Under the willow tree...(edited)

When Frankie felt the first soft wet touch of Gerard's lips against his neck, he gasped quietly.

"G-Gee?..."

He stuttered slightly. Another kiss, firmer this time and Frankie swallowed hard.

"Baby...whatcha doin'?"

Gerard's face turned to timidly look up at the older boy's.

"Isn't that obvious?..."

He murmured, before placing a light kiss to Frankie's lips. Frankie, at a loss for words shook his head dumbly. Gerard smiled.

"I need to get rid of these nightmares...I need to replace them with nice things."

Frankie froze up in shock as the younger boy slipped his long slim fingers underneath the edge of Frankie's top, and started to push the fabric upwards, hands grazing over the pale, painted flesh beneath. (He wasn't strictly old enough for tattoos, but what his Ma doesn't know, can't hurt her...right?)

Gerard's tongue danced along Frankie's jawline as his fingers slid further up his chest. Frankie shivered, his eyes rolling back and his mouth dropping open in a quiet moan as Gerard moved down his neck, sucking and gently biting at that spot.

Frankie's mind was still foggy from sleep and took a few moments to register that this was wrong, that this shouldn't be happening.

When it dawned on him that Gerard's soft hand was pulling on the top of his pyjama pants, sliding beneath the warm fabric, Frankie's eyes shot wide open.

"Gee...you don't have to do thiiis..."

His voice and body jumping as long fingers wrapped around his half-hard dick.

"Ahhhh."

He groaned, feeling the blood rush to his cock as Gerard started to stroke him slowly. Gerard watched the older boy as he writhed and began to fall apart under his touch. He wanted more...he wanted Frankie inside him.

"Frankie..."

Big hazel eyes looked up at him as his hand stilled.

"Frankie, would you..."

He swallowed nervously, scared of the reaction he'd receive. Frankie raised an eyebrow.

"Wouldyoumakelovetome?"

Frankie giggled slightly.

"Sweetie...I didn't get one word of that. Say it again?"

Gerard blushed and looked away, before whispering out his words.

"Would you m-make love to me?"

Frankie's jaw dropped open. It seemed that this amazing boy was very good at making that happen.

"Gee...I...I don't want to hurt you."

Gerard brushed a soft kiss over Frankie's lips.

"You won't..."

He whispered.

"I...I trust you."

Frankie considered this, but knowing what had happened to Gerard and so recently too, he was terrified at the prospect of causing the boy more harm.

"Baby..."

He tried, as Gerard resumed his hand's slow movements, making the older boy's breath hitch.

"Ahh...oh God..."

Frankie swallowed hard, his eyes rolling back in his head, as he attempted to steady his breathing. He couldn't, and moments later he found himself taking back control. Gripping Gerard's slim hips, Frankie flipped them over so the younger boy was on his back beneath him. Gerard's eyes sprung wide and a gasp of surprise left his lips. Frankie began to suck at Gerard's collarbone and grind down against the boy's thigh getting harder by the second, but after a minute or so he realised that the fragile boy's body had tensed up so he stilled his movements, fearing he'd frightened him. Raising his head to gaze at Gerard's pale face, he saw a look of confliction in the other boy's wide hazel eyes.

"Baby?...you ok?..."

Gerard's breathing was fast and a little shaky and he was staring back at Frankie, his eyes wet with unshed tears as his hands still held onto the older boy's shirt, knuckles white from gripping so hard. Frankie sighed, dropping his head slightly as he felt his hard dick softening.

With his hands either side of Gerard's slight frame, he pushed himself up and off the softly trembling boy.

"I'm sorry sweetie..."

Frankie murmured as he pulled away.

"I shouldn't have let that happen..."

Gerard whimpered quietly. He wanted to be with Frankie, no, he needed to be...but as soon as he'd felt the older boy's weight pressed against his body, his heart had started to race erratically and every nerve in his body told him to run.

Frankie sat up on the sofa, staring into the fire. He felt terrible, Gerard trusted him and he let himself lose control like that, even if it was just for a moment, and that was beyond unforgivable.

"I'm so sorry."

Frankie buried his face in his hands. He was too ashamed to even look at Gerard but as the sound of quiet timid sobs met his ears, he knee that he had to face him. Breathing in deep and exhaling heavily, Frankie lowered his hands and turned toward the weeping boy.

Gerard had, in Frankie's moments of self-hatred, curled himself up into a tiny little shivering ball at the far end of the sofa, small sniffs and whines the only noises to be heard. Frankie felt his heart break, and an almost tangible weight settle on his chest.

"Gee?...Angel?"

No answer. Well...shit!

Frankie pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingertips. What had he done? All that effort to get Gerard to trust him and like a complete douche, he'd gone and thrown it all away. The boy was so sweet and fragile, he needed taking care of, not being taken advantage of. Frankie felt hot tears slide from his eyes. He wanted to die right then, just curl up in the corner and quit breathing. He was 100% sure that Syn would have alcohol and pills somewhere in the house...or if it came down to it...a blade.

Sliding off the edge of the sofa, and pulling his knees up to his chest, Frankie even considered just going for a walk out in the snow, in his pyjamas...barefoot. But it was the quiet whimpering noises coming from the small boy at the other end of the sofa that persuaded him against all those ideas, cause Gerard...well he needed help, and Frankie wouldn't be able to offer him any if he were dead.

Frankie wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand and turned to face the weeping boy.

"Gee?...sweetheart?...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, or hurt you, or..."

Frank dropped his gaze to the floor.

"I'm sorry."

The last came out as little more than a whisper, but it was enough for Gerard to hear.. Still shaking with nerves, the younger boy slowly uncurled himself, lifting his head and moving to face Frankie's despondent figure. Frankie remained silent, still locked in a death-stare with the carpet as Gerard tentatively crawled the length of the sofa toward him. When he reached the huddled boy, he laid a thin pale hand onto Frankie's shoulder. Frankie jumped slightly, but otherwise didn't move.

"F-Frankie?..."

Gerard's voice was so weak and light that Frankie wasn't even sure it was real.

"Please look at me?..."

Slowly Frankie raised his head and looked through glassy eyes.

"You didn't h-hurt me...it w-wasn't your f-fault."

Frankie swallowed thickly. It was his fault!...he was older, he should've known better.

"Gee..."

He murmured.

"I scared you...after what you've been through, I had no right to even touch you. I'm a monster. You should stay far away from me."

Gerard's eyes grew wide with fear at the thought of losing his Frankie.

"Nonononono..."

He sobbed, fresh tears leaving tracks down his thin cheeks.

"Please don't leave me, Frankie...I...I n-need y-you..."

Gerard slid off the sofa and straight into the other boy's lap.

"Please?...please?"

Gerard clung to Frankie, burying his face in his neck and holding on as if the older boy was all that was keeping him alive. His eyes soaking Frankie's t-shirt with salty tears. Frankie sighed, he couldn't give this boy up even if he wanted to. Wrapping his arms around Gerard's slender body, Frankie allowed himself to melt against him.

"It's ok baby..."

He whispered, pressing soft kisses to the top of Gerard's head.

"I'm not going anywhere. It's ok...I'm here Angel...shhhh. You're alright. You're safe."

As Frankie muttered quiet comforting words against Gerard's hair, and gently stroked his hand up and down his back, he felt the boy slowly relax in his arms, eventually becoming limp and still. Frankie could hear small snoring sounds coming from the younger boy and he smiled sadly, grabbing the blanket from the sofa and snuggling it tightly around them both before laying his head back onto the seat and closing his eyes.

He wouldn't exactly get the best night sleep in this position, but he didn't care. Gerard was in his arms. He was safe, and at least for now, he was calm. And as he fell into a somewhat uncomfortable sleep, Frankie couldn't think of anywhere else he'd rather be.

Frankie awoke a few hours later to the sounds of his mum and Sniper busy in the kitchen, and the delicious scent of pancakes wafting throughout the house.

Gerard was still sleeping, curled up in a ball in his lap, his thin fingers gripping the front of the older boy's top and his hazel eyes moving quickly behind closed lids.

Frankie stroked the slumbering boy's hair from his face and gently kissed his cheek. He knew that today might be difficult, that Gerard may be more jittery than before,but he'd cope...he'd have to, right?

The sound of footsteps on the stairs drew his attention toward the hallway door. A moment later, Syn and Zacky peered sheepishly around the doorframe.

"Morning guys."

Frankie said quietly, not wanting to wake the boy in his arms. He offered them a tired smile which they returned gratefully before moving further into the room.

"Is that pancakes I smell?"

Zacky grinned, heading toward the kitchen door. Syn chuckled and rolled his eyes, then followed his friend. Frankie sighed...he'd thought the other night that he'd lose those two as friends, that they would side with Mikey as they'd known him longer...he was happy to be proved wrong.

Gerard stirred in his arms, squirming slightly and whimpering into Frankie's shoulder. Looking down, Frankie could tell the younger boy was in the grips of a nightmare.

"Gee...baby come on, wake up."

He softly shook him as he murmured quietly in his ear. Suddenly Gerard's eyes flew open and a short strangled scream escaped his lips. Frankie hummed to him and petted his hair, holding him close, the boy's rapid breathing beginning to even out after a few shaky seconds.

"F-Frankie?..."

Gerard stuttered. Frankie smiled down at him.

"I th-thought you l-left m-me."

Tears tracked down his pale face as he sobbed slightly.

"No. No baby...never..."

Frankie cooed.

"I'd never leave you sugar."

Gerard snuggled against Frankie's chest, starting to relax now until the kitchen door opened with a squeak and Sniper stuck her head out. Gerard yelped in surprise, his head shooting up toward the door.

"Oh, God...sorry..."

Sniper apologised, eyes turning to the floor.

"Linda just wanted me to tell you breakfast's ready. Do you want me to bring yours through?"

Frankie grinned brightly at her but shook his head.

"No thanks. We'll come through."

Sniper smiled back, then vanished again. Frankie moved Gerard so his legs could wrap around his waist, then levered himself up onto his feet with the smaller boy clinging tight to him. Hitching the boy's thighs up a bit, Frankie headed toward the kitchen where voices and laughter could be heard coming from behind the closed door.

Gerard was once again hiding in the older boy's neck, but at least he wasn't trembling like he'd been last night.

Pushing the door open with his elbow, Frankie entered the warm room. Conversation died for a moment,and Frankie felt Gerard tense.

"Morning..."

Frankie grunted, moving to one of the empty chairs and sitting down, Gerard remaining buried against him. The quiet chatter resumed. Frankie spoke quietly to the still nervous boy.

"Baby...you want pancakes?"

Gerard lifted his head a little and peeked at the others around the table. No one was paying them any mind. Turning to Frankie, he nodded silently. Frankie grinned and then turned to Sniper who was sat on his left.

"Hey, Snipes?..."

She frowned at the altered nickname, but indicated for him to continue. Frankie grinned innocently at her.

"Could you plate us up some, please?..."

The black haired girl rolled her eyes but complied anyway, heaping several blueberry pancakes onto a plate, then pouring a generous amount of sweet syrup over the top and sliding the plate across in front of her friend.

"Thank you."

He murmured before scooping up a folk full and offering it to Gerard's open mouth.

Being covertly observed by the others, as they continued to talk and eat, Frankie and Gerard took alternate bites of the delicious food until the younger boy clamped his mouth shut and shook his head. He was full, even though he hadn't managed more than a dozen or so mouthfuls.

"Enough baby?"

Frankie chuckled as Gerard rubbed his tiny belly and groaned in satisfaction. Gerard nodded, then tucked his head back into Frankie's neck and yawned wide. Frankie kissed his forehead as he started to drift back off to sleep, then carried on to eat the remaining pancakes while listening absently to the chatter going on around him.

As they were all finishing up, their peaceful morning was disturbed by a ring of the doorbell.

"Who the fuck is that?"

Syn demanded, looking round the table as he knew they weren't expecting visitors. Gerard jolted awake with a frightened squeak. Sniper wore the only non-blank face around the table.

Jumping up from her seat, she ran off to answer the door with a huge grin on her face. Everyone else just sat around the table looking confused.

They could hear a lot of girly squeals coming from the hallway, which made them all smirk cause Sniper wasn't really known for that kind of behaviour, and would definitely get ribbed for it later...then they heard a deeper male voice, and Gerard was a shivering mess again, hiding in Frankie's neck and clinging to his pyjama top for all he was worth.

Frankie stroked his hair and hummed softly to him, comforting the trembling boy and assuring him that he was safe. Gerard wasn't so sure that was true. He recognised that voice. What the fuck was he doing there?

"Yeah guys..."

Sniper's voice travelled through to them as she approached the kitchen.

"We got a bit of a houseful right now, but I'm sure it'll be ok..."

She pushed open the door and stepped inside, closely followed by a short, pretty girl with long dark-blonde hair, and pale blue-grey eyes. Frank noted that her fingers were linked with Sniper's but he didn't think anyone else saw it.

Behind them, came a guy with scraggly black hair and a somewhat stoned look on his face.

"Guys..."

Sniper addressed her friends around the table.

"...this is Avril..."

She glanced at the girl as if asking for permission for something. Apparently she got it, cause she turned back with a massive grin and continued.

"She's my girlfriend"."

"Since when?..."

Syn demanded, standing up and planting his hands on his hips. Who knew he was such a diva?

"And why didn't I know about this?"

Sniper laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Cause I didn't tell you..."

She grinned.

"And cause you're not my mom."

Syn scowled but sat back down quietly.

"Who's he?"

Zacky asked, taking up his friend's big brother mantle, and running with it.

"Hey..."

The guy muttered.

"I'm Bert."

Frankie felt Gerard tense up violently, but he thought it was just cause he didn't know this man.

"He's Avril's brother..."

Sniper clarified, unaware of Gerard's sudden discomfort.

"He's gonna hang out, if that's ok with you, Syn?"

She raised a questioning eyebrow at her step-brother, daring him to argue with her on this. Syn put his hands up in defeat.

"No problem."

He smirked, turning to gauge Zacky's reaction to the strange man in the doorway, who seemed to be trying to get a good look at Gerard's hidden face. Gerard refused to lift his head...there was no Way this was happening.

Gerard shivered against Frankie's chest as the volume in the kitchen increased with the number of people present. Sniper took her place at the table again, pulling Avril down to perch on her knee, while Bert leaned against the wall just to the left of the doorway.

"So..."

Bert said a few minutes later, over the other chatter. Gerard wasn't sure who he was addressing as he still had his face buried in Frankie's neck.

"Nice to see you Gerard."

All talk around the room stopped, then Frankie spoke quietly next to the younger boy's ear.

"Baby?...you know Bert?"

Gerard could feel his heart rate quicken and his breathing becoming erratic. He didn't want to be there. He could feel everyone's eyes on him and he just wanted to disappear. As quiet sobs started to sound in the small space and Gerard's fingers clutched desperately to Frankie's tee, he knew he was headed for a full-on panic attack. Abruptly, Frankie stood up, hitched Gerard's thin legs up around his waist and headed toward the door to the living room.

"Syn?..."

He called back, not bothering to turn around. The older boy got up and followed him out, shooting Bert a warning glare on his way past. Once they were away from the door, Frankie turned to his friend.

"Can we use your room?...Gee needs some space."

Syn nodded.

"Sure, no problem..."

He pointed to the stairs.

"First door on the left..."

Frankie smiled slightly as he nodded to signal that he'd understood before turning away.

"Frankie?..."

The smaller boy stopped at the foot of the stairs.

"Do you want me to chuck that guy out?"

Frankie considered this for a moment then shrugged.

"I need to find out what's going on first..."

He said, quietly.

"You see what you can get out of him and I'll talk to Gee...ok?"

Syn agreed on this plan and headed back to the kitchen, where he found everyone sitting in a tense slightly hostile silence.

"Ok then Bert..."

He spat the name at the shorter man.

"Talk...and you better make it good."

Bert sighed and looked at his cigarette stained fingertips.

"Gerard and I went out..."

No one spoke so he continued.

"It was about a year ago, and it was only for about two months..."

He glanced around the room, seeing that he had everyone's full attention now. He sighed and looked back down, frowning.

"He wasn't really ready for a relationship, so I ended it."

Sniper coughed in the silence that followed, then spoke softly to her girlfriend's brother.

"Bert...how old are you?"

Bert didn't reply.

"He's 20..."

Avril answered after a moment.

"He'll be 21 in February. Why?"

"Cause Gerard's only 15..."

Syn said, a murderous edge to his quiet voice.

"What did you do to him, asshole?"

He spat, stepping up to Bert and pinning him to the wall by the front of his grubby hoodie, getting right in his face. Bert screwed his eyes shut and tried to wriggle free.

"Nothing..."

He whined.

"I never touched him."

Suddenly, in a blur of rage Frankie practically flew across the kitchen at the trapped man. No one even saw him return.

"LIAR!!..."

He yelled as his fist crashed into Bert's startled face. Syn let go of Bert's hoodie and stepped back, giving Frankie room to move. Frankie was not letting up.

"He told me what you did, you sick FUCK!...He's just a kid, and you...you..."

Frankie practically growled in anger, pulling the other man forward then slamming him back hard against the wall.

"You even knew what his fuckin' dad was like...how bad he got bullied and hurt...and you still did that."

"Frankie, calm down...you're gonna hurt him."

Linda said gently to his right, placing a soft hand on her son's arm but not trying to pull him away.

"I think that's the point."

Zacky muttered from his seat at the table. Syn snickered.

"He..."

Frankie breathed deep, attempting to regain his cool, and not completely lose it in front of his mother.

"He tried to...he..."

Frankie couldn't even say the words, but everyone knew what he meant.

"But Gee screamed too much and this piece of SHIT gave up and just hit him instead..."

Frankie pulled his arm back and punched Bert sharply in the gut, the older man doubling over as much as he could while still being pinned to the wall. The wind was knocked out of him and his eyes watered at the sensation.

"He hit him til Gee passed out...then he left him to go fuck a damn cheerleader."

Frankie pounded his fist into Bert's face twice in quick succession before stepping back and letting the bruised and bleeding man slide down the wall and onto the kitchen floor, where he sat nursing his black eye and split lip, and not daring to move or speak.

Frankie paced angrily across the room, then turned to see Sniper's girlfriend as she slipped from her lap and moved to crouch down in front of her brother. Frankie couldn't see her face, but the stiffness she held in her tiny body told him that she was furious...though he wasn't sure if it was at Bert, or him.

A tense silence fell over the room, one that it seemed no one was willing to break. Linda watched Frankie as he practically vibrated with rage. He was trying to hold himself back, and it was really fucking difficult right now.

Sniper was staring at the floor, blaming herself for bringing this man into their lives...though no one else blamed her...she didn't know.

In the quiet that followed, it was easy to hear when a thud came from upstairs. Everyone's eyes looked to the ceiling, then Frankie was sprinting from the room. Bert thought about trying to leave then, but with severe looks from both Syn and Zacky, he quickly decided against it and returned his eyes to the floor.

As Frankie reached Syn's bedroom he hesitated for just a second, hearing sobbing coming from behind the closed door, then quietly opened it.

Everything that had happened, couldn't prepare him for what he saw...he wasn't sure anything could've.

Gerard had been asleep when Frankie left him. He'd been curled up on Syn's bed, with a mound of blankets wrapped around his thin frame and a small smile on his lips, from when Frankie had kissed him and told him that everything would be alright.

When Frankie returned, he saw a very different image, one he didn't quite know what to do with.

Gerard was sat on the floor, with the blankets pooled around him, his head rested back against the bed, his eyes closed, his mouth hung open...and his right hand stuffed inside the front of his onesie, slowly jacking himself off while quiet moans escaped his parted lips. Frankie swallowed deeply and closed the door behind him.

"Err...Gee?..."

He murmured. Gerard's head shot up. He made a surprised squeak as his eyes grew huge and his hand stilled, though Frankie noticed that it stayed where it was.

"You need some help there baby?"

Frankie smirked. Gerard's cheeks flushed pink but he held eye contact and nodded, smiling coyly.

"P-please Frankie."

Frankie worried that this could be a repeat of last night, but quickly crossed the room and dropped to his knees next to the younger boy.

"If you want me to stop...I will. You just have to tell me, ok?"

Gerard nodded and reached out for Frankie's hand, pulling the older boy toward him and slipping both their hands inside his onesie, and his boxers.

As Frankie's fingers wrapped around Gerard's semi-hard dick and began to stroke him gently, a moan of pleasure fell from his mouth and his hands grabbed onto Frankie's shoulders for support.

"Oh...Frankie..."

He whimpered, his hips bucking forward into Frankie's hand.

"F-faster..."

Gerard's eyes rolled back as he bit down on his lower lip to keep in his sounds, well aware that there were several people downstairs at this very moment.

"Uh...uh...Fr-Frankieeee."

He couldn't hold them in. Frankie moved his hand faster, loving the noises he was pulling from the quickly unravelling boy in front of him...he could get off purely by listening to those noises.

"Come on baby..."

He cooed, nuzzling against Gerard's neck.

That's it, Angel...you're doing so good for me..."

Frankie had his other hand down his own pyjama pants, pumping hard and fast.

"That's right..."

He knew they were both close now.

"Cum for me baby..."

And with that and just two more pumps of his hands, they both came in their boxers, and all over Frankie's trembling fingers. As they collapsed against each other, sweating and panting for breath, Frankie turned to look at the beautiful creature by his side, and was relieved to see the blissed out expression on his flushed pretty face.

"Better baby?"

Gerard giggled lightly and snuggled into Frankie's side, yawning wide.

"Much better Frankie..."

He sighed in content.

"You're all I need."

Frankie pulled the blankets back up around Gerard's small body and scooped him up into his arms, then climbed onto the bed and curled himself protectively around the younger boy.

"Sleep now baby. I'm right here."

Within just a few short minutes, Gerard was softly snoring against Frankie's chest, and Frankie was trying to remember just when his life turned into...whatever this is. He'd been happy when it was just him and his mum, even if he didn't like moving around all the time cause of her work...but since they'd arrived here everything was just that bit more exciting, and best of all...he had found Gerard, and he never wanted to let him go.

Gerard slept in Frankie's arms for a few hours, then woke as Linda stuck her head around the door.

"Sorry to disturb you, boys..."

She smiled apologetically.

"...but I think we should go home now...give these guys their house back."

Frankie chuckled softly as Gerard snuggled tighter into his chest.

"Ok mumma, just give us a minute and we'll be down..."

Linda turned to go but Frank called her back.

"Oh, mumma?"

"Hmm?"

She hummed to him, eyebrows raising in query.

"Who's down there?"

Linda knew what he was asking without him having to say the words. He wanted to know if that asshole Bert was still there or not...without mentioning his name and risking upsetting the sleepy boy curled up against him.

"Just Sniper and Syn..."

She said quietly.

"Everyone else left a while ago..."

She smiled down at the boys.

"I'll see you in a minute."

Then she disappeared out, closing the door with a quiet click. Frankie stroked Gerard's long hair from his face.

"Sweetie?..."

Gerard looked up, stifling a yawn. Frankie grinned at him, resisting the urge to "Awww!".

"We're going home now, ok?..."

Gerard nodded softly.

"And when we get there, I'll cut your hair...If you like?"

Gerard tilted his head slightly, a confused look on his face.

"Why?"

He didn't remember the last time it was cut. Frankie giggled.

"Well it's that, or we start braiding it babe...it's really long."

Gerard frowned.

"Do I...do I look like a g-girl?"

He whimpered. Shit...was he gonna cry? Had this actually upset him? Frankie tried to back peddle.

"No baby, no. It's just...err..."

Frankie froze as a small giggle escaped Gerard's pale pink lips. He was messing with him.

"Oh God Gee...I thought you were really gonna cry there..."

Gerard smiled sweetly and Frankie rolled his eyes.

"Ok...let's go."

Frankie climbed off the bed and reached for Gerard, preparing to pick him up. Gerard shook his head.

"I want to walk, Frankie..."

He mumbled quietly, sliding to the edge of the bed and putting his feet down onto the floor.

Is that ok?"

Frank grinned.

"Of course it is..."

He watched as Gerard stood on slightly shaky legs.

"But can I hold your hand?"

Gerard held out his hand.

"I'm not sure I'd make it down the stairs if you didn't."

They slowly made their way downstairs, Frankie watching Gerard's every tentative step, then walked into the living room where Linda, Sniper and Syn all sat around the fire. Linda looked up and smiled.

"Ready to go?"

"In a minute, mumma..."

Frank grinned, then turned toward Syn.

"Could we borrow a couple jackets, and a pair of shoes?"

Syn nodded and left the room. Gerard looked at Frankie.

"One pair of shoes?"

He questioned. Frankie pulled him into his side and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"It's icy out there and fucking cold...so you get carried and I'm not arguing about this...ok?"

The look on his face told Gerard that the decision was made, so he nodded and wrapped his arms around the older boy's waist, quickly receiving a hug in return. Syn walked in a moment later with two thick hoodies, two wooly beanie hats, and a pair of sneakers that Frankie was almost 100% certain belonged to Sniper.

"Here..."

He said, handing over the items.

"I think these should fit you."

The smirk on his face told Frankie that he was right about the shoes.

"Thanks."

Frankie took the things then helped Gerard into a hoodie that said Normal People Scare Me on the front, and had a picture of a rabbit holding a hand grenade on the back...before slipping on his hoodie, that had the slogan Whiskey Tango Foxtrot in rainbow print on the front, and toeing into the sneakers, which embarrassingly, fit perfect.

Once they were both snug in their borrowed clothes, hats firmly pulled down over their ears, Frankie stepped over to Gerard and raised an eyebrow.

"Come on then sweetie..."

He said, opening his arms to the boy.

"Jump up."

Gerard giggled and wrapped his arms round Frankie's neck, then allowed himself to be lifted up before putting his legs around Frankie's hips and crossing his feet one over the other. Clinging on tight, Gerard realised that this was probably his favourite place to be in the whole world...and as they headed out the door into the cold early evening air and over to Linda's car, he was glad he hadn't made a fuss about being carried, cause he was loving being back in Frankie's warm arms.

As they got in the car, waving goodbye to Sniper and Syn, Gerard yawned wide and snuggled against Frankie's chest...and before they even reached home, he was once again fast asleep...and dreaming for once about being safe and warm and happy. Dreaming about Frankie.

When they arrived home, Linda told Frankie to wait while she unlocked the door. Looking down at the sleeping boy in his lap, Frankie noticed something he hadn't seen before. Brushing Gee's hair from his forehead, Frankie saw a scar just below the boy's hairline. It was about an inch long and looked to be quite old cause it was very faint, but as he traced his fingertip over it, Frankie could still feel the slight uneven texture and frowned. How many scars did this sweet, broken boy have? Would Frankie really be able to help put him back together?

A quite knock on the car window snapped Frankie from his thoughts and he turned to see his mother smiling in at him as she opened the door.

"Come on Frankie, let's get him in the warm."

She said softly, helping Frankie out of the car with Gerard still asleep in his arms. They made their way into the house and Frankie was glad to be home, but a little disturbed to see the broken stool that Syn had used on that monster still laying on the living room carpet.

"I'm gonna put Gee to bed, then I'll help you clean up down here, ok mumma?"

He murmured, trying not to wake Gerard up. Linda shook her head.

"I can manage..."

She assured.

"But we need to talk once he's down."

She nodded toward Gerard's sleeping form. Frankie smiled tiredly then headed for the stairs.

"I'll be back in a minute mumma."

Then he took Gerard up to bed. After placing the younger boy in his bed, taking off his beanie hat and carefully wrapping the blankets around him for comfort and warmth, Frankie gently kissed his forehead then took off his own beanie, toed off Sniper's shoes and slipped silently out of the room and down the stairs.

When he reached the living room, Frankie found that the broken stool and any other mess that had been there had all vanished, along with his mother. A clinking of mugs from the direction of the kitchen told him where she'd gone.

Pushing through the doorway, Frankie was greeted by the smell of hot chocolate and a plate of blueberry muffins. He grinned as he grabbed the first muffin and sat at the breakfast bar opposite his mother. She smiled back, sipping her drink. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Frankie picking the fruit from his muffin and popping each one in his mouth while Linda thought about what exactly she was going to say. After a while, she spoke.

"Frankie..."

He looked up at her, swallowing down a mouthful of hot liquid.

"I have a friend who I think can help us..."

Frank furrowed his eyebrows, he wasn't sure where this was going.

"Do you remember Pete?...he's a family lawyer now, and I think he could get me custody of Gerard...cause there's no way he can go back to that vile man."

Frankie's face lit up.

"Then he could stay here?..."

He was practically bouncing in his seat.

"...permanently?"

Linda hummed and nodded as she finished the last of her drink.

"I'll give him a call in the morning, it's too late now..."

Frank glanced at the clock on the wall...wow!...he hadn't realised it was that late.

"I'm going to take the day off tomorrow and try to get this mess sorted out. I'll call the school and say you're not going in for a couple days...Gerard's going to need you, and he's not well enough to go back to school right now..."

Linda stood and took her mug over to the sink, rinsed it out then placed it in the dishwasher before turning back to face her son.

"I think he may need more help than we can give..."

She frowned at the floor.

"He might need therapy..."

She looked up to see Frankie's worried face.

"We'll see him through this, whatever it takes, ok?"

Frankie nodded then crossed the room and pulled his Ma into a hug, resting his head on her shoulder.

"What if his...dad..."

Frankie spat the word.

"...won't let him go? What if he fights us?"

Frankie raised his eyes to meet Linda's. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then she grinned.

"We won't give him a choice...we know what he did, and if he doesn't want to end up in jail for it, he'll do as we say..."

Frankie nodded vigorously and Linda chuckled.

"Ok, well it looks like we have a busy day tomorrow, so why don't you head off to bed...I'll just clean up in here."

Frankie argued that he should help with the clean up as he'd made half the mess, but Linda assured him there wasn't much and shooed him out of the kitchen, wishing him a "Goodnight" before turning to tidy up after their supper. Frankie headed back up the stairs and slipped quietly into his dark bedroom.

Gerard was curled up in the blankets, snoring softly and as Frankie slipped in next to him, the younger boy instinctively snuggled into his side. Frankie wrapped himself around the fragile boy and gently kissed the crown of his head.

"Goodnight baby..."

He whispered, yawning quietly.

"I love you."

Within a couple minutes, Frankie was asleep. He didn't even hear when Linda walked up the stairs and passed his room on the way to hers.

The house was silent and still. All was calm. The three people all sleeping soundly in their beds were unaware of the fact that they weren't actually alone. Hiding in the dark guest bedroom, the figure in black waited til he was sure they were all asleep...then, he would strike.

Notes