Chapter Text
Your fairy tale love story with Frankie had fallen to pieces the moment he'd decided to go on that trip. He'd sworn to you that he would never break your trust again and yet when he'd chosen to hide the true nature of what it was he was travelling to South America to do. He's broken things beyond repair... Or so you'd thought.
You'd been gone by the time he had gotten back.
Your wardrobe cleared and the nursery was empty. He'd fallen to his knees and sobbed as he looked around at the bear home the two of you had built together and then his eyes had caught sight of an envelope... Its contents destroyed him.
Upon learning from a neighbour that Frank was back, you visited with Mia so that he could see her and so that you could work out a schedule for her and Alicia. To say that it was the hardest thing you'd ever had to do was the understatement of the century.
You sat and watched him smile at her as she had her afternoon bottle. She kicked and babbled as she ate. Completely unaware of the circumstances between you and her Papi.
"How is she sleeping?" He asked, his head darting up to look at you.
He gave you the sweetest smile and for a single moment, you wondered if you'd made the right decision leaving him.
"Better." You replied with a small nod "Got her into a schedule now which seems to be working. Alicia's sleeping better too now that she's not screaming the house down every two hours." You finished with a chuckle, not returning the dazzling grin he gave you.
"That's great." He replied, his expression falling slightly "You're doing amazing with them." He finished, his eyes then returning to his daughter who had all but finished her lunch.
He propped her up, burped her and then pulled her to his chest so he could change her. You'd forgotten what a natural he was with her and you felt ashamed that a month apart had done that. When he'd put her down for a nap in the nursery he'd since refurnished for the girls, you knew what was coming. It was an inevitable conversation.
"How are you?" He asked as he sipped at his coffee, unable to hold your gaze.
"I'm okay." You replied "Tired. Balancing work and single motherhood has been a challenge."
"So that's what you are now then?" He asked and you flinched "We're over then?"
"Frankie I-"
"I fucked up." He interrupted and your mouth snapped shut "But I went because Pope told me that I could change yours, Alicia's and Mia's lives. I had the best of intentions at heart when I went."
"You lied to me, Francisco." You snapped "After everything that had happened with the drugs and your licence..." You trailed off, knowing you didn't really need to finish that statement "I forgave you and you swore to me that you'd never lie to me again Francisco... Then you did, two - months - later..." You punctuated.
"Baby I-"
"Don't Frankie" You pleaded "Don't call me that." You sobbed "Don't make this harder than it already is."
"I love you." He choked, his eyes filling with tears "This is... Shit, it's been the hardest month of my life trying to navigate my days without you." He stopped to rub his eyes with his palms before wiping his nose with his sleeve and sniffing "I want to try and make things right with us. I don't want to give up on us."
"Frank-"
"I refuse to just roll over and let what we had, die."
"Well, you should have thought of that before you fucked off to South America." You growled, shutting him up completely "I will come back later to collect her." You said as you started to gather your things "I can bring Alicia with me then too."
"Okay." He replied numbly, nodding his head as he stood to let you out and then watched you with a heartbroken expression as you got in your car and left.
He'd really fucked things up.
~
"How are things?" Asked Ben as he poured Frankie a beer from the pitcher he'd just bought, brows knitted in concentration.
"You want the honest answer to that?" He snorted, taking a sip of his beverage "It's shit. I see the girls once a week and get them every other weekend. I'm missing out on everything with Mia and Alicia's changing so quickly too."
"I'm sorry man." Will sighed sympathetically.
"Well, I guess that's what I get for trying to improve our circumstances through sketchy means."
"You deserve better than this man," Benny said as he placed a friendly hand on his arm but Frank could do nothing but shake his head.
"Nah." He replied as he shook his head "No I don't."
They stayed at the bar a few more hours before Ben and Frank hopped in the older man's truck. Will was staying with his fiancé that evening so Frankie had offered to drive the younger Miller home. The drive went by in relative silence. Small talk was shared here and there as Fish approached Ben's place.
"You do deserve to be happy Fish." Ben sighed as the two men watched the light turn green before he turned his head to look at his friend "You deserve the-"
He was cut off by glass smashing and the sound of metal buckling from the impact. It seemed to happen in slow motion. Ben's eyes locked on Frankie as the car was pushed along the road before finally.
It all went black.
...
The sound of knocking woke you from your deep sleep.
You groaned, rubbing your eyes as you rolled over to look at your alarm clock.
00:15
Who the hell would be knocking on your door at gone midnight? You pulled your gown on before making your way over to the door in question, your expression growing puzzled when you opened it to see Will standing on your doorstep looking utterly wrecked.
"Sorry to bother you so late." He choked as he allowed his tears to fall "There's um... There's been an accident."
"Will?"
"Ben and Fish they uh... Well, they were driving home when Franks's truck got t-boned by a drunk driver."
You shook your head. This couldn't be happening.
"Ben's in bad shape. Broken leg, arm and he's got a head injury that they want to monitor." Will choked out, his shoulders shaking as he tried to keep his voice steady.
"And Frankie?" You asked and Will sobbed even harder "Will... what about Frankie?"
"The car hit the driver's side." He started and you thought you were going to be sick "He lost a lot of blood. He's still in surgery now but they don't think... they don't..."
He couldn't say it.
Couldn't get the words out.
They didn't think your husband was going to make it.
Your legs gave out beneath you and you collapsed into Will's arms as you practically screamed. You cried fat tears into his t-shirt as he held you close and when the tears dried up you allowed him to help you to your feet.
"I need to see him." You said, voice shaking as you grabbed your phone "I just need to sort the kids and then we'll go."
Less than an hour later you were walking into Ben's room, sobbing at the sight of him laying there, his left side a mass of plaster. His face was swollen and littered with cuts but the smile he gave you was enough to settle your nerves a little.
"Hi." He all but croaked and you choked on a sob.
"Hi."
"How're you feeling?" Will asked, giving his brother's arm a friendly squeeze.
"Felt better." He chuckled and you allowed yourself to smile a little at that "How's Fish?"
Both yours and Will's faces dropped.
"What?"
"Ben-"
"What aren't you telling me?" He pushed and you felt yourself slipping again.
"Ahh, you're awake." Said Ben's doctor and you let yourself breathe a moment "How are you feeling Mr Miller?"
"Like I was in a car accident." He grumbled and the doctor chuckled "How is my friend?"
"I'm here to discuss your condition, Mr Miller."
"Just cut the bullshit doc." Ben pleaded "Is my friend okay?"
"No." The doctor replied simply and the room fell silent.
"What?" Ben whispered as his throat tightened.
"Mr Morales has suffered severe injuries." The doctor started as he scraped his hand over his mouth "I am not in charge of his care but I can tell you that he is on life support in the ICU. He lost a considerable amount of blood. He's also suffered severe internal injuries and a bleed on his brain."
"What does that all mean?" You choked and the doctor gave you a sympathetic look.
"It means that you need to prepare yourself." He replied plainly "He's lucky to have made it through surgery. He crashed twice on the table. If he makes it through the night then we will have a better idea of what his chances are."
All you could do was nod.
The circumstances you were now facing felt like a dream. You were going to wake up at any moment and it would all turn out to be some horrendous dream.
Only it wasn't... and you were in hell.
...
You'd collapsed again when you saw him.
His black and blue form was smothered, in white bandages and gauze. Tubes seemed to stick out from him left right and centre but the one that took your breath away was the one that jutted from between his lips. You took a few ginger steps towards his bed. Holding onto Will for dear life as you came to a stop beside your husband.
"Oh, Frankie." You sobbed as you took his bruised hand in yours "Shit."
"He's strong, sweetheart." Will said as he pulled you into a sideways hug "He'll get through this."
You knew he was trying to reassure you but the truth was that you were feeling sick with guilt. You'd spent the last two months making a point of ignoring his attempts to make amends with you. You'd refused to give him an inch. To sure that he would let you down again.
Yet now you were facing the harsh reality that your husband was probably going to die. The doctors had told you so in so many words.
Prepare yourself
That was something you said to someone whose family member was about to slip away. No, Francisco Morales was going to die.
And he'd never know that you had never stopped loving you.
"Come back to me Francisco." You said softly, bending forward to kiss the one inch of skin that wasn't marred by the accident "Please." You pleaded.
Your reply was the horrendous notes of Francisco coding.