“It’s 4:30! I’m gonna go head up to pick up Bandit.” Gerard announced, kissing me on the cheek and grabbing his leather jacket.

“Alright, Gee. I’ll see you after I get Cherry and Lily!” I responded, smiling at him.

---

4:45

---

I grabbed my keys and walked out to my car, opening the driver’s door and starting the car. I drove towards the highway, turning up the radio. A familiar song began playing as I exited the highway. I knew the piano part as soon as I heard it.

“When I was, a young boy, my father took m into the city to see a marching band.” I began singing along and I drove towards the street where Jamia lived. Once I got there, the song ended. I got out of the car and knocked on Jamia’s door. She answered it quickly, looking back into the house and calling the kids. “How’s Dewees doing?” she asked.

“He’s got a cold and his voice sounds weird. He’s going back to Jersey tonight, I dropped him off at the airport before I came here.” I lied.”

“Have you talked to Gerard? Mikey told me he relapsed a few nights ago…” She paused. “Are you helping him out?”

“Yeah, I visited his apartment last night to help clear out all the bottles and shit.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried you got so upset about….this, and ignored him.”

“He was my best friend, Jamia. I’m the only person who’s ever been able to clean him up.” I replied. “I would never waste that ability.”

“Daddy!” Miles yelled, sprinting towards me with his Transformers backpack. “We missed you!”

Lily and Cherry followed soon after, attacking my legs with hugs. I grabbed the girls’ bags and we walked out to the car. Jamia stood at my window after kissing the kids and saying goodbye.

“Text me when you guys get home, okay?”

“Okay. I will.”

Jamia walked back to her house as we drove away. The kids smiled fondly at me. “I have a surprise for you guys!” I announced. “But you have to promise not to tell Mommy!”

“We promise!” Cherry yelled. “Are we going to the park with the pretty lights?”

“That’s the second surprise, you’ll have to wait to see the first.”

---

We got back to the house and we stepped into the house where Gerard and Bandit sat on the couch. Bandit and Lily were reading buddies at school so they recognized each other immediately.

“OH MY GOSH! BANDIT!” Lily yelled enthusiastically. “Are you sleeping over?!”

Bandit nodded, “Yeah! I’m so excited! My daddy said he’s taking all of us to get Ice Cream!

“ICE CREAM?!” Miles yelled.

“Thank you so so so much, Gerard!” Cherry thanked.

“You’re welcome. Let’s get everyone unpacked now so that we can eat dinner and go get ice cream!” Gerard said.

“Are we going to the park after we get ice cream?!” Lily asked.

“Of course, Princess!” I responded.”Now go unpack your stuff!”

All the kids ran into their rooms and unpacked their toys and put their clothes into their dressers. Miles quickly ran into the girls’ room, where he played dolls with Cherry. I watched him take his Batman and G.I. Joe action figures into their room just like he always did.

Gerard kissed me on the cheek, “I’ll go make some spaghetti. Where’s everything?”

I led Gerard to the kitchen, getting out 6 plates and 6 forks and placing them on the counter. I grabbed a large pot from a cabinet along with spaghetti and sauce. I left him to cook while I checked on the kids.

“How are you kiddos doing?” I asked.

“What are we having for dinner and when are we going for ice cream?” Cherry asked.
“Gerard’s making spaghetti, we’ll go right after dinner.” I answered, walking out of the room.

---

After dinner, which included a certain little boy not wanting to finish, we went out for ice cream. Since we didn’t have enough room for everyone, Gerard took Lily and Bandit in his car and I took Cherry and Miles in mine. It took us about 5 minutes to drive down to Dairy Queen, where we saw two couples we never would’ve expected to see.

“Gerard? Frank?” Mikey questioned.

“You guys brought the kids?” Ray asked. “I wish I knew you guys would’ve been here!”

“Is that your daughter, Gerard?” Mikey’s wife, Kristin, asked.

“I forgot to introduce you to Bandit at the wedding!” Mikey exclaimed. “Bandit, this is your aunt, Kristin. Kristin, this is your niece, Bandit.”

“I haven’t seen you guys hanging out together in your free time since 2010?!” Christa exclaimed enthusiastically. “What’s with the sudden change?”

“I relapsed…” Gerard admitted. “I’m staying with Frank now.”

“You can call your fling whatever you want, Gerard.” Ray laughed. “You’re not fooling anyone.” I rolled my eyes.

The kids ordered their ice creams and Gerard and I did too. I paid for them and we left the shop, waving goodbye to the couples and driving the kids to the park.

---

After the kids started getting tired, we left the park. Once we all got home, the kids got ready for bed, splitting into two groups so that everyone could brush their teeth. Once everyone was ready for bed, we tucked them in.

Gerard and I changed into old band t-shirts and boxers, cuddling in our bed and slowly falling asleep.

Notes

Chapter title from "Summertime" by MCR.
I barely fit Christa and Kristin in, but here you go!
I think the next chapter's gonna be in either Gerard's POV or Lindsey's.
Or maybe both?
What do you guys think?