In The Arms Of My Angel

Chapter 144 - Impromptu Performances
"De heer Barculo. Stoppen. I know you speak English. Please just stop for a second, take a breath and tell me what the problem is. I couldn't make much sense of what your were saying." Urs instructed the man who'd spent five minutes standing at the reception desk of the Intercontinental Hotel, Los Angeles, yelling in Dutch at the receptionist, the young woman unable to understand much of what he was saying and turning to the manager for help.
"You know this gentleman sir?" The manager asked, his eyes rapidly darting from Urs to Saskia's father and back again.
"Ja, I do." Urs nodded, guiding Gregor Barculo towards the comfy seating in the lobby and making him sit down while he asked for a glass of water. "Now what's the problem?"
"Problem? Problem? It's not a problem, it's a disaster. My little girl's wedding is turning out to be a disaster." Gregor replied, swallowing a huge mouthful of water and taking a deep breath. "Saskia is back at the hotel in tears. Her chief bridesmaid, my niece, came down with food poisoning overnight. She's in hospital as I speak. No-one else is able to be a witness, they are too young."
"What about Ria, she's old enough." Urs suggested.
"I know, but she's on crutches."
"Crutches?! What happened?"
"Nothing serious, turned ankle as she was dismounting a horse a couple of days ago."
"Oh! So why did.........You mean Saskia would like Franky to take your niece's place?" Urs asked, recalling that he'd picked up Franky's name while Gregor had been speaking too quickly for him to understand everything he was saying and putting the pieces together quickly.
"Yes, that is what she wants."
"What about the dress? Will it fit? What is she going to do if it doesn't? The ceremony begins in just over two hours?"
"Don't you worry about that. My Oda can make any changes, it shouldn't involve much more than taking the hem up, according to what she says anyway. My niece is a similar build to Franky, just three inches taller."
The two men spent a few moments looking at each other then Urs moved back to the reception desk. He asked the young woman to buzz his and Franky's suite then spoke to her, saying little other than to tell her there was an emergency and that she needed to get down to reception as soon as possible. The call finished, he headed back to Gregor and waited with him until Franky came down from the twelvefth floor.
"Urs, what the hell is going on? Are Serena and Ciara all right?" Franky asked, breathing quickly once she'd reached them.
"They're fine. I'm sorry if I made you panic. It's Saskia who has the problem." Urs replied with a quick shrug as he guided Franky to sit beside Gregor and quickly explained the situation. "Don't look at me like that. I can manage the boys, it's not like they're babies anymore." He finished, somehow knowing what was going through Franky's mind without her having to vocalise it.
"You're sure Oda will be able to make the changes that quickly?"
"Ja, ik ben positief." Gregor replied, his head nodding rapidly.
"Well I guess I don't have much choice do I? I can't leave Sas in the lurch when she's done so much to help us. Okay........I'll do it." Franky nodded, taking in a deep breath as she stood up and beginning to remind Urs of a few things.
"Fire, shut up. I know, okay? There's not much to remember. I can manage, now go. Scoot!"
Franky huffed out a breath, gave Urs a quick kiss on the lips then left with Saskia's father, leaving Urs standing in the lobby chuckling to himself for a few minutes due to the fact he thought he'd been a last minute replacement at Carlos and Barbara-Jean's wedding and wondering if he would have stepped up if he'd had less than two hours notice. "Oh well, at least she doesn't have to give a speech." He concluded, turned on his heels, headed back to the lift and quickly flew back in time to what had happened just over a year ago, when Saskia had returned from visiting the man she'd met almost three years before with a two carat Marquise cut diamond and diamond side set contrasting gold band adorning the third finger of her left hand.
"Unbelieveable." Urs shook his head before leaving his car and starting his way to the back door of the Buhler home.
He paused to take a deep breath and set a smile on his face before entering but that quickly dropped when he saw Franky sitting at the kitchen table with Kurt, Serena, Ciara and Jordi, all of them crying to varying degrees.
"It's not fair Mami. I don't want her to go." Ciara whined, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"I know you don't, neither do I. But she has to do what's right for her and what have I always told you?"
"That life's not fair all the time and what other people need is more important than what we want." Kurt answered, swallowing hard.
"I'm going to miss her so much." Serena sniffed, blinking quickly.
"Now, now Seri. It's not like she's going tomorrow, you've got almost a year to spend making more memories."
"Yeah we do. And we can watch what she recorded any time we like." Jordi nodded, attempting a weak smile.
"Of course you can." Franky nodded then turned her head to look at Urs with tear-filled eyes. "Now how about you all head to the pool like you were going to before Saskia came back."
The four youngest children looked at each other, took deep breaths to compose themselves and gave their mother a tight hug before leaving the kitchen, Ciara sniffing an apology as she looked back. Franky shaking her head and smiling in return.
"Now. What's wrong with you?" Franky asked, wiping her eyes.
"Erm.....I'll tell you in minute. I'd like to know what's upset the kids and you first." Urs shrugged, taking a seat next to her.
"Oh Urs, what have I told you about that? Kids are baby goats."
"Sorry. What's upset you and the children?"
"I'm not upset. Not really. Saskia came back from visiting Ryan just after you left this morning. He's proposed, she's accepted and she's handed in her resignation."
"Oh! Well don't take this the wrong way, but she's been with us long enough. The ki.....children are getting to the age where they can pretty much take care of themselves."
"I know. I just like them to have something to keep them occupied while I do the garage accounts. Especially Jordi. He spends far too much time on his games station sometimes. I'll think of something before she leaves."
"I know you will. It will be nice to see her settled with Ryan, they'll make wonderful parents."
"That's never going to happen, Urs." Franky shook her head slowly.
"Why not? They're both still young enough to have children."
"I know they are, it just won't ever happen."
"Do you know something I don't?"
"Yes, I do and I have done since four months after Saskia came to work for us. Don't ask me what, Urs because I promised not to tell anyone."
"Okay. No need to snap at me. When's she planning on leaving?"
"Sorry. End of the tour, if that's all right with us."
"It's fine by me."
"And me too." Franky tutted, shaking her head. "So, what was wrong with you when you walked in? Don't you like the suits?"
"The suits are fine. It's that new assistant wardrobe mistress that's pissed me off. I don't want that woman anywhere near me and I've dealt with it. No-one but you gets to touch me the way she did."
"Oh! What did she do?"
"What didn't she do more like? Her hands were everywhere and I mean everywhere." Urs nodded down to his lap. "And when I got hold of her and told her stop, that's when she tried to kiss me. I pushed her away and she turned into a hellcat. Asking me when I was going to grow a set and pluck up the courage to ditch you for younger model that won't force me to have children I don't want or spend all my hard earned money. I fired her on the spot."
"Okay, anything else?"
"She told me I couldn't do that, that decision was up to the company that hired her. The guys came in because they'd heard her yelling. I told them what happened and they told her she was fired as well. She just stood there laughing until David informed her that we all owned 'PDWM Stagecraft' and I told her she was fired again. She told me I didn't know what I was missing out on, then stormed off, calling me an idiot as she left. Not that I care about that. Even if I was single, she would have been far too young for me."
"How old is she?"
"Twenty-three. Oh well, she's gone now. I just find it unbelieveable that there are still women out there that think like that and that some of them are that young for that matter." Urs huffed, shaking his head.
"Well I did tell you all those years ago it probably wouldn't ever stop didn't I? For a man over fifty, you're still damned fine looking, honey."
"Ja you did." Urs smiled, kissing the palm of the hand Franky used to touch his face. "And so are you."
"Thank you." She smiled in return, barely a wrinkle around her eyes. "I've got to go out and pick up Blair's birthday present. Are you coming with me or staying here?"
"I'll stay here, spend some time in the pool with the children. Not going to get much of a chance on the tour am I?"
Franky smiled, shook her head then gave him a quick kiss on the lips before she headed out of the back door. He waited for her to leave then headed upstairs to change into his plain black, loose fitting swim shorts. He looked in the bedroom mirror once he'd changed and laughed, thinking how ridiculous he would look now in ones he'd worn on honeymoon, despite the fact he was still relatively well-toned and looked a good ten years younger than he actually was, at least that's what the woman who'd most recently interviewed Il Divo had assumed. He had to admit they were all holding up pretty well, just a few wrinkles and grey hairs with the exception of Carlos, who he was certain was using something to cover his grey.
Chuckling to himself, Urs headed back downstairs and into the pool area and wasn't that surprised that one of the children had set the lights under the water to run through all the colours. He smiled when he saw them having a great time, throwing each other high in the air or playfully ducking one another under. He looked around for Saskia as he slipped into the water and saw her at the far end of the diving-board, preparing to do her usual power-bomb at the deep end. His eyes widened when he saw how high she jumped into the air and all the children turned their heads as she hit the water. She came up smiling and pushing her hair back.
"My turn!" Kurt yelled, hauling himself out and making his way to the diveboard.
"Hey, Kurt. I hope you've tied those shorts on properly this time." Serena teased, laughing when her twin turned round and stuck his tongue out.
"Yeah, like we need to see your bare hiney yet again. Way gross." Ciara cringed then giggled.
"You're just jealous 'cos my butt's cuter than yours." Kurt retorted, standing on the back of the board and rolling his shoulders backwards.
"In your dreams." Serena and Ciara replied together as Kurt started to move, hitting the water with a huge splash, the two of them covering their eyes. "He hasn't lost them again has he Papi?"
"Nein, he's still.....Whoa!" Urs began, stopping short because someone had grabbed his legs and pulled him under.
Jordi it turned out once he'd got his bearings, watching the grinning teenager swim away from him and immediately giving chase. Catching up to him at the deep end, grabbing hold of him around the waist, the two of them emerging together.
"You think that's funny do you? Come here you." Urs asked, laughing as he picked the wriggling youth up and tossed him a few feet away.
"Papi! Watch me and Seri." Ciara's shout grabbed his attention and he turned to see them near the diving board.
Serena went first, jumping high into the air and performing a forward roll before entering the pool head first, Ciara doing the same though not quite as elegantly as her sister.
"Very good. Who taught you to do that?" Urs asked once they'd reached him.
"Saskia did. She'd teach us more, but that's the only one she can do properly." Serena sniffed, her eyes focused on the approaching au pair.
"Hey! No tears, Seri or you Ciara. I'll miss you too you know? You're happy for me aren't you?" Saskia asked, smiling and shaking her head.
"Yes."
"Good. Because I'd like all of you at the wedding. It wouldn't be the same without you there. It's not arranged yet, because I have to check what your father's schedule is like. Ryan and I have agreed not to schedule it while he's working. Okay?"
"Okay." Serena and Ciara nodded, smiling again.
"What's for lunch? I'm hungry." Jordi's asked, slipping up on Saskia's right side, his arm around her waist.
"Your favourite."
"Yay! BLTs. Come on you three, let's get changed."
"Shame there's no Dutch apple cake as well." Urs stated to Saskia with a smile both of them watching the children leave the pool with smiles on their faces.
"Who says there isn't?" Saskia grinned just before she started to swim towards the steps.
Wondering how she'd found time to make her speciality since she'd returned from Los Angeles, Urs shook his head then swam in the same direction but heaved himself out rather than using the steps. Once he was upright, he looked towards where Saskia was standing and saw that she had a recording device in her hands.
"Another good memory to add to the already vast collection." She shrugged, turning the machine off. "Something wrong?"
"Ne.........I was just thinking that it's a shame you won't be able to have children of your own. You're fantastic with children. Haven't you and Ryan considered IVF?"."
"There's no point." Saskia replied, knocking a couple of tears from her eyes. "I trust Franky. I know she hasn't told you what my problem is, but IVF would be no help. I erm.........I.....I was born without the....necessary equipment to conceive a child........no ovaries. Ryan is.......well he contracted Mumps when he was twenty-three and I know you know what can happen there. It makes me sad, but we can always adopt."
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Sas."
"Thanks. There's no need to be. It's been hard to accept, but we're both dealing with our problems. And now you know why I've stayed with you and Franky so long. I'm going to miss the children terribly when I leave."
"Ja. I know you will." Urs nodded, watching their au pair leave the pool area and swallowing hard.
Showered and heading back into the bedroom Urs smiled when he saw Franky entering with Blair's birthday present already wrapped for the following morning. He kissed her once she'd placed it in the bottom of her wardrobe then started to redress.
"I've been thinking while I've been out." He heard her inform and turned round to face her.
"About what?"
"An engagement present for Saskia and Ryan."
"Okay. And?"
"Romantic dinner for two at 'Ramone's' in LA, limo, the works. What do you think?"
"Great idea. Sort of thinking along the same lines myself. It's going to be a surprise, right?"
"Of course." Franky nodded, flicking her chin in the air.
Urs nodded, finished re-dressing then wrapped his arm around Franky's waist to go back downstairs. The children were already seated at the table, eagerly awaiting their lunch and drooling over the Dutch apple cake that sat in the middle of the table. He and Franky took their seats and sat watch Sakia's recording while they waited for her to finish making the sandwiches. Franky laughing at the antics she saw on the small screen.
"What are you two up to?" Saskia asked, swallowing the first bite of her sandwich.
"Us? Nothing." Urs replied, shrugging and smiling in response before he turned to whisper in Franky's ear.
"Papi, Gross." The children chimed together obviously thinking he was whispering something naughty.
"No honey, your eyes didn't fly to the left." Franky replied whispering in his ear and smiling through tear-filled eyes.
Still chuckling to himself, Urs stepped out of the lift once the doors had opened and quickly made his way back to the suite, recalling that Saskia and Ryan had both had the Stunned Goldfish looks on their faces once they'd been told where Urs and Franky were sending them. Ryan had spent months trying to reserve a table at 'Ramone's' Los Angeles, had never been able to get through on the phone and questioning how they'd been able to do it. Neither of them had answered him, just firmly told the couple to enjoy themselves and not to worry about the cost of their meal as they gently pushed them out towards the waiting limo. Oh ja, having direct contact with Brandie Ramone had certainly come in very handy for that and it had been the very first time they'd used it, despite having had her number for over ten years.
Once back inside the suite, Urs looked his sons over, happy to see that they were almost ready to go and nodding his head when he saw the Frank hadn't tied his hair back too tightly and that he was smiling now, rather than pouting a little due to the fact Carina wasn't going to be at the marriage ceremony because it was a small, intimate affair. No more than one hundred and fifty people had been invited and the Buhlers considered themselves lucky to have received an invite considering how many family members and friends were going to be there. At least Carina would be at the reception, which was going to be a much more lavish affair with the other Divos and their families in attendance.
Urs gave Frank a quick pat on the shoulder, looked Kurt over and laughed when he saw him fiddling with his tie. He never had liked wearing them and Urs knew it would be off and stuffed in his jacket pocket once all the official stuff was over. Kurt's mobile began to ring and he quickly dashed back into his bedroom once he'd checked who was calling. A turn of his head brought Jordi into view. Urs knew he hated taking pills, but he had to smile when he saw the eye-rolling young man popping his anti-histamines into his mouth.
"Where's Mami gone?" Jordi asked after swallowing a mouthful of water.
Urs laughed, rolled his eyes then told them all what had happened downstairs. The young men laughed once they'd gotten over the shock then moved to the lounge area to wait for their father while he got changed. Within half an hour Urs was showered, dressed and out the door with Frank, Kurt and Jordi. They took the lift together and walked through the reception area, receiving some very admiring looks and a couple of quiet wolf whistle's as they did so.
"Hey! I knew Urs had brother, but didn't know he was just as good looking." Urs heard one young woman commenting to her friend just loud enough for all of them to hear.
"That's not his brother you idiot, that's his son. He is gorgeous, but just look at Kurt. That ass is......" The friend replied.
"Hey! Stop embarrassing him. I'll tell Troy."
"Tell him, he won't be bothered. Like he always says, there's no harm in admiring beauty in all its forms. Have you seen their mother recently? Almost fifty years old and still looking amazing. I wonder where she is? I know she was here last night."
"I don't know. I hope I look that good when I'm forty, never mind fifty."
"Yeah. Me too."
Those were the last words Urs heard as he passed through the main door and walked round to the hire car that stood waiting for him. He took one last look at his boys as he opened the door then made himself comfortable in the driver's seat, happy to find that the concierge had arranged for the satnav to be programmed. He eased into traffic, himself and his sons singing along to whatever came on the radio and enjoying the scenery, arriving at the LA River Centre and Gardens just ahead of Sylvie and Nicholas. He parked first and watched Kurt move round to the passenger side of Nicholas's hire car, intent on helping Sylvie out of the seat.
"Are you sure there's only one in there Sylvs? You look like Mami did when she was pregnant with me and Serena." Kurt asked once Sylvie was standing upright.
"Oh yes. Just the one. I'll be glad when he's out of there. He's a swine for pushing against my ribs just as I'm dozing off at night." Sylvie replied, her hands carressing her swollen stomach, a huge smile lighting up her face as Nicholas came to her side.
"Remember what I said. We can leave anytime you feel you've had enough."
"I know. I heard you the first three times you said it. Stop fussing. I'm fine. Do I have to remind you how much energy I've had the past couple of weeks?"
"Erm........No." Nicholas shook his head in reply, his face flushing bright red as he turned to Urs and asked where Franky was.
Once again, he explained what had happened earlier in the day and watched the Stunned Goldfish look slowly find its way across his son-in-laws features.
"I don't know what you're looking like that for Nick. As if Mami would let Saskia down." Sylvie chuckled just before greeting her father with hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Got used to the idea yet?" She asked, nodding down to her belly.
"I'm sure I will have by the time he arrives." Urs replied teasingly due to the fact he had become used to the idea of being a grandfather since the crash and could barely wait to hold his namesake in his arms.
"I wasn't the least bit worried. Don't let Nick tell you any different."
Urs looked around Sylvie to Nick as she slipped her arms through the ones they offered and laughed at the eyeroll and head flick Nicholas gave in response to Sylvie's statement. He hadn't needed to see that to know that Sylvie was fibbing, her eyes had flown to the left even before she'd started speaking and he wondered if Nicholas had figured that habit out yet. He set a smile on his face then walked around to the area where the ceremony would take place and quickly made himself comfortable once one of Ryan's brothers had shown them all to a row near the back and Sylvie had checked where the bathrooms were.
Once a deep breathing Ryan walked down the aisle, Urs and the rest of his family turned their mobiles off and sat chatting to a few other guests until they heard the trumpets of Mendelssohn's Wedding March begin and turned to watch the bridal party make their way down the aisle. Franky walked confidently ahead of Serena, who had one of Ryan's nieces by her side. Ciara and one of Saskia's cousin's daughters walked behind them, all their dress the same colour and almost the same design as Franky's, the spaghetti straps holding up the top being the only difference.
A few feet back the youngest members of the party walked, a boy of no more than seven carrying a cushion bearing the rings, looking very smart in a full black tuxedo. The other, a girl aged about six, her face reddening as she locked eyes with someone, her eyes flicking down to the burgundy skirted and white topped dress she wore. Her smile being returned as the man and woman indicated the embroidery across her chest. The little girl nodding as she happily scattering rose petals on the red carpet ahead of a slightly shaky Saskia and a much calmer looking Gregor. The top portion of her dress a form hugging bustier in burgundy with silver embroidery detail across chest, the lower half, full length, organza over silk with a few burgundy silk roses scattered here and there. Ryan watching her make his way towards him, his eyes wide and mouth gaping.
In what seemed like mere seconds rather than almost forty-five minutes Mrs Saskia Barculo had become Mrs Saskia Washington-Hawsley and was still blushing about the little mistake she'd made as she walked back up the aisle on Ryan's arm. The mistake she'd made being that she said 'I take you Montague Ryan Charles Washington-Hawsley to be my awful we.......lawful wedded husband......'.
Though he'd taken a few moments to admire Saskia's dress and thought she looked wonderful, it was what Franky wore that had taken his breath away the first time he'd seen her in the bridesmaids dress. The upper half a tight fitting strapless bustier with a starburst crystal design enhancing her waist, the skirt full length, all of it in burgundy. He smiled and nodded approvingly as she walked passed him but couldn't help feeling a little bit jealous that she was doing so on the best man's arm rather than his own. Maverick Washington-Hawsley turning head over his shoulder to look at Urs then his own wife with a teasing smirk on his face before they disappeared through the archway that led to the gardens where photographs would be taken amid much giggling. Due to the fact Franky was in high demand, she wasn't able to get away to speak to him for quite a while and when she did Urs noticed that the ring bearer was shooting him a scowl and had his hands fisted on his hips.
"Isn't he just the cutest little thing?" Franky questioned through her giggles once she'd reached him. "That's Maverick's eldest, Maxwell. He says he's going to marry me when he grows up."
"Oh really?" Urs asked teasingly. "I hope you told him he'd have one hell of a fight on his hands."
"I did and I reminded him that I will be old and wrinkly by the time he grows up."
"Pfft! Did he have an answer to that?"
"Uh-huh. So what?!"
Chuckling once again, Urs nodded his head then turned his head to locate the rest of his family as the photographer was calling for everyone to gather round for the big group shot. He stood on Franky's left side with his arm wrapped round her waist and continued to smile as Maxwell was placed in front of her, the seven year old taking hold of her right hand, shooting Urs another scowl as he did so.
A few moments later the entire wedding party trouped round to where the reception was to be held and quickly found their alloted seats. Urs kept a look out for the rest of his brothers and gave them a quick wave as they trouped in, David, Lauren and their family first, Carlos, Barbara-Jean and their children a little further behind, the Spaniard nodding he head towards a gently smiling Carina, the move letting him know she was the reason they'd arrived on time. Sebastien, Emma and their children were the last to arrive with Eden on crutches due to the fact he'd slightly strained a ligament, the young man telling his father to stop fussing, he could manage just fine. All of them turning to look at Urs and pointing towards the top table with bemused looks on their faces once they'd spotted Franky sitting up on the slightly raised platform. Urs replying that he would tell them why she was there later since Ryan's father, Milton was standing and tapping at his champagne glass.
Everyone fell silent to listen to the speeches but Urs didn't really pay much attention to what was being said because he knew the entire event was being recorded, that Saskia would make sure he and Franky got a copy. He did, however, pay attention when Ryan thanked him and Franky for employing Saskia in the first place and enabling him to find the woman he'd been searching for for so long.
Once the speeches were finished and the starter for the meal was being served, Urs retrieved his mobile, turned it back on and smiled when a message came through from the wedding planner he'd secretly hired to help him organise his and Franky's vowel renewal ceremony.
"Enough already. I've checked, double, treble and quadrupal checked. The whole thing can be recorded, including the ceremony itself, every word of it. Eva K."
Smiling at Eva Kendrick's forthright attitude, Urs turned the handset back off and returned it to his jacket pocket. Between the first and second course, he saw David, Sebastien, Carlos and their respective wives heading towards them and stood to accept the hugs they were offering before telling them exactly how Franky had become a bridesmaid rather than a guest. They all smiled and nodded in response then Sebastien looked at Sylvie, his eyes flying wide when he saw how big her stomach was.
"Etes-vous sûr il n'ya qu'un seul là-dedans, Sylvie?"
"Ne commencez-vous pas avec cela. J'en ai assez de Nick, Mama, Mami, Papi et tout le monde je sais poser cette question. J'en suis sûr. Juste une. Okay?"
"Okay." Sebastien nodded, holding his hands up in surrender, just like he had when he'd asked the same question of Franky when she'd been expecting Jordi and Flavian.
The meal finished, everyone bar elderly guests and Sylvie moved to stand around the edge of the dancefloor to watch Saskia dance a slow Waltz with her teary-eyed but smiling father. Towards the middle of the tune, Urs turned his head to see where Franky was and quickly noticed she was deep in conversation with Mitchell and her eyes were closed. He saw her nod quickly before she picked up her skirts and trotted to where he stood. She grabbed his hand as she reached him then went in search of David, Carlos and Sebastien.
"I know it's a big ask, but do you four think you could sing 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' in English while Ryan and Saskia dance for the first time as man and wife? The DJ's lost the memory stick he has it on, has spent the entire time we've been eating trying to find it. He only has the instrumental version available, Mitchell says the words mean more to Ryan than anything."
"Of course we can." The four men replied almost together following a quick consultation and deciding that one song wouldn't hurt their voices, especially since they could sing at a much lower volume than normal.
The four of them followed Franky back to the DJs table. They soon had the three microphones Mitchell, Ryan and Maverick had used to give their speeches in hand and stood waiting once it had been decided Urs should share with Sebastien. Once again the Stunned Goldfish look appeared on someone's face, this time it was Saskia's who had no idea what was going on until Ryan had her in his arms, her head nodding rapidly once she'd been told. Her eyes filling with new tears as Il Divo began to sing her favourite song, though this time they were happy ones.
To a polite but rather loud round of applause the guys made their way back to the women who'd so captivated them and led them to the dancefloor, Urs thankful that another slow song was playing as he took Franky into his arms, much to Maxwell's disgust. He took a step back as the song finished, intent on taking in the full beauty of his wife, his eyebrows knitting together when he saw that the hem of the skirt was puddling a little around her feet, rather than just skimming the floor as it had up until a few moments ago.
"Oh that? The shoes were one size too big for me, so I stuffed the toe end with toilet tissue. Trust me honey, that's only comfortable for so long." Franky shrugged nonchanlantly in reply to the unasked question.
Urs nodded with a smile on his face and stayed on the dancefloor until the DJ decided it was time to speed things up a little and beckoned Maxwell forward to dance with Franky before he left. Dancing a Salsa in private with his amazing wife was one thing, doing so in front of complete strangers would have been highly embarrassing, especially since he'd never reached the end of a single Salsa lesson without becoming very aroused. No, he was so not going to even try and was very happy that Franky knew exactly why he'd sat down.
He heard a familiar giggle and turned his head to see that Sylvie was laughing, her hands cupped over her mouth, her eyes focused on the dancefloor. Urs turned his head back and couldn't help but have a quiet laugh to himself once he'd spotted Serena trying to teach Nicholas how to Salsa. As bad a dancer as Urs still considered himself, Nicholas was much worse, two left feet and no sense of rythmn. Still, Serena didn't complain when he stepped on her toes several times, they were enjoying themselves and that was all that mattered. A look around the dancefloor informed him that he was the only Divo not dancing and he caught the look David shot him before he twirled Lauren around.
"Bloody show off." Urs muttered quietly through a smile.
He shook his head then turned it to see where the rest of the family were and wasn't surprised to see that Frank had partnered up with Carina, Kurt had managed to persuade Reegan to join him, Jordi was enjoying himself with Stephanie, Jeffereson and Monique were giggling while they danced together, Marco and Ciara were bickering back and forth, about what Urs had no idea, but assumed Marco was teasing her about one of the boys who stood around watching rather than participating. Marie's face appeared to have reddened considerably since she'd been asked to dance by one of the guests, though it didn't appear to have anything to do with dancing. Like the rest of the Divo children, she'd asked Franky to teach her a few dances and could perform the Salsa pretty well. Urs turned his head to find Sebastien watching the couple intently until Emma slapped his arm and told him to stop staring as Marie left the dancefloor with her partner to sit and chat. The young man introducing himself to Sebastien and Emma later in the evening as Benjamin Randolph Fawsley-Hall, Randy to his friends. Sebastien shaking the offered though much more stiffly than he usually did.
That left Reina by herself, but a look around the tables told Urs she wasn't alone at all. She was sitting beside her favourite Divo brother, Eden, annoying the pants of him if the continuous eye-rolls were anything to go by. He knew there was need to worry about Eden snapping at Carlos's youngest child, she did owe him some payback for the way he'd kept an eye on her following the crash and it looked like she was getting it. A satisfied smile appeared to cross her face a second or two before she stood and walked away, leaving Eden to refuse to dance with the girl who'd approached him, indicating his crutches and watching the girl walk away to find someone else to dance with, the look on his Eden's face letting him know what the young woman had been after just before he turned his head to see that she'd approached Randy and was attempting to flirt with him despite the fact he was engrossed with talking to Marie, not giving up until her mother approached and whispered something in her ear that seemed to alter her behaviour when she saw her father watching with his arms folded across his chest, his head shaking, his eyes letting her know he wasn't happy with what she was doing.
All too soon the reception was drawing a conclusion. The cake was cut amid a miriad of flashes and the bride's bouquet was tossed to be caught by Ria's adopted step-daughter, Joanna. The bride and groom disappeared once they'd watched the recently engaged young woman beam a huge smile at her fiance, Baz, to change into less formal clothing in readiness for the late night flight to Siagon where they would spend the next ten days on honeymoon. The four after that would be spent in England, in a London hotel so that Saskia could show Ryan 'Devil's Drop' and the surrounding area as well as attend Urs and Franky's vowel renewal ceremony. Once they'd left for the airport, everyone returned to the dancefloor for an hour or so, Urs and Franky spending time catching up with Ria who told them how she'd ended up spraining her ankle and that it had nothing to do with dismounting a horse, Richard's face flushing bright red, the man coughing behind his hand before the two of them fell into hysterical laughter.
A few moments later, Sylvie decided that she'd had enough but insisted on kissing and hugging each member of her family, blood related and Divo related, before allowing Nicholas to lead her out of the venue. Other guests began to drift out shortly after that with Urs, Franky and their children leaving a few minutes after David's family and Sebastien's a few metres behind them. As Urs pulled the hire car out of it's parking spot, he noticed that Carlos's family had left too, Reina fast asleep in her doting father's arms.
Once back in their suite, Urs waited for the children to head to their respective bedrooms then scooped Franky into his arms and carried her to the bedroom where he set her down on the floor. He quickly pulled her into his arms and watched happy tears run slowly down her face as they danced around the room while he sang 'The Man You Love' to her. They kissed passionately once he'd finished the song and were soon rolling around the bed naked. As usual, they took their time making love to one another and didn't settle down to sleep once they'd recovered their breaths, Urs falling asleep with Franky snuggled up close, thankful that she'd finished her period the evening before and looking forward to the fact they would have the house to themselves following their vow renewal ceremony.
However, as fun as the wedding had been with it's several disasters, those weren't the things that always made Urs smile when he remembered the day. The two that were being the fact that Sebastien flat out refused to call the man Marie would marry by what everyone knew him as, always calling him Randolph instead of Randy and that Saskia's cousin, Aafje, had beaten Franky in the back and forth argument they'd had the following day. Franky insisting that Aafje should have the dress back, the more forceful woman refusing to accept it, firmly stating that Franky had done an amazing job on such short notice.
Turn the page.
_____________________

Chapter 145 - Waiting For The News.
"She still packs one hell of a whack." Urs stated to his reflection in the bathroom as he inspected the handprint welt Franky had left on his left cheek when she'd slapped him. 'And you still haven't learned to engage your brain before opening your mouth. What you said was cruel. You know she's frustrated that she can't be with Sylvie because all flights to Italy have been cancelled. Does she snap at you when you're frustrated? Hell no she doesn't.' His inner voice hissed back. 'Think yourself lucky she didn't do worse. She's learned a lot from Emma over the years.'
Nodding in agreement with himself, Urs turned on the cold tap, ran a washcloth under the stream and placed it on his face once he'd wrung it out. Ja, he'd done it again. Hurt and upset Franky, knowing that she wanted to be there for Sylvie as she gave birth. And what had he done when they'd got back from the airport after being told they couldn't fly out to Milan? Asked her what she would know about Sylvie wanting by her side as she brought a child into the world, that she had Nick and that should be enough that's what. Answering his own snapped question with a firm 'Nothing. Big fat zero.' It really was no wonder she'd slapped him hard enough to make his head snap to the right and take a step back. He knew Serena was who Franky would have loved to have had by her side when she'd had Frank besides himself of course. To this day, it still hurt to think that he'd let her down so badly and it was hardly Serena's fault she couldn't be there.
He sat down on the toilet, wondering what else she could have done to him, especially since Emma had taught Franky and Lauren a few moves so that they could defend themselves if needs be. Barbara-Jean didn't need lessons, she'd known how to do that long before she'd met Carlos and Urs, Sebastien and David had seen her do it once. When Carlos had sneeked up on her a few months after they'd begun dating, not realising that she was listening to music on her earphones as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders from behind. Within the blink of an eye, Barbara-Jean had grabbbed his wrist and somehow whipped herself around. Carlos had landed on the floor with loud umph, Barbara-Jean still in self-defence mode as she straddled him, her right fist stopping just millimetres from Carlos's startled face. Although Franky hated getting physical, he knew full well she was prepared to use what she knew but had said she would only do so to defend herself or family.
Sighing out a breath, Urs stood, removed the cloth from his face and gave it another inspection. Feeling somewhat happy that it didn't sting anymore and the swelling had gone down a little, he tossed the washcloth in the laundry hamper then headed through the bed to find Franky, thanking Gott all of the children were out at work or school as he made it to the top of the stairs. He found her in the lounge, her left hand covering her eyes and instantly knew she was crying. He swallowed the lump that had risen to his throat, moved to squat in front of her and gently pulled her hand down.
"I'm sorry angel. That was cruel and heartless of me. I know Sylvie wanted you there as well as Nick, she told me often enough."
"Yes she did. What you said really hurt, Urs, especially since you knew I wanted my mother with me......."
"I know. I know. That's why you got so mad at me for letting you down when you had Frank. You were already hurting because your mother wasn't there and I hurt you even more. I know you think I've made up for that mistake, but......in all honesty angel......I don't think I ever will. Not completely anyway."
"Ninety-nine point nine nine per cent is good enough for me. I'm sorry I slapped you so hard." Franky sniffed, flinging her arms around his neck and pulling him forward so that their foreheads and noses were touching.
"Nein, I deserved it." Urs shook his head and smiled in reply then gave Franky a gentle kiss before moving to hold her tight against him. "Do you want to take 'Alondra' for a walk?"
"No. I know it's her first and it could be a long while, but I don't want to go out and miss Nick's call. He promised you and I would be the first to be told by telephone."
"Okay. How about we watch Sylvie and Nick's wedding DVD? We never have actually had time to watch the whole thing have we?"
"No. Talking of which, what did Simon want to see you about in such a hellfire hurry yesterday? You never did tell me."
"I'm sure.......Oh no that's right, I didn't because just as I began Nick called to let us know Sylvie was probably in labour but insisting she wasn't ready to go to the hospital. We flew upstairs and started packing, once you'd booked a flight, one thing led to another and almost to hours later we were screaming....."
"Urs! That's enough. I don't even know how managing to sit on this couch without blushing."
"Well we've had them almost three months." Urs replied, running a hand over the over-stuffed cushions that formed part of their new cream coloured couches, purposefully grazing the tips of his fingers against Franky's thigh and grinning when she shuddered. "It was about time we christened them, besides we had just re-newed our vows."
"Stop it! And put the god-damned DVD on if you're not going to tell me what Simon wanted."
"Oh that?" Urs replied as he stood and moved to where the television stood. "He just wanted to know what we thought of the idea of cameras recording us while we worked on the next album, following us through the promotions and the tour. The whole thing to be released on DVD at the end of the tour. To give our fans an idea of how hectic our life is, especially since we all have families."
"I'm surprised he didn't think of that years ago. All the children are almost adults, honey. What did you say?"
"A tentative yes. Neither of us is committing ourselves whole-heartedly until we've seen the idea in detail. Though I don't like the fact he's asked me to come up with a title. I've tried.........so far I've come up with nothing."
"Why don't you call it what it is? Il Divo - Organised Chaos."
"Hmmn. That's good. Very good. Mind if I pinch it?"
"Wouldn't have said it if I did would I? Now just play the bloody DVD." Franky replied, growling out the last few words.
Chuckling quietly, Urs removed the DVD from their already vast collection of home movies and quickly put in the player once he'd ran a finger down the spine of the case that contained the recording of the vow renewal. He didn't need the visual reminder, every second of minute of every hour of that amazing day was engrained in his memory, especially the part where Franky walked down the aisle on Frank's arm seemingly in slow motion. Her dress this time a full-skirted, rose designed lace bustier affair in chocolate brown rather than the cream coloured suit she'd picked out a few days after he'd told her his plans. The two of them arguing briefly about her having another wedding dress until she gave in to his insistant but playful pouting. She'd surprised him yet again by wearing that particular colour, he'd been expecting to see her in an ivory or cream coloured gown and just like the first time he'd stood waiting for her, he'd been rendered speechless once more. It had taken him quite a while to compose himself enough to say the words they'd both spent so long memorising and even then he heard the vicar cough a quick 'Ahem!' a few seconds before he began.
'Francesca, Twenty years ago, I pledged my love and commitment to you, but it seems like only yesterday. I promised to love you, to honour you, to comfort and to keep you. I pledged to be by your side in sickness and in health, in times of want, and times of plenty, for better or worse, for the rest of our lives. We have had all of those things, and you have been by my side as we created a family, a home, and a life together. Today, at the beginning of our twenty-first year as husband and wife, in the presence of God, and our family and friends, I renew my vows to you, pledging my eternal love for you, and eagerly awaiting what life may bring us.'
He hadn't expected to see tears welling in Franky's eyes as he finished and she began her repetition, though they hadn't fallen until she'd finished and he'd gently wiped them way. Of course if he ever did find himself in need of a visual reminder, the whole thing was on his laptop anyway. Smiling, he retrieved the remote on his way back to the couch and gently pulled Franky up against him as the titles started to roll. The beginning showed all the major players preparing for the ceremony, the females first, all appearing wearing white fluffy bathrooms and slippers that bore Sylvie and Nicholas's inititals. Everyone was happy, joking around and teasing as they sipped champagne. The camera then switched to show what the males were up to, revealing Nicholas, his best man and childhood friend, Vincenzo, Frank, Kurt, Jordi and Urs eating breakfast in Nicholas's room at the Villa Rocchetta, the French doors open giving a wonderful view of the lake.
Though they'd reached the next part several times before, Franky still sighed dreamily when she saw Urs on screen, dressed in a pearl grey three piece suit, matching tie and white shirt and their boys wearing much the same but with light pink ties. All of the boys blushing a little as the cameraman zoomed in to capture the pleats that ran down the lapels of the suit jackets, long ones at the top and becoming narrower the further they went down the lapel, small clear crystals glinting on either side of the pleats. The diamond stud piercing the top of the knot on the tie casting a multitude of colours around the room. Nicholas's and Vincenzo's suits almost the same, the only exception being they wore pale pink waistcoats, Nicholas's being two shades darker than Vincenzo's.
The next image revealed Sylvie with her back towards the camera, her pinned up in an ultra smooth style rather than the 'messy' updo she usually wore it in. The diamond ear-rings and necklace she'd worn for her performance in Naples were already on. Beside her were Franky and Stephanie, helping her into the dress and batting her perfectly manicured hands away when she attempted to fasten the clip that held the halter-neck designed piece in place. From the back she already looked amazing and all that could be seen were six crystal encrusted chains connecting to the front of the dress and to the one around her neck. A small portion of the rose design lace that covered the upper part was also visible and as the camera pulled back it revealed the lower half appeared to be nothing more than pure white silk. Just as he had done when he'd entered the room ready to take Sylvie on her final journey as Sylvie Buhler, officially Rast, Urs held his breath and watched her turn around slowly, revealing that the lace had been laid over the low cut top. Other than seeing Franky in her bridal gown, he'd never seen a more beautiful bride and it took him a minute or two to tell her how beautiful she looked. She blinked back a few tears, thanked him then nodded her head towards Franky.
Urs turned his head slightly and immediately nodded his approval of the light blue, knee length strapless dress she wore. As understated as it was, she still looked stunning, especially so since she had her hair in the French plait Sylvie had always loved. The cameraman moved further into the room, showing Stephanie in a dusky pink strapless knee length dress with lighter pink oragami roses adorning the neckline and the net underskirt peeking out an inch or so from the hem. Serena, Ciara and Nicholas's sister, Jasmine, wore dresses of the same design but with the colours reversed.
Recording had stopped shortly after that so that a few pre-ceremony photographs could be taken. Urs's favourite wasn't the one of himself smiling at Sylvie as they stood on the balcony of her suite. Far from it. It was the one of Franky and Sylvie in almost the same position with soft smiles on their faces and happy tears glistening in their eyes. He hadn't even asked the photographer to get a close up shot of that pose, he'd zoomed the lens in as soon as he'd seen the image on the screen and had shaken his head at the beauty of the black and white picture. Urs looked towards the sideboard and smiled when he saw that picture was now framed and almost took pride of place amongst the multitude of others.
Photography finished, Franky kissed Urs gently on the cheek, wiped the lip print off and left with an instruction for him to stop shaking before she headed out of the door. Urs checked his watch then looked at Sylvie one last time as Stephanie handed over the simple bouquet that Sylvie would carry, the circular shaped display formed from various shades of pink roses. The bridesmades version a couple of inches smaller but made up in exactly the same way. Finally the wedding party was ready to make it's way downstairs and out to the garden where the marriage would be conducted.
Sylvie took a deep breath, slipped her left arm through Urs's right and nodded that she was ready as she laid a hand on his forearm. Feeling her shaking much worse than he was, Urs reached over gave her hand a comforting squeeze and flashed a reassuring smile and together they started to leave the room with the rest of the girls walking behind. As they reached the bottom of the stairs they saw several members of staff with their heads poking out of various doors, all of them smiling and shaking their heads, several stating that they'd never seen a more beautiful bride and wondering who'd designed the dress.
Swallowing hard, Urs guided Sylvie the short distance around to the French doors that led out on to the formal front garden and that was where they paused for a few seconds. To the sound of the same music Franky had selected for her bridal procession, Urs calmly stepped forward and kept going until he and Sylvie had reached a dumbstruck Nicholas. The sun seemed to brighten as Urs handed Sylvie over to her forever love and he took one step back as the priest began to speak first in Italian then in English. As in France, Italian wedding vows were set in stone and there was no chance of changing them. Once they'd been translated into English they didn't seem to have the same ring to them as they did in Italian. However, there was a minor difference in that the couple could say something to each other once the official vows were out of the way and this time it was his turn to be struck dumb as he listened to Sylvie and Nicholas repeat what Urs and Franky had said to each other on their wedding day, though this time it was done in two languages and left those in attendance who didn't speak fluent English sniffing, especially the priest.
"Prego non mi lasciare, o per tornare dal seguire dopo di voi, per dove andrò anch'io, e dove stare io resterò. Il tuo popolo sarà il mio popolo, e il tuo Dio sarà il mio Dio. E dove si muore, morirò e là sarò sepolta. Possa il Signore che fare con me e più parti, ma semmai la morte voi da me."
Having never got this far into the DVD before, Urs and Franky made themsleves a little more comfortable, Urs slipping down a little further, Franky finally lifting her legs up to rest on the cushions. They'd just watched Urs stand to make his speech when the house phone started ringing. Urs bolted from his seat and answered quickly, feeling his smile drop when he heard who was on the other end of the line.
"Nein David. No news yet.........I don't care. I don't want to think about that right now.......Will you shut up and get off the line......Ja, ja. As soon as I've told those who are a little more important to me than you and Lauren........Goodbye David."
"Urgh!" Urs exclaimed into the now dead line before returning the handset to its cradle.
He heard Franky giggling, scowled playfully at her and had taken no more than two steps back towards her when the phone started to ring again.
"If that's him again or one of the others I am going to swear worse than you've ever heard me do." He huffed, backtracking and snatching the phone up again.
"What now?!.........Sorry Nick.........Oh! He arrived half an hour ago.......You what?..........Fainted...........Nein, no need to apologise......Just let me put you on loudspeaker so that Franky can hear."
Urs didn't need to do anything to get Franky near the phone, she'd flown to his side as soon as she'd heard Nicholas's name and stood waiting patiently for him to press the appropriate button. Once that was done, she immediately started launching questions at their son-in-law, not giving him a chance to answer a single one.
"Whoa Mami, slow down." Nicholas's chuckle came down the line. "Little Ursy arrived half an hour ago, Italian time. I would have called sooner, but I.......faintedoncehisheadwasout. Sylvie found it very amusing and is thanking God they gave her an epidural. I'd let you talk to her, but she's sleeping right now. Little Ursy........Erm......I don't know why I'm calling him that because there's nothing little about him. He's huge, no wonder Sylvie looked so big. I thought they were kidding me at first. I mean five kilos is big. I thought there was something wrong with the scales, but they've weighed him twice and five kilos he is. That's eleven pounds for God's sake."
"Wow!" Was all that Franky managed to say for a few minutes and her eyes were wide as she looked at Urs. "He sounds like he's got a healthy pair of lungs."
"Oh yes he does. I'd better go and wake Sylvie so she can feed him, he didn't want anything once he arrived. Sylvie thought she was a failure until the nurse told her that not all newborns want to feed straight away."
"Just go Nick. Give Sylvie our love and tell her we'll be there as soon as the fog clears."
"Okay. Bye."
"Well if anyone has ever been given an inappropriate petname it's our new grandson honey."
"Ja, Little Ursy. Pfft!" Urs replied to Franky's statement as he disconnected that call and started calling the children and the rest of the Buhler family, pulling his ear away from the earpiece when he heard the females screaming with excitement.
More calls followed those and by the time they'd finished telling everyone who was important to them, Ciara and Jordi were entering the house. Both still as excited as they had been when Urs had called them. Knowing that he and Franky wouldn't get time to watch the rest of the DVD before dinner, Urs turned the machine off, in the hope they could continue later. Franky's mobile beeped a few seconds later and she smiled once she'd looked at the screen. She sighed out a long 'awwwwwwwwww' then turned the handset around so that Urs could see the first picture of their grandson, his eyes flying wide when he saw his face because Little Ursy looked exactly like himself and Frank had done as babies and he already had a good head of hair that curled wildly.
"And if he grows up to be anything like his father or grandfathers, he'll be an amazing and wonderful man." Franky sighed, handing over the handset to Ciara then gently touching Urs's teary-eyed face with a huge smile on her own.
Turn the page.
______________

Franky's Dress

Chapter 146 - Grandad, Grandpa, Großvater, What?
Spluttering and wiping his face free of cold water, Urs playfully narrowed his eyes at the woman who'd tossed it at him in the first place. Growling at the giggling woman, he moved quickly, wrapped his arms around her towel covered body and whipped her onto the bed before she could stop him.
"Think you're pretty funny don't you Frau Buhler?" He asked, claiming her mouth in deep, passionate kiss, his hands moving up between the fabric of the towel and the naked form that lay beneath.
"And so do you, Herr Buhler. Don't think for one minute that I didn't know you were pretending to still be asleep or that you were having a good old chuckle to yourself with regard to my singing."
"Is that what you call it? It's a wonder we haven't had complaints from the people in the next room. You know? Thinking that some poor animal is being tortured."
"Harumph!" Franky huffed and pouted playfully which earned her another kiss, this time one that left them both breathless as Urs reluctantly lifted himself off her a little. "Actually, I'm surprised I didn't end up in this position sooner, I was standing at the side of the bed for at least ten seconds before I threw that water in your face. What's the matter? Getting slow in your old age?"
"You wish. Or do I have to remind you about last night?" Urs asked with his Cheshire Cat grin and a quick eyebrow raise.
"Much as I want a 'reminder', we haven't got time right now."
"What are you talking about? We're not leaving until half past ten. Plenty of ti............" Urs stopped short when he felt Franky's fingers on his lips, silencing him then turning his head to look at the time. "Oh mein Gott! Is that really the time?" He asked on seeing that it was approaching 10:05am
"No, honey. The clock's just saying that for the fun of it." Franky replied, easing herself from underneath him and standing up, leaving the towel behind. "You'd better get a wriggle on if we're going to meet up with Nick on time. It won't be my fault if we're late, will it?"
"Partly." Urs retorted, finally leaving the bed and heading towards the en-suite bathroom.
"Oh really? Maybe a little, I might have turned fifty, but I haven't really slowed down have I? And I wasn't the one who asked Orva and Dominic to join us for dinner in our suite and kept them talking for ooooooooh......I don't know........until almost three thirty this morning. Was I?"
"Nein. Sorry. It's just been so long since we've had chance to talk to them face-to-face."
"I know, four years is a long time." Franky nodded as she stepped in front of the wash basin and began brushing through her hair while Urs showered. "You know what I find funny?"
"Huh? Sorry, angel. You've lost me."
"Don't you think it's weird that those women who assume I'm only with you for your money only really approach when you're promoting an album or when you're on tour?"
"No. Not really. I'm not that niave, I know exactly what they're after angel. I think they think it's not worth trying to get me away from you because they're thinking my bank balance is going down rapidly between tours. And you know what I'm like for recalling faces, I've rarely seen such women at a concert or outside waiting for us. Three or four times, maybe, certainly never the same face twice. I find it funny that they only dare do it if you're a few feet away from me, never when you're close. Not lately anyway."
"You know, I hadn't noticed that." Franky nodded after a few moments recollection, her hair now tied back and plaited, the tip coming to rest an inch or two above her waist.
Urs stepped out of the shower and began to dry himself off as he watched Franky begin to tidy up the mess they'd made of the bed. After all these years, he still found it rather funny that she did that, especially when she didn't have to. He'd lost count of the number of funny looks chambermaids had given him over the years as they left the bedroom with the bedding they'd removed in the arms. Funnily enough though, he couldn't recall one ever asking if they'd actually used the bed. It was just one of Franky's quirky little habits, one he knew he would never break her of and didn't really want to.
Just like he would never break her of the way she dealt with those 'golddiggers' that approached once in a while. Sometimes he found himself wishing that she would say something to put them in their place or even slap them, especially the really forceful ones. The ones that did dare make their intentions known when she was sitting or standing beside him. It just wasn't her way to handle them like that, but he knew it made her angry sometimes. He'd seen enough 'punched to almost paper thin' pillows over the years to know it did upset her, though never for her own sake. Always, for his. She fumed and raged in private at those women because she was angry that they obviously thought him that niave not to know when someone was trying to play him. That one assumption always brought out the fury in her and Gott he loved for the way she handled those situations.
Dried off and semi-dressed, Urs turned to look at himself in the mirror and decided he didn't need a shave right now, especially since he'd had one the evening before, finishing just before Orva and Dominic arrived to have dinner with himself, Franky, Ciara and Jordi. He reached towards where the remainder of his clothing sat, quickly slipped the black Triumph t-shirt over his head then went in search of his favourite boots. He'd had the black leather items with their red flame design for just over two years now, but hardly ever wore them, not unless he and Franky were going out somewhere informal anyway. He watched Franky checking the contents of her handbag from his position at the end of the bed as he tugged them on, then stood and offered his left hand.
"Is my lady ready?" He asked with a soft smile.
"Of course my lord." Franky replied, returning the smile and linking her fingers through his, his hand in front as always.
Together they left the bedroom and stepped into the lounge to find Ciara and Jordi ready to go, the presents they'd brought for Little Urs all neatly wrapped and placed in gift bags. Franky retrieved what the two of them had brought for their first grandson and together the foursome left the room. It still irked Urs a little that Kurt and Serena had already seen their nephew, but it did make sense for them to do so. They'd both been so excited once they'd been told Little Urs was on his way, it would hardly be fair to delay their visit just so Urs and Franky got to see him first. Not when Kurt had to perform tonight and Serena would heading to New York after spending a couple of days in Milan with Hadley.
Stepping into the lift, Urs wondered why Serena hadn't introduced her family to her boyfriend yet. He knew they'd been together for more than six months, but so far no-one knew much about him, other than what he looked like and what he did for a living. Then again, he couldn't really blame Serena for taking things slowly, she'd had her fair share of heartbreak over the years, especially with Steven. Urs rolled his eyes, his mind wondering what she on earth she'd seen in him in the first place. From the minute he'd walked in the door he'd done nothing but brag how rich mummy and daddy were and how much they thought Il Divo had down-graded opera. And if he thought for one second Urs hadn't caught that look he shot Serena when she'd told him that Il Divo didn't sing opera, they sang popular songs in an operatic way, then he had another think coming. Oh ja, Steven had been one of those Urs had wanted to punch just for daring to look at Serena so angrilly. Despite that, it had still Urs to have to listen to Serena cry so hard in Franky's arms following their break-up.
Hadley, it seemed, was completely different. His parents were pretty well off, but he didn't brag about it, didn't drive a flash car, was perfectly happy walking around in tatty old jeans and a t-shirt and loved his job as a stage hand for show Serena performed in. No job appeared to be to little for him, hell he'd even unblocked the toilet in the lead skaker's dressing room rather than allowing her to wait for the maintenance man. He had heard of Il Divo, just wasn't into their music and only really liked one song they'd ever done. Urs huffed a quick laugh, wondering which song it was, because Serena hadn't told them yet.
His thoughts turned to Kurt and Maria, a broad smile crossing his face proud that Kurt had told her he had a bit of reputation as lady's man. Urs chuckled, trying to remember the names of all the girls he dated, however briefly. only able to come up with Tia and Cherry. The young woman not caring about that because she knew he was a bit of flirt and could quickly figure out if a girl was after more than she said she was, especially since he'd admitted that a couple had tried to get him into their beds at a very young age. Fourteen the first time, just turned sixteen the next. Kurt himself refusing, saying he wanted to get to know the girl a little better before they took that step those dates ending with him returning home early and telling his parents he'd been dumped just before he headed upstairs to sulk for a day or two.
Maria, so very different, so similar to Franky. Her favourite memory of being with Kurt so far, leaving La Scala after a performance to find it was pouring with rain, the pair of them waltzing down the street, not a care in the world and giggling when their friends looked at them like they were crazy. So very forceful too, standing up to her parents when they'd been a little doubtful of her dating Kurt, especially once she'd told them how many girlfriends he'd had and how long the relationships had lasted. Firmly telling them that she'd made mistakes too, that Kurt knew all about them and still loved her. The couple and Maria's siblings so much more accepting of Kurt once they'd actually met him.
Feeling the lift come to a halt, Urs stopped his musings, secure in the knowledge that four of his six children were in good relationships despite their young ages and returned the smile Franky gave him as they stepped out.
"What?" He asked, seeing that her face was bright red.
"You. You have one track mind Urs Buhler. A dirty one at that." Franky replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What are you on about? I haven't said or done anything........naughty."
"You didn't need to. I know exactly where you'd drifted off to when you started humming 'Lady'."
"Oh do you now? Well for once in your life you're wrong Senora Buhler. I was not thinking back to what happened in the Music/Dance room between you and I once everyone had left our little celebration. I wasn't thinking about that at all." Urs replied, looking her directly in the eyes as he spoke and seeing her nod that she knew he'd told the truth as they walked through the reception area of the hotel they were staying in.
True, he hadn't thought about that during the lift ride, but he did once Franky had climbed into the front passenger seat and he'd settled into the driver's seat with Ciara and Jordi in the back, listening to the latest personal music player. The celebration following their vow renewal hadn't been the huge affair they'd thrown after their original wedding, just a small intimate party with a buffet for their friends and family, Simon able to make this time and becoming quite taken with Eva Kendrick once they'd been introduced to each other. Simon not caring that Eva had a minor criminal record, in fact he'd been fascinated by her story and had barely left her side all night. No-one but Simon's PA knew where he was right now and no-one would get it out of her. Urs just found it rather suspicious that both he and Eva had left England at the same time on the same day. They seem to have done their disappearing act together, just like they had that first evening.
Urs looked at Franky, noticed she was still blushing and wondered if she would ever be able to look at the piano without reddening ever again. She certainly couldn't the couches or the dining-table or.......so many other items of furniture. Even when she was cleaning them, her face went bright red just like it was now. He knew, without her having to say a word, that she was remembering how he'd slowly danced her around that room while Lionel Ritchie's 'Lady' played in the background on repeat. Urs himself singing along the third time, slowly easing her out of that mass of material. The two of them making love on the floor once, then on top of the piano twice before heading up to bed just as the sun started to make its presence known. She was right with regard to their lovemaking, it hadn't slowed, despite their ages, in fact they seemed to be worse than ever, especially if they were in the house alone and weren't expecting anyone. So far they'd been lucky to be caught out only once, Jordi and Ciara having been let out of school early and coming through the front door just as they reached the peak and seeing two bright red faces once he and Franky had left her office.
Urs pulled to a stop outside the small villa Nicholas and Sylvie had found a couple of weeks after returning from the honeymoon, happy to see that the exterior walls had been re-rendered and painted a complimentary shade of cream. He saw him locking up the home and noticed he didn't look usual jovial self this particular morning. Nicholas slipped into the car beside Ciara and let out a heavy sigh once he'd fastened his seatbelt.
"Everything all right Nick?" Franky asked once she'd turned to look at him.
"With me and Sylvie? Great? Couldn't be happier. I erm......I've had a bit of a fall out with Justine overnight. She's not happy with Urs's name. Doesn't like the fact we're breaking with tradition, keeps calling him Matthew. Mum's mad as hell with her right now. Justine's just as mad at her because when they were arguing, mum let it slip that my dad wasn't my natural father."
"Oh!" Franky replied, looking at Urs and chewing on her bottom lip just before he pulled away from the house.
"Yeah. Not that I care about that. He's the only father I've ever known. I don't give a damn who my real father is. I couldn't have asked for much better. They both told me when I was thirteen. I didn't want to know his name then and I don't want to now. Justine seems to be having a problem with that but still thinks we should call him Matthew, like my father, grandfather and generations before them. I yelled at her to stay away from us until she can accept our decision and refer to him as Urs. I'm just worried about how Sylvie's going to react when I tell her. They are pretty close."
"Ja, I know. Just tell her, she'll know there's something wrong as soon as she sees you anyway."
"I know. I just didn't want Justine's attitude to spoil your first visit."
"And it won't." Franky replied, smiling and shaking her head, waiting to turn forward again until Nicholas had nodded and put a smile on his face.
Shaking his head at the apologetic look Franky gave, Urs turned the vehicle into the hospital grounds and quickly found a space. He knew exactly what Franky was apologising for, the debate they'd had about who Nicholas's real father was. The two of them agreeing in the end that it was none of their business, Matthew and Jasmine had raised Nicholas well and it was definitely not up to them to tell him the truth. At the end of the day he'd turned out to be a million times better than the man who's genes he carried, he treated Sylvie very well and that was all that mattered, all that should matter.
Everyone headed into the hospital once Urs had locked the vehicle up, Nicholas taking the lead slightly in front of Ciara and Jordi leaving Urs and Franky to walk behind hand in hand. As they reached the door they could hear Sylvie talking rather loudly in Swiss-German to her Grandmother in Switzerland, Urs summised once they were all the room and he'd seen the smile on Sylvie's face.
"I know Grandma, but Sina gave up her rights. As far as I'm concerned she has no right to be told about little Urs............I have not had anything to do with her since that day and I don't want to. I don't care what Zinerva thinks, just because she's now in contact with her birth mother doesn't mean I have to be does it?...........I know, I don't think I would be here now either if........Grandma, please don't cry, you didn't do anything wrong, it was all Sina's fault..........I have had a wonderful life thanks to what you, Papi and Mami did to get me away from her........No, she doesn't know my whole story, stormed out of my room after I told her to mind her own business..........Yes, she's a good friend otherwise, just tends to open her mouth without engaging her brain sometimes.........Yes, I'm sure we'll make up........I love you too. See you soon.........Grandma.........I will take it easy until the soreness has gone. It's really not that bad though.........Yes, hopefully before Christmas.......Goodbye my angel grandmother."
"Sounds like you've got yourself a Lauren judging by what I heard." Urs stated once he'd given Sylvie a hug, his eyes widening when he could see a crib in the room.
"Ja, I have." Sylvie nodded then rolled her eyes backwards. "Don't worry about little Urs either, one of the nurses has just taken him for a bath. I tried but I'm too sore at the minute."
"I'm not surprised. You did say he was going to be big.........but I didn't expect eleven pounds."
"Even they got it wrong Papi. They said nine pounds max. Gott knows what he would have weighed if he'd have born tomorrow, like he should have been. I hate to think about it." Sylvie grimaced. "Anyway he should be back soon. What's wrong with you Nick?"
"I've had a bit of a fall out with Justine. She's upset that we're calling the baby Urs rather than Matthew, breaking the tradition. I was so tired I lost my temper with her, told her to mind her own business and not to bother coming to see us unless she can accept our decision. He's our baby not hers. It's bad enough I found her at the villa washing all the cot bedding again. Mum's fuming at her."
"That was a little bit harsh.......but then again she can be rather opinionated. I'm sure she'll come around eventually. She just misses your dad so much."
"And me and mum don't?" Nicholas snapped but immediately apologised.
"It's all right, not sleeping too well are you.......without me there?"
"No. I just might curl up in that bed with you once were alone. Screw what that stick in the mud nurse thinks."
"I'd like that." Sylvie nodded then quickly kissed Nicholas's cheek. "We'll deal with that later, once Nonna and Nonno have finished their visit."
"Who?"
"Grandmother and Grandfather.........in Italian........Nonna and Nonno......Or do you want little Urs to call you something else Mami?"
"No." Franky smiled in reply, her head shaking a little. "I'm just surprised your father didn't think of it. I mean we've had 'Grandfather' in English, French and German, just never in Italian. It's logical to call us that considering the country you're living in."
"Then why didn't you come up with the idea......smartypants?" Urs retorted with a playfully stuck out tongue.
"Oh you want to go there do you? Who speaks the language better than I do? Who arranged the hotel, the flights, took Ciara and Jordi gif......"
"All right, all right. Message received and understood."
"Sheesh! Enough already!" Jordi groaned as he stepped towards the chair Sylvie was sitting on, handing over his gift once he'd given her a tight hug. "They've been like that all morning."
"Yeah they have. Do you think they'll ever stop?" Ciara asked of a giggling Sylvie, her eyes rolling backwards when she received her answer in the form of a quick headshake.
"I love opening presents. Do you want to open one Nick?"
"No, just wait until they bring Urs back though. You know I love to see you show him the gifts. Open the cards first."
"Okay." Sylvie nodded, pouting a little then looked towards the door as she ripped the first envelope open, read the message from Ciara and handed it over to Nicholas to read and place with the multitude of others she'd received.
She'd just done the same thing with Jordi's card when the door opened slowly and a smiling nurse walked in, gently rocking a screaming Urs in her arms.
"I think he no like the bathing, has screamed like this through the whole thing. He no hungry?"
"Shouldn't be. Perhaps he just needs his Mama." Sylvie shrugged, taking the fresh smelling bundle into her arms and beginning to tell him off. "Now, now young man, we'll have none of that. If you need a bath then a bath you will have, no arguments. Do you hear me?" She asked softly, little Urs almost completely calm in her arms, his eyes blinking slowly as if answering her. "That's better. Now it's time to say hello to your Nonni and zia e lo zio. No more of that noise, be a good boy for Mamma."
Urs looked at Ciara and Jordi and slowly released a breath when they shook their heads, silently insisting that they could wait their turn. He then looked to Franky and shook his own head after a minute or two of eye arguing with her. His head nodding to the chair Nicholas had pulled around close to Sylvies, Franky shaking hers before nodding it firmly at him. However, this was one battle she was not going to win. He huffed out a breath, moved round to where she stood, gently guided her to the seat and firmly pushed her down.
"You deserve to hold him first just as much as I do. You have been the best mother Sylvie could ever have wished for. Now stay there and give me the camera." He whispered in her ear, his right hand searching for what he'd spotted in Franky's as he pulled away.
"Si, Nonno." Franky replied with an audible sniff and her head nodding slightly.
Urs laughed a little then turned the easy to operate camcorder on and began to film, listening to Franky telling little Urs exactly what she was going to teach him when he was older enough, hearing Nicholas and Sylvie groan when she mentioned Triumph motorbikes, the baby looking at his Nonna as if completely bemused by everything she was saying while his Mamma and Papa thanked Ciara for the musical mobile she'd bought as her gift. Urs kept the camera steady as Jordi's gift of a brightly coloured Ferris wheel photo frame was unwrapped and showed to the oblivious baby before Sylvie and Nicholas thanked him and said it wouldn't take them long to fill the five frames. The image didn't really wobble until Nicholas said that he was hoping Urs's eyes would change from the colour blue to green.
"It's possible......Just. My maternal grandmother had the most amazing emerald green eyes. So far no-one on that side of the family has inherited them. I'm not bothered if they don't, it would just be nice to have one of her descendants inherit that colour, especially since it's the only thing I really remember about her, those ever-smiling green eyes. She died when I was three and a half."
Franky and Urs nodded once Nicholas had explained and Urs kept recording, trying to imagine the auburn haired baby with eyes of that colour, quickly deciding that it would be a striking look if his hair stayed that colour. He continued to film as Franky stood and gently laid little Urs in Ciara's arms once she was seated. The young woman holding him confidently, looking directly into his eyes and telling him that he'd better be prepared to have lots of photographs taken, especially since his Nonna and Zia both had new cameras.
"Phew! I can't imagine having to carry him in my stomach. In my arms is bad enough. How did you manage to walk with him in there Sylvs?" Ciara asked once she'd handed Urs back to Franky so that Jordi could have a cuddle.
"Walk?! I didn't walk, Cici. It was more like boom-barda, boom-barda." Sylvie replied wobbling from side-to-side in her seat. "It took me almost four minutes to get from the kitchen to the front door once my waters broke due to the fact he's had his head on my right hip joint for the last four weeks. I tell you I was seriously considering that ceasarian they offered me last week. I still can't believe I was six centimetres dilated by the time we got here but I thank Gott they had the aneasthetist ready and waiting for me to arrive. Everyone was fantastic, even when Nick fainted. Which was his own silly fault by the way. I mean he's a doctor, knows how important breakfast is, but decides to go without that so he can get the nursery finished. Then he doesn't get time for lunch because we're heading for the hospital at that time and by the time little Urs is making his way into the world, he's had nothing for almost twenty-four hours. You should have heard the midwife telling him off once he'd come round. The look on his face was priceless."
"Rather like the one I'm wearing now I should imagine?" A very red-faced and head shaking Nicholas asked just before he placed a quick kiss on a giggling Sylvie's cheek.
Throughout the whole of that particular conversation, Urs had kept his eyes on how Jordi was interacting with the latest addition to the family. He hadn't really said much other than 'hello' but seemed fascinated with what he held. Urs smiled as he watched his and Franky's youngest gently carress the chubby cheeks and heard Franky emit a quiet 'awww' when little Urs wrapped his fingers around the pinky finger of Jordi's right hand, Jordi's face breaking into a huge smile as soon as he did it.
"Tired are you little one?" Jordi asked as little Urs yawned widely. "Then I suppose I'd better let Nonni have a cuddle."
"Nonno. Nonni is both grandparents" Nicholas corrected while Urs handed the camcorder over to Ciara and moved to sit down, Franky perching herself on the chair's arm at his insistance.
Little Urs started to grizzle and gripe once he was in his Grandfather's arms and a quick feel at the back of his neck let Urs senior know he was a little too warm. Urs expertly removed the blanket he'd been wrapped in then spoke to him.
"With lungs like that, you're bound to be a singer. Hopefully a tenor." He informed with a smile and a quick nod.
Still little Urs continued to gripe and Sylvie still insisted he wasn't hungry. Urs senior thought for a second or two then started singing the song he'd sung to all of his and Franky's children when they'd behaved in much the same manner. The same song he'd sung to Frank in the NICU all those years ago and the same song he'd heard Franky singing in the shower earlier in the day. It didn't take long for litte Urs to stop complaining, yawn once more and slowly drift off to sleep. The whole scene and the sounds captured by Ciara who turned the camera to Sylvie and Nicholas's teary-eyed faces for a little while immediately turning it back when she caught her father standing to place the peacefully sleeping baby in the crib.
Shaking away the pins and needles that prickled his right arm, Urs returned to stand by the chair while Sylvie unwrapped his and Franky's gift, her eyes lighting up once she'd removed the lid from the blue box to reveal the unusual silver savings bank. Franky showing her how it worked by placing a coin in front of the teddy bear that sat at the top of the slide then pushing it down, the two of them giggling as it dropped into the slot at the bottom and began to play 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush'.
"Oh it's wonderful. As thoughtful as always Mami."
"I didn't choose it, Pumpkin." Franky replied to Sylvie's statement. "Your father did. He thought it would be perfect as soon as he saw it and so did I once he'd shown it to me."
"It is. It's lovely Papi. Completely not what I expected from you. I was thinking.........
"Harley Davidson clothing by any chance?" Urs asked seriously then laughed when Sylvie nodded.
"Thank you." Sylvie sniffed, holding her arms open and hugging both her parents. "Are you coming back later?"
"Nein. We've got tickets to see Kurt perform again tonight. We're here for ten days Sylvie, this is no flying visit. Okay?"
"Okay."
Goodbye hugs and kisses were exchanged a few seconds later, then Urs, Franky, Ciara and Jordi made their way out of the hospital and back to the hotel, all of them chatting about little Urs throughout the entire drive. With lunch out of the way, they settled down to watch what had been recorded only to be interupted by Urs's message tone suddenly filling the room. He moved to turn it off but stopped short when he saw that it was from Nicholas and read the message aloud.
'Justine's apologised for what she said and now thinks Urs is a wonderful name for our little one, considering his size. Zinerva also turned up just after you and Mami left. Sylvie's told her the story and she now understands why Sylvie doesn't want anything to do with that.......with Sina. All is right with our little world once again, who could ask for more. :-)?'
Urs smiled as he finished and wrapped his arm round Franky's waist as he turned the handset off. He sat and watched with a smile on his face, no longer caring that David, Carlos and Sebastien had teased him unmercifully about the fact he was the first of them to become a grandfather and thinking that he would have to keep an eye on them all to stop them spoiling little Urs, especially since he could remember them trying to do that with his mother when he and Franky had been given full custody of her. He sighed contentedly as this particular home movie reached the part where he sang, his ears picking up something he hadn't heard while doing so. Franky humming along with him a little more tunefully than she ever did while singing. He knew she didn't need or want an apology for the fact he'd laughed at her attempt that morning because she knew how bad a singer she was and had often told him he was wasting his time trying to teach her. However, he did apologise quietly and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek she shook her head at him. He could see tears welling in her eyes as the image switched to Nicholas and Sylvie's and somehow knew they would leave La Scala with them streaming down her face once they'd seen and heard Kurt perform again.
As the image switched back to the peacefully sleeping baby, Urs picked up a couple of female voices in the background, only one of which he'd heard before and briefly at that, the young nurse who'd given little Urs his first bath talking to someone through the slightly open door. He balked at the intrusion to begin with then saw that Sylvie was nodding and holding up the index finger of her right hand, silently asking for one more minute after checking the time despite the fact visiting hours were over for the morning. He listened carefully to what the woman said and smiled a little broader once he'd heard it all.
"Se mai un paio dovevano essere genitori o nonni, è quei due. Non sei d'accordo Caterina?"
"Sì, Fabiola. Quella piccola è parte di una famiglia meravigliosa. No?"
"Sì. Sì, lo è."
He translated for Franky and watched a huge smile light up her face.
"Of course they're not just talking about us and the Jenson/Farmington side. They're talking about the rest of the guys as well."
"Like I didn't know that. Duuuuuuuuuuh!" Urs replied teasingly to Franky's statement then fell into a giggling fit with her, both of them ignoring the groans Ciara and Jordi let out as they stood and headed to their respective bedrooms.
Turn the page
__________________

Chapter 147 - The Truth Will Out.........At Some Point
"How can I help you sir?" Urs heard the young woman sitting behind the Accident and Emergency Department's reception desk asking as he stepped forward.
"Jordi Buhler. Where is he?"
"Just one minute." The woman replied, tapping at a computer keyboard. "He's in X-ray. Shouldn't be long. If you'd like to take a seat, I'll have someone take you to him once he's back."
"Thank you." Urs nodded and did as she'd asked.
Sitting with elbows on his knees, fingers linked together, his mind wondering what injuries his youngest son had sustained. Franky had called him while he was in a meeting with Simon and the rest of the guys and informed him that Jordi was on his way to hospital following a fight. He couldn't believe that was true, of all their children Jordi was the slowest to lose his temper and strike out. He couldn't even recall him ever doing it, not even on the occasions when his brothers had pushed him a little too far with their teasing.
His eyes widened as David's words found their way out from the depths of his memory. At just over six foot, he was tall for his age and still growing. Most people who met him mistook him for being the second eldest, especially since he stood four inches taller than Frank and outweighed him by about twenty pounds. He certainly looked older than Frank.
He felt someone touch his arm and stood once the nurse had asked him to follow her. Within seconds he was in a cubicle, looking at the bruises on what little he could see of Jordi's face and seeing that his left arm was in a sling. Franky sitting by his side, an exasperated look on her face.
"What happened?" He asked after kissing Franky on the cheek.
"I don't know. He won't tell me. All I do know is that he was found in the street like this." She sniffed in reply her head shaking. "You try talking to him, I'm going to get a coffee."
Urs nodded, watched Franky leave, drying her eyes as she went then turned his attention to the sniffing young man seated on the bed.
"So what happened?"
"Nothing, I tripped and fell that's all."
"Don't even think about trying that." Urs snapped. "You don't get bruises like that tripping over, that much I do know. I can see what looks like knuckle bruises forming. Who hit you?"
Jordi said nothing in reply, he did nothing except try to hide his face with his free hand, only to feel his father pulling it down and making him raise face, his eyes widening questioningly.
"Who hit you Jordi?"
"David Gordon okay? David Gordon kicked my ass and broke my arm. Happy now?" Jordi yelled, snatching his head from Urs's grip.
"No I'm not happy. What reason would he have?"
"Because I told him to leave Cici alone."
"He's still bothering her despite the fact your head of year said she would try to keep an eye on him?"
"Yeah, outside school though." Jordi sniffed, his eyes closed. "I caught him with her pinned against a wall today, trying to kiss her again.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because Cici asked me not to and I promised I wouldn't."
Urs huffed out a breath and shook his head. Ciara was very much like himself, always keeping her problems to herself, not telling anyone unless pushed or it became too much for her to deal with and then it would all come out in floods of tears or anger. It angered him that fifteen year old David Gordon was sexually interested Ciara, had been almost since she'd started the senior school. His eyes narrowed, knowing how many times she'd told him she was even interested in boys but he wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Is he still making those lewd comments too?"
"Yes." Jordi nodded with his eyes lightly closed.
"Okay. I'll talk to Ciara when we get home? Why wouldn't you tell your mother?"
"Because...........there's something else."
"Such as?"
Once again Jordi said nothing, he adjusted his position, used his uninjured hand to reach into his back pocket and lowered his head ashamedly as he handed Urs what he retrieved.
"How the hell did you get hold of this?" Urs asked on seeing Franky's Debit Card.
"I........I took it from her purse the other day. When........When she left it in the lounge."
"Why? You get a more than an adequate allowance."
"I know. But it's not.........not........."
"Not what?"
"Not enough to cover what David Gordon wanted to stay away from Ciara."
"He wanted payment to leave her alone?" Urs asked and watched Jordi nod slowly, attempting to dry his eyes. "How much?"
"Three hundred a week. Today was the last chance he'd given me to get it. The PIN number wouldn't work when I got to the bank."
Urs shook his head, knowing that Jordi would know Franky's number because he'd seen her use it so many times. He sighed when he recalled watching her search the house for the missing card before calling the bank to cancel it, she was still waiting for a new one. Though he didn't approve of the way Jordi had tried to protect his sister, he did understand it but thought he and Franky had brought their children up to be able to tell them anything.
"Anything else?"
"He called Mami a whore when I couldn't get him the money. Says she makes her money flat on her back and you're too stupid to see it. That's when we got into the fight. I was doing all right until he tripped me up and I fell."
"Hmmn. You know how Mami feels about that?"
"I know. I just lost my temper." Jordi shrugged as the curtain was pulled back.
Urs snapped his head around, expecting to see either a doctor or Franky stepping through the gap. Instead a man about his own height stood at the other side of the bed, glaring at Jordi, his face red with anger.
"You little shit. You've broken my boy's nose." He growled, quickly grabbing hold of Jordi's jacket, pulling him up so they were nose to nose.
"Let him go!" Urs commanded, seizing hold of the man's wrists, gripping hard enough that his nails dug into the soft flesh underneath.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" The man asked, glancing at him but not releasing his hold on Jordi.
"I heard. Now let my son go."
"What are you going to do about it if I don't? Everyone knows what you are. Hiding it all these years for your career must've been hard, never mind how much money you've spent on artificial imsemination."
"There goes gay thing again." Urs mumbled, shaking his head and smirking at what the man was implying. "I said, let go of my son."
"Not until I've given him what he gave my boy." James Gordon laughed, pulling back his right hand though it didn't connect with Jordi's face as he'd intended.
Instead he was sent clattering to the ground by Urs's right fist connecting with his jaw just a fraction of a second before Franky returned to the cubicle with another woman by her side and two burly security officers, leaving Jordi looking at his father wide-eyed and open-mouthed, unable to believe what he'd just witnessed.
"I'm really sorry about this Franky." The woman sighed watching James Gordon being dragged away.
"Don't worry about it Madeline. He's always been like that, even when we were at school." Franky shook her head then introduced the woman to Urs and Jordi as Madeline Gordon, ex-wife of the man who'd just been taken away and mother to David.
"I'm sorry for everything David's done Jordi. I didn't have a clue what his father has been doing to him, I haven't lived in England since the divorce."
"I don't understand." Jordi shook his head then watched his mother sit on the bed and take hold of his hand before she spoke.
"You remember a few weeks ago, I told you that sometimes the school bully is being bullied at home?"
"I remember."
"Well, I've just seen David. His father was given custody when his parents divorced. He's covered in bruises Jordi, I've seen them myself, some of them almost gone, others still pretty fresh. I don't know how he's breathing, let alone walking around."
"His Dad beats him?"
"Yeah. Has been for the past three years. David wanted to go with his mother after the divorce but the court awarded his father full custody simply because Madeline had nowhere to live and no income of her own at the time. James is quite rich and always has been. Madeline has a new job and her own home now. Now she knows what James has been doing, she's going to apply for custody. Hopefully James will be sent to prison for what he's done."
Jori swallowed hard and nodded as the curtains pulled back once more, this time revealing a head hanging David, his mother by his side, holding his hand.
"I'm sorry Jordi." David sniffed, barely able to look at Jordi. "I didn't mean........didn't ever want to hurt anyone the way he hurt me. I couldn't tell mum what's been going on 'cos I hate hearing her cry. I just picked on you because you're everything I want to be. Kind, caring and talented."
"Talented? Talented how?"
"On the drums. My mate's sister thinks you're fantastic. You really should think about joining a band you know. What I heard the other day was pretty good."
"Oh! Thanks. What were you intending to do with money?"
"Run away of course. My dad's a pig and I'm sick off him. He beat me each and every time I refused to treat a girl like I did Cici. He's a very dominant and forceful character, couldn't understand that I want a girl to love me for who I am, not because she's scared of me like mum was of him. I can't blame him for being that way, his father and grandfather were just the same, but it's time to break the cycle. I'm really hoping mum can get custody and I can go to live with her in Gibraltar now, I don't want to see my father ever again unless he can change his attitude."
"You do one thing before you leave though." Jordi replied, his head nodding in acceptance of David's apology. "You explain why you behaved the way you did and apologise to Ciara. You really scared her."
"I know I did and of course I will."
Jordi nodded watched David leave then followed a nurse to the Plaster Room so that his broken arm could be put in a cast, insisting he was all right going on his own, watching Franky shake her head at him before turning her attention to Urs.
"Not going to say anything because I hit him" Urs asked, feeling no pain when Franky ran a thumb hard over the knuckles of his right hand.
"No. After what I've seen, I felt like doing it myself.........with a baseball bat."
"I bet you did."
"You are going to get this looked at aren't you?"
"I suppose I'd better. You won't stop nagging until I do." Urs replied with a smile, somehow knowing that there was nothing wrong other than some bruising.
He was taken for an X-ray himself once a doctor had been advised what had happened. As he'd suspected there were no broken bones though he was given an ice-pack to relieve the swelling.
Franky didn't have the heart to ground Jordi for taking her bank card once they were back home. However, Urs did punish him and gave him the one chore he hated, cleaning the family bathroom from top to bottom once Frank had used it. Of course he tried to protest, citing the cast as his reason for not being able to do it. The confident smile on his face dropping when Franky removed a plastic cover from her handbag, herself and Urs smirking as they watched him head upstairs.
Urs spent almost an hour in the rarely used playroom once they were satisfied Jordi was carrying out his punishment, the two of them coming up with ideas of what they could do with large space. Urs turning a few ideas over in his mind until something clicked and sounded perfect.
"How about we split in half? Make one half a chill out room, the other half we could use to display our respective collections. Your office is getting a little cluttered with all those motorbike models and everything else. My guitar cabinet is no longer adequate, is it?"
"No and you don't like the idea of having the overflows stored in the attic. Good idea, honey." Franky nodded in agreement, a brief smile lighting up her face until she heard the front door slam shut and Ciara shouting her name.
"Is Jordi okay?" Ciara asked, chewing on her bottom lip a little.
"He's fine, other than a broken arm. Why the hell didn't you tell us David Gordon was still bothering you Ciara?" Urs asked, looking at her sternly.
"Because........Because I was trying to deal with it on my own. It's not my fault Jordi got hurt. Yeah David Gordon had me against a wall earlier, but he wasn't trying to kiss me. We........I was trying to get him to tell me why he behaved that way. David had just leaned into my ear and I'm sure he was about to tell me when along comes Jordi. The next thing I know they're fighting and Jordi's yelling at me to run to the studio. He wouldn't take any notice of me Papi. I tried to seperate them and when I couldn't, I ran as fast as I could and got Paul. By the time we got back there, Jordi and David had disappeared. It took me ages to find out what had happened and I've had to give a statement to the police.........in case David presses charges against Jordi for assault." Ciara finished, swallowing hard before saying the final few words.
"Don't worry about that. I don't think that will be happening. We saw David at the hospital and know why he behaved the way he did." Franky informed with a smile and headshake. "As long as you've told the truth, I don't see any problems arising."
"I have Mami, honest."
"I know you have and so does your father."
"Ja, I do." Urs nodded with a sighed out breath, knowing that Ciara's face always went bright red and she had a tendancy to bite her bottom lip hard when she lied. "So it appears our youngest went off half-cocked. Can't really blame him, can we?"
"No, considering what happened a few weeks ago, no we can't. He and Ciara have always been very close, he's just got to learn to listen to her when she asks him to."
"Yeah! I do." Jordi's voice interupted from the playroom doorway, his head hanging slightly. "I'm sorry Cici. I promise I will listen to you in future."
"It's all right. I know it takes a lot for you to lose your temper Jords but I don't need a bodyguard twenty-four seven, three sixty-five. I can look after myself you know?"
"I know that." Jordi replied, his eyes rolling backwards and grimacing a little. "You don't half hurt when you hit someone."
"You mean what I did the other day, when I found you at the fridge with my chocolate? That was just a tap."
"Sure didn't feel like it." Jordi laughed, rubbing at the shoulder where she'd whacked him with the palm of her hand. "Taught me a lesson though. I'm not ever touching your chocolate again."
"About God-damned time too." Ciara chuckled, running towards her baby brother and smothering him in a huge hug than left him very red-faced as they seperated. "Come on, you can make me a nice cup of hot chocolate to make up for it. I've had a really busy weekend at the studio, I've never felt this tired."
Franky and Urs watched the two siblings head towards the kitchen with smiles on their faces, proud of how quickly they made up after fall outs and proud of the fact that Ciara had persuaded Paul Strong to take her on as a photographer's assistant at weekends. Though not sixteen yet, Ciara was completely focused on what she wanted to be when she left school and had talked the man who'd bought Paulina's studio into giving her the job of helping out in return for him teaching her, something he was now proud to be doing after seeing the portfolio she'd put together without any assistance. The man himself astounded by her talent with a camera already and having called himself an idiot for turning her down twice.
David kept his promise to Jordi and was astounded when Ciara forgave him for his behaviour with a tight hug and wished him good luck in the future. He was even further amazed when she asked him to keep in contact and let her know how he was doing. A promise he would keep for the rest of his life.
Unable to face the thought of being sent to prison for abusing his son, James Gordon fled the country, heading for Australia, only to die six months later. Discovered in his burned out apartment, Vodka bottles scattered around him and on his clothing. Cigarettes given as the cause for the inferno, his Will unaltered, leaving David a very rich young man, free to help his mother begin her own fashion label and him to pursue his dream of becoming an Architect once he reached the age of twenty-one.
Though everything had turned out all right by the end of that particular Monday evening, the entire Buhler family and Il Divo family would receive some devastating news with regard to Ciara that would see the next album and all their following plans postponed for almost twelve weeks.
Turn the page.
_________________

Chapter 148 - Overwhelmed
Of all the things he and Franky had expected to hear following Paul Strong's phone call and another dash to the Accident and Emergency department, never had they thought anything like that could be wrong with Ciara. Anaemia, maybe, especially given that Ciara had never really been fond of meat and had tried a vegetarian diet for while. Diabetes perhaps, given that Ciara had a very sweet tooth and there were times when she ate too much. Glandular fever the best possibility for her collapse at the photographic studio considering she'd suffered a bout of that disease just after Christmas and had still gone into the studio, despite how tired it had left her feeling. It had come as a complete and overwhelming shock to be told it was neither of those after hours of waiting for blood test results, being passed from one doctor to another and taken to a private consulting room once those results had come through. At least Doctor Maddox Cunningham had allowed the three of them to get some measure of control over their emotions after calmly saying that Ciara was suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia rather than immediately launching into telling them how she would be treated.
Tears had flowed from three pairs of eyes for Gott alone knew how long before that had happened, Maddox remaining quiet until they were ready, Urs managing to accept the news a little quicker than either Franky or Ciara. The soft spoken man taking a deep breath before telling them that the first stage was to get Ciara onto remission induction therapy, that it would involve chemotherapy and steroids and her treatment had to begin as soon as possible, either at the hospital or the private clinic where Franky had had the lump removed from her breast, both had an excellent record and they didn't need to worry about arrangements, he could see to all that.
Ciara had surprised both Urs and Franky by taking that particular decision away from by saying that she wanted to be treated privately, stating that she didn't want to take a bed at the hospital in case someone less fortunate than her needed the same or similar treatment. Though still overwhelmed and in shock, Urs and Franky had smiled as they nodded in agreement, proud that Ciara had made that decision without having to be persuaded to do so. Doctor Cunningham had been as good as his word and had arranged for her to be admitted to the private clinic in next to no time. Then the three of them had left the hospital after been given a handful of leaflets to read through and with instructions to prepare the family in case a bone marrow transplant was needed. Somehow, Franky had forgotten she'd was still on the register until Maddox had said that, but somehow he'd already known. He'd reassured them all that he'd only asked them to prepare the rest of the family just in case Franky didn't prove to be a good enough match for Ciara.
During the drive home, Ciara had surprised her parents once again by saying that she wanted to have her hair cut short before treatment began and donate what had been cut off to a charity that made wigs for cancer survivors. Through fresh tears and closed eyes, Franky had nodded and said she would look into how to go about that once everyone close to them had been told the news. Neither Frank or Jordi had been at home by the time Urs drove the car into the garage, but had soon appeared in the lounge, their smiling faces immediately dropping to ones of concern when they saw how distressed their parents were, both of them disbelieving the diagnosis to begin with once Urs had told them what was wrong with their sister. Frank stepping forward with tears streaming down his face, hugging Ciara tight while he told her not to worry about losing her hair to someone else, he would have his cut and made into a wig for her. That had made Ciara cry worse than hearing what was wrong with her, especially so because she knew Carina loved Frank's hair.
As hard as it had been to tell Frank and Jordi face-to-face, it had been ten times harder to call Sylvie, Kurt and Serena and let them know. Franky only just managed to keep herself composed enough to speak to them and when they'd started asking questions Urs had had to take over. He'd sniffed and swallowed the lump that had risen to his throat when they'd all said they were prepared to be tested and would drop whatever they were doing if it got the point where Ciara would need the transplant and they were a good match. Urs hadn't been that surprised to hear much the same thing from his siblings once they'd gotten over the shock and they'd stopped crying.
Not wanting to repeat himself four more times, Urs had called Carlos, David and Sebastien and asked them to come over to the house. They'd huffed to begin with but had agreed once Urs had told them it was important and he didn't want to do it over the phone. While they drove over, Urs did make one more phone call and began the conversation with Simon by saying that the album and other things would have to be postponed for a while. He knew he'd said postponed, but somehow Simon had heard cancelled and had immediately questioned what was wrong between the Divos. Urs had huffed out a breath, replied nothing then told him Ciara was ill. Then he'd almost exploded with rage when he heard what came out Simon's mouth next. 'Let Franky deal with it, like she always does. I see no reason......' and for the second time Urs had snapped at Simon to shut up and listen. Once he'd heard the news, Simon had apologised and once again told Urs to let him know if they needed anything and Urs was sure he'd heard emit a sob before he hung up. By the time he'd finished, the rest of the guys had arrived, as had Gabriel, Blair and Michael with their respective partners and Ciara's employer, Paul. It was all too obvious that Franky had contacted them while he'd been on the phone, probably by webcam using her laptop Gabriel and Blair and her mobile to contact Paul.
At first, Urs thought there were too many people in the house once everyone had arrived and that it would be too much for Ciara to deal with. However, he had his mind changed pretty quickly by his youngest daughter when she'd stated that all those there were the most important people in her life and that she didn't want either him or Franky to have to keep repeating what was wrong with her and what she was going to go through. With tears welling in his eyes, he'd pulled into his arms and had given her a tight hug while he thought of how he was going to tell everyone. It didn't take him long since he thought straight and to point would be the best. That's exactly what he'd done a few moments later, standing in front of the fireplace and smiling at Ciara and Franky before he began to speak.
Silence had reigned in the room for a long time once he'd finished and look to all the gathered faces informed him that most were crying and those that weren't were struggling to hold back their tears. It was all to clear that the news had sent Sebastien back to his mother's diagnosis and attempted treatment, tears were streaming from his lightly closed eyes, just like they had when she'd died and a crying Emma gripped his hand as tight as he was gripping hers. David was crying too, holding a sobbing Lauren against him, his mouth moving but making no sound. Carlos and Barbara-Jean had looked at Urs with wide eyes then at each other and back again a couple of times before Barbara-Jean's right hand flew to cover her mouth and Carlos allowed a few tears to fall.
Gabriel, Blair and Michael were all crying too until they noticed that Franky and Ciara had stood and moved to stand at Urs's side with Frank and Jordi. The next thing Urs knew his family were at the centre of a massive group hug, each and every person promising to be there for his family, no matter what for or what time of day. As they slowly moved away, it left Urs feeling like part of the massive, almost unbearable weight that had been dropped on his shoulders a few hours ago had been lifted. It had certainly left him feeling better and more able to cope with whatever was to come in the next few weeks. Even Franky looked a little happier than she had when they'd left the hospital, at least she could smile a little now.
Happy that they had such a supportive family, Urs and Franky settled down on the couches to tell their brothers and sisters that visitors were limited to two at time at the clinic and that anyone with a cold or any kind of infection would not be allowed in under any circumstances once her treatment began. Everyone seemed all right with that and eventually left, each and every one reminding Urs and Franky to call if they needed anything as they pulled back from a hug.
Frank disappeared up to his room once everyone had left, though he wasn't up there long. He came back down and dried his eyes before telling his parents that he'd called Carina and she was coming back on the next flight she could get from New Zealand, where she'd gone to visit Ria and Richard. Still looking stunned that she would come so soon, he'd smiled and had taken Ciara's playful teasing in good humour, quietly admitting that he had missed Carina like crazy over the past four days and would be at the airport to pick her up.
Jordi had been up to something too, though he wouldn't say exactly what, not even when he'd pulled his protesting mother away from the kitchen door and made her sit down. His little secret revealed thirty minutes later when the gate buzzer had gone, he'd answered the front door and returned with Ciara's favourite Indian meal clutched in his hands, ignoring Ciara's protests this time. Urs and Franky wondering why she'd shouted at him so loudly and giggling a little when she'd replied that she knew he'd just spent the last of his weekly allowance on her.
Pushing thoughts of what was to come to the backs of their minds for now, the family headed to the kitchen and ate what Jordi had provided. The meal finished and dishwasher stacked, they headed back to the lounge and had just settled down to watch one of Ciara's favourite films when the house phone rang. Franky answered and was finally able to pass on the news to her cousins, having not been able to get hold of them earlier, tears welling in her eyes again as she sat back down and said that they were going to see if they could get a flight back tonight rather than tomorrow afternoon, cutting their holiday in the wilds of Canada short by almost twenty-four hours.
Once the film had finished, Frank and Jordi headed up to their rooms and Ciara thought about going to bed herself. However, she hesitated at the bottom of the stairs then ran back to where her parents sat and quickly broke down into tears. It took her a long time to compose herself enough to be able to speak and when she did both Urs and Franky were surprised to hear her say that she was scared about the treatment but that wasn't why she was crying. She just didn't want to sleep by herself tonight. What she wanted was to sleep in her parents's arms but didn't feel comfortable about doing it in their bed at her age. And she apologised for being immature once she'd finished.
Though they had never given in to 'I want', Urs and Franky looked at each other and quickly agreed to give Ciara what she'd asked for. They rearranged the couches to make a bed, retrieved some bedding from the hallway closet and quickly settled down to sleep with Ciara between them for the first time in her life. It wasn't the most comfortable night they'd ever spent, but then again it wasn't the most uncomfortable either and for once it wasn't Urs's alarm clock that snapped them out of a pleasant slumber. The front door slamming had done that and Urs had almost yelled, intending to tell Frank off for closing the door that way yet again. That was until he'd heard familiar voices heading towards the lounge and he'd rubbed his eyes to see Kurt, Maria, Sylvie and Nicholas standing on the threshold with little Urs fast asleep in his father's arms.
Happy to see them, Urs reached over a still sleeping Ciara to give Franky a quick, gentle shake and wasn't that surprised he had to do it twice more to wake her up, especially since she'd still been wide awake when his eyelids had begun to feel heavy a few hours ago. She groaned, ran her hands down her face then turned to look at him with questioning eyes. He smiled then pointed to where the latest arrivals stood. Before he could blink, Franky was upright and running towards them, hugging them all tight and questioning if they were staying at the house. All of them replying in the affirmative, Kurt's face flushing bright red when he asked if it was all right for Maria to stay in his room. Franky smiling at the now eighteen year old without saying anything that would embarrass either him or Maria. Ciara woke a few moments later, looking a little dazed as usual. However, as soon as she saw who had arrived she yelped with joy, launched herself from the make do bed and ran towards them. Through more tears the siblings and their partners hugged her tight then said they were staying until she was well again, no matter how long it took or what they had to do to make her better.
Somehow, the family returned to their normal morning routine as though Kurt and Sylvie had never left home and by the time they'd finished Serena had come through the back door with a young, head-shaking man holding her hand. Hadley Race Harrison, her boyfriend introducing himself and saying sorry that they'd had to meet for the first time under such circumstances. Serena reminding him that she had planned to do that at Christmas, it was hardly her fault those plans had had to be cancelled because he'd slipped on the ice rink and had broken his ankle. Urs wasn't the only one to notice how easily Hadley settled into conversing with Frank and Jordi and he returned Franky's smile.
To an outside observer, Urs thought everything that was going on in the kitchen was an every day occurence and that nothing was wrong. Sibling teased sibling, partner teased partner, there were giggles, loud laughs, blushes and playful slaps and Ciara had loved every minute of it. Even when Franky had said they needed to leave for the hairdressers, her smile never dropped. Frank had gone with his mother and baby sister, all three returning with new styles. Franky had had at least a foot and half removed from hers which meant she was no longer able to sit on it. Frank had gone much shorter, a close cropped style on the back and sides and little longer on top, just enough to be able to run his fingers through the tighter curls. Ciara had opted for a bob with a slight twist, spiky ends framing her facial features rather than the classic smooth, curled towards the face style. Her hair already bagged and safely tucked away ready to be made into a wig. Frank's and Franky's off to be sorted and made into wigs as well.
Under other cirmstances, Urs would have said something about Franky having so much of her hair cut off because he loved everything about it, the colour, the length, the thickness but more than anything he loved searching through it when it was pinned up and watching it tumble down had always excited him. Her new style wouldn't require so many pins and he felt a little sad about that, but she'd had for a good cause and it would grow again so he kept his mouth shut.
Once the rest of the family had unpacked, the entire Buhler family decided to take 'Alondra' for a nice long walk up at 'Brock's Cove', Hadley and Maria falling into hysterical laughter when she decided to bolt after a flock of ducks, pulling so hard on her leash that Frank couldn't keep up and somehow managing to get the leash tangled around Kurt and Jordi's legs, sending both of them and Frank crashing to the ground. Still laughing almost an hour later, they'd returned to their vehicles with Kurt carrying a tired but happy Ciara on his back all the way from the bridge to the car park, a distance of almost half a mile. She'd slept throughout the entire journey home and hadn't stirred as Kurt lifted her out of the back seat to carry her into the house. She'd only really woken to each lunch and had drifted off back to sleep again once her appetite had been satisfied.
Not knowing what else to do, Urs and Franky told the rest of their children what they intended to do with the old playroom and showed them the rough sketches of how the work might be carried out. Urs had expected Sylvie to be a little upset about the idea, but she'd smiled and nodded her head then playfully teased Franky by asking why they hadn't done it already, giggling as she queried how her mother could even move around in the crammed office, Franky unable to come up with one of her usual witty retorts. With everyone giggling to varying degrees, they all left the room and headed in various directions. The children quickly settled in the lounge when they saw that Ciara was waking up. They chatted for a while then Ciara turned on the television and sat with her siblings to watch some of Franky's performance DVDs. Urs and Franky headed to the kitchen in the hope they had enough food to cater for everyone. They'd only just begun preparing the ingredients to make a couple of Spanish omlettes when Urs heard Franky sniff and turned to see her standing at the sink, her entire body shaking. Knowing that she'd held her emotions in check for too long, Urs moved towards her quickly and whipped her round to face him and allowed his own tears to make their escape once her arms were around his waist and her face was buried against his chest. It took both of them a long time to compose themselves enough to continue preparing the evening meal and even then Franky still sniffed once in a while.
As everyone sat down to eat, all the children noticed how red Franky's eyes were and Urs knew not one of them believed her when she blamed onions for causing them. The meal was eaten amid a catching up conversation, Nicholas looking the most pleased when he revealed that the new cancer hospital was going to be built in Paris and that he'd already applied for a job there, despite the fact work had only begun a couple of days ago.
Ciara managed to sleep in her own bed that night and was up bright and early the next morning, long before they were due to leave for the clinic and before anyone else. She refused to say what she'd been up to, but both Urs and Franky noticed that the fingers of her right hand were smudged with ink as she headed upstairs and her robe pocket appeared to be bulging with envelopes. They didn't push but suspected she'd been writing letters for everyone to read if her treatment wasn't successful. Showered, dressed and ready to go Urs and Franky watched Ciara hug her siblings tight then did the same before getting into the car. Once they arrived at the clinic, Ciara was quickly settled into a room and before they could blink her treatment had begun. Wanting to keep an eye on her, the doctor informed that he wanted to keep her in for a few days, just in case the drugs caused any major side effects. Ciara wasn't happy when she heard that but agreed to stay in.
Urs and Franky stayed with Ciara each time she had to have Gott knows what pumped into her body, gently pushing her through the tough and painful times, neither of them shedding a tear until they were sure the morphine had taken affect and she was asleep. There wasn't one day that went by without family and friends turning up to visit her and much laughter had rung around that little room. The only time Ciara cried had been when Sebastien and Emma were visiting after a new nurse had made comment about Franky forcing Urs to visit, questioning how he could care so much about a child that wasn't even his. The words falling from her mouth, not knowing that Ciara was being pushed back to her room in a wheelchair. Ciara's tears, anger induced and Sebastien having gently push her back down into the wheelchair with a gentle reminder of how Franky felt about physical violance while Emma spoke to the nurse in question. The face of the woman in question draining to a very pale colour as she swallowed and hurried away. Even though Emma had refused to tell anyone but Sebastien what she'd said to the woman, Urs and Franky knew her well enough to be certain that she'd more than likely hinted at what she might do if she heard any other comments come from her mouth. Emma had always been the one with most explosive temper but had rarely used her skills to deal with pushy or opinionated people, preferring instead to ignore such people unless a child was involved. Then it was all out war and no-one was capable of calming her down, not even Sebastien.
Now, almost ten weeks later, Ciara was in remission and looking forward to spending a couple of weeks in Corsica to recover some of her strength and the weight she'd lost. With their packing already done, she'd asked if she could go to the rink and skate for a little while once the doctor had delivered the good news. Knowing that she'd been told to take it easy for a little while, Franky had refused to begin with but soon changed her mind when Ciara said it was the one thing she really wanted to do. Reluctantly, Franky had agreed and she and Urs were soon watching their youngest daughter skate around the rink with several of the friends she'd made at the clinic, boys and girls alike having a great time performing in a long line, turning figure of eights over the ice once they'd spent a few moments gathered together in the centre, remembering those who had not been so lucky. Ciara able to recall each of the seven names without hesitation.
With their fifteen minute session at an end, Urs and Franky watched Ciara hug each of her new friends goodbye and remain on the ice until she was sure the inexperienced skaters had made it safely back to their parents or partners. Urs noticed that new tears fell from Franky's eyes as they watched Ciara make her way towards them and adjust the long scarf she wore around her currently bald head. These she wore every day despite having had the wig made, for comfort's sake. Despite the fact the wig had been made from her own hair, she couldn't tolerate wearing it for more than an hour at a time and had decided to buy the scarves instead. Once she'd changed out of her skates and had them packed away, Urs and Franky stood, gave her a hug and started to make their way out of the arena, only for Ciara to be stopped by a young man they didn't know, his eyes and the way he carried himself letting everyone know that he was sad.
"I'm sorry Cici." The boy informed through a heavy sigh.
"For what? This?" Ciara asked, indicating her headwear. "I'm not the first and won't be the last to go through this Simeon. Thousands of children and teenag........."
"No. Not that. Well sort of. Sorry you of all people had to go through that. No. For not visiting you while you were ill. I sort of........I got myself tangled up with Aly Cross, but that's over now."
"Oh! Why?"
"I'll tell you all about it when you're a lot better. When you get back from Corsica maybe." Simeon informed with a smile and headshake before planting a quick kiss on Ciara's cheek. "You've been through enough without adding my woes into the mix. See you soon." He finished a little louder, waving his hand above his head as he walked away.
"What the he......? Boys are so bloody infuriating sometimes." Ciara huffed out a breath, her head shaking as she started to walk again.
Smirking and laughing a little, Urs, Franky and Ciara went home and walked into the house to find Frank snuggled up on the couch with Carina, his hair cut once again in the same style he'd chosen following Ciara's diagnosis. Carina not minding one bit that he hadn't shaved for three days and telling him once again that she loved his new look though not as much as she did him. Urs watched Frank's face redden yet again then smiled as he turned to head upstairs behind Franky. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, reminded Frank that they had to be up early the following morning for the flight to Corsica and not to forget to set the alarm when he finally decided to head up to bed.
"What? And have Carina kick my ass if we end up in the usual last minute rush around? I don't think so Pa. My alarm is already set and Carina's threatening to tip me out of the bed if I don't get up as soon as it goes off."
Laughing a little harder, Urs ran upstairs and checked on Ciara before heading to his and Franky's room, a smile lighting up his face when he saw that she was already in bed and giving her a reminder before closing the door. He entered his and Franky's bedroom just in time to see her slipping under the sheets, naked except for her knickers. He quickly stripped down to his boxers, laid beside her and waited for her to snuggle up in her usual position. They chatted for while but fell asleep long before eleven o'clock, both of them looking forward to spending the next fourteen days in the villa Simon had bought a few months earlier, knowing that they hadn't made any plans for days or evenings out as they usually did. The only plan they did have was to relax, recharge their physically and emotionally drained batteries as well as getting Ciara back to a more healthy weight than her current five and half stone. Sightseeing and other such things were not as important as that and would be done, if and only if Ciara felt she was up to doing so. Otherwise, they would be perfectly content, lazing around around the pool, soaking up the sun.
Turn the page.
________________

Chapter 149 - Who's The Daddy?
Something about the man sitting on the other side of the room had rubbed up him the wrong way since the first time he'd seen the man sitting a few yards away the first time he'd seen him and that feeling had grown tenfold since he'd stormed into Franky's garage. Perhaps it was the way Cyril Banks's blue-grey eyes had narrowed at Franky when he'd basically ordered her to leave the reason he was there to himself, Urs, Frank and his daughter, Veronica to sort out. Maybe it was the smug look Cyril had worn when he assumed he and Franky would be buying the very best for Veronica's baby, assured that Frank was the father. Maybe it was the way he'd referred to Franky as 'the little woman' after she defended their son. Firstly by saying they'd raised Frank to be responsible. Secondly, by pulling him away from Cyril when he'd gone to punch him following some crude remark. Telling the rotund man to back off and hissing at him to calm down.
Up until that day he'd been enjoying himself, watching Franky teach Frank how to change an over-running clutch while he helped Gabriel place the tape that would enable him to customise the petrol tank of customer's machine. The garage had only been open for just over an hour when Cyril had arrived with his heavily pregnant daughter following behind, demanding things be sorted out before the baby arrived three weeks later.
Once in Franky's office, the confrontation calmed, Frank had completely denied getting Veronica pregnant. He had, however, admitted to dating her, though not for long, just over two weeks, both of them realising they were deeply in love with someone else. If you could actually call going to the cinema a couple of times with a large group of your friends dating. After that, Frank finally able to pluck up the courage to ask Carina out and had been ecstatic that she'd accepted. Carlos's daughter being very cheeky by asking Frank why he'd taken so long, the two of them so hopelessly in love that it made everyone else look they weren't in love at all
How Frank had managed to keep their relationship secret for those two week prior to the coach crash, Urs didn't know, just like he didn't know how Carlos had done so. Seeing them like that had knocked him for a loop that he still hadn't quite recovered from. Then again, Frank was a little like him, always playing his cards very close to his chest, Carina the only one able to get him to talk without having to push hard. Despite their always close relationship they were really a perfect match for each other and now Urs understood completely why Frank had reacted badly when Carina had found her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend all those years ago. How she'd managed to stop him going to punch the living daylights out of that boy was still a mystery to himself and Franky.
Still, Frank had blushed furiously, admitting that he'd had actually still been a virgin until he and Carina had gotten together, something that both he and Franky told him they were proud of later in the day. Following a quick laugh, Cyril had launched into telling the three of them exactly what they were going to do for the child. The equipment and money he expected them to provide, neither Franky or himself able to get a word of protest in edgeways, he'd spoken so quickly, barely pausing to take a breath. Asking when they thought they would be able to get things to the house as he finished speaking.
Urs looked to the girl sitting by Cyril's side, cradling the newborn just like she had on the day of the bloodtest and recalled how Franky had let him deal with the man. Inside he laughed as he remembered watching the man's eyes widen when he calmly told him that neither he or Franky would be paying for anything unless a DNA test proved the child was Frank's and even then it wouldn't be for everything on the list. How the man had grunted once he'd explained that Frank had been raised to be responsible for his own mistakes and pay for them himself, that he didn't have a job that would give him the ability to pay for all the high-end items, he was only a trainee mechanic after all and owned no part of the business as Cyril had assumed he did.
Now, two weeks later, here they were in the waiting room of a doctor's office, waiting for the results of the blood test. Cyril looking as smug as ever, Veronica's full attention focused on the baby boy, Frank sitting between his parents, wringing his hands together, still telling Franky that there was no way he could be the father. Franky saying that she believed him, her right arm wrapped protectively around his shoulders.
"You might. I don't think Papi does." Frank whispered, hoping that his father hadn't heard.
"I've told you twice. I do believe you." Urs hissed back.
"Then why the pissed off look?" Frank snapped back, glancing at him.
"If you don't know your father by now Francis Toni Buhler, you never will. That look means he can't believe the arrogance of some people." Franky informed, smiling at Urs. "God knows I've seen it enough to know."
"Ja you have." Urs nodded, relaxing his angry features and turning his head away from the man he still wanted to punch. "I do believe you Frank. We raised you to be respectful towards women and taught you what condoms are for."
"Papi!" Franky grumbled, shaking his head and lowering it in embarrassment.
"Geeze! I can't believe that in this day and age, kids are still embarrassed by the mention of contraception. I would have thought this generation were less embarrassed than ours." Urs stated to Franky, nodding towards their red-faced son.
"And of course you never blushed each time you had to buy condoms?" Franky retorted quietly.
"Not that I remember, nein." Urs fibbed, shaking his head quickly.
He felt the heat rise to his cheeks, knowing exactly how red his face had gone in the chemist's shop six weeks after the birth of each of their children. Then again, if he had been served by a man each time rather than a woman, perhaps he wouldn't have. Just his luck for the man to be occupied with serving another customer. Perhaps if he hadn't been in such an hell fire hurry to get Franky home and make love to her each and every time, he could even have hung back and waited for the man to be free. And yet again, he should have been used to buying them, other than Erika, none of his other girlfriends had been on the pill and refused to take it.
The sound of Veronica's little boy crying brought him back from his reverie and he turned his head to watch her. Despite her tender years, she appeared to be a good mother, never taking long to figure out what was wrong with him, speaking in a soothing tone, holding him properly, never becoming frustrated. Seeing her like that reminded him of Franky and he smiled as he watched her feed, then burp him.
He turned to see what Frank was doing and noticed he was watching her too with a smile on his face. He knew the two had known each other through senior school and had got on very well even after their brief relationship had ended. He wondered for a moment if Cyril was ashamed of his daughter or if he had a motive for trying to pin the baby on Frank. Frank had prospects, after all he was the only one of their children interested in fixing motorcyles and being trained to take over the business. That fact still puzzled him, he had expected Kurt to show more interest than he did. Not that he was complaining, he was developing a very good voice and singing technique. The girls were more interested in performing in one way or another and Jordi hadn't even made up his mind what he wanted to do yet.
He checked his watch and blew out a long, exasperated breath when he saw their appointed time had passed three minutes previously. That wasn't unusual in England, you rarely if ever got into any office on time, be it a doctor, dentist, optician or otherwise.
'Still want to punch him don't you?' His inner voice nudged as he turned his head around the waiting room. "Ja. I do." He huffed, looking at Frank and giving her a quick smile and a shoulder shrug when she shook her head at him.
Huffing he picked up a magazine and quickly became engrossed in reading the first installment of a new model's life story. His eyes widening when he read that she'd been abandoned in a church around the age of two days, that no-one had wanted to adopt her until she was three, put off by a minor hair lip. The scar unnoticiable now, thanks to some amazing plastic surgery performed by her adoptive parents's friend. Ending the piece by reading that she was hoping to find her birth mother at the very least before her marriage in three months. Noticing the date on the front cover, he wondered if that hope had come to fruition since the magazine had been printed almost six months ago.
He tossed the magazine back on top of the untidy pile, just as the waiting room door opened and the doctor stepped in, asking all parties to follow him to his surgery. Everyone stood almost together, himself, Franky and Frank following behind Cyril and Veronica. He noticed there were only three seats in the office, Cyril and Veronica taking two of them. Franky insisting that Frank take the other one while they would remain standing behind him.
"Let's have a look shall we?" The doctor smiled, opening a file and reading quickly. "Francis Toni Buhler is NOT the father of your child Veronica."
"What? He's got to be."
"Not with odds of five thousand million to one Mr Banks." The doctor shook his head. "That's more than the entire population of the earth."
"There's been a mistake somewhere. Do another test."
"I will not Mr Banks."
"Neither will I." Veronica's voice rose just above the commotion. "I never said Frank was Quinn's father."
"Shut up you stupid girl!" Cyril snapped, glaring hard at his daughter.
"No you shut up! I never wanted this Frank. He made me do it. Said he would beat me if I didn't. I couldn't get away from him, not for long anyway. He managed to track me down the two times I did and dragged me back home. I was so scared and so worried what he would do to me and Quinn, I........."
"Be quiet girl!"
"You leave her alone." Frank yelled stepping between Cyril and Veronica, glaring hard at the man, watching him slowly lower the right arm he'd raised to Veronica. "Who is the father then?"
"My husband, Maurice Matthews." She replied, holding her son close, smiling at Frank for the protection he seemed to be offering.
"That waste of space. What do you mean your husband?" Cyril bristled.
"We got married in secret, the day before he left for South Africa. He's due back any day now."
"How? You spent the last two weeks of your pregnancy in hospital?"
"Yeah I did! Didn't mean we couldn't make use of the chapel though, does it?" Veronica snapped.
"You laid down and spread your legs for that? You're a slut, just like that mother of yours."
"I'd rather be a slut than a bully like you!" Veronica yelled. "She wasn't the one who had affairs left, right and centre. She wasn't the one who gave you God knows what STDs. She loved you, despite all that and you treated her like dirt. No wonder she drank herself to death. You are not going to do the same to me."
Urs noticed that Cyril had raised a hand ready to strike his daughter again and moved quickly to stop him, holding him firm as he joined Frank to protect the young woman.
"You think that piece of crap is going to take care of you? He doesn't have a penny to his name." Cyril yelled at the top of lungs, whirling his arm out of Urs's grip just as the door flew open.
Everyone turned in that direction and saw Veronica's face light up with love when she saw the smartly dressed young man heading towards her. Urs, Franky and Frank watched as looked her up and down, gently touching the baby's face before taking him from her and wrapping his arm around her waist, revealing the glistening gold ring on his left ring finger.
"Not a penny to my name Mr Banks?" Maurice Matthews questioned, looking himself up and down. "Wrong. Thanks to my uncle, I'm quite rich now. Probably got more than Mr and Mrs Buhler put together, not that that's why Veronica agreed to marry me. She would have married me if I was still the penniless nobody I once was. I wish I could have taken her with me to South Africa then you wouldn't have been able to bully her into doing this, but with her being so close to her time and suffering pre-eclampsia I had to go without her to see what I'd inherited."
"Like what?" Cyril huffed, his arms folding across his chest.
"A small hotel and resort in Cape Town and half of his fortune. It's worth about sixty million pounds at today's exchange rate." Maurice laughed. "Don't you think it's about time you stopped trying to get revenge on my mother for not accepting your proposal all those years ago? She would never have put up with the way you treated Paulina. At least now her daughter will have the life she should have had."
"You're not taking her to South Africa."
"Oh yes he is." Veronica snapped. "There's nothing you can do to stop me father. You've hated me since the day I was born. I don't know why and I'm glad I was an only child. I'm not staying here. I can't say I hate you, because that's not the way mother taught me to be. I just don't want to be anywhere near you ever again. Goodbye..........Father." She nodded sharply then took hold of Maurice's hand and turned to talk to Frank. "I'm really sorry Frank, without Maurice around backing me up and giving me courage, he was able to bully me into doing this."
"It's all right. Perhaps he'll realise what he's lost now." Frank smiled, nodding towards Cyril.
"I seriously doubt it." Veronica shook her head then left with her husband and son.
Urs, Franky and Frank took one last look at Cyril then left the room, leaving him standing there looking dumbfounded. They made their way back to the car while a much happier Frank called Carina to pass on the news and Urs noticed Franky was shaking her head as he pulled out of the parking space.
"What's up?" He asked, pausing at the entrance and checking the road.
"I do get some stupid ideas sometimes." She replied, still laughing and shaking her head. "I thought all this business with Frank was Cyril's way of getting revenge for me banning him from the garage all those years ago, that and the fact I'd refused to date him at school. Idiot thought I didn't know he was seeing someone from the private school a couple of miles outside town. I'm sorry Frank."
"What for Ma? I'm not that naive that I don't know exactly what he was after. Thinks he deserves the best in life without having to work for it. He must have got one hell of a shock when Paulina died. The man's pathetic and not worth worrying about. Obviously, he never realised what a good woman he had in Paulina. I still miss her. Other than Cyril, there's only one person who owes me an apology right now and it isn't you."
Knowing exactly who Frank was talking about Urs glanced into the rearview mirror then looked at Franky as he paused at traffic lights. Though Carlos had said he didn't have a problem with Frank and Carina dating, his temper had exploded when the two of them had told him about Cyril Banks's accusation, flat out refusing to believe that the timing was way off and stating that no father would make such an accusation in the first place if there wasn't some truth behind it. Frank remaining calm, firmly replying that Cyril Banks would, knowing that Carlos had never met him and that he was one hundred per cent certain he was not the child's father. Carina standing by his side, saying that she was just as sure but that she wouldn't be that bothered if he was, Carlos looking at her like she'd gone crazy until she reminded him about his acceptance of Sylvie. The two of them falling into a heated argument in Spanish that had ended with Carina walking out of the house with Frank, refusing to go back until she'd calmed down and somehow managing to convince Carlos that he was wrong and she was right. How the hell they'd managed to record the latest album without Urs losing his temper he still didn't know and hoped Carlos accepted the results as he pulled to a stop outside the house.
He smiled at Carina once everyone was standing on the driveway and she'd pulled back from the bear hug embrace Frank had given her. Hand in hand the two couples entered Carlos and Barbara-Jeans home and found the couple in the kitchen reading through some papers and shaking their heads.
"Seems our daughter and Lauren are right. Cyril Banks is no better than Ja........" Barbara-Jean stopped short, her eyes locking with Franky's. "He really was that mean to Lauren, wasn't he?"
"She's told you about that then?" Franky asked, her eyes widening a little.
"Some of it at least I think. What we've just been reading is what little Simon's been able to dig up on him. It doesn't make for pleasant reading and is definitely something I don't wish to read again."
"Me neither." Carlos informed, shaking his head as he ripped three sheets of paper into small pieces and dumped them into the bin. "There are more important things I must be attending to. I am sorry Frank. Firstly for not believing you about the timing being way off. You were right, the baby would have been conceived just after the coach crash. Secondly for thinking that you would cheat on Carina, especially considering how you reacted when you found out that one of her boyfriends actually did that. I should never have thought that, never mind said it. I know you will never hurt her that way and I am still more than happy to see the two of you together. And I'm happy that you told Carina about the accusation as soon as it had been made, rather than trying to deal with it all by yourself."
"It really hurt that you thought that I would do anything like that to Carina, Tio Carlos, but I accept your apology." Frank nodded with a smile on his face, quickly pulling the Spaniard into a tight hug.
A few moments later, the three couples settled down to talk, Frank passing on the results of the DNA test and relaying the odds of him being the father, everyone watching Carlos's eyes widen at the statics, his mouth gaping. Urs, Franky, Barbara-Jean and himself knowing that the odds of Urs not being Sylvie's father had been much, much lower than Frank being Quinn's father.
"Cyril Banks es el idiota de primera clase, ¿si?"
"Si Papa. Si." Carina nodded, a huge smile lighting up her face as she embraced her father for the first time in. "And so are you sometimes."
"I know I am. As long as you're happy that's all I care about Carina and I know Frank makes you happy. Dios knows you drive everyone crazy with the way you talk about him. Marco is always saying he should carry a bucket around with him."
"Papa! I'm not that bad."
"Whatever you say Carina. Whatever you say." Carlos replied, smiling and tapping the end of Carina's nose, her face flushing bright red and her head shaking.
Happy to see peace restored, Urs and Franky left the house with smiles on their faces and were soon driving home.
"I told you didn't I?" Urs heard Franky stating as they stopped at red lights. "Frank might be young, but he is more than capable of handling himself. He didn't need us to back him up at all, did he?"
"Ja, ja. I know, but a little back up never hurts does it? You've been backing me up one hundred per cent for the past twenty-one years. Haven't you, Fire?"
"If you say so, Ice. If you say so." Franky replied with a huge smile on her face, neither of them hearing the loud, frustrated car horns blaring behind them until a few seconds after they'd pulled back from a quick but passionate kiss.
Turn the page.
_______________

Chapter 150 - An Invasion Of Privacy
Neither Urs or Franky could figure out why Simon had asked them to come to Syco's offices this morning. They couldn't even begin to imagine what Wayne Fielding wanted to apologise for, they'd both liked him as soon as they met him and his crew, the entire group respectful of where they could and couldn't go in Urs and Franky's home while they recorded Il Divo practicing songs in the Music/Dance room. As far as either of them knew, they'd all stuck to what rules Urs had put in place and they'd had a great time, especially when David had made up some very risque lyrics to one song that cracked everyone up and made the rest of the Il Divo completely lose focus for almost fifteen minutes. Three of the seven member crew had taken a special interest in 'Alondra' and she'd loved ever minute of playing fetch with them during breaks and had resumed her place, curled up underneath the piano once they went back to work. She'd done that from the moment Urs had brought her home if Franky wasn't around. It didn't bother anyone, since she just laid and went to sleep. The only time she had caused a slight problem had been when she'd 'dropped a bomb' just as they were coming to the end of another song. A silent, but deadly passing of gas that had made everyone bolt for the doors. Carlos blaming David for making the smell through laughter induced tears, David asking why he always got the blame between coughs, Sebastien reminding him that they had all enjoyed a rather spicy meal the previous evening, only Urs remaining silent as he headed to the kitchen where he quickly located an odour neutralising spray and gave the Music/Dance room a good dose after ordering 'Alondra' out. Franky returning a few minutes later, checking her watch and questioning why they hadn't got down to work yet. Giggling and apologising as she headed for her office, taking their pet with her and stating that she'd warned Urs not to give her the left over Chicken curry in the first place. Ja, that was definitely one thing he would not be doing ever again, no matter how much she begged.
There was only one thing that appeared to have upset Franky during those two weeks, but she hadn't said anything to Wayne or his crew after finding that her original wedding dress had been removed from the bottom of her wardrobe and appeared to have been held up against someone's body. Naturally, he'd asked if either Ciara or Jordi could have opened the box to get a better a look, then he'd immediately realised they couldn't have. The box hadn't been unsealed since ten days after their wedding and he watched Franky pack it away carefully once she'd wrapped it in acid free paper. Jordi had spent the previous evening at a friend's house, happy that he was now the drummer for 'Blackout Zone' and wanting to practice a few songs with the rest of the group the next morning. Ciara hadn't even been in the same county, she'd been somewhere in Lincolnshire, having a great time helping Paul photograph a huge wedding. Other than Franky, the only other two women who'd been in the house had been part of Wayne's crew, his assistant Kimberley and the lighting engineer, Tatum. He couldn't recall either of those two so much as looking at the jam filled doughnuts David had brought with him, never mind eating one, but that was what Franky appeared to have found on the dress after discovering the box had been opened, the dress removed and stuffed back in. He couldn't even recall either of them disappearing long enough to go upstairs and try it on. Currently, it was a complete mystery to both of them and they both thought it would remain that way as they stepped from the lift and made their way down to Simon's office door.
They were shown into the room itself pretty quickly to find Simon on the phone, talking much quieter than he usually did, a happy smile on his face as he told whoever was on the other end of the line not to worry that he wasn't happy that she wouldn't be back tonight, she wasn't responsible for the weather and making her promise to call once the fog had lifted and she'd got a flight.
"So, Simon. Why did Wayne want to see us in such a hurry?" Urs asked, taking a seat and watching the music mogul hang up.
"Damned if I know Urs. He just asked if I could arrange the meeting. Called just before Eva to let me know he's stuck in traffic. Are you all right Franky? You look upset about something."
"I'm fine, Simon." Franky replied with a heavy sigh and a quick shoulder shrug.
"Of course you are." Urs huffed and shook his head. "She's fibbing. Both Jordi and Ciara dropped a couple of bombshells this morning."
"Urs, I told you I'm not worried about leaving them here during the.........."
"I know, I know. I know you're fibbing though. I'm going to miss them too you know, but I'm sure they'll be fine with Frank." Urs paused to see what Simon was doing and leaned into whisper in Franky's ear when he saw him paying a lot more attention to his and Franky's conversation than he was comfortable with. "Besides, once we're back at the hotels, we can go to bed early and not have to worry about what might be said or what looks we receive the next morning."
"Trust you to think like that. That mind of yours is as dirty as it ever was Urs Buhler." Frank hissed back, her face reddening and head shaking.
"Are you complaining?" Urs asked, the Cheshire Cat grin on his face.
"Behave yourself for five minutes, can't you?"
"That long?"
"Ahem! I'm still here you know?" Simon's voice interupted and both turned to face him with wearing bigger smiles than they'd entered with. "So.......these bombshells Ciara and Jordi dropped?"
"Oh, nothing to worry about. Jordi's joined a band as a drummer, they have a few small gigs coming up and Ciara's entered in a photography competition as well as wanting to travel with Paul as much as she can."
"Oh. Don't you think he's little bit too old for her?" Simon asked, his eyes flying wide. "He's in his thirties isn't he?"
"It's not like that Simon. Paul is more than willing to take her with him and we trust him implicitly. Besides which his new girlfriend will be travelling with them. She and Ciara get along great, have from the very first day. We certainly wouldn't have let her go to Lincolnshire if we didn't, would we?"
"No Franky. So they won't be going on tour with you after all?"
"No. Just me and Franky. So we'll need our suite sizes downsizing."
Simon nodded just as the intercom buzzed and he was soon telling his secretary to show Wayne into the office. He entered quickly with a laptop under his arm and looked very nervous as he set it on Simon's desk and turned it on.
"I erm........I really don't know where to begin." Wayne sighed, rolling his finger over the mouse and clicking on a file. "If I had thought for one minute Tatum would ever do such a thing, I wouldn't have brought her with me. She's been with me for years and I've never had any problems with her. I've lost all the trust I had in her after seeing what she's recorded and finding out what she intended to do with it. I'll understand completely if you don't want me and my crew to go with you on tour Mr Buh........Urs."
"Huh? Sorry you've lost me." Urs shrugged, looking from Wayne to Franky and back again. "Both of us actually."
"Probably best if I show you what I found on her camcorder a couple days ago rather than trying to explain."
Urs and Franky looked at each other again then leaned forward to watch whatever it was Tatum had recorded. They weren't that surprised to see the first images, showing David, Sebastien and Carlos arriving at their home and making their way into the Music/Dance room. However, what followed that stunned them. Tatum had somehow managed to capture images of every room in the house and had spent quite a while in some of them. She'd gotten good video of all the minor bedrooms, the lounge, the kitchen, the display room that had been finished just a week before the camera crew arrived, the dining-room, the poolroom, Franky's office, the interior of the garage, the back garden and even Flavian's memorial. What she'd put together was basically a guided tour of their home and a huge invasion of their privacy, but that wasn't the main thing that angered Urs. Seeing the young woman dancing around in the master suite, wearing Franky's wedding dress was what made him leap from his seat and begin pacing up and down in front of Simon's desk.
"How in the blue hell did she manage to get all of that?!" Simon demanded of Wayne.
"Recorded each time she went to the bathroom."
"Do you know why she did it?" Franky asked calmly, watching Urs continue to pace.
"Yes. Apparently her cousin put her up to it. Said he would pay her thousands. He works for a tv programme that shows famous people's homes. She said he's been trying to get inside your place for years."
"Huh! Not them again? How many times do they have to be told no?!" Urs queried with more volume than usual. "How did you find that out anyway?"
"My girlfriend's best friend works for the company that produces the programme. Called me as soon as she heard what was going on. She's a big fan, knew it would make you mad."
"I'm more angry about that last bit than anything else. And.........I get the feeling you are too."
"Sure am. It was all I could do to stop Airlea from going round to Tatum's to give her what for when I told her what she'd done. She's got one hell of a temper, especially when someone hurts my reputation."
"I can imagine." Urs replied, nodding slowly and glancing at Franky who'd remained her usual calm self throughout the entire incident. "Have you fired her?"
"Yes, I have. Airlea's willing to take over if you're still happy to go ahead with the project."
"Much as I hated the idea when Simon first mentioned it and as angry as I am about what Tatum did, I don't see why you should be punished for her mistake. Besides our fans have got wind of the project, they're are so many waiting for the DVD to come out, even though that won't be happening for over a year. I would hate for them to be disappointed, so ja, the project goes ahead as planned."
"Oh great. I'd better get myself down to the gym then, I'm gonna need to drop a few pounds to keep up with the four of you and Air..........Yes well. I'll see you in a couple of weeks then, for the tour?"
"Ja, just one thing before you go. What happened to Tatum's original video?"
"I deleted it from the harddrive while she was in the bathroom and you can do what you like with this." Wayne informed with a smirk while he removed a tiny piece of plastic from his laptop which he offered to Urs. "You have my word that I haven't kept a single, solitary part of the video. Airlea would kick my ass to the moon if I did."
"I believe you." Urs nodded, tucking the tiny memory card into the pocket of his jeans and shaking Wayne's hand at the same time.
Looking much happier than he had when he walked in, Wayne left and Franky stood from the seat she'd taken, smiling broadly, her eyes letting Urs know how proud she was of the way he'd handled the situation. Knowing that he would have cancelled the project on the spot if the same thing had happened years ago, Urs gave her a quick kiss then took hold of her hand and started to lead her out of Simon's office. As always, he opened the door for her, but turned his head to see Simon standing at his desk, smiling and shaking his head slowly until the phone rang. Smiling and shrugging quickly, Urs followed Franky over the threshold and held her hand all the way back to where he'd parked his 'Ice Harley'. They were just about to put their helmets on when they heard a voice behind them, one they recognised as Tatum's. She was obviously too busy talking on her mobile to recognise them but they heard every word she said as she walked by them.
"What do you mean the job at the studio has been given to someone else Vincent?.........You promised me it would be mine........So what if I didn't deliever?.........I'm sick and tired of being dragged all over the world, recording people who don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. If Airlea hadn't got her claws into Wayne I could have persuaded him to settle in one place, then I could have............."
"Whoa! Seems you were right after all, honey. I'm sorry I didn't see what you saw." Franky informed, her eyes wide and mouth gaping.
"Hmmn. It wasn't as easy as it usually is. Even Seb said she seemed nice. I'm just sorry I didn't keep a better eye on her when she was at the house." Urs shrugged, as he pulled the memory card from his pocket and held it out to Franky. "What are we going to do with this?"
"Re-formatting it should erase everything."
"Huh? What?"
"Never mind, honey. I'll take care of it." Franky replied through a giggle, taking the memory card and putting it in the pocket of her jeans when she saw the look of complete confusion on Urs's face.
Having vague memories of hearing the word 're-formatting' before but no idea what it meant or how to do it, Urs pulled Franky into his arms, kissed her firmly and smiled as he pulled back. He climbed on the bike first, then shuddered as Franky climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He pulled into traffic, knowing how very hard Franky was going to find it to leave Ciara and Jordi behind in England while they headed off on tour. He'd seen and heard her cry when Sylvie, Kurt and Serena had struck out on their own and was one hundred per cent positive he could get her through leaving the remainder of their family behind. All it would need was that little reminder she always sent him off with when they were all little.
"It is so much easier to keep in contact nowadays, honey. I know it's hard, but they know how much you'll miss them and how much you love them. They will always be at the end of a phone line or an internet connection, as will I. I promise you that."
He stopped at set of red lights, wondering if Franky knew how those few words that had given him the courage to head towards a plane as he gently squeezed her hand or how quickly his eyes had filled with tears once he was in the air or or how many times he'd wanted to turn back. He huffed a laugh as he prepared to move off again, knowing hard she would have kicked his as if he had gone back and so thankful that there had only been one occasion where he hadn't been able to contact her and that hadn't been her fault. For some reason, Astrid's name popped unbidden into his mind and it took a couple of minutes to get rid of it. He knew for sure that he wouldn't have had the life he had now, nor the family to go with it. Feeling Franky pat his stomach twice and knowing what that signal meant, he kept his eye for the sign and was soon pulling into a service area. Not needing the bathroom himself, he remained with the bike but removed his helmet for the short time Franky was away from him.
"What are you thinking?" She asked, standing in front of him, clad in the fire leathers and her helmet hooked over her arm
"Oh nothing much. Just how very, very lucky I was to have found you. I have got to be one of, if not the luckiest man on God's green earth to have found such a selfless, caring, loving and supportive life partner. I have no doubts whatsoever, that you will be this way for the rest of my career and my life. I don't think I say it enough, thank you angel. Danke."
Franky didn't say anything in reply, he knew he'd rendered her speechless with what he'd said and that she would let him know soon enough how much she appreciated his words. He was proved right a few seconds later when he felt her arms fly around his neck, their foreheads and noses touch and he watched tear fall from her eyes a fraction of second before their lips met in deep, tender kiss that lasted for several minutes. A kiss that had only been caught on video twice before, their wedding day and their vow renewal day though they had kissed in much the same way hundreds if not thousands of times, in private and in public. Neither of them caring who was watching or what they thought and loving each other all the more each time they did so.
Turn the page
__________________

Chapter 151 - Out For The Count
Urs brought himself upright and smiled re-assuringly at the group of fans that stood nearby, happy that he'd seen the punch coming and had ducked in time. His brow furrowed when he noticed that several ladies seemed to be looking past him, their faces full of concern, some gaping, a few covering their mouths with a hand. His eyes narrowed when he spotted that a couple even appeared to be laughing while they whispered secretively, their faces completely unfamiliar to him, unlike the rest.
"Urs! Get your bloody arse over here!" He heard David yelling and quickly whipped round to see why his voice was so loud.
His eyes immediately widened when he saw Franky's feet poking out from those who had gathered around her. He moved quickly, wanting to know why she was lying on the ground and pushed his way between Sebastien and Carlos.
"What the hell happened?" He asked without raising his face to look at anyone, instead gently pushing Franky's hair back off her face, revealing a swollen lower lip on the left side.
"One of those guys ended up thumping her, when you and the other guy ducked." David informed with a hand on his right shoulder. "She hit the back of her head when she landed. Hard."
"Gott! Have medics been called?"
"Of course they have." Lauren reassured, crouching by her fallen friend and touching Urs's hand re-assuringly. "They'll be here soon."
Urs glanced at Lauren, gave her nod then turned back to Franky who appeared to be slowly coming around. He could see her eyes flickering, the slow, deep breaths she took and heard the quiet moans coming from her mouth. He touched her face and gently called her name until her eyes were almost fully opened.
She didn't say anything but simply gave him a quick smile then looked around, blinking slowly. After a few minutes she seemed to realise there was something wrong with her face, touched the swelling and started to move to get up.
"Oh no you don't." Urs shook his head, gently holding her down. "You hit your head when you fell. You know you could have a concussion, don't you?"
Franky sighed out a breath, closed her eyes, nodded then lay back. A few seconds later the medics appeared, checked her over and asked her a few questions. Her name? What the date was? Where she was? She got the first one right, but had to think about the other two, giving the wrong answers to begin with though she corrected herself after second or two's thought. Urs knew she was trying to shrug this latest incident off but wasn't about to let her, especially since he'd helped her retake her first aid certificate a few months ago and remembered exactly what needed to be done after such a hard blow to the head and what could happen. Nein, absolutely not he wasn't going to let her board the plane. As long as she was in safe hands, that was all that mattered to him. He knew she would get back to him as soon as she possibly could, even if that meant hiring a bike or car from Lisbon to Madrid.
"Okay. Looks like you've got a mild concussion. Let's get you checked out at the hospital." The older and taller of the two medics asked and smiled when Franky nodded slowly. "She'll probably be kept in overnight as a precaution. Is anyone going with her?"
"Me." Emma snapped, stepping forward and glaring at Sebastien who matched the thunderous look he received.
Urs had noticed the coldness between the couple as they left the hotel, it was all too clear they'd had some sort of argument, neither one of them willing to give ground or talk the problem through right now. Knowing that they had a concert to perform a few hours after their arrival, Urs looked to Franky, saw her nod then helped the medics gently bring her to her feet.
She stood very shakily to return the hug he gave then sat down in the wheelchair the young medic had brought to take her to the ambulance. Urs kissed her, touched her sore face then stood watching her being pushed away until she was out of sight. He took a deep breath, slowly let it go then turned back to checking in for the flight to Madrid.
Before he knew it, the group was on the plane in the first class cabin. Sebastien seperated himself off from everyone, placing himself in a window, looking lost in his own thoughts. Though they all wanted to know what was wrong between him and Emma, they decided not to push for answers until they were at the hotel. He knew he and Franky weren't the only ones to have left children behind in England but it seemed they were dealing with it better than the rest.
Stephanie had finally settled on a speciality and was working hard on the other side of London, treating people with kidney problems and currently sharing a small flat with one of her friends. She was still dating Damien, just didn't feel ready to move in with him yet, never mind make David and Lauren grandparents. He turned to look at the tall American, knowing that he'd treated little Urs exactly the same way as he had Frank as a baby. True, he'd had some difficulties with his own children and Stephanie, but he'd worked through them and would make a wonderful grandpops one day. Jefferson was at the London School of Music studying hard and staying with Dale and Carissa while his parents were away. The only one that was with them was Reegan who was currently on a break from her modelling career, due to the fact she'd fallen at the end of a show and had broken her arm, the cast due to be removed any day now and she would be heading out to Fiji once it was. She did have a very lucrative contract to fullfil out there.
Urs turned his head to look at Carlos and Barbara-Jean and saw them both smiling at Reina's latest design. He huffed a quick laugh, recalling how loudly Carlos had shouted at Marco over the phone due to the fact he'd neglected to call or email to let his mother know how he'd done in his latest exam. He had promised to call as soon as he'd got the result, but hadn't done so for two days due to the fact he'd been celebrating with his friends, had gotten very drunk and had suffered a very bad hangover. Of course he'd promised never to do such a thing again once he told Carlos and Barbara-Jean his result. All Carlos had told everyone else was that his son had received one of the highest grades ever recorded at Juliard for that particular exam, whilst smiling and sticking his chest out like a proud peacock of course. Though still not quite as talented as her mother, Carina was a very good artist and had landed a job at the Saatchi Gallery, currently helping to organise a new exhibition and helping Frank take care of Jordi, Ciara and the house as well keeping an eye on her family home.
He watched Monique move to sit beside her father and place her hand on top of his. She always had been the most sensitive of all the children and seemed to know exactly when to approach Sebastien when he was upset about something or other. Urs smiled as he watched the Frenchman turn his face towards Monique, a brief smile crossing his face as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her close. Whatever had caused the argument between Emma and Sebastien, obviously didn't involve Monique, Urs knew he would have sat and talked with her for a while before wrapping her up like that if it had. He was certain it didn't involve Eden either, he was in Jamaica with the England Under-21 squad, hoping to play in the friendly match and showcase his skills. Then again, it might. Because Eden could also play for France and he could remember his parents arguing about that, the young man eventually stepping in and settling the argument by saying it was his decision not theirs. Urs huffed out a breath then looked around for Monique and felt his eyes widen when he couldn't see her. He wondered if she'd gone back to England a day earlier than planned and it was her that Sebastien and Emma had argued about. He thought about asking Sebastien but saw that he was falling asleep and turned to ask David exactly how Franky had been hurt instead.
"Those two guys who came running up to the check-in desk were brothers. The taller one was attempting to leave the country with some jewellery that his mother had left to his sister-in-law. He said his wife deserved it more than she did. Franky had just turned to ask you something when his brother launched his fist and you ducked. It's a wonder he didn't break Franky's jaw, he was built bigger than Gabe."
"I know, but he did look upset about what happened." Urs nodded, feeling relieved to know that what had happened to Franky had been an accident, nothing more.
She had been talking to Lauren at the time and he'd been engaged in watching security approach, they just hadn't got there quick enough. He sighed, settled back into his seat and fell asleep for the rest of the flight, images of a teary-eyed Franky as they headed towards the plane after saying goodbye to Frank, Ciara and Jordi, holding her hand tight and repeating her words as they walked up the gangway, reminding her that Gabriel and Christie would be on hand in case anything serious happened. Thankfully nothing had so far and they were both coping amazingly well despite the fact they were missing their youngest terribly. He was more proud of Franky than himself, especially since she'd only cried a few times and all the children called every night to wish them goodnight and to let them know they were missing them as well. Feeling someone shaking him, Urs opened his eyes and smiled when he saw that he'd been woken by Lauren who informed they were coming in to land. As they left the plane, he turned his head over his shoulder and noticed that Sebastien lagged a lot further behind. Whatever the problem was, the Frenchman had set a smile on his face by the time they walked through the arrivals area where they were greeted by fans. They signed a few autographs and Urs even heard one talking to someone on her mobile.
"Oh my God! Is she Okay?.........Good." She nodded, closed her phone then raised her eyes to meet his. "She'll be with you again soon."
Urs smiled as he nodded, gave the woman a blinky-wink and watched her face redden before he ran off to catch up with the other three. On arrival at his hotel suite, his first thought was to call Emma and ask how Franky was. However, he didn't get the opportunity and answered Simon's call sharply.
"What now?.......What?!........You know I would never do that.......Okay, thanks for letting me know........I don't think so, there were plenty of fans at the airport who saw what happened. No-one will believe the story.......Oh Okay......Thanks.......Bye."
He shook his head at what Simon had just told him and wished Wayne hadn't gone to the plane ahead of them while waiting for Franky's mobile to be answered, forgetting that it might be still be switched off. He was just about to hang up when Emma's voice came down the line.
"How's Franky?"
"Fine. Do you want to talk to her?"
"Ja. If she's up to it."
He waited until Franky said hello, sounding like she did when she had a migraine, tired and unable to focus completely.
"I just want to sleep, but you know they won't let me for a while."
"Ja, I know. No permanent damage then?"
"No......Just a mild concussion, like they suspected. I can focus a lot better now."
"Good. Simon called a few minutes ago to let me know there's report going around that I hit you."
"What?! Ouch!.......Oh! Like anyone will believe that! You never would and there were loads of fans who saw what happened."
"I know." Urs nodded, hearing Franky tut down the line and imaging her shaking her head. "You've not had chance to find out what's wrong with Emma and Seb yet then?"
"Oh yes I have. Seems Seb is trying to push Marie in a direction she doesn't want to go. He wants her to become a singer too, when she's determined to be a chef. Emma told him to stop being so pushy. He told her to shut her mouth, in French and said Marie would never make it as chef."
"What? Is he joking? Her Tiramisu is amazing, you certainly can't resist it and I don't think Brandie would have taken her on as an apprentice if she wasn't any good."
"I know she wouldn't. Anyway, Marie heard every word and ran off crying. That's why she went home last night."
"Bloody idiot!" Urs huffed out a breath and shook his head, remembering how shocked they all been when Emma had informed them her eldest daughter had caught a flight back to England the previous evening. "Have they said when you can leave?"
"All being well, tomorrow morning. I'll get flight as soon as I can."
"No you won't. Simon's offered the use of his jet, he's there on holiday anyway."
"Okay, but only because it will get me back to you quicker."
"I know. I'll go now, you make sure you take it easy. I'll go talk some sense into Seb. I love you Fire."
"I love you too Ice. Call me after the concert?"
"As if I wouldn't?" Urs laughed, returned the kiss Franky blew down the phone and hung up as he moved to leave his suite. A few moments later, he was standing outside Sebastien's hotel room, waiting for him to answer his knock.
"Oh! It's you. I suppose you know what happened last night?" Sebastien asked, indicating for him to come in with a flick of his head while Urs nodded. "Before you start in on me......I know I made a huge mistake, okay?"
"Okay." Urs nodded, watching Sebastien sit down a lot slower than he normally did, tilting to the right a little.
"Emma dumped me on my derriere. It doesn't hurt that much really and I deserved it.......after the way I spoke to her and what I said to Marie. Don't worry, I've already apologised to both of them, even had a telling off from Brandie. I suppose I'll get another one when Franky gets back."
"I doubt it, I'm sure Emma will tell her you've apologised. What made you try to push Marie into performing anyway? You should know how that feels and you promised Emma you never would."
"To tell you the truth.......I don't know. She has a good voice, you know that." Sebastien shrugged, watching Urs nod a few times. "But she's a far better chef than she is a singer and I regretted my words as soon as I'd said them. She'd gone before I could apologise, wouldn't answer my calls until a few minutes ago. On the plane, I was remembering the arguments I had with Maman when she tried to push me into a career I had no interest in. Some of those were explosive and it appears Marie has inherited her grandmere's temper." He laughed then shook his head. "Emma is right, as long as Marie is happy in her chosen career then I should be happy too. I am the imbécile de première classe parfois, non?"
"Oui." Urs nodded then proceeded to tell Sebastien what was happening with Franky, not forgetting to include the fact that a story might appear accusing him of hitting her.
A few moments later, the two brothers left for the soundcheck and returned for a rest following that. The concert went off without a hitch though Urs did notice a few men eyeing him harshly between songs. He called Franky as soon as he was back in his dressing-room and felt a little disappointed that Emma answered again, quietly informing him that she had just gone to sleep after spending an hour on the phone re-assuring the children she was all right.
"No, don't wake her. Just tell her I called and I love her."
Urs smiled as he hung up then berated himself for not making those calls himself. He huffed and shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair and headed for the shower. Re-dressed in what he'd arrived in, he headed outside with Carlos, David and Sebastien to sign autographs and accept more gifts and was surprised by the number of times he was asked how Franky was, eventually losing count after the twenty-fifth time, politely replying that she was doing well, each and every time the question was asked.
Once settled in MPV, he called each of the children in turn and apologised for not calling to let them know what had happened to their mother. All of them accepted his apology then brought him up to speed with what they were doing. Sylvie was busy with rehearsals for a new show, this time featuring Beethoven's music, Frank had had to deal with a very stroppy customer that day, the woman not happy that she'd had to wait five minutes longer than he'd originally said. Serena had sounded stunned and he'd heard her swallow several times while she told him that the lead skater had been injured and she would have to perform the role tomorrow night, especially since she was the understudy. Kurt currently had a mild throat infection and had been ordered to rest his voice for a couple of days, so Maria had had to speak for him, just like she had to Franky. Ciara was buzzing, happy that she'd come third in the competition and promising to finally let him see her entry once she got home. Jordi was having a great time performing in the band, the only time he'd been nervous had been the previous evening, when Simon had shown up at the venue unexpectedly, neither Urs or Jordi able to figure out how he'd found out the group's name, never mind where they were performing.
In what seemed like no time at all, the group had checked in for their flight and were back in the air, heading towards Paris, Urs wondering if he and Franky would finally be able to find the time to go up the Eiffel Tower as he fell asleep.
Turn the page.
_______________

Hi JJ,

I am not sure if you knew that I am a Moderator for a barn Owl site in California? But a couple of days ago the first Barn Owl Family Molly & McGee and their 4th clutch of eggs and babies all Died but Molly.. It has been a horrible pass few days and the crying over these Majestic creatures is still on going..

We are all so stunned and shocked over this and it has been hard to do anything but gather and grieve over the losses..

I will be back in a day or so and comment when things settle down..

Good news is that our Sydney has now hatched all 4 eggies and we have 4 beautiful baby barn owls ..


Laura

Oh how sad, Laura. Do you know why they died? How is Molly doing? Don't Barn Owls mate for life?

Glad to hear Sydney's doing well. Can't imagine how you and and your friends are feeling right now.

(((((HUGS))))!

JJ

Chapter 152 - Things Get Twisted
"Ridiculous! Where do they get their ideas? Some people do like to twist things around. " Urs huffed, handing Sebastien back his newspaper as their car pulled away from the arena having read the small article about what had happened to Franky in Lisbon.
"Why? What does it say?" David asked, looking over Sebastien's shoulder and only being able to translate the heading.
'DIVO HITS WIFE'
"Basically, that I knocked Franky out on purpose. Pfft!"
"Oui, but the reporter goes on to question whether Franky has been covering her bruises all these years. She suspects so and that Jamie was not so insane and our press representatives used her as a cover story for all the injuries she's suffered. As if we haven't had enough speculation this year." Sebastien grunted a laugh.
"Estupido!" Carlos shook his head and tutted. "You'll get through this Urs, just like you did with the rumours that flew around when Ciara was ill. It was hard telling why the album had really been delayed, no?"
"Ja, not as hard as watching her go through the treament though." Urs nodded, knowing that Ciara hadn't wanted anyone to know about her illness until she'd read an article that stated the album was being held up by vicious arguments between the four men, they might not finish it and the writer saying it was about time Il Divo came to an end anyway.
Never had he seen her so angry and he had struggled to get the words out during a television interview. Even though he knew she was better, it had still brought tears to his eyes to see her picture on the screen behind them, showing her sans hair and wig but smiling as broad as ever. How he'd managed to sing a song from the new album that morning he didn't know, but it had turned out to be a good thing to reveal the reason behind the delay. Fans now knew who he'd dedicated the album to and who his brave little Knodel was. Plus thousands of pounds had been raised and given to the charity that had supported Ciara and the family through everything, each donation accompanied with a note explaining why the person had given it, several apologising for there being so little. He really hadn't expected such a wonderful reaction.
"Seems like this Cadine Brideau is a bit of a fruitloop too." David shrugged after listening to Sebastien translate the entire article.
"I don't know why I bother reading the merde she writes. It always seems like she has it in for men."
"Some sort of story here?"
"From years ago David." Sebastien nodded. "When I was in 'Le Petit Prince', I had a cold for few performances and she wrote that I was drunk. I almost got my own back by erm......outing her.......is the right expression, non?"
"You mean she's gay?"
"Oui."
"How do you know that?" David asked, noticing the smirk Sebastien wore. "Do you know her?"
"I've never met her, but I know what she looks like." The Frenchman nodded, giggling a little. "A friend pointed her out when we were having lunch together. She walked passed with another woman, holding her hand. The next thing I know, they stop, start kissing, obviously thinking no-one will notice because it was a very secluded little place that very few people knew about, not that they would have cared either way. It seems anytime she likes a certain married woman, she writes a column like that."
The four men huffed, decided to say no more about the column and settled into making plans for their next day off in two weeks. Once that was sorted David asked if Ciara had sent her promised email yet and Urs thought about fibbing for a second or two but decided not to.
"Don't tell me you deleted it without downloading the image again." David asked through his giggles while Urs nodded. "How many times is that now?"
"Seven." Sebastien informed with a smirk.
"Sometimes I think Cici would be better off sending such things through the old snails.....snail mail." Carlos chuckled, his head shaking at a red-faced Urs.
"Oh shut up! You'll just have to be patient. You know she'll have sent it to Franky as well." Urs retorted sticking out his tongue at each of his brothers.
They arrived at their hotel, made their way inside after signing a few autographs, Urs and Sebastien smiling at each other when the receptionist informed them that Franky and Emma had arrived.
They ran over to the lift virtually together and were soon on their way to the tenth floor. Urs entered the suite and smiled when he saw that the Roses he'd ordered for Franky had been delivered though it quickly dropped when he picked up the scent of Sweet Peas nearby. He knew he hadn't ordered them and would never do so because Franky wasn't keen on the strength of their bouquet. He couldn't see them either, but a quick look around told him they'd been thrown in a bin with their accompanying card. He retrieved the card, carefully pieced the pieces back together and read what had been written in French.
'Dear Franky
You know he's no good for you, stop hiding and tell me what really goes on behind closed doors.
Love. Cadine XXX'
"Unbelievable." Urs huffed, tossing the pieces back in the bin.
Hearing a noise coming from the bedroom, he headed in that direction and quickly wrapped his arms around Franky's waist.
"Hi." He smiled pulling back from a gentle kiss and hearing her hiss a little. "Sorry."
"It's all right. Not as bad as it could have been, at least nothing's broken." Franky informed while Urs inspected her face a little closer, his head nodding in agreement once he'd seen that her lip and cheek were swollen and badly bruised.
He breathed out a sigh of relief, thankful that her lip hadn't been split and no bones had been broken. It hurt to see her like that and he knew she had to be in pain, but there she stood, smiling up at him, happy to back in his arms and moving in for another kiss which he was only too happy to give her.
"I guess you read the article then?" Urs asked breathlessly as they seperated.
"Yeah." Franky tutted and rolled her eyes. "I've read her crap before, she seems to have it in for the male of the species."
Urs nodded then told her what Sebastien had told them on the drive from the arena, looking at her state of dress as he finished.
"What happened here?" He asked, noticing that her t-shirt was being held together with safety pins.
"New fashion statement." Franky shrugged nonchalantly, shoving her right hand into the pocket of her jeans.
"Franky." Urs growled, his eyes narrowed. "Something's happened. This was brand new two days ago."
"I know. Sorry for trying to make light of it. I think I might have made things worse by losing my temper."
"How?"
"Well...." Franky began, taking a seat on the bed and patting the space beside her. "Everything was fine until Emma and I reached the airport. We'd just stepped through the entrance doors when someone grabs hold of me, demanding to be told the truth, offering me thousands if I would say you were abusive. I managed to get away, but he got hold of me again, this time by the t-shirt. It ripped as I......."
"As you what?"
Franky said nothing in reponse and slowly removed her hand from the pocket to show him the bruised knuckles, looking at him sheepishly.
"Did you punch him?" He asked, looking at her wide-eyed and smiling.
"What else was I supposed to do? I'm not one to scream at the top of my lungs and he wouldn't let go. I found out a few minutes later that it was him that wrote that story about you hitting me on purpose in the first place."
"You knock him out?"
"I wish." Franky laughed, her eyes rolling backwards. "You're not mad at me?"
"No. You were only defending yourself as far as I'm concerned. Anyone see what happened?"
"A few fans who were catching a late flight home, they told security it was all his fault for being so pushy."
"Good." Urs nodded, moving in for another kiss while Franky's arms found their way around his neck, the two of them quickly becoming, completely lost in each other, hands moving between cloth and skin until Urs's mobile started to ring. "Sorry." He sighed after retrieving it from the back pocket of his jeans and seeing who was calling.
He listened to what was being said, protested because he had made plans for the afternoon, then reluctantly nodded his agreement and cursed in French once he'd hung up.
"I'm sorry angel. We've been asked to do a last minute radio interview. Seems the artist they were expecting has come down with.............food poisoning."
"It's all right. We'll get up there one day." Franky replied, smiling as she touched his face and closing her eyes the way she always did when he placed a kiss in the middle of her palm.
Urs huffed as he left to do the interview and while they travelled he contacted his personal assistant, hoping that he would be able obtain a replacement for the ruined 'Nickelback' t-shirt. The interview over, he returned to the suite to find Franky trying to decide what to wear for the concert, smiling and nodding in agreement when she pulled out a blue dress that they referred to as the 'tough but sexy dress'.
After handing the t-shirt over and accepting Franky's thank you kiss, they headed for the bathroom to continue what they'd started before the interview. Urs being very careful as to how hard he kissed her back, their bodies quickly settling into a perfect rythmn, Franky going over the edge first with a long, loud moan of his name followed by Urs himself within seconds, not knowing how he remained upright himself as Franky removed her legs from around his hips.
They headed into the arena later with their arms wrapped around each other, Franky wearing her usual light make-up. Urs looked down into the audience that night and saw one woman watching him with a scowl on her face and arms folded across her chest. He completely ignored the glares Cadine Brideau gave him after Sebastien had informed him that it was her during a suit change and smiled broadly while accepting the standing ovation at the end, only glancing at Cadine as she stormed out of the arena long before the rest of the audience, his eyes instead focused on the woman who sat five seats down from Cadine, smiling up at him as lovingly as she always had. As he stepped off the stage, he thought Franky had ignored Cadine as she normally would but Emma told him different and everything that had happened.
As Franky made her way to her seat, Cadine had stood, blocking her path, smiling flirtatiously. Franky had stared at her for a minute or two then told Cadine if she didn't move she would lay her out just like she had the man in Lisbon. Cadine had laughed to begin with then a few fans had stood up and told the woman she'd better move, they'd been at Lisbon airport, had seen how hard the man had hit the floor after Franky had punched him and had the pictures to prove it. Of course Cadine hadn't believed them, not until she'd seen the pictures anyway and she'd gulped after seeing how angrilly Franky had stared at the man who'd grabbed her, then she'd turned back to meet Franky's face and had gulped again when she saw hard features and a scowl rather than Franky's normal softly smiling face. Then she'd sat down but still hadn't managed to stop herself looking Franky up and down. That Franky had ignored, preferring instead to chat to a few fans, reassuring them all that she was fine until the lights went down. Though he knew Franky hated physical violence, Urs knew she would more than likely have pushed Cadine out of her way if she hadn't backed down and he wouldn't have had a problem with that at all. He pulled Franky into his arms once Emma had finished speaking, kissed her firmly then reluctantly let her go, knowing that she'd brought her computer with her and that everyone was desperate to see Ciara's picture.
He was proved right twenty minutes later when he walked into the green room following a shower and clothes change to find everyone gathered around Franky, looking at the screen with tears in their eyes when they saw a sepia picture of Margy on an old string hammock with a much younger, frail-looking male in her arms, both of them smiling broadly. The picture entitled 'A Mother's Love Is Forever', taken with Margy's permission showing her with her only child, forty-five year old Lowell, who'd been born apparently normal only to be diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy a months later and had never been able to walk, talk or take care of himself. Margy having mostly taken care of him all those years after her husband had walked out when she'd refused to put Lowell into a home. Urs looked at Franky and remembered what she'd said in reply to him when he'd told her that he thought she was the World's most amazing mother.
"Oh no, honey. No. I appreciate the compliment, but there are more amazing women than me out there." She'd shaken her head then told him all about Margy and Lowell and how much she admired the woman who somehow managed to run a business and look after a severely disabled child. "Margy and those like her are the World's most amazing mothers, not me honey." Reluctantly he'd nodded in agreement with her and had even agreed not to call her that again. He hadn't ever said it again, but there was no changing his mind set, he had always thought it and would for eternity.
Four weeks later, Cadine was outed by her former girlfriend, the woman who'd been with her for fourteen years having found her in bed with a younger woman. The interview a heartbroken Babette Beaufleur gave exposing the affair causing a sensation though only in France, not internationally. Cadine and the other woman disappearing, unable to face the attention they received from paperazzi. Cadine's career in tatters, her lover's marriage annulled, neither of them to be seen for many, many years. One ravaged by alcohol, looking old before her time. The other happy that her new partner still loved her enough that she could put her past aside, that she'd finally come to terms with the fact she was gay and so had her ex-husband.
The man who assaulted Franky in Lisbon thought about pressing charges against her for a little while, until he saw the CCTV recorings and was told how many people were willing to stand up and say he'd pushed her too far. One month later, he resigned his position to become a researcher for a small film production company.
Turn the page.
______________

demonheart wrote:

Oh how sad, Laura. Do you know why they died? How is Molly doing? Don't Barn Owls mate for life?

Glad to hear Sydney's doing well. Can't imagine how you and and your friends are feeling right now.

(((((HUGS))))!

JJ

McGee might have been hit by a car and killed. As for Dee Dee she froze to death with the eggs since she was way to young to be out in the box alone..

Molly is doing fine stomping around her box and letting people know it is hers .. Yes they do mate for life but in this case she could find another mate..



We are all still trying to deal with it..

JJ I have important news for you .. I will be in London on the 28th.. Pm and I will let you know more..

Laura

Chapter 153 - Push Comes To Shove
Sometimes Urs really wanted to tell Simon to 'shove it' or 'chill out', especially when he demanded they talked about business at an end of tour party and moved him away from a shrugging Franky. He knew Simon still had a very busy life, but was it really necessary to discuss upcoming Il Divo business when they'd just completed their biggest tour ever? Reluctantly, Urs kissed Franky on the lips then walked by Simon's side until they were somewhere quieter. However, he quickly became confused when he didn't see the music mogul indicate for either David, Carlos or Sebastien to join them and he was sure Simon had already had a little too much to drink.
"Is everything all right, Simon? What's going on?" Urs asked, watching the man he still considered his boss drop down hard into a seat and close his eyes for a seconds. "Are you ill or something?"
"No, I'm fine. Jush.....Just peachy, Ursh."
"Oooookay. If you're sure. So what did you want to talk to me about."
"That shun of yours."
"Which one?"
"Jorshi. Shit! Jordi. He and his bandmates are being shtupid. I want you to talk to them, make them see what a good offer I have put on the table. Make them accept it."
"Excuse me?! Make them?" Urs yelled, standing sharply from the seat he'd taken opposite Simon. "Firstly Simon I have never pushed my children to perform and I never will. Secondly, Jordi and his friends have already told you four times they're not interested, 'Blackout Zone' was only ever formed for fun. I'm certainly not going to even try and change their minds."
"Why not? Kurt and Serena both perform."
"By choice, not because Franky or I have ever pushed them to do so."
"Yeah right!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Like you don't know. Pfft!" Simon hissed back, fumbling in his trouser pocket, retrieving a packet of cigarettes and glaring hard at Urs as he snatched them out of his hand and threw them across to the other side of the area.
"You tell me what you meant by that!" Urs demanded, shoving Simon back down into his seat when he moved to stand, intent of retrieving the cigarettes.
"What? Everyone knows Franky's retirement from performing was your idea and how hard she pushed Seri into competition afterwards. She must have been so disappointed when she decided to quit. Bet it didn't take her long to persuade her to turn to performing instead. Don't tell me you weren't exactly the same with Kurt! I know better."
"Oh do you now?" Urs growled, his eyes narrowed. "For your information Mr Cowell, I didn't want Franky to retire from performing. I spent hours trying to persuade her different. As for pushing Seri or Kurt, neither of us ever have. We're proud of everything they've ever done and that they feel they can talk to us about the decisions they make. How dare you even think like that? It's all too clear what you paid attention to when all those decisions were made. I should punch you in the mouth for.......In fact I think I........." Urs stopped speaking when he felt the arm he'd raised being held back and turned to look at a wide-eyed, head shaking Franky. "Didn't you hear what he said?"
"I heard. But I've told you before, Urs, I don't give a damn what he thinks of me." Franky replied, her eyes now focused on a very woozy Simon. "Besides it's the drink talking more than anything and what's upset him has nothing to do with Jordi and his bandmates rejecting his offer."
"Oh! What is then?" Urs asked finally lowering his arm and turning Franky's face back towards his own. "Do you know?"
"Yes, I know." Franky replied, taking hold of his hand and leading him well away from Simon so that they could talk without him hearing. "Eva ended their relationship last night."
"WAS?! Why? I thought they were......you know he was going to pro......."
"I know. I know exactly what he was going to do. But then he goes and makes the biggest mistake he ever could when it comes to Eva."
"Don't tell me he cheated again?" Urs asked, knowing that Simon had cheated on the woman he'd been dating before Eva, technically anyway.
He had decided weeks before it actually happened that Carrie wasn't right for him. However, he hadn't let her know, had picked up someone else and pictures of him and the new woman kissing passionately had been all over the press. That relationship hadn't lasted long and he'd tried to get Carrie back. She'd told him to go to hell and he'd been alone for almost a year before meeting Eva. Urs couldn't even begin to imagine what had gone wrong between the couple but knew Franky and her were still in touch with each other and had become much closer friends since she'd arranged the vow renewal ceremony.
"No. He didn't do that. He told Eva that he was sick of her flying off all around the world and that it was about time she gave up her career and moved in with him. In fact..........he demanded it and you know what Eva's like when she's told what to do?"
"Uh-huh!" Urs nodded, turning to look at Simon once again, shaking his head when he saw that he'd fallen asleep in a very uncomfortable looking position, having little sympathy for him. "What a.......I did warn him you know?"
"I know you did, so did Eva. I mean she struggled for years to find something she loves doing and considered herself very lucky when 'Dream Days' took her on."
"I know. I never thought she would be given the task of helping me organise our vowel renewal. Got quite a shock when she turned up I can tell you."
"I can imagine." Franky nodded, a brief smile crossing her lips. "She's done even more amazing work since, without revealing what she did for us and she's almost fully booked for the next eight months. He can't demand that of her Urs, he just can't. It's not fair. She's worked too hard to get where she is now."
"I know. I agree with you. It's his own stupid fault if he's lost her for good. I don't want to get involved and I'm not going to pick sides. True, I wasn't keen on Eva a few years ago, but she's turned out to be a good friend, to you as well as me." Urs shook his head then sighed heavily. "What's he been drinking anyway?"
"Whiskey.......according to his PA and chauffeur."
"Uh-oh!"
"Exactly. I'm glad his mother isn't here to see him like this again. You know that stuff makes him......."
"Classless and crazy." Urs nodded as he finished the sentence for Franky. "We've got to get him out of here, but how?"
"Already sorted." Franky replied, looking past Urs and beckoning someone forward.
Urs turned to see who was there and gave Alastair a brief smile as he watched the powerfully built chauffeur yank his employer out of the seat and support him before leaving the room through a side door. Having said that he would be in need of some assistance once they were down in the underground car park, Urs followed after Alastair and helped him secure Simon in the back seat of the car once they'd reached it. Thankful that the vehicle had heavily tinted windows, Urs watched the car leave then headed back up to the party where he found Franky speaking to David, Carlos and Sebastien, telling them that Simon had left because he didn't feel well.
"Oh shame." Sebastien sighed, Urs knowing that the French man and Simon normally spent the most time together when it came to the end of tour party and usually had a great evening.
"Shame?! Are you nuts Frenchie?" David protested playfully. "Finally........ We get to enjoy a party without having to think about what's going to be happening 'business' wise for the evening."
Carlos said nothing until David and Sebastien had returned to the dancefloor and had found Lauren and Emma. Even then he remained quiet for a while, smiling as he watched the two couples dancing and Barbara-Jean trying to teach Reina how to eat rice with chopsticks. After chuckling three times and watching his youngest child switch to a fork, he eventually turned to Urs and Franky and spoke, though in a much lower volume than usual.
"Amigo, I know you were lying. Eva and Simon are no more, si?" He asked, raising one eyebrow.
"It would appear so. How do you know?"
"Chelo. She and Alvaro were with Eva yesterday when Simon called. It seems the boss man is not being very supportive of her lately. Started yelling when she told him that she would be heading to Scotland today to cover for a colleague who'd been taken ill, asked her why she was even bothering, it isn't like she needs the money and didn't she think it was about time she cut her work load down. She ignored him, hung up and refused to answer the seven times he called back. The eighth time she answered, they got into an argument and the last words Chelo heard were from Simon. Apparantly he said that if Eva was twice as smart as she is, she'd still be stupid after she'd pleaded with him to be a little bit more understanding. He replied that he thought he had been and wasn't prepared to wait another twenty-four hours to see her. She said fine and in that case maybe the relationship should end. He says fine and slams the phone down, Eva is muy upset but finishes the meeting and leaves Alvaro's home in tears."
"You know, sometimes I wonder if there's a brain in that head of his." Urs shook his head once Carlos had finished. "I mean he's the one with a private jet and three pilots willing to take him wherever he wants to go at a moment's notice. He could have flown up to Scotland to be with Eva. I don't know.......maybe they'll work things out. I'm just not going to hold my breath in that regard." He finished just as Franky's mobile began to ring and watched her walk back to where he'd had the minor confrontation with Simon to answer it. She wasn't gone long and when she came back her smile had broadened a little. "Good news about something?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Well sort of. That was Eva wanting to know if Simon was still here. The Scotland wedding didn't quite go to plan and she's on her way back, says she going to kick his butt when she catches up with him."
"Oh! What happened at the wedding?"
"The bride ran off with the groom's father. By the time her letter was found they were on their way to Tahiti and they're not planning on coming back. Eva's spent most of today trying to cancel the post ceremony stuff and get the groom his money back. Without much success. When she called, she'd just pulled off the motorway near Essex."
"Oh! Do you think it's a good idea for her to be seeing Simon when she's so stressed? You know what a temper she has."
"I know. But she doesn't lash out physically anymore does she? If Simon did say that about her then he deserves to get the full-on angry Eva. Not that I doubt Carlos or Chelo for one minute. I just don't get how his mind works sometimes, he gets a good woman, treats her like a queen for a while then when she shows some independence he comes out with some cruel jibe. It's completely contradictory to what he's always said he wants in a woman."
"I know. And Eva's been very supportive of him, never saying a word to the press when asked for her opinion when they think he's gone a little too far with some of his criticisms. I kind of feel sorry for him right now."
"Sorry for HIM?" Franky asked, her eyes flying wide as Urs guided her to the dancefloor and began to sway with her.
"Sure. Eva's on her way and Mrs Cowell probably knows what happened by now. You know she really likes Eva, thinks the world of her. I just get this funny feeling Simon's going to have to deal with two very angry women at the same time."
"Oh I see. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. However, no matter what happens, I think Simon owes Jordi and the rest of 'Blackout Zone' an apology for how pushy he's been with them, don't you?"
"Ja I do. Both of us as well, you more so than me though, but let's not think about that right now. We're are supposed to be celebrating after all."
Franky nodded, smiled a lot broader and moved a lot closer to him. They spent the next few hours either dancing, eating or chatting with their friends, deciding to leave and head for home just after one in the morning. They stepped out of the hotel having changed into bike leathers and quickly made themselves comfortable on their Harleys. Urs let Franky take the lead so that he could admire the view and thanked God Simon hadn't forgotten to get the bikes to the hotel this time. They had to pass Simon's home on the ride and paused to allow two vehicles pass through the gates, one a Harley Davidson the other a Mercedes Benz. Knowing the registration numbers very well, Urs and Franky lifted their visors and gave each other a look that said they knew a certain someone was in very deep trouble with two formidable women. Wishing that he could be a fly on the wall in Simon's home, Urs reluctantly lowered his visor and soon caught up with Franky who'd moved off almost a full minute before him.
They arrived home to find the house empty, but it wasn't like that for long. Jordi returned first and headed up to bed once he'd told the two of them how well 'Blackout Zone' had done, proud that they'd come fourth in a battle of the bands competition and informing those that had finished below them had been together much longer and did nothing but argue or fight when not on stage. Ciara returned a few minutes after Jordi carried into the house asleep in Paul's arms. Much as Urs and Franky wanted to hear what she'd been up to in Australia right then, they knew she still had trouble sleeping on a long haul flight and decided what they wanted could wait until the following morning. Frank was the last to arrive, smiling broader than ever as he informed that Carina had passed her bike test earlier that day.
"Oh yeah! Didn't tell you about that did I?" Frank grimaced when he saw both his parents looking at him with wide eyes and gaping mouths. "Don't start on me. I didn't push Carina into learning, in fact I was perfectly willing to take driving lessons. It was all her idea and you know what Carina's like when she sets her mind to something. Stubborn as mule, just like Tio Carlos. Don't worry about him going off the deep end again either when she tells him. She says she'll set him straight again if he implies that I forced her into it. Anyway, got a busy day tomorrow, full appointment book and all that. See you in the morning. Love you both." He finished, quickly kissed Franky on the cheek then promptly disappeared upstairs.
Still stunned by what they'd heard, Urs and Franky locked up the house then made for their bedroom. As Urs slipped under the covers he heard Franky shouting and cursing in the en-suite and knew without going to check that her period had returned after a four month hiatus. Wearing nothing but clean knickers she joined him and apologised for what she'd just discovered.
"Oh shut up woman. I could do with the rest." Urs replied teasingly, letting out a yelp when Franky slapped his chest and pulling her closer, knowing that they'd made love at least once a day for the last one hundred and twelve days, the last time being just an hour before he set foot on stage, in his dressing room at The Royal Albert Hall.
Other than Frank, everyone else in the house woke late the following morning and had just settled down to breakfast when the gate buzzer rang. Urs moved quickly to see who was there and Simon was soon standing in the kitchen apologising to Jordi, Franky and himself. Once those apologies had been accepted, Urs looked at Simon's face a little closer and saw what he thought were finger marks on his right cheek.
"Don't remind me. I forgot how hard my mother can slap. Almost ninety years old and she still packs one hell of a whack. However, I think Eva was shocked to see her do it, not that I didn't deserve it after what I said to her. I have been a complete ass with regard to her career just lately. I could have flown out to wherever she was after all. Couldn't I?"
"Duhhhh!" Franky replied with an accompanying giggle and eyeroll. "I did try to tell you that didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did. Sorry I refused to listen. I can be really bullheaded when things aren't going my way. Something I have to change if Eva's going to be with me for the rest of my life. We still have things to discuss, but she's agreed to give me a chance.........Thank God. Gotta go. See you in six weeks to discuss the next album Urs."
"Six weeks? It's usually four."
"I know. I've rearranged a few things and so has Eva, we're going to Corsica for two weeks and have agreed nothing is going to disturb us. No phones, no laptops, nothing."
Trying to imagine the couple getting through two weeks without a mobile phone clamped to their ears or staring at a computer screen, Urs and Franky looked at each other, shook their heads then fell into a fit of the giggles. Once they'd recovered from that they settled down to unpacking, dealing with laundry and going through the gifts they'd received on tour. Up until this time Franky had always received a few small items but since the incident in Lisbon she'd come home with much more. Most of them were t-shirts that bore the insignia of her favourite motorbike manufacturer or group. However, as much as Urs liked to see her in them, his favourite was the one she'd been given in Paris by a group of Ubers who'd had the white t-shirt specially made for her. The bright pink words on the front summing Franky up perfectly.
'Cool, Calm & Collected 99.99% of the time.'
A few days later they paid a visit to Carlos's home in order to drop of a gift that had somehow got mixed up with one of Urs's. When they arrived, they were surprised to see him watching Carina ride her new moped up and down the drive, beaming with pride and not having said a word in protest to either her or Frank when he'd been told what she'd been up to during the tour.
"It seems I was a little bit wrong about my daughter." Carlos sighed once he'd watched Carina ride of with Frank by her side on his motorbike. "I never thought she would be as brave as Karen was. She shocked me when she climbed 'Devil's Drop' but this...........Karen would be so proud to see her doing something she said she would never have the courage to do."
"Yeah.......she would." Franky replied, looking at Urs with tears in her eyes, both of them knowing that Franky had tried to teach Karen how to ride a motorbike, but she'd been far too nervous and had given up after six lessons.
Almost twenty-two years had passed since Karen had died and Urs knew there hadn't been a single, solitary day that Franky didn't think about her at some point. The way she did all those she'd loved and lost and loving her all the more for keeping each and every one of them in her heart.
Turn the page.
____________

Chapter 154 - Losses & Gains
As shocked as he and Franky had been when Kurt and Maria had announced that they were going to be parents shortly after new year it was nothing in comparison to the scene that greeted their eyes as they were shown into the waiting room where Kurt and Maria's parents had been put. Kurt was seated, tears streaming down his face while Giovanna spoke in rapid fire Italian, angry rapid fire Italian at that, her hands flying around before she slapped him hard across the face.
"Giovanna!" Lanfranco yelled then looked around and shoved a blissfully unaware Gino Michael into Urs's arms so that he could get his wife under control, gently pulling her away from Kurt and holding her by the tops of her arms. "Fermarsi. Non è colpa di Kurt che nostra figlia è in chirurgia d'urgenza. Non sappiamo quanto è successo ancora. Non vedi che è altrettanto spaventato, come tu ed io siamo?"
"Si. Capisco." Giovanna nodded, quickly falling into Lanfranco's arms and apologising to Kurt, though he didn't seem to hear her.
"What's going on Kurt?" Urs asked, taking a seat next to him once he'd handed Gino over to Franky.
"Erm........Maria.......I might.......I might end up like Uncle Carlos........losing her and having to........Oh Jesus........I should have........We should have waited, Pa. We should have waited."
Realising that Kurt was more distressed than he'd ever seen him, Urs wrapped an arm around his shoulders and watched Franky deal with a now hungry Gino while he pieced together what he knew so far. Both Maria and Kurt had been told Gino would have to be delivered by ceasarian section weeks in advance and they'd prepared well for that, discussing it with a maturity beyond their years and agreeing that since everything was going so well they would wait until she went into labour. Her doctor perfectly happy with the decision they'd reached and making sure he'd written everything down in minute detail. It seemed she'd gotten everything she'd planned for. Gino had been delivered safely on the evening of Valentine's Day, three hours after Maria had felt the first twinges of labour, though not by her original doctor. He'd been involved in serious accident two days before and was currently in ICU in a drug induced coma, his family at his bedside, hoping and praying his sedation could be reduced soon. Another very experienced doctor had stepped into his shoes and had taken care of Maria's deliver, even berating the anasthetist when he'd failed to get the epidural in at the first attempt. Both Maria and Kurt had cried once a loudly protesting Gino had been removed from her stomach and Kurt had looked overjoyed when he'd announced the sex and birth weight to both sets of anxiously waiting grandparents. Everything after that appeared to have gone smoothly, Maria had been allowed to go home a week later and she'd followed her doctor's orders to take it easy. Now here they were, back in the San Raffaele Hospital, Kurt looking pale and more scared than he'd ever seen him, pacing up and down the small room, muttering to himself and attempting to dry his eyes. The only thing Urs and Franky sure of right now being that he'd done the right thing in getting Maria to hospital when he'd woken to her agonised screams, pulled the sheet back to find her nightdress soaked with blood and that she was currently in emergency surgery.
Urs sighed as Franky took the seat Kurt had vacated, both of them hoping that someone would come in and explain what had gone so horribly wrong because Kurt and Maria's parents obviously weren't capable of doing so at the moment. With Franky keeping an eye on Kurt, Urs turned to look at Maria's parents and found himself wishing they spoke better English than they did but thought he was being a little bit selfish. Maria was their only daughter, the middle of seven children and so very precious to her parents and brothers. He huffed, wondering where all her siblings were at the moment and quickly remembered two of the younger three were still at school, the eldest of those three was at university in America. The youngest of the older three had recently become a father himself and was having to deal with his wife's post-natal depression. The eldest two didn't live in Milan and there was no way they could have driven from their homes to the hospital in less than an hour.
Something suddenly popped up from the recesses of his mind and Urs left the room in the hope he could make the nurse sitting at reception understand that he wanted the phone number for the British Embassy in Italy. She understood him perfectly but didn't appear to know how to access the information and had to call on a colleague for help. She'd just written the number down and handed him the piece of paper when he heard his name being called and whirled round to find himself face-to-face with Maria's panting eldest brother, Mario.
"Danke Gott!" Urs breathed out a sigh of relief, knowing the young man spoke very good English and would be able to act as translator.
"What has happened to Maria, Senor Buhler? Is she all right?" Mario asked between two deep breaths.
"I don't know the details, Mario." Urs shook his head then proceeded to tell the almost thirty year old what he did know, hearing both Mario and Lanfranco junior curse in their native tongue as he finished.
"So you have no idea what they are doing to Maria in operating theatre?" Lanfranco asked, shaking his head and wiping his eyes.
"No. Sorry. Franky and I tried, but they wouldn't tell us anything because Kurt and Maria aren't married yet. Your parents are too distraught. All I do know is that Kurt is worried that she's not going to make it."
"Then we must go find out." Mario nodded, turning on his heel and following Urs back to the waiting room.
Urs swallowed hard as he stepped over the threshold, Lanfranco senior and Giovanna sat on one of the two couches, wrapped in each other's arms and crying hard. Franky was seated on the other with Gino in her arms and a sobbing Kurt's face buried in her lap, tears streaming down her face as she tried to convince Kurt that he would make a wonderful father and that Maria would make it through the operation. For the first time ever, it seemed she couldn't convince him if the way he rapidly shook his head was anything to go by. Realising Franky needed some help, Urs moved towards her, pulled Kurt to his feet, held him firmly at arms length for a moment or two then yanked him into a tight embrace and whispered the words that had always gotten him and Franky through tough times.
"I'm sorry, Pa. I forgot. You're right, I can't let this destroy me, Maria would be so mad at me." Kurt replied, between brief breaths, tears still streaming down his face.
Urs nodded, gave Kurt another reassuring hug then turned to see what was happening with the Garafallo family. Mario and Lanfranco both had tears in their eyes as they listened to their father speak and when they turned to face Urs it appeared they knew just about as much as the Buhlers did with regard to Maria. Silence reigned in the room following that only to be broken by a young woman entering with trolley laden with refreshments that no-one touched. Not knowing what else to do, Urs took a seat next to Franky and wrapped an arm around her shoulders while they listened to Giovanna apologising to Kurt for slapping him so hard and blaming him for what had happened to Maria. Kurt accepted and once he'd pulled back from the very tight embrace Giovanna and Lanfranco senior had given him, the whole group sat much closer together, Giovanna holding Kurt's right hand in her left, Franky holding his left in her right, still cradling Gino in her free arm. The other four men taking seats very close together, breathing deep and praying that they would hear something soon.
He didn't have a clue how long they remained that way, but by the time the door opened again, Urs's eyes were beginning to feel heavy and Kurt's head had begun to nod. However, Kurt snapped awake when he saw who had come in and demanded to know how Maria was doing. The doctor smiled gently and informed she had made it through the operation, was now in the recovery room and that everyone would be able to see her within the hour. Doctor D'Angelo then took a deep breath and slowly informed everyone what had been wrong with Maria, pausing to let Lanfranco junior translate for Kurt, Franky and Urs. Fresh tears welled in Franky's eyes once she'd heard that an artery had been nicked during the c-section and a hematoma had formed, cutting off the blood supply to her uterus. Looking sad, Doctor D'Angelo then told them that he'd inserted the laprascope into Maria's abdomen and had been shocked to see that the artery had broken loose and he'd had to perform the only operation he could in order to save Maria's life. An emergency hysterectomy, leaving just her ovaries in place. Giovanna and Kurt took the news worst of all and protested loudly about how Maria had been treated, at least until Doctor D'Angelo informed that he really had had no choice. Maria's uterus had already begun to shrivel up and die and if Kurt hadn't insisted she go to the hospital as he had, she would most definitely have bled to death. Understanding why he'd done what he had, Kurt and Giovanna thanked the doctor and gave him a very tight hug before allowing him to leave.
A few moments later, all of them were taken up to ICU and Kurt stepped into the room first following a brief debate with Lanfranco and Giovanna who insisted he should be the first to see Maria. No-one had any idea what the couple had said to each other during the brief visit, but when Kurt came out ten minutes later he looked much happier despite his pale features. They'd all been warned what to expect during their walk up to the unit but it still shocked Urs and Franky to see Maria lying in the bed, hooked up to machines and a very thick tube running under the covers down near her thighs. It didn't take them long to figure out that she must have lost a lot of blood if the rate the transfusion drip was anything to go by. Urs could remember seeing Franky hooked up to a similar drip but the drip rate had been much slower. Maria, herself looked deathly pale and it was all too obvious she needed to sleep. However, she insisted the two of them heard what she had to say, grabbing hold of Franky's hand so tight her fingers turned white and refusing to let go.
"I'm sorry, Mama. I so wanted to give you both many grandchildren."
"Hush Maria." Franky replied, shaking her head and running her fingers through the young woman's hair. "You're alive, that's all that matters to us. I know it's hard to accept what's happened but Gino is one very lucky boy. He has two parents who will love him no matter what. That is the most important thing, si?"
"Si, Mama." Maria nodded, tears streaming down her face and finally releasing Franky's hand.
Once they'd left the room, Urs and Franky listened to a much calmer and happier Kurt explain what Maria was going to have to do once she was out of hospital, basically nothing but put her feet up until she was told otherwise by her doctor. Urs huffed a brief laugh, trying to imagine the arguments he and Maria were going to have with regard to that but knowing that Kurt could be very forceful when he needed to be and if that meant tying Maria down to a bed or chair he would do so. As obstinate and independent as Franky was when given such orders, Kurt had picked a girl ten times worse. As they left the hospital, he couldn't help but wonder how many objects Maria would throw at Kurt out of frustration, the only thing he was sure of was that Kurt would forgive her each and every time her temper flared.
Intent on going to Kurt and Maria's apartment to clean up, Urs held Franky's hand as they walked to the car and they were soon heading in the right direction. He'd just paused to let a lorry pull onto the main road when his mobile rang. As she usually did when he was driving, Franky answered and quickly switched it to loudspeaker once she heard who was on the other end of the line.
"Urs, where the hell are........"
"Don't start Simon. I know where I'm supposed to be right now, but I'm still in Milan, dealing with a family crisis." Urs cut him off then told him what had happened to Maria. "You still there Simon?" He asked following a moments silence once he'd finished.
"Erm.......Yeah, I'm..........Sorry............So you won't be back for a while yet?"
"Nein, I don't think so. Kurt's going to need a lot of help over the next twelve weeks, Maria is more stubborn than Franky ever was."
"Okay, I'll get things re-arranged this end. Keep me up to date with what's happening will you? And good luck with the ret...........Ooops! Later."
"What was that last bit about?" Franky asked once she'd hung up and returned the handset to it's usual place on the dashboard.
"Oh nothing much. Just a little project I've been working on since the tour ended. I bought the old stable and house in the village at the other side of 'Devil's Drop'."
"What? You said they needed too much work when I said I was thinking about buying..........You did that on purpose didn't you?"
"Yeah! I know what you've dreamed about setting up for years and was prepared to do anything I could to help. Work started on fixing the place up weeks ago and it's almost finished. The only thing you've got to worry about is what to call the place."
"Me? Why do I have to come up with a name?" Franky asked, removing her seatbelt and climbing out of the car, not seeing the paperwork Urs retrieved from the glovebox until it was in front of her face.
"Because I bought it for you. I know you can't bear the thought of 'Dancer' going down to Devon or anywhere else to live out his final years. This way he's still close and you can take in nine more elderly horses."
"But there were only five stables there before it burned down. There won't be room for ten horses."
"Ja I know, but there was planning consent for five more to be added. I had to refile under my name but I got it and they're almost up. Twenty acres of land is more than enough right?"
"You bought the field as well?"
"Ja." Urs replied, taking Kurt's key from Franky's shaky hand and finally unlocking the door.
Knowing he'd rendered Franky speechless by revealing his secretive purchase and rebuild, Urs chuckled to himself as he watched her walk upstairs, thankful that he'd managed to persuade Lauren to tell him where Franky had hidden the bucket list she'd made before meeting him. He'd found it exactly where she said it would be, tucked into her memory box and had seen only two things ticked off the list of things she'd wanted to accomplish. Expanding the motorbike repair business being one, the other being the opportunity to skate on a frozen lake. There were seven that hadn't been fullfilled he when found it, but now she would have more thing to tick off.
He followed Franky upstairs and the two of them soon had the bed dismantled and down in the cellar. Mario and Lanfranco arrived a few moments later but soon disappeared again to purchase a new bed and bedding. It took hours to clean up all the blood and by the time they'd finished, Kurt had arrived with Gino in his car seat. He didn't mind one bit that he would be spending a couple of nights on the couch, he was simply over the moon that Maria had survived and all the visual reminders of what had happened had been erased. Urs and Franky stayed with him until they'd eaten and he'd settled Gino in his Moses basket, both of them beaming with pride at the way he dealt with every little cry, tears filling Franky's eyes again as he sang his now six and half pound son to sleep using the song Urs had sung to all their children.
Thinking that Franky had somehow forgotten about his little surprise, Urs looked at her questioningly once they were in the car and heading back to the hotel. She smiled, shook her head then giggled for several minutes before speaking.
"There's only one thing I can call it isn't there? Pheonix Retirement Livery and I know just the person who can be responsible for the day-to-day running of the place."
"Pearl's got enough on her plate already." Urs shook his head at the idea, knowing that Miranda's daughter now ran the stableyard where 'Ice Dancer' was currently housed and had three young children to take care of as well.
"Urs, honestly. I wasn't thinking of Pearl. Who else can you think of that would be distraught to see 'Dancer' leave the area?"
"Ruby." Urs tutted then laughed, knowing that Miranda's youngest had fallen in love with Franky's horse as soon as she'd seen him and had insisted on taking care of him whenever she'd been away.
It wouldn't only break Franky's heart to send him so far away now he was getting old, Ruby would be devastated as well and had always dreamed of having stables of her own someday, preferring instead to focus on those that needed a home after years of loyal service rather than hiring animals out or giving lessons. Urs smiled and nodded his head in agreement with Franky, knowing now that he hadn't just made one of her dreams come true, he'd more than likely done so for Ruby as well and he had really good feeling about everything he'd done.
Maria stayed in hospital for the next three weeks and didn't argue with Kurt much once she was home. She had no other choice but to take it easy when Mario and Lanfranco junior had persuaded Kurt to let them move in until she was completely healed, those two as well as her parents had always had the ability to ignore her loud protests and through careful observation of the way they dealt with her, Kurt eventually learned to do the same. The only time he gave in to her was when she insisted on being at the airport to see Urs and Franky off and even then he put his foot down, saying that he would only do so if she used a wheelchair. Reluctantly Maria agreed but still huffed a little as they headed for the departure lounge.
Tears flowed again, this time from everyone's eyes as their flight number was called and Urs couldn't help but laugh when he heard Franky telling Maria yet again to listen to her family and doctor and what she would do if she didn't.
"What? And have Mama, Papa, Kurt and everyone else gang up on me if I don't? A little stubborn I may be, but that brave I am not. They are a big force to be reckoned with. Add you into the mix I would never be out of the doodoo would I?"
"No, you wouldn't." Franky replied, laughing and shaking her head as Urs took hold of her hand and the two of the trotted towards the waiting plane, making it into their seats just seconds before the door closed.
Turn the page.
________________

Chapter 156 - Not Such A Dumb Animal
Still giggling as he had spent almost the last hour doing, Urs watched Franky head down the road astride 'Dancer', fighting with every ounce of strength she possessed to hold him back. Despite being a very experienced horsewoman she was struggling but flat out refused to give him his head, prepared instead to endure a mile and half long ride with him bounding along and tossing his head from side-to-side rather than let him win this particular fight. It was bad enough the animal had refused to have his legs bandaged for the short journey to his new home, never mind the fact he'd dug his heels in or whirled away from the horsebox for that matter. Both Franky and himself had spent time trying to get him in the transport, coaxing, bribing and even attempting to tease him at one point by kissing at the back of the box. None of that had worked, 'Dancer' had just looked and had given them a look as if to say 'Geeze, get a room'. Ruby, Miranda and Pearl had tried to get him in after that and he'd still refused. The five of them manhandling him hadn't worked either and for the first time ever he'd almost nipped someone.
Not knowing what else to do, they'd all retreated and allowed 'Dancer' to wonder around the stableyard and hadn't he just loved the fact that he'd won. He pranced around like a young stallion and had whinnied loudly at one point. Then he seemed to have caught the glare Franky shot him and he'd bared his teeth the way he always did when something amused him. Refreshed and willing to give it another go after a cup of coffee, the five of them had tried to get hold of him again only to miss each time they reached for the lead rope, Pearl eventually ending up in the water trough and heading into office once her giggling mother and sister had pulled her out. Urs had managed to get hold of the rope a few seconds later but didn't manage to keep hold if it as 'Dancer' reared then whirled on his hind legs, whipping the loosely held rope from his grasp and damn if 'Dancer' hadn't laughed again after hearing the tirade of Swiss-German cursewords that spewed from Urs's mouth. There was no doubt it, 'Dancer' was finding his antics hysterical and had even nodded his head when Franky had asked him if he thought he was funny.
Five minutes later they'd realised that 'Dancer' was not going to go into the box no matter what they did and Franky had decided to walk him down. Of course he hadn't liked that idea either, had given her a hard nudge and trotted towards the tack room as soon as she let go of the lead rope. She'd looked at him just like she had 'Ascaris' once and quickly realised what he wanted. Her on his back for what might be the last time. Reluctantly, she'd tacked him up, Urs had given her leg up and 'Dancer' had behaved impeccably until they were out of the gates. Then he'd started trying to get Franky to submit to his requests to be given his head, stretching his neck out so that the reins strained tight, trying his best to break into a trot, bounding along the road rather than his usual smooth walk.
Once they were out of sight, Urs headed back down to where his Harley sat waiting and waved Ruby off before he started the engine. He allowed her to leave the stableyard first but soon left her car trailing behind. Still chuckling to himself, he spied Franky in the distance and instantly knew what route she would be taking to the other side of 'Devil's Drop'. Knowing he couldn't follow her on the bike, he paused to see what she would do and let out a long sigh as she finally gave the almost twenty-eight year old gelding his head. To this day it was a magnificant sight to behold and it still took his breath away to see it. If ever a human and animal had been destined to run as one, it was Franky and 'Ice Dancer'. So engrossed was he in watching what he and so many locals would miss seeing, he didn't see or hear Ruby's car zip passed him nor did he move off again until Franky and 'Dancer' had disappeared from sight.
He continued his journey, thankful that it was bright and warm day, therefore there would be no rushing around getting the other horses settled in their new home. He hadn't expected enquiries to come flooding in so quickly once the building had been finished and the website launched, but they had. One hundred in the first day alone and even Simon had got in on the act, telling an old friend all about the place, knowing that she was looking for somewhere to send 'Elusive Diva' to live out her final years in the comfort she was accustomed too. Like any good horse owner, she'd insisted on inspecting the place herself before asking if Franky would be willing to take the slightly haughty animal on. Franky had laughed briefly at the description Martha Davidson used then she'd apologised. Martha had waved her off then shown both Franky and Ruby a video of the animal in question, Franky in turn had told him all about her and he found himself wondering how 'Dancer' would react when he saw how high she carried her head or trotted delicately around the field. Urs giggled, knowing the 'Dancer' had met such animals in the past and had always brought them down a peg or two by acting as though he wasn't impressed.
Seeing the new gates coming into view, Urs slowed his speed, turned through them and rode up to the side of the cottage where Ruby would be living from now on. She'd moved in over a week ago and had worked very hard to make it comfortable for her and her cat, Demaris. His eyes flew wide as he removed his helmet and spotted four vehicles that he knew well but hadn't expected to see today.
"Hey buddy! What kept you?"
"Geeze, David!" Urs startled, feeling the familiar hand on his shoulder and turning to facing the chuckling American. "What are you doing here?"
"You didn't think we'd miss the grand opening did you? We've all been here since seven, helping to get the stables ready. Where are Franky and 'Dancer'?"
"They're on their way. We had a terrible time trying to get 'Dancer' in the horsebox. Franky decided to ride him over. One last hurrah so to speak."
"Yeah! Gonna miss seeing that, aren't you?"
"Ja, I am. What do you mean you all came to help get the stables ready? There's plenty of time for that. Other than 'Dancer', we're not expecting anyone before eight-thirty."
"Better check your watch there buddy. It's almost twenty five past."
Knowing what a practical joker David still was, Urs shook his head then looked at the time, his eyes flying wide when he saw that he wasn't being wound up for once and quickly running through the mental checklist of things that still needed to be done around the place.
"Chill out, Urs. It's being taken care of." David instructed with a smile and headshake. "Don't believe me come see what we've been up to."
Urs placed his helmet on the Harley's seat then walked by David's side around to the stable block itself. There he found Sebastien, Emma, Carlos and Barbara-Jean sweeping up woodshavings while Lauren filled buckets with water and carried them to the stables that were due to be occupied today. When he'd told them all about the project he had thought they weren't interested, their reactions certainly hadn't been very enthusiastic. Yet now, here they were, working together to make sure everything was perfect for opening day. As amazed as he was to see them, it was nothing in comparison to seeing Simon emerge from the haystore carrying a bale of hay and helping Eva stuff it into haynets. He found himself unable to speak for a few moments then went and thanked all of them for coming to help. He then checked on the stables and smiled broadly when he saw a thick layer of woodshavings had been scattered over the floor and the sun was shining through the large opening that over looked the field beyond. Food and water buckets were ready and waiting and doors were open. A check of the feed room revealed that all the bags had been removed from the pallet and had been stacked neatly along one wall and there was a large plastic tub filled to over-flowing with apples and carrots.
Hearing the clatter of hooves on the cobbles, Urs ran to where Franky had stopped and showed her what had been done once she'd handed 'Dancer's' reins over to Ruby. As usual, Ruby lead him away and began grooming him once she'd removed the tack, replaced the bridle with a head collar and lead rope and placed a bucket of water down for him. As Urs and Franky came back into the stableyard they noticed that 'Dancer' hadn't drunk as much as he normally did and his attention appeared to be focused on the horsebox that had just pulled up. His ears twitched each time the animal inside made a noise and he made a sound neither of them had heard before. A deep, rumbling grunt found its way out of him and his eyes didn't move away from the back of the horsebox, not even when Ruby noticed his unusual reaction and she moved to stroke his face.
Everyone gathered together in order to watch 'Elusive Diva' being lead out of the box, neither of them expecting the reaction the chestnut mare gave once her feet hit more solid ground. It seemed her handler didn't expect it either and within seconds she'd escaped from his grasp and was galloping to where they all stood. They dived and dodged out of her way, but she turned quickly and headed for the group who'd gone to the left, running directly at Urs, Franky, David and Lauren, her head down, ears back, snorting and preparing to bite someone. The four of them moved to dodge out of her way again, knowing that she was probably more scared than actually being agressive and they were soon heading for an open stable door.
Gasping for breath, Urs thought they'd made a huge mistake and 'Diva' would come in and attempt to trample them all any minute. However, that wasn't what happened and when the four of them looked out of the stable door they were amazed to see 'Dancer' rearing in front of them, his front legs flaying for a moment or two. Once he was on four feet again, he stomped, grunted like he had when 'Diva' had arrived then gave her a quick nip on the neck when she dared to take a step forward. 'Diva' blinked a couple of times then turned away and headed back to her handler, looking slightly dejected.
"I'm so sorry. She doesn't normally react like that." Martha Davidson informed once she'd ran to the stable and looked everyone over. "Are you all okay?"
"Fine." Urs replied for everyone as they stepped out of the stable. "It seems 'Dancer' has put her in her place already."
"Yes, yes it does." Martha nodded in agreement, moving round to admire 'Dancer' and gently stroking his face. "You knew what she was up to before she even left the box didn't you old boy?"
'Dancer' grunted again at the mention of being old then nodded his head when he saw Franky watching him. He gave Franky another hard nudge and was soon crushing the three sugarlumps she gave him.
"Well I think it's safe to say 'Diva' is going to be in good hands here. I'm sure 'Dancer' will keep her in line from now on. I don't think for one minute he's tolerate her prima donna attitude like all her other male companions have."
"No, me neither." Franky shook her head, left her beloved animal with Urs then moved with Martha Davidson towards where 'Diva' stood waiting.
Urs watched the two women and the horse and wasn't that surprised how quickly 'Diva' accepted Franky's presence. He was sure it was mostly down to what 'Dancer' had done, but Franky had always been able to handle difficult horses. He watched the threesome head for the stable where 'Diva' was going to be housed then lead 'Dancer' into the one next to it. 'Dancer' stomped his foot just before he lowered his head to the food bucket and 'Diva' let out a small whinney. To all concerned it seemed that he was letting her now there was only one boss in this yard and 'miss thing' wasn't it and if she continued to give him attitude he might just bite her again. 'Diva' seemed to understand, lowered her head and finally relaxed her breathing when she felt Franky tickling the spot between her ears.
Once Franky and Martha had left the stable, 'Diva' settled down a lot more, ate some of her food then moved to look out to the field at the back of the stables. The last thing anyone saw before they moved away was 'Dancer' doing the same thing, his head held high and looking at 'Diva' each time she turned away from. Urs walked away laughing again, knowing that if horses could smirk, 'Dancer' would have had the world's biggest one on his face at that particular moment.
As frightening as 'Diva's' arrival had been, Urs, Franky and Ruby were sure she and 'Dancer' would become good friends in time and were looking forward to seeing them running together in the twenty acre field. An image that would come to fruition just one week later, the two horses completely happy with each other's company and often to be found standing or lying down together under the Oak tree that Urs had thought about removing when he'd first bought the place.
Many horses would end their lives at the Pheonix Retirement Livery over the years, some dying naturally, others having to be put down. Franky crying over each one that passed on, being with 'Dancer' when his time came four years later and arranging for him to buried under the mighty Oak beside 'Diva' with small plaques erected bearing their names, birth and death death details. The wonderful and often funny memories the two animals had given everyone that knew them recorded and watched more often than Franky's performance DVDs ever were. Everyone always leaving with laughter induced tears running down their faces after having watched the mischief the animals got up to, all of them questioning how those who didn't know horses could ever call them just dumb animals after seeing the way 'Dancer' always kept 'Diva' in line.
By the end of her life Franky would have provided a final home for over two hundred horses, loving the fact that Urs had helped make her dream come true and that she had something to keep her occupied once Frank took over the garage business. Not bad for a man who'd once read that he didn't care about the things Franky wanted to achieve in her lifetime and would do nothing to see them fulfilled.
Turn the page.
______________

Chapter 157 - Final Album?
"What's wrong between you and Carlos?" Urs heard David asking, the two of them and Sebastien watching the Spaniard head out of the music/dance room. "You can cut the atmosphere with a knife."
"Noth.......I've got Simon asking me if I can find out why Carlos hasn't signed the new contract yet and......"
"He hasn't signed?" Sebastien queried, wide-eyed and mouth gaping. "That's weird. He's usually the first to sign."
"I know that! Sorry Seb. Guess the stress of the last few weeks has finally caught up to me." Urs huffed out a breath.
"Oui I would say so. I can't even begin to imagine how you've coped with it all. Maria is doing better now?"
"Ja, much. At least she's able to take care of Gino by herself now. All I have to worry about now is the stables and............Carlos."
"We." David corrected with a quick pat on Urs's shoulder. "Simon was wrong to ask just you to try and find out what's wrong with him. I'm not as scared of El Senor's temper as I used to be you know? At least I don't run and hide anymore. So what do you know?"
"Not much. Other what happened yesterday. I came home to find him shouting at Franky in Spanish, telling her to mind her own fucking business just before he stormed out. Shoving me out of the way as he went."
"Well he's always had a temper, but I've never know him talk to Franky like that. Mind her business about what anyway?"
"BJ, Seb." Urs nodded. "She hasn't heard anything from her for six weeks. Franky's tried calling the house only for it to go unanswered or for Carlos to answer and say she's out. She's even been round, found Carlos at home and he's turned round and told her BJ is out. And a couple of days ago, Franky was sure she saw Marco with a black eye."
"Well it wouldn't be the first one he's had would it? You remember what he looked like when Lizzy found out he'd been cheating on her?"
"I remember but he never cried about that. Franky said when she saw Marco he looked like he had tears in his eyes and ran away from her before she could say a word."
"Come to think of it, Lauren was saying just the other day that they should all get together for one of their girly nights. Apparently it's over four months since they had one."
"It must be. The last one was just before Monique left for university, she's been gone twenty weeks now.........though it seems much longer."
"What's up Urs?" David asked, his fingers carressing the piano keyboard lightly.
"Have you two noticed how down he's been just lately? Or the way he's dressing? I mean it's twenty-four degrees centigrade out there today and he's wearing long sleeves. That's not him. He's lousing up the words left, right and centre and missing his cues. We've only got one song sorted so far. And how the hell did he come up with such a short list? He usually has more than us three put together."
"Yeah, you're right." David sighed, his head nodding, leaning back on the piano stool and looking at Sebastien. "And he hasn't yelled at you once for hitting a bum note."
"That's because I've only hit one so far." The French man retorted playfully. "Why don't we go and see if we can find out what's wrong?"
Urs and David nodded and together the three men headed out of the French doors, all of them turning to look at each other when they saw Carlos standing at the top of the garden with his head lowered, shoulders shaking much like they had following Karen's funeral. As one, they walked up behind him and Urs touched him on the shoulder, however, Carlos didn't turn around to face them.
"Carlos? What the hell is wrong with you just lately?" David questioned gently.
"Nada!" He snapped in response, rubbing at his left forearm. "This is probably our last album. I have had enough."
"What?!"
"I cannot be doing this anymore. It is time I quit the group and performing altogether I am thinking."
"Hey look buddy, I know I make jokes about your age, but you're looking pretty darned good considering, at least ten years younger than you actually are." David informed, speaking jovially, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't you enjoy singing anymore?"
"Don't be so estupido. I do, it's the only thing that brings me any comfort."
"What about BJ? She's usually pretty good at that."
"Si, she was very good at.........Oh Dios! I am losing Barbara-Jean, day by day."
"I don't understand." Urs shook his head, spotting Franky in his peripheral vision and giving David a nudge.
David in turn nudged Sebastien and all three men took a quick breath when they saw her tear-streaked face. Thinking that Carlos had upset her again, Urs went to grab hold of Carlos, intent on whirling round and confront him, only to feel Franky grabbing hold of him and shaking her head. His eyes widening questioningly.
"He's told me what's been going on and he's apologised for yesterday, he just doesn't know how to tell the three of you." Franky informed quietly, gently touching Carlos on the shoulder and handing him the mug she carried when he turned to look at her. "There's a drop of something in it. A little Dutch courage"
"Gracias Franky." Carlos nodded, attempting a smile then swallowing whatever was in the mug in a few swallows before turning to face his friends, making all three of them gasp when they saw how tired he suddenly looked, dark circles ringed his eyes, he looked like he hadn't eaten a decent meal in days and his clothes were rumpled, almost as if he'd been sleeping in them. "Let's go and sit down. I have much to tell."
The four men then headed for the deck area, placing themselves in the comfortable seating. Urs heard the new car start up and turned his head to see that Franky was off out somewhere, though he couldn't recall her saying she had planned to go out this particular day. Thinking that she'd got a call from Gabriel, Frank or Blair, he huffed a laugh and turned back to the conversation.
"I am......" Carlos began with his head lowered, raising it a little, taking a deep breath and beginning again. "I am muy worried that Barbara-Jean is......There is something wrong with her, this is I am sure of......The past few weeks she has been behaving like my Mama did when she became.......ill."
"You mean you think she's showing signs of senile dementia?" Urs queried and watched Carlos close his eyes and nod quickly.
"Argh man!" David shook his head then looked at Sebastien and Urs.
All of them knew how it had distressed Carlos to watch his mother decline, becoming so bad that she didn't know either of her children by the end and how she would run away, as though scared, whenever they visited her. Chelo had tried to look after herself and had done quite well for the first year or so. When the anger had become worse and she'd begun to lash out, slapping and punching, Chelo had called Carlos to tearfully to tell him she couldn't cope anymore. Reluctantly they'd both agreed that she should go into a care home. That had happened and she'd died there just over a year later, her husband having pre-deceased her by almost three years, passing away in his sleep.
"She's very young to be showing signs of that. She's what........five years younger than you?"
"Almost six Seb." Carlos nodded. "It is rare for one so young but is no unknown. That much and more I did find out when Mama was first diagnosed."
"What sort of things has she been doing?"
"I found the iron in the freezer the other day after spending an hour looking for it." Carlos laughed then shook his head. "She's tired all the time, rarely wants to go out and the house is a mess. That's exactly how Mama started."
"Nothing else?" Urs queried.
"Like what?"
"Franky said she saw Marco with a black eye the other day. Just wondered if BJ..........."
"Oh. No. That I did to him."
"What?!" Urs, David and Sebastien exclaimed almost together, knowing that Carlos had never so much as raised a hand to his son, the power and volume of his voice alone always enough to control him in any situation.
"It was an accident. He grabbed hold of my arm." Carlos informed, pulling up the right sleeve of his top, revealing some spectacular finger bruises. "I whirled my arm to get free and caught him in the eye."
"Why would he grab you like that in the first place?"
"Because of the way I was holding Barbara-Jean. I have been trying to get her to go to the doctor, she has been refusing, saying everything is just age and jetlag. I had hold of her arms and was shaking her a little, shouting, pleading with her to go. Marco walked in on us, tried to get me off her because he thought I was going to hurt her if I carried on. So I.......She is tired all the time, I've hardly slept because I'm so worried. I don't want to see her go like Mama.........forgetting everything, me, the children, all of you, everything we've done and everywhere we've been, tearing up the photographs, being afraid of me......of anyone. I'm not that strong that I could go through that a second time. I haven't felt this afraid since Karen died."
"Geeze!" David sighed, blowing out a long breath, his head shaking.
"Forgive me for saying so Carlos, but I think she's been remarkably selfish by not going to her doctor." Urs shook his head.
"No the need to apologise. I told her the same thing."
"Maybe she's too scared to go" Sebastien shrugged. "Remember she saw everything your Maman went through. Perhaps she can't bear the thought of ending up like that."
"You've got to get her to go somehow, for her sake as well as yours."
"I know David." Carlos nodded. "But other than dragging her there, kicking and screaming I don't know how I'm going to do it. He won't come out to the house unless there's a medical emergency."
All four Divos fell silent, each drifting into their own thoughts, three of them trying to imagine being in the Spaniard's shoes and shuddering at the thought. Carlos trying to think of something else that would explain her symptoms and behaviour, getting nowhere fast. So deep in thought were they, neither of them heard Franky return and no-one raised their heads until they heard Barbara-Jean speaking.
"I am so, so sorry." She sniffed, taking a seat next to Carlos. "I've really been a selfish bitch just lately haven't I? Got you scared too, I know that."
"Not just me. Everyone." Carlos nodded, wiping the tears from Barbara-Jean's eyes, ignoring his own. "I just want you to see a doctor, nada more."
"I know. Franky's given me a good telling off for trying to pretend there's nothing wrong with me. I know there is, but I haven't forgotten anything. I remember it all. All the wonderful times we've shared. I've made an appointment to see my doctor tomorrow."
"She's told you what I was thinking is wrong?"
"Yeah." Barbara-Jean nodded, swallowing a sob. "I'm sorry for making you think that. I don't know how I could. Knowing what you went through with Mama, I should never, ever have done that. Forgive me?"
"One you have never been and never will be a bitch. Two I am not happy that it has taken one of Franky's butt-kickings to make you go, but I'm glad you're going." Carlos sighed, standing up and pulling Barbara-Jean into his arms, rocking her gently. "Si....I forgive you. I love you BJ, I would forgive you anything, you know that."
"I know." Barbara-Jean nodded, smiling broadly, knowing that Carlos rarely used her initials and watching what Chelo had called the the 'Elvis Sneer' spread across his features. "Now what's this I hear about you not signing your new contract yet? It's only for two more years."
"I know. I will sign as soon as we know of the certain what is being wrong with you, no before."
After watching Barbara-Jean nodded her agreement, Urs looked around, hoping to see Franky still around. His brow furrowed when he couldn't see her. He excused himself, headed back inside and found her near the piano, leafing through what songs they'd planned to record.
"No arguments this time." He grinned when she turned to look at him, the music for 'She's All I'll Ever Need' in her hands, looking at him questioningly. "Simon finally agreed."
"Probably because it's been at the top of your list every year since the Paris thing and you've come home all sulky when he's said no."
"Actually no." Urs grinned. "We've all wanted to record it for ages, so we told Simon if we didn't do it on this album, there would be no album at all. Screw the contracts. We've never walked out of his office to complete silence. It was really funny, David couldn't stop laughing on the ride home."
"Then you'd better get on with it hadn't you." Franky shook her head then kissed him quickly before heading towards the door that lead in to the lounge, pausing on the threshold as Carlos, David, Sebastien came into the room. "Carlos?"
"Si Franky."
"Trate de mantener los gritos de Seb abajo ¿verdad? Tengo que hacer las cuentas." She replied, nodding to the wall that separated them from her office making Urs and David laugh out loud and Sebastien stick his bottom lip out, each of them knowing what she'd said because they'd heard it so many times over the years and she was currently involved in helping to organise Kurt and Serena's weddings besides still dealing with garage accounts and all the livery's finances.
"I cannot make the promise, but I will try not to shout at Seb. It will depend how many times he hits the bum notes. You know what he is being like when he drifts off into his own little world." Carlos replied, smiling for the second time that day, giving Franky a gentlemanly nod, watching Barbara-Jean shake her head as she and Franky crossed the threshold and allowed the door to close.
Two weeks later, a blood test revealed that a lack of Vitamin B12 had caused Barbara-Jean's symptoms. All it took to bring her back to her normal self was a few shots of what she was lacking and a slightly improved diet. Carlos signed his new contract the following day. The album would be finished within the month, Simon loving their version of the Ricky Martin song so much, he called himself stupid for crossing it off Urs's list every time it had appeared.
Turn the page.
______________

Chapter 158 - Undisturbed
As busy as he'd been recently, it seemed Franky had been even more so and Urs was determined that she would take it easy today. Thankful that she was still in bed, he removed the main telephone connection, knowing that because he'd done that the other three wouldn't work. He'd already switched his and Franky's mobiles off before coming downstairs and there was no-one else in the house that could disturb them. Whistling an old tune, he headed for the kitchen and quickly set about making breakfast in bed, not caring that he was only wearing pyjama bottoms that finished just above his knees. He set to work peeling and chopping up enough plantain to serve two, still wondering where Franky got all her energy from while he remembered the events of the previous evening.
They'd spent most of the day at the livery stables, waiting for the vet to arrive so that he could carry out some dental work on a couple of recently arrived horses and helping Ruby with mucking out, grooming and unpacking food deliveries. Once they'd finished there, they'd come home, showered then headed for the ice-rink once they eaten. They'd skated for a couple of hours together until Lauren had announced it was time for the inexperienced skaters to leave the ice and as reluctantly as usual he'd left Franky on the ice so that she could skate a little faster. He'd barely sat down after Franky had kissed him and smiled when a young woman had approached Franky and had asked if she'd heard what had been said over the public address system, calling her 'Grandma' in an insulting fashion with a sneer on her face. Franky didn't get chance to say anything in reply and neither did Urs himself. Four former members of the hockey team had been passing by and had heard the way the woman had spoken to Franky and they hadn't liked one bit of what they heard. Bill asking her who she thought she was, Steven asking if the girl had any idea who she was talking to, Clay and Nigel glaring hard at her, their arms folded across the chest.
Of course the girl didn't have a clue who Franky was or how good a skater she still was. Though never one to show off and after almost five minutes bickering with Clay, Franky had agreed to show off a little.
"A little." Urs chuckled and shook his head. "A little my ass, she scared me to death." He shuddered then smiled at the memory of watching Franky skate around the rink with Clay a few times at very high speed whilst Bill, Steven and Nigel asked for room to be made around the centre rink.
Urs, himself didn't have a clue what trick Franky and Clay were going to perfom and he'd been given the shock of his life to see them perform the 'headbanger', Franky's head coming so close to the ice, he thought she'd actually hit it once. As wide as his eyes and mouth had been, he was positive he hadn't been the only one who'd been astounded to see Franky perform one of the most dangerous moves ever, the rest of the inexperienced skaters had been too and virtually all of them had stood to applaud as Franky made her way back over to him with a sheepish look on her face. Once she'd assured him that she was fine and had accepted all the compliments that had come her way, she'd turned to see what the young woman was doing and had seemed quite surprised to see her heading towards the entrance doors. Then someone had giggled behind Urs and had informed that it was about time someone put Leisha Morgan in her place when Franky had given her her questioning looking, The woman going on to say that apparently Miss Morgan didn't like to share the ice with anyone over the age of thirty, experienced or otherwise, that Franky wasn't the first she'd referred to in such a fashion, despite only moving into the area just over nine weeks ago and that she hoped Leisha had learned a lesson tonight. Franky had smiled and nodded in agreement, kissed him once then returned to enjoying herself until Lauren's voice came over the speakers again, this time to announce she was going to slow things down as it was almost time for everyone to leave. Urs had rejoined Franky before 'Endless Love' had even begun to play and they'd finished their slow dance, holding each other tight and kissing gently.
In need of refreshment once they'd changed back into trainers, the two of them had made for the restaurant where several Il Divo fans had approached and let him know how much they'd enjoyed watching the DVD Wayne had put together, questioning him as to why they'd all looked so green around the face at one point, despite the fact they were laughing hard. Urs laughing again as he recounted what 'Alondra' had done and whose fault it had been in first place. Another had asked him what rude lyrics David had made up but he'd flat out refused to answer that question. Though obviously disappointed, they'd accepted his refusal then asked about the water bomb fight Il Divo and their wives had had a fe days after the Lisbon incident. They'd giggled once again once he'd told them it had all be David's idea and he'd put the filled balloons in the hotel's fridge for a couple of hours and that's why everyone had reacted with shivers whenever they'd been hit. It had been a fantastic way to relieve some of the stress, but Urs still felt he owed David some payback since the laughing American had stuffed the last balloon down the back of his jeans and gave him slap on the back to burst it.
Then they'd turned to a giggling Franky and asked her how she coped with going from country to country so quickly, what she did while soundchecks were being carried out and why there wasn't that much footage of her or Emma, Lauren and Barbara-Jean on the DVD. She'd replied that it was much easier touring now, especially since she didn't have to worry about the children, that there wasn't much footage of her or the rest of the girls because as far as they were concerned the whole project was about how tiring it was for the guys more than themselves especially since they weren't the ones who had to get up on stage every night, despite being jetlagged or feeling stressed. Then she'd told them what she did during soundchecks, revealing that she loved nothing better than going for a stroll round whatever city they were in with the rest of the girls or members of the backstage crew that weren't required during such times. Urs knew if she wasn't doing that, he could always find her down in a hotel pool, enjoying the water rather than sitting on a lounger in the hope of attracting the attention of some richer older man.
Of course someone else had had to pipe up by saying that it must have been so terribly hard touring with him a few years earlier especially since Franky could dump the children off on the nanny anytime she pleased. Urs had to bite his lip and count to ten for the second time in five days on hearing words to that effect again. Knowing that Franky wouldn't want him to cause a scene, he'd done so and had seen a few harsh glares cast towards the woman who'd spoken and sat a few feet away, neither of them from himself or Franky. Like he had when Hadley's grandmother had said much the same thing four days ago, he'd grumbled a few choice Swiss-German cursewords while sipping on a very hot Latte but hadn't given her a second glance.
His thoughts turned to the dinner they'd attended at Hadley's childhood home and how everything had been going well until Agnes Palmer had opened her mouth and how the sixty-one year old woman had given both himself and Franky an apologetic look once she'd returned from the kitchen where Race Palmer had taken her and presumably quietly told her off. Twenty-three year old Hadley had already warned them that his grandmother had a habit of speaking her mind and still treated his father like a little boy sometimes, even at the age of thirty-nine. Race knew he'd disappointed his mother in some respects, especially by getting his girlfriend pregnant at such a young age, marrying her just weeks before Hadley was born, following him up with Zofia five years later, but he wasn't afraid to speak up whenever he thought she'd overstepped the mark.
While they were gone Hadley's mother, Ione, informed that it wasn't the first time her mother-in-law had put her foot in it that day, she'd also managed to upset Serena by trying to insist that she should wear her wedding dress despite being told three times that Hadley didn't like it. Serena had huffed at Hadley before revealing that she wasn't keen on it either but she did have a few ideas floating around, winking at her mother and smiling when she nodded.
Not until they'd left had Franky revealed what Serena really wanted to wear and he'd protested at the idea. Then she'd asked him why he was so bothered about their daughter wearing her original wedding dress, reminding him that if her mother had bought hers rather than hiring it, she would have walked down the aisle to him in that. Though he'd been stunned to see what Franky had worn on their wedding day, he knew he would have been equally as stunned to see her wearing the white dress decorated with a silver filigree design and matching elbow length gloves her mother had selected. He'd seen the pictures often enough to know that and had noticed how Frank couldn't keep his eyes off Serena. He'd been very much the same on seeing Franky's choice and now hoped he would see Hadley wearing the same expression or something close to it when the time came for Serena to be walked down the aisle.
Tropical breakfast muesli and watermelon juice prepared, Urs placed everything on a bed tray and headed back upstairs. He made it into the master suite just in time to see Franky beginning to wake up and set the tray down on the dressing table before making his way to lay back down beside her. She moved into his arms without opening her eyes and they were soon kissing and carressing each other's bodies. Before Urs could blink the pyjama bottoms were off and had been tossed somewhere in the room and they were both very aroused. Their breathing became more ragged, their kissing much more passionate. Muscles twitched, eliciting soft moans from two mouths despite the fact they weren't even locked together. Urs didn't know how much time had passed as Franky straddled his hips and didn't really care. All he cared about at that moment was pleasuring her and he knew he was doing just that as their sexes finally engaged and she moaned his name when she felt his lips tickling the skin of her abdomen, slowly working his way up until his tongue found the already hard buds on her breasts, making them ever harder with the lightest of touches. His hands gently squeezing her still quite firm butt cheeks while his hips thrust upwards harder and harder until she came, shakily moaning his name.
Controlling his own release, Urs gently eased Franky off him and kissed her until she'd almost got her breath back. As soon as he heard that familiar swallow that always let him know she'd calmed down, he moved right hand slowly down her body, his two middle fingers quickly slipping into the moist opening, slowly bringing her to the brink of another orgasm. Depite his age, he could still move pretty quickly and his aching manhood had soon replaced his fingers and Franky's legs were wrapped around his hips, driving him deeper and deeper with each thrust, the two of them tipping over the edge at the same time with the loudest moans of each other's names they'd released in a very long time.
Breathless, Urs collapsed on top of Franky then rolled over on his back, taking her with him so they could kiss until they'd both calmed down. It took them quite a while and even when Urs stood to go and retrieve the tray, he did so on very shaky legs. He placed the breakfast tray on the bed between the two of them and started giggling once he was sitting opposite Franky.
"What exactly do you find so amusing?" She asked, swallowing a mouthful of watermelon juice.
"Nothing." Urs replied, shaking his head and still giggling.
"Really?"
"We.....ell. I'm just........amazed that I'm........still functioning........without any kind of erm............medical intervention. Thought you would have woren me out by now."
"Oh my God, Urs! I swear you are getting worse as you get older." Franky replied, her face bright red as she batted him with one of the cushions that usually adorned the bed.
Amid much laughter the two of them quickly became involved in a pillow fight that ended up with them making love again, this time on the bedroom floor, their breakfast abandoned and spilled all over the bed. Once they'd recovered from that session, they showered and dressed in loose clothing, stripped the bed and remade it then headed downstairs to spend the rest of the day doing little more than watching television and enjoying each other's company. Other than to eat, use the bathroom or deal with the little bit of laundry they didn't really move. Even though they were both usually very active people, Urs had to admit it didn't really do much harm to sit and veg once in while. It was something the two of them rarely did anyway and as long as he had Franky for company, snuggled up next to him, he was happy and content.
Rare though they were, the hours they spent together without a single, solitary disruption had always been and would always be the most precious to both of them and served to strengthen the strong bond they'd had from day one.
Turn the page.
_________________