And We'll Never Be The Same

I stand outside Gerard's front door, shivering in the cold despite my warm clothes, taking a deep breath before I reach out and try the doorknob, feeling it turn beneath my hand as I let myself inside, the Way house being like my second home. I step inside and immediately sigh in relief at the warmth that surrounds me, taking the sting out of my cheeks from the cold and as I start to unwrap my scarf from around my neck, toeing my snow encrusted shoes off just inside the door someone steps out of the kitchen and offers me a warm smile. "Hello Frank, how are you feeling sweetheart?" Donna, Gerard's mother greets me and I offer her a weak smile as I say "Better than yesterday," still fighting off the flu but wanting to be there for my best friend. With my shoes finally off I make my way down the hall towards her and she smiles as she reaches out and gently rests a hand on my forehead, her skin soft and warm and comforting and I lean into the touch as she hums softly under her breath and says "Well you're a little warm but I've seen you a lot worse. You just let me know if you need anything ok?" I smile a little wider as I nod in response, Donna being more of a mother to me than my own mother, before my smile drops and I say "Is he in his room?" Donna's smile drops too as she says "Yeah he's down there, I tried to talk to him but he just wanted to be left alone." I nod again, knowing that if anyone can get through to him it will be me. As I continue down the hallway towards the basement door I think back to earlier this afternoon when I received the phone call that brought me here. I have been off school for several days sick and Gerard had been left all alone, no one to sit with in class or at lunch and no one to stick up for him when the jocks decide to be total assholes. Last night Gerard had called me to let me know he was going to ask Lindsey, one of the popular girls he has a crush on, to the school dance coming up and while I had been secretly crushed and worried all at the same time I had swallowed it back and given him my encouragement. All day I laid in bed, wondering if she said yes and whether they would end up together and I would have missed my shot when the phone rang and it was Gerard's little brother Mikey. "Frank, Gerard asked that Lindsey girl out today and...." But Mikey didn't need to finish his sentence, I knew what had happened and now I'm here, almost afraid to see the damage inflicted on my best friend and long time love.

I reach out and hesitantly knock a few times, waiting for a response but all I get is a slightly muffled "Mom I told you I...." But I open the door slowly and step down onto the first step as I say "It's not your mom." Gerard falls silent before saying "Oh, look Frankie I really just need some alone time right now and...." But I don't listen, walking further down the stairs as I say "Gee I need to see..." But I'm cut off by my breath hitching as Gerard comes into view. "Oh god" I gasp out as I run down the rest of the stairs and over to the bed where Gerard is laying, his right eye almost swollen shut and his cheek puffed up and purple. "Gee" I gasp softly as I slowly sink onto the bed beside him, Gerard trying his best to cover his injuries but I reach out and grab his wrist, stopping him and we lock eyes. "Who did this to you?" I ask, although I have a pretty good idea and he swallows hard before saying "Bert." I feel anger coursing through me at the sound of his name, Bert being one of the biggest jerks in the whole school who loves to pick on Gerard and also happens to be involved on and off with Lindsey. "I'm so sorry Gee, if I had been there I could have...." "It's not your fault" he says softly and I shake my head as I say "No I should have been there, I could have just toughed it out." Gerard shakes his head sadly and says "It's not your fault" again. Gerard and I continue to just stare at each other, hurt evident on his face and I feel my heart clench at the sight, the pain not just physical but emotional too. I slowly reach out and run my fingertips over the swollen purple flesh and Gerard's breath hitches as he sobs out "Why doesn't anyone like me Frankie? Am I really that ugly?" I feel my heart throb painfully again as his words rattle in my brain. He thinks he's too ugly when really he's the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on and before I realise what I'm doing I lean in and press a soft kiss to the swollen flesh beside his eyes, my lips barely brushing the skin, afraid to press any harder and hurt him further before I whisper against his skin "You're so beautiful Gee, the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my whole life" as I continue to trail soft barely there kisses down the swollen side of his face. "What?" Gerard asks as he pulls back away from me and I sit back, realisation washing through me and I move to climb off the bed as I stutter out "I'm sorry....I don't..." But Gerard wraps his hand around my wrist and holds me where I am. "You think I'm beautiful?" He asks softly, his lips twitching slightly at the edges and I nod as I drop my gaze down to the blanket beneath us. "Yeah, you're amazing Gee." Gerard's hand slowly releases my wrist and I swallow hard, trying to remove the sudden lump in my throat as I go to move away again when Gerard's fingers gently cup under my chin and ease my head up, his face just an inch from mine and I feel his warmth breath washing over my lips. "I think you're more than beautiful Frankie, I always have but I never thought you were ga...." But I cut him off by surging forward and sealing our lips together, Gerard's remaining still for a few seconds before he jerks into action and he starts kissing me back, just a soft brushing of lips together and I slide my hands around to rest on the back of his neck, my fingers twirling his hair around them as his warm hands slide down to rest on my hips, pulling me a little closer as the kiss comes to an end and we break apart, panting softly for breath. "Go to the dance with me Gee, go everywhere with me." Gerard's face breaks out into a small smile as I lean in again and press my lips against his, Gerard melting into my touch and we shift around, sharing soft kisses while we lay side by side under the blankets on his bed until we both fall asleep, wrapped up in each other's arms.

Notes

So this is my attempt at fluff rather than smut....should this stay as a one shot or would you guys want more?