Frank was grading mock finals the next day much later than he would have liked. His eyes were blurring as he tried to match up the answers with the key, doing his best to give his students partial credit if they showed some sort of coherent work.

So he was eternally grateful to whoever was currently knocking on his door since it provided him with a distraction from this boring task. He was expecting it to be Brendon or Ryan who usually came to bother him around this time if he was still at school, and they occasionally brought food as well which is why Frank didn't throw much of a fit about being interrupted constantly, in fact, he welcomed the break today.

But when he called out for them to come in, he almost swallowed his tongue when Gerard entered with a slightly nervous look on his face.

"Hi, um - you're not busy are you?" Gerard asked, his gaze darting around as if he was afraid of looking at Frank directly.

"Not at all, I think I've reached my grading limit for the day honestly," Frank chuckled, hoping to set Gerard at ease since he wasn't usually so tense when it was just the two of them, besides yesterday that is. "You just finished your last class right?"

"Yeah I did," Gerard nodded, taking his usual seat that he always occupied when Frank would spend his evenings tutoring him. "Why is it that Fridays always seems to drag on forever?"

"Maybe because you choose to stay here even once classes are let out?" Frank teased, a smirk tugging at his lips when Gerard blushed faintly, his soft laugh warming Frank's insides more than it should have.

"This doesn't count, plus I have no plans, so I thought maybe...I mean...well, you were so understanding about Freckles, and I guess I just wanted to talk with you a bit more about that."

"Of course," Frank agreed as he tried not to visibly show his excitement, although he was almost certain that Gerard could hear how quickly his heart was beating even across the few feet that separated them. "What exactly did you want to discuss though?"

"I'm not sure...I mean, you just seemed to understand me, at least, I think you do, and I don't ever really talk about this, so please tell me if it's too much, or if I've completely misunderstood the situation, but you reacted as if it was normal for a grown man to carry around a stuffed animal with him, and I was just wondering if you know other people like me?"

"Other littles?" Frank dared to voice the question that had been bouncing around in his brain ever since he'd seen Gerard's video, his muscles growing stiff as he braced himself for disappointment since he'd received so much before from his previous lovers.

Sure, people had tried for him, or even seemed into the lifestyle at first, but they always changed their mind and left, and Frank wasn't sure if he could handle that happening to him again, not with someone he genuinely liked.

"You do get it!" Gerard practically yelled, his eyes shimmering so fiercely that Frank was momentarily afraid he was about to start crying. "I knew you would, I just - it's not normal, and only my brother really knows about it, but you...fuck, sorry, give me a second."

"I do," Frank managed to speak past the welling of hope that was currently clogging his throat, "and it's not abnormal Gerard, or weird. Lots of people feel the same, I promise you, you aren't alone in this."

"That's what Mikey, my brother always says," Gerard chuckled weakly, "but I've never known any other littles, and I'm too afraid to go meet up with the few that I've talked to online that say they are, so I mostly keep it to myself."

"So you're truly a little - not just into age play?" Frank asked before he could stop himself. He instantly realized that it was not an appropriate question to be posing to a student, but Gerard didn't seem at all offended or embarrassed.

"I think so, I mean, I just feel younger than I am, and when I'm alone, or having a really bad day, I act that way too. I can control it mostly, but if I get stressed it's harder to push away. Basically, I like things that most people usually grow out of, like stuffies, and playing silly games, and coloring. I've researched it a lot, but I never talk about it with anyone besides Mikey. From what I understand though, age play is usually sexually based and this is more just for me, it makes me feel good."

"Well that definitely sounds like you are a little," Frank agreed, hoping his face looked accepting and not like he was struggling to stop himself from kissing Gerard within an inch of his life. "I've known a few littles personally. I'm not one, more the opposite actually, but if you want to ask me any questions, I will answer the best that I can."

Frank considered mentioning that Ryan was a little, and in all honesty, he'd probably be able to help Gerard understand what he was feeling with an ease that Frank couldn't since he empathized with him, but Frank was selfish, so he kept that bit of information to himself so he could have an excuse to continue talking to Gerard.

They chatted for almost an hour after that before Gerard's phone rang, during which Gerard asked him about the other littles that Frank was acquainted with, and how he knew them, which had led to Frank admitting that he mostly dated them.

Frank told himself he was imagining the slightly glazed look Gerard's expression took on at that fact, and he mostly managed to ignore it in favor of keeping their discussion informative, because that was what Gerard needed right now.

He was curious, and Frank was going to focus on that before he brought up his own feelings. He didn't want to move too quickly and spoil this, and he still had a week until finals, then another before Gerard will have officially graduated.

If things continued the way they had been, then Frank might just have a boyfriend as well as summer vacation to look forward to, even if that was a bit presumptuous.

~~~

Frank saw Gerard almost every day after that, although nothing was planned of course.

Gerard would stop by Frank's class as often as he could, sometimes with more questions, or a new stuffie he wanted to show Frank, and even if Frank was still trying to prepare himself to be let down, he wasn't stupid enough to not take this opportunity to enjoy Gerard's company.

So when Gerard offered to take Frank out for dinner two days before his last final, Frank instantly agreed.

Frank noticed that Gerard was dressed differently than he usually was when he dropped by his classroom that afternoon, but he made no remark on it, even if his gaze lingered on his pastel pink button up and his tight pants longer than was probably polite.

He couldn't really help himself though, it was such a change from the baggy hoodies and loose jeans that Gerard typically wore during lectures, or even the outfit he had donned in his skype call, but they all fit him well, and Frank took joy in the fact that he was slowly uncovering the multiple layers that made up Gerard.

"Hey," Gerard grinned shyly as Frank quickly stuffed the last few papers he still needed to grade in his shoulder bag, "you ready to go?"

"Yeah, you going to tell me where we are eating this time?" Frank teased. Gerard had the habit of keeping the location of the restaurant he had chosen a secret until the last possible minute, or he had in the past when they did this more often.

"Nope, it's a surprise," Gerard giggled smugly, his hands pushing his lengthening hair out of his face as Frank joined him, his steps falling into sync with Gerard's as they exited the classroom together.

"I bet I can guess before we get there," Frank challenged him, earning himself a delighted chuckle from Gerard, as well as a soft nudge to the shoulder that shouldn't have felt nearly as electrifying as it did, but Frank had been forced to accept recently that even the slightest touch from Gerard left him a bit lightheaded.

Frank was able to correctly pick the place Gerard was taking him to in the end, not that it was all that hard since there wasn't an abundance of eateries within walking distance of the campus, but he still felt quite accomplished all the same, even when Gerard pouted sullenly as they were seated in the cozy Italian restaurant that he had picked out.

Frank fiddled with the straw of his drink as they looked over the menu. He was mostly skimming it since he already knew what he wanted. Gerard had taken him here before, but he needed to keep himself occupied so he wouldn't blurt out something stupid.

But maybe he should honestly, because he might not see Gerard again before graduation, and really - there was no good reason to hide his feelings any longer, besides the fact that he was scared, and he didn't want to find out that he had read this entire situation wrong.

He was so smitten with Gerard that if he wasn't interested in Frank, it would crush him, and he really wasn't prepared for any more heartbreak at the moment, but the pain might be better than never knowing.

"So - uh...Frank?" Gerard beat him to the punch before Frank could open his mouth, the younger man's delicate fingers twisting together nervously in front of him as he appeared to gather his thoughts.

"What is it?" Frank prompted when Gerard remained silent, expecting Gerard to ask more about being a little, or maybe about his final grade, but he wasn't at all prepared for what Gerard said next.

"You know I like you right - as more than a friend or a teacher, because I do. I have all year, and I haven't really kept it a secret lately, but I can't tell if you have any feelings back or if you're just being nice to me, and I don't want to graduate without saying anything -"

"Gerard," Frank wheezed, which wasn't what he meant to utter, actually, now would have been a perfect time for all of the numerous declarations of affection that he had constantly been choking back to make an appearance, but he had been struck speechless by Gerard's sudden confession.

"It's okay if you don't, I mean - I'll understand, but I couldn't leave things without telling you, and Mr. Urie sort of hinted that you might be interested in me as well..." Gerard trailed off nervously, his knuckles flexing heavily as he waited for Frank to compose himself.

"Fucking Brendon," Frank scoffed under his breath, a hysterical laugh bubbling its way out of his chest as he tried to get his head screwed on properly so he could form a coherent reply, "but Gerard - wow, I do like you...a lot. I tried to ignore it at first since you were my student, but it never really went away, and then - fuck, I might as well be completely honest with you now, but uh...I saw your skype video, and I haven't been able to get you out of my head ever since."

"You did?" Gerard squealed, his face erupting with color before he hid his red cheeks behind his palms.

Frank winced slightly at Gerard's reaction, a part of him wishing that he had stayed silent about being witness to the video, but he didn't want to keep any secrets from Gerard, so it was better that he told him now and not later down the road.

"I didn't know it was you beforehand, still - I shouldn't have watched it, but I couldn't help myself, and when I found out that you might be into the CG/L lifestyle, I couldn't stop picturing what it would be like if I was your daddy."

"Yeah?" Gerard exhaled heavily, his eyes glittering with something that Frank liked to think was hope mixed with adoration, the intensity of his gaze increasing exponentially when Frank reached across the table and captured one of Gerard's hands in his.

"I would really like that," Frank nodded, the motion seeming to take much longer than it should have, but in a way, it was as if the entire world had slowed down as soon as Gerard had admitted his feelings for him.

"So, we can be together, this isn't a dream?" Gerard asked shakily, his face scrunching up slightly as he spoke, almost as if he was trying to make sure that this was real before he let himself relax entirely.

"I would love for you to be my boyfriend," Frank beamed, his smile stretching so wide that it almost hurt. Gerard mirrored his expression, his small teeth peeking through his lips as he clung to Frank's hand tightly.

This chapter makes me so soft I was smiling when writing it and I'm grinning now as I repost it.

Unless I've managed to confuse myself there should be two more chapters after this and then this story will be back up in its new format.

Votes and comments are always lovely to see if you feel like leaving one.

Chapter dedicated to XxGerardisdeadxX

Love you xx

((((soft vibes))))

- starr