Archive of Our Own

Looking back, Fran can admit that moving out of her childhood home was the best decision she ever made since going away for uni. Fran was currently living in her first flat without a family member in sight after she took her friend John’s place on his lease with his cousin Michaela. Michaela was away being a professional athlete half of the time which was great for Fran, who loved an oasis of solitude, and when she was home, she got the bonus of looking at her.

It was shallow but Michaela was gorgeous and Fran was a visual person. She was all strong arms and velvety dark skin. She had a magnetic smile and her eyes were captivating to the point where Fran had lost her train of thought a few times looking into them.  

Fran tried to regard Michaela with the respect and care that she had for her as a person and she was successful about 90% of the time. The other 10%, Fran ogled her. She tried not to but…Fran was only human. She made it a point to be discreet about it and usually did it when Michaela was not paying attention.

What Fran didn’t expect was for people in her life to also join her in the ogling. 

It was infuriating.

It started at Christmas with the usual suspects. Michaela, who had hardly any family left and all of them currently living in South Africa, joined Fran for Christmas with the Bridgertons at Aubrey Hall since she wasn’t going home this year. It was Fran’s first Christmas where she got to decorate how she wanted and Michaela’s first year where she decorated her place period. They had a few small trees around the flat and stockings hung on hooks from their kitchen island. It was understated and a far cry from Fran’s chaotic childhood decorating experiences.

They joined her family on Christmas Eve and Michaela wore a very soft burgundy turtleneck that Fran talked her into buying. They enjoyed a lively dinner, helped the kids put out cookies for Father Christmas then helped them all get the wiggles out enough to go to sleep.

Mama went to bed soon after and the siblings stayed up, helping the parents of the group put together big Santa gifts while eating the cookies.

Michaela was deep in screwing the pedals of Belinda’s bike on for Simon when she blew a curl out of her face and Greg leaned over.

“Do you want a headband?”

Fran raised an eyebrow and looked at Pen next to her. Pen was clenching her jaw to not laugh at the display in front of her. Greg never offered anyone anything except a woman he thought was beautiful.

Fran snorted in her eggnog.

“I’m good, G. Thanks.” Michaela laughed before finishing her work.

“It’s not an issue. We’ve got plenty…with all the other ladies around.” Michaela looked around and made eye contact with Fran.

Fran smirked at her.

“I’m almost done, Greg.”

“Oh, well I can help-”

“She’s a lesbian, Greg,” Eloise yelled out from her place with Ben and Sophie. They were setting up a mini easel for Alex. Greg went as red as a tomato as the room dissolved into laughter.

“I knew that. I was being helpful.”

“Sure, you were. Why aren’t you helping Simon with Augie’s bike?”

Greg looked over and shrugged. “He’s fine.” Fran looked at Simon who looked very confused at the instructions.

“Well, so am I,” Michaela said and put Belinda’s bike on the floor and rolled it to a thankful Daphne before turning around and pulling the instructions from Simon. “And now I’ll be helping him.”

“If you need another set of hands?”

“Yeah, Greg. That’d be great.” Simon said and handed him a screwdriver. Greg pouted.

Fran laughed in her glass.

Greg, while unsubtle, wasn’t the last to look at Michaela with interest, even though they knew they didn’t have a chance. In Ben’s case, he didn’t want one, he just wanted to flirt.

He got his opportunity on Boxing Day when they were lounging around the den. Michaela was lying on her back, playing her brand new Steam Deck, while Fran was attempting to read a book and Ben and Sophie were quietly talking.

Ben looked over at Michaela. “Michaela, when can I paint you?”

Michaela laughed. “Never.”

“Come on. You’d be an amazing nude portrait.” Fran blushed at that thought and kept her book hiding her face.

“I know. I’ve sent plenty. I don’t have the patience to be drawn like a French girl.”

Ben sighed. “A shame. I’d like to see it.” He looked her up and down. “You’d be gorgeous”

“Sophie, get your husband.”

“I can’t. I’m rooting for him so I can sit in on it.”

Fran shook her head at Sophie’s joke before closing her book. “I can leave if I need to.”

“No.” Michaela sat up. “Benedict is not drawing me.”

Ben laughed. “You look so uncomfortable.”

“Merely trying to save myself from having to be still.”

“She does hate to be still,” Fran confirmed.

“Well, if you ever change your mind…”

“Sophie will be the first one I tell. She can paint me.” Michaela winked.

Fran expected that to be it - her two thirstiest siblings made a pass at her friend who would never want them and now it was done. 

She got to spend the next few months enjoying Michaela and her beautiful face all alone. As the months got warmer, she also got the wonderful addition of enjoying her abs as Michaela decided to stop wearing shirts in the house after she broke her arm. The excuse was that putting on a shirt was difficult.

 Fran wasn’t complaining. 

So Fran usually came home to Michaela, sitting on the couch, watching TV in joggers and a sports bra. It was nice after a long day of practicing.

“Michaela? Are you cooking?”

Fran shut the door to see Michaela standing in the kitchen with a towel over her shoulder and a whisk in her good hand.

“Eggs. I can do eggs.”

Fran shook her head. “Not with one hand.”

She set her stuff down and hip-checked Michaela out of the way. “Why didn’t you order something?”

“I’m tired of takeaway.”

Fran smiled as she whisked the eggs in the bowl. Somehow she had cut up some peppers and onions. “Did you use a knife?”

“A paring knife.”

Fran tsked in disapproval. Michaela stood right behind her, so close that Fran could feel her body heat. “Put cheese in there.”

“I will.”

“And maybe some ham. Do we have ham?”

“Go sit down.”

Michaela dug in the fridge and Fran allowed her eyes to trail over her side and back. “We don’t have ham. How old is this rice?”

“Throw that out. We can just have eggs and toast.”

‘How did you know I put enough in there for you?”

Fran smirked. “Because I have eyes. And you always buy me dinner.”

Michaela grinned and grabbed the bread. “You know me too well.”

“I spend most of my time with you. That’s why.”

Michaela grinned as she put their toast in the toaster oven.

Fran didn’t know how long the person who was knocking on the door had been there, but it had to be a long time because the banging had pulled her away from her playing. They didn’t get visitors since Michaela always met her friends out of the house and Fran lived 15 minutes away from most of her family.

It was the main reason she agreed to live in the flat. 

Fran slipped off her headphones and listened, making sure that it wasn’t Michaela falling off her balance board before getting up and moving into the living room.

Michaela was there in her now standard home attire of joggers and a sports bra despite her arm being fully healed. She had her steam deck in hand, headphones plugged in, slowly rolling back and forth on the roller under her balance board. She was not even concentrating on what she was doing, just letting her core keep her upright.

Fran stopped and looked at her abs. They flexed. 

The banging continued.

Fran shook herself from that lovely view to open the door to her sisters-in-law.

“Sophie? Kate?”

“Hi. Just stopping by.” Kate said and wiggled her way in. Sophie at least hugged her before coming into their apartment. 

“I hope we’re not interrupting,” Sophie said, looking at Michaela’s back.

“Uh, a bit. I was working.”

Sophie distractedly nodded. “We were curious how her meet went.”

“Oh fine. She placed 3rd. She was a bit bummed but still a good place for her first time back.”

Kate nodded and didn’t reply. Fran followed her eyeline to her flatmate’s oblivious existence.

“Do you want to ask her about the details?”

“If we wouldn’t bother her,” Kate said, putting her head in her hand and staring.

Fran frowned before touching Michaela’s shoulder. She looked up and pulled off her headphones. “Hey? Still working?”

“Kate and Sophie are here.”

Michaela turned and waved. “What a surprise.”

“We wanted to know how your meet went,” Sophie said.

Michaela slid off the balance board and paused her game, tossing the steam deck in a nearby chair.

“It was good. I think they were expecting more stairwork and less bowl action with the course design. I got some good momentum on some of my ollies. I got a 720 going which was good. I could have done 900 but I think I was a bit nervous since my arm just healed and the doc was a bit apprehensive about me even being out there…”

Fran stopped listening as she had heard this before and watched her sisters-in-law. Sophie was making a valiant effort to maintain eye contact with Michaela as she rambled on about kickflips and grinds but Kate wasn’t even hiding where her attention was.

Kate was locked in on her abs that jumped from their earlier workout.

Fran sighed and reminded herself that these women were married to her oldest two brothers. They were not going to jump her flatmate.

It was fine.

She pulled a sparkling water out of the fridge and tried to open it before adjusting her grip.

“Fran, do you want me to do that?”

Fran looked up and saw Michaela holding her hand out. Fran handed her the bottle. She twisted the cap easily and handed it back.

“Thank you.” Fran smiled and then noticed Sophie staring at her bicep. “Do you two want something to drink?”

“Oh, no thank you,” Sophie said.

“I’m good. Michaela, when’s your next competition and can we go?” Kate asked.

Michaela laughed. “Not for a few months and it’s in Paris so…”

“We could make a girls’ trip of it.” Kate offered.

“I guess?” Michaela looked at Fran. “I’m going to get down to the park. Meet Gare and Lucy.”

Sophie nodded. “We won’t keep you. Just wanted to hear how it went.” She gave Michaela a quick hug. Kate was right behind her.

“Congrats on 3rd.” She pulled Michaela into a long hug.

“Oh, thanks, Kate.” Kate squeezed her before pulling back. She looked at Fran.

“We’ll see you two on Saturday?”

“Yes. Can’t wait.” Fran said. She couldn’t despite knowing she’d have a headache that night. Neddy only turned five once.

“Great, see you then.”

Michaela waved as they left their apartment and shut the door.

“I guess I’m going with you to Neddy’s birthday.”

Fran sipped her water. “I can say you were busy.”

“Nah, I’ll go. Your family isn’t terrible. Besides, I haven’t seen some of them since Christmas.”

“I like to keep you to myself.” Fran joked. 

Michaela smiled. “You have no reason to be jealous. You’re my favorite.”

Fran wasn’t jealous but her family tended to try and monopolize Michaela’s time when they were in her orbit and Fran got pushed to the back. 

Fran felt a blush coming on from being called her favorite and pushed Michaela to her room. “I’m not jealous. Go before you’re late.”

Michaela smirked as she went to put on a shirt. 

The strange thing is that once Fran noticed that Kate and Sophie noticed Michaela, she couldn’t unnotice it.

She stood on the sidelines watching Neddy, her niblings, and Neddy’s school friends play in the bouncy house that Anthony got while listening to Eloise and Pen talk about the latest episode of Traitors. Michaela was laughing with Simon across the lawn over something when Augie ran over to his dad and pulled him down to talk. He was followed by his youngest sister who raised her arms and demanded Michaela pick her up. 

She obliged with a sweet grin and Fran noticed her arms flex in her tee shirt. Then she heard a very faint sigh behind her. She turned around and saw Sophie.

“Hi, Soph.”

“Hey. Enjoying the party?”

“Oh yeah,” Fran said flatly.

“Didn’t you know, Fran loves Sonic.” Eloise joked behind her. Fran rolled her eyes.

Sophie nodded. “She has good taste.”

“Where’s Alex?”

“Inside with Ben. He was getting a bit too red, I wanted him to cool off.” Sophie wasn’t looking at them but staring at Michaela hold Caroline in one arm while lifting Miles with the other. 

Eloise swung her hand in front of Sophie’s eyes. “Sophie?”

“Sorry. I think I might be a bit too hot. I’ll be back.” Sophie nodded before walking inside.

“It is hot. Why would Anthony have an outdoor party on the one day it’s sunny?” Eloise grumbled.

“Because he didn’t want a lot of people in the house,” Fran replied.

“There are always people in the house. I don’t know why he cared this time.” Eloise grumbled and looked at Fran. “Are you okay?”

Fran nodded, looking away from Michaela being effortlessly gorgeous. “I’m fine.”

“I think we all need to cool off,” Pen said wiping her forehead with her wrist. “I’m going to take Thomas inside for a bit.”

“Have fun.” Eloise waved as Pen went to grab her son. She leaned over to whisper to Fran. “This is so boring.”

Fran nodded in agreement.

“We should have come later.”

“Later in time for cake or later when the kids were done screaming.”

Eloise groaned when one of Neddy’s friends screamed as she ran past them. “Done screaming.”

Fran nodded again.

Fran, despite not offering, was roped into helping clean up. It was times like this with her family that her default position of quietest Bridgerton came into play and she heard things that she normally wouldn’t hear if people remembered she was in the room. She was packing up the extra paper plates and cups in the pantry when she heard Sophie and Kate standing at the sink, “washing” the dishes.

“I feel a bit guilty. You know?” Sophie asked.

“You aren’t dead. It’s window shopping.” Kate replied.

“Window shopping?”

“You are looking in a shop window and fantasizing. You have no intention of going in and buying something.”

“I feel like you are walking the aisles while I wait outside.”

“She’s gorgeous. I would have allowed her to do many things to me if I met her in a bar before Anthony.”

Fran raised her eyebrows from the pantry. Who were they talking about?

“What kind of things?”

“Filthy things. So many filthy things.”

Fran finally heard water and splashing so she slipped out, moving quietly to exit the kitchen.

“At least pretend you’re listening when she’s talking.”

“I am! While I stare at her.”

Sophie laughed. “Kate.”

“She doesn’t wear a shirt…she’s inviting us to look.”

Fran glared at the realization of who they were talking about.

“I think she is inviting Fran to enjoy the view.”

“Well, we’re getting to be lucky bystanders of that.”

Fran stumbled into a stool. What?

“Fran, are you okay?” Sophie asked.

“Yeah, fine.” Fran grimaced. “Stool jumped out.”

“I hate when that happens,” Kate said before shutting the water off and Fran realized that they had actually done the dishes while talking. They smiled at her as they left the kitchen.

Fran looked out the window and saw Michaela sitting on the patio with Colin laughing.

She looked up and waved at Fran.

Fran waved back.

Fran was officially on guard to block Kate and Sophie’s window shopping. 

Not out of jealousy.  She was not jealous. 

This was out of a desire to prevent her brothers from popping a blood vessel when they inevitably realized what their wives were doing.

She had kept Michaela away from her family for a few weeks but they were eventually back in the fold for the annual Pall Mall tournament.

“This is croquet,” Michaela stated. They were standing back and watching her siblings bicker about the order of play.

“Kind of,” Fran whispered and smiled at her unenthusiastic face. “You don’t have to play.”

“No?”

“No. It’s really a siblings thing. Well, a siblings and Kate thing and Simon when he’s here. Sophie is being dragged in this year. You can stay back, Mama and Agatha are going to watch the kids. I think Pen is going to nap.”

“I don’t want to babysit or nap.”

“You brought a board. There’s cement around.”

“Violet won’t be angry?”

“No. She’ll probably let the kids watch from the window. You’ll be doing her a favor.”

Michaela smiled and scampered off. 

What Fran failed to think about is the implications of Michaela skateboarding around their estate while they were playing.

They came back after a longer than necessary battle of the wills. Fran was behind most of her siblings, having waited for Simon and Daphne to get Daphne’s ball out of the mud. She wanted to avoid Anthony’s complaining that Benedict beat him and Kate at the last minute. What Fran didn’t think about was what she was going to see when she finally got back to the house. First, she saw a Michaela-sized blur roll past her. 

Thankfully, she was wearing her helmet. She also wasn’t wearing a shirt. 

Then she saw Kate and Sophie, sitting on the back stairs, with their kids and Daphne’s, watching Michaela go by.

“Oh no. She’s going to give Augie and Bel ideas.” Daphne groaned.

“Too late.” Simon sighed. 

Fran wanted to groan for a different reason. 

They arrived at the steps and Daphne and Simon shooed the kids inside for lunch.

“What’s for lunch?” Fran asked.

“The kids picked pizza,” Sophie replied as she stood up. She walked up a step. “Kate?”

Kate looked up. “Oh, I’m waiting for Michaela to come back around. I don’t want her to miss lunch.”

“I can get her,” Fran said.

“It’s fine,” Kate replied and Sophie shook her head before going inside.

Fran took a deep breath and opened her mouth to ask Kate why she was thirsting so hard after Michaela when until she felt a solid mass send her hurtling to the ground. Michaela hugged her to her chest before kicking her board away and they tumbled in a heap on the grass.

“Shit.” Fran felt Michaela feel the back of her head. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I didn’t hit my head.” Michaela ignored her and looked for blood before looking into her eyes. Fran was truly fine and didn’t even hit the ground. 

Michaela’s body broke her fall.

“Are you sure? How many fingers?” Michaela held up her hand with two fingers. Kate hovered behind them worried with Michaela’s skateboard in hand.

“Two. I’m okay. Are you okay?”

Michaela nodded, worried sick. Fran patted her arm and Michaela hopped up and pulled her upright. 

“Where did you come from?”

“We’re done.”

“Yeah? Who won?” She pulled her shirt out of her belt loop and wiped the sweat rolling in her eyes. Fran’s eyes went to sweat rolling her chest down to her obliques and she swallowed. She saw Kate also enjoying the view.

“Ben.”

“Good for Ben.” 

Michaela turned around and grabbed her skateboard. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Kate said. “Are you alright?” She brushed the grass off Michaela’s bare shoulder.

“I’m good. Fran’s the one that got knocked over.” Kate glanced at her.

“I’m fine, Kate. I think I fell more on Michaela than the ground.” 

“Good. We can’t have you two getting hurt. Who will teach the kids to play piano and do sports.”

Michaela frowned. “I’m not good at all sports.”

“So?” Kate threaded her arms with theirs and pulled them inside.

Fran didn’t factor in that they would come over to their flat. She opened the door to see the three of them stretching on the floor.

“Hi?”

“Hey.” Michaela smiled from the floor.

“What’s going on?”

“Sophie and Kate wanted to get a little Skateboarding 101.”

Fran set her sheet music on the counter. “Neddy and Charlie?”

Sophie laughed. “Yes, so Michaela is nice enough to give us a bit of a crash course.”

“We’re going to scoot around the park. Come with?”

Fran didn’t want to go. Moving on wheels was Michaela’s domain and Fran always felt extremely uncoordinated when she tried to. But…

“Let me change.”

Fran sat on a bench and watched Michaela pull Sophie down the sidewalk while Sophie giggled in nervous energy.

Kate sat next to her. “Have you ever had a desire to learn?”

Fran shook her head. “No. She asks weekly.”

Kate nodded with a grin. “It’s a bit terrifying.”

They watched Sophie push herself forward and Michaela cheer in delight. Sophie stopped and turned around. 

“I did it!”

“Good job, Soph!”

Michaela picked her up and swung her around in a circle.

“Although, that is a nice incentive,” Kate murmured and Fran looked at her. Really?

“Not for me. For someone who could go for it. Like that girl over there.” Kate pointed and Fran saw a woman standing by them, waiting to get Michaela’s attention.

Michaela grinned and allowed the woman to pull her into a hug. The girl seemed to caress Michaela’s shoulders and linger in the hug, pulling back to talk but staying in her arms.

“Okay, who’s next?” Sophie asked as she made it to the bench.

Kate held out her hand for the skateboard that Sophie was holding but Fran snatched it. 

“I’ll go.”

“Oh? Fran, you’re…” Sophie trailed off.

“Michaela’s been begging to teach me for a while. Why not?” Fran stormed over. She missed the smile Kate sent Sophie.

“Well, the good thing is nothing is broken,” Michaela said as she taped the final gauze to Fran’s arm. 

Fran was never skateboarding again. She examined the 3 bandages in the mirror and sighed.

“I told you I wouldn’t be good at it,” Fran said.

“You’re too in your head about it. You just gotta relax.”

“I was relaxed until the crack in the curb sent me hurtling to the ground.”

“I’m just glad you didn’t get your face.”

“Excuse me?”

“You have a nice face.”

Fran blushed. “Thank you. And thank you for this.”

“No problem.”

They were silent as Michaela finished patching her up. “Are we going to talk about it?”

“Talk about what? My fall?”

“You implied you were my girlfriend to Val.”

“Val?” Fran remembered Val. The woman who hugged Michaela a bit too long. Michaela’s deadpan face informed Fran that she knew Fran remembered too.

“Red hair. Was saying hello as you walked up.”

“She’s touchy.”

Michaela nodded. “Very tactile.”

“You looked uncomfortable.

“That’s why you acted like that?”

“Yes.”

Michaela nodded. “Oh. Well, thanks.”

Michaela started packing up the first aid kit and Fran watched her. Michaela’s voice had a sad puppy quality that Fran had never heard from her before and her movements were jerky, also rare.

“Are you mad about me stopping it?”

Michaela looked up. “What? No. I tolerate her touching me like that.”

“You don’t look like yourself.”

Michaela shrugged. “I’m fine.”

“Okay.”

“She’s not my type.”

“Oh?” Michaela’s hand tapped on the counter next to Fran’s leg. “What is your type?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Michaela smiled. “I’m going to pick up dinner.”

“Wait.”

“Yeah?”

“Why were you upset just now?”

“You know why.”

Fran did know why and Michaela had subtly let her know the ball was in her court. “What are you getting?”

“Your favorite. I feel like you could use the pick-me-up.”

“I could.”

“I bring tidings of naan, curry chicken, and paneer,” Michaela cheered as she opened the door and kicked it closed.

Fran looked back and stared at her.

“What?”

“Is this our first date?”

Michaela stopped moving and stared. “First date?”

Michaela looked a mix between astonished and hopeful.

Fran smiled. “Because takeaway is a pretty weak first date but I’m willing to go on a second.”

Michaela grinned and brought their food over. “A second date already promised? How did I get so lucky?”

“It’s the arms.”

Michaela laughed. “I figured.” She handed Fran her order and sat in the opposite corner of the couch. “Does this first date come with a kiss?”

Fran shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Can I get it now?”

Fran set her food on the coffee table. “Yes.”

Michaela grinned and leaned forward, kissing her for the first time.

Their food got cold.

They had only been dating for six weeks. The dynamic shift was miniscule but there and Fran was enjoying being Michaela’s girlfriend. They still had separate rooms but Fran was sleeping in Michaela’s nest of pillows she called a bed most nights and half of her clothes were in Michaela’s sparse closet. 

They were over at her mother’s house for a family get together for no other reason than their mother wanted them all there. 

Fran had thought about announcing their relationship but wanted to stay in the bubble just a bit longer.

Ben walked into the living room. “Hey, where’s Sophie?”

Anthony looked away from Greg’s phone showing a YouTube video of something . “Outside with Michaela and Kate.”

Ben nodded and Fran nonchalantly got up. Based on Eloise’s look, she did not succeed.

“I’ll be back.”

She made her way to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, pretending to get a bottle of water, for her alibi, and looked out the window. 

There was her girlfriend, shirtless while Sophie took a photo of her. She only saw the back of Kate’s head.

Feeling a rising anger she hadn’t experienced since Eloise stole her Halloween candy when they were six and seven, Fran opened the back door and glared at Sophie who looked at her and slowly put her camera down.

“Fran?” Michaela asked.

Fran shut the door behind her, taking a deep breath to avoid sounding as shrill as she wanted to. Michaela looked worried, and Fran sent her a small smile. She wasn’t angry at her; she was gorgeous and perfect. 

The other two…

“I think I need to address this once and for all.” Fran glared at Kate and Sophie, ignoring Michaela’s shocked face. “Why do I always see you two around when she’s half naked?”

“What?” Sophie gave an unbelievable laugh. “We aren’t doing anything.”

Fran raised an eyebrow.

“Okay I admit that this doesn’t look good but I was here to ask Michaela about a photography series a friend is doing. I don’t know why Kate is here.”

“I’m not going to apologize. My husband is not angry by my looking and Michaela is a single woman.”

“No, she’s not,” Fran replied. Fran’s statement hung in the air for a moment then Kate squealed.

“Finally. You two have been dancing around each other for months.” Kate smiled before squeezing Michaela’s bicep. “I’ll miss this.”

Michaela nodded. “I know.”

Fran wanted to stamp her foot. “Does my brother know about the touching?” 

Kate frowned at Fran. “I see why they say you are no fun.”  Fran glared but Kate ignored her. “Oh Alright. Fran. I’m sorry. You have no reason to be jealous but I will stop. I know how you Bridgertons get.”

Sophie pulled Kate back into the house. “Yes Fran, we are very sorry. No need to be jealous.”

“I’m not.” She sounded whiny even to her own ears.

Sophie chucked as she shut the door. Fran looked at Michaela who was beaming.

“You are so jealous.”

“Put your shirt on.”

Michaela chuckled and Fran huffed. She turned to walk back in the house and Michaela pulled her back. Before Fran could protest, Michaela had sat down and pulled her into her lap. She felt Michaela wrap her arms around her before resting her chin on Fran’s shoulder.

“You have nothing to worry about.”

“I’m not jealous,” Fran grumbled. She was.

It’s all in good fun.” Michaela grinned and tried to catch her eyes. Fran avoided her grin before her hand was pulled toward Michaela’s stomach.

“Here, feel.” Fran felt her muscles jumping. “I’m flexing.”

Fran frowned. “What?”

“I’m flexing. Do you think my stomach just jumps without thought? I’m playing my part.”

Michaela let go of her hand but Fran didn’t move, just let her fingers trace the abs individually. Michaela smiled and leaned back. 

“Your part?”

“Fran.” Michaela gestured at her body. “I’m aware of what all of this does to women.”

Fran nodded. She could hear the pride in her voice. Michaela should be proud. Her body was a work of art. 

“I know it’s my job to give women something visual to enjoy.  Some women like to stare. Your sisters-in-law happen to be in the number. The bisexuality doesn’t disappear just because they are married to men.”

“I know that.” Fran sighed. The anger and jealousy slowly faded away. 

“I don’t want you mad at them,” Michaela whispered.

“I’m not truly. Well, not at Sophie. She’s been subtle.  Kate…”

“Kate’s a flashing neon sign. I’ve never been touched so much when I had a shirt off.” 

Michaela chuckled. “I may have encouraged her.”

Fran smacked her shoulder. “Oww.”

“She’s married to my brother.”

“So?” Fran moved to smack her shoulder again. “I’m kidding. She asked if I was okay with her window shopping.”

“So, you are okay with the window shopping?”

“What part of I’m aware of my body’s effect on women is unclear?”

‘With Kate and Sophie. You’re friends with them.”

“I’m used to it.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Michaela shrugged. “I know they like me for things besides my perfect body. I’m cool with it.”

Fran adjusted herself on Michaela’s lap and looked at her. Michaela may be okay with it but Fran wasn’t.

“Maybe I’m not cool with it . Maybe I don’t want people window shopping.” Fran is aware she sounded insane but she may very well get there if she has to see Michaela constantly ogled now that they are in a relationship. “Maybe the store should put a curtain up.”

Michaela grinned. “So this is for your eyes only?”

Fran looked at her hand still resting on her abs. “Yes.”

Michaela smirked. “Hand me my shirt.”

Fran reached over and grabbed it. Michaela tried to take it but Fran kept her grip on it. “I’m not saying you need to do it right this second. When we go back inside.”

Michaela laughed and wiggled her shirt out of her grip. “You are shameless. Chastizing Kate and Sophie for the same behavior you’re doing.”

“I am. The difference is that I can shop there.”

Michaela winked. “Everything in stock is for you and you only.” She smiled. “Maybe the store should be closed to the public.”

Fran blushed as Michaela put on her shirt.

She didn’t hate that idea. “Maybe it should.”

They came back inside the house to cheers from her siblings. Fran kissed the corner of Michaela’s smirking mouth - partly to soothe herself from the incoming prying and partly because she just wanted to kiss Michaela.

“Finally, you two!” Ben yelled. “We thought you would never figure it out. Who picked this week?”

Fran rolled her eyes. 

“We’ve been dating a while actually.” Michaela corrected them and everyone frowned.

“What’s a while?”

“Weeks.”

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Anthony asked.

“It was none of your business?” Fran replied.

“Kate could have stopped fake flirting with Michaela earlier.”

Fran looked at her sister-in-law who had a light blush. “Fake flirting? Anthony thinks it was fake?”

“It wasn’t fake?” Anthony asked with a scowl.

“Why would I flirt with Michaela when I have you here?” Kate replied and he gave her a goofy grin.

“Because she’s in better shape than him,” Hy wondered out loud.

“If that was fake flirting, I’m eating a sock,” Eloise grumbled.

“Yeah, Kate wasn’t faking,” Pen added. “I know what I saw.”

“Sophie set them straight. We weren’t flirting,” Kate said and Sophie shook her head.

“Oh, I’ll be honest. I was flirting. I mean, who hasn’t flirted with Michaela at one point?”

Fran looked around the living room and only Colin, Anthony, Simon, and Daphne raised their hands. She felt Michaela rub her knuckles with her thumb and smiled. Surprisingly, Fran did not feel an ounce of jealousy over that—the power of a simple shirt.

“I can’t believe this.” Anthony huffed. “Kate, you’ve been doing this for half a year.”

“It’s window shopping and you do it all the time. Don’t act like you don’t.”

Anthony reddened. “That’s not the point. Michaela is… Michaela .”

“Well, this store is closed to the public so you have nothing to worry about now,” Michaela replied.

“Who decided that?” Kate asked with a slight whine.

Michaela pointed her thumb at her. “Management.”