Time stamp- one month later




Gerard sighed as he sipped his coffee sat opposite Patrick in the lounge. Frank, Ray, Bob and Pete had all gone out and Mikey was squirrelled away in his bedroom as usual...and Gerard needed to unload.

"I'm worried about him Patrick. He's not talking to me and have you seen what he's wearing?...no skirts, no stockings...just those baggy pants and shirts. It's not him..."

He sighed again, looking down.

"I'm worried."

Patrick put down his empty cup and ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"So am I. He's doing his job, but he's like a robot or something. He's hiding."

"I've tried to talk to him about what happened, but he shuts down. Could you try?"

Patrick frowned slightly.

"I'm not sure he'd talk to me, not after how bad I fucked up."

"I think he would. He really does like you Patrick. You might be the only one he will talk to."

"You think so?"

"Yep."

Patrick sighed and pushed himself up out of his chair.

"I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything."

He turned and left the room, heading up the stairs to knock on Mikey's door.

"Hey Boss, can I talk to you for a second?"

Patrick turned and came face to face with Frank, who didn't look too happy today.

"Sure. You ok Frank?"

"No, I miss my boyfriend, but that isn't the problem."

Frank led Patrick to another room.

"Look, you aren't going to get anything out of the little Way if you keep going the way you are."

Patrick tilted his head in confusion.

"What do you mean?...what way am I going?"

"You keep trying to get him to talk about that night and getting nothing right?"

"Right...and you think that's wrong?"

"Well is it working?"

Patrick sighed.

"Well...no. You got a better idea?"

"Yes actually, how about talking about anything but that."

"Like what...the weather?"

Patrick raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly. I bet if you go in and ask him a simple question that has nothing to do with the subject he is avoiding he will talk to you."

"So, you're saying I should go in there and be like, 'hey Mikey, what's you're opinion on raspberries?'...like that?"

Frank just gave a smile and nudged him out of the room. Then he headed down the stairs to try and get through to his boyfriend. Patrick sighed.

"Raspberries it is then."

He muttered, then walked back to Mikey's door.

knock knock

"Mikey?...can I come in please?"

There was a non committal sound. Patrick took a breath, then quietly opened the door and stuck his head inside.

"Hey Mikey, can I come in?...I need to pick your brain about something."

Mikey was curled up by the window watching the leaves fall. He normally loved this time of year, but he just couldn't bring himself to care anymore. Patrick stepped in and quietly closed the door. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"So...Bob told me that it's Frank's 21st birthday on Halloween, and I was thinking of buying him the puppy he keeps bleating on about all the time...what do you think?"

Mikey turned to Patrick blinking a little.

"Um...yeah, that sounds like a good gift?"

Patrick smiled, that was the most Mikey had spoken in the last month.

"Cool. You think Frank's mature enough to look after a puppy?"

"I think Frank is a puppy, but I think with Gerard's help it could be alright."

Patrick nodded.

"Yeah, I think Gerard's the level headed one of that pair...most of the time."

"Yeah."

After that Mikey turned back to the window indicating the conversation was over. Patrick sighed...it was a start. He stood up and headed to the door. When he reached it, he paused and looked back.

"Oh, there was something else I wanted to ask you."

"Yes?"

Patrick smirked slightly.

"Mikey, what's your opinion on raspberries?"

"Raspberries? Um...I like black ones better than red."

Patrick smiled and nodded once.

"Noted. Later."

He opened the door and stepped out, closing the door behind himself before turning round and gasping...Frank was right there.

"Um...hey Frank. You good?"

"So how did it go?"

"Good...I think. At least he talked a bit."

"See, all you had to do was change the subject. So what did you talk about? Wait...did you really ask him about raspberries?"

Patrick chuckled.

"Actually, I did. That wasn't all, but yeah."

Frank shook his head and chuckled.

"So what else?"

"Oh I just asked him about getting a puppy."

"Getting a...WERE GONNA GET A PUPPY!?"

Frank jumped up and down and kissed Patrick's cheek. Then he ran down the stairs.

"HEY GEE! WE'RE GETTING A PUPPY!"

From the closed door behind Patrick came a little giggle. Patrick grinned wide...that was the best sound he'd heard in weeks. Smiling wide he headed down the stairs to see Gerard and Frank disappearing out the side doors toward the greenhouse hand in hand...it looked like maybe things were getting back on track for them. Whistling cheerfully, he headed to the kitchen to get a snack.


***Time Stamp: November***


It was slow, but Mikey had started to come out of his room more. By the time Frank's birthday had come around, he was feeling good enough to join the fun. It still hurt seeing all the couples. Even Christa joined for the occasion. Mikey was sitting with Bob in the kitchen watching him decide what to make for Thanksgiving.

"Hey Bobby, do you see yourself marrying Pete?"

Bob looked up from the teetering pile of cook books he'd been looking through for the perfect recipes.

"Marrying him?...I hadn't really thought about it that much I mean...I mean we've not been together all that long and it's a huge step to take but..."

He sighed dreamily.

"Yeah...I see it happening one day. Why'd you ask?"

"You slept with him right?"

Bob nearly choked on his own tongue.

"What the....uh yeah?"

"Hmmm, that recipe looks good."

Mikey pointed to a twice baked butternut squash in book Bob was looking at. Bob blinked, he was at risk of whiplash from the subject change. He looked at the book.

"Yeah, it does. Do you think I should make it?"

"I think you should get engaged to Pete. Be real cliche and do it on Christmas or New Years. Like not get married yet, just engaged."

"Umm...ok?"

Bob decided to wait for the conversation roundabout to come back around before he jumped on.

"I bet Frankie would go with you. I think he is planning to ask Gee soon."

Bob raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. Mikey was about to say something else, but Patrick and Pete walked in the room.

"Bobby! What amazing culinary delight are you planning for dinner tonight?"

He draped himself over Bob's shoulders, which looked dumb cause Bob was a foot taller than him. Bob chuckled, reaching one hand back to poke Pete in the side.

"Your favourite, shorty...spaghetti and meatballs."

Pete giggled.

"You do love me."

"Eh...you've grown on me."

Bob teased. Patrick chuckled.

"What, like mold?"

"Hey!"

Pete squawked and hit Patrick.

"So where is everyone else?"

"Ray is out getting parts for the fireplace and Frank and Gee are in the yard playing with Satan."

Pete shook his head.

"Why did they name the puppy Satan?..."

Pete turned to Patrick.

"Why did you let them name it Satan?"

Before Patrick could answer Mikey did.

"Cause Frankie said he always wanted to control the forces of evil."

"SATAN, YOU GET BACK HERE WITH THAT TROWEL!"

Satan, the little black Lab that Patrick bought, came running into the kitchen from the terrace with one of the mini garden tools in his mouth. Frank burst in after him.

"Have you guys seen Satan?"

"Control huh?"

Pete smirked. Gerard stepped in looking like he'd had a fight with Swamp Thing. There was mud and grass on his clothes and a couple of leaves in his hair.

"Well we named him right..."

He panted.

"That thing's evil."

"What the fuck did he do? He's a puppy, he can't get into too much trouble...right?"

Gerard frowned, planting his hands on his hips.

"He jumped in the muddy ditch behind the greenhouse, tripped me up, then jumped on me...he's a monster."

"He is not Gee, he's just a puppy so he is still learning...isn't that right Satan."

Satan was all cuddles in Frank's arms. He leaned up and licked Frank's nose making Frank giggle. Frank brought the puppy over to his muddy boyfriend.

"Now say you're sorry to mommy Gee."

Frank held the puppy out and he whined a little and gave Gerard big eyes that only a puppy can do. Gerard frowned, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Call me 'mommy' again, and I'll cut you off for a week..."

He growled slightly at Frank.

"I'm going to shower."

Then he stomped off, leaving muddy footprints across the floor.

"Gee, my floor."

Mikey sighed. He left the kitchen to get the mop and bucket. Patrick shook his head.

"Frank, train that dog or it can live in the tool shed...where I think Gerard might make you sleep if you're not careful."

"Noooooo!"

Patrick raised an eyebrow.

"I'm serious Frank. Train him...yeah?"

Frank sniffed and hugged Satan to his chest.

"Okay boss."

"Hey Trick, what about a dog trainer? They could come to the Estate."

Patrick looked over at Pete and grinned.

"Good idea...you know any?"

"I'm sure I can Goggle some..."

Pete turned Bob's face to him.

"I will see you later my sweet Lady, your Tramp is off to save the world once again..."

He kissed Bob and then left singing.

"Oh this is the night and the heavens are right on this lovely Bella Notte."

Patrick looked at Bob with wide eyes.

"You're a lady?...dude!...I never knew..."

Bob scowled and Patrick laughed, putting his hands up in surrender and turning to leave.

"Holler when dinner's ready, I'll be in the library."

Bob sighed and got on with preparing the food.

*

*

*

Gerard stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry himself off with. When he was mostly dry, he headed into his and Frank's bedroom, pointedly ignoring Frank who was sat on the bed with the now clean puppy in his lap. He went to the dresser to fetch underwear.

"Geeee, come cuddle with us."

Both Frank and Satan started to whine at the same time. Gerard rolled his eyes, back still toward the bed as he bent down and pulled on his boxers. Frank crawled to the end of the bed and pawed at the towel still around Gerard's body. Gerard huffed, straightening up to pull his boxers up over his ass, letting the towel fall away. He turned around with one eyebrow raised.

"What's in it for me?"

Frank raised an eyebrow and then smirked and pulled Gerard closer.

"What do you want baby?"

Gerard bit his lower lip, pretending to think it over.

"Umm...how about..."

He hummed for a second, then smirked.

"How about your big cock buried in my tight ass...that might work."

"Now you are the one that is going to be whimpering."

*

*

*

Mikey walked down the hall and saw Satan outside the bedroom door.

"Guess they are a little busy huh?"

He scooped the puppy up and headed to his own room.

"I think we have everything. Pete looked at the table. It was set for all the couples...well all the couples and then Patrick and Mikey. Pete sighed. Things were a little better, but still not the same. Mikey's clothing was a little looser now, but still not back to how the boy used to dress. He wondered if it ever would be the same. He wandered back into the kitchen.

"All set Bobby, anything else I can do for you?"

Bob looked up with a smear of something white across his cheek. He grinned and nodded.

"Yeah, you can come give me a kiss."

Pete giggled and moved up to him. He pulled him in and licked his face.

"Oohh, sweet like you."

Bob chuckled, wrapping an arm around Pete, but trying not to get whatever was on his fingers, onto the other man's clothes.

"Could you give everyone a holler please?...I'm ready to serve up."

"Sure thing big daddy..."

Pete left the kitchen with a swing of his hips. He stood in the middle of the living room.

"OI YOU LOT, STOP FUCKING AND COME EAT!..."

He went back into the kitchen.

"How was that, did I do good?"

Bob rolled his eyes but couldn't stop the laugh that left his lips.

"Yeah babe, you did great..."

He leaned down to kiss his boyfriend softly then grinned wide at him.

"...like only you could do. You wanna help me carry the last of the dishes through?"

"Sure."

Pete was handed a heavy tureen. The smell of pumpkin wafted from it.

"Fuck, I love fall so much."

Pete carefully carried it to the dining room where he saw Gerard and Frank standing. Gerard's hair was a mess and there was a very obvious hickey on the right side of his neck, just below his ear. His eyes were glued to the floor and his cheeks were bright red.

"Well I was right about one of you."

Pete laughed as Ray and Christa entered. Satan came bounding in, but went to his little pillow in the corner with an ornate red and black bowl adorned with his name.

Bob walked in with a large covered dish in his hands. He placed it on the table and looked around.

"Where's Patrick and Mikey?"

Patrick knocked on Mikey's door.

"Mikey?...food's ready. You coming down?"

The door opened and Mikey stepped out. He was casually dressed for the occasion like everyone else.

"Yeah, I was just fixing my hair.

Patrick liked Mikey's outfit, but he missed the way he used to dress.

"Mikey, you don't have to, but would you do me a favour please?"

"Yes?"

"Would you wear that outfit you wore the day you introduced me to the others?...you remember the one?"

Mikey looked at him.

"With the rain coat too?"

Patrick chuckled, shaking his head.

"No, I don't think it's gonna rain in the dining room, so I think you can leave that off."

"Why?"

"Cause you look lovely in it, and cause it reminds me of the day I..."

He swallowed, rubbing a hand around the back of his neck.

"...the day I fell in love with you."

"You don't love me. You said you couldn't."

"Mikey I was a fool. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was wrong..."

Patrick sighed, reaching out and carefully taking both of Mikey's hands in his.

"I love you Mikey, I'm so sorry that I ever made you think that I don't."

"I...I need to think about this."

Mikey pulled away from Patrick and went into his room, shutting the door.

"Fuck."

Patrick muttered under his breath, turning and heading to his room...he'd kind of lost his appetite now. He walked in and closed the door before going to his bed and flopping face first onto the comforter and burying his face in the pillows. He was pretty sure he'd screwed that up completely.

*

*

*

"Where are they?"

Bob had everyone start the first course even though neither Patrick or Mikey came down. Gerard shrugged, pushing food around his plate restlessly.

"Should I go look for them?"

He asked quietly, turning worried eyes toward Frank.

"No. Something is happening. I'm not sure what, but I can feel it."

Gerard tilted his head curiously.

"Something good? "

"Could be. Come on, let's not let the food get cold."

Frank saw Gerard smile and tuck back into his meal.

*

*

*

knock knock

Patrick sighed into his pillow and lifted his head a little.

"Come in."

Mikey opened the door and shuffled in wrapped in his fluffy robe and slippers. He sat down across from Patrick.

"Tell me the truth, do you think I am too young for you."

Patrick rolled over and pushed to sit up, shaking his head.

"No Mikey, I don't."

"Do you think it is wrong that I want to give you my virginity?"

Patrick swallowed. He wanted to take Mikey in his arms right now, but he hadn't earned the right yet.

"It's not wrong...if that's what you really want. I would be unimaginably honored, but only if it's your choice...I'd never push."

"Are you doing this cause you feel sorry for me?"

Patrick frowned.

"No. Why would I feel sorry for you?"

"Because I can't take care of myself like someone my age should be able to. Cause I am accident prone and get hurt all the time. Cause I still want to be a boy, but dress like a girl sometimes. Cause..."

Mikey's eyes started to well up with tears as his voice cracked and choked. Patrick reached out and wrapped his arms around Mikey's thin body, pulling him carefully into his lap and holding him close.

"Shh shh. You are strong and beautiful and the most amazing person I've ever met. So what if you're clumsy?...I actually love it. And you in girl's clothes?...fuck!...you look so good..."

He lifted Mikey's chin with one hand and looked into his eyes.

"I do not feel sorry for you!...I love you!"

Mikey looped his shaking arms around Patrick's shoulders. He cried because he knew he was in love with Patrick too. After a moment he pushed back on the older man gently.

"I couldn't find the exact outfit, but will this do?"

Mikey opened up his robe and revealed a pink and black checkered skirt and a simple black blouse with pink lace on the edges and collar. Patrick's breath caught.

"Beautiful..."

He murmured.

"Can I...can I kiss you?...please?"

"I can't think of anything else more that I want right now."

Patrick smiled and gently cupped Mikey's cheek.

"I love you Mikey Way."

Then he softly pressed his lips against Mikey's. Mikey kept the kiss soft and light, just enjoying the feeling of someone that wanted him, but not for his body. Patrick moved his lips gently and slowly, he didn't want to rush Mikey or scare him...he was aware that the last kiss he'd had was from that asshole Gabe. Eventually Mikey broke the kiss with a smile playing on his lips.

"Shall we go join the others for dinner?"

Patrick nodded with a soft smile.

"Whatever you want my love."

Mikey stood up and shed the robe.

"I just need my shoes."

Patrick stood up from the bed, taking Mikey's hand.

"Come on beautiful. Let's get your shoes then show them guys how incredible you are...yeah?"

"Nah, let's show them how incredible we are."

Mikey led Patrick out of his bedroom and down to his own.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how's you?

So things are getting better...right?

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