Chapter Text
“It’s getting bad.. isn’t it?” Franny turned away from the window to meet her husband’s eyes.
The look on his face immediately made her look down, a heavy feeling of grief weighed down on both of them. More so guilt on his part.
Cornelius wanted to reach out and embrace his wife, but it seemed she wanted some breathing room at the moment.
“We’re trying to minimize any injuries to those being controlled—” he tried to sound hopeful but his tone didn’t fool anyone. “Franny…”
She looked up, wanting the heavy ache to go away, to rip it out from the center of her chest. Instead, she hugged herself, trying to protect herself and her baby. She couldn’t hold it, Franny broke out into a sob.
Cornelius immediately walked over to her, embracing her and softly caressing her hair. “It’s okay, we’re okay, Franny. I’m going to fix this,” he stated, but she was already shaking her head.
“How? How, Cornelius?” she whispered, clutching his coat to keep him close and not wanting to let go.
He kissed her gently before resting his forehead against hers. “I don’t know, but I promise you I will. I promise you both.” Both their hands reached for their son, safe between them.
“Franny,” Cornelius murmured, looking up at her with so much resentment and grief. “I need you and Carl to get out of here–“
“No! No, Cornelius! I can’t leave you here, I-I can’t—”
“While I try to resolve this problem.” He held her steady, his thumbs caressing her shoulders. “This is all my fault. This is my creation and it’s causing havoc. I’m the only one who can stop it before it gets worse than it is now.”
Franny blinked away her tears, she didn’t know if she was hyperventilating but all she knew was he was still here, soothing her and comforting her. Her knees felt weak, and the air around her seized.
“We’ll get through this, sweetheart. Trust me.”
“Come with me, we can—” She pleaded, searching his eyes.
“Franny, I can’t…if I leave, she’ll seek me out. I’m her creator, she wants me around to make more of her,” he said, looking outside briefly before back at his wife. “And I cannot risk your safety nor our child’s…”
Stubborn as she was, this time… he was right. Dor15 wanted him around to create more, to create advances… but at the same time, he could learn how to dismantle her and the others.
Cornelius’ eyes shifted to her belly, where she had placed her left hand. He smirked, pulling Franny’s cardigan tightly around her to keep her from getting cold.
He leaned down to kiss her growing belly, hoping his child knows just how much he wished he could be there. How much love he had for both of them.
“I love you,” she said softly, running her hands in his hair. Her eyes still shedding tears as she tried to smile. Franny hated that the happiest moments of their lives were being snatched away.
His own eyes were brimmed with tears. Cornelius nodded, “I love you too… always.”
//
Franny tightened her headscarf around her, taking a deep breath as Cornelius loaded the car.
He looked up, watching her fidget with her wedding ring. It broke his heart to see her like this, especially when he was the cause of it all.
“Sweetheart,” he called, slowly making his way to her. He took her trembling hands into his. “You’ll be okay.”
“And you?” she snapped, before rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
Cornelius gave her a sad smile, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Hey, you know me—I’ve gotten out of worse situations.”
That doesn’t help, she thought. Yet, Franny couldn’t stay mad at her husband. She made her way to his arms, feeling safety and love… comfort.
“Listen, I know Carl isn’t up to date and he still needs modifications but he should be good enough to help you through anything.” he motioned to the human-sized robot, who waved at her.
Franny smiled slightly, listening to her husband go through a list of things Carl is capable of doing.
“He’ll be able to help you once…” Cornelius looked away, pursuing his lips. Franny took his hand, soothing him. He was so excited about being a father, going out of his way to modify things around the house for safety, both of them setting up the nursery… He cleared his throat, wiping his tears away. “Let’s get you going…”
He didn’t move. His life was in his hands perhaps for the last time. Something in finally broke, making him realize this was happening.
Cornelius tightened the grip around his wife’s hand before embracing her. This could be the last time he would feel her soft skin, feel her warmth, see her beautiful brown eyes…
Last night wasn’t enough either, no amount of time was enough for him. Or her.
Franny held him close, almost suffocating.
They reluctantly pulled away, before Cornelius gave her one last kiss and then another on her forehead.