Damage Control (Madison)

[Franklin Hubbard]

After the lovely turned disastrous dinner with Angie and Jesse, since he and Madison had taken separate cars Frankie was driving home solo, and still in shock. He couldn't stop replaying his mother walking out in his mind. Wondering if it had really gone down like that or just been a bad dream? He was expecting for the dinner to go well into the evening, for both his parents to be supportive, at least relieved that he was picking up the pieces and moving on with a woman he loved that loved him just as much. And it wasn't as if he'd brought any girl on the street to dinner, his family had known Madison and even though their history wasn't sparkling together, things had changed.
Now he just didn't know what to do. He was grateful that Jesse had stepped up in a big way but Angie's reaction was driving him crazy. He and his mother were close and to think that something like this would be between them, that she was putting him in a position like this...it was enough to make his stomach hurt. Plus before he had a chance to try and smooth things out, Angie just up and left.
Now this was just gonna stew even longer and get worse before it got better. Frankie was trying not to let himself grow angry but it wasn't an easy task. He did know if he was feeling this angry that Madison was just as humiliated and hurt. And his priority tonight would be her, reassuring her that his mother was wrong and the two of them were right. He'd be damned if he lost her over something like this.

Getting up to the apartment he let himself in, and loosening his tie headed straight to the liquor cabinet. Pouring himself a shot of something on the stronger side, he drained it quickly before helping himself to another, and this time bringing it out onto the fire escape. It was a nice night and he needed some air.
Sighing heavily he sipped his drink, slower this time and trying to process things as best he could. All the while waiting for the woman he loved.

[fradison]

The very last place Madison should have been by herself was in the parking garage alone, but as crazy as it may have seemed it was only place she felt comfortable being at the moment. Going upstairs to her home… “God, now that is going to sound weird,” she mumbled, laying her head against the steering wheel and closing her eyes... Anyway, going to the apartment she and Frankie shared didn’t seem like a good idea. Not after all that happened just minutes ago at dinner. A part of her warned to be prepared because anything could happen at any given moment and she did. She instilled in herself that right the Hubbard’s would have some type of reaction to the news, especially after what she did to Frankie, but never in a million years did she think it would have been what had transpired. Never in a million years did she think Mrs. Hubbard would walk away, stay away for some time and then later returned with some made up story about them having to leave because of the kids. At first Madison had given the woman the benefit of the doubt, but then she remembered sometime into getting their dinner the woman had checked her phone and slipped it into her purse. And when she later walked out, the purse stayed.

Madison’s mind replayed the scene of Frankie’s mother leaving and the look of hurt on his face over and over in her head and began to wonder. Wonder if her and Frankie being together was really all of that important anymore. She loved her some Frankie. Loved him more than any word in the dictionary could even began to describe, but was her love really enough. Mean the man loved his mother like no other and from the little he shared with her it had always been the two of them when his father was gone. No matter what they always stayed close. Madison didn’t want to come in between that… “You can’t come in between that,” she said to herself as she finally got out and headed up. As much as those words hurt her, she knew it was true.

When Madison made it upstairs and inside she caught sight of a liquor bottle on the cabinet and seconds later felt a light breeze. The hairs on the back of her neck stood as fear coursed through her veins. While in the garage her mind had been so hazy she hadn’t even thought to see if Frankie had made it in and now that she thought about when she walked in the door had been unlocked. Frankie didn’t usually leave the door unlocked. Especially not since she’d gotten another threatening call from James. “Frankie,” she called lightly, taking cautious steps toward the window and nearly running back out when she saw a pair of feet on the fire escape. But soon after recognition hit her when a deep voice answered her. “What are you doing?” She asked, sticking her head out and looking up at him.

[Franklin Hubbard]

Hearing footsteps Frankie's grip tightened on his glass as he turned around.
"Mads?"
He questioned, not knowing who else it would be though.
When she stuck her head out he gave her a small smile, and nodded for her to come out with him which she did.
"I just needed some air, wanted to..think about some things."
He sighed, but felt tension in the air and saw worry in her eyes after he said that. Taking a seat next to her, he gave her a quick kiss before taking her hand and gently squeezing it.
"Madison I'm so sorry about tonight. I went in there expecting everything to run smoothly and, instead we were both blindsided. In a million years I never thought my mother would act like that. I..I still can't believe it even happened."
He sighed bitterly, taking another swig of his drink.
"I'll give her a few days to cool off before I talk to her, but I'm not gonna back down or change my mind. I...there's no debate here. Now that she knows we're together, that we're in love, she's gonna have to accept it. I swear I'm not, letting her or anything else come between us."
Frankie assured, but looked in Madison's eyes for confirmation.
"You believe me, right?"

[fradison]

Madison giggled as she stepped out of her shoes and joined him. “Oh,” she sighed moving to sit on the staircase when she heard him say he’d been thinking. She never dreaded those words more in her life than she did just now. Part of her wanted to know what he was thinking about, well she knew but she wanted to know what he really thought about it. Wanted to know where here mindset was. Was he getting ready to break up with her? Was he getting ready to tell her she had to leave his home? Even though she told herself before she walked in to prepare for the worst she hadn’t.

“Yea, I can’t believe it either,” Madison sighed, watching him and wanting so badly to take that drink from him. She remembered the last time he had too much to drink and she didn’t want to see him like that again. After watching him take another swig she reached for the glass and shook her head. “So what no?” She curiously asked, setting the glass off to the side.

Her heart was beating so fast before hearing that he wasn’t giving up, so you can just about imagine what it was doing now. It was all but thumping out of her chest! “Really?” She asked and watched him nod. “Oh Frankie!” She shrieked, dropping his hand and throwing her arms around her.

But for how long, her inner self asked. The same inner self she thought she locked up a long time ago. How long before he decides to agree with his dear old momma? How long before he decides to kick you to the curb? Do you the same way Henry did? Or your father? How long Madison?

“Frankie, I… I love you,” Madison whispered, trying to push down the old her. The one that knew better than to believe in some crap like this. The one that knew better than to believe anything good anybody ever said to her. No, she couldn't and she wouldn't let the old her control her thoughts.

[Franklin Hubbard]

Watching the blond squeal like a little kid, Frankie couldn't help but laugh, loudly.
"Alright, guess that answers my question!"
He chuckled, before suddenly her voice went soft and serious and said three words, that made him smile ear to ear, melt, and want to hand Madison North the world on a silver platter.
"Mads I..." As much as he wanted to speak he didn't know what else to say. But decided actions would probably speak louder than words at this point.
Moving closer he cupped her face and gave her a soft gentle but meaningful kiss on the lips before pulling back slightly.
"I love you too Madison, God.. I love you so much."
He promised, staring right into her eyes before kissing her again, this time with more fire but just as sweetly as before. He'd kiss her like this the rest of his life if she let him. But right then and there he knew nothing was ever gonna keep him from this woman. Not his mother, not her father..nothing would keep them apart.

[fradison]

“Wha-" She was cut off when he cupped her face and gave her the most gentlest kiss of all. Her began to go pitter patter and shudders ran up and down her spine. When he pulled back she flipped her eyes up to him and gave him a soft smile. When he told her how much he loved her she slipped a lock of hair behind her ear and blushed.

For how long? Her inner self asked yet again.

Before Madison could let that ruin her mood and as if he knew Frankie leaned in for another kiss. This one more passionate and sweeter than candy. A moan emitted from her throat as she eased her arms around his neck. She would never ever tire of kissing and being with this man. Frankie was like a breath of fresh air and the more time they spent together the more she realized he was the man for her.

[Franklin Hubbard]

After Madison slipped her arms around his neck, almost all the self control Frankie had in him went away. For the moment he couldn't think of anything else aside from how much he wanted her, and given how intensely she was kissing him back it seemed she felt the same.

Pulling back from the kiss, breathless he stood up bringing her with him, and was set to lean in, take back her lips, sweep her into his arms, and then go the rest of the way to bed.
But before going through with the leaning, and the taking, and the sweeping, feeling the need to slow things down, Frankie paused, staring deep into her eyes, needing to know for certain this was what she wanted. Especially after all the major things that had been realized tonight.
Holding Madison's face he kissed her forehead gently, before his hands slid down to rub her shoulders. All the while he looked down at her with half lidded eyes.
"Not to bring things to a screeching halt but...let's slow it down some. Make what we said tonight last longer. Hmm?"
He asked, giving her a shy smile. Still replaying her saying those words to him and just wanting to live in the moment as long as he could.

[fradison]

Blushing like a school girl, Madison nodded and soon leaned in to give him a peck on the lips. “I love nothing more than to do that,” she assured before turning around and climbing back into the apartment and waited for him to follow suit. When he did she took his hand in hers and wrapped them around her waist. "How about we take things down an extra notch and lower our water bill... together," she hinted, raising a brow.

Before she walked through that door she'd been going over and over in her mind the things she would do if Frankie went along with what his mother said. Wondering if as soon as she walked in would he have her bags packs. But Frankie had did the opposite. He had managed to push her fears down and make her see things weren't going to change just because of his mother. No matter what she was his and he was hers. Nothing and nobody could come in between what they had.

[Franklin Hubbard]

"Oooh, I like the way you think."
Frankie replied with a teasing grin, thinking that sounded very appealing to him right then and there. Still holding her waist he turned her around so her back was against him, and pulled her close before slowly brushing his lips on top of her head. Then moving to her ear, he nibbled her lobe ever so slightly, a move he knew drove her crazy, before whispering.
"Race ya!"
He challenged before taking off to the master bath, laughing like a kid the whole way there.

[fradison]

“Frankie,” she sighed when he started nibbling on her earlobe and then suddenly took off running. “Oh you!” She called out, running after him down the hall. Laughing just as hard as he was the way. “You know what Hubbard you don’t play fair,” she said, crossing her arms. “And you know what else… I think you should bathe alone,” she suggested. Madison tapped her chin and nodded. “Yep, I think that is exactly what you should do.” And with that she turned on her bare heels, walked out the bathroom and hid.

[Franklin Hubbard]

"Oh I don't?"
Frankie questioned, giving his girlfriend a smug grin before he too crossed his arms, mocking her a bit. Then she decided to turn the tables on him though and walk out.
"Hey!"
He laughed, but when she didn't come back he frowned. He didn't sign up for this. Poking his head out of the bathroom he glanced out and didn't see her. That didn't stop him from hearing her though, when a little giggle came from the kitchen.
"Man, you're making this impossible for me Mads."
Frankie smirked, and headed over there but wondered if she was making this game of hide and seek so easy for him on purpose. If maybe there was more up her sleeves...

[fradison]

When Frankie walked all the way into the living room Madison popped up from behind the counter and threw her shirt at him. “Last one to the bathroom is a dirty rotten egg,” she called, making a mad dash out of the kitchen, down the hall and into the bathroom. Madison quickly removed the rest of her clothes before hiding behind the bathroom door. And when he walked in she slammed it behind him and struck a pose. “Looking for me,” she asked, watching him turn to face her. Speaking in a low tone she inched closer to him. "I'm very competitive, so you know I couldn't just let you win like that," she teased, reaching him in only seconds. "Now that that's out of the way we can... Take things slow."

[Franklin Hubbard]

Shaking his head in awe as Madison took off, again, laughing Frankie jogged over to the bathroom only to see she'd pulled another disappearing act.
Hearing the door slam he jumped a bit before turning around. And his eyes went half mast seeing she was clearly ready for that shower.
"Why yes, I believe I am.."
Frankie said, his mouth a little dry as he spoke.
"No..I..I suppose you couldn't.."
He stammered, trying to control himself until she got closer and then all bets were off.
"Sounds terrific.."
Frankie grinned, before pulling her into a slow deep passionate kiss. All the while trying to get his remaining clothing off. Luckily she was helping.
After he was undressed, still kissing intensely they somehow got into the shower. But to Frankie's dismay he had to break it to get the water going.
Then once he did, he turned back to Madison with lust love and every emotion in the book in his eyes.
"Now..where were we?"
He teased, before she jumped back into his arms and he figured it out.