The Other Half Of Me

***(time passes~ back at the apartment)***

David was sat on one of the two couches in Frank, Bert and Gee's apartment. He wanted to be holding his twin close while he slept, but Frank apparently wouldn't let him go.

David made do with sitting next to the older man and holding Gee's hand...for now.

"So how long as Gee been here with you?"

He asked quietly, his eyes fixed on Gee's face. He could feel Mikey beside him, silently watching Gee sleep.

"A bit over a year."

"So Frank just took you guys in...like as...you know..."

Pete moved his hands around.

"You know...he..."

"What!? No I didn't sleep with them!"

"Not that some of us didn't try to bed Frank..."

Lindsey turned accusing eyes across the room.

"Brendon."

She smirked.

"Hey! In my defense, I thought I had to sleep with him and Bert to keep my place! "

"What all the Strays have in common is they all work for me...except for Bert."

"Wait...what?"

Frank smiled and slid Gee into David's arms...David automatically hugged Gee to his chest and buried his face in Gee's hair, breathing him in. Frank walked to the desk and pulled out an envelope.

"Merry Christmas man."

Bert took the package and opened it.

"This is a deed for Cool Ghoul Too."

"Yeah, all my meetings. I bought another store with an apartment above it. I bought it for you...partner."

"Merry Christmas Berty boy."

Lindsey cheered.

Bert was speechless. He started to tremble.

"Hey now, you were my first Stray, you deserve this so much."

Bert cried and pulled Frank into a bone crushing hug.

"Put him down, he's m-mine."

Gee's quiet and slightly groggy voice sounded across the room. David's head snapped up, wide eyes turned to his brother.

"Gee!"

"Kitten!"

Bert put Frank down and he rushed over to his Stray.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Daddy."

Gee reached his arms out, making grabby hands with his eyes half closed.

David frowned at this.

"Gee?"

Gee froze, his eyes going wide before he slowly turned his head toward the person holding him.

"D-David?..."

He whispered, voice tiny and weak.

"Mikey?"

His eyes flitted between the two quickly. David smiled wide and nodded.

"It's us Gee...we found you."

Gee slowly lifted a trembling hand up and poked David's left cheek with one red painted fingertip.

"Are...are you real?"

David chuckled.

"Yeah Gee, we are."

Gee looked at Mikey, moving his hand out slowly to poke his face too.

"I think Gee is having a Ground Hog Day moment."

Brendon chuckled.

"You said those same words at the park Gee and ow!"

Ryan slapped Brendon upside the head.

"Don't be insensitive, asshole."

Gee poked Mikey's cheek.

"You look f-funny..."

He tilted his head, staring intently at Mikey's face.

"What's d-different?...are you really...y-you?"

"Well I got new glasses, but that was thanks to Lindsey. In fact that's how we met."

Gee's face screwed up. Everything felt like a dream.

"L-Lindsey?"

He asked, his mind in such a state right now that he had no idea who that even was.

"Kitten are you alright? I think you need to eat something."

"I got that."

Bert went and grabbed some cheese and crackers from their Christmas-eve party. He also grabbed a bottle of water.

"Here you go Gee, eat this."

Gee looked up slowly at Bert.

"Bert?...what's..."

He took the water bottle without finishing his sentence and started to drink it sloppily, some running down his chin.

Mikey watched as both Frank and David grabbed a napkin to help Gee. He marveled at how they both wanted to take care of him.

Gee's eyes flicked to Frank as he pulled the bottle away from his mouth, spilling more water down himself.

"Daddy?"

Again, David frowned at this.

"I'm here Kitten."

"Daddy, David and Mikey are here."

Gee said with quiet awe. David tightened his grip on his twin a little as he stared daggers at the older man with all the tattoos...this "daddy" " kitten" thing was sending up big flashing neon warning signs for him, but he held his tongue for the moment, as he didn't want to frighten his clearly distressed brother.

"I know they are Kitten. It was your Christmas present from Lindsey and Ryan."

"Yeah, Merry Christmas Princess."

David couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Right that's it!..."

He snapped, making Gee jump and squeak in surprise.

"I mean what the fuck?!...you call him kitten and princess and make him call you fucking daddy?!..."

Gee was shaking, tears starting to fall as David held him too tight for him to be able to pull away.

"What have you done to him?"

David demanded angrily.

Bert watched as Frank started to shake. He knew this was going to get bad. What he didn't expect was for Brendon to be the one to really lose it.

"LOOK YOU PIECE OF SHIT! WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO COME IN HERE AND MAKE THESE ACCUSATIONS TO THE PERSON THAT SAVED YOUR BROTHER FROM GETTING RAPED ON THE STREETS OR WORSE! FRANK SAVED HIM! HE SAVED ALL OF US FROM LIVES OF DRUGS, DRINKING, AND HOOKING! YOU DON'T KNOW A FUCKING THING ABOUT THIS MAN AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE FUCKING THANK YOU FROM YOU AT ALL!"

David looked up at the man that was basically yelling in his face. He was suddenly at a loss.

"I..."

He felt his anger deflate a bit. He looked back at Frank.

"You saved him from...I mean...he was...I mean..."

He looked around and realised that everyone was waiting for him to finish a sentence. He looked back at Frank.

"Thank you for saving him from that but..."

He glanced at the guy who'd shouted, who now seemed to be having a mental debate with himself over whether to beat David's ass or not. David sighed as he felt Gee shaking in his arms. He gently kissed the top of Gee's head then turned back to Frank.

"You gotta understand...we've been looking for Gee for more than 20 months now, and we find him here, calling you daddy...you have to see how that looks...right?"

"He calls me that because he wants to. Ask him."

Frank still had his arms crossed, but he had stopped shaking.

David nodded before turning his attention to his brother, who hadn't stopped shaking.

"Gee?..."

Gee was curled in on himself, with his bottom lip trapped between his teeth and his eyes down. David knew he'd scared Gee by snapping before, but he was pretty sure that the guy who yelled had scared him more.

"Gee, look at me baby..."

Lindsey raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but didn't comment. Gee slowly looked up, his eyes darting to Frank for reassurance, then back to David. David smiled softly.

"Gee, did someone tell you to call Frank, daddy?..."

Gee shook his head.

"Then why do you?"

Gee released his lip from between his teeth and swallowed heavily. David saw toothmarks in the boy's pale skin.

"Cos..."

Gee sniffed, then swallowed again.

"Cos I want to...he m-makes me feel s-safe."

David was confused.

"But Gee...dad didn't make you feel safe."

Gee shuddered at the mention of that man, his eyes dropping again.

"I n-never c-c-called him d-daddy th-though...he was S-S-Sir, for as l-long as I c-can r-rem-member."

David sighed as he leaned in to kiss Gee's forehead.

"I get it Gee..."

He looked over at Frank, locking eyes with him and seeing the care that was shining from them. He held eye contact as he addressed his twin again.

"So Frank makes you feel safe, so you call him daddy?"

"Yes."

Gee mumbled quietly. David sighed.

"Alright then, but if I find out he's hurt you in any way..."

He left the warning in the air as Gee shook his head with a whisper.

"He hasn't."

"Good...Frank?"

"What?"

Frank still stared with some anger at the twin of his love.

"I'm sorry for assuming the worst, but I'm very protective of Gee, as I think you are too?"

"Of course I am. I love him."

David nodded, sighing and offering a small smile.

"Yeah, I see that. Look, can we just start again?...cos it looks like we're gonna be in each other's lives from now on, so for Gee's sake, let's try to get on...yeah?"

Frank looked at the boy and then over at his boy.

"Kitten?"

Gee looked over with wide eyes and a small smile.

"Yes daddy?"

"Are you feeling better?"

Gee nodded.

"Yes daddy...if everyone's stopped shouting."

He glanced at Brendon, shivering slightly before looking back at Frank.

Brendon crouched down to Gee's level and pouted at him playfully.

"I'm sorry Gee...I'm so sorry...can you forgive me?"

Gee turned and pouted right back.

"If you promise not to shout again."

David was surprised by the sass he heard in his brother's voice, he'd not heard it before...perhaps this place, and these people, were good for him after all.

"The sass is strong with this one."

The Strays laughed and Frank looked at Gee and smiled.

Gee giggled and blushed.

"So we're all good now?"

David asked, looking around at everyone.

"That depends..."

Frank looked at David.

"...can I have my Kitten back?"

David sighed.

"Sure."

He loosened his grip on his twin. Gee looked at him and smiled wide and happy.

"David?"

"Yes Gee?"

"I missed you..."

He looked at Mikey.

"...and you Mikey."

"We missed you too."

David smiled as Gee slipped off his lap and quickly climbed into Frank's, curling up against the older man's chest.

"Well...it is quite late. We should all retire for the night I think."

All the Strays agreed. Lindsey, Ryan and Brendon wished everyone goodnight, saying they would see them all on Boxing Day, then headed out. Frank stood up with Gee in his arms. He looked at David and Mikey.

"You two can use my room and I'll go with Gee."

"Wait..."

David said, standing quickly.

"You two share a room?!"

"No, we have our own rooms, were you not listening?"

"Yes I was...and I heard you say you're sharing tonight...do you do that a lot?"

"Now look, you said..."

But Frank was stopped by of all people Gee, who squared off with his brother.

"David shush..."

Gee said, giving his brother a look.

"I love Frank and Frank loves me and you don't get a say in whether we share a bed or not...ok?"

He said quietly, but firmly. David swallowed, wide eyed.

"Ok Gee, whatever you say."

Gee nodded once decisively, then ruined his strong look by yawning, a small squeak escaping his lips as he did.

"Awww my poor Kitten."

Frank said nothing else and carried Gee toward his room. He stopped and pointed at the door.

"On second thought, you guys can use Gee's room. We will stay in mine."

Frank walked in and shut the door.

"Well...I guess that's settled then."

Mikey yawned and grabbed David's hand.

"Come on Davy, it's late, we can talk about it tomorrow."

Mikey led David to Gee's room and they shut the door. Bert looked around and started to close off the the lights and lock the door when he spotted a sleeping figure. He walked over.

"Pete? Hey Pete."

Pete's eyes fluttered open a little and he looked up at the older man.

"Hi..."

He looked around.

"Where'd everyone go?"

"They all left cupcake. Should I get you a blanket?"

"Urgh...can't I just sleep in your room?"

Pete whined, sleepily.

"Pete..."

"Pleeeease?"

Pete's eyes closed as he made grabby hands at Bert.

Bert felt his heart melting. He couldn't resist. He picked the boy up the same way Frank picked up Gee.

"You are going to be the death of me cupcake."

Pete started snoring as he pushed his face into Bert's chest.

Bert sighed and carried the boy into his own room, shutting the door.

***(time passes)***

Frank could tell that Gee was nervous...even more nervous that he had ever been before. The whole morning was spent with the brothers on the phone with their mother and tears as Gee cried because he was missed and loved. Now they were all in a car on their way to the Way home so that Gee could reunite with his whole family. Bert was following in his car to take Pete home before heading back to the city to spend the day with Brendon, Ryan and Lindsey.

Frank was happy for his Kitten of course, but he was worried. If his mother didn't like him, then she could keep Gee from him till he was 18. She could also try and press charges on him. He didn't share these fears with the Stray snuggled against his side...he just gripped the wheel and pretended to enjoy the Christmas music on the radio.

***(time passes)***

"MY BABY!"

"Mumma..."

Gee sobbed as he scrambled out of the car and into her bone-crushing hug in the driveway of the house he hadn't seen in so long.

"Missed y-you mumma."

He mumbled, burying his face in her shoulder and clinging on tight. He hadn't realised just how much he had missed her til now. He felt more arms wrapping around them both and knew it was his brothers...they were all in tears now.

"Oh Gee, I'm so sorry. I let that man chase you out of our lives and I didn't know if you were hurt or dead and your brothers wouldn't give up, but I didn't think I would ever see you again even after I got rid of that abusive piece of shit."

"I'm here now mumma, I'm here now."

Gee sobbed into her sweater, knowing that if they all let go of him right now, his legs would probably give out beneath him. His family was all that was keeping him on his feet.

"Let me look at you baby."

She stepped back and held her son at arm's length. Other than the tears on his face...he was glowing. He looked so happy. Then she realised what he was wearing. Donna always knew her son was not like her other boys, even before he went out with that boy from his school that started this whole mess with that bastard she married. Still she was surprised that not only was he in girl's clothing, but that he looked really good.

"You look very pretty Gee."

"Doesn't he?"

Donna looked and saw an older man approaching. She was not sure who he was other than the driver of the car, but the way her son reacted told her more. That and the fact that he took his hand.

Gee smiled wide.

"Mumma, this is Frank, my..."

He looked at Frank for a second, then back to his mother.

"...my boyfriend."

Frank held his breath. Gee was 17 and he was...older, and this was the moment of truth.

"So Frank is it? My son texted me on your trip down and told me everything."

Frank's head whipped around to David, but David looked as confused as he did. Then he realised...

"Mikey."

Mikey hid behind David.

"He told me how you saved my son from being on the streets and using his...assets to survive. He said how you not only took him in, but helped him get a job and finish his education. That alone makes you worthy in my book."

"Ma'am?"

"That's Donna to you...son."

Gee tilted his head in confusion.

"What do you mean, using my assets?"

He didn't understand what they were talking about.

"Oh honey, let's not talk about negative things like that. You have nearly two year's worth of Christmas and birthday presents waiting for you inside."

"I do?"

Gee's face lit up even more than before as he looked between his rediscovered family. David nodded.

"Of course baby, I always believed we would find you, so of course we got you presents."

Frank heard Gee squeal as he turned and jumped into his arms. Frank laughed as he caught him.

"I get presents daddy...did you hear that?"

"I did Kitten, see I told you they..."

"Daddy? Kitten?"

Donna stood there in shock. Mikey didn't mention that.

Gee trapped his bottom lip between his teeth as his cheeks turned pink. He buried his face into Frank's chest.

"Don't worry ma..."

David said, wrapping his arm around his their mother's shoulders.

"I asked about that and it's cool...I'll fill you in later. Shall we all go inside before we freeze are asses off out here?"

He steered her toward the door.

Frank kind of loved David a little more after that.

***(time passes)***

Mikey and David were asleep in their room, so it was now just Frank and Donna sitting together in the living room having a glass of wine while Gee drank hot chocolate and curled up with his head on Frank's lap. Frank was carding his fingers through his hair and listening to his sighs.

"So Frank, tell me a little about yourself."

Gee could feel his eyes getting heavy as he listened to them talking. He reached over and set his mug on the coffee table in front of the couch, then curled his fingers in the bottom of Frank's shirt and closed his eyes.

He thought about how much his life had changed since he left this house; how much better he felt about himself, and how he could actually be himself now.

He thought about the friends he'd made, and the things he'd accomplished...and he thought about Frank.

Gee smiled to himself as he remembered little moments between them, like when Frank bought him a burrito at a street stall, then sat up with him all night while he had his head in the toilet throwing up...or when they watched some random movie on the sofa and he must've fallen asleep, cos he woke up in Frank's arms as he carried him to bed at 1:15 in the morning...or when they went grocery shopping and neither of them could reach the chocolate chip cookies they liked on the top shelf, so Frank had picked Gee up by his waist so he could reach...and he remembered all the times Frank had comforted him when he cried, or had a panic attack, or got scared. He remembered Frank holding him close and cooing softly to him as he stroked his hair.

Gee felt himself being moved, lifted, but he couldn't find it in himself to open his eyes to find out what was happening. He hadn't noticed that the talking had stopped, until he felt himself being gently laid down on what felt like a really comfortable bed. He was already in his Hello Kitty pjs, and he could feel his slippers being gently removed before he felt Frank climb into the bed next to him and pull the covers up over them both. He sighed and snuggled in as he felt Frank's arms wrap securely around him.

Gee felt happy and safe and loved and he knew that everything was going to be just fine.

"Night daddy, I love you."

He slurred quietly as sleep took him under. He was pretty sure he heard Frank reply, but by then, he was asleep.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks...how's you?

So this is the last proper chapter, but there will be an epilogue, we just haven't written it yet.

Hope you're still enjoying this ride, and that epilogue will be up as soon as it's done.

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