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The house was silent in the way only late and stormy afternoons could be. The blinds were half closed, the glow of lightning stretching across the unmade bed where the two of you had been lying for hours. Neither of you had much reason to get up, deals were slow today. The TV hummed somewhere in the background, forgotten. Your head rested against Fez’s shoulder, tracing absent-minded circles over the faded fabric of his knitted sweater, one his grandmother had gotten him. At time of purchase, it was too big for his child body, but now it fit comfortably.

You were thinking about every detail of him so much that you hadn’t realize he barely spoke today. That wasn’t unusual of course, Fezco had always been a man of few words, but there was a heaviness in the silence that settled over both of you.

“What?” you finally asked, tilting your head to look at him. His eyes stayed on the ceiling. “Nothin’.” He replied, almost in a whisper. You acknowledged him quickly, “You always say ‘nothin’’ when it’s definitely somethin’.”

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before disappearing again. After another long pause, he sighed. “You ever think ‘bout… what you’d do if I got locked up?”

Your hand stopped moving across the sweater. The question hung in the room, making the air feel colder somehow. He nodded once, not even needing a response to feel your hesitation. “It ain’t impossible.”

You hated how calmly he said it. You pushed yourself up on one elbow so you could see his face. “I don’t like thinking about that, Fez.”

“I know.” He muttered.

“But I do think about it.” You spat out, feeling anxious as you said it. You almost regretted your words as they slipped past your teeth and into the chilled air.

He finally looked at you and you swallowed, hard. For a while neither of you spoke.

“I’d wait,” you whispered. Fez frowned before responding, “You shouldn’t.”

“I didn’t ask what I should do.”

“I’m bein’ serious.”

“So am I.”

Fez’s jaw tightened. “You got your whole life ahead of you.” he pointed out as you leaned over, gently pressing a kiss against his forehead, “ Then we’d figure it out.” He let out a quiet laugh that didn’t sound happy. “You always think things got an answer.”

“Not always.”

“Then why?” He questioned, looking at you like you were almost crazy.

“Because I’d rather spend years missing you than spend the rest of my life wondering if I gave up too soon.”

His eyes softened and finally moved from the ceiling to you.

“You deserve better than visitin’ somebody through glass.” You didn’t have a comeback for that.

Fez reached for your hand, fitting his fingers between yours. He shook his head. “But you stubborn.”

“You love that about me.”

“I do.” the words came so easily that neither of you thought about them. He squeezed your hand as his thumb brushed over your knuckles.

“I love you. More than anything.”

Your chest tightened.

“I know.”

“And if things ever went bad…” he continued quietly, “…I need you to keep livin’. Go outside. Eat good food. Take care of Ash.” You felt tears threaten the corners of your eyes.

“I can’t promise I wouldn’t miss you every day.”

“I know.”

“I can’t promise I’d stop loving you.”

“I don’t want you to.”

Outside, the world kept moving. Cars passed. People laughed somewhere down the street, a passing a vape between their hands. Life continued exactly as it always had.

But inside that tiny apartment, wrapped up in each other’s arms, time slowed just enough for both of you to know that no matter what tomorrow held, you loved each other.

And for now, that was enough as you held each other just a bit tighter.

Dad! Franco Barbi + Teen Daughter 🍼

-Not only would any daughter of Franco’s have him wrapped around her finger, but any resemblance would him would lead to him becoming extremely protective over you. In his mind, you’re an extension of him and he treats you as such.

-Because of that, it’s probably the only time Franco would realistically treat his child as a baby rather than himself. Of course you’d get the most lavish gifts. Those expensive clothes all the girls in your class wear? Yours! You just turned 16? Any car you want! It’s prom? You can pick out any dress, have a party at home with your friends after, and even be offered cocaine by your dad!

-okay, so he goes way too far with it sometimes, but it’s just because he cares.

-You’re definitely one of the most popular girls in school.

-Most parts of being a normal teen are turned pretty extreme for you. Most adults won’t stoop to arguing with their teenage daughter, but that won’t stop Franco. Sometimes you’re honestly the more mature one during fights, watching Franco whine and scream and slam doors while sobbing about how you must hate him over something neither of you will remember come tomorrow.

-Franco’s extreme emotions would also take dating completely off the table unless it’s in secret, he’s horrified by the idea that some stupid boy is going to hurt you the way his father did to his mother. And the way he likely did to yours. If anything remotely negative happened between you and a boy, chances are he would go “missing”.

-Constantly calls you sweetheart, princess, doll, or topina.

-“Princess, princess! Relax- when’s the last times papa couldn’t get somethin’ done for ya? Huh?”

-Would definitely wind up involving you in his business, not all the bloody murder stuff but definitely the numbers and upper management parts. Expect to be guarded 24/7

-You looking like Franco leads to him actually loving himself more and attempting to take more pride in his physical appearance by improving his personal hygiene.

-“You think it’s easy, what I do?”