Just A Home

It’s been a month. A month of them living together and it was great. Well, to Frank it’s been great. As Frank rebuilds his resume, with Gerard’s help of course, Frank has been taking care of the house. He cleans the house everyday, goes grocery shopping, sadly, he thought, with Gerard’s money. He also makes the beds does the laundry. Frank feels like he’s turning into Kristin.

As Frank finished dinner, Gerard walked in with a smile on his face.

“Hey, how was your day?” Gerard smiled, walking over to where Frank was after putting his bag down and hanging his coat.

“Good, house is restocked with food, your laundry is done. Everything is good.” Frank smiled. The older man nodded.

“Thank you.” Gerard gave him a small squeeze.

“No need to thank me at all.” Frank laughed, as he plated the pasta he made. “Gerard, can I ask what you do for work? I can’t believe I never asked.” Handing Gerard a full plate of carbs and more carbs.

“I am a cartoon designer. I draw for Cartoon Network, Marvel, DC comics, and I am working on my own Comic Series, Umbrella Academy.” Frank nodded.

“No wonder you can afford this place” Frank hip checked Gerard.

“Yea, I get paid very well to do what I did throughout high school.” Gerard joked; Frank winked at him, as they sat at the island together.

“What do you want to drink? Diet soda?” Gerard just nodded with a mouth full of food.

“You know I should really repay you for what you have been doing around here.” Frank placed a glass of soda in front of the older man.

“No, Gerard, you’ve helped me so much, I owe you.”

“Frank please, just this once?” Gerard sighed. Rolling his eyes, Frank gave in. “Great, so Saturday, I was hoping that we could maybe spend the day together. Go to the mall, take you out for lunch?”

“Sounds perfect.” Frank nodded digging into his food.

Saturday came and Frank was nervous about going out with Gerard, he felt like a teenager again. Not like he’s very far out of his teen years. Getting dressed, still wearing Gerard’s brothers clothes, he left his room seeing Gerard putting his shoes on.

“You almost ready? I think we should go to a Jersey mall. Cheaper stuff and not too many crazies.” Gerard laughed. Frank just agreed, as he put his converse on. “You okay?”

“Yea just-“

“Are you nervous?” Gerard walked up to Frank. Playing with his knuckles, Frank just nodded, looking at the grey carpet. “Why are you nervous?” Gerard put a hand on Frank shoulder.

“I don’t know, just haven’t been out a lot ya know. It’s been a long time.” Gerard understood, giving him a hug.

“I promise it will be okay.” Gerard winked, grabbing Frank’s hand, as they headed out.

When they got to the mall, Frank kept his hands in his pockets, looking around at the crowds of people Christmas shopping. Gerard was going on about how he needed new pants for work and a new pair of dress boots.

When they walked into a store, Frank looked around at the really expensive clothes. Looking at the prices he felt sick. No one should spend fifty dollars on a shirt. Grabbing a hand full of clothes, Gerard headed to the cash register. The total came to an ungodly amount. Frank just waited behind him as he finished up. As they walked out of the store, Gerard held the bags out for Frank to hold. Taking the bags, Frank looked confused.

“Those are for you.” Gerard smiled. That’s when Frank almost fell over. Grabbing his arms, Gerard steady him, “Whoa, you okay?”

“These, these are for me?” Frank asked. Gerard just nodded.

“You needed clothes. You can’t wear my brothers clothes forever.” Gerard shrugged.

“Gerard this came to a crazy total. This is too much.” Frank tried to hand it back, but the older man wouldn’t take it.

“Frank, love, you needed them, its not like they are gonna go in the garbage. Please take them.” Frank grunted.

“This is why you wanted to go out today, because you wanted to shop for me.” Gerard nodded, laughing as he took off for the converse store. “Oh no, you are not buying me new sneakers.” Frank grabbed the older man’s arm.Gerard wrapped his arm around Frank, pulling him into the store.

“Oh yes, I am, than lunch.” Frank sighed, just letting Gerard spend money on him.

At lunch, Frank still felt bad about the clothes and shoes. Gerard tried to cheer him up, but he was still on edge.

“Frank, I wanted to buy all that stuff. I want to spend money on you. I have no one else whose willing to spend time with me to spend money on. Please humor an old man. Plus a few hundred dollars on some clothes aren’t gonna make or brake me. Come on.” Frank nodded.

“I’m sorry, I’m just not use to it.”

“Well you better.” Gerard laughed as he laid money out for the bill.

Heading out of the mall, Frank grabbed Gerard’s hand when he saw his brother James. Stopping in his tracks, Gerard tightened his grip on Frank’s hands, seeing that he was in a trance. All of a sudden, Julie, Frank’s niece, yelled Frank’s name running towards him. Frank dropped to his knees, taking the small girl into his arms, squeezing her tight.

“Uncle Frank where have you been?” Julie pouted.

“I know I’m sorry honey I should have come visit.” He said petting her hair.

“Don’t you love me anymore?” That broke Frank heart.

“Of course I love you, never stopped.” He hugged her again.

“Whose your friend?” She asked pointing up to Gerard. He kneeled down, next to Frank holding out his hand.

“I’m Gee, nice to meet you. I’m your Uncle Frankie’s friend.” Smiling ear to ear, she shook Gerard’s hand.

“Hi! I’m Julie, I am Uncle Frank’s favorite niece.” As they laughed, James and his wonderful wife stood in front of them.

“Hey Frank how are you?” James cleared his throat. Frank stood, holding onto Julie.

“I’m well, you, Kristin.” Kristin just gave him a nasty look as she took her daughter away from him.

“Who’s this?” He asked pointing to Gerard.

“Is that your boyfriend?” Kristin spat.

“Why yes I am.” Gerard smiled ear-to-ear, kissing Frank on the cheek, Julie giggled.

“Thought you could do better Frank.” Kristin laughed.

“Kristin.” James said sternly.

“That’s funny, I thought the same about my brother.” Gerard tried to hold in his laughter, as Kristin tugged on James’ hand.

“Well, we got to-“

“No Uncle Frank-“

“I’ll see you soon baby.” He blew a kiss her way as they walked off. Frank leaned into Gerard’s side watching them walk out of his life once again.

Getting home, Frank went to put away his new clothes, as Gerard sat on the couch. Frank joined him minutes later, but Gerard seemed a little off.

Grabbing Frank’s hands, he tugged the younger man to look at him.

“I’m sorry about today, when Kristin asked if I was your boyfriend, I just, it seemed that she doesn’t like gay men, and I just wanted it to be more awkward for her. And I don’t even know if your-“

“I’m gay.” Frank whispered.

“Same, I-uh, I’m gay also.”Gerard said above a whisper. Frank just smiled, looking over at the clock; he jumped up noticing that it was almost dinnertime.

Weeks later, Frank had forgotten the whole, running into his ex- family thing. He seemed in a better mood, especially since he put out his first round of resumes.

Gerard came running into the apartment, as Frank was asleep on the couch. Jumping at the noise that the excited man was making, Frank fell off the couch.

“Gee, what’s wrong?” The boy gasped, standing to his feet.

“My comic book series! It was bought! It goes on the shelves in a week!” Gerard grabbed Frank’s shoulders, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug. Gasping for air, Frank patted Gerard on the shoulders. When they separated, Frank pressed a hand to Gerard’s face.

“I’m so proud of you.” Those were the magic words; the magic words that Gerard has been searching for all this time. No one has ever said they were proud of him. Not even his mother; well, not since high school. Gerard stopped breathing for a second, and saw something different in Frank. As if the love bug bit him in the ass, finally, right than and there. And his eyes, and heart were looking at Frank.

As Frank pulled away, Gerard already missed his warmth. Missed his touch. Fully breathing again, Gerard whispered a ‘Thank you,’ as he watched Frank move to the kitchen.

“Your favorite food is coming up.” Frank laughed as he reached for the house phone.

“Chinese?” Gerard smiled sweetly.

“You bet ya honey.” Frank jumped on to the counter, pressing two on the speed dial for the Chinese Restaurant down the street.

Gerard didn’t know what to do. It’s been a week since he knew he had feelings for Frank. He tried to talk himself out of it; he was too old, too ugly, too imperfect, full of flaws to be with Frank.

Frank was perfect in Gerard’s eyes; he was everything he’s been looking for; he was the filling for the whole in his heart. And Gerard knew Mikey sent him straight to him, his guardian angel.

At work, Gerard couldn’t focus. He knew he had to tell Frank his feelings, than maybe he could get work done. It was the day of his release of his series, and all he could do was think of the beautiful man in his apartment, probably dancing around in his boxers as he cleaned.

Groaning at the thought, Gerard sat at his desk, waiting for the call that his series was on every shelf in America. And it did; it came and went, with champagne and cheering with his crew that made it all happen. But Gerard didn’t want to celebrate with these people, he wanted to go home, be with Frank.

And so he did. He was gonna be three hours early, but he didn’t care. As he pushed through the Brooklyn traffic, he drove as fast as he could with out getting caught by NYPD cameras.

Pulling into the parking lot, he ran up, pressing the buttons on the elevator over and over again until the doors open. Stepping in, he waiting for his floor, ringing his hands in worry. He was more than nervous, he was frightened. Frightened he would be rejected, laughed at, or worse, running Frank back out onto the street.

The doors opened; pressing his key into the door, it swung open to a surprised Frank. But Frank smiled sweetly, as he folded the blanket, placing it onto the couch.

“Well you’re home early.” Frank giggled. But Gerard could barely hear him; all he could hear was his breathing and heartbeat as he walked towards Frank. “Alright Zombie Gerard, your scaring me. What’s wrong?” Pressing his sweaty palms to Frank’s, he leaned in pressing his forehead to the shorter man.

“I like you, I like you more than I should. I can’t get you out of my head. Ever since you said you were proud of me; since I saw your eyes shine in complete happiness I can’t get you out of my head. I want you, I want you in anyway I can get you, and if its just a friendship than fine, I will have to deal with it, but I would love it if we were more. As mine, my partner, as my boyfriend, my best friend, my roommate, as my everything.” Gerard closed his eyes. Waiting.

“God, I thought it was just me.” Frank whispered. Eyes popping open, he looked at a blushing Frank.

“Huh?”

“That moment, when you came in so excited, so passionate, I felt something, something strong, want, desire, care, passion. And it was all for you. I want to be with you too, in anyway, but I would love to be with you also. It would be the best day of my life if I was asked to be your boyfriend.”

“Be mine, be my boyfriend.” Gerard rushed out, pulling Frank’s hands closer to his body, placing them on his waist as Gerard’s hands ran up Frank’s arms, to the back of his neck, playing with the hair.

“I’m yours.” Frank could barely finish saying before Gerard’s lips were on his own. That kiss made the series release ten times better, that kiss made his day, his year; that kiss made the last ten years of pain, strength, and hard work worth it all.

Notes

sooo......????