Chapter Text
Franky gave up her battle of trying to fall asleep around 3am when she quietly slid out from underneath a slumbering Tess. Silently, she padded out into the backyard and stepped barefoot on the grass. She shivered as she looked up into the night sky, the only light being that of the bright moon above her. Would she ever get to see this view again? Or would this be the last time? She sat down, uncaring if the slight dewy moisture that had collected on the grass dampened her sweats. She pulled a few of the blades up from the earth and let the soft grass run over the pads of her fingers before bringing the broken pieces up to her nose and breathing in deeply. Softly, she smiled as she remembered when she’d first moved in with Bridget what a nightmare the yard had been. Her beloved wife had never been one to keep up with yard work, and much preferred paying someone else to do the dirty work. Franky refused to let her waste any more of her salary and she took over the care immediately. She’d never admit it, but her time working in the garden projects at Wentworth had given her some sense of normalcy. They’d given her an excuse to get outside and out of the box. Any excuse for a chance to feel free. She let the few blades of grass fall back down to the earth as she brought her hands up to cover her face. She was out of tears, but her body wasn’t done sobbing for what was to come.
She wasn’t sure why, but her thoughts wandered to Bea. She watched prison swallow Red up completely after losing Debbie. Franky knew that losing a child absolutely changed people. What would happen to her now that she was someone’s mum? Not just someone, her girl. They had fought one another so hard for the past year. Now that she had finally earned Tess’ trust, what would happen to them now? She had never once pictured herself being a mum to anyone or anything. Now here she was. Life always had a fucking hilarious way of working out for her. She loved Bridget, but this love… This love was different. This love rocked her to the very core of her being. She felt it deep in her bones, in the crooks of her ribs. It was as if Jesus Christ himself was giving her an opportunity to rewrite her sordid past. And there she went again fucking it all up. She blinked a few times, her eyes still feeling swollen and sore.
“Enough, Doyle,” she sniffed and wiped her nose on the back of her shirt. She shook her head a few times for good measure.
She wasn’t going down without a fight.
That morning of the trial, Franky’s nerves were completely controlling her. She’d dropped the shampoo bottle three times before Bridget took pity on her and washed her hair for her. Any excuse for another intimate moment together. Bridget did her best to stay solid for them both. Tess was even on her best behavior that morning. She dressed herself and brushed her hair without any fuss.
Lucy met them outside with an unsure smile on her face. Tess had been clinging to Franky all morning, sensing something was off. She was currently wrapped in Franky’s arms tightly with her head on her shoulder.
“Imogen’s already inside. Are you ready?” Lucy asked.
“No, but it doesn’t really matter does it?” Franky shrugged. Both Bridget and Lucy knew it was true. Franky brushed a hand over Tess’ dark hair and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
“I’ve got to go inside now, bub.”
“No,” Tess said sternly, wrapping her arms around Franky’s neck tighter.
“I have to, but Gidge and Cara are right here, alright?” Franky moved to gently pass her over to her wife and Tess dug her nails into Franky’s arms. Months ago it would have meant something completely different. Franky would have never imagined being unable to get her sister out of her arms (unless sharks were present). Franky sighed and held her tightly as she rocked them slowly.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Franky tried to soothe her. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered.
“Promise?” Tess searched her eyes suspiciously.
“I promise,” Franky nodded with an unsure smile. She hoped that she was going to be able to keep it. Tess nodded and allowed Franky to set her down. She crouched to her height, making sure Tess was looking at her eyes.
“I love you so much, bub.”
“I love you too,” Tess smiled brightly.
Franky wasn’t sure how she’d managed to make her way down the courtroom aisle and to her seat. Lucy did her best to keep her calm.
“We’ve got this, Franks. Trust me,” Lucy reassured her. Franky blew her breath out loudly and nodded. The judge entered and everyone rose to their feet. Once he was situated, the courtroom was seated once more. Franky glanced back over her shoulder scanning the rows for her wife. It only took her a moment to find the piercing blue hue staring right back at her.
‘It’s okay,’ she could make out Bridget mouthing with a tentative smile. Franky nodded and tried to smile back.
“I thought I’d heard the name Francesca Doyle before. I was hoping it was just a strange coincidence,” the judge’s monotone voice snapped her back to the present.
“I’m one of a kind, your honor.” Her joke was met with an elbow to the ribs from her best mate and a stern look from her boss turned representative.
“And just how did you come to be involved in this case, Ms. Doyle?” Mrs, she mentally corrected him. Franky rose to stand on shaky legs. Here goes nothing.
“I used to live at the residence, your honor. I was removed from my mother’s care at age twelve and placed into the foster care system. The late Cheryl Bomeyer was my foster mother until I was fifteen and was sent to a different home.”
“So you were just checking up on her?”
“Not exactly your honor,” she admitted. She knew that lying or bending the truth would do her no good anymore.
“Then how exactly did you get to be at the right place at the right time?”
“I recently discovered that my mother had another child, my sister Tess. She was found alone in the home after my mother had died of a heroin overdose. She was in very bad shape and she’s lucky to be alive.”
“While that is a very sad story to hear, don’t see how these two matters are related, Ms. Doyle.” She could see his brow crease in frustration. Pick up the pace, Doyle, she thought to herself.
“Jeremy Hansen was the case worker assigned to both of these women. My mother and Ms. Bomeyer. I began to suspect that something was seriously wrong for my sister to have slipped through the cracks of the system. I kept tabs on him because I was worried that if my sister came so close to losing her life, maybe someone else wouldn’t be as lucky as my wife and I were. It wasn’t until later I discovered that Ms. Bomeyer was also on his caseload. I was reckless, your honor. I visited the home to see if it was still in the same condition as when I was a resident there. And I unfortunately found it much worse than I’d hoped. When I arrived I witnessed her making one of her children wait outside in the rain without socks or shoes on while her and Jeremy Hansen were having relations inside.”
“This is quite an elaborate story that you’re weaving. It’s unfortunate that both victims are not here to be able to corroborate it.”
“I wasn’t alone, your honor. My colleague, Lucy Peterson was with me. I forced her to come with me,” Franky lied to save her mate.
“Your honor,” Lucy stood and nodded curtly. She went on to detail her side of the story, including calling the police when Franky had thrown herself into the line of fire in order to save those innocent children.
“Why did neither of you see that you reported Mr. Hansen for his suspected negligence?”
“We did, your honor. I have the briefing right here”
“I can attest that they filed all the appropriate paperwork, your honor,” Imogen added.
“So when things didn’t move quickly enough, you both decided to take the law into your own hands?” The judge interpreted.
“I acted alone. With all due respect, your honor, I know how the system works. I knew that if I didn’t do something that those kids would end up like Tess, or worse. I was scared that they’d end up like me,” Franky’s voice wavered momentarily.
“Like you?”
“The system failed me, and I couldn’t sit by and watch it fail someone else. I nearly died because of what my life had become.”
“It seems you have quite the knack for putting yourself in danger.”
“If it means saving someone who is innocent, then yes, I do.”
“Is there anything else you’d like to add?” The judge’s eyebrows raised as he waited impatiently.
“I know that what I did was a serious offense, your honor, but I wouldn’t change what I’ve done. I would rather have those children alive and safe, whatever cost it is to me.”
“Even if it costs your freedom?” He countered.
Franky’s heart stopped in her chest. She turned and glanced back to Bridget with Tess in her lap. If she wasn’t so utterly terrified, Franky would have laughed at her girls. Tess’ facial expressions were mirroring hers and Bridget’s more and more each day. Franky smiled weakly at them and wrinkled her nose. Tess immediately mimicked the act and smiled brightly at her.
“Mama,” Tess’ soft voice carried across the courtroom and she reached her hand out towards Franky, clenching and unclenching her fingers. Franky’s frozen heart began beating once more, stronger than before, stronger than ever. Tess attempted to jump from Bridget’s lap to join her, but the blonde held onto her. “Mama!” Tess said again. Franky had to turn away before she lost her nerve.
“Yes, your honor. It was the right thing to do, no matter the cost,” she nodded solemnly.
Franky knew that returning back behind bars for a third time would destroy her. Her life was fuller than it ever had been. She’d never known love like this before. Not just the love of being someone’s wife, but the love of being a mum. She’d never had anything to lose until now. How could she ever live without her family when she couldn’t even breathe without them? Her heart would stop beating without their spontaneous dance parties and without Tess’ syrupy pancake hands around her waist. Without her wife’s soothing voice calling her Baby, she would cease to exist.
Bridget continued to cling to Tess for dear life as Franky spoke so eloquently. She had forgotten what it was like to breathe without Franky. How had she functioned for so long without her? That was easy, she hadn’t. Bridget had fallen into the pit of despair when their perfect life had been pulled apart at the seams. She’d nearly lost herself along with her partner during those dark times. How would she ever learn to survive without her? How could she continue on? How could she continue to be a good parent to Tess when her other half was missing?
“Mrs. Doyle, I admire your bravery. Even if it parades itself as stupidity. But this will not be your last time in my courtroom, I’m afraid.” Bridget gasped and squeezed Tess closer to her. No please, please don’t let this happen again.
“I understand, your honor,” Franky nodded, trying to maintain her composure in front of everyone.
“My hope is that next time it is as counsel and not client.”
“I’m sorry?”
“It is evident through your work that you are committed to helping those who need it. I’ve received a number of your briefings on my desk, and they are flawless.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m still not following.” She shook her head comically.
“I am recommending to the board that your ban on practicing law be lifted. I’ve never met anyone who scored as high as you did on your exams, myself included. No charges filed, case dismissed.” Without another word, the judge banged the gavel and Franky was being pulled into a tight hug by Lucy, but she still didn’t quite understand why. Where was the bailiff? Where were the handcuffs? Moments later she felt a soft tug on the edge of her sleeve. She looked down to find a smiling Tess staring up to her.
“Up please, momma?” Tess held her hands high and Franky needed no further instructions on how to proceed. She scooped the girl into her arms and spun her around until she released a low belly laugh. Bridget appeared beside her with a sly smile on her lips.
“You fucking did it, Franky Doyle,” Bridget shook her head. “I don’t know how, but you fucking did it.”
“Got room for a kid in that hot car?” Franky teased as Tess bounced from her spot in her arm. One handed, Franky pulled her wife into a deep probing kiss, taking special care to give her arse a good squeeze for good measure.
Epilogue
“Mum, did you see me?” Tess shouted joyfully as she bounced up the warm sand towards the waiting beach blanket. Bridget accepted a very wet girl into her arms. “I did it!”
“You did, baby!” Bridget congratulated her with a kiss to her cheek.
“She’s a natural. Must run in her blood or something,” Franky added as she set the surfboard down beside them and picked up her waiting beach towel to dry herself off.
“I bet I’m way better than you were at my age!” Tess teased poking her tongue out between her teeth. Bridget smiled to herself. After seven years together, Tess’s face and actions were growing more and more like her partner.
“You’ve got me there, bub,” Franky acquiesced. She would eventually tell Tess the truth about her own childhood. When they were both ready. But for now, they’d let the twelve year old be free of the past.
“Can I go back out?” Tess pleaded with big emerald eyes. Franky glanced at Bridget in a wordless conversation before giving a brief nod.
“Fuck yeah!” Tess moved to grab the board.
“Hey!” Bridget scolded.
“Sorry! It slipped!” Tess cringed with a devilish laugh at the end.
“Not too long, though. We’ve got to get back home for dinner. What is it you two are making?” Bridget asked.
“It’s a surprise,” Tess responded, picking up the board again. Bridget eyed her wife, searching her face for any hints.
“Don’t look at me, I’m just the sous-chef tonight,” she held up her hands. “Ten minutes, Tess. And stay close,” she instructed their girl with a stern point of her index finger and a wrinkled nose.
“Ok!” The small brunette tore through the sand with the board tucked under her arm.
“Did she just call me…” Bridget hadn’t missed the fact that her normal moniker of ‘Gidge’ had been swapped out for ‘mum’ just moments ago.
“She did,” Franky smiled as she sat beside her wife, wrapping her arm around her sun soaked shoulders.
“Wow,” Bridget whispered, feeling the corners of her eyes glistening. Franky kissed her temple before pulling her in tighter. Silently they watched on as their girl dove fearlessly into the water under the beautiful early evening sun.