It had been two months since Gerard had came home. His behaviour was starting to get worse. He was scared of every loud bang that would happen near the house, he started to become distant from Frank and he started sleeping in the spare room. He didn't hug Frank or anyone for that matter. He just sat in the room reading or drawing. This was a growing concern for all of the guys they knew what Gerard had gone through and Frank knew that it had gotten to Gerard but he was getting worse and he couldn't cope with the memory of what had happened to him again... being away for so long had changed Gerard in some way and no one could figure out why Gerard was cutting himself off he wouldn't even talk to Frank anymore and this hurt him .

Mikey got in touch with Frank to meet for coffee to talk about what has been happening with Gerard because it's not just Frank that is worried about how he has become in the past month and a half.

" i don't know what to do mikes " Frank says with his tired eyes drifting to gaze at the floor. He hadn't been sleeping well worrying about Gerard and hearing him walking around the house at night but was to scared to disturb him in case Gerard got spooked with the movement of Frank at night.
" i know Frank .. it is worrying .. he has changed and he's so withdrawn now.. i mean i know he wanted to wait for his wounds to heal before going out in public but he won't leave the guest room ... has he spoken to you yet? " Mikey asks concerned for his brothers well being.
" no ... not at all in the past month ... i mean i'm to scared to even take food into the room so i just leave it outside and knock on the door gently so he doesn't get scared... he won't collect the food until he knows i'm out of sight and then he brings the dishes down stairs and washes them at night when he thinks i'm asleep but he doesn't know i can't sleep ... i'm so worried about him .. i just don't know what to do i can't talk to him he doesn't answer me... and he won't want to go see a doctor and i can't bring one here he won't forgive me for that.... i'm scared mikes..." Frank says with tears streaming down his face , Hands shaking and looking lost.
" i know Frank ... this is serious... he won't even talk tome when i ring or text.. i'm pretty sure he's just let his phone die so no one can get in contact with him ... and him being home alone won't help ... but i don't know what we can do to help him.... we can't force him to come out with us.. and if he won't even talk to you then i understand why your so scared... but maybe Gee just needs some distance to get his head around things. He was gone for a long time. Maybe it's just getting to him that he has missed out on a lot of things that have happened in the time he was gone..." Mikey explains trying to comfort Frank pulling him into a hug, " hey it will be alright Frank ... we will figure this out i promise "
" I hope so Mikes ... it's killing me not being able to talk to him .. i just don't want to make him worse by forcing him to do things.... I understand he is hurt from what happened and that he went out of his way to contact me .... he risked everything just to talk to me then ... and now ... he won't even look at me ...i-i ju-st ..... it.... hurts ... you know?... it's like what we had just means nothing to him...." Frank starts to sob trying not to cry in the crowded cafe.
" i know it feels that way Frank but try and stay positive .. you know what effect Bert had on Gee ... he destroyed him .. he had no confidence when he was with him ... and you helped him through that ... the first time ... and he was saved by you this time as well... he just needs some time to adjust to living with you now .. it's a big change for him from being beaten in a strange place being forced to live with someone he hated " Mikey takes Franks hand to comfort him while he talks to try and calm his upset friend.
" i guess your right Mikes" Frank starts to calm and finishes off his coffee.

The two men finish talking , Frank buys Gerards favourite coffee to take home and give to him and Mikey and Frank say their goodbyes. Frank arrives home 15 minuets later. Starting to shake and feel nervous as he opens the door with Gerards coffee to find that Gerard was not in the guest bedroom but sitting in the living room with a blanket wrapped around him looking like a deer in headlights when Frank opened the door.

" hey Gee ... i got you a coffee" Frank says shocked but happy to see that Gerard was up and not hiding away from him. He just closes the door and locks it and stays in the door way trying not to startle Gerard who is staring at him,
" thanks" is all Gerard says still sitting there but looking a little less scared now so Frank walks towards Gerard with his arm holding the coffee in front of him to pass it to Gerard.

Gerard takes the coffee and invites Frank to sit next to him. He does not talk and Frank just sits content with the fact Gerard didn't walk away and hide in the guest room. They sit like this for half an hour while Gerard drinks his coffee.

" D-d-do you have any c-cigarettes? " Gerard turns to frank as he asks this his voice shaking almost a whisper.
" y-yeah i do .. i bought a spare box as well would you like it?" Frank says as he gets both packs of cigarettes from his jacket pocket with two lighters. offering Gerard a box and a lighter.
" y-yeah t-that would be nice .... t-thank you... " Gerards voice a little louder now as he seemed to be getting less and less scared as they sat. " can we go and have one?" he then asks frank while opening the box that Frank had given him.
" of course we can Gee " Frank says with a reassuring smile to show Gerard that he shouldn't be scared.

They go outside and have a cigarette nothing else being said. When they get back inside Gerard sits back on the sofa in the living room again and starts drawing and Frank disides to make some food for them. They stayed in the living room for the rest of the day watching tv and Gerard drawing for most of the day until Frank went to bed and Gerard just watched him Frank said goodnight to Gerard but had no reply and Gerard went back to the guest room an hour later.

Gerard was still like this two months later... although he had gained a little more confidence and spoke to Frank every now and then when he would appear to have a cigarette or thank him for the food he made for him. But Frank was content with this as it was progress and it made him glad that Gerard didn't seem as scared of him as he was two months ago when he wouldn't talk at all. So he was slowly coming out of his shell.

" hey Frankie?" Gerard says eating his breakfast in the living room.
" yeah ? what is it Gee?" Frank says with a big smile on his face popping his head around the corner of the door frame from the kitchen so he could see Gerard.
"i-i was thinking we could talk" Gerard said nervously and hiding in his long black shaggy hair.
" about what? sweetie " Frank says as he walks from the kitchen to the living room with his own breakfast joining Gerard on the sofa.
" well ermm.. i-i've been doing a lot of thinking lately.... and e-erm" he starts to get nervous and a little shaky.
Frank puts his hand on Gerards knee giving him a smile and a nod to continue.
" well .... i just... i can't......" stumbling over his words and getting into a panic
" hey Gee it's all right ... try calming down sweetie it's alright " Frank says taking Gerards hand and rubbing his thumb over his knuckles to reassure him and make him a little more comfortable.
Gerard breathes deeply looking at Frank and meeting his eyes. " i just feel... i missed so much .... i don't feel the same... i find it hard to be here and be with you ...." Gerard starts to tear up. Frank puts his hand on Gerards cheek and wipes away his tears.
" don't cry sweetie ... i understand it's hard for you after what happened" he erasures Gerard.
" i feel like i'm letting you down... i'm scared frank.... i know you would never hurt me like he did .... but i can't help but think negatively... what if he breaks out and hurts you because of me ? what if we aren't good together and lose each other completely? what if-" Frank stops Gerard there pressing his finger lightly on Gerards lips looking at him as tears stream down his face.
" Shhh ... it's okay Gee trust me ... i know he was horrible to you but there is no way he can get out of where he is.. and even if he did the prison is 200 miles away its high security and he isn't aloud within 500 meters of you or where you are.... and as for us ... this is what we are now .. no matter what happens you will never lose me ... ever Gee... even if we aren't meant to be a couple.. we are meant to be in each others life and that i am grateful for .... if we do break up i will still be there for you as your best friend ... and that is a promise"
Gerard moves closer to Frank " really?"
" yes really... i don't want my life to not have you in it Gee"
Gerard leans in and kisses Frank who sits there star struck for a couple of seconds until it sets in that Gerard was kissing him and kisses back after a few moments Gerard deepens the kiss and they both smile into it.

after this Gerard seemed to open up to Frank a lot more telling him how he was feeling and apologising for not talking to Frank and ignoring him for two months .But Frank forgave him of course because he understood the Bert messed with Gerard and filled his head of negative thoughts and when he was back home those thoughts haunted him but now their relationship was back on track and going forwards... going on dates and Frank buying Gerard nerdy presents and new comics fro the stores that had opened when he was gone. everything was going so well and everyone was happy it was now a month later.

one morning they are woken by Franks phone ringing
Frank lets the call go to voice mail after seeing who it was.
" who was it Frankie? bit early for a phone call"
" oh its just the hospital Gee i got some blood tests done a few weeks back it'll just be the results coming back i'll ring back later to get them"
"oh .. okay ... is everything alright ? " Gerard asks concerned about frank
"oh yeah everything is fine sweetie don't worry it was just because i was having some head aches but they've gone now they said it was probably to do with stress but they took tests to be safe" Frank says cupping Gerards face and giving him a smile
"okay Frankie .. well we are awake now may as well get up "
" yeah your right Gee sorry " Franks says with some sadness to his voice.

So they get up and have breakfast and make plans for the day. Grerard wanted to take Frank to go see a movie and then have a nice dinner in a restaurant because Frank had taken him out on quite a few dates over the past month and Gerard was really feeling good ... him and Frank were back to being a loved up couple and inseparable they went everywhere and done everything together. Frank rang the hospital and everything was fine with his results and no Further testing needed doing so that was all goo news for them as well.

---

" hey Frank i'm going to go visit Mikes for a little will you be okay until i get back?"
" yeah sweetie that's fine have fun .. also bring me a coffee back ?" Frank asks as he comes to say goodbye to Gerard.
" yeah what do you want?" Gerard says moving closer to Frank.
"hmmm.. surprise me " Frank says giving a mischievous smile to Gerard before kissing him.
" hey behave you.. and alright ill get you something special" he says as he walks out the door.

---

Gerard arrives at Mikeys and they have planned to go shopping so Mikey drives them to the mall. After a quick stop for some food they get on to shopping Gerard picking out some things for Frank as well.

" lets go this way Mikes" Gerard half shouts pointing in a direction.
" umm .. you sure about that Gee that heads to the jewellery shops" Mikey asks Gerard puzzled.
" yeah i know ... i kind of want to have a look for something."
" oh yeah? what ?"
" you have to keep this a secrete "
" okay okay i will i promise" Mikey says holding out his pinky finger to make a promise
Gerard takes Mikeys pinky finger in his " okay ... i want to look at engagement rings..... i want to propose to Frank.. " he says shyly
" OH MY GOD GERARD!!! REALLY?" Mikey shouts at Gerard excited and jumping on his brother giving him a big hug.
" yes really... he's the love of my life.. and i've put him through hell but i know he is the guy that i want to spend the rest of my life with... i want to grow old with him." Gerard says with a gleaming smile on his face and a sparkle in his eyes.
" you should save that for him when you propose... come on what are you waiting for ...lets go and pick out a ring" Mikey grabs Gerard by the arm and drags him to the jewellery stores.

they spend two hours looking at rings and Gerard found the perfect one, They didn't have it in Franks size so Gerard has to wait for it to come in the store he gave the shop Mikeys number so that Mikey could collect it if Gerard couldn't and he started planning on how he would propose.

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