Somebody call the horny police on Frank this chapter, god bless. Thank you for all your feedback in the last chapter, you have no idea how happy you guys made me, I'm so grateful for you!

—

"I could not ask you where you came from, I could not ask you, neither could you. Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips, we could just kiss like real people do." 

'Like Real People Do',  Hozier. 

"I meant to ask you. Was yesterday the first time you dropped in on my friends' thoughts?" Frank asked quietly the next day as he sluggishly trailed through the halls with Gerard on the way to the class they had together. Lunch passed in a blur, the trilling bell ordering students to disperse and head to their designated classes was a burden ticking irritation into Frank's mood until he remembered his seat was right beside Gerard's in English class.

"No. Before, I'd listen to them to try to learn a little more about you." Gerard answered just as quietly to avoid anyone listening in. "I hope that doesn't come off as strange."

Frank snorted. "I have no room to speak because I know I'd definitely to do the same thing. Cryptic."

Gerard grinned at the nickname bestowed on him. "Not so much anymore."

"That's debatable— but I'm doing my best to stay patient." Frank shrugged. "What am I like through their eyes? I've always wanted to know what I seem like to people."

"Kind, very enthusiastic about your interests, humorous. You're a bit kept to yourself, but not so shy. I was very entertained watching your clumsiness and your affinity for swear words when things go wrong."

"Everyone swears! Why do people act like I say an excess?"

"Once, when you hit your shin particularly hard, you said the word 'fuck' a total of fifteen times in one minute. I kept count." Gerard arched an eyebrow, a smirk breaking out.

"I'm not responsible for what comes out of my mouth when I'm writhing in pain." Frank said once they entered the classroom and made their way to their conjoined desks. Lowering his voice, he added,  "I'm not sure if you remember what it feels like, but hitting your shin is a soul-shattering experience."

"From what I gained out of watching you through Adam's eyes, I guessed as much." Gerard amusedly chuckled.

Frank took out his things and set them on his desk, skimming over possible events and things Gerard must've witnessed through the film of his friends's memories. Suddenly, it dawned on him that one particular thing must've been on display if he snooped in on someone's mind.

"Frances." Frank said a single word, unable to work up the rest of what he had in mind— he was certain Gerard would immediately catch onto the implications behind her name alone and save Frank the embarrassment of uttering the situation out loud.

Gerard hummed curtly. His lips pressed together in a thin line as he stared straight ahead in thought. "Yes, Frances. I've always enjoyed listening to her, even before you came around. She has a very compassionate heart and interesting opinions on things. I couldn't help tuning in even more once I noticed she was forming a . . . specific interest in you."

Frank's cheeks tinted red. "What was it like?"

Gerard's eyes narrowed slightly despite trying to keep a cool expression, making Frank's blush burn deeper with silent pleasure over the way he reacted to the prospect of someone else seeking out his attention.

"She thought of you frequently. Thinks of you frequently— although, after today, she feels she no longer stands a chance."

Frank's eyebrows shot up. "She was still planning on going for it?"

"Discreetly. In increments." Gerard's voice ran into a faint rasp. "She won't be making any more passes at you, if you're wondering."

Frank's prior relief felt like a waste knowing Frances hadn't intended to stop trying to squeeze her way into Frank's heart in a different manner than she already had. He supposed he couldn't hold it against her; wishful thinking was inevitable, and sometimes, feelings weren't easily shaken from one day to another.

Another thought sprung in Frank's mind which made him restless as his fidgeting hands folded on top of his desk. "How did that make you feel?"

Frank dared to sneak a look at Gerard. A shadow fell over his eyes as he looked down, clearing his throat even though he most likely had no need for small and mundane functions like that. Gerard took a low, deep breath.

"I didn't like the idea of someone winning you over. It made me . . . desperate, almost."

Frank swallowed hard. "Desperate?"

Gerard's brightened eyes shrouded in the heavy sweep of his lashes met Frank's, a look stirring in them that made Frank breathless. "I suppose you could call it jealousy. Only with a hint of undeserved possessiveness."

Chills fluttered through Frank's entire body. He felt them rippling over the crown of his head, through his throat and his abdomen, working down lower and lower until his flush consumed him and he was a few degrees warmed than he should've been. His finger curled tightly and he released the weakest breath, the sound of it shaky and unsteady. Frank couldn't deny the affect those words had on him— and how Frank was spun into a haze in response to the possessiveness Gerard spoke of. He was almost appalled by how it filled him with desire.

When the teacher entered the room, fumbling and apologizing for being a few minutes tardy, it was nearly impossible to focus on the small introduction to what they'd be doing that day as a class when Frank couldn't tear his mind away from the look he saw in Gerard's eyes when he admitted to his jealousy. His heartbeat hammered in his chest, he felt it circulating everywhere. When the teacher informed them they'd be viewing a few videos on the next book they'd be reading as a class, Frank released a small sigh of relief, knowing he wouldn't be able to pay full attention to any other lessons.

The lights flicked off and the illumination from the projector screen exuded a bright white glow only touching the first few rows of students, leaving those in the back in darkness. Some pulled out their phones under their desks in secret, plugging in headphones, while others rested their heads on their folded arms to sneak in a nap. Frank wished he could do the same, but his mind was racing the way his over-exhausted heart was.

He imagined the darkness of possessiveness coming over Gerard, meaning a part of him believed Frank was meant to be his. Frank knew the feeling of jealousy well enough to get a grasp of what went through Gerard's head while picking through Frances's brain, but he never felt so compelled to be beside someone to the point where he felt he'd established a place in their life he wanted no one to tamper with. He wasn't able to reassure Gerard that he was only his when his breath escaped his lungs and he couldn't gain control of the rush of blood so present in his body, flooding hot through him. Gerard felt like he was Frank's as well— and he'd certainly feel the same way if anyone actively pursued him. The waitress at the restaurant the other night was harmless, but even then, her efforts ignited a similar feeling Frank leaving him wanting to shield Gerard's body with his so no one's affections could try to reel him in.

Frank imagined belonging to Gerard entirely. Although his heart already had his name engraved in it, he had yet to offer the other parts. There were things in their dynamic that seemed closed off until further decisions were made and because close proximity wasn't always in Gerard's best interest due to his hunger. But Frank couldn't resist letting his imagination wander, picturing a moment where their lips would finally meet. He pictured the coolness of Gerard's skin rapidly warming under Frank's blushing mouth parting under his, the way Gerard's strong hands would feel pulling him in and nearly crushing him against his chest as though he were tasting a droplet of his blood for the first time, sending him into a frenzy. Frank thought about hands in hair, lips and tongue, the sharp point of vampire teeth lightly pricking his lower lip accidentally so Frank's lips and body would only ever belong to Gerard beyond that point. . .

Tremulously, Frank exhaled as he was yanked back into reality by a loud sound in the video being projected at the front of the classroom. He realized just how intense his visuals were and the way they moved him. Frank's eyes widened. Well, that was certainly a first for him. Frank normally didn't fantasize about sensuality while in class of all places. Of course, he'd fantasized about it before in his private time, but there was never a specific face to the image; this time there had been, and he was sitting inches away from Frank.

Frank pulled his hoodie down so far it nearly overlapped his knees, thank god it was large enough to stretch out. His eyes swept around the room and landed on Gerard for a split second before chagrin engulfed him— but Gerard didn't seem in much better shape. His arms were folded on the desk, hands curled into tight fists, and when his eyes met Frank's, his pupils were wide, lips parted. He nearly whimpered at the open wanting in Gerard's expression. Frank ached in every place inside. He'd never felt so in need of touching a person before, to know if their kiss was the feather of a dove or the explosion of flames. Frank was forced to remind himself each time the urge built in him that they were in a public setting.

Diverting his attention, he tried to gain something from the videos the teacher showed the class, but all attempts were futile. Frank huffed in frustration and folded his arms on the desk like Gerard had, lowering his head onto them and shutting his eyes. The ache wouldn't go away easily. Frank had a feeling it would be revisiting him, frequently. He didn't think he could go on holding back so much anymore. It seemed he had his own temptation to face and thus far, it was more difficult than suffering the urge to pick up another cigarette after cutting himself off suddenly.

Frank suffered and tried to fall asleep like half of his classmates had for the remainder of the period, but before he knew it, the lights were flicking back on and everyone was grumbling in protest. Frank lifted his head, glancing around the room and watching other heads lifting away from the desks. Frank slowly sat up, looking down at his hands, discreetly shooting a glance down at his lap. He cleared his throat and pretended nothing had got awry, stretching his arms out in front of him and cracking his knuckles.

"Did you get anything from either of those clips we were shown?" Gerard asked in a lower tenor than normal,  making Frank shiver anew.

Frank answered without looking in his direction. "Um. No, not really."

Gerard hummed and said nothing more. Frank didn't made more conversation because he simply didn't know what to say. 'Hi, I was just daydreaming about having a heavy makeout session with you, is that okay?'

That's something that would have Frank gulping down cement if he were given the option to do that or tell Gerard those exact words crossing his mind. It was humiliating enough he couldn't hide the physical effects Gerard must've caught onto such as the rush of blood and the erratic pulse, maybe even shortness of breath, Frank fully clocked out of reality halfway through so he couldn't fully monitor the changes within his physique.

Class ended and Gerard generously offered to walk Frank to gym despite it being across campus and far away from his next class period. They walked close together in silence, absorbed in thought. Frank didn't take Gerard's silence as a bad sign, he didn't seem perturbed or troubled by anything. Frank enjoyed silence, but it took a specific type of person to enjoy it with, and Gerard revealed himself as one of those people. It was such an innocent thing that Frank's neck was burning for the thoughts he had before that could've escalated if he didn't have an ounce of self control— or dignity, at that, because he wasn't sure if he'd be able to resist closing the gap between them and pressing his lips to Gerard's hungrily.

Stopping in front of the gymnasium, there was no one there. Everyone hurried off to the locker rooms to change and they'd taken their time strolling over. Frank didn't care if he was written a tardy slip, the way he spent his time was worth it.

Frank turned to say something, but his mouth popped shut when he noticed Gerard closing in on him, backing them away into a snug corner out of sight from everywhere else. Frank gasped as Gerard's pupil-blown eyes pinned him in place, one cool hand reaching up rest loosely at the side of his neck.

"I really wish you wouldn't tempt me this way." Gerard breathed, a low sound in his chest as though it physically pained him to endure this longing he spoke of.

Frank was dizzy as if he were intoxicated. "How?"

"You know how." Gerard's hand traveled to his cheek. "You feel it, too."

Frank leaned into his touch that was the kiss of a snowflake twirling along his skin. "There'll be a time when you don't need to fight it so hard."

"I need to make sure I can control myself first. No matter how much I wish I trusted myself, I can never get too comfortable. I'm nearly there, but not yet." Gerard shut his eyes remorsefully for a moment even though he'd done nothing wrong.

Frank's heart sank. He'd been hoping while hidden away from seeking eyes and under the caress of Gerard's hand, he'd be given the touch of lips he so craved, but he wasn't selfish enough to be upset over it. Frank knew the way Gerard struggled containing himself and their close interactions were a new thing to build on. It was extraordinary that a vampire could be this close to his prey without his instincts taking control; Gerard was truly resilient.

"I'll wait for you. However long it takes." Frank's patience was never-ending much like Gerard, perhaps the only immortal part of something as fleeting as Frank. His time was limited in compassion, but he would spend it by his first love's side, waiting for moments that would soon be theirs without fear or doubt.

Gerard's parting gift was his delicate fingers tucking Frank's hair behind his ear. He retreated swiftly, leaving Frank struggling to catch his breath against the wall until the tardy bell urged him to get on inside. Frank unwillingly slipped in, but hid away in the vacant locker room bathrooms to cope with his dizziness and the lingering heat searing his insides.

—

On the way home, Frank was sent a brief and alarming message from his mother. It instructed him to skip out on going to the house to instead head straight to the hospital where she was working her shift. Frank originally intended to ask Gerard if he'd like to spend time with him, but plans quickly vanished the second worry entered him. Gerard received a similar text message from his mother which instilled a similar feeling in him. He was silent on the ride to the hospital as Frank anxiously fidgeted in his seat.

Frank immediately noticed the excess of police cars flocked with grim looking officers speaking lowly amongst each other, some exiting or entering the hospital. An empty ambulance with the double doors swung open seemed ominous in front of the entrance until someone arrived to shut the back and park the vehicle elsewhere.

Frank halted at the entrance, gasping. He held his stomach as it flipped over at the sudden wave of sorrow and dread curling like a fog within him, humid and chilled.

"What's the matter?" Gerard attentively leaned forward, alarmed.

Frank swallowed down a gasp of despair, large eyes slowly looking up and past the glass automatic doors sliding open when it sensed their presence. "Something bad happened. Something tragic."

Gerard's concern froze on his face as he processed. His mouth pressed into a thin line as he nodded slowly, cautiously looking around. "Yes. I know. I gathered that from the officer's thoughts."

"What happened?" Frank breathed.

Gerard sighed deeply, his shoulders hunching forward the smallest bit. "It's best if your mother explains it to you. You'll want to hear it from her side."

Frank, frustrated by the lack of details, swiftly took off once the worst of the iciness subsided. Gerard easily fell into step with him, silent as ever even in the elevator bringing them up to the second floor where he'd find his mother. He bounced off the next text she sent him and followed the directions that would lead them to the cafeteria she resided in, assumingely to take a breather since Frank suspected this case involved her more than what was visible to the public.

To Frank's surprise, when he entered the cafeteria,  he found his mother seated beside Dr. Donna Way at a mostly vacant table far to the right of the wide room. His heart palpitated to see his mother holding a tight fist against her mouth as tears streaked down her face, hardly able to contain her soft sobs as the doctor attempted to comfort her, speaking lowly.

"Mom? What happened?" Frank raced over.

Linda stood when she noticed her son had entered the room. Immediately, she flung herself at him, arms curling around his body so tightly that it was nearly suffocating, but the close proximity allowed Frank to dig through her aura. Another cold kick of grief and sadness overcame him, nearly making his knees buckle as it poured out from her and into him. His eyes automatically stung on behalf of her pain, he couldn't fully process how he was only feeling the tip of the iceberg in comparison to all of her thoughts and emotions being evoked by what took place in Astoria that day.

"What's going on?" Frank frantically asked the doctor since his mother didn't respond to him.

Sadness and tiredness filled Donna's eyes. She remained seated, glancing over at her sound coming around with a faraway look in his eyes as he read her thoughts, gaining a better understanding of the situation.

"One of your mother's closest friends Debbie Anderson was found down by the beach today. It seems to be an animal attack of some sort." Donna looked down sadly. "She was already gone by the time someone called for help."

Shock numbed Frank's chest for a second as his heart stuttered to a temporary halt. His breath almost came out in a strangled gasp and his eyes automatically darted to Gerard. By the tightness in his jaw and the fire in his eyes, Frank immediately knew whatever his mother's friend had been mauled by, it wasn't an animal. 

"Oh, mom. I'm so sorry." Frank squeezed his eyes shut and held onto his trembling mother who had never seemed so vulnerable before, even as he remembered her drained of energy and all the spark in her right before her and his father had split up.

"She only wanted to go out for a hike. She's been down that trail hundreds of times and nothing's ever happened to her." Linda pulled back and wiped at her flushed face profusely, her eyes puffy and irritated from tears.

"We have incidents like these every so often. Oregon has a large population of bears, they can get aggressive and territorial." Donna sighed heavily. "Once we perform an autopsy, then we can be certain this was a terrible accident."

"When will we get a report back?" Frank disentangled his arms as Linda pulled away to take a few deep breaths, soothingly rubbing her shoulder to ground her.

"The time always varies, but I can assure you the results will be released as soon as possible."

Frank nodded, swallowing dry. His mother's grief was so palpable that it was nearly his own despite knowing nothing of the woman who was once a close friend to his mother, someone likely keeping her company when Frank couldn't and giving her the comradeship she needed. He hated not being able to provide Linda the truth when he knew it. His eyes connected with Gerard's which glistened with guilt, though the crime wasn't his at all, but Frank knew exactly how he felt without needing to assess his aura. Frank took in a shuddery breath and subtly shook his head so Gerard knew he wasn't to blame for anything.

"I'll let you two have some privacy for a bit. I'll be out in the hall, I'd like to have a small talk with my son." Donna stood from her seat, gesturing towards the door with her eyes heavily settled on Gerard.

Gerard looked like he didn't want to move an inch from his spot, a pucker between his brows as he stared at Frank.

"Go, it's okay. We can talk later." Frank murmured softly to him.

Gerard hesitated, but eventually nodded and went away with his mother out to the hallway, undoubtedly to have a serious discussion about the fatal vampire attack that took someone's life.

Frank suggested for his mother to sit down again while he went to get her a bottle of water. Once he returned,  he settled into the seat beside her, dragging it closer and placing the bottle on the table in front of her. Linda gratefully took it and twisted the cap off, draining a large gulp.

"Did this just happen?" Frank asked softly.

Linda rubbed her temples, leaning her elbows on the table. "About a half hour ago. I heard they were bringing a body straight to the morgue, the police were here informing the staff. I had just found out who it was when I texted you."

Frank nodded slowly. His hands were heavy in his lap, as solid as the block of his heart sunken down in his lower gut. "So they really think it was an animal attack?"

"She was mauled." Linda choked out. She pressed a hand to her throat, shutting her eyes. "Something got her out in those woods and dragged her to the river, the one that runs into the sea."

Frank bit back a swear. He curled his hands into fists imagining a savage creature with gleaming red eyes coiling to attack an innocent and unsuspecting person calmly strolling down one of the hiking trails in the woods. He perfectly envisioned their lips curling back over a pair of lethal fangs bared in preparation to tear them into flesh as though it was nothing durable, as fragile as paper or cotton fabric. Frank sucked in the disgust rolling over him and tried to stay present, to be of support, but he found it was increasingly difficult going along with a lie when Linda was completely heartbroken.

"I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine how it feels like losing one of your best friends." Frank whispered.

"I never thought I'd lose someone this way." Linda hung her head between her hands.

"I know." Frank went silent for a long moment. His mother sniffled and wiped her stray tears, but she seemed a touch more comforted now that Frank accompanied her and didn't let her go about her pain alone. He gently touched her hand and frowned.

"I just— you know I'm here for you, right? You can talk to me about this whenever you need to. Believe me, I'm better at understanding people's feelings more than you'd ever guess. You remember all those times I'd get overwhelmed by everyone's feelings as a kid?"

Linda's lips quirked into the faintest sad smile. "Of course. Your teacher sent you home a few times because you wouldn't stop crying. You said you felt someone else's sadness."

"It's more under control now. For the most part." Frank lightly cleared his throat, sighing. "That's not the point. I just want you to know I get it and I'm not gonna leave you alone while you go through this."

Linda's eyes misted over again, fresh tears welling and spilling from the corners. She tightly grasped onto Frank's hand in a grateful squeeze, nodding her head profusely when she couldn't muster any words in the moment, but Frank understood all the ways grieving could make a person feel incapable of many things. He wished the mourning process wasn't so devastating, that people could make peace with the fact that someone's soul was resting apart from a world that seemed so cruel at times. They resided in a better wonderland where malice and suffering weren't present. No one would ever feel loss, only forgiveness and calm, sending off their loved one with a final words of goodbye and a kiss to the endless sky their floated towards.

But life wasn't simple. Life was soiled in regrets, in pain, in wishing you had done things better instead of being content that you'd succeeded in doing anything at all. Life was filled with moments of grief, not always necessarily linking to death, but to the countless other forms of loss that couldn't be helped. The unstoppable moments of sorrow eclipsed the rare fragments of happiness, because pain was far less subtle than joy, carrying all the potential to take a life, stronger than joy's potential to save a life.

After a moment of quiet accompaniment and small reflections of the past Linda shared in bittersweet retellings, she decided she'd burdened Frank enough with her baggage, to which Frank immediately responded to by telling her she was never a burden and her grief wasn't to be minimized that way. She was offered a chance to return home early and she took it up, but she was off to visit a mutual friend who was enduring the same thing as her instead of choosing to stay at the house. Frank told her to take all the time she needed, letting her know he'd be perfectly fine, and sent her off with a sinking feeling in him.

By the time Frank found Gerard again, he was low on energy, full of the sadness he absorbed from his mother. He almost couldn't bear it. It wasn't by any means Linda's fault; but Frank was an empath who easily soaked in energies over an extended period of time, an ultimate disadvantage. He felt almost sick from the intensity of secondhand heartache coming over him in combination with his own after witnessing his mother suffering.

"Is everything alright?" Gerard sounded like their time apart had troubled him.

Frank nodded. "My mom's going to stay with a friend she had in common with Debbie. I talked to her and let her know I'm here for her, too. It's gonna take a while for her to recover, but I know she'll be okay."

Gerard was only a touch relieved. It wasn't enough to take the fire from his eyes. "I'm so sorry for your mother's loss. I'd like to offer her my condolences sometime soon."

"It's fine. You're sweet for wanting to do that." Frank sighed deeply, rubbing his right eye that burned from tiredness taking over along with his guilt. "I hate that I know what really happened and I can't even tell her."

Gerard looked around, stepping closer and holding Frank's elbow to move them to a hallway ending in a closed laboratory for their privacy. "You can't let anyone know about this, Frank. I hate to keep secrets as much as you do, but it's imperative that no one finds out."

"You really think I'd tell someone?" Frank was a bit peeved that Gerard genuinely thought it was necessary to warn him, as if he hadn't been loyal to keeping Gerard's oddities to himself the entire time he unraveled them.

"I'm just taking as much precaution as possible. I don't mean to offend you." Gerard rubbed the side of his face exasperatedly. "It seems a vampire was in passing. We're hoping that's all it was, because if this vampire lingers, then we'll have plenty more cases similar to this. It'll definitely rise suspicion in a small town like this."

Frank's irritation vanished instantly, replaced by unease. "Can't you do something about it?"

Gerard's eyes tightened around the corners. "If it escalates, then yes. I suppose we can. Even if they have advantages by consuming human blood, one against six is no match."

"Assuming there's only one." Frank's throat suddenly went dry.

Gerard nodded, his expression stony with distress. Frank felt it rolling off of him in waves, the intensity of his concern alongside the absence of his internal spring, leaving Frank more cold than ever as he dealt with a combination of borrowed emotion. It was suddenly too much as it cracked down the center of his chest and found the strength he always grasped onto so he wouldn't fall victim to his empathy the way he did when he was a child.

Frank was just as surprised by his tears as Gerard was. Frank sucked in a shaky sharp breath, pressing his hand firmly against his chest as he turned towards the locked doors to the lab. He couldn't gain control over himself. He needed to release the accumulation some way, but he didn't think he'd burst at the seams so quickly.

"God, I'm sorry, I'm just—" Frank swallowed down a tiny sob, "I'm overwhelmed. I'm feeling all of these things, they're not even my emotions— I guess some of them are, but. Fuck, I'm sorry."

"Darling." Gerard whispered, pained by Frank's breaking point which only made Frank cry harder. He reached out, softly shushing Frank, turning his face towards him with gentle hands to wipe his tears from his cheeks.

"She's so sad." Frank managed to squeeze through his tight throat. "Sometimes, I just suck up everything, like some kind of emotional sponge, and I don't even mean to. It makes me feel so tired and depressed. I hate getting like this 'cause I want to be there for people, I want to make them feel better—"

"And you have to look after yourself while caring for others." Gerard stroked a tear away from under Frank's chin, voice warm with sympathy. "I adore your empathy, but you should always know your limits."

"I can't afford to have limits right now, otherwise I'd be leaving my mom all alone." Frank sucked in a pained gasp, leaning desperately into Gerard's touch as it cooled down his overheated skin.

"I hate to see you like this." Gerard tenderly traced the line of Frank's jaw, his face crestfallen as a sorrowful angel. "I'm sorry if I bombarded you as well. I understand today took a turn for the worst."

"It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault, except for that stupid vampire's." Frank sniffled, letting his eyes slip shut as he reveled in the sweetness of Gerard's touch moving across his skin like the brush of a butterfly's wings. As subtle as it was, it was everything he needed to take deep breaths, willing the tears to evaporate and leave him be.

"I wish I could hold you." Gerard whispered.

Frank's heart ached. His eyes opened slowly, capturing Gerard's gaze. "I wish you could, too."

Gerard's nostrils flared, his chest holding still as he froze his breath in his lungs. His eyes were overbrimming with unspoken words of sweetness and consolation, more beautiful than words in any language could precisely describe.

"Gerard." A soft voice interrupted them.

Frank nearly yanked himself back into the wall as he instantly recognized the person standing around the corner. His eyes were large and his heart jumped into his throat as he realized he'd been caught only a few breaths away from Gerard, soaking in his touch with every bit of desire in him, clinging onto his affection he so craved and needed in his moment of weakness.

Donna stood there, a bit embarrassed to cut into such an intimate moment, but no more embarrassed than Frank. He hadn't even been properly introduced to the majority of Gerard's family and he hardly knew Donna enough, yet he was caught blushing pink after receiving a tender touch on the cheek from her son who he was desperately in love with.

"I said I'd be quick. I'm sorry, I was a bit distracted." Gerard was nothing short of mortified to be interrupted by his mother, though he was better at concealing it after practicing masking his true emotions for years. The only person he couldn't fool was Frank.

"Sorry if I kept him from you, Dr. Way." Frank cleared away the high waver in his voice. "Um, if you need to talk to him again, I'll just go wait somewhere."

"Actually— it's all okay. I won't add additional stress onto the both of you, I'll share whatever news I have when I receive more information." Donna turned to Gerard. "You should take Frank home now. I don't think Linda would want him lingering in this depressing place for long."

"Of course." Gerard nodded.

Donna smiled benevolently at Frank to ease his chagrin. "Thank you for your time and support, Frank. And also for . . . being so accepting of our kind."

Frank's eyes flew open wide. He looked between Gerard and Donna, truly at a loss for words since he didn't think Gerard would've been so quick to tell his mother his truth has been revealed to a human.

Stammering, Frank only thought to reply with, "It's nothing to thank me for, Dr. Way."

Donna beamed at him before she turned around the corner and vanished to return to her work. Frank was flabbergasted, the blood once rushing under his skin dispersed and leaving behind a pallid complexion.

"I asked for my mother's advice before allowing you to figure things out for yourself. She told me that if I trusted and cared for you enough to bring you into my world, it wouldn't harm us in any way if you knew the truth." Gerard filled him in.

"Oh. So she . . . does she know that we . . ." Frank had difficulty saying the words out loud, which surprised him considering he'd been the first to confess, an event causing ongoing small moments of intimacy he held close to his heart.

"I haven't told her explicitly, but she must know." Gerard released a fluttering breath, reaching out for his chilled fingertips to graze the contrasting warmth of Frank's hand. "Let's get you home. You must be exhausted." 

Frank was quiet on the journey back home, and aside from the accompaniment of the radio played to a hushed volume, not much else occurred. Frank settled into the quiet and  guiltily relished  in the calmness now that he was apart from devastation and heart-splintering grief. Frank struggled accepting it was only natural for an empath to feel so overwhelmed by the feelings of others when they flooded into his body as though they stemmed from his heart, but he couldn't help sinking into his seat and shutting his eyes tight against the selfish particle inside him that longed to burrow into an isolating shelter to avoid resurfacing for a few days, knowing the tides that were coming to drag him under soon. Frank couldn't hide away or he'd be wrongfully limiting his mother's support systems to the most minimal amount, and she needed as much comfort as she could get. 

But being in Gerard's presence brought his solace. He sensed Gerard excavating every morsel of joy from the banks of his islands to marvel in their glory and evoke a steady stream of contentment that Frank could breathe in. His happiness would become Frank's in more ways than one, but most importantly, Frank felt it by clinging to his energy like a lifeline while delicately cradling every shimmering golden fragment in deep appreciation. Frank released the softest breath of relief as he shut his eyes and allowed himself to drift into it, swept into the isles and picturing the heat of sunlight bathing his face. 

Gerard glided into the driveway and gently interrupted Frank's moment of zen by turning down the radio to silent. Frank's eyes opened gradually, sweeping over their surroundings that were now laden in the darkness of the evening. 

"I hate to leave you on your own after today." Gerard's voice threaded in concern continued the stretch of comfort exuding from him. But the soft reminder was another pang radiating through Frank's chest. 

"I'll be fine. I mean, it's not like I haven't had to spend nights alone in the house before. The emotional shit is just a regular thing for me." Frank smiled weakly. 

Unconvinced, Gerard pressed his lips together. "You'll call me if you need anything, right? Anything at all." 

"I won't need anything. But if suddenly I feel like I do, you'll be the first person I'll reach out to." Frank was tempted to give into his weakness and ask if Gerard would be willing to stay, to thread their fingers together for the remainder of the night so Frank wouldn't lose his tether. Some part of him was nervous, thinking he'd be testing his luck and their boundaries by it. So he opted for not bringing it up despite the way his heart raced and yearned for Gerard when their eyes met again in the barely illuminated darkness of the car. 

"I want you to feel comfortable enough to let me know if you need something. I know these conditions may seem a little . . . unconventional. Asking for a vampire to appear at your doorstep in the night sounds like a backwards horror film." Gerard broke off with a faint chuckle. "But I can't stand the thought of you enduring something saddening all alone. This isn't your grieving, but I think I know you enough to reckon you'll be carrying your mother's burden more than what's good for you." 

At that, Frank's request almost dripped from his lips.  The words crystallized at the roof of his mouth to which he pressed his tongue against harshly to keep them there, waiting for them to absorb. Frank hated to be too delicate. All he needed was a quiet evening of coping and resting, separating himself from his abilities to focus on his own thoughts and emotions which he sometimes tended to forget about when constantly paging through other people. Frank would always crave Gerard, but he needed a moment to himself; it was the only acceptable antidote. 

But undoubtedly, Frank had softened. Melted, even. The residual pool of wax from the burning candle at the mercy of Cupid's flame. 

"Brace yourself." Frank gave Gerard a few seconds in advance, suppressing a small smile. 

However puzzled the words left him, Gerard halted his breathing, his eyes wide and expectant. Frank took the opportunity to quickly lean in and brush his lips against Gerard's cold cheek. His skin was always unexpectedly soft in the few fleeting moments they touched. Frank wished he could kiss a trail from the apple of Gerard's pale cheek to the corner of his mouth, lips grazing in a tender way as their breaths were exchanged. Frank did whatever he could given the circumstances, telling Gerard words that went unspoken through a kiss. 

Gerard's eyes whispered 'I love you, too' as Frank pulled back to look into them. Frank scooped the endearment into his palms and pressed them into his heart so with every beat he focused on that evening, he could feel Gerard's presence beside him as if he really had the guts to ask him to stay. 

__

As expected, getting through the days being surrounded in the bleakness of mourning took its toll, but Frank couldn't stand to wallow in the side affects instead of caring for his mother the way a supportive child would. It wasn't within him to curl into himself while cutting off the outside world and only attending to things that involved himself exclusively. Frank made it his personal job to tend to the house and allow his mother to rest as much as possible since her heartache began polluting her immune system with physical unwellness. Much to her protest, since Linda wasn't inclined to sit back while everything was done for her, but Frank must have been more stubborn than she was since she eventually accepted he wouldn't step down and participated in house chores in the most minimal ways when Frank wasn't keeping an eye on her. 

Frank couldn't help but overanalyze the quiet moments and the times his mother drifted off into her thoughts as though she existed in a memory Frank couldn't reminesce in with her. Even as she drifted away, Frank always managed to guide her back to shore so she wouldn't permanently be lost within the ocean of her sorrow. Frank accepted there would be moments his consoling efforts wouldn't be enough, the most bitter pill to swallow, so he allotted there to be plenty of space despite the way his instincts urged him not to leave her alone with her heartbroken thoughts. Being alone in small increments at a time was a necessity to soothe the soul, but Frank wished his presence had the power of absolving all of his mother's pain.

Although Linda stated her invitation to the funeral was automatically extended to him, she assured him he didn't need to attend and preferred he didn't so he wouldn't be surrounded by triple the amount of sadness than he was already exposed to in the house. He quietly released a breath of relief after he held it while Linda was informing him. He didn't know how he'd handle an atmosphere that would result in the quick crumbling of his emotional state. 

It was brutal on her, as expected. She returned home that evening still clad in her black dress with puffy eyes reddened all around the rims and shoulders slumped forward. She was quiet, but Frank immediately went to scoop her into an embrace she was in dire need of.  She trudged off to bed early that evening after dinner and insisted that the most difficult part was over; leaving behind a rose on her best friend's coffin and knowing she was fully at peace now was enough to lift some of the darkness surrounding Linda's aching heart, and Frank sensed it, a soft beginning of acceptance. 

The weekend of the winter dance arrived quickly, including Frank's long awaited mystery trip with Gerard– in actuality, it hadn't been long since they made the arrangement, but anticipation made time pass like an eternity before the date arrived. Frank was burdened with guilt leaving Linda alone, but once he loosely filled her in on his plans, she was grateful he had a chance to leave the house and insisted he spend some time apart from her to catch his breath. Frank tied his guilt together and hid it away in a box to relieve his shoulders of its weight. 

Frank mood shifted into one of jubilance and something enticingly warm encompassing his insides as he anticipated a day spent alone with Gerard somewhere pleasant, a day where Astoria expected a glimpse of sunlight in the afternoon to battle against the sheen of frost layering over every visible surface. He figured he didn't mind the cold as much lately since it went in tandem with the holiday coming up. Frank had decked out the house in aging Christmas decorations as a surprise for Linda to arrive home to during one of the days she needed to work later, so the bite of winter only enhanced the homeliness of colorful lights weaved through garlands and ornaments perched on a meticulously assembled Christmas tree cozily resting in the corner of the living room. 

Tugging on a thick sweater, Frank's heart was pounding as he heard the doorbell ring, indicating Gerard's arrival. Frank had spent perhaps too long in the shower scrubbing clean every square inch of his body and then later brushing his teeth twice, both time incredibly thoroughly. And yes, it was necessary, he wanted to be as fresh as possible. Frank considered himself presentable after running a brush through his hair for the third time and flitting down the stairs, passing his mother who refrained from smiling too widely. She made Frank promise to take all safety precautions since she lost control over what would happen once Frank stepped out the door– making Frank flush tremendously, but he reluctantly agreed despite knowing those topics were mostly off the table for them. Even if Linda wouldn't be home that night so she could spend time with her friend and Frank were to bring Gerard into the house, Frank had no expectations whatsoever. 

Frank answered the door and found Gerard patiently waiting, seeming a tad anxious, which was out of character for him. His v-neck sweater dipped low and showed off a smooth pale throat and the faint shadow of collarbones Frank had the most severe urge to– oh, jesus. Frank banished the thought with an immediate blush. 

"About time." Frank jested, smiling sideways. 

"Pardon my awful tendency to be fashionably late. I'm, what, two minutes behind? Unacceptable." Gerard went along, returning the smile as his anxiousness dissipated the instant he took in Frank's beaming face. 

"As long as you don't stand me up and later reveal this was all a prank." Frank chuckled and looked over his shoulder. "We should probably go right this second before my mom pops out from the kitchen all of a sudden wanting to ask you a billion questions." 

"I don't get to properly introduce myself to the lovely woman who's worried about her son having unprotected sex?" 

Frank's face flamed and he stumbled during his step past the threshold, luckily being balanced back into an upward position before he could fall over. Frank's huge eyes wheeled around to stare at a snickering Gerard in disbelief. 

"Jesus fuck, Gerard, did you really have to say that out loud?" Frank breathed. 

"Just to see what your reaction would be, yes. I can tell she's already given you a small lecture, so I suppose the best thing I can do is respect her rules." Gerard suggestively waggled his eyebrows, taking Frank off guard again. Frank spun around and pretended he was going to sprint back in the house, but Gerard hooked an arm around his waist to pull him back just as the door swung shut, pulling delighted laughter from the both of them. 

Gerard's demeanor was far more relaxed than it had ever been in any of their encounters before. He was humorous, sharing frequent smiles and small moments of laughter with Frank while driving off on an unknown road to a destination he hadn't revealed yet. His eyes, clear and emerald as treetops, shimmered warmly and he exhibited a healthier glow Frank assumed was from feeding himself plentifully. Perhaps it was his own form of preparation for their time together, leading Frank to frantically bat away a swarm of butterflies as he wondered if Gerard had been equally nervous for what most likely would become a first date. 

"So, where are you taking me?" Frank asked curiously once they took on an unfamiliar path delving deeper into the woods. "I hope you're not planning on chopping me into pieces out here." 

Gerard's natural laughter spilled from him effortlessly. "Absolutely not. I just have a place further out here that I wanted to show you. I discovered it around the time of my first visit here and I think you'll love it just as much as I do." 

"You probably take all the boys to this special place." Frank said teasingly, drawing a chuckle from Gerard. 

"No one's been here aside from myself and Mikey. The rest of my family was less interested, but they know I like visiting this place when I need time to myself." 

Frank pictured a bubbling river or perhaps a nook with an abandoned cottage all tidied up for new life to inhabit it. Frank's eyes drifted over the abundance of trees and green they passed, but the only green he craved to observe the most was the kind within Gerard's irises. All in due time, he reminded himself, even as he had no idea how long it would take to reach their destination. 

After approximately fifteen minutes passed, Gerard turned into a clearing that most likely wasn't meant for vehicles to park, but tire tracks along the damp grounds indicated people had ventured out when they didn't intent on taking the ordinary hiking trails left behind. Frank curiously looked around the ring of space, not locating any sort of path. 

"Alright, now this is getting a little scary." Frank grinned nervously as he unbuckled his seatbelt slowly. 

"I happened across it while exploring the woods, so there isn't exactly a trail leading to it. In case you're wondering; no, we won't get lost. Vampires can track scents and we have a photographic memory." Gerard tapped his temple, smiling in a disarming matter melting away most of Frank's nerves, but not all as one remaining factor stood out amongst the rest. 

"That's fine and all, but, uh, I can't promise I won't snap my ankles walking out there." Frank would most definitely find ways to stumble over the smallest amounts of unevenness in the ground and the treacherous tree roots intent on making Frank lose his balance. 

"You think I'd let you fall?" Gerard's voice was surprisingly tender. "I'll guide you. I'm your unorthodox savior after all." 

Frank bit his lip to abstain from smiling idiotically. He merely nodded his head and opened the passenger door to step out onto the soft dampened ground smelling sweet and earthy after a recent saturation of morning dew. Frank could already see the thinning of the clouds ahead, a cool breeze fluttering through the leaves of the trees,  a subtle reminder that it was still winter even if the warmth of sunshine would eventually bleed through. Subtlety wouldn't reign for long as soon as the rare grin of sunlight would set underneath the clouds and night would soon fall again to suck out the faintest hints of heat sinking below the surrounding vegetation. Frank could still soak it in for as long as he could once it hit, now was only a matter of impatience awaiting for the sparse clouds to move away with the wind. 

"I'm guessing you've taken up hiking as a hobby since you have way too much time on your hands?" Frank inquired as he followed Gerard's lead into the thick brush, shouldering past a few plump trees and overgrown weeds stemming up from the ground. 

"You could say that. Vampires have incredibly sharp senses, much more than human senses, so taking in sights like these is an advanced and beautiful experience. Nature is never the same every time you visit it. Things grow, wilt, new creatures find their way into the green. These woods are more alive than you think." 

Frank carefully stepped over a crooked tree root nearly hidden underneath a pile of dried leaves. "I think humans could definitely benefit from an experience like that. Maybe we'd be less tempted to destroy places like this just to build on top of it." 

"Even so, it's hard to say people would make the right choice." Gerard's arm slipped around Frank's waist to lift him just in time before he could mangle his ankle tripping over yet another hidden tree root. Frank gasped, but he wasn't lingering in the air for long. 

"Okay, you don't have to pick me up like that–"

"Yes, I do." Gerard's lips fixed in a painfully beautiful crooked smile. "Try your best not to tangle up in one of the bushes and I won't need to." 

Frank sighed, nodding. "I bet you've explored all of these woods, haven't you?" 

"Every inch I could find. And beyond that, going past the state lines while hunting. I could run across the United States and back within a day, possibly." 

Frank's eyes widened to an uncanny size. "You're that fast?" 

"Speed is a part of vampirism that aids us in capturing our prey. You'll find everything about us is for that purpose." Gerard abruptly halted in the midst of his outpour of information, lips firmly pressing shut as his eyebrows pinched together. 

"What's wrong?" Frank asked. 

"Oh, it's nothing . . . just getting ahead of myself." Gerard sighed, leaving Frank unfairly curious, but before he could question him, Gerard gently grabbed ahold of his wrist and tugged him closer so he stepped beside him instead of treading behind. "Stay here, darling, I don't want you to fall behind." 

Frank's cheeks warmed in an explosion of scarlet burning under his skin. He nodded without thinking twice about his response and continued to fall into step with Gerard, inclined to revel in the way Gerard's fingers never ceased circling around his wrist to keep him in tow. Frank wondered briefly if Gerard was even aware of the impact his endearments had on Frank's heart as it pounded like a drum, hammering away until he swore one day he'd grow faint from it, as wimpy as it sounded. 

"I like hearing for your reaction to things." Gerard mused softly. "Your heart beats so quickly sometimes. I've started compiling a list of things that move you just so I can listen to it." 

Frank nearly squirmed away in embarrassment. "I figured you could hear it. Sorry, I just . . . you make me nervous." 

Gerard looked over in deep concern, making Frank stammer immediately. "I don't mean that in a bad way! Definitely not, you'd know if it was a bad thing. You make me nervous in– in the kind of way where your palms get all sweaty and your stomach flips, like . . . like trying to get sleep the night before Christmas morning as a kid." 

Gerard's eyes filled with wonder absorbed him anew. "I wish I remembered or even knew the feeling you're describing. I feel things differently, but it's so bold all the same." 

Frank swallowed hard. "What do you feel?" 

Gerard's lips curled faintly, a soft look in his eyes. "You're familiar with the sensation of falling. Imagine beginning to plummet, that fear that spikes in you at first . . . but then, the air forms a cradle around you and holds you in its gravity. Suddenly, you're no longer falling; you're flying." 

Frank's heart positively hammered out of his chest by then. His flush circulated through his body and the lightness beneath his feet made him feel as though he could sprint through the woods without tangling his legs up. It was the most freeing emotion he ever had the privilege of experiencing and he doubted he'd ever feel it again with someone who wasn't Gerard. 

Frank tangled their fingers together in an instant, drawing closer so they practically had their sides pressed together as they strolled down the makeshift path. They exchanged sweet smiles leaving imprints on each other's cores they wouldn't dare ever erase even if fate had separate plans for them after inescapably bringing them together. For a moment, Frank refused to feed into his fear that his bliss would soon evaporate as he existed as only an ephemeral moment in Gerard's infinity. What counted presently was that Gerard loved Frank the way Frank loved him. 

After a half hour of walking, Frank's legs were beginning to protest from all of the long and careful steps he needed to take in order to avoid making a fool out of himself. It was then that he could see a bright opening falling into their path, a place where the sunlight finally burst through the cloud bank to unleash a golden light over the land. Frank was enthralled and filled with a surge of excitement. 

"I can't wait to see the sun again. God, I miss it so much, you have no idea." Frank lurched forward and tugged Gerard's arm along with him. "C'mon, if we keep moving at a snail's place I'm gonna lose my mind." 

"I wouldn't be surprised if your excitement caused you to move faster than a vampire." Gerard chuckled in amusement, picking up the pace so Frank wouldn't need to wait much longer. 

They finally approached the opening in the brush. As Frank pushed aside an abundance of branches and tall overgrown greenery, his astonishment when he broke into a round clearing caused him to halt in his tracks. He couldn't even strictly focus on the warmth enveloping him as the benevolent sunlight welcomed him in. 

The clearing was a ring of luscious wildflowers weaving through grass beholding the purest shade of green Frank had ever laid eyes on. The epitome of the color green, perhaps, vibrant against the splashes of color the blooming flowers dotted its canvas with. The petals danced in the wind like a sway to the tune of nature and the sunlight moving across it was like a sheet of honey glistening on the waxy leaves curving out from the thick stems. The saccharine whistles of birds carried over as they nestled into the trees and the beauty of the meadow was almost too pure to be true, leading Frank to wonder if he'd knocked himself unconscious at some point and was hallucinating. It was a vision that only existed in portraits depicting an idea of heaven. 

"Gerard," Frank whispered too quietly, so he tried again after sucking in a breath. "Gerard. This can't be real." 

"It's just as real as everything else you've seen today." Gerard's voice came from behind, settled at the place just before the clearing. 

"I've never seen anything remotely like this before." Frank took one hesitant step forward and stopped. "I don't even want to walk on it, it's . . ." 

"Beautiful, isn't it?" 

"Beautiful doesn't cut it. I don't even have a word for this." Frank carefully took a few more steps in, flowers grazing his legs softly as though bidding him hello. Frank tilted his head back to gaze up a the wispy clouds pulling away from the beaming sunshine hung in a vividly blue sky. Frank wanted to stretch his arms out towards it to float. A smile began spreading across his face. 

Frank tore his eyes away from it to find Gerard, to share this moment with him, but he was surprised to find Gerard still stood in the shadows of the trees. He looked anxious again, the way he had when Frank answered the door earlier, only a bit worse. 

"Gerard?" Frank called out. 

"I'm sorry," Gerard answered, voice mysteriously strained. "I might need a second." 

"Is everything okay?" Consternation started to build. Was Gerard doubting his decision to bring Frank to his sacred place?

"I just– I need you to be prepared for something, Frank." Gerard shut his eyes. "I'm not sure if it'll make you realize how different I am from you. And I don't want you to be afraid of me."

Frank was bewildered for a moment, until a moment passed with him scurrying through every possibility that could explain Gerard's words and the dots connected. Frank glanced up at the sun and back at Gerard keeping away from it. Perhaps he didn't shrivel into a pile of embers under the sunlight . . . but it was possible something else occurred when he stepped into it. Addressing the open fear on Gerard's face, Frank's chest clenched. He couldn't feel him from this distance and he disliked it. 

"I know we're different. That was obvious to me from the start, I expect to keep on finding things we're complete opposites in." Frank shook his head. "I can't be scared of you, Gerard. I don't have it in me and it's not gonna start now." 

Gerard's eyes opened, warily eyeing the field. "How can you be so certain that you're ready to accept everything I need to show you today?" 

Frank thought of ways to soothe the terror out of Gerard, to coax him out of his shell to fully reveal himself and see that Frank loved every facet of him. Unconditionally. Frank didn't have many words to share, so he stepped closer, slowly holding up a hand and extending it out towards him. 

"You don't have anything to be afraid of, love." Frank whispered, though he knew Gerard could hear him. "Come here. I want to see you. I want you here with me." 

Gerard released a silent breath, shoulders falling out of their tense state, but despite the way he was being persuaded, the pucker between his brows wouldn't disappear. Frank supposed he'd need to smooth it out with a soft touch of his fingers once Gerard entered the meadow. 

Frank kept his hand outstretched and it would remain that way until Gerard's hand rested in it. Gerard began moving with great apprehension, his eyes locking with Frank's from the distance and finding nothing but an inviting gaze that accepted and acknowledged his fears, but reassured him nothing would change between them if he faced them. 

Gerard finally stepped out into the clearing under the glare of the sun. At the sight of him, as he revealed his reasons for hiding beneath cloudy weather for his own protection, Frank swallowed down a sharp gasp taking him in in his fully glory for the first time. 

___

Oh my god, I've been so looking forward to writing this chapter and the next two, I'm not even done pre-writing the third part but I had the explosive urge to share the first chapter with you already! 

It's gonna be a huge pot of mushy romance and a touch of angst. And then we're getting closer to the main action which has already begun earlier within this chapter– it almost makes me sad knowing I'm at the midway point already, but there's more books to look forward to and I get excited again remembering. 

I hope you enjoyed this! Feedback is always appreciated, I like to hear anything you're willing to share with me. 

-rosexo