"I said breakfast." Jude shouted again as she saw Agnes, Ellie and Tristan already in the kitchen but the both adults were missing as Frank slightly lumped as Valerie assisted him, supporting him until they moved in the kitchen.

"We are sorry for arriving late but it seems Frank doesn't feel good." Valerie clarified gravely as she helped the middle aged man to go wash his hands, thereafter aided him to sit on the chair.

"Morning Frank!"

"Morning, Jude!" He stated in drowsy voice.

The inveigbling aroma of grilled cheese and eggs were reaching everybody's noses as Judy had already served the plates with breakfast. After Valerie took care of Frank, then she helped to Agnes and the twins to place them in their high chairs with their forks as they were old enough to eat by themselves.

Once everybody washed their hands and seated, Frank munched slowly his breakfast as he savoured every bite since he hasn't eaten such scrumptious, nice food. During the breakfast, Jude inquired him if he would like a glass of water as he didn't reject her suggestion as she got from her chair, delving in the upper cupboard for glass of water, throughout pouring some fresh water.

When she gave it to him, he swigged the water within seconds, without reckoning the duration.

Valerie was beyond astonished of his hasty sip. She can recognize the absenting thrist and hunger in him. She pondered if she had the same fate he used to have for almost four years. Being nothing but a wretched, godforsaken inmate in a mental institution, encircled by dangerous mentally ill patients. She didn't wish to undergo such tough experience in her life. Nor wishing it to anyone else.

They just had a quiet breakfast. Shortly after they had a fantastic, serene breakfast, Frank still seated on the chair as Valerie helped Jude with putting the dishes in the sink, hence, washing them along. Then Jude requested the maid to take the children to play in the yard with her, relishing the autumn aesthetics and ambience. Valerie accepted mousily her suggestion as she left the kitchen just the former nun and the former security guard.

When the both adults sat against one another on the dining table, Judy can note that Frank had stared at her for a long time, barely recognizing her, compared to the old Jude he ideally recalled.

"How it was the breakfast?" She asked him enthusiastically, offering him an amiable smile.

"It was so good." Frank responded blissfully as he gave her a genuine smile. She hasn't seen such smile from him for a long time.

"Glad to hear it!" Then she noticed how he stared at her contiously. Initially, she thought there was anything wrong that bothered him either to spill the tea or spit it out. "How are you? Is everything alright, Frank?"

"I am fine but I am just merely amused to see you in much different light." He expressed his opinion as he played nervously with his fingers. A bashful smile flashed on his face.

"I know, Frank. The changes are difficult for accepting." Judy said wisely. "However, you are safe and sound now. Far away from the madness." She continued.

"I owe you a lot of credit for your rescuing me with Timothy. I truly meant it!" His hand reached for her as her petite one fit in his mammoth, sensing the warmness, support and respect they have as loyal, true friends. Firstly, Jude mildly flinched as she felt her hand into his.

"We are so sorry for not helping you earlier. I mean Mother Claudia told us right in almost the fourth year after the happened."

"Everything's fine, Jude. All you need is to relieved."

"I am actually relieved."

"Really?"

"Yes, I do."

"I doubt it." He mocked her as he laughed as she joined him. "She tried to rescue me from the mischievous claws of this young bastard named Father McKenzie. He menanced her to be murdered and the sanctions over me would be crueler if she helped me to escape otherwise." Frank told Jude the crucial part of his experience as a patient.

"Oh." She sighed as she listened attentively every word, her hazel eyes developing profound eye contact with his winter blue eyes.

"I was treated as nothing but a garbage in those years. Moreover, Leigh was still alive, attempting to taunt me bluntly. In my last conflict with him he intervened your name, calling you a whore." After Jude listened to him even hearing the word Leigh addressed her during the men's conflict in the common room, she clawed with her single free hand her mouth.

"It's not only that. I defended you, of course. In the name of our friendship. He tried to toy with me just like usually." The former security guard kept on with his narration as the former nun perceived every word he said until this time.

***

Flashback

A few days ago...

"Hooohoooo! Aren't you actually upset for having no hopes of getting out of here, hm?"

"How about the whore that used to collaborate with you and punished me in the cruelest way years ago?"

"Don't you...ever dare to call her a whore. Am I clear, Lee?"

"Ooh, calm down, Frank! This town pump escaped with the monsignor three years ago. Why now? Why do you care about this woman?"

"I am glad for her she is rescued from this hellhole, regardless my current dark fate that I am facing."

"Hah! This sister is your friend? She had forgotten about you, Frank. She's much far away from this stinky place where we shall all die."

"You are disgusting."

***

Frank just gaped Jude with stunned face after emoting the flashbacks in Briarcliff when he was in a conflict with Leigh. Moreover, his eyes wandered down, studying her physique once again.

He didn't believe to see her in such light. Especially out of the church. Remembring the conservative wool dark attires that covered almost every inch of her glorious, still magnificent body, setting an unsolved mystery behind her beauty and grace.

She wore a knee length black skirt with resolutely green cotton top with long sleeves and round neckline, thin black pantyhose layering her slender and attractive legs, slippers on her feet. Her long glossy wavy golden hair cascading down her shoulders, framing her soft, white like a snow face. Her fulgent, genuine smile across her plump lips. Her glistening hazel eyes.

Jude snapped his thoughts, questioning him:

"Anything wrong, Frank?"

Then his icy blue eyes looked up at her eyes as their eyes met one another. A coy smile conveyed his shyness and dazzleness he felt. His heart raced when he heard her words, which luckily rescued him from the dream world.

"Oh, yes. It's okay, Judy. I just..." He stuttered as he paused. Sensing his cheeks heating. "Though about the conflict between me and Leigh in the common room." He carried on.

"Oh, do not blame yourself. I know you can't recognize me by the way you gaped at me."

"You had drastically changed, Jude. It's still unbelievable, isn't it?"

"Yes." He nod his head humbly. "I see much different person in front of me. Right there. Right now."

Instead of replying, Jude abided in silence, watching the former security guard with an unpretenious smile spread on her lips. Her face blushed, diffusing rosy tingle all iver her face. She was mesmerized by his words. She didn't know what to say.

"It's even more unlikely you have three marvelous children who are exactly minis of both of you."

"Thank you!" She said as she hummed in low voice.

"No need to thank me. I truly meant it, Jude. I thought you were childless how you told me once." Frank stated beyond amused. Moreover, he thought he offended Jude when they raised the topic about children.

"Yes, however the times have changed, Frank! I am so proud of having them, loving them and teaching them." Mrs. Howard was beyond ecstatic to talk about having Ellie, Triatan and Agnes as her lucky was considered a God blessing that awarded her life with nothing replaceable than the children in this world.

"It's pretty evident. You are a wonderful mother, in my opinion." He complimented her as her cheeks heated. Her heart pounded solidly in her chest, thrusting her blood and heart pulse with immense pleasure, warmness, hawking her body. Jude was categorically flattered by his kind words.

"Thanks! It has always been my miracle that was accomplished at last. I worshiped it mroe than anything."

"I know." He extended his arm as he pat her shoulder friendly, chuckling along. "I have two grown up children though the difficult life of being a widower." He cautioned desperately as burning tears started betraying his eyes. 

"Oh. It seems it's difficult to be a widower."

"That's right. Dorothea and Matt have always been my right hand though I haven't seen them for years. Years since I was institustionalionazed to the facility and being a security guard." He said in velvety voice.

"Oh. I pressume they are amazing children." Jude confirmed pragmatically.

***

Jude helped to Frank by giving him a towel as he should wash his hair and body as she told him whenever he needs her help to ask him though It might be extremely awkward, due to the fact that she's not only married, furthermore she hasn't seen Frank for years.

In the meantime, Frank was in the bath, already stripped every garment from him as Jude gave him an opportunity to wear some of Timothy's clothes though he would somewhat approve. She was in the bedroom, putting Ellie, Tristan and Agnes to have an afternoon nap shortly after they had a lunch and played with each other. Valerie was vacuuming the living pool's floor after removing the spilled toys on the floor. 

Meanwhile, the former nun have already put every child of hers to sleep as she collapsed helplessly on the large king-sized bed as her stomach laid on the smooth mattress. She pondered a lot about Frank. She and Timothy won't release him from their home until he utterly heals from his wounds and scars from Briarcliff, besides his condition improves as well. 

Jude helped him to fill the bath with warm water, then she left him all alone in the bathroom. 

As soon as he joined in the bath by wearing nothing else, he relaxed in the warm tub, feeling his dunked body as christened once when he took a bath for first time after years of lacking proper hygiene. He closed tightly his eyelids as he wanted this moment to last forever when his skinnier body sunk in the warm, transparent water. His fragile, vanilla skin contacting the warmness of the water as it goosebumped. 

When he took the soap, soaping every inch of his bare flesh and applying a mint shampoo on his filthy gray hair, thereafter wearing being washed precisely, he couldn't feel much better as all foulness has washed. He cannot recall when it was exactly the last time when he washed his body and hair. It was perhaps years ago. The last time before he was committed to the facility as an insane inmate. 

To be continued...