If You Can't Handle The Heat...

"Papa no, please?"

The angry man's eyes flashed with hatred as he pulled his belt free from his jeans.

"Dirty little fag, bringing your disgusting fag boyfriend in my house..."

Don Way muttered as he gripped the thick leather belt between his hands with white knuckled fingers as Gerard cowered, naked on the floor in the corner of his room...his "boyfriend" had run away the first moment he got, leaving the terrified boy to face the music alone.

"Get up and bend over the fucking bed, fag...you're probably familiar with the position."

"Papa please."

Gerard whimpered pitifully, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"NOW!!"

Don hollered. Gerard jumped, then scrambled to obey, knowing it would be worse if he didn't. He got in the position he'd been told, and squeezed his eyes shut tight.

"Now count off boy."

Don raised the heavy belt high, then brought it down hard onto Gerard's bare ass.

Gerard woke up with a scream, thrashing to get away from whoever was holding him right now, terror coursing hard through his veins. Frank jumped awake as Gerard flailed and hit him. He hadn’t even realised that he’d fallen asleep but between Gerard being warm cuddled against his side and the dog curled up on his legs, he had. He groaned, then realised that something had scared Gerard.

“Whoa! Hey, what’s wrong? Gerard, calm down.”

Frank shushed him and sat up to hug him, rubbing his back and kissing the side of his head. As he started to realise that it was just a dream, Gerard clung, shaking to Frank's shirt, his face pressing into the side of Frank's neck as he sobbed desperately.

"He, he he was was g-gonna k-k-k-k..."

He broke down into heavier sobs and horrible whimpers as he curled up as small as he could in Frank's arms.

“You’re ok, I promise you that you’re gonna be ok. You’re safe, baby...”

Frank wrapped himself around Gerard and hugged him close to his chest.

“It was just a dream, you’re ok.”

"N-no he he...th-the b-belt...he...on God."

Gerard's breath was fast and ragged as his heart seemed ready to crash straight out through his chest.

“Hey, shhhhh...”

Frank kissed the side of his head again as he realised what the dream must have been.

“He can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe here.”

"No h-he's gonna k-kill m-me F-F-Frank-ie."

Gerard sobbed out, his breathing and shaking completely out of his control now. Frank frowned.

“No, he’s not. Gerard, fucking look at me...”

Frank lifted Gerard’s face with a finger under his chin.

“I will not let him hurt you. He won’t get anywhere near you to hurt you.”

Gerard shook, his breath coming out in shaky gasps...but he listened. He stared wide eyed up at Frank, small whimpers leaving his lips.

"Y-you'll p-protect m-me?"

He asked after a moment, voice shaky and small.

“Yes...”

Frank said firmly.

“Of course I will protect you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

Gerard swallowed heavily, then nodded slightly, the tight grip he had on Frank's shirt loosening a little.

"K-kiss me?"

He whispered, wet cheeks pinking a bit. Frank nodded and kissed him gently. He held his face in his hand and deepened the kiss.

Gerard whined, shifting himself into Frank's lap, his knees either side of the other boy's. He parted his lips, inviting Frank in. Frank took the invitation and pulled Gerard closer. Gerard's breath hitched as he felt his cock twitch in his pants...he pressed down against Frank a little. Frank moaned into the kiss and moved his hands down to Gerard’s hips.

Gerard moved his hands into Frank's hair, his short nails scraping the other boy's scalp lightly as Gerard ground down again, unconsciously. Frank pushed up against Gerard, gripping his hips and moving his mouth to Gerard’s neck. He kissed and bit at the exposed flesh.

"Oh God..."

Gerard gasped breathily, tipping his head back.

"Please Frankie...please."

“What do you need, baby?”

Frank mumbled against Gerard’s skin. Gerard whimpered, grinding down more.

"You Frankie...please?...I need you."

Frank lifted Gerard up off his lap to lay him down on the bed. He shooed Sweet Pea away until she ran off through her little door upstairs into the rest of the house. He leaned over Gerard and kissed him again. Gerard practically purred into the kiss, his hands wandering over Frank's arms and chest. Frank pushed up the bottom up Gerard’s shirt, running his fingers over the smooth skin of his sides. He kissed at his jaw and throat, loving every little noise Gerard made. Gerard shivered under Frank's gentle touch, his hips lifting slightly of their own accord.

"F-Frankie."

Frank pulled away from the kiss to pull Gerard’s shirt up over his head. Gerard let him then suddenly realised that Frank would see...he quickly wrapped his arms around his belly, hoping to hide the thin scars on his hips. Frank raised an eyebrow and looked down at Gerard. He got really worried for a minute that he’d crossed some kind of line.

“What’s wrong? You ok? Do you want me to stop?”

Gerard sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, looking down. After a few seconds, he released his lip.

"I just...don't be mad?...please?"

He looked up through his lashes, tears threatening to fall.

“I’m not going to be mad, I just want to know what’s wrong. Did I do something wrong?”

Frank sat up to give Gerard some space.

"No no..."

Gerard said, shaking his head quickly.

"You didn't do anything wrong, I just...I'm worried about what y-you'll think when you...when you see."

“When I see what?”

Frank looked at Gerard in concern. Gerard closed his eyes before saying the words quietly.

"My scars..."

He slowly moved his hands away from around his thin body, revealing multiple thin scars littering both of his hips and around onto his stomach. Some were from his father's belt and were older, while the others had been made with a blade and his own hand...some of those were as recent as a week ago.

"Don't be mad."

Frank frowned slightly and ran his fingers over the lines, they rested against skin he apparently missed when he ran his hand up Gerard’s side before.

“I’m not mad.”

Frank leaned down and kissed Gerard on the cheek. Truthfully, if he was mad at all it was because Gerard had been in that much pain, that he’d been put through that much. Gerard sniffed, letting his eyes flutter open nervously.

"Y-you're not?"

“No, why would I be?”

Frank tilted his head to the side a bit. Gerard swallowed.

"My...my ex used t-to get m-mad when he s-saw them...then he'd...he'd..."

He sobbed, looking away.

"But it just made me d-do it again."

Frank sighed heavily and pulled Gerard up into a sitting position to hug him against his chest.

“Why is it that you’ve been surrounded by shitty people that keep hurting you?...”

Frank grumbled and kissed his forehead.

“You deserve better than the bullshit you’ve been put through.”

Frank looked down at Gerard. Gerard sniffed, then looked up.

"You're really not mad at me?...like really?"

“No, I’m not mad at you. You didn’t do anything wrong...”

Frank sighed.

“If I’m mad at anyone it’s the people that’ve hurt you and treated you so shittily, but I’m not much of an angry person.”

Gerard smiled shakily.

"Could we...I mean if you s-still want to...um, could we m-make out again?"

His cheeks flushed pink. Frank brought both of his hands up to Gerard’s face and held his face in his hands. He brushed away the tears with his thumbs and kissed Gerard’s forehead. He heard the muffled sounds of three car doors and laughter.

“They’re home. Do you want to go up and see Mikey?”

Gerard huffed quietly.

"I'd rather make out with you."

“I don’t disagree with you there...”

Frank chuckled and kissed Gerard.

“But if we don’t go up there, Ma will come down here to check on us and yell at me to come make dinner.”

Gerard sighed.

"O-ok then...one more kiss first?"

Frank smiled and kissed Gerard, pulling him closer to him and damn near forgetting to go upstairs. That is until his mother’s voice called down to him.

“Frank?...”

He made the mistake of ignoring her.

“I know you are here, your bike is parked outside...”

She said and waited.

“Frank Anth-”

Frank pulled away from Gerard.

“Shut your trap or I’ll make you order takeout for dinner!”

Frank called back before she could get his whole name out.

“Don’t sass your mother, Junior.”

His father chuckled and he heard him squawk as Linda most likely playfully swatted him.

“We need to go now.”

Frank sighed and looked at Gerard. Gerard was sat wide eyed, his mouth hung open in shock. Frank froze and looked at Gerard.

"Gerard? You ok?"

Gerard snapped his mouth closed and swallowed, his eyes still wide.

"You...you c-can talk t-to your p-parents like...like that!?"

"Yeah...I'm an adult and we talk like that back and forth. They treat me like an equal for the most part."

Frank raised an eyebrow but realised why it must've shocked Gerard. Gerard looked down, swallowing heavily.

"Must be nice."

He mumbled quietly. Frank frowned and pulled Gerard closer, hugging him tight and resting his face against the side of Gerard's head.

"I guess I've just been lucky that way. I got good parents and a good family..."

Frank sighed.

"They're your family now too."

Gerard sniffed, clinging to Frank's shirt.

"Really?...I like the sound of that."

Frank smiled widely.

"Come on, let's go have dinner with them. What would you like for dinner?"

"Um...bacon?"

Frank shook his head and chuckled.

“Do you eat anything other than bacon?”

Gerard frowned slightly as he thought.

"Well, I like bagels, and...chicken?"

Frank shook his head again.

“Oh you are just...I can make something with chicken.”

Frank chuckled and crawled out from under Gerard to stand beside the bed, holding out his hand to him. Gerard took his hand with a small smile and let himself be pulled up.

"Frank?"

“Yeah?”

Frank looked at him curiously. Gerard chewed on his lip for a moment, looking down.

"No mushrooms."

He said in no more than a whisper.

“Well there you are...”

Linda chuckled as the boy's arrived in the kitchen.

“Did you have a nap or something sweetheart? You look kind of sleepy.”

She looked at Gerard, smiling at him warmly. Gerard nodded with a shy smile.

"Yeah I...I get t-tired a lot."

“That’s ok, honey...”

Linda smiled and then turned her gaze to her son.

“What are you thinking for dinner?”

“Chicken parm and penne I think. Something simple.”

Frank smiled and looked at Gerard. Gerard smiled back softly.

"That sounds good Frankie."

Frank nodded and looked at Mikey, who was kind of keeping to himself off by the doorway of the kitchen.

“You doing alright over there?”

Mikey shrugged slightly, but moved into the room a bit more.

"I wasn't sure I'd be welcome..."

He looked nervously at his brother.

"You ok Gee?"

Gerard nodded, leaning against Frank a little. Frank glanced at Gerard and then back at Mikey. Tony came into the room and sat himself at the table with Linda.

“Of course you are welcome here. Gerard is family to us now and if he considers you his family, then you are also part of our family.”

Tony looked over to Gerard.

"M-Mikey will always be my b-brother...my family."

Gerard said quietly, sending a small smile across to where Mikey instantly smiled back.

“Then he will always be safe and welcome in our home.”

Tony smiled and got up to walk over to Gerard, holding his arms open to offer a hug to both of the Way boys. Mikey smiled and stepped forward, while Gerard went wide eyed and white as a sheet, then turned and ran straight back to Frank's bedroom. Frank furrowed his brows together and frowned. He went downstairs after Gerard to see what was wrong.

"Gerard?"

Gerard was sat on Frank's bed, knees pulled up to his chest and arms wrapped around his legs. He had his face buried in his arms and was shaking and mumbling quietly to himself, knuckles white as he gripped onto his own sleeves. He flinched when he heard his name. Frank moved over to the bed and sat on his knees in front of Gerard.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, I'm s-s-so s-sorry I c-can't I..."

Gerard shook his head and tried really hard to calm his breathing, but it just wasn't working.

"Hey, no, it's ok..."

Frank reached out to him.

"He was just trying to hug you. Slow down and breathe. It's ok."

Gerard lifted his head out of his arms to look up at Frank.

"F-Frankie?...w-what's wrong with m-me?"

"Nothing is wrong with you baby, come here."

Frank held his arms out. Gerard whimpered, then threw himself forward into Frank's arms, burying his face into Frank's neck and clinging on tight.

"W-when y-your dad came t-toward me all I *sniff*, all I s-saw was m-my d-dad...I f-freaked..."

He sobbed loudly.

"Oh God, y-your p-parents are gonna think I'm in-insane."

“Tony would never hurt you. He was just trying to give you a hug the same as I do...”

Frank moved his hand in comforting circles on Gerard’s back.

“They know you aren’t insane. If anything, they just want to help you get used to a normal family. You being safe and comfortable is more important than anything...”

Frank gave him gentle kisses on his face.

“We want you to be happy. Tony is like...he’s kind of like a big teddy bear. The scariest thing he does is when he tries to dance, ok?”

Gerard giggled slightly at that and looked up through wet lashes.

"He's a dancing teddy bear?"

“We try to keep him from dancing because it’s just something you don’t want to be a witness to, but yeah I guess he is...”

Frank chuckled.

“Do you want to help me make dinner?”

Gerard sighed, frowning slightly as he looked down.

"What do I say to them?..."

He said quietly before looking up.

"How do I apologise for being so fucked up?"

“You didn’t do anything wrong, you don’t have to apologise. They’ll understand.”

Frank sighed and hugged Gerard tight. Gerard sighed, relaxing into Frank's chest.

"How, when I don't even understand?"

“When Tony was a teenager, he had a friend like you. That’s why he is the way he is about family and why he rants about shitty parents...”

Frank sat there and cuddled Gerard.

“He’s told me the story about a million times and I grew up with a good family, in a good home and have the same views of family that my pops does.”

"Gee?..."

Mikey said from the doorway, making Gerard look up.

"You ok?"

Gerard nodded slightly.

"Yeah, just...just kinda embarrassed now."

Frank looked at Mikey and Gerard. He kissed Gerard’s forehead and moved to get up off the bed, letting go of Gerard.

“How about I go start on dinner and give you two a minute?”

Gerard's eyes widened slightly and his breath hitched, but after he caught Mikey's hopeful smile, he sighed and nodded.

"O-ok Frankie."

Mikey beamed as he walked across the room toward the bed and perched on the edge.

"Thanks Frank."

Frank nodded with a smile and disappeared upstairs to start making dinner. Gerard sat hunched over, making himself as small as he could...a habit he'd picked up during years of both his father's abuse, and that of his ex. Mikey sighed and moved further up onto the bed to sit crosslegged in front of his brother.

"Gee, you know you're safe here, right?..."

Gerard nodded, his eyes trained on Frank's Batman quilt like it was the most interesting thing in the entire universe...he thought it could be one of the coolest, but not really that interesting. Mikey sighed again, carefully reaching out and taking Gerard's unburned hand in his. Gerard flinched slightly, but didn't pull his hand away.

"And you know that I won't hurt you...right?..."

Gerard nodded again.

"Gee, look at me please..."

Gerard looked up slowly through his long hair.

"I love you Gee, and I'm worried about you...so's Frank, and Linda, and Don. We're all here for you...if you'll let us be."

Gerard sighed, a tear sliding down his cheek.

"I...I love you too Mikes..."

He said quietly.

"Do you...do you really think we're safe from dad here?"

Mikey smiled and reached up with his free hand to carefully tuck Gerard's hair behind his ear.

"Yeah Gee, I do."

Gerard smiled softly, leaning into his brother's light touch.

"Mikey?"

"Yes Gee?"

"Can I have a hug?"

Mikey grinned wide, letting go of Gerard's hands and opening his arms.

"Anytime you want Gee, you don't even have to ask."

Gerard's smile widened and he leaned forward, the two boys hugging like they hadn't in a very long time. After a couple of minutes, with Mikey gently rubbing Gerard's back and Gerard finally feeling like things might work out ok, they pulled back, but linked their hands so not to lose the connection.

"Shall we go eat now Gee?...something's starting to smell really good up there."

Gerard smiled.

"Yeah, let's go."

They climbed off the bed and made their way back upstairs and into the kitchen...still hand in hand.

"Hey guys."

Mikey said as he walked in with Gerard close behind him. Frank looked up from the food and smiled, he was working on getting it into the oven to finish it up and looking at the pasta to make sure it wasn’t going to boil over.

“You alright, sweetie?”

Linda asked Gerard cautiously and Tony watched him carefully from the kitchen, helping Frank with dinner. Gerard nodded, smiling shyly and squeezing Mikey's hand a little too tight for a second or two before forcing himself to relax...for which Mikey and his hand were very grateful.

"Yes, thank you I'm...I'm sorry about before."

“It’s alright, Gerard...”

Tony smiled softly at him.

“I am sorry I scared you, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t know how jumpy you were. It’s ok, don’t ever be afraid to tell us if you are scared or uncomfortable, ok?”

Gerard nodded slightly.

"Ok, I'll...I'll t-try."

“Come sit at the table with me, hun. Would you boys like something to drink with supper?...”

Linda smiled at him.

“It should be ready shortly.”

Gerard smiled a little shakily, but nodded and stepped over to the table with Mikey. They sat down side by side.

"Is...is it t-too late for c-coffee?"

He asked hopefully.

“Never...”

Linda chuckled and went over to turn on the coffee pot.

“What do you take in your coffee?...”

Frank was at the fridge looking for something and smiled, handing her the cream.

“Alright, well I know this isn’t for you, Frankie dear, so I’ll assume it’s for your boyfriend’s coffee. Mikey love, what do you take in yours or would you like something else?”

"Oh um...I'll have a coffee too please. Black, five sugars."

Mikey said, a blush creeping over his cheeks. Linda chuckled quietly and shot a sarcastically knowing look at Frank.

“Ma, you can judge us all you’d like, just do so quietly and without giving me that smartass, judgy look...”

Frank shook his head with a laugh. Linda laughed and went about making coffees.

“Dinner is about ready. Pops, you got the cheese ready over there?”

Tony nodded. At the mention of cheese, Gerard's stomach growled really loudly...he blushed bright pink and tried to hide in his hair. Frank smiled and pulled the chicken out of the oven.

“Tony, get the pasta, it should be done.”

Tony nodded and moved over to the stove to strain the water from the pasta. Frank set out plates and started plating the chicken. Once Tony got the pasta dished out Frank poured a good amount of sauce and cheese over the chicken and some on the pasta.

“Dinner is ready.”

Tony smiled and carried some of the plates over to the table. Linda handed him some of the coffees as Frank walked over with the last few plates.

“Looks good Frank.”

He wrapped an arm around Frank on his way past. Frank set a plate in front of Gerard and his spot. He gave Gerard a light kiss on the forehead before sitting down.

“Let’s eat.”

He smiled widely. Gerard smiled softly, but couldn't help but worry. He picked up his fork and started to eat tiny mouthfuls...as little as he could manage, while trying to not draw attention to the fact that he was barely eating. Mikey on the other hand was practically inhaling his meal.

"Oh my God Frank!..."

He exclaimed between bites.

"This is soooooo good!...you should put it on the menu at the diner."

Tony chuckled and took a bite of his food.

“It’s on the specials menu, we put it up on the list every couple of weeks.”

“Glad you’re enjoying it, Mikey.”

Frank grinned and glanced at Gerard, who was slowing picking at his food. He frowned but looked back down at his food, he felt a little hurt that Gerard didn’t seem to like it. Mikey grinned, nodding enthusiastically.

"Oh yeah, it's great...right Gee?"

Gerard looked up with a smile.

"Yeah, really good. Frankie?...could you maybe t-teach me how to make it sometime?"

He asked, turning hopeful eyes toward Frank. Frank looked over at him with a smile.

“Yeah, if you want to. I can teach you how to make all kinds of things.”

Gerard smiled brightly and nodded.

"I'd really like that."

He took a bigger forkful of chicken and sauce, and munched on it happily...he could worry about the calories and how fat it would make him later, cause this was really far too good to waste. Frank smiled at the sight of Gerard seeming to actually enjoy his food. He chuckled and went back to eating his own. Tony nudged him and took a minute to finish the mouthful he was eating.

“Did you want me to order in anything for the kitchen? Any specials you wanted to do?”

“Um...no I don’t have any ideas for this week.”

Frank shrugged, he hadn’t really thought about it much. Gerard looked up from his plate.

"Bacon...make sure you've got enough bacon."

Linda chuckled warmly.

“We serve all day breakfast, we have lots of bacon all the time. No matter what. Don’t worry dear.”

Gerard blushed, smiling shyly as he went back to his food.

"Can I get seconds?"

Mikey asked, having just swallowed his last mouthful, while everyone else was about half way through their meals.

“Of course you can sweetheart...”

Linda picked up his plated and went into the chicken to get him a second plate. The boy was very skinny and as a mother she was very bothered by the fact that he seemed underfed. If his parents wouldn’t take care of him then she would. She put a good helping of pasta on the plate with some sauce and cheese before she wandered back over to set it in front of him.

“Frank always makes lots of pasta.”

“Yeah, it makes good leftovers and quick meals...”

Frank chuckled and shook his head at her.

“And I’m really bad at portioning pasta at home.”

Mikey grinned.

"No such thing as too much of this!"

He said, digging in quickly. Frank chuckled and shook his head.

“Glad you think so.”

Mikey nodded as he carried on eating.

Gerard was about half way through his food when he had to stop. He didn't want to be rude, but he just couldn't eat any more...not without making himself sick. He put his fork down quietly and dropped his head a little to hide in his hair. Linda glanced over at the boy.

“You full sweetie?”

She asked Gerard. Gerard looked up shyly through his hair.

"Yeah I...sorry I just...it's really nice but I...I just d-don't eat m-much."

Linda smiled and took the plate from in front of him.

“That’s ok...”

She told him, gathering up both Tony and Frank’s plates with hers. She smiled at Mikey and patted his head before taking the dishes to the kitchen to clean up.

“I’ve got the dishes Frank, don’t worry about it.”

She set Gerard’s plate aside to put it in the fridge for him to have later if he wanted to. Frank looked over at Gerard.

“Do you want to go back downstairs?”

Gerard nodded.

"Yes please...could we watch that movie now?"

“Absolutely, if you want to.”

Frank smiled and got up from the table, offering his hand to Gerard as he pushed in his chair. Gerard smiled happily and took Frank's hand, letting himself be pulled to his feet, but stumbling slightly and ending up falling against Frank's chest with a squeak. He looked up at Frank as his cheeks pinked and bit his bottom lip for a moment.

"S-sorry."

He mumbled, sheepishly.

“It’s alright, just promise me no stumbling on the stairs.”

Frank smiled at him and kissed his forehead.

"I'll try n-not to Frankie."

Gerard whispered. Frank smiled and set Gerard upright on his feet, he took him by the hand and led him downstairs.

When they reached Frank's bedroom, Gerard let go of Frank's hand and climbed onto the bed, wiggling around a bit to get comfy while he waited for Frank to join him. Frank chuckled and crawled onto the bed beside Gerard.

“You done your wiggling yet?”

He laughed and shook his head at the other boy. Gerard pouted.

"I couldn't get comfy."

Well, come over here then.”

Frank got comfy and patted the spot beside him. Gerard grinned and wriggled into Frank's side, snuggling into his warmth. He sighed happily, wrapping one arm around Frank's middle and resting his head on the other boy's chest.

"Frankie?"

Frank put his arm around him and sighed contentedly.

“Yeah?”

Gerard looked up with lightly pink cheeks and a shy smile.

"Thank you."

Frank furrowed his brows together and looked at Gerard.

“For what?”

"For...for saving me and...and for being you."

“Oh...”

Frank smiled faintly and hugged Gerard tight.

“You’re welcome. I couldn’t leave you there, you deserve so much better than that.”

Gerard snuggled down against Frank and relaxed, letting out a deep breath...he didn't really believe that he deserved better; he'd always been told that he deserved nothing.

"Can we watch The Little Mermaid now Frankie?"

Gerard murmured, cause he really didn't want to think about anything serious right now.

“Of course.”

Frank nodded and reached over to pick up the remote to turn the TV on and restart the movie.

Gerard was asleep before the credits rolled at the end.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how's you?

So sorry that we keep making Gerard sad and upset...well actually, that's mostly me...but it's just how this fic is working out.

Thoughts?

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