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The trip to the shops was easy, which isn't surprising what-so-ever. Frank stayed by Gerard's side the entire time, pressed into him like they were connected by the hip. Whenever he'd see something that caught his eye, he'd tugg at Gerard's arm but he rarely spoke at the beginning due to nervousness. Gerard found himself blushing at some parts of their time at the stores thanks to Frank's dislike of boxers or briefs. He got strange looks in the women's department in the underwear section though some people mistook Frank for his daughter or feminine son, putting him at ease. Luckily Frank didn't quite have a grasp on why anyone would've d think it was strange for him to like the clothes that he does. To him clothing was just what you wear to keep yourself from being naked and the clothing made for women just made him feel more comfortable, so that's what he chose to wear. Gerard had told him that he didn't need to justify himself and so he didn't.

They returned home with bags full of clothing and other small things Frank paid the slightest bit if attention to and Gerard immediately bought. Frank toted in only two small bags so that he wouldn't feel bad for allowing the servants to carry in his things for him.

"I got too much stuff." Frank near-complained.

Gerard smiled and patted his head dismissively. "Now, why do you think that?"

Once they had settled and put away Frank new clothes they found themself sitting on Gerard's bed while Frank pouted.

"It must have costed you a fortune, Gee." Frank said sadly, kneeling next to Gerard and looking up at him.

"You know that money is no issue, Frankie, don't be silly."

"I'm not being silly." Frank retorted childishly.

Gerard looked over to Frank with a smile and motioned for him to climb into his lap, which Frank did happily. His hand immediately gravitated to the kitten's back and began stroking from the top of his spine to his tail. Frank shivered from his masters actions.

"Do you not fancy the things we bought today?" Gerard asked, already knowing the answer.

Frank shook his head, "No, I love everything you got for me it's just that-"

"Well that's all that matters." Gerard hushed him with a kiss at the corner of his mouth. "Don't ever feel like you're a bother when you want something."

Frank sucked on his bottom lip as he thought. He hated worrying but he couldn't help it. He worried himself constantly about every little thing. Who liked him, who didn't, But mostly if Gerard was angry at him or if he was too needy. Right now it was the later.

"Okay." He said even though he wasn't completely convinced. He laid his head on Gerard's chest, letting him stoke his side comfortingly.

A comfortable silence settled over them and soon Franks soft purring filled the room. Gerard kissed his forehead every once and a while just to remind Frank that he was there if his hand at his hip wasn't enough. He still felt the urge to have Frank's lips on his. Times like these where they were close and so comfortable with each other.

Just when Frank was dozing off there was a unnecessarily loud knock at the bedroom door. Frank shifted but didn't seem to disturbed, still Gerard was annoyed.

"Come in." He said quietly and calmly.

The door was opened slowly and Bert entered carefully. "I didn't notice Frank was in here, sorry."

"What is it?" Gerard asked, running a hand over Frank's thigh to distract him from their voices.

"Oh, um, Brendon is out in the entrance hall. He didn't call before coming so-"

"I'll be out in a moment, thank you." Gerard said.

Bert scowled, looking as if he had something else to say but Gerard rose an eyebrow as a warning and he exited the room without another word. Gerard sighed after he left, pushing aside the guilt he felt after being rude for no reason other than his own bitterness. He took frank into his arms, lifting him under the arms, and sat him onto the bed. Frank whinnied, like he did when he was conscious, in protest to being removed from Gerard.

"I'll be back in just a few minutes, kitten." Gerard said in a soft tone. He placed a kiss on Franks cheek and left the room, leaving the door closed at first out of distrust for the help around the house, then deciding to leave it cracked.

Still in the back of his head, thoughts of Frank being harmed right under his nose lingered ever since the house maids returned. Gerard felt pity for any mother who went through the pain he did with their child.

Downstairs Gerard could already  Brendon's distinctive and loud voice talking to everyone who passed him. Looking around quickly, Bert was no where to be seen which was usually an issue but Gerard decided to look for him later.

"What on Earth are you doing here?" Gerard asked his friend.

Brendon's lips curled into his signature smile when he saw Gerard, "Damn, well thats not the greeting I hoped for from my best friend."

"Well, it's the greeting you get when you show up without warning." Gerard said guiding Brendon to the lounge room.

"Did you get new curtains or something? It looks less dead in here." Brendon said looking around the room dumbly.

"No, it's been the same since the first day you've been to my house." Gerard said.

"It's probably just Frankies presence."  Violetta said. "He really does brighten up the place." She said as she dusted a few shelves in the room.

"Speaking of Frankie, thats who I came here to talk about." Brendon said.

"Oh, is it something bad?" Gerard asked, "Violetta, could you go check on Frank, thank you."

"Well, no, not necessarily." Brendon shrugged.  

Violetta scurried off to leaving the two men alone.

"What is it?" Gerard asked after she left.

"Well you've had Frankie for quite a while now and I know I struggled with this when I first got Ryan." Brendon smiled thinking of his first memories with his pet, "Like his heats? How are they? Everyone is a bit different and I know you have no fucking idea what you're doing so I could give you advice on that since an expert."

Gerard's eyebrows were pulled together in confusion, "His heats?"

"Oh," Brendon said, "Well one should have happened by now." He said confused.

"I still have no idea what you're on about."

"Well I think you should do some looking into them, like actual research you know? You're taking care of Frank with nothing but your common sense." Brendon suggested.

"I know," Gerard sighed guiltily, running a hand through his hair.

"You should also talk to Frank. I'm sure he knows more about himself than the internet."

Gerard nodded, "But how do I know he hasn't already had his heat?"

Brendon chuckled, "You'll know."

"Have you noticed that you're no help?" Gerard complained.

"I just want you to find out some things on your own, man. You need to call me once he does start, it's a rough thing to go through for the first time and nothing you read is going to prepare you." Brendon said.

"You're not making this any less frightening."

"I'm not here to water things down for you, Gerard. I gotta go, Ryans home alone, he's probably crying or something it's been almost an hour." Brendon said. "You'll notice small things change, it won't be a huge surprise. Keep and eye on his appetite and things like that, subtle changes are important."

"Fine." Gerard said with crossed arms. He suppressed the urge to tell Brendon to shut up if he was going to continue being so vague and subsequently confusing.

"You're such a baby, I'll talk to you soon. You're gonna get through this it's not impossible, I did it."

"Whatever, leave, I've got research to do apparently." Gerard said shoeing his friend to the door.

Once Brendon was gone Gerard went straight upstairs, only noticing then that Violetta never came back to inform him how Frank was. His mind automatically went straight to the worst things possible.

His bedroom door was still cracked, just a little more than he left it. The closer he came to the door the more audible the voices inside were, one of them obviously belonged to Bert and the other to Frank, soft and timid. Gerard convinced himself not to be a child and listen to their conversations like he wanted to and instead let himself into the room. When he entered Bert's voice hushed, leaving the only noise to he Frank cheerful giggle caused by whatever Bert had whispered to him last. Frank was now awake, obviously, sitting up in the bed close enough to Bert, who had pulled over a chair, to make Gerard's skin crawl.

"I see you're awake." Gerard commented.

Frank smiled and Bert rolled his eyes.

"You left." Frank said with a little pout.

"So I came to keep him company." Bert spoke before Gerard could. His arm wrapped around Frank's waist and pulled him closer.

"That was nice of you." Gerard said maturely instead of staying the things he wanted to say to the authority-defying teen. "You do have actual work to do, unfortunately."

Frank frowned and leaned his head on Bert's shoulder.

"Aww, I'll be back, kitten." Bert cooed, petting Frank's ears.

Gerard's blood boiled at Berts words and he chewed the inside of his mouth to keep his words in.

Bert said his goodbyes to Frank and left the room, "I'll need to speak to you later." Gerard said catching Bert by the shoulder as he walked by.

"Yeah, okay." He replied with a laugh.

Gerard ignored his reply and walked past him.
Frank sat on the left side of the whyoming king sized bed, looking especially tiny. Gerard took his place in the bed right next to Frank and pulled they boy into his lap. Frank immediately snuggled into his chest.

"So, what did you and Bert talk about?" Gerard asked petting over Frank hair and ears.  It was probably prying into his personal life but Gerard couldn't care less.

"He said it was secret." Frank said in a hushed voice.

Gerard was shocked since Frank never hesitated to tell him everything he asked.

"Well you can still tell me." Gerard said positioning Frank in his lap so that he faced him, "You can tell me anything."

Frank smiled, giggled then shook his head. Gerard sighed and played along since Frank obviously thought that they were playing a game.

"Hmm, If you tell me you and Bert's secret then i'll allow you extra sweets after dinner" Gerard bargained.

Frank pouted a bit placing his small hands at the center of Gerard's chest. 

"I'm not hungry"

"You will be soon."

"Nuh-uh."

"Why do you say that?"

"I just knows." He said plainly.

Gerard sighed giving up the argument, hopefully Frank would forget that what Bert told him was a secret and tell him later on.

"Well fine, have it your way." Gerard said.

"Are you mad at me?" Frank asked innocently.

"No, not at all." Gerard assured him. Telling Frank that he wasn't upset with him was seconded nature at this point, though his anger was definitely present and directed towards someone who caused him constant trouble. He pushed his bitter thoughts and allowed himself to enjoy his time with Frank.

•••

The next morning neither Bert, Gerard or Frank showed to breakfast. Gerard and Bert, both set on avoiding each other for separate reasons and Frank, barely knowing himself.

Gerard knew right way that something was up when Frank told him that he wasn't interested in eating. Not that the kitten over-ate but he barely ever missed meals. After leaving the care, if you could call it that, of his past owners Frank's appetite finally caught up with him and hadn't faltered since, until this morning.

"You're sure you don't feel sick?" Gerard asked placing his hand against Frank's forehead and neck for the umpteenth time to find out that they were still, in fact, the same healthy temperature.

Frank pouted rubbing his cheek along Gerard's fingers, "Not really."

"Well you haven't eaten in a while and you have no reason to be full." Gerard stated, not taking his hand back yet since Frank seemed to enjoy it.

Frank just "hmph"ed softly as a reply, something he did often when not knowing what to say.

"I can bring you something up here?" Gerard offered in response to Frank's silence.

Frank shrugged, "I'll eat if you want me to."

"No, if you're not hungry right now I won't force you I just— I care about you is all."

Frank smiled softly and snuggled close to Gerard, "I care about you too, Gee. . . Why aren't you at breakfast then?"

Gerard chewed him lip nervously and Frank noticed, wondering if it had anything to do with Bert.

"I guess i'm not just not hungry yet either, kitten." Gerard told him.

Frank knew that it was a lie but he decided not to address it, instead he pushed himself impossibly close to Gerard's side.

Gerard giggled, covering it up with a cough and blushing causing Frank to laugh too.

Gerard scooped him up in his arms to sit him on his lap. Frank didn't stay in that position too long, sliding his cheek into the warm crook of Gerard's neck almost immediately. Gerard chuckled at Frank's excessive affections and rubbed his back, one hand placed at the crease of high thigh.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked him, still feeling odd about their behavior.

Frank hummed, his chest vibrating against Gerard's own.

"How about we get you a bath, and then if you're hungry by then we can eat together?" Gerard offered.

He felt Frank nod lazily against his chest and stood up carefully with the boy still in his arms.

Frank placed himself kneeling on the flood pressed to Gerard's leg as he ran the bath. Gerard occasionally reaching down to pet his head or run a hand through his hair which Frank greatly appreciated, leaning into his touch almost desperately.

The bath itself was not nearly as smoothly going as usual. Instead of being pliant and trying to make everything easier for Gerard Frank seemed almost out of it, wanting attention even when he was the center of Gerard's attention. Gerard knew that something was definitely wrong by then. Frank's speaking had even weakened to whined and occasional one worded replies. His mind seemed to be partially at rest leaving Gerard to all of the work.

Gerard detached the shower head and cleaned Frank's hair slowly as gently, scraping his scalp and making him even more relaxed, if that was possible. The water was warm and coning out with the softest spray possible. One hand gliding through the boys silk hair and the other holding the detachable head. Frank purred with rapture just at the skin on skin contact.

Gerard was gentle with his every move, as if he was afraid to break the delicate boy under his hands. Frank's unmarked skin covered by the bubbles and soaps was definitely admirable and Gerard felt honored to be the one to see him like this—the only one to see him like this. His possessive mind wandered to Dallon much to quickly. He was to see Frank soon but Gerard was reconsidering now. He needed to take care of Frank and he wouldn't put that duty in the hands of anyone else but himself.

Just when he was positive Frank was falling unconscious he finished and lifted be boy out of the large tub with a pale white towel. He dressed Frank as he laid limply on his bed. Deciding then not to bother Frank with the idea of food or eating anytime soon when he was obviously unwell. He dried the kitten, paying extra attention to his tail, if it was wet he would lick at it and it just made him uncomfortable. They went through the rest of their after-bath routine without any words. Just soft touches and reassuring kisses on blushed skin.

He put Frank into his bed, rearranging thr pillows to make them the most comfortable.

"I'll be back in just a moment." Gerard said as quiet as he could while still making sure Frank heard it.

"M'kay." Frank sighed parting his hazel eyes to look at Gerard.

He hated to leave Frank in the condition that he was in but he had to. He walked into the main hallway grabbing the first maid who passed him softly.

"Hello, Mr. Way." She greeted, bowling her head as she walked past him in a rush to get somewhere else.

"Hmm, Yes, Adelia." He said calmly.

"Sir?" She turned her attention to her boss with wide, attentive eyes. She had been working for a short time compared to most but, nevertheless, she got her job done just as well. Nervous at times, she often worked without notice, though she had no issues with being in the background as long as her paycheck didn't suffer. Gerard suspected that there was more to her timorous ways but he
never addressed it, sure that that would make her even more uncomfortable.

"Would you please alert your coworkers that I shouldn't be bothered for the next— say few days." Gerard told her.

"O-Oh yes, sir, of course." She said looking down.

Gerard sensed how tense she was so he softened his tone.

"Thank you, Adelia." He smiled kindly. A blush bloomed across her full cheeks as she nodded.

Frank was resting when he returned. He closed the door silently as took a seat next to his sleeping frame. He checked his forehead once more on instinct. He blamed himself for being so clueless. The purchase of a simple book for people in his situation could have saved him the confusion. He assumed that turning to the internet wouldn't bee to awful, looking down at Franks flushed cheeks and soft-looking parted lips, he decided that he no longer wanted to be uninformed when it came to something so precious.

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this took so long but  the amount of people that were asking me to update this was my main source of encouragement uwu

votes and comments r greatly appreciated

-serrae ✧