I've been waiting for this part of the story since the second book

~~

I woke up and saw Frank walking to me. It was the middle of the night and we were still just in our little spot by the water.

"Come on, I found a little rowboat," he said.

I followed him to a little dock where there was some big boats but also just a little rowboat. I looked at him nervously before getting on, feeling the boat rock beneath me as I sat on the bench. Frank sat across from me and untied the boat, starting to row away.

We were facing each other, the moonlight shining down, making the water glisten. It has only gotten colder as I sat there shaking, wishing for safety.

"H-how far are we f-from land?" I asked.

"I don't know," he said.

I looked under the bench and found something. There was a box and a big, soft blanket. I wrapped the blanket around Frank's shoulders and curled up in his lap.

"I love you," Frank whispered.

I opened the box and let out a small cry in relief. Inside was some bottles of water and some snacks. I helped Frank drink some water as he rowed. I opened the food, feeding both myself and Frank.

"You need to get some rest," Frank said when we had finished one packet of the dried food. "Take the blanket and lay down, get some sleep."

"You can keep the blanket," I said.

I curled up on the ground at his feet, closing my eyes. Frank laid the blanket over me and I curled up in the warmth of it. The gentle rocking of the boat eventually lulled me to sleep as I listened to the water around us.

I was woken by the sun shining down on us. I sat up and saw that there was a shore in the distance.

"We're almost there!" I exclaimed.

I looked over and saw Frank shaking as he rowed weakly, his lips slightly blue.

"Daddy," I gasped.

I sat up, wrapping my arms around him.

"You need to rest and warm up, let me take a turn rowing," I said.

"N-no, baby, th-that's okay," he said.

I shook my head and sat him on the floor of the boat so I could sit in his spot. I wrapped the blanket around his shoulders, leaning down to kiss his forehead.

I rowed us forward as Frank quickly fell asleep at my feet. I smiled down at him, rowing us towards the shore. The cold air bit at my skin and I could feel it burning my lungs with every breath I took.

We got to the shore and I set the oars down. I let the boat rest there, bobbing in the water as I let Frank sleep. The sun rose even higher as a couple hours past before Frank woke up.

"Thank you, baby," Frank said.

I was relieved to see that there was some color in his face again, and not just blue either. Frank stood up and gently stepped out of the boat into the water. It went just up to his knees as he waded through the water, pulling the boat with him.

It hit the shore and Frank held my hand, helping me out of the boat so I didn't fall into the water. I stood on the dirt as Frank grabbed the things from the boat.

"Alright, let's find a bank," he said.

I smiled and nodded, holding my hand out. Frank wrapped the blanket around me and held my hand as we walked through the woods.

"We're gonna go home," I mumbled happily.

"Yes, and the first thing we're gonna do is take a nice hot bath and cuddle and eat food until our stomachs explode," he said.

I smiled and nodded as we broke away from the woods and found a road. Frank stopped in his tracks and I frowned in confusion.

"What is it?" I asked.

"That sign," Frank said.

I frowned, looking at the sign.

Amberton 8 km away

"What about it?" I asked.

"The United States doesn't use the fucking metric system," Frank said.

"We aren't in the United States?" I asked. "Where are we at?"

"I don't know, but this is bad, Gerard," he said.

I whimpered at the use of my full name, that meant he was very serious.

"Wh-why?" I asked nervously.

"Because we don't have access to our money," he said. "We don't have a way to get back home."

My eyes watered as he held my hand and pulled me with him. We walked all the way to the town, my feet were aching by the time we got there.

"Daddy, I have to go potty," I mumbled.

"Go into that gas station," he said.

I nodded, going to the gas station bathroom. It was dirty and gross but I tried to ignore it.

After finishing using the toilet, I headed outside to find Frank. I wrapped the blanket tighter around myself before I found Frank.

He was talking to some pretty girl with blonde hair, who looked closer to Frank's age than my own. Frank leaned in close, brushing her hair behind her ear as she giggled and blushed.

Not on my watch, bitch.

I stormed up angrily and Frank immediately put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.

"This is my son, Arthur," Frank said.

My eyes widened as I looked at him. He's gonna flirt with someone right in front of me while he tells her I'm his son? And use my middle name of all things!

"Well, you two have a very interesting story, Anthony," the lady said. "Going on vacation here and getting mugged, oh, that's sad."

"Yeah, we're just trying to get back home," Frank said.

"Well, I work at the motel right across the street," she said.

"Oh really?" Frank asked.

Obviously he knew, her uniform shirt made that obvious.

"I can give you two a room to stay in for the night for free, you just can't let my boss know," she said.

"Oh, no, that's okay," Frank said.

"No, really, I insist," she said. "Get some rest before you two get back home."

"Well, if say so," Frank agreed.

We followed her back to the motel and she gave us a key to a room.

"I'll be here if you wanna, you know...talk," she said, giving Frank a small wink.

I scowled as Frank nodded before we went to the motel room. The heat instantly warmed me up but that didn't make me any less pissed off.

"You told her I was your son?" I asked. "You were flirting with her!"

"It was only to get us a free room, she is definitely not my type," Frank said. "And I'm seventeen years older than you, it's more believable that you're my son than my brother."

I crossed my arms unhappily, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Do you want to join me in the shower or are you going to sit here and pout?" Frank asked.

I turned my head away from him and I heard him sighed. The bathroom door shut and I heard the shower start. I looked around at the room. There was green carpet and a very unattractive bed spread. A tiny tv sat over a dresser and there was a small kitchenette in the corner and a small bench against the wall.

I opened the curtains, looking out the window. There wasn't a lot of people outside, most people were probably at work and school. The clock on the wall said it was just about one in the afternoon.

I headed into the bathroom, looking at the steamed up mirror. I got undressed and pushed the curtain aside as I stepped into the shower with Frank. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me under the water with him.

I shuddered from the sudden warm temperature that felt so good. Frank kissed my cheek, holding me close to him. I looked at the cuts and burn mark on his chest.

"Does it hurt?" I asked nervously.

"A little bit but thankfully not too much," he said.

"I-I'm sorry I told them, I didn't mean to," I sobbed. "It's just that they were hurting you and I was so scared. I-I knew immediately that I had made a mistake but I was just scared and I didn't want you getting hurt and--"

"Baby," Frank interrupted softly. "I know you didn't mean to tell, you would never do anything like that on purpose. You were scared and you've never been in a situation like that. I've been trained to not say anything when kidnapped, you haven't, it was all new to you."

"What happens now?" I asked.

"I don't know," he said. "We can't call Pete, not even to warn him. They're probably going to attack him. He's going to be completely blindsided. I just hope him and all his men are ready."

"So he can't come and save us?" I asked.

"No, he can't, we'll have to get home ourselves," he said.

"Why can't we call him?" I asked.

"They might track the number back and find us, we can't let that happen," Frank said.

"But...if we don't call then they can be hurt," I said.

"They can defend themselves, we can't," Frank said.

I nodded, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He asked.

"I was hurting from jumping into the water at first but I'm okay now," I said. "Just tired and aching from walking so far."

"Well, after the shower we'll eat up, but we have to make sure to ration it, we don't know how long it'll be until we get food again," he said.

I nodded my head and we both cleaned up. The two of us stayed in our underwear after the shower. Our clothes laid on the radiator to completely dry and warm up.

"I'm sorry for flirting with her and calling you my son," he said, wrapping his arms around me. "You are my beautiful, beautiful husband."

"It's okay, I was upset but I guess that you were only doing it for my benefit," I said.

Frank gave me a soft kiss and i smiled.

"Everything's going to be okay, baby boy," he whispered.

I nodded my head, snuggling up against him.