Gerard was bored - again, and his sketchbook didn't seem to be catching his attention lately, but he was still trying to produce something decent. His pencil scratched away at the previously unblemished paper, attempting to find a picture in the graphite that even his mind wasn't aware of yet. He always drew like this, with no idea what the end result would be. That was just the way his brain worked, and he couldn't change it, even if he wanted to.

Gerard let his thoughts wander as his pencil glided over the page, and he wasn't surprised when his sketch began to evolve into one of Frank. More than half of his drawings were either of, or relating to his boyfriend, but he couldn't help the fact that he was always on his mind.

But his hand was beginning to cramp, and even though Gerard loved drawing, it was quickly losing its appeal today, so he closed the book with a sharp snap, leaving the unfinished sketch for a later time.

The problem was what to do now; television didn't seem enticing, and Gerard wasn't hungry, and it was much too early in the afternoon to even consider falling asleep, so Gerard found himself wandering aimlessly around his too large house, straightening up random objects as he went.

Gerard briefly considered looking into getting a job, but he really didn't need the money - not with the generous trust fund Elena had left him when she had passed away, along with this house. Gerard didn't have any rent to worry about since Elena had paid off the mortgage when she had been living here, and he barely had to touch the interest his account accumulated to cover the utility and cable bill.

Thinking about Elena brought a sad smile to Gerard's face; he still missed her dearly, he always would, but his pain at her passing had softened into a dull ache, and he felt as if she was still with him in a way, watching over him from above as he lived out his life in the house she had once abided in.

Bringing his easily distracted mind back to the job idea, Gerard wondered if it would be a good experience for him or not. It would give him something to do at the very least, and extra money wasn't something he was going to turn away, but it would be hard to work once college started up again in the fall, and he didn't want his grades to suffer, so maybe it wasn't the best course of action after all.

Gerard knew he would be plenty busy as soon as school was back in session; his current boredom was just brought on by this never ending summer, and even though at first, the idea of unlimited free time had been a dream come true, Gerard had quickly realized that lazing around the house all day got old very fast. This was the first holiday Gerard had ever spent on his own, and even though it wasn't abysmal, it was a bit lonely most of the time.

It was different when Frank was around; Gerard could spend hours with him and never tire of his presence, but he wasn't here right now, and he wouldn't be coming over until later tonight, according to his last text.

Just when Gerard had finally slumped down on the couch and resigned himself to watching crap television now that he couldn't find anything else to clean up at the moment, a small knock resounded throughout the room. Gerard checked his phone, but he didn't have any new messages from Frank - he usually texted him before he headed over, but Gerard never had any other visitors.

"Who is it?" Gerard called out loudly, erring on the side of caution just in case burglars had started knocking on doors recently, and he hadn't received the memo.

"It's me," Frank's familiar voice carried through the walls, and Gerard grinned broadly as he quickly undid the lock separating him from his boyfriend.

Gerard's smile dropped off his face as soon as he took in Frank's appearance. His features were twisted up in that expression it always carried when he was trying not to cry, and he was favoring his left foot slightly.

"Oh sugar..." Gerard exhaled heavily, wrapping one arm around Frank's frail shoulders before leading him inside and sitting back down on the couch, this time with Frank firmly ensconced in his lap.

"I'm fine," Frank smiled up at Gerard, but it was forced, and they both knew it.

"I'm going to kill him one day...I swear," Gerard growled under his breath.

"It's okay baby - I'm almost eighteen. We only have to make it a few more months..." Frank sighed heavily, burying his face into Gerard's neck.

"Still...this is getting worse, not better, and I'm tired of him treating you like a punching bag."

Gerard was speaking about Frank's father of course; he was the picture perfect example of an abusive parent, and Gerard hated the fact that Frank had to live under the same roof as that asshole. He hadn't always been this way, but the further he fell into his alcohol addiction, the more he took out his irrational anger on Frank, and Gerard knew Frank just stood there and took it.

Frank had been showing up at Gerard's door with bruises and a broken self-esteem to match for years, and as time passed, the occurrences began to happen more often, all because Frank's father had discovered Frank's sexuality.

Frank had been so careful to keep the fact that he was gay hidden from his homophobic family. He had told Gerard he planned on coming out the second he turned eighteen, just before he walked out of their lives forever, but Gerard had fucked that all up.

He knew he shouldn't have been kissing Frank in his house, especially not when his father was home, but they had been hidden away in Frank's room, and the closed door had given them a semblance of privacy that made them both throw caution to the wind. When Gerard had arrived earlier, Frank's father had been passed out on the couch, so neither of them had expected to be interrupted.

But they had been - of course they had, because life never seemed to work in their favor, and Frank's father had thrown open Frank's door for some reason or another, stupid thing didn't have a lock on it, and he had caught them together, even though Gerard had pulled away as quickly as possible.

Everything went to shit after that; Frank's father had started yelling and throwing his fists at both boys, screaming about how Gerard was a faggot who was corrupting his son. Frank's mother had been woken up by the noise, but she just stood off to the side and watched her husband abuse her son without uttering a word.

Even though Gerard had tried to protect Frank the best he could, pleading for his father to beat the crap out of him instead, Gerard had been forcibly thrown out of their house, and he had never stopped feeling guilty for giving Frank's father another reason to despise Frank.

Gerard wanted nothing more than to take Frank away from his fucked up family and have him live in his house, but Frank was still underage, unfortunately. He would turn eighteen in October, but it was only June right now, and five months seemed like five years in Gerard's mind.

Gerard had brought up the idea of Frank moving in early despite all that, but Frank was terrified that his father would report Gerard to the cops, and he was probably right; Gerard was twenty, and their relationship was technically illegal until Frank came of consenting age - three years shouldn't mean so much, but in this case, it was the only thing keeping them separated.

"What are you thinking about love?" Frank asked quietly, and Gerard realized he had been silent for fuck knows how long.

"Just how much I wish you lived with me," Gerard replied, stroking his boyfriend's hair without consciously being aware of it as he spoke.

"I can't wait until that happens," Frank smiled up at Gerard.

"Then I can protect you like a proper boyfriend," Gerard mumbled under his breath.

"You are the best boyfriend anyone could ever ask for," Frank sighed happily, leaning into Gerard's touch gratefully.

Frank loved when Gerard played with his hair or massaged his head; he said it always relaxed him, and helped alleviate his constant headaches, which Gerard assumed were brought on by stress combined with his lack of sleep. Gerard could tell he was having one now by the way his eyes were pinched slightly and his nose crinkled whenever anyone spoke, so he kept up the motions of his hand until Frank began to relax against his chest.

Frank's breathing deepened as his head drooped slightly, and Gerard knew he was falling asleep, which was just fine with him; Frank didn't get nearly enough rest lately. Gerard rocked him back and forth gently, and it wasn't long before Frank was out completely, snoring softly in that adorable way of his.

Gerard loved watching Frank when he slept, he almost looked like an entirely different person. His permanent lines of worry that were always etched into his face slowly erased in his slumber, and he actually looked at peace, which was not an expression he ever carried during the day.

Frank was always fretting about something, whether it be his father, or his grades, or Gerard, and even though Gerard didn't blame him for it at all, he truly wished he could pull all of those disturbances from Frank's mind and shoulder his burdens for him.

Right now though, with Frank resting in Gerard's arms, everything was perfect - even though it really wasn't, at least Gerard would pretend for a little while, and he found himself drifting off with his head resting on top of Frank's dark hair.

---------------------------------------------

Gerard awoke a few hours later with a crick in his neck and an aching back, but he didn't move to stretch out his sore muscles because he feared he would disturb Frank.

Finally, when his ass had fallen asleep and Gerard was becoming very uncomfortable, he shifted inch by inch until Frank was lying against the couch, instead of Gerard's chest. Much to Gerard's relief, Frank didn't stir at all, not even when Gerard procured a blanket from his bed and draped it over Frank's thin frame; he simply let out a soft sigh and buried his face into the cotton material.

As Gerard brushed back an errant strand of hair that had fallen across Frank's pale face, he was hit with a rush of love so strong, it almost brought him to his knees with the force of it. Frank was his entire world now, and even though he had never imagined falling so hard at such a young age, he wouldn't have it any other way.

Frank was just so special - precious even, and Gerard would never stop being in awe of the fact that he existed, and that he actually loved Gerard back. After everything Frank had been through, he had still managed to open his heart to Gerard, and that was a privilege that Gerard would never take for granted.

The ringing of the doorbell snapped Gerard out of his musings, and he had a sinking feeling in his gut about who was on the other side. Gerard seriously debated ignoring the incessant sound, but if he was correct about who was paying him a visit, he knew that wouldn't deter them, and they would only end up making a scene if Gerard didn't acknowledge their presence, so Gerard had no choice but to open up the door and face the unwanted company.

The sight that greeted Gerard was indeed who he been expecting to see, but it still made his blood boil when he took in the disgusting human being that Frank was forced to call a father. He reeked of booze and cigarettes - as usual, and Gerard's nose scrunched up in distaste.

"I know you have my son faggot, and I want him back," Frank's father spat at Gerard coldly. Sometimes Gerard loved the fact that Frank lived only a block away, but right now, he wished that wasn't the case; that way his father wouldn't have such easy access to his house.

"Frank will go home when he's ready, so leave him the fuck alone," Gerard hissed back, trying to keep his voice lowered so Frank wouldn't hear them.

"He's my son, and he has to do what I say, so are you going to move your fat ass - or do I have to make you?" Frank's father growled before shoving his shoulder against the door, throwing Gerard out of the way easily. Gerard should have been expecting him to do that, but he had been caught off guard by the insult - not that Frank's father didn't usually spew hateful words in his direction, but he had never used that particular one before, and Gerard had always been sensitive about his weight.

"Get the fuck out of my house!" Gerard yelled once he had shaken off his initial shock at the fact that Frank's father had just broken into his home, waking Frank up by accident in the process.

Even though he had just been jolted out of a deep slumber, Frank was instantly aware of his surroundings. He shrank back as far as the couch would allow him to go, wrapping the blanket around him as if it could protect him.

"Get up Frank - I told you not to hang out with this fag anymore, and I meant it." Frank's father glared at his trembling son impatiently.

"I -" Frank tried to speak, but he cringed instead, rubbing his temple gently.

"Leave - now, before I call the cops on you for trespassing," Gerard seethed, placing himself in front of Frank so his father would have to get through him first if he decided to try anything.

"It's okay Gerard...I'll go with him," Frank whispered before standing up and walking around Gerard to his father's side, a meek expression plastered on his face.

"You don't have to leave Frank..." Gerard pleaded desperately, but he knew it was a lost cause. Frank never stood up to his father, and he wouldn't let Gerard do it for him either.

"Yes he does," Frank's father cut in, grabbing Frank's small wrist tightly in his meaty hand as he dragged him toward the still open door.

Suddenly, Frank's face contorted in an expression of pain, and he staggered on the spot, causing his father to halt for a moment in confusion. Gerard realized instantly that Frank was suffering from another migraine, but this one seemed exceptionally bad, he had never heard Frank whimper like this before, but of course - Frank's father didn't care. He continued to pull Frank along after him, even though his son's knees were buckling underneath him, and he could barely walk.

Gerard snapped then, he just couldn't handle seeing Frank treated like a disobedient animal instead of a person, so he threw himself at Frank's father, landing a decent punch on his thick jaw. This was the first time he had ever hit anyone before, and it fucking hurt. His fingers burned and ached, and he definitely didn't want to repeat this experience any time soon.

It didn't seem to do much damage to Frank's father though, and Gerard immediately regretted his actions when he glimpsed the flash of pure hatred gleaming in his eyes.

Before Gerard could back away, Frank's father pulled his own punch. His fist collided into the left side of Gerard's face with a sickening crunch, throwing him to the ground where he hit his head against the nearby coffee table. Gerard wanted to get up - he needed to, for Frank's sake, but his head was spinning wildly, and every time he attempted any movement, his vision blurred and his stomach roiled violently, and he was worried that he might pass out.

By the time Gerard had regained his senses and picked himself up off the floor, Frank was already gone, and he hadn't be able to do anything about it once again.

Gerard debated going after him, but he knew it would only make things worse for Frank in the end, and that was the last thing he wanted to do; he had already fucked up enough where Frank was involved.

Left with no other options, Gerard sat back down on the carpeted floor and cried softly into his hands. It just wasn't fair...Frank didn't deserve this, and Gerard was doing a terrible job of keeping him safe - it was a wonder Frank even put up with him.

Tears continued to pour down Gerard's cheeks until he was empty, but he still didn't feel any better, and he never would until Frank was safe and happy in his arms. Maybe one day, that would be his reality, but he wanted that fairytale ending now, before Frank became even more broken, and Gerard shattered along with him.

I wrote all of this in a day, I am so proud of myself. It is so much easier to write when you already know exactly what is going to happen.

I am so happy I decided to revise this book, and thank you to everyone who encouraged me to do it.

This chapter is dedicated to moffatsapprentice, because you loved the original of this book, and hopefully you will like his version even more. Ily bby ^_^

((((excited vibes))))

<3 starr