Chapter 9
That night had been an interesting one, Karen had made dinner for the three of them. One of the few things she had felt necessary to learn after she graduated college, Sophie insisted on watching a princess movie, so after much deliberation they settled on Tangled. The little girl had never seen it and was fascinated by all the singing and said she wanted to grow her hair as long as rapunzel, Karen couldn't find it in herself to stop the movie to make her go to bed- so she let her stay up to finish it. But she knew it couldn't always be like this, Sophie would need a schedule. The only reason it didn't bother her so much was because it was a friday and neither of them had anything else to do the next day- and maybe because Frank was here and Karen figured Sophie wouldn't be seeing him on an everyday occurance. It was easy to see the stars in Sophie’s eyes when she looked at him, not only had he saved her from her abusive father but he had a dog she adored- an added bonus.
“Oh my god!! Look he cut her hair!! How could he do that??” Sophie’s mouth hung open in shock, that her ‘new favorite’ princesses hair had been cut.
It was an even bigger surprise when it was Frank who answered her, “He was saving her from her mom- Mother Gothel, right? If he didn't cut her hair she would have had to stay with her forever.”
Her mouth opened and closed a few times, “But he couldn't have cut it a little lower? Now she can't ever braid her hair again- not like before.”
“Yeah I guess, but I bet all that hair on her head was super heavy- now she won't have to lift anyone up a tower again.” Frank was yawning as he made a joke that probably went right over her head.
“Kare? Can you give me a rapunzel braid?”
Luckily she had learned to braid on all her friends in high school, now all that work was coming in handy, “Yeah, I can braid it but if you want a braid like hers we have to go pick up some flowers to put in it. ”
Sophie's face lit up at the prospect that she could look something like the long haired princess, “Yayy!!”
“But right now I need you to go grab your toothbrush out of your backpack, then both of us will go brush our teeth, kay?”
“Okay.” Obviously the girl didn't want to go to bed, Karen wasn't surprised-it had been an exciting day. But the girl hopped off the couch to get her bag and the dog followed right behind her. “C’mon, Duck.”
She saw Frank lacing his boots and knew he was getting ready to leave as well, and she had to admit it was hard to hide the feeling of disappointment bubbling up in her chest when she saw him getting ready to go. He was putting his hat on and grabbing Duck’s leash.
“God, what an awful name.. He doesn't seem to mind it, though.” He chuckled and she joined him.
“So your gonna go?”
“Yeah, I uh- I got stuff- work.. Work to do. Y’know.”
“Oh righ-” She was cut off when Sophie walked back in. “I wanna sleep next to you Kare.”
Karen cleared her throat before turning towards the little girl and ruffling her hair, “Of course you can, silly.”
Sophie smiled at that, but then she looked past Karen and saw Frank.
“Your leaving?”
“Yeah Soph, I got work. And I gotta bring Duck back home-”
“No! Duck’s home, he’s already asleep. He can’t leave.”
“Sophie.. Duck belongs to Frank, and he lives at Frank's house.”
The girls eyes were beginning to fill with tears, and Karen had a feeling Sophie wasn't really talking about Duck- but about Frank. “But Duck belongs here, with me….”
“How bout this Soph, tonight Duck can stay, while I go to work- then I can be here when you wake up to help build your bed. Does that work for you?”
“Frank you don't have to-”
“It's okay Karen, I don't mind, besides I have a bit more experience with building stuff than you do.” Karen nodded at him, silently cheering Sophie on for getting Frank to crumble so quickly.
“Okay, what time will you be back? Should I leave you a key?”
“No, it's fine- I can get in.” Frank put the leash back on the counter, then walked towards the door about to leave- when he was rammed into by a four year old’s excited hug.
“So you'll come back? Soon?”
She pulled back and went to stand beside Karen as he smiled and opened the door, “Don't worry, sweetie. I'll be back.”
It was Karen who answered, “See ya, Frank.”
Frank was a silent man who didn't make much noise when he was here, but after he was gone- the apartment was somehow even quieter. However Karen couldn't focus on that right now, she had to get Soph to bed.
“C’mon Soph, both of us should get some rest.”
The two girls brushed their teeth in tandem, Karen helping Sophie get into the new set of pj’s they had picked up today. Then she got herself dressed, placed a cup of water on the bedside table and crawled under the covers with Sophie doing the same.
“Goodnight Soph!”
“Night Kare..”
She turned off the lamp and settled in, was almost asleep when she felt a small body curl in towards her- a tiny head resting on her chest. The room filled with soft snores and Karen slowly drifted to the sound of both Sophie and Duck’s breathing.
She woke up the next day, Soph still laying spread eagle in the middle of the bed- and went to make herself a cup of coffee only to find a fresh pot already there. Then almost gave herself a heart attack when she looked into the room that was once an office now converted to Sophs new room to find Frank putting the bed together.
“Jesus! You scared me…. When did the bed get here?” She rubbed her eyes before sitting on the floor beside him.
“The guy got here about thirty minutes ago, I signed for it- not with my real name obviously. But you guys were still asleep so I figured I might as well start. I didn't wake you, did I?”
“No you didn't wake me, but I’d advise you stop building that. I think a little someone I know was looking forward to doing it with you..” Karen sipped her drink before tipping the cup towards him, asking if he wanted any.
Frank looked at her for a few minutes, and it would have been an awkward amount of time if it had been anyone else- but not with Frank. When he took the cup out of her hand, she felt like such a little girl. God was she in high school, Ooh he's drinking from the same cup as me!
She was being ridiculous, but she couldn't help it- this was Frank Castle she was talking about.