***Time stamp: End of June***


Frank was curled up with his head on Gerard's chest. Gerard was asleep now, dozing after they'd spent the last two hours fucking. Frank couldn't sleep, he had too many thoughts running around in his head and he didn't know what to do with any of them. He and Gerard had been sleeping together ever since Gerard's birthday, and they'd still been visiting the club on a regular basis too. Frank knew now that he was in love with the older man, even if he tried to deny it to himself, but the relationship, if you could call it that, was confusing to him.

Frank had never given himself to anyone before, never let anyone have his heart, and it scared him that he wanted to do just that, cos he wasn't at all sure that Gerard felt the same way, or that he had any feelings at all for Frank. Gerard had never said love, only care for, when he spoke of...whatever this was between them, and though Frank was sure that Gerard really did care for him, he felt that it was probably only in the context of Master and pet. Frank sighed and shifted slightly, pressing into Gerard's side and feeling Gerard's arm tighten around him. It made him smile, but did nothing to help his troubled mind. The physical side of their...whatever...was always good. It was exciting and intense and Gerard was constantly introducing Frank to new sensations, but was that enough and what would happen in nine days’ time, when the bet came to an end?

Would Frank just be expected to return to his old life?...could he?...did he even want to?

Would Gerard even want to see him after the bet was done?

Frank sighed listlessly and closed his eyes...why did everything have to be so fucking confusing anyway?

*

*

*

"Gerard, are you taking this seriously?"

"Of course I am Micha."

"I don’t think you are."

Gerard rolled his eyes as he and Micha walked down to get coffee.

"Look, in a few more days, you will be back in your office and Frankie will be back in his. What's to worry about?"

"What if he doesn't like the changes, what if he can't handle them?"

"Micha, all this time, you still can't put any faith in him. He is different now."

"Just cause you are fucking him, doesn't mean..."

Micha yelped as Gerard grabbed her arm stilling her.

"Don’t say that again."

"Gerard."

"Frank will be fine."

Gerard let go and Micha watched him walk off.

"Yes, but will you?"

*

*

*

"Bye Frankie."

Gerard said goodbye to Frank for the last time. He would not be returning to the cabin. Micha will take care of the rest. He had a plane to catch for a meeting about another company takeover. He was sure that Frank would understand as a business man.

"It's for the good of it all."

Gerard got in his car and drove to the airport. He had packed a bag last night and slipped it in the trunk. He doesn't know why he didn't tell Frank...yes he does. He needed to get away. The thought of Frank not being there anymore...Gerard brushed it off as he turned onto the highway.

"Everything will be fine."

*

*

*

Micha walked into the cabin. The place smelled amazing. Gerard had talked about how wonderful the food was that Frank had been cooking. Frank stuck his head out of the kitchen at the sound of the front door closing. He had a wide grin on his face and a welcome home on his lips, but both slipped away when he saw Micha walking toward him and not Gerard. After a second to collect himself, he gave her a polite smile.

"Good evening Mistress. I wasn't expecting you tonight?"

He turned and walked back into the kitchen, frowning.

"I've only made enough for two...I guess I'll make myself something later."

He spoke to himself more than the woman in (surprise surprise) green. He looked back at Micha and then passed her.

"Is Master running late?"

"Frank...Gerard isn't coming."

Micha sat down.

"He had a meeting in Texas."

Frank paled slightly. That meant...

"So it's just you and me Mistress?"

Why hadn't Gerard told him?

"Frank, do you know what tomorrow is?"

Frank stilled, Garlic Shrimp Pasta half way from pan to plate. He swallowed, then continued serving.

"Yes Mistress."

He said quietly.

"I cleared all my stuff out of your office. I made you a list of all the new employees that I hired. I also made you a spread sheet about the new business ventures that I started and the old ones I let go. Fund changes, partnerships, acquirements. You should be good to go tomorrow."

Frank felt cold, and suddenly not very hungry. He put more food onto Micha's plate, and left the rest in the pan.

"Alright Mistress..."

He placed her plate in front of her and crossed to the fridge.

"Wine?"

"No, I'm good."

Micha looked at her plate and then Frank's.

"Are you not going to join me?"

Frank rubbed his belly.

"Upset stomach...I might eat later."

"Alright. Well I have some work to do, so I will be in the bedroom if you need me."

Micha got up and picked up the plate. She headed to the bedroom and closed the door. Frank looked at the food in the pan and knew he couldn't eat it. It had been Gerard's favorite, and he'd made it in a final ditch effort to show Gerard how he felt without actually saying the words...he knew the meal was wasted on Micha. Picking up the pan, he tipped the untouched food into the garbage then rinsed the pan and placed it in the dishwasher. He turned it on, wiped down the surfaces then clicked off the light and left the kitchen. Frank walked to Gerard's room...recently it had been his room too...and knocked softly, pushing the upsetting thoughts to the back of his head.

"Come in."

Frank quietly opened the door and stepped inside. He kept his eyes on the floor.

"I'm going to have an early night mistress, if that's alright?"

He rubbed his stomach again.

"There's dessert in the fridge...if you just leave your plates on the side I'll wash them in the morning."

"Frank. You don't have to do any of that. In the morning, you get to put on your suit that you arrived in. The car is going to pick you up and bring you to your building. You are free now.

Frank felt a little sick, but swallowed it back and nodded.

"I know Mistress. I just...I want to."

"Frank come here please."

Frank looked up hesitantly, then walked over to the bedside.

"Have a seat."

Frank blinked at her a few times then sat on the edge of the bed, keeping distance between them.

"Frank."

Micha tried to come up with the words.

"Who am I?"

Frank tilted his head slightly.

"Mistress?"

"No, after tomorrow I am Mrs. Wentz."

Frank understood now...she was cutting ties, cutting him loose and abandoning him back to his life...whatever that was. He looked at the clock on the wall, then back at Micha.

"Yes Mistress..."

He smiled slightly.

"After midnight."

Micha laughed.

"You're gonna be fine Frank."

Frank smiled then stood up.

"If that's all Mistress, I'm gonna turn in."

"Good night...Mr. Iero."

"Goodnight Mistress."

Frank gave one last bow, then left the room. When he reached his small, impersonal bedroom, Frank lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He silently cried himself to sleep that night.

*

*

*

Frank woke early as usual. For a minute he forgot...then it came back to him and he fought back tears. After he'd pulled himself together, he got up and went to the kitchen. He emptied the dishwasher of yesterday's things and put Micha's plates in, then started breakfast. He was just serving up Baked Asparagus Frittata onto two plates when Micha emerged.

"Frank, you're not dressed yet? The car is going to be here any..."

*knock knock*

"But I made breakfast."

Frank looked from Micha to the plates.

"Excuse me, I'm here to pick up Mr. Iero."

"Yes, just give us a moment, he will be right out."

"Very good ma'am."

Micha closed the door after the driver left.

"Frank, I told you last night to be dressed in the morning. Now go, get dressed."

"Yes Mistress...I mean..."

Frank blushed.

"Mrs. Wentz...Sorry, that's gonna take some getting used to."

He chuckled humorlessly and headed to his room to dress. Three minutes later he reappeared in his suit...he felt restricted, and not in the good way.

"Good, well, have a good day Mr. Iero. I will see you around."

Both Micha and Frank exited the cabin. They got into two separate cars and drove off.

*

*

*

"Mr. Iero. Mr. Iero. Sir?"

Frank was sat at his desk. He was supposed to be going over the monthly expense report, but his mind had wandered to the last time he'd seen Gerard. They had eaten breakfast together. Frank had sucked Gerard's cock then kissed his cheek and waved him off to work, expecting to see him back that evening...of course he didn't. Frank was now staring into space. He hadn't heard his assistant enter.

"Mr. Iero, are you alright? Shall we break for lunch? I can order something from Katz."

Frank looked up, dazedly. He saw the young man in front of him looking a little nervous...he'd probably heard of Frank's reputation as a total dick. Frank nodded.

"Yeah, lunch..."

He frowned slightly.

"But I'll go get it...I need some air."

"Are you sure Sir, we can have it delivered."

Frank shook his head.

"No it's okay...Paul, was it?"

At a nod from the boy, Frank smiled and continued.

"If you wouldn't mind, could you go around and ask what everyone else would like?"

Paul was stunned.

"Uh...alright, want me to make a list?"

"Please."

Frank smiled.

"Thank you Paul."

Paul was slightly unnerved as he left the office. When he returned he had a small list that was nowhere near the amount of people that were in the vicinity. Frank was sat looking out the window, lost in thought.

"Uh...Sir, here is your list."

Frank looked round.

"Hmm...oh, right. Thank you."

He accepted the list and frowned slightly. He looked at the younger man.

"Is this all...wasn't anyone hungry?"

He knew the problem of course, they all hated him...he just hadn't realised how much. What did they think he was going to do...spit in their food?!

"I guess they all had other plans or maybe brought food?"

Frank sighed, it wasn't Paul's fault. He smiled.

"Okay Paul. Is your order on here?"

He looked at the paper and saw Paul's name. He smiled wider and looked up.

"Cool...okay, well I'm gonna see if I can persuade anyone else, then I'll go."

"Uh...okay, sure."

Paul watched his boss walk out of the office to where everyone was sitting. Frank looked around and saw everyone talking in quiet groups...they weren't working.

"Err hi?"

He said, approaching the nearest group. The look of shock and disbelief was evident across their faces. Frank felt everyone's eyes on him...he felt more exposed than he ever did at the club.

"I'm...I'm doing a lunch run. Does anyone want anything...I'm paying."

He felt a drop of sweat trickle down his back.

"Well I..."

"You see we..."

"I kind of..."

"Yeah, I'm hungry."

Everyone looked over and saw one of the newest employees.

"Come on guys, give your orders."

Frank looked over as he heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Megan stood a few feet away. She was still beautiful of course, but now there was something more about her...a confidence and strength he hadn't seen before...it suited her.

He smiled gratefully at her.

"What would you like Megan?"

He asked, holding a pen to the paper in his hand.

"Why don't we take their orders and I’ll come with you."

Megan smiled at him. This seemed to relax everyone a bit and they were more forth coming about their hunger. Megan called the orders in and then she and Frank left for the deli.

"So how are you Frank?"

Frank felt awkward and weird walking beside her. Megan looked smart and professional in a striking blue fitted dress with a high slashed neck, knee length skirt and contrasting white belt...Frank felt like a kid playing dress up next to her.

"I'm okay..."

He sighed and stopped walking, looking down.

"You don't seem okay. You seem...different. Wanna talk about it?"

Frank looked up.

"I'm sorry..."

He said honestly and openly.

"For how I treated you...I'm really sorry. I was an asshole...I just wanted to apologize, and tell you that that's not me anymore."

"It's okay Frank, I am to blame for some things too. I never even tried to say no."

Frank shook his head.

"No...you did...I was just too arrogant to listen. I hope you can forgive me?"

"I forgave you a long time ago."

They got to the deli and Megan leaned in and kissed Frank's cheek. Frank looked down.

"I don't think I've forgiven myself."

He said softly as he followed her inside...he was pretty sure she didn't hear.

*

*

*

"Wow, I had no idea, I mean Gerard never said anything."

Megan had just finished the rest of her soup as Frank finished his story about the last year of his life. She is sure he left some things out, but the tremor in his voice gave him away here and there.

"Yeah well..."

Frank shrugged, hoping it looked casual, even though it felt anything but.

"I guess I just gotta try to forget it all now...get on with my life."

Just the thought of leaving Gerard and that part of his life behind made Frank's chest hurt...he pushed his mostly untouched salad away.

"Ugh, I can't eat this anymore. I mean I know the deli has good food, but this soup is horrible."

Megan pushed her food away. Frank smiled weakly.

"Sometimes I wish I knew how to cook. I never listened to my mom about it and now with my fiancé, he comes from a big family that has the typical Sunday dinners and stuff and...I never told him I can't cook."

Frank leaned forward, eyes wide and smile bright.

"I could teach you..."

Frank said quick and enthusiastically. He then pulled back, insecurity taking over.

"I mean...if you want. You don't have to...I just thought..."

He looked down, slumping in his seat.

"Never mind."

"Wait...you can cook? I mean I know you said you made food for the Ways, but you can do like real cooking?"

Frank nodded, head still down.

"Yeah. I used to like cooking, but this last year I remembered just how much."

He looked up slightly.

"I'm not like MasterChef material or anything, but..."

He shrugged one shoulder.

"I think I'm pretty good at it."

"Then yes, please, I would love to learn how to cook from you."

Frank's smile brightened tenfold.

"Really...I mean really?...you're not messin' with me?"

"Yeah, we can start on Friday if you want. You can come over to my house, I'll get the ingredients."

"Okay then..."

Frank smiled happily.

"Sounds like a plan."

Megan watched the man that she had come to loath for a while, light up like a new person. She had a feeling that this was going to be a real eye opening experience.


***Time Stamp: One Month Later***


Gerard was walking by a newsstand when the paper caught his eye. He picked it up and smiled as he read the front page article.

"Well done Frankie, well done."

Notes

Hi there chipmunks...how's you?

So the bet has ended, what will become of them now?

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT, and peace out babies!
<3