I'll Be Home For Christmas

"Forty-five more minutes," Kristin says next to me, nervously bouncing her knee. "God, I'm so nervous."

"Me too," I say, placing my hand on her knee to steady her leg. "But just think: Mikey and Gerard'll be getting off that plane soon, and we'll be able to see them."

"Is it normal for them to be in Iraq for two years?" Kristin asks. "How long are they usually overseas?"

"Kris, stop worrying," I tell her. "They're fine, I promise. I just about lost my mind when Gee was coming back from Iraq last time. And I had Ryan Ross-Urie with me."

"He didn't help, did he?" Kristin asks, letting out a breathy laugh.

"Not at all," I laugh and grip her hand tightly. Then, to get her mind off of the current worry, I ask: "When's the wedding?"

She smiles and says: "Frankie, you already know. You and Gee helped us plan it."

"Well, then, tell me," I say. "'Cause I'm worried about Gee and... I need the distraction too."

"June," she reminds me. "Do you think Gerard'll propose soon? It's been legal for months."

"I would love it, but I'm not sure about the Army's policy on gay marriage," I say quietly, looking down at my lap. "He could get discharged, and I might get fired from the record store, and... It's too risky. I would love it, but neither of us can lose our jobs."

"Oh," Kristin says quietly. "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," I tell her. After a moment of silence, except for the bustle of the airport, I ask: "What time is it?"

"Umm..." Kristin starts and pulls out her phone, clicking the screen on to display the time. "8:15."

"Forty-five minutes," I repeat from the beginning of the conversation, tapping my heel against the ugly airport carpet.

My pocket starts vibrating, and I pull it out to find my phone doing the buzzing.

From: Gee <3
Sent: 8:15PM
So, Mikey and I are stuck in Charlotte because of this HUGE snowstorm. It shut down 1/2 the airport, it's crazy. Our plane is delayed until at least midnight, so we won't be home tonight. I want nothing more than to be able to be with you, but, even if we rented a car, we wouldn't be home until tomorrow morning. I'm sorry, baby. I love you.

I swallow back my tears and say aloud: "Gerard just texted me. Their plane is delayed because of the snowstorm in North Carolina, and they won't be home until tomorrow."

"Seriously?" Kristin asks and pulls out her phone again, checking her texts. "And, yep, here's the text from Mikey. Crap."

My phone buzzes again, and I look back at the screen to find another blue bubble from Gerard.

From: Gee <3
Sent: 8:17PM
It's probably best if you guys head home. You'll just be at the airport for nothing. I'll text you when our plane takes off. I love you, baby. :3

"Gee says that we should head on home," I add.

"God," Kristin mutters and stands up, with me following her actions.

We make our way to the front of the airport, and I try to not focus on the music pumping through the speakers. "Christmas Eve'll find me/Where the love light gleams/I'll be home for Christmas/If only in my dreams."

I'm so entranced by the music and trying not to cry that I almost miss the P.A system crackling on, interrupting the song. "Frank Iero and Kristin Blanford to Gate 4B," the woman's voice says and Kristin jolts to a stop next to me, clutching my arm through my jacket. The announcement replays a second time and Kristin's brown eyes widen along with mine.

Gate 4B. That's halfway across the airport. Without saying a word, Kristin and I start across the airport, my heart swooping into my stomach when we get to the gates numbered 4.

We don't even get to 4B before I feel a strong pair of arms around me, lifting me into the air and spinning around as a familiar laugh rings through the air. "Frankie!" Gerard cries, bringing me down and pressing my head into his shoulder. I would answer but I'm crying too hard to say anything.

"Gerard!" I exclaim, pulling away and holding his face in my hands. His hair is still the black it was when he went to Iraq, and it's falling over his eyes, which are also wet with tears. His face is tan from the unrelenting sun, and he's still in his battle greens. "Gee... You said you wouldn't be here until tomorrow," I whisper, wiping his tears away with my thumb.

"Merry Christmas, Frankie," he says and softly kisses me, lifting me up to match his height.

"We got in early," I hear Mikey explain to Kristin as I pull away from Gerard. "And we wanted to surprise you guys."

"Well, I'm surprised, alright," I reply and Gerard laughs. "Two years, Gerard. Holy shit, two years."

"Frankie..." He whispers, lightly kissing my forehead. "You're as beautiful as the day I left. Nothing's changed."

"Gee, we Skyped, like, every week," I tell him, feeling his hand run down my back.

"I couldn't kiss you then," he responds. "I couldn't hold you. I couldn't touch you. I can do all of that now. I'm going to kiss you, hold you, touch you; I might never let go of you again."

"That's completely fine," I laugh, and he lightly kisses the tip of my nose.

"Alright, so, umm..." Gerard starts and laughs awkwardly, pulling his arms away from me and wiping his hands on the thighs of his uniform pants nervously. "I was hoping to do this at home, but I'm going to completely die if I don't do it.

"Frankie, I've known you for four years, and I've loved you for three years and eleven months. I never really knew what love was until I met you, and I knew I was a goner the first time we made love. Well, it was the first time I kissed you, but it sounds better the other way," he pauses to laugh quietly, his tears still falling from his eyes. "Anyway... Umm... I love you. More than I ever thought I could love anyone. And, even though we're young, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Gee?" I ask quietly. "What're you—"

"I don't have a ring, but I want to be yours and I want you to be mine. I've been wanting to ask you for two years, but I could never work up the nerve to do it over Skype." He takes my hands in his and presses my fingers to his lips. "Marry me, Frankie." He murmurs against my fingers.

I stand still and silent, feeling his lips ghost over my fingers and hands. "Of course," I whisper. "Of course I'll marry you."

He smiles and drops my hands, hugging me tightly and kissing the side of my head. I can feel his heartbeat through his chest, onto my own chest, and I hug him even tighter.

"Merry Christmas, Frank," Gerard tells me. "I love you so much."

Notes

xoKristin