So Frank's got stuck babysitting again and this time it’s some kid named Gerald? Gerarola? Gee? Shit Frank can’t remember, all he knows is he’s getting paid five bucks an hour which isn't so bad compared to Ms. Albertson who only pays him three bucks an hour.

He’s got to be there by three pm since the kid's mom, Donna is leaving because she’s working a friends shift tonight or something? Anyways after school he heads directly to the Way house, rings the bell at exactly three on the dot, hears some yelling and then a friendly looking Donna Way appears seconds later.

“Hi Frankie!” She says pulling him in for a quick hug. (His mom and Donna are best gossiping friends.) “Thanks so much for coming. Gerard’s in the living room painting, there’s some money for pizza, ice cream only if Gerard’s been behaving good and I should be home by nine!” and with that she leaves Frank standing there by the door alone, yelling a quick “Call me if Gerard tries setting the house on fire again!” She doesn't even give him a chance to actually say anything but that’s typical Donna Way, always super talkative and busy.

He goes into the house, heading towards the living room only to find it empty, yet the kid's painting stuff is still out there and the rest of the house is freakishly quiet.

Okay. Frank thinks to himself. The little fucker wants to play hide and seek. Two can play at that game of course.

“Gerard?” Frank calls out checking every room on the first floor. “Come out, come out where ever you are.” He goes up to the second floor and BINGO! First room on the left he finds Gerard huddled up in the corner of the bathrooms bathing tub. “Found ya.” Frank says crouching down to Gerard’s level. He realizes the kid is crying. “Hey buddy I’m Frank, what’s your name?” He makes sure his voice is gentle.
“G-Gew-ar-rd.” The little boy stutters out and Frank has to hold back a laugh because he doesn't think the kid can get anymore cuter.
“Nice to meet ya Gerard. Wanna tell me what’s wrong?” Gerard shakes his head no and huddles in closer to himself.
“I’m not gonna hurt you. There’s no need for you to be scared, let’s go back downstairs yeah?” Frank says extending his hand out to the boy cautiously. Gerard takes his hand slowly and Frank helps him out the tub.

Gerard holds onto the end of Frank's shirt with his little hand as they go down the stairs together and seriously Frank's heart wants to melt right out his chest.

---

Gerard goes from being this shy little shit to the Tasmanian devil himself in just a short amount of time. Apparently he thought getting paint on Frank's face was funny and it was so not because some of that shit got into Frank's mouth and just no.
“Alright Gerard, stay still while I go order us pizza.” Franks says to a pouty faced Gerard who finished getting his paints taken away and hidden for misconduct.
Frank orders a plain cheese pizza and gets back to the living room where Gerard is still pouting.
“You know,” Frank starts as he sits down on the other end of the couch. “If you keep pouting like that it’s gonna stay on your face forever and you’re gonna be known as pouty face. You wouldn't want that right?” “No!” Gerard yells finally getting that pout off his face.
“That’s better kid.” Frank smiles more to himself.
Gerard looks at him with a tiny smile, one that takes away Frank's yeah-i'm-punk-man-attitude.
They wait for the pizza in silence cause Gerard's favorite show is on and he is not to be "disturbed" while watching it. When the bell rings, Frank grabs the cash off the table and gets their dinner.

---

Getting Gerard to take a bath is a hassle. Gerard won’t get in the bubble bath that he set up for him and the water’s getting cold by the second. Frank has to warn him with “I’ll just tell Donna about those extra cookies you ate without my permission.” Gerard quickly pushes Frank out the bathroom with his tiny hands for privacy.
Frank sits outside the door in case he'll be needed.

---

By the time Donna gets back, Gerard's tucked into bed and Frank himself is starting to feel pretty worn out. Donna asks him if her son behaved and if he ate and so on before thanking Frank again and paying him his thirty bucks. She asks him about babysitting again and he responds with "anytime."

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The next day his mom tells him Donna called and said that Gerard claimed Frank was his favorite babysitter.

Notes

My apologies for any mistakes I might have missed.