Frank became a bit of a sex addict over the next couple weeks, but I would be lying if I said I was complaining. He would come home from work and literally jump me on the couch, and I loved the fact that he had become this comfortable with me so quickly. He had healed so much in such a short time, and it was astounding.

Each time we were together, his fears would abate bit by bit: his hands no longer shook with nervousness, and he had stopped flinching at my touch completely. He even topped last time, which was something he had been completely opposed to at first, but now that it had happened, I wanted to experience it more often.

Everything in our lives was basically perfect, and I never stopped being grateful for Frank's presence. He was my happiness personified in a five foot four package, and I loved him so much sometimes I felt like I was going to explode from the intensity of my emotions.

"I think I should call my mom, just to make sure she's okay," Frank mumbled out the blue one day after another spontaneous sex session.

"Yeah?" I asked, pushing his sweaty hair away from his forehead gently.

"I just want to let her know that I'm safe and happy."

"Why now?" I questioned curiously.

"I think it was just too many memories before, I couldn't think of her without thinking of him, so I just pushed it to the back of my mind - you know?"

"Yeah - I understand. Well if it will make you feel better, then go for it," I encouraged him, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

"I am going to go call her now before I chicken out." Frank stood up, pulling on a pair of jeans before heading into the kitchen where he had left his phone charging.

I decided to stay in our room to give him some privacy; he didn't need me hovering over him as he talked, and if he wanted me, then he knew where to find me.

I liked the way that sounded in my head, our room.

My eyes were just beginning to drift shut when - ironically enough, my phone began to ring, and it was my mother's caller id that flashed across the screen.

"Hey mom," I greeted her happily. Frank and I had stopped by just last week, but I missed her already, and we were planning another visit soon.

"Hey baby, are you busy?" She sounded nervous, which didn't fit her carefree nature, and my guard was instantly raised.

"Not at the moment...I was going to walk Frank to work in an hour though. Why? Is something wrong?"

"Well no, not exactly. I was just wondering if there was any way you could stop by, maybe after you drop Frank off?" Her voice was literally shaking as she spoke. Her fear was infecting me like a virus, and I just wanted to understand what was going on.

"Um - yeah I guess I can, but what is so important that you can't just tell me over the phone?" I pressed for more information. I was already freaking out internally, and I don't think I could wait a few hours for her to tell me what was happening.

"This would really be better to talk about in person..." she trailed off guiltily, and I resisted the urge to yell at her just to tell me what the fuck she was going on about.

"Fine...but do you promise to explain everything when I get there?" I demanded in a slightly childish tone.

"I will baby. I'll see you soon." And with that she hung up before I could press her for any more hints about what had gotten her so upset.

I threw myself out of the bed, suddenly unable to lie still for a moment longer. I dressed quickly, running a brush through my tangled mass of hair a few times before giving up on it entirely. I really needed a haircut, but Frank seemed to like it long, so I had been putting off a trim for now.

When I walked into the kitchen, Frank was still on the phone with his mom, so I headed into the living room, switching on the TV and flipping channels aimlessly.

"Bye mom, love you too." I heard Frank say from the other room, and seconds later he was joining me on the couch.

"How did it go?" I asked out of curtesy, because I could already tell by the smile on his face that it had been a good conversation.

"Way better than I thought it would," he grinned, leaning into my side before he continued to speak.

"She freaked out on me at first of course, basically bit my head off for disappearing and then not calling for so long. I didn't explain to her why I left - I'm not ready for that, but she just seemed happy to find out I'm alive."

"Well she better be, if you vanished one day, I wouldn't rest until I found you again."

"You proved that point." Frank kissed me quickly on the lips, and I smiled against his mouth.

"Yeah - I guess I did huh?"

"Anyway, we talked for a while, and she's happy Gee, like truly happy. She's back with my stepdad; I was kind of shocked at first, but then I realized I have been gone for like six months, and I may hate him, but if he makes her happy, then whatever - at least I don't have to live with him."

"Just hope I never run into that fucker...she wouldn't like him after I was done with him," I muttered sullenly.

"You are cute when you go into protective mode," Frank chuckled quietly.

"That guy is an ass, and nothing will change my mind on that." I crossed my arms over my chest stubbornly.

"I am not arguing with you love. Oh, and I told her about you," he added casually.

"Really - like...that we are together?" I stammered out in surprise.

"Mhmm, she was totally cool with it, not that her opinion matters, but it was kind of nice to hear her apologize for all the shit she said about you in the past."

"I kind of wish I could get a recording of that." And I really did; I couldn't imagine Linda Iero apologizing to anyone, especially not me.

"Well you might be able to hear it in person. She wants to meet up soon, she moved back to Jersey apparently. I told her I would let her know when I was ready, I'm not sure if I want to face her just yet."

"Take all the time you need baby, you don't owe her anything," I reassured him.

"Well I should probably go get ready for work," he sighed before heading into the bedroom, and I followed close on his heels.

"Speaking of mom drama, my mother called me a little bit ago, she wants me to come over and talk about something." I looked away as Frank changed, he still wasn't one hundred percent comfortable being naked unless we were actually having sex, but he was so much better than when I had first found him. He didn't have to change in the bathroom anymore, which was a big step for him.

"Oh yeah? Do you have any idea what it's about?" His voice came out muffled, probably because he was pulling a shirt over his head, but I still understood him.

"Not a clue...that's why I'm so nervous. My mom doesn't do stuff like this, she is always so open and honest, so I'm worried it is something really terrible."

"When are you going to see her?"

"As soon as I walk you to work, she wanted to talk today for some reason, and the sooner I figure out what this is, the better."

"Well I'm sure it's nothing, but text me as soon as you find out, now you have me curious too."

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

A little over an hour later, I rang the doorbell to my mother's house, shifting from foot to foot in agitation when it seemed to take her ages to come to the door.

"Hey baby." She graced me with a sad smile before beckoning me to follow her inside.

"Mom - what's wrong?" I asked as soon as my feet crossed the threshold. I needed answers now, or I was going to spontaneously combust.

"Would you like something to drink?" She ignored my question completely, burying her face in the fridge in a poorly masked attempt at hiding her expression from me.

"No...what I want is for you to tell me what the fuck is so important that you were too scared to tell me over the phone." I never spoke to my mother that way, but I was so angry at her evasion that it just slipped out, and I immediately regretted it.

"Mom I'm sorry, I didn't mean that," I apologized, but she didn't seem upset at all, or at least - not any more upset than she had been already.

"Oh honey, it's okay, I'm the one that should be sorry. I just don't know how to tell you this..."

"Just spit it out, it can't be worse than not knowing," I offered helpfully.

"I'm trying," she sighed, sinking into one of the chairs set around the kitchen table tiredly.

"Hey where's Grandma?"

I had suddenly noticed how quiet the house was, and Elena wasn't one for midday naps, she was always up and about doing something whenever I had come over. My mother's face fell instantly, and my heart stopped beating in my chest.

"Oh my god...don't tell me something happened to her," I gasped out, unable to breathe properly because of the fear that was gripping my throat.

"Yes - something happened, but she is okay, just in the hospital right now," my mother admitted quietly.

"Why? Did she fall? Is she going to be okay?" I snapped my teeth together to give my mother a chance to answer my incessant questions.

"Gerard honey, just shut up for a second and listen to me. This isn't going to be easy to hear, but please try and stay calm," she pleaded desperately, so I clenched my jaw together and did my best to stay silent.

"Elena has been sick, for quite some time now...I know I should have told you sooner, but I was so scared it would interfere with your recovery process, so I decided to keep it from you. I know I shouldn't have, but she was doing so well, and now...well she is getting worse again," my mother explained shakily, but that wasn't good enough for me, because I was still confused.

"Sick - like how...and how long has she been like this?" I questioned in a shaky voice.

"It started about eight years ago, right after you were released from Laurel Hills."

"What started...?" I don't know why I asked, because I think I already knew, and I really didn't want to hear her say it, because that would make it all too real, but I pressed her anyway.

"Elena has cancer baby..."

If she said anything after that, I didn't hear it; I had been sucked into a black hole created by my mind to protect me, because this couldn't be happening...this wasn't real. Elena wasn't dying, I refused to believe it.

"You're lying..." I whispered softly.

"I wish I was -"

"LIAR!" The word tore its way out of my throat. It hurt to speak, fuck - it hurt to breathe, but I had to deny this, because it was unacceptable.

"Gerard - please stop this." My mother had tears in her eyes now, but I couldn't bring myself to care. She was hurting me with her lies, so it wasn't my fault it she was upset by my reaction.

"I know this is hard to hear, but -"

"Don't! Just don't! Don't talk to me, don't even look at me!" A small part of me realized that I was acting completely irrationally, but something inside of me had snapped, and I had lost all sense of right and wrong.

Before I could give her an opportunity to feed me any more vulgar lies, I stormed out of the house, bypassing my car entirely. I couldn't sit in an enclosed vehicle right now, and in my mental state - I probably shouldn't be driving anyway, so I just kept walking, until that wasn't enough anymore, so I started running.

I ran until my breath came in painful gasps, and I couldn't continue my pace any longer because of the cramps in my legs, but I wanted to keep going. I still hadn't escaped my mother's words, and I hadn't distanced myself from the cold pit of fear that was slowly expanding in my gut; I could never run that far, but fuck - I wanted to try.

Well I couldn't sleep, so I decided to just keep writing instead.

I have suddenly got so much inspiration for this story, so hopefully all these updates are a nice surprise.

I also updated Like Ghosts in the Snow, if anyone wants to go check that out btw.

This chapter is dedicated to OutcastSnowflake, because they just binge read my whole story and left me a shit ton of notifications, which makes me very happy.

I am still freaking writing, so the next update should be up really soon haha.

((((good vibes))))

<3 starr