"Hey, Frankie, how many lesbians does it take to screw a lightbulb?" Gerard asked.

"How many?" I asked.

"One because they're strong and independent on their own," he said

I chuckled before whimpering.

"Ow, don't make me laugh," I said. "It hurts too much. My ribs are bruised."

"I'm sorry, just thought you'd find it funny," he said.

I nodded as I got dressed. We were just leaving the hospital and I was sporting a brand new pastel pink cast on my arm, as well as bruises on my skin.

"You wanna go get some food?" He asked.

"I kinda just wanna go home," I mumbled. "If that's okay."

"Yeah, of course that's fine," he said.

We went back to the apartment where I curled up in bed.

"Baby, you can't lay in bed this whole time," Gerard said. "Come on, let's go take a bath."

I sighed before I nodded, going to the bathroom. He filled up the tub and I got undressed, a slightly difficult task with my cast. He smiled, helping me unbutton my jeans. I got into the tub and kept my cast up out of the water. Gerard got some shampoo, making work to wash my hair.

"How could he not have even gotten in trouble?" I whimpered.

"He claimed gay panic," Gerard mumbled, his happy façade fading away. "Trans panic, in your case."

"Why is that a thing?" I asked.

"It's shit," he said. "It's only banned in California, Rhode Island and Illinois."

"He can just claim temporary insanity so he doesn't get charged with nearly killing me?" I asked. "That's bullshit."

"It is," Gerard agreed.

His touch was relaxing as he massaged my head.

"I'm really sorry," he whispered.

"It's not your fault," I mumbled. "It's his."

I cried quietly as he rinsed my hair out before leaning over to kiss my cheek.

"Ow, Gerard, my face is sore," I said.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'll play some music, just relax here. I'll go do some laundry."

"I don't wanna be alone," I said.

I sat forward in the tub and he smiled softly. Gerard dimmed the lights and played some soft music before he got undressed and sat behind me in the tub. I leaned back and smiled, taking a deep breath.

"I wanna put this all behind me," I whispered.

"You will," Gerard stated.

I sniffled, trying to keep my breathing even and calm. He rubbed my shoulders gently and I sighed.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," I said.

Gerard began humming softly and I sighed, beginning to fall asleep.

"Don't let your cast fall in the tub, Baby," he said. "Come on, you wanna go cuddle in bed?"

I nodded and stood up. Gerard got me a towel as I stepped out and I sniffled.

"My arm is starting to hurt," I said. "A-am I allowed to take my medicine yet?"

"Yes you are," he confirmed.

I put on some warm sweatpants and one of Gerard's shirts before I curled up in the bed. He joined me soon, glass of water in one hand and medicine in the other. I took it quickly before cuddling up close to him.

"Can we turn on the tv?" I asked.

Gerard nodded and grabbed the remote. We sat together in the dark, tv illuminating the room.

"You should get some food," he said, running his hand through my hair.

"I'm not really hungry," I mumbled.

"I'll make you chocolate chip pancakes," he said and I shook my head. "I have the biscuits to make cinnamon rolls."

I bit my lip before nodding.

"Alright, I'll be right back," he said.

Gerard gave me a kiss before leaving for the kitchen. I looked over at the picture of my mom and sniffled. The pain in my arm was fading now but I still felt so broken.

"Gerard?" I called.

He poked his head in the room with raised eyebrows.

"C-can I Please have some hot chocolate?" I asked.

"Yeah, of course you can," he said.

Gerard gave me a soft smile before leaving again. I stared at the tv blankly as the smell of cinnamon began wafting into the room.

"Almost done!" He called.

I sat up when he walked in with a plate and a mug.

"Alright, here we are," he said. "I got some dvds if you wanna put on a movie."

"No, that's okay, this is fine," I said.

We cuddled together eating cinnamon rolls and I found it difficult a bit to only use my left hand but it got better eventually. I looked at Gerard and giggled at the dollop of icing he accidentally got on his nose and was trying to lick off.

"That's not gonna work," I said.

Gerard chuckled and wiped it off with a napkin.

"Maybe tomorrow we can go out to a fancy restaurant to cheer you up," he suggested. "You can get dressed up all cute."

"I don't really wanna go out," I mumbled.

"That's okay, date night in and still get dressed up," he said.

"I don't wanna get dressed up," I said. "No more skirts or dresses or pink. Can you help me take my nail polish off?"

"Are you sure?" He asked.

I nodded and he went to the bathroom before coming back with some paper towel and a clear bottle. He poured some on it and the smell was strong as he began rubbing the cold liquid over my fingernails.

"Feels weird," I mumbled.

Gerard chuckled and nodded.

"It's acetone, does feel and smell pretty weird," he agreed. "You don't have to take this off if you don't want to, babygirl."

"I don't want to be babygirl, I don't want to be transgender anymore," I said.

"It's not a choice, Baby," he whispered. "How about dresses at home but pants outside?"

I bit my lip before nodding.

"I guess that can work," I mumbled. "I-I don't wanna get hurt again, Gerard."

"I'll make sure that you won't," he said. "Not everyone is as big of a piece of shit as that guy was. But I'll make sure that you don't get hurt ever again, okay?"

I nodded and he gave me a soft kiss.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too," I mumbled.

"Hey, no pouting," he said. "We are gonna have a fun as shit movie night. We'll cuddle in bed and watch any movie you want and I'll make lots of popcorn and order that vegetarian pizza that you like."

"I don't really feel like it," I said. "I'm sorry, I just don't really want to. I'm not in the mood at all. I wanna just sleep and cry a lot."

"Then I think we'll cry together," Gerard said. "We can do whatever you want."

His phone rang and I noticed it was Lindsey calling.

"Hey," he said. "You wanna talk to Frankie?"

I looked at him and shook my head quickly.

"Sorry, she just fell asleep and I don't wanna wake her," he said. "She's just really tired...okay, thank you, I'll tell her...I'll have to see if she's up for that..Alright, bye."

Gerard hung up and sighed.

"She wanted me to tell you that she hopes you feel better," he said. "And was wondering if tomorrow you two wanted to go on another girls day out and go out for lunch and maybe get a message or a pedicure."

"I don't wanna go," I said.

"Alright, I'll tell her you aren't feeling too well," he said. "But you have to take your medicine, okay? I'll go get it for you."

Gerard left before coming back with my estrogen pills. I swallowed them down with my hot chocolate before curling up to his side again.

"What were you doing when this happened?" Gerard asked.

"Visiting my mom's grave," I mumbled. "What if someone kills me, Gerard? What if someone hates me so much for being transgender that someone actually kills me? I-I've never thought about being murdered before and I really don't wanna be murdered. It would hurt and be scary and I don't wanna die at someone else's hands."

"You're not going to die," he denied. "Nobody is going to kill you. If you're that scared then I will be with you in public at all times if you want. I'll be like your own personal bodyguard."

"Thank you, that does make me feel better," I said. "I think I would really like that. I always feel a lot safer when you're around me."

Gerard smiled and gave me a soft kiss.

"That's it then, I will be your own personal bodyguard," he said. "You can even carry around some pepper spray if you want, they have those little ones you can use as a keychain and just hook it up to your keys."

"Yes, thank you," I said. "I just felt weak, I couldn't even defend myself. I was on the ground with a broken arm before I could even blink. And now my ribs and face are jacked up and I can't even laugh or breathe because it hurts too much."

"You're gonna be just fine before you know it," he said. "I know what you went through was absolutely horrible but one day you will be able to get passed this and move on. You'll be a happy and healthy girl wearing the cutest dresses and having the best makeup."

"Thank you," I said. "That really does make me feel a lot better."

"I'm glad it does," he said. "I really do want to be here for you but I know I can't completely relate because I'm not  transgender."

"But you try and I think that's really the most important thing," I said.

"Thank you, I really do," he said. "I want to be here for you through everything. The good and the bad."

"I know, I wanna be here for you too through your goods and  bads," I said. "You don't really seem to have many bads, though."

"I have my moments," he said with a small shrug. 'You should try and get some rest now."

I nodded, curling up close to fall asleep in his arms.