Frank wasn't the biggest fan of Christmas but he always tried to keep his spirits high to help make his mom feel better. She worked everyday of the year to pay bills and try and buy Frank the nice things that he wanted.

"Good morning and Merry Christmas," Linda said cheerily, opening the curtain to his room.

"Merry Christmas, mom," Frank said.

"Come on, let's get going, we can't let a happy day like this go to waste," she said.

Frank followed her out, sitting on the couch with her.

"I didn't wrap the gifts, I hope you don't mind," she said. "We ran out from last year and I didn't want to pay for another roll."

"No, of course it doesn't matter," Frank said.

Linda handed him a pair of jeans and a package of socks. That's what gifts were typically like in the Iero household. Usually things needed, not wanted. Occasionally a new book or maybe a DVD found at a thrift store. Jeans were a common gift, he got them every year. His mom was always angry at him when he would fall while skating and rip a hole in his jeans, making her patch them up when she got done with a fourteen hour shift. He usually got socks every other year, alternating between socks and underwear.

"Thanks, mom," Frank said, kissing her cheek.

"Check out the jeans, the lady at the store told me they were the newest style," Linda said.

Frank held them up and saw a simple pair of dark blue skinny jeans with fake rips and black patches underneath it.

"Figured you're always making me patch up your jeans, why not give you some pre-patched ones?" Linda asked with a small chuckle.

"These are pretty cool, mom, thanks," Frank said.

"I kept the receipt if you don't like them," she said.

"No, mom, these are really cool, I'm serious," he said. "There are a lot of kids wearing these nowadays at school."

Frank went to his room and came back with a little neatly wrapped box.

"Jamia helped me pick it out, I will admit that," Frank said.

Linda opened the box, expecting to see something like a package of new pens (which she went through like water as a waitress) or maybe some homemade art project from school. She certainly wasn't expecting a velvet box and a pair of nice earrings inside.

"Baby," she sighed.

"I've been at the job for over a year now so I got a Christmas bonus this year," Frank said. "And you always work so hard, you deserve something nice for once."

Frank knew that the nicest thing she owned was her old wedding ring, something she couldn't find within herself to part with. The next nicest thing was an old Walmart necklace.

"Where'd you get this?" She asked.

"Kay jewelers, I know you always like to look in there when we go to the mall," he said. "I was gonna go with these earrings that had these purple gems but then Jamia told me I should get these instead."

They were circle with a gold rim and a silver gem in the center.

"It's 14K yellow gold," Frank said.

"Baby, this is amazing," Linda said with teary eyes. "How much did this cost you?"

"It doesn't matter, it wasn't even my whole bonus," he said. "I put the rest of my bonus in the cookie jar with the rest of the rainy day money."

"How did I ever deserve such an amazing son like you?" She asked.

Frank gave her a hug before she stood up.

"So, what would you like for breakfast?" She asked. "Cheerios or Frosties?"

"Frosties," Frank said.

She nodded, grabbing two bowls from the cabinet.

"Is this all we got in the mail yesterday?" She asked, picking up the pile of letters.

Frank nodded, knowing he was lying to her. Every year his stepmom sent them a Christmas card. He remembered watching her cry over them when he was younger, she was so upset to see her husband off with a new wife and new kids. So, Frank started taking them and hiding them before she could see them when he was six. It was always his job to get the mail, it made it really easy.

"You going to Jamia's after breakfast like you usually do?" Linda asked.

"Yeah, I won't be gone too long, just going to give her the gift I got for her," he said.

"Tell her and her mother that I said hello," she said. "We really should all have dinner together, we haven't done that in a long time. It's just...it's hard with my busy schedule and all."

"It's okay, mom," Frank said. "They know you're busy but I'm sure they would love to hang out, too."

She nodded and she poured them both cereal, sitting at the table together.

"So, for dinner are we thinking about getting our normal lo mein order or maybe get some general chicken?" Linda asked. "Or maybe something spicy just to, you know, spice things up."

"Whatever you want is fine," Frank said with a small chuckle. "You can pick."

"We'll pull out the menu and choose later," she said. "I got some more peanut butter, we can make sandwiches for lunch."

Frank nodded, eating quietly.

"So, how is school going?" She asked. "How's Debby?"

"It's good, she's good," he said. "They're pretty nervous but excited about the baby."

"Well, I've still got some of your old baby stuff," she said. "They can maybe have some of your old clothes and stuff. Although, you were a pretty small baby."

Frank sighed, smiling softly. They finished up and Frank volunteered to wash the dishes. He grabbed the Christmas card from under his pillow before heading off to Jamia's. She opened the door when he knocked and sighed.

"Is it time?" Jamia asked.

Frank nodded and they went out to the backyard under the big tree that was there. Frank got on his knees and began digging with his hands, trying to get through the slightly frozen dirt. He winced but eventually dug deep enough to find the box and pull it out.

Inside were other Christmas cards that he's hidden over the years. There were a few letters written from his stepmom to Linda. Half-hearted messages that he knew would only break his mom's heart.

"I don't know why you always insist on doing this," Jamia mumbled, pulling her jacket tighter around herself.

Frank put the card into the box before putting the box back into the ground. He cried quietly, covering it back up. He lived in an apartment, no yard for himself. So, he used Jamia's yard to bury it in.

"Why did he leave us, Mia?" Frank whispered. "Was I not good enough?"

"Frank, you were just a baby," she said. "This isn't your fault."

"It's not like anything is good between us, though," he said. "It's not like he likes me or anything and I'm not just a baby. There has to be something wrong with me if he still doesn't like me."

"Frankie, your dad is just a prick, he isn't even that much nicer to your stepbrothers," Jamia said. "You don't need his approval from him. He shouldn't have left you and your mom the way that he did. He's just an asshole and you shouldn't have to be here on Christmas worrying about him."

Frank nodded, sniffling and wiping his eyes.

"Come on, come inside and I'll make us some cocoa," she said.

They went inside and Frank looked at his bleeding fingers.

"This happens every year," Jamia said, tossing him bandages. "You can use a shovel, you know, they exist for a reason."

Frank wrapped up his fingers while Jamia made them hot chocolate. Her younger brother drove his toy car into Frank's foot repeatedly until Jamia kicked it away.

"Mommy! Jamia kicked my toy!" Evan shouted.

Mrs. Nestor came in with a small sigh.

"Leave the big kids alone, Evan," she said. "Merry Christmas, Frank, I haven't seen you around lately. How has your mother been?"

"She's good," he said. "She says hi."

Mrs. Nestor smiled before leaving the kitchen with Evan. Jamia sat down with two mugs.

"So, how did your mom like the earrings?" She asked.

"Oh, she loved them," Frank said.

"Did you get anything for Gerard?" She asked.

Frank shook his head. "I would like to and all but we promised no presents because of the money. Besides, I feel like I would get him the worst present ever. Like an art set or something but there's just nothing sentimental about that. Besides, I don't know anything about art. I would probably end up getting some crap stuff anyways without realizing it."

"I'm sure that he would love anything from you," she said. "You two are really great together."

Frank's phone buzzed and he smiled when he saw the text from Gerard.

Gerard: Hey, do you and your mom wanna come over for dinner and to watch movies?

Frank smiled, quickly drinking his hot chocolate.

"I should get going, I don't want to intrude on your family's Christmas for too long," he said. "I shouldn't leave my mom for too long, anyways. I told her I was giving her a present, like I always do."

"Yeah, I'll see you later," Jamia said.

Frank gave her a hug before walking back to his apartment. He sighed, looking around for his mom. He heard quiet crying from the bedroom and he went in. She was with the DVD player and he knew she was playing this old home movie of Frank's first Christmas when he was only two months old and they were all a happy family.

"Mom, don't do this to yourself," Frank sighed. "Stop watching that home movie. Mom, he's a dick. He doesn't care about us."

Linda nodded, wiping her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I'm sorry, you're right. I-I need to move on. I need to stop. Let's make some cookies. Do you want some cookies, dear?"

"Gerard actually invited us over for dinner and to watch some movies," he said.

"Oh, I don't know, I don't want to intrude," Linda said. "We always watch movies and eat takeout."

"Aren't you bored of watching the same ten movies over and over again?" Frank asked. "I really like Gerard and I want you to meet his family. I know we haven't been together for the longest but I just feel like we have a real connection and I think that we're really gonna be something. You know I wouldn't date someone unless it were to be serious."

"Well, if it's okay with his parents then that's alright," she said. "And you know what, it actually sounds kind of nice."

"Okay but you have to put this stuff away, mom," Frank stated. "Watching this won't be any good for you."

Linda nodded, crying quietly as she shut the DVD player. Frank sat down, wrapping his arms around her.

"It's okay, mom, it's gonna be okay," he whispered.

Linda cried into his shoulder, nodding her head. They just sat there for a while, Frank comforting her the whole time.

"Come on, let's go play some cards," Frank said. "We can play speed, if you want."

Linda sniffled, wiping her eyes.

"You're such a good boy," she sighed. "I know you haven't had the easiest life but having you here with me makes it all worth it. I don't know what I would do without you, Frankie."

Frank smiled and kissed her cheek.

"So, Gerard really makes you happy?" She asked and frank nodded. "I'm glad, I hope that you find someone who makes you happy and you can spend a happy life with. Someone who can actually commit without just dicking off."