From the earth to the morgue

I stepped out of the car as Mikey held the door open. He didn't understand why I wanted to come so badly, but he stopped asking questions the second I started tearing up.

I looked over the graveyard, the crowd of people was nearly seeping out into the streets. It was like everyone in town was here. Mikey placed a supportive hand on my shoulder as we made our way through the crowd. We pushed our way through the sea of black and sorrow until a familiar presence with freshly dyed bright red hair caught my eye.

I felt my breath hitch as he lifted his grieving eyes and focused them on me. Mikey's hand tightened on my shoulder as he tried to turn me away and walk the other way, but it was too late, he was standing directly in front of me.

Mikey stepped inbetween us, forcing Gerard to take a few steps back, "He doesn't want to talk to you, Gerard."

Gerard almost scoffed, "Mikey, please let me just talk to him. I don't want to make a scene. Not here." Gerard reconnected his eyes with mine, "Please."

I sighed rubbing a small circle into Mikey's shoulder blade, "It's okay. I'll be okay. Can you go find us a place to sit?" Mikey looked inbetween me and Gerard, his eyebrows scrunched in worry.

I gave him him a small nod and he finally started walking away, turning to look at us every five seconds. It wasn't until I mouth a soft 'thank you' for Mikey to actually walk out of eyesight.

Gerard stared at me for a solid second before even opening his mouth, "Frank, I don't think I could ever explain to you just how sorr-"

"Why are you even here?" I snapped, cutting him off, "Did you know I was going to come? Is that why you had the guts to even show your face here?"

Gerard gasped a little, staying silent for a few seconds before shaking his head, "I wouldn't do that. I'm not that fucked, Frank. You know that."

"No I don't know that!" I lowered my voice after gaining the attention of a few people around us, "I don't know anything about you anymore, Gerard." I whispered

"I'm still me."

I narrowed my eyes, "Still you? Are you fucking kidding me, Gerard? You've been slaugh-" Gerard abruptly pulled me into a deep hug, pressing his lips against my forehead and then down to my ear, "Detective Toro is walking up to us, please play along. He doesn't know we aren't together."

I felt a shiver go down my spine, as much as I hated him right now, god I still missed his touch. Gerard pulled away from me lacing our fingers together.

Gerard twitched his lips into a small, sympathetic smile as Toro approached us, "Detective Toro! It's nice to see you again. I'm sorry it's under such circumstances though." Gerard said with such real sounding sincerity it made me sick to my stomach.

Toro returned a small smile as he reached out to shake Gerard's hand, "Yeah, me too. It's such a shame, the kid had so much more life to live." You could see the pain in his eyes. He's put so much into this already. "I see you changed up the look Mr. Way!" Toro pointed out, changing the tone of the conversation.

Gerard chuckled softly, grabbing at a strand of his now red hair, "Yeah, I guess I just needed something new."

Toro looked down at me, putting his hand in mine, "It's good to see you too, Frank." All I could manage to do was smile and give him a soft nod in return.

Just as gerard began to say something the whine of a microphone drowned him out. A thin brunette stepped up to the microphone accompanied by a larger bald man. They both looked so much like Jackson it hurt.

The woman tapped on the microphone gently as she cleared her throat, "Um, hello everyone, I'm Penny Roys and this is David Roys. We are-" she paused for a second, "We were, Jackson Roys parents. We wanted to thank you all for showing up and showing your support. And at this moment we would like to say a few words about Jackson."

I couldn't help but notice when Gerard's shoulders sunk down and his face went pale. He looked like he wanted to disappear.

Penny sniffled softly before continuing, "Jackson was one of a kind. He put so much passion into every little thing he did. He was the kindest boy anyone had ever met. He made sure everyone always felt welcome and loved. Jackson was a son, a brother, an uncle, a boyfriend, an artist, and a writer." Penny recited in an almost automated voice, "Jackson could always tell the most beautiful stories. He always knew how to really make you feel." A stifled tear ran down Penny's cheek, "This world is going to be a dark place without him here. He brought us all so much light and happiness. But now he gets to light up the heavens. We will miss you forever Jackson."

Penny stepped down, her trembling limbs finally overwhelming her. She fell into her husband's arms as her sobs filled the silent graveyard. David held her close as he stepped up to the microphone, "We did not have to opportunity to bury our precious son properly, so we have decided to fill his casket with roses. If you can, please help us honor Jackson tonight by placing a rose into his casket." David scrunched his face in pain as he looked back at the empty coffin by his side, "The microphone will be open to anyone who wants to tell stories and memories with Jackson. Thank you all fo being here for us at this time." David stepped down as people began walking up to the coffin.

A large vase with at least 100 roses in it sat on a table next to a photo of Jackson. I watched as people one by one plucked a rose out of the vase, laying it gently inside of Jackson's empty casket.

It it wasn't long before a bright red strode out in the line to the front. Gerard was going to lay down a rose. I felt my stomach lurch. Gerard clutched a rose in his hands a little too tight. When Gerard reached the coffin he stayed there for a second just looking down at the roses that filled nearly half of the casket. Gerard then closed his eyes, whispering something I couldn't quite make out before gently laying the now blood-stained rose down on top of the others.

I looked over over at Detective Toro, who seemed to be just as interested in Gerard's strange behavior. I turned my attention back to Mikey as he made his way back over.

I smiled softly, "I'm sorry I never went to find you."

Mikey returned Ned a small smile, placing his hand on my back once again, "It's okay Frank, I know how important this was to you." Mikey began rubbing small circles into the middle of my back, "Let's go home. You look exhausted."

I nodded, turning around to say goodbye to Toro, only to find out he had gone up to lay down a rose. I sighed softly, looking around one last time before heading back to the car with Mikey.

I suddenly felt a hand on my waist, I turned around quickly to be met with Gerard's face just inches away from mine.

"Please come home."

Notes

Once again I'm super sorry about the wait. This was just one of those really hard chapters to write. Thank you guys for sticking with me <3 it truly means the world.