Iero's Family!

Gerard was stunned. He sat at the kitchen table, his eyes wide, mouth hanging slightly open, and his coffee, forgotten in front of him. He didn't know what to say, which was rare, or how to react.

"Say something."

Frank said softly, sitting down in front of his husband and carefully taking the younger man's hands in his.
Gerard glanced over at Lucas, and saw a mirror of his own shocked expression reflected back at him. He turned back to Frank, shaking his head slightly.

"I.. I don't know what to say."

His voice came out much smaller than usual.

"Well I do!"

Lucas said, angrily, standing up and almost knocking his chair over in the process. Frank and Gerard both turned their attention to the furious boy.

"You should've told me.. I had a right to know."

Frank looked miserable, like his puppy just died, or something.

"I know you did.."

He said calmly, drawing what comfort he could from Gerard's light touch.

"I just.. It was never the right time."

"Bullshit!!"

Lucas spat.

"You could've told me any number of times over the years. I mean, fuck dad!.. I have a twin brother out there, somewhere.. Who you gave away.. Were you ever gonna tell me?"

Frank gently squeezed Gerard's hands, then let them go and stood up to face his irate son.

"I don't know.."

Frank murmured as he approach the boy.

"I just.."

He reached out to touch Lucas' arm.
Lucas stepped back, a murderous look in his eye.

"I'm gonna go check the East paddock."

Then he turned and walked out.

Frank's hand was still outstretched, forgotten. After a moment, he let it drop to his side.
He still had his back toward the table, and Gerard, as he didn't want to see the disgust in his husband's pretty eyes.

"I'm gonna lose him, aren't.."

He muttered.

"He hates me now."

He heard the quiet squeak of a chair moving on the floorboards. A few seconds later, a small, pale hand carefully touched his arm. He turned his head, and his eyes met those beautiful hazel/greens.

"He doesn't hate you Frank.."

Gerard said, softly. A sad smile touching his lips.

"He's just angry right now.. It's a lot to take in.. He'll come around."

Frank sighed and turned to wrap his arms around Gerard's fragile body, pulling him gently into his chest and pressing his lips to the younger man's head.

"I've just never seen him that mad before.. At least, not at me."

Gerard lifted his head from the crook of Frank's neck, and looked him in the eye.

"Give him some time, and space.. You just told him that something he thought he knew about himself, was wrong.. If I were told something like that, I think I may be a little put out too."

He rested his head back on Frank's shoulder.
Frank knew Gerard was right, and Lucas would calm down, eventually.. He just didn't like the thought of his son isolating himself, especially since Wolf was still prowling around.

"Gerard?"

Gerard hummed his attention.

"You don't hate me, do you?"

Gerard looked up, his brow furrowed slightly.

"How can you even ask that?"

He pulled back a little and reached up to gently cup Frank's cheek.

"I love you with every piece of my heart.. I could never hate you."

Frank leaned into the simple touch.

"I love you too.. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this before.. It was so long ago, and everything that happened.. what I did.. I really just wanted to forget it all.. pretend it never happened.. Cos I'm really not proud of much that I did back then.. This least of all."

Gerard could see how much this was hurting Frank, and he wanted to take that pain away.. he just didn't know how.

"Frank?"

He stroked his fingers along Frank's jaw.

"Will you.."

He hesitated, still a little coy. Frank raised an eyebrow at him. Gerard swallowed, feeling his cheeks heat up, but he refused to break eye contact.

"Will you make love to me?"

Now, Frank wasn't expecting that, but he would never turn Gerard down.. nor would he ever want to.

"Of course.."

He smiled, scooping Gerard up into his arms and carrying him through to their bedroom.

"Is that even a question?"

(Time passes)

Gerard was curled up on Frank's chest, lazily drawing patterns on his husband's damp skin, while Frank gently carded his hand through Gerard's hair. His eyes were fluttering, and he knew it wouldn't be long before he fell asleep.
Shifting slightly, he looked up to see Frank already gazing back at him, a relaxed and love filled look in his eyes.

"Frank?"

"Yes sweetheart?"

Frank murmured.

"Did you get those pills Doc Brown prescribed?"

Frank shook his head slightly.

"No baby. You were asleep."

"Can we go get them now?"

Gerard whimpered slightly as his stomach rolled.

"Feeling sick?"

Frank sat himself up more, a concerned look in his eyes. Gerard nodded, minutely.

"Ok then sugar."

Frank helped Gerard upright, then slipped off the bed to find them clean clothes, but before Gerard could even pull on his boxers, he was rushing to the bathroom and spewing up what little he had in his belly.

"Alright baby.. I've got you."

Frank held Gerard up, and held his hair back, softly cooing to him as Gerard wretched and dry heaved for a while after he was empty, tears streaming down his face. When Frank was sure there was nothing left, he flushed and scooped Gerard up.

"Let's get you dressed, then we're gonna go to the pharmacy."

Gerard nodded weakly. He felt exhausted and drained, and really just wanted to sleep now, but he knew that he needed the medication, so he allowed Frank to dress him, as he didn't really have the energy to do it himself.
Once they were both dressed, Frank picked Gerard up and carried him out to the truck. Normally, Gerard would protest to being carried around like a baby, so it was a testament to how ill he was, that he just accepted it, and rested his head against Frank's shoulder.

Frank placed Gerard carefully in the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt for him. He frowned as he saw how pale and tired the younger man was. He really hoped these pills and the food supplement helped him, and that the test results didn't turn up something more serious than a tummy bug.

Shutting Gerard's door, Frank walked around to the driver's side and swung himself up into the seat. He looked over at Gerard, and found him on the verge of sleep again. This worried him a lot.
Frank closed his own door, then put on his own seatbelt, before pulling out his cellphone, and shooting a quick text to Lucas, though he knew he wouldn't get a reply.

*To Lucas, from dad.
I'm taking Gee into town for medicine. Back soon. Call if there's a problem.*

He slipped his phone back in his pocket and started the truck. Glancing to his right, he saw that Gerard was already asleep. Frank drove slowly down the mountain, not wanting to disturb him.
When they reached the town, Frank parked as close to the pharmacy as he could get, and turned off the engine. He undid his seatbelt, then turned and undid Gerard's, before gently shaking him awake.

"We're here baby, time to wake up."

Gerard's eyes fluttered open, and he stared blearily up at Frank for a moment.

"Where are we?"

He asked, quietly.

"The pharmacy baby.."

Frank smiled softly, as he gently stroked Gerard's baby-fine hair from his face.

"How you feeling?"

Gerard shrugged, noncommittally.

"Like there's nothing left."

Frank frowned. He'd never seen Gerard so listless or spent. It was like he was giving up, and that scared Frank in a way nothing else could. He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Gerard's pale temple, then climbed out of the truck, shut his door, and walked around to the passenger side.
When he opened Gerard's door, the younger man smiled slightly, and waited for Frank to pick him up.
Frank lifted Gerard down from the truck, and carefully set him on his feet.

"Do you think you can walk?"

He asked, one arm wrapped firmly around Gerard's tiny waist as he shut and locked the car door with the other. Gerard nodded slightly, but still kept hold of Frank.

"You sure?"

Gerard smiled faintly.

"Yes, I think so."

They headed into the pharmacy, and were greeted by a bubbly girl with platinum blonde hair.

"Hello Mr. Iero, Mr. Way.. Oh my.. You don't look so good.. Do you need to sit down?"

She fussed, grabbing a chair from against the wall and putting it next to Gerard.

"Thank you Jolene."

Frank said, guiding Gerard down onto the seat. Gerard was starting to look even more spaced out than before.

"Doc Brown gave us this prescription.."

He pulled the paper out of his pocket and handed it to her.

"He also mentioned something called Ensure Clear?"

"Of course.."

She nodded, though her concerned blue eyes remained on the young school teacher.

"I'll fill this, then get you what Ensure we have in stock."

Frank thanked her, before dropping to a crouch in front of Gerard, and placing both his hands on Gerard's paper-white cheeks, tilting the younger man's head up so their eyes could meet.

"Sweetheart?.. You're gonna be ok."

Gerard just blinked slowly at him. He'd never felt so tired in his life.
Just then, Jolene returned with a bottle of pills, and an armful of multicoloured drink bottles.

"Ok.."

She said, setting everything on a nearby shelf.

"These are the anti-sickness tablets.."

She handed the bottle to Frank.

"They're called Cyclizine, and you can take one tablet every 4-6 hours, but don't exceed 4 tablets in 24 hours."

Frank nodded his understanding, then Jolene started to show him the different flavours that the supplement drinks came in.

"So, we have pomegranate, mixed fruit or peach in the clear.. but we have a much larger selection in the milk based drinks, though if you're suffering from nausea, I'd recommend sticking to the clear drinks."

Frank nodded.

"Yes, Gerard's been sick for a week now, so I think we'll go with the clear ones. Can we have a half dozen of each flavour please?"

"Of course.."

Jolene nodded.

"I'll ring it all up for you, then get them bagged."

Frank nodded, then turned his attention back to Gerard, who was falling asleep on the chair. Frank stood up, scooped Gerard up in his arms, then sat down on the chair, cradling Gerard's limp body against his chest.

"You're gonna be ok baby.. You're gonna be ok."

Though he really wasn't too sure of that any more, and it hurt his heart to think he might lose him.
After a couple of minutes, Jolene came back with all their things bagged up.

"That comes to.."

She checked the note in her hand.

"$107.25."

Frank dug his wallet out of his coat pocket, and handed over $120.

"Keep the change."

He just wanted to get Gerard home and safely tucked up in bed.

"Wow.. Thank you.."

Jolene said, brightly.

"Let me carry these out to your car for you."

Frank thanked her as he slowly stood up, Gerard now asleep against his shoulder.
5 minutes later, after Jolene had wished Frank good luck about a dozen times, he finally started back up the mountain toward home.

When they arrived, Frank got out of the truck, and moved to the passenger side. He carefully lifted Gerard into his arms, and carried him inside.
Lucas was in the kitchen, sat at the table, drinking coffee. He looked up with hard eyes.
Frank shifted Gerard's meagre weight against his chest.

"Lucas.. I know you hate me right now, and you have every right to, but while you're hating me, could you please go and fetch Gerard's medicines?.. They're in the passenger side footwell in the truck."

Lucas didn't reply, just stood up and headed outside.

"Thank you."

Frank murmured to the closed door.
He sighed, then took Gerard to the bedroom, carefully laying him down on the bed, before stripping him down to his boxers, and tucking the blankets around him.
Feeling pretty drained himself, Frank removed his own coat, boots, shirt and jeans, before sliding under the covers, and wrapping Gerard up in his arms.
Later.. He'd deal with everything else.. later.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks.. How you doing?..

Updates may be further apart now than they were, as I'm currently writing on 18 fics, and I try to keep them in order, as much as I can.. But I'm loving writing this, so I will never abandon it, I swear!

Anyway.. Please comment, stay safe, and peace out babies!
<3 Love ya!