Don't You Want Me Baby;;, Prudence.

February 14th, 2012
11:00 a.m.
The Bartlett Residence.

It had been almost a month now since Prudence went out of town and Francesca decided to seduce her husband. As if the town needed more to gossip about, here was Francesca fucking her girlfriend's husband. She knew that if Prudence found out she'd probably be pissed but she couldn't stop herself, couldn't stop the urge to really ruin something. That was one of original ideas, showing Prudence how shaky their relationship was, maybe getting Prudence all to herself in the aftermath but then she decided on something more insane.

She'd been jealous for some time, the two trying to conceive while Francesca just sat by and watched like some other woman. It was complete and utter bullshit, and the crazy thing was that she wasn't jealous of Reid for getting to touch the very thing she claimed as her own, but of Prudence for having the chance to become pregnant. She wanted the opportunity to become pregnant naturally, to actually know the man who would get her to conceive. She had found that opportunity, that Saturday night with Reid being in a vulnerable spot, it was like taking candy from a baby.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. That night spent with Reid was wonderful, and as long as her period kept missing like it was, she would know for sure that her little plan had worked out. God, Prudence was going to pretty pissed off at her, and Francesca actually deserved it for what she did. But, she got what she wanted, and hopefully what she wanted would actually come to be. It would be a shame to sleep with Reid and not get pregnant, because she was sure the moment wouldn't come again, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Francesca was ready to ignore the problem at foot, today was Valentine's Day and she was going to attempt to make it a great one, memorable even. She had stopped at the jeweler in town, picking up the most attractive necklace she could find. In all reality, Francesca did love Prudence she just had a really poor way of showing it. She would have a problem if did wind up pregnant, she would have to make a choice whether or not to lie or tell her who got her pregnant, the Bartlett’s were starting to turn into some sexual fantasy soap opera, they might as well start selling videos or something at the rate they were going.

With a smile on her face, a bag in her hand, Francesca couldn’t help but feel happy as she parked her car outside the Bartlett household. This was all a familiar setting but instead of seeing Reid and seducing him, she’d be actually seeing the woman she love. Sure, she didn’t know what to expect, two weeks could have stirred up something but she was banking on the hope that Reid would be smart enough to not say anything to Prudence, then again, she really couldn’t rely on that. Men were all the same, they’d do anything to get in the favor of one woman, then throw it away to get in the favor of another.

She was trying, a small gesture for the rebellious stunts she pulled earlier, to be a good girlfriend. Even if Prudence didn’t know about that one little night with Reid, she still had a lot to make up for. In her mind, the chocolates, the bears and the flowers should be a start, if not there was always other ways to make Prudence realize how much Francesca cared about her. Knocking on the door, she glanced around, glad that Reid wasn’t here, that would have been a tad bit awkward, since it would be the first time she’d seen him after night.

Setting the bag down and tightening her coat, Francesca waited impatiently for Prudence to open the door.

Prudence had never really felt this way before, and she didn't quite know how to stop it. That feeling that clutched her from the inside out, that squeezed her chest and make her feel like she couldn't breathe. One breath was painful enough to send her into another tailspin, gasping for more. She felt like she was going to die, and Prudence, for the life of her, couldn't figure out why.

It wasn't like she was in any life or death situation. She hadn't received any horrific diagnosis, she hadn't been told that any of her family or friends were dying either. But as far as Prudence was concerned, her life was now crashing down around her and there was nothing she could do.

When Reid first told her that he'd slept with Francesca, Prudence hadn't been surprised. Maybe it just hadn't sunken in yet. And really, who the hell was Prudence to say anything? Prudence was having sex with two people, and no one was saying one word or another about it. Of course, the sex she was having with Reid was less about making love to someone, and more about the hopeful conception of their child. This child, she hoped, would be part of the new family unit they were creating, with Frankie and with Reid's boyfriend. Completely unorthodox, but since when did that matter?

Prudence had grown to accept the fact that she was a lesbian. She was gay, and that was just the end of it. She loved her husband, might have even been in love with him, in a way. But the love that she had for Francesca was so fucking deep and so fucking true that it physically made her hurt. And that, in its most basic essence, was where the pain came in. It wasn't that Reid was completely off the hook… Prudence had barely been able to look at him since he came clean… but Frankie had betrayed her.

Prudence had given up so much for Frankie, but more than that, she'd grown to trust her. Prudence trusted that Frankie wouldn't hurt her… that Frankie would love her, and would at least be loyal. Prudence loved Francesca with everything inside of her, and this betrayal made her feel as good as if she was dead. At least then, she thought, she would be numb.

There was a knock at the door, and Prudence barely looked up from her place on the sofa. She considered not answering the door, knowing that she didn't have enough friends to have a visitor. If it was Reid's boyfriend, it wasn't any of Prudence's business. Reid had a key. So that could only leave one another person. Frankie. Prudence hadn't spoken to Frankie since she discovered what happened… she wasn't even sure that Francesca knew that she knew. Bullshit. Absolute bullshit.

She let seconds pass, maybe a minute, and finally, curiosity got the better of her. Prudence rose, peering around the corner to see if the "knocker" had gone. She hadn't. And Prudence could see Frankie standing there, clear as anything. And from the sight of her, she had come bearing gifts. Prudence felt a twinge of pain in her gut, like she'd been stabbed again. Was she really going to pretend that there was nothing going on? Prudence let out a breath through her nose, collected herself, and finally went to open the door.

At first, she didn't know what to say. She did, however, leave one hand on the door and the other on the frame, as though physically blocking Francesca from entering the house. "I know what you did," she finally said, though it had much less valor than she'd originally intended. In fact, Prudence noted with some chagrin, it lacked any force at all.

This was all supposed to go smoothly, the fact that it was Valentine's Day, the logic that they were supposed to be this lovey dovey couple that was frowned from the likes of Evergreen, the chocolates, the flowers, the stupid bear she had picked up. It was all a cover, her and Prudence had never been a normal couple, in the movement of the world, the only considered normal in most shades of light was the marriage between Prudence and Reid was considered right, and that thing between Reid and Francesca... that was nothing more than an extramarital affair.

Everything was fine, everything would be kept hidden and it wasn't going to be revealed unless Reid did something incredibly stupid, but he promised. He had swore after they were done, after their bodies were pulled apart whether or not he could keep it between them. He told her he wouldn't, and she believed him. She had no other means to not see why she wouldn't have. Apparently, as soon as she walked into the Bartlett house, which days, prior it had been Reid and Francesca had been on various parts of the house. The table, the wall, their bodies betraying everything that was set in stone.

She knew what she did, did she? Even as Francesca moved past the brunette, it served no purpose to make a scene out in the public, especially with the lovely rumors that seemed to pop up, it was enough with the incident the other night, Francesca being manipulative to get what she needed, and Reid, vulnerable and alone. Prudence, was just so weak in some sense, it made it fun at times, it made it difficult at others. She didn't know why Prudence didn't confront her differently, angered, pissed off something. But her emotion seemed somber, as if she had expected it.

She had a choice, whether or not to play with what happened or just admit to what had happened. She decided it wasn't going to fun to make Prudence drag it out, plus she didn't even think her girlfriend had it in her to fight back, to stand her ground. Now, Francesca wasn't saying she would be opposed to seeing it, she may have even considered the idea to be something hot, feral even. That would probably be the top of her fantasies, to have Prudence, angry, hot and bothered and just letting all her aggression out on her.

Oh, Prudence...“” Pursing her lips as she shrugged off her jacket, letting it hang on the coat rack before sitting down on the couch in their home. “Let's not this one night of bad judgement ruin what we have...” Prudence couldn't break up with her, hell, they didn't even technically have a thing that was set it stone. She was married, fucking her husband to try and get pregnant and Francesca just waited until it was her turn to sleep with Prudence. Still, what had been done was irreplaceable, she couldn't fix it and she certainly wouldn't try.

She didn't think it was wrong, Prudence had left for the weekend leaving poor Reid alone and helpless, so Francesca just did what anyone reasonable woman would do, she seduced him and rocked his bones. So, sure she could see why Prudence would be mad, but she'd just have to get over it. “Baby, come here,” She patted the cushion next to her, looking up at the woman, “We'll get over this, it's not like this is the end of the world or anything.” Clearly, worse things could happen, much more severe things could come out of things like this.

Francesca came into the house and did what she did best… she took it over. It was second-nature for her. Her presence seemed to fill the house the moment Frankie stepped into it… Prudence would have been completely in awe of her, if she hadn't been so fucking upset. Francesca was, no doubt, attempting to act as though there was nothing wrong. No doubt she was pretending as though it didn't happen. At least, that was more than likely her motivation when she actually arrived at the Bartlett household.

And, on any normal Valentine's Day, Prudence would have been thrilled. She would have felt honored, and included. She would have felt as though she was truly loved, and that Frankie had taken time out of her busy life to pay her attention and affection… that she was putting in an effort. But now? It just all seemed so fucking… manipulative.

And that's what it came down to, wasn't it? Manipulation. It was manipulation to make Prudence fall in love with her. It was manipulation to convince Prudence that everything was going to be okay… that no one had to know about the fact that they were in a relationship, but their relationship could still flourish. It was manipulation to tell her that they were going to be okay, that they would have a family with Reid, and with Bentley. It was manipulation to, somehow, get Reid in bed (or against the wall, or wherever the hell they'd done it), and that was the one that Prudence couldn't quite reconcile.

She could understand why Francesca might want Prudence to believe that everything was going to be okay. She could understand why Francesca would want to live under this cloak of invisibility and denial… that they could pretend as though everything was exactly as it should be, and there was absolutely nothing strange about the things going on in their lives. That they were normal, even in this community. Prudence could understand all of it, she really could. ANd most of the time, she was grateful for it. She liked pretending as though the things she was doing were perfectly normal… just as normal as driving down the street to get a sandwich, or fill up a gas tank. Even though Prudence had spent so long convincing herself that she wasn't normal, it was good to feel as though she was. But then this happened.

Sure, Prudence was still furious with Reid. Sure, she still hadn't quite forgiven him, and then "when" on that wasn't looking too hot. There were a lot of things about which Francesca was conflicted, and she didn't know quite where to start. Especially when Frankie crooned, "Let's not this one night of bad judgment ruin what we have."

Prudence was floored. As if this was her fault? Did Francesca really think Prudence was that stupid, that she was going to fall for some shit like that? Prudence was ashamed to admit that Francesca's protestations and the things that she was doing were working. It terrified her. Did Francesca really have this hold over her? Prudence set her lips together, pressing them in, and let out a breath through her nose. Composing.

"I know it isn't the end of the world," she said, firmly. "It's just sex, right? And what right do I have? I mean, I was having sex with both of you. No, I get it, really." Prudence tried to sound angry. Tried to push out that anger from her diaphragm so that Francesca could hear it… but instead, she just sounded pitiful. She felt tears springing to her eyes. She reached up and brushed them away quickly, but more formed before she could stop it. "This isn't fair," she said, even though she knew it was infantile and stupid to say.

She didn't want to be such a selfish bitch, but Prudence was just not giving her what she wanted, she wanted her to do something instead of being so damn easy about things. Hell, if it had been on the other shoe right now, she was she'd have broken at least something by now, a plate, that vase, something. For once it would have been nice to see Prudence flip out, to show some sort of emotion other than being calm. It wasn't like she wanted a dramatic person like herself in a relationship but sometimes she just wanted to get under Prudence's skin and see her react.

Like now, the way she spoke just made Francesca feel more guilty about what she'd done, not guilty enough to change things of course but still it was weighing heavy on her chest at the moment, the fact that Prudence wasn't mad on the outside, the fact that she knew damn well that it was brewing inside of her and she wanted nothing more than to make it break free. She wanted to release the animal inside of her, but at the rate they were going she didn't think she'd be breaking it free anytime soon.

She almost didn't know what to do, to stay here in this house with her girlfriend who was probably just fuming inside or leave and possibly just let this blow over, she didn't think it would, especially after she'd told Reid about the baby, and as long as she was still carrying it, this whole problem wouldn't exactly just blow over. She was pregnant with Reid Bartlett's baby, and she didn't exactly know what that would do to Prudence and her's relationship, if they even technically still had one after all that had happened lately.

This was crazy, she was crazy for doing what she did, but maybe it was what the Bartlett's needed, they obviously weren't getting pregnant on their own, so Francesca just needed to come along and be the surrogate for their family. Surrogate, she was just a surrogate right now, except in the normal sense she'd be giving her child to the family and in this situation, she'd be keeping it. This was going to be their child, once Prudence knew the complete truth they could get ready to become a family, just one big happily family fit for the three of them.

She'd have to tell her the truth, Prudence had to know she was pregnant. It wouldn't be fair to not tell her, she'd already told Reid and with the way he squealed it wouldn't be long until Prudence knew and if Francesca didn't tell her, all hell would break loose and she could basically kiss any chance of actually maintaining a relationship with her girlfriend. There was only so much a person could take, only so far you could push people before they just gave up and the more she looked at Prudence, Francesca knew she was nearing her breaking point.

She almost hesitated in telling her the truth, she didn't know if she actually wanted to, because once she admitted things to Prudence, there was really no going back to the life they'd been living. It would no longer just be Frankie and Pru, it would be Francesca and Prudence and Reid and their baby. Swallowing hard, she looked up at the other female, her blue eyes watching her reaction as she readied herself, she could do this, Prudence wouldn't get too mad, she'd be fine, she convinced herself and before she could stop herself, she blurted out the words she'd been trying to ignore. “Prudence, I'm pregnant.”

Prudence could hear a ringing in her ears. It was like someone had crashed a pair of cymbals inches away… or fired a gun… or just punched her in the temple. Ironically, simultaneously, she felt as though she'd been punched in the gut. And for a few moments, Prudence had no fucking idea why. Her brain wasn't processing what the hell was going on… she wasn't able to put two and two together to make four. She didn't understand why she suddenly felt sick, why she wanted to vomit, why her nose was stinging and tears were springing to her eyes.

And then, it hit her. Francesca was pregnant. Prudence's girlfriend was pregnant. The girlfriend who'd slept with her husband. When Reid told her about him and Francesca, and their "rendezvous," Prudence had felt her heart drop out of her chest. Completely. She'd thought that her life was over. She remembered the desperation she'd felt then, the betrayal she'd known would constantly be at her side, no matter where she went. But this… this was a whole new game plan, and Prudence didn't like where it would lead.

Originally, Prudence thought she would be able to get through this. At least cope with it. Originally, she figured she'd be able to work through the pain of knowing that the two people she cared most for in this world had done something absolutely irrevocable. Originally. This changed things. This changed this substantially. Prudence's lips parted, and she let out a pained whine, as though trying to form words but clearly not succeeding. Oh fuck. Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck…

This wasn't the way that things were supposed to be. Prudence was the one who was supposed to be pregnant. Prudence was the one who was supposed to have a baby with Reid, provide the womb, nurture this baby for nine months, then bring life into the world. All of this was supposed to be Prudence. God… she knew that she was being selfish, but the bottom fell out, and she couldn't find a way to put it back together. Humpty Dumpty.

The first thing that fell from Prudence's lips was a laugh. A disbelieving laugh, that tumbled and caused Prudence to shatter the uncomfortable silence that had fallen between them. And then, a tenseness in her voice she hadn't been expecting. "You're joking. Right?" Francesca could have her moments, but even she wouldn't be that evil. Would she? Maybe she was joking.

Or maybe she'd planned this all along. Maybe Francesca had wanted to have a baby this whole time, and she'd just been so jealous that Prudence was actually trying for one that she couldn't help but take it out on Prudence and her marriage. That was it. That had to be it. God. Prudence was in shock. "You…" she said, finger moving towards Francesca in some semblance of a gesture. She couldn't figure out what came next, so she improvised. "You're horrible. A horrible, horrible, mean woman." So maybe it wasn't the most eloquent… but eloquence really couldn't be expected at times like this.

In one swift motion, Prudence propelled forward towards the bedroom. She needed to get out of there. She needed to escape. She pulled open drawers, hunted through them, tossed clothes onto the bed. Enough. Enough for… however long she needed to be away. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, she needed to escape. Over her shoulder, she all but yelled, "You don't talk to me again. I'm sorry I came between you and Reid, since that's obviously what you two want." She didn't realize she was crying, until she felt the tears dripping onto her shirt.

As terrible as it was, Francesca had convinced herself that Prudence was just jealous, an issue that up until now hadn't even been thought of. She had to be, it was the only proper explanation for their situation, it wasn't Francesca's fault that she could get pregnant while Prudence hadn't even gotten pregnant once while consistently fucking her husband, clearly there was something wrong with her, Prudence maybe wasn't meant for children and that was okay, but she didn't have to go about being pissed off that Francesca could give her, could give them something that they'd wanted in life.

She didn't want to fight with her, hell she loved her in whatever sense of the word she believed in, she loved her as much as possible, but Francesca was also selfish, convincing herself that getting pregnant would benefit them both, using Reid seemed simple when all reality she had royally screwed up things, and the more that she could tell Prudence was getting upset, the more she could see that she could very well lose her over this, and she wouldn't have anyone to blame but herself, all she would have was a baby that would most likely be hated by everyone involved.

Whatever, if Prudence wanted to be like that, instead of being happy for her, for them and for this baby that would be theirs well then fuck her. She would love this baby by herself, she didn't need Prudence, she didn't need Reid, in all honesty she had already got what she needed from him, all she needed was for him to get her pregnant, and now that that was accomplished, she had no further use for him. “I thought you'd be happy about this, Pru.” She had read her own girlfriend wrong, the woman she was supposed to know like the back of her hand now felt like a stranger before her.

It was one thing to cheat on your girlfriend with her husband, that was the bottom line, she had cheated on her girlfriend by sleeping with her husband, despite any prearrangement that was in the air, there was no clause that allowed for Francesca and Reid to be intimate, let alone the new factor, that she was now carrying the illegitimate child of Reid, something that should have belonged to Prudence, Francesca had found a whole new way of betraying the woman in one night.

It was a shame, having these feelings, making her vulnerable. Francesca wasn't good with emotions, she wasn't good at handling emotion, usually she just flipped out on people and left but this was Prudence and she felt... guilty, she felt bad for hurting her, felt bad for having to hurt her to get what she wanted and she almost wanted to blame Reid for not keeping his mouth shut but she knew better than to blame Reid for her own problem. She had a choice and she clearly made it when she slept with him, she knew what it would cause.

Words wouldn't even help her anymore, time would only heal these wounds and even then you were taking a gamble. The love of her life was crying before her and there was nothing she could do but leave, to ease the pain by walking out. She would only continue to hurt her if she stayed, picking up her bag she gave herself one last glance at the brunette, fighting the urge to embrace her, to wipe away the tears. It wasn't acceptable anymore, she had really fucked up this time and there was no taking it back.

As her hand turned the door knob, opening the door and moving to step outside, she spoke in a low voice. “I'm sorry, Prudence.” And with that, she slammed the door shut.