*trigger warning for a seizure*

I awoke in the middle of the night, the intense pressure on my bladder refusing to let me stay comfortably cocooned in my bed for a moment longer, and no matter how much I didn't want to move, I had to - unless I was willing to use my bed as a toilet - which I wasn't. I may be lazy, but I wasn't that bad.

With an over exaggerated groan, I dragged myself out of bed and headed toward the bathroom, glancing at the couch to see Frank still sleeping peacefully, much to my relief. I had offered him the bed, but he refused, and as much as I wanted to sleep with him - just sleep - not do anything else, I didn't want to push him into something he wasn't ready for, and he hadn't mentioned it either.

I was washing my hands when I heard a loud thump coming from the living room. Leaving the water running in my haste, I bolted out of the bathroom, only to be met with the sight of Frank seizing on the living room floor, his head dangerously close to hitting the leg of the coffee table as his body convulsed.

"Frankie!" I cried out as I rushed to his side. I realized that I might scare him when he awoke to an unfamiliar pair of arms around him, but I was much more worried about the possibility of him hurting himself than anything else right now.

Remembering Pete's advice, I clamped his shaking body against mine, holding his arms and legs as still as I could so he wouldn't hit them against anything.

I checked the time on the wall, needing to judge how long the seizure lasted so I would know when it was time to call Pete, but luckily Frank's tremors ceased after only two minutes.

When his limbs lay completely still, I began brushing his hair back, searching for any injuries that might have been obtained when he fell off the couch, but he appeared unscathed. No bruises or cuts marred his face, and the fall had been a short one - thank god.

"Baby?" I whispered softly.

He hadn't stirred in over a minute, it appeared that he had simply fallen back asleep, if he was ever awake that is, but I had to make sure he was okay. I wracked my brain, trying to remember if he had taken his medicine before bed, but I couldn't recall seeing him down the pills. I cursed myself silently, I should have made sure he had before I fell asleep, but today had been so overwhelming that it had slipped my mind.

"Frankie - can you wake up for me?" I spoke a little louder, shaking him slightly in an attempt to get a reaction out of him.

"Gee...?" Frank's groggy voice was music to my ears, and I was ecstatic that he hadn't panicked at my presence.

"Yeah baby, it's me."

"Why am I on the floor?" he asked, sounding more awake now than he had a second earlier.

"You had a seizure and you fell off the couch, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, so I woke you up," I explained to him.

"Oh shit...I didn't take my pills," Frank groaned, burying his head in my chest.

"Come on sugar, let's get them now before you go back to bed."

I led him into the kitchen, where we had left the bag of medicine earlier and then promptly forgotten about it. After pouring a glass of water and making sure Frank took the appropriate dose, I finally relaxed. He seemed fine now, he hadn't even been aware of the seizure, and it didn't seem to have any lasting side effects.

"Gee?" Frank questioned softly, rinsing his glass in the sink with his back turned to me.

"What's up?"

"Can I sleep in your bed instead?" he asked nervously.

"Yeah of course you can, I have slept on the couch more often than not, and it's actually pretty comfy."

"No - I mean...can I sleep in the bed with you. I want to try it."

"Oh...I'd love that." A smile split my face in two, causing Frank to grin back.

He followed me into the bedroom, after I returned to the bathroom to turn off the sink I had left running, and I got under the covers first, leaning my back against the wall so he would have plenty of room. As Frank climbed in after me, the bed shifted as it adjusted to his weight, and Frank let out a sigh as he buried his head into the pillow.

"Oh god - your bed is like a cloud, what kind of mattress is this?" Frank basically moaned.

"I don't know, it's like one of those mattress toppers - that memory foam shit, but it's just a plain old shitty box spring underneath," I giggled as he basically melted into the bed.

"Whatever it is, it's heaven," Frank mumbled into the pillow before turning to face me. I couldn't resist brushing back an errant strand of hair that had flipped over his forehead, and he smiled into my touch.

"Sweet dreams Frankie," I whispered.

"Goodnight Gee," he answered, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips before flipping back around and falling asleep almost immediately.

I had a much harder time getting my eyes to shut, Frank's presence was so distracting, and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him. I ached to pull him into my chest until I could feel his breath rise and fall, but I didn't; he wasn't ready for that yet, and just the fact that he was sleeping in my bed was a huge sign of trust for him, and I knew that. I just wanted more - so much more, but I was being selfish. I could wait, I would wait for Frank forever.

Sometime during the night, I managed to fall back asleep, and I woke up to the best sight in the world; Frank's face leaning over me, holding a freshly brewed cup of his coffee in his hand - I could definitely get used to this.

"Rise and shine baby!" Frank cooed, handing the mug to me before grabbing his own from the bedside dresser.

"Somebody is in a good mood this morning," I tried to grumble. This was way earlier than I would have chosen to wake up if I was left to my own devices, but it was worth it, because I got more time with Frank, and I couldn't maintain my grumpy tone.

"I slept so well, I didn't even dream, or if I did - I don't remember it. That hasn't happened in months." Frank beamed down at me, and I smiled at him over the rim of my mug.

"Baby - that's amazing!"

"I know, I think it was because of you."

"Me? What did I do?"

"I just feel safe with you, and knowing you were right there next to me let me fully relax for the first time in forever. I wasn't afraid, because I knew if anything happened, you would protect me." Frank buried his face in his coffee, but not before I caught his cheeks reddening in the most adorable way.

"Because I would, I will never let anything bad happen to you again, not if it's in my power to stop it."

I was so proud of Frank right then, because he was opening up to me - albeit slowly, but it was just another step in what would be a long process, and I felt undeniably closer to him already.

"I love you Gee."

Frank put his mug down and I followed suit, pulling him into my arms, because I just wanted to feel him. I was still barely getting over the fact that he was real, even though he was here in my bed, only wearing a pair of my old sweatpants that were way too big on him, but he didn't seem to care. I needed to go get him some clothes today, I had washed the ones he had last night, but he couldn't wear one outfit for the rest of his life.

"Where did you go baby?" Frank's voice pulled me out of my random thoughts, and I shook my head to clear them.

"Sorry love, I'm not the best morning person." He giggled slightly, and I pulled him even closer to me.

"I said I love you and you just zoned out there."

"I love you too Frankie, I'm just still trying to process the fact that you are real, and I didn't just imagine you," I confessed truthfully.

"Well if I was imaginary...could I do this?" Frank asked before pressing his lips against my own in a scorching kiss.

I melted into him, savoring the taste of coffee and Frank, which made a delicious combination. I let him be in control, not wanting to do anything to scare him, but he seemed to want this more than I did; moving his lips against mine forcefully until I let out a small gasp, allowing him to slip his tongue into my mouth.

I felt my eyes rolling up into my head at the sensation, it had been so long since I had kissed anyone, and this wasn't just anyone - this was Frank, and that made if all the more special.

He explored my mouth eagerly, only pulling away for air when it became necessary, before diving back in to kiss me again. I was in heaven, the way his tongue slide against mine was absolute perfection, and when he nibbled on my bottom lip, I let out an embarrassing moan, but that just seemed to fuel him on even more.

It took more self-constraint than I thought not to move things further. I may be an awkward virgin, but now that Frank was in my lap, kissing me with so much fervor that my skin felt like it was on fire, my body wanted more - it wanted everything Frank could give me, and it was almost painful to shove down my dirty thoughts.

Finally Frank pulled away, leaving my gasping for air and flushed from the unexpected kiss. His eyes were sparkling with joy, and I loved seeing him this way: pupils slightly dilated and lips swollen from my kiss. He was perfection personified, especially in this moment.

"I missed doing that," Frank sighed out happily.

"So did I." I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm my body down before I got out of bed and my problem became obvious.

"So what are we going to do today?" Frank asked curiously.

"Shopping - remember, and we need to go get your stuff from the police station."

"Oh yeah! That means I can get my guitar back, I feel naked without her," Frank exclaimed happily.

"Not the same guitar I got you?" I wondered.

"The very one, I named her Pansy," Frank grinned.

"I can't believe you still have it."

"Are you kidding me? It's my prized possession! Now hurry up and get ready so we can go," Frank demanded before darting into the bathroom to get dressed.

As I pulled on my own clothes, I chuckled to myself at Frank's eagerness. He hadn't even been here one day yet, and already he was infusing my life with purpose, a reason to get up in the morning, instead of just the motivation to go to school, and I loved it.

Even after everything he had been through, he was still that passionate, energetic boy that I had first fell in love with, and it warmed my heart that the world hadn't managed to crush that out of him completely.

I think being here was helping him, he was remembering what it was like to be safe, and happy, and carefree, and I wanted to make sure he always felt that way. As he repaired the hole in my heart that was left by his absence, I wanted to fix him. We could heal each other, and I found that beautiful.

It was love - true love, and it could help us through any and all trials that were awaiting us in the future.

Eh this was short, but whatever, I'm tired because I am dumb and spent all day working on a new fanfic.

Speaking of that, I just posted it, it's called Like Ghosts in the Snow. It's a Frerard *cue shocked gasps* and even though it is going to have really slow updates, it would mean a lot to me if you could read the first chapter and tell me what you think.

Also if you hadn't noticed my vampire!Gerard fic Pyre, you could read that one too *nudge nudge*

Okay I am done promoting myself (for now). I am just really proud of my newer works and I think they are way better done than this fic, not that I don't like this fic, I just think I have figured out how to write again in the last few weeks.

Okay I am rambling. This chapter is dedicated to HeatherFox16, I think I may have already dedicated a previous chapter to you but I can't remember, and you are so sweet so you deserve two dedications anyway :)

Stay beautiful

<3 starr