Love Story Part 8
Title: Love Story
Author: Fab_fan
Fandom: All My Children
Rating: PG-13, maybe higher later on.
Pairing: Frankie/Bianca
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I don't own much of anything, really.
Summary: AU Early 1900s. Young Bianca Montgomery dreams of living the adventures she reads about in her books. When her family goes to live with her uncle after the death of her father, Bianca discovers herself a part of the greatest adventure of all. Love.
Frankie was completely and utterly baffled.
Her head was cocked to the side and her eyes were squinted in bewilderment as she took in the girl before her. Bianca was dressed in the strangest way she had ever seen. The brunette had on one of her many dresses that covered nearly every inch of her from neck to feet. Her hat was merrily tipped on her head. An old canteen she had found during her exploration of the house was strapped across her chest. An old leather satchel crisscrossed to rest on her other side. Worn and weathered patches graced the outside of it, and inside she had packed half a loaf of bread Opal had baked that morning.
Bianca glanced over at her confused friend. “What is the matter, Frankie?”
“What’re ya doin’?”
“What do you mean?”
Frankie gestured at her garb, “That.”
Bianca gazed down at her ensemble. She self-consciously tugged at the canteen strap, “I want to be prepared for our adventure.” This was what the people in the books had. Well, they had guns and other such things, but she did not think her Uncle Jack would appreciate her borrowing his pistol for such an occasion. He might need it.
“We ain’t goin’ ta war. It’s the woods.”
“Oh,” Bianca looked down. She had been so excited that morning. She had gathered everything she could. She should have asked Frankie what they needed. But, there were so many things that could happen and so many creatures they could run into that she wanted to be ready.
Seeing the change in the girl’s demeanor, Frankie licked her lips and unconsciously rubbed her ear. With a sigh she walked up to Bianca and hesitated a second before pulling the satchel off her shoulder, “Here, let me take that.”
“Frankie?”
The blonde looped the strap over her head and rested it on her shoulder. “You sure are a sight with all this.” She mumbled to herself.
Her hands reached for the canteen strap and Bianca stopped her, “What are you doing?”
“Takin’ the canteen.”
“Why?”
“I’m gonna carry it.”
“Why?”
Frankie grinned at her, “You gotta lead us. The leader don’t carry nothing.” Bianca let her remove the canteen and loop it over her other shoulder. Frankie’s eyes twinkled with glee and mischief, “Besides, that dress is gonna give ya enough trouble without having to drag these around.”
“What is wrong with my dress?”
Frankie only shook her head and turned. She began to walk along the brook, and Bianca hurried after her, “Frankie, what is wrong with my dress?”
“Nothing.”
“You don’t like it?” Her mother had picked it out. It was like the ones the other girls wore back in Chicago.
“I like it jus’ fine.” Frankie chuckled, “But, I don’t know how well the woods is gonna like it.”
Bianca frowned in thought, but let it go. She moved next to Frankie, and they strolled along the bank of the water. The canteen bumped against Frankie’s side, giving them a small beat to synchronize their steps to. Bianca looked around at everything in sight. She didn’t want to miss seeing anything. Her eyes roamed over every tree, bush, and animal. The sun was high in the cloudless sky that day, illuminating the magical land. Frankie kept her eyes straight ahead, but every once in a while they would dart over to her companion. She couldn’t help but smile at the fascinated face.
After a short while, their journey came upon its first obstacle. A tree had fallen across the path they were using.
“We can go around.” Frankie peered down the thick log. She couldn’t see the end, but it had to be somewhere.
Bianca sized up the piece of wood. This was not so bad. The characters in the books faced worse terrors than this. She was an explorer now. With that in mind, she strode up to the tree and grasped at the bark.
“Bianca!” Frankie rushed up to her. She had gone to find the end of the tree and turned around to find her friend trying to pull herself over.
“Frankie, stop.” Bianca ordered. The other girl had grabbed at her dress and was forcing her back down.
“You stop, you nut.” Frankie finally got both of Bianca’s feet on the ground.
“Frankie, why did you do that?” Bianca spun to face her. Her hands found purchase on her hips and she glared at her friend.
“You can’t do that.” Frankie glared back, her cheeks red from the exertion.
“Why not?”
“Cause you can’t.” What was so hard to understand about that?
“Says who?”
“Says me.”
“I can too do it.”
“No, you can’t.”
Bianca stormed up to Frankie and poked her in the chest, “You give me one good reason why, Frankie Stone.”
Frankie spluttered at the stern tone, “Cause…ladies don’t go climbing on trees.”
“I’m not a lady. I’m an explorer.”
Frankie was silent at that. Bianca stared at her for a moment before a tiny “Oh,” escaped her lips. She stepped back and let her hand drop to her side. Bashfulness tinged her cheeks. What had she just done? She’d never confronted someone like that before.
Frankie could only stare. She looked at the fallen tree. She looked at Bianca. Tree. Bianca. Tree. Bianca.
“Come on, then.” Frankie sighed and slid over to the tree.
“Beg your pardon?”
Frankie nodded at the log, “You go over first. I’ll give ya a boost.”
Bianca couldn’t stop the giddy smile and nearly skipped over to her. Frankie cupped her hands together and squatted down. She indicated for Bianca to put her booted foot in her hands. Bianca slowly did as directed, her hand falling to Frankie’s shoulder for support. Getting a grip on the boot, Frankie stood up.
Bianca flailed at the sudden push, and she attempted to take hold of the tree. Her hands scraped at the bark. One hand found purchase while the other flung around. Her other foot kicked out as she fought to balance on one foot. Frankie held on the best she could. Holding someone else wasn’t easy. It was down right heavy. Her arms screamed in protest, and she shuffled around as Bianca flailed about.
“Bianca,” Frankie’s words were cut off by a mouthful of dress.
“Oh!” Bianca cried out. Her hand fell on top of Frankie’s head and she smooshed the hat down on the blonde’s head.
Frankie spit out the lace and turned her head. The brim of her hat fell to cover her eyes and she couldn’t see a thing. “Bianca!”
“I almost got it.” Bianca’s other boot landed on Frankie’s shoulder and she pushed with all her might. She flew through the air and came down on top of the tree.
The force of the push sent Frankie to the ground. She ended up face first in the grass.
“Oh, Frankie! Oh, no.” Bianca gasped as she looked down from her perch. She had killed her! Oh, no. How could she? Frankie was her friend and this was how she repaid her?
“Don’ move.” Frankie wobbled to her feet. She wiped the grass from her face.
Bianca froze. She had been preparing to jump down, but she stopped at the command. Frankie looked at her grass covered self and fiddled with her hat until it was back in place. Then, she laughed.
Bianca blushed but joined in. It was funny, if one thought about it.
Frankie shook her head and scrambled up the log. She plopped down next to Bianca, their shoulders touching.
“Are you hurt?” Bianca’s laughter died down and was replaced with worry.
“Nah, I am fine.” Frankie unhooked the canteen and satchel from her body and set them aside.
“I am sorry.” Bianca glanced away.
Frankie bumped her shoulder and smirked at her, “Not bad for a lady explorer.”
Bianca’s face lit up.
Frankie turned away from her and rubbed her ear. “Hungry?”
Bianca nodded, and Frankie pulled out the bread. She broke it in half and they sat there contentedly nibbling on their lunch.
After finishing their food, it was decided their journey had been good enough. They had conquered the fallen tree and seen a lot of interesting things. Next time, they would go farther, but for now, this was good enough.
So, they walked back the way they came. Bianca thought about all the details she would have to remember to put in her letter to Kendall. It had been so much fun, and she could not wait to share it with her sister.
Frankie intermittently whistled some tune she recalled hearing once outside a club in the city. She could only remember bits and pieces of it, so it was broken up and stunted, but she still whistled it. Bianca began to hum along after some time. Before either knew it, they were back at their normal meeting spot.
Frankie dropped the canteen and satchel to the ground before unceremoniously falling next to the brook. She stretched out and folded her hands behind her head. Bianca sat down beside her and absently smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress.
Frankie smiled up at her. Then, she closed her eyes and began to whistle again.
“Where did you learn that song?” Bianca asked.
Frankie shrugged, “Don’t know. Some club in the city.”
“Is that where you are from?”
“The city?”
“Yes.”
Frankie opened her eyes and squinted up at Bianca, “Why?”
“I was only wondering.” She wanted to know anything she could about the other girl. She was so…interesting. Sometimes she would lay down in bed before she went to sleep and ponder about her. She would try to picture everything. One night, Frankie was the daughter of the two most vicious pirates to ever sail the seas. Another, she was royalty hiding out. Looking at her friend, though, it came to Bianca. It didn’t matter how fantastic Frankie’s past was; she only wanted to know, because, she was her friend.
Frankie sighed and rolled onto her side. She picked at the blades of grass. She plucked one tall blade and positioned it between her thumbs, “Watch this.” Then, she placed it against her mouth and blew. A sharp whistle sounded.
“That’s swell.” Bianca’s eyes widened at the unexpected sound.
Frankie chuckled, “You try.”
She helped Bianca pick a tall blade of grass and showed her how to hold it. Bianca put her thumbs against her lips and a whistle sounded. Frankie gave a small cheer for her, and she happily did it again.
After the second whistle, Frankie’s smile faltered slightly. She pushed up into a sitting position and played with her hat, “New York.”
“I’m sorry?” Bianca looked over at her.
“New York City. That’s where I’m from.”
Bianca let the blade of grass fall to the ground, her attention solely on her friend. “Did you like the city?”
“I guess so.”
“Do you miss it?”
“Sometimes.”
Bianca nodded. “Is your family there?” Did Frankie’s parents know she was in Pine Valley?
Frankie took a shuddering breath. She seemed to almost fold into herself. Bianca noticed this and instinctively reached a hand out to her. She rested it on Frankie’s back and scooted closer to her.
Frankie whispered something, but Bianca couldn’t hear it, “Can-Can you say that again?”
Frankie rubbed her ear furiously. “I ain’t got any.”
Bianca took a moment to process this, “You don’t have a family?” She couldn’t imagine not having a family. It was so hard when her father died, but to not have her sister, mother, or Uncle Jack?
Frankie turned away from the sad voice, “It ain’t nothing. My folks died when I was a baby. I lived with my uncle in the city, but there was a fire and…” she trailed off. She abruptly stood up and ran a hand across her nose.
Bianca swiftly followed her, “I am so sorry, Frankie.”
“Don’t. I don’t need any pity.” Frankie held a hand up.
Bianca choked down her next words and stepped up to the agitated girl. She took the raised hand and cradled it in her own. “H-How did you get here?”
“Train.” Frankie stared at their joined hands with the same bewildered wonder she did every time Bianca took her palm and laced their fingers. “I hopped on a car and ended up a few towns over. I walked the rest of the way.”
“Why did you leave New York?”
Frankie blinked and shook her head, “They were gonna send me to an orphanage. No way was I doin’ that. So, I left. The car was empty and no one checked.”
Bianca nodded. It was nothing like she had imagined at night. But, she didn’t care. Because this was her friend Frankie, and her past didn’t matter. “Where do you live?”
“Right here.”
Bianca gaped at her, “But, what do you do when it rains?”
A tiny smirk formed, “I used ta go to your stable, but your guards are makin’ it a little tough now to get there.”
Bianca’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut and spun around, Frankie’s hand still clutched in her own. “Gather the canteen and satchel. Do you have any belongings?”
“Not particularly. I left in a hurry.” Frankie frowned in confusion. She looped the straps over her shoulder with her free hand, Bianca still holding on to the other. What was happening?
Bianca began to march away from the water. With their hands joined, Frankie was dragged behind her. “Bianca, where’re we going?”
“Home.”
“Home?”
“Yes. You cannot sleep outside. It is dangerous. You can stay with me.”
“Bianca,” Frankie dug her heels into the ground. “I can’t stay with you.”
“Yes, you can.” Bianca pulled with all her strength.
Frankie’s heels slid along the dirt, leave twin trails behind her. “You’re gonna get me thrown in jail!”
“You did nothing wrong.”
“I know that, but those dopes don’t.”
Bianca finally stopped and spun around. Frankie swallowed at the determined look. “Frankie, you cannot live out here. We have plenty of room. Please?”
Frankie deflated. “Aww, applesauce!” she grumbled and kicked at the ground before walking the path back to the house.
Bianca happily led Frankie through the woods and up the lawn. The closer they got, the more nervous her companion became. Bianca had lost count how many times Frankie had adjusted her cap and vest. She tried to reassure the girl, but Frankie was having none of it. The blonde was sure she was going to be arrested the second someone saw her. Bianca thought that was silly.
They reached the kitchen door and found it wide open. Bianca could hear Opal puttering around inside, most likely beginning supper. She stepped inside, but was tugged back. Frankie’s eyes were wide and she hid against the outer wall.
“Bianca, this ain’t such a good idea.”
“It will be fine.” Bianca gave her a dazzling smile.
Bianca moved to enter the kitchen. With one courage filled breath, Frankie let herself be pulled in behind her.
“Ms. Opal?” Bianca called out.
Opal turned and grinned, “Ms. Bianca, what brings you around these parts? And who’s that behind ya?”
Frankie stepped up beside Bianca and forced a confident look on her face.
“Ms. Opal, I would like to introduce you to my friend Mary-Francis, but she likes to be called Frankie. Frankie, this is Ms. Opal. She helps out around the house.”
“Your friend?” Opal was excited to see the little girl was meeting people her own age. She was so quiet. She looked at this new person and was taken aback. The little girl was dressed not unlike some of the boys she had run into a few times in town, with that vest and those pants. She was covered in dust from head to toe. Not to mention… “She sure does look like…”
Frankie’s eyes widened a fraction and she took a tiny step back, ready to run if she had to.
Opal’s gaze ticked over to Bianca, “Is this the girl they found hiding in the stable with your necklace?”
“Yes, but she did not steal it.”
Opal looked between the two, “Your mama ain’t gonna like you spending time with her.”
“Frankie is my friend.”
Opal thought this over. It wasn’t her place to make decisions on whom Bianca spent her time with. Besides, the other girl looked like a feather would knock her over. A good meal and a hot bath was what she needed. “I was fixin’ supper. I suspect your friend might like a bite of it.”
Frankie’s head popped up at that. She could already feel her mouth watering from the smells filling the kitchen.
Opal laughed at the eager face.
“Ms. Opal, Frankie will be staying for supper. She is going to be staying with us for some time.” Bianca informed her.
Opal’s eyebrows rose to the ceiling, “She what?” There was no way Mrs. Kane-Montgomery was going to allow that.
“Bianca,” Frankie whispered. She tugged Bianca close to her, “Let me talk with her for a moment.”
Bianca looked at her. The other girl silently pleaded with her. She nodded and moved towards the dining room, “I’ll be in here if you need me.”
When Bianca was out of sight, Opal gazed at Frankie, “That’s a mighty nice thing of her to want for you.”
“I know.” Frankie bit her lip. She pulled off her cap and wrung it between her fingers.
“No way will her mama allow you to stay here.”
“I know.”
Opal felt herself soften at the crestfallen look.
Frankie cleared her throat, “I could help out. I can do just about anything. I-I ain’t too good at readin’ or nothing…but I can work. I could clean or paint.”
Opal sighed and sat down in nearby chair.
“I’m not lookin’ for a free place to stay. I can work. I promise to do my best, and I’ll stay outta their way.” If this was her chance, she might as well plead her case. “They won’t even know I’m here.”
Opal looked at her with sympathy, “Even if that were true, I’m not the one to talk to. Jackson’s the one who does the hiring. It’s his home, and I ain’t going against that.”
Resignation flashed across Frankie’s features. He had to think she was a thief. There was no way he would let her stay.
“Look here, you stay around for an hour or so and I’ll give ya some of this roast I’m making. Then, it’d be best that you skeedadle.”
They both turned towards the dining room entrance when they heard a thump and voices. Frankie backed towards the side door, and Opal stood up.
“Bianca, what are you doing?” Jackson chuckled as he was pulled into the kitchen by his niece.
His merry eyes took in Opal and the newcomer. They darkened as they landed on Frankie. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Uncle Jack, this is my friend.” Bianca moved to stand next to Frankie who looked like a rabbit at the end of a hunter’s gun.
Jack’s eyebrows furrowed together, “Your friend?”
“Yes, and she needs to stay with us for a time.”
“Bianca,” Jack rubbed at his face, “this girl is a thief.”
“No, she’s not.” Bianca crossed her arms. “No one asked her why she had my necklace. She found it.”
“Bianca, dear, she cannot stay with us.”
“She has nowhere else to go!” Bianca shouted. Why were they not listening to her?
Jack was startled at his usually quiet niece’s loud voice. “Please, calm down. Let’s talk about this.” He looked at Frankie, “Is this true?”
Frankie’s cap was smashed in her hands, “Yes, sir.”
He studied her.
“She lives in the forest, Uncle Jack. She could get hurt.”
“It’s fine.” Frankie took another half step back.
“Stop right there.” Jack ordered. Frankie froze.
Jack looked at all three of them. “Bianca, please go to your room. Opal, I believe you were working on your wonderful roast. You,” he pointed at Frankie, “come with me.”
“Uncle Jack.” Bianca was terrified. He was going to take her away, and she would never see her again.
“Please, Bianca.” He beckoned Frankie forward.
Frankie shot an encouraging look at Bianca. Bianca squeezed her hand before leaving. Jack gestured for Frankie to follow him, and she did so…slowly and with extreme trepidation.
He led her into what she assumed to be his office. He leaned against a large oak desk and pulled a cigar out of a box. Frankie stood before him, scared as could be.
“My niece seems to have taken quite a shine to you.” He struck a match and lit the cigar.
Frankie didn’t speak.
“I am to assume you are the one she has been running off to spend time with?”
“What of it?” Frankie bit out, her nerves getting the best of her.
Jack blew out a puff of smoke, “It means a great deal. You have become important enough to her that she wants you to stay with us.”
Frankie shifted her weight back and forth from one foot to the other.
Jack stared down at her, “Why are you spending time with her?”
Frankie had to use every ounce of her young will to not cower under his intense gaze, “We’re friends. That’s what friends do.”
Jack rested his cigar in an ashtray, “I believe you.”
Frankie almost fell over.
“Bianca recently lost her father, my brother, and it has been very difficult for her. I know she was very close to him. I had my worries about how well she would adjust to the abrupt changes in her life.” He smiled at the blonde girl, “But, recently she has been happier. She has been excited. She laughs. I believe that is because she has befriended you.”
Frankie did not know what to say.
“Bianca wants more than anything for you to stay with us.”
“I’ll work.” Frankie blurted out. “Anything ya want. I-I can help Opal or-or somethin’. I promise, Mr. Montgomery, I will.”
Jack laughed, “Is that so?”
“Yeah, I can do ‘bout anything. I ain’t no leach. I earn my keep.”
“Unfortunately, we do not need anymore people working in the house. We have enough as it is, right now.”
Frankie failed at hiding her disappointment. Bianca’s enthusiasm had rubbed off on her during their trek back to the home.
“But, I do know that Tim has been asking for help outside. Tim is our driver. He mans the carriage and cares for the horses. I do believe you are familiar with our stable.” His eyes danced at that last statement.
Frankie could only nod. Was she hearing right?
“Now, if I am correct, Bianca is outside that door waiting to see what my decision was. It would be rude to keep her waiting.”
Frankie processed what had just occurred. She had a job. A grin overtook her face, and she put the cap back on her head. She made sure it was on perfect and moved her vest so it was just right. Then, she spun and opened the door. The second she stepped out, Bianca was in front of her. At Frankie’s bright grin, she rushed forward and hugged her uncle.
Then, she took Frankie's hand and pulled her away. There was so much to show her!