s bottom lip, massaging the back of her neck. Frankie rubbed the tip of her nose along Bianca’s cheek, breathing her in. Her throat was barely a whisper, choked with sentiment “Sometimes, I wished the Great Pumpkin would come and take me away.”
Bianca swallowed down the lump those words formed in her throat, “Maybe he did.”
Frankie blinked at the words. She bit the inside of her cheek, ashamed she’d let something so personal and incredibly naïve slip out. A little voice in the back of her head, though, whispered that there was a reason she admitted it to Bianca. And it wasn’t because of the dangerous eyes of truth.
“Maybe he brought you here.” Bianca kissed her temple, “You’re here with me, and we’re in this pumpkin patch together. Maybe he wanted us to be here all along.”
“I can’t believe you said that. Talk about corny.” Frankie chuckled, but her gaze spoke of how much she actually wanted to believe it was true. How grateful she was that this amazing girl was willing to spend the night in a pumpkin patch with her. Bianca saw it, though. It made her heart skip.
“Blame all the candy corn I’ve been eating.”
“You have been eating a lot.”
“It’s Halloween. I’m supposed to eat candy corn.”
“That stuff is nasty. It’s all about pumpkin peeps.”
“Pumpkin peeps?” Bianca laughed.
“Delicious.” Frankie rested her face in the crook of Bianca’s neck.
Bianca wrapped her arms fully around Frankie’s back, “Are you hungry?”
Frankie shook her head.
“Do you know any ghost stories?”
“A few.”
“Want to tell me them while we wait for the Great Pumpkin to show up?”
Frankie held up her hand, “Only if I get the flashlight.”
Bianca handed it over, “Very important part of storytelling.”
Frankie propped herself up on her elbow and clicked it on. The yellow glow illuminated her face, “On a dark and stormy night….”
Bianca laid back and listened, running her hand affectionately along Frankie’s side. There may not be scream-filled scary movies and pizza, but she didn’t mind. Not one bit. Getting to share this with Frankie, learn about a part of her she was sure no one else got to hear about, made this the best Halloween ever.