Mikey had left only a moment ago. He and Gerard shared a hug that lasted a bit too long because he knew that Mikey needed it. His brother's side smile was difficult to see but he knew that it was only safe to just stay silent.

The second the door shut Gerard locked it, he walked over to the kitchen counter and placed down the newspaper as if it was the most delicate thing on the planet, regardless of its few crinkles. Frank was front page, just how Mikey promised, his face in all its perfection was printed in black and white for everyone to see. In some dumb way that he couldn't explain if he tried, this made Gerard jealous. Some other man most likely also had a copy of this sitting somewhere for him to look at later when he had nothing better to do. He wondered if he'd recognize Frank's beauty too, of course he would because who wouldn't. He wondered if the man would then tell all of his friends about the pretty boy he saw in the paper that day. Would he even bother to say his full name, would he remember it by the time he put the paper down after growing bored of it?

There was no use in being upset over something you can't control, he supposed. He had his boy, he had already won.

He read over the brief description of Frank, describing his eyes as hazel and hair as dark brown. Gerard smiled at those details, while the black and white photo did them no justice, Frank's eyes were beyond gorgeous.
The next thing that caught his eye in Frank's description was his height and weight, it made Gerard giddy thinking of how personal these details were. They seemed insignificant but to him they were huge, before now he'd had his own predictions which were not too far off at all he'd nearly nailed his boy's height, he was small, that was obvious to anyone having the pleasure of looking at him, but only being two inches off and with nothing but glances from afar he felt pretty proud of himself. He never thought in a million years that he'd be finding the sweetest, blandest facts about his boy in a newspaper article harshly titled 'MISSING TEEN' but here he was in his kitchen, grin so wide that it hurt. He wished that he could call someone up right then and gush to them about his newfound information but he'd been cursed with having to keep what he was most passionate about to himself. When his excitement began to fade he noticed how unbearably loud the silence in the house was, it felt like he was alone and just as that thought entered his mind, his eyes widened as he was speed-walking to Frank's room, trying to keep his breathing steady as he did. He hated how he could hear each frantic step, each foot tapping the floor rapidly like a cruel reminder from the universe of how silent the house shouldn't be with a teenage boy simply existing at most in one of the rooms, it made him sweat. Frank had to still be in there, for him. He wasn't sure what he'd do if his boy wasn't in there waiting for him. He tried to silence his thoughts as he stood at Frank's room hesitating to do anything for just a second. He turned the knob to the door quickly, pulling it open with his bottom lip held between his teeth, the slight gust of wind chilling his skin as he peered in.

"Frankie?" He called so quietly that he was positive Frank wouldn't then once more a bit firmer.

"Gerard?" Frank called, wandering towards the sound of the man's voice.

Gerard reached out to grasp his shoulder, visibly relived at his presence but concerned at the same time. The boys cheeks were flushed
and his nose was rosy, he looked as if he'd been crying or was on the verge of it. Gerard couldn't imagine why Frank would be crying, he'd been left alone with nothing other than himself, he looked around the room attempting to find an explanation for the boy's distress. 

Suddenly Frank jerked his shoulder away from Gerard, looking at his hand like it has burned him.

He ignored the boy's action.

"What's happened to you? Are you okay, Frank? I was. . . I'm sorry all this happened so abruptly, my brother–he didn't even send a text or anything I had no-"

"Why am I here Gerard." Frank said cutting him off.

Gerard was a bit taken back, blinking mornonicly at the intensity in Frank's eyes as he started back at him expectantly.

"I don't understand," Frank was standing so far away, it felt like every second he was shifting farther and farther, he wanted to grab him and pull him to his chest so that he couldn't disappear.

"Well that makes two of us." Frank huffed, "What are you planning on doing with me, Gerard? Why am I here." He said, raising his voice.

"I'm not planning on doing anything to you, I love you. I just want to make you happy, you deserve to be happy." He said calmly, wanting to be the stable one for Frank. He watched as the boys fists shook at his sides like he wanted to hit something, Gerard didn't feel scared. He knew that eventually the boy's explosive temper would show itself, he didn't make any movement's to show that he even noticed how upset Frank was becoming.

"Why? I don't even know you, you're insane–there's something more to this and you're just not telling me!" He screamed.

"Don't raise your voice at me, it's a waste." Gerard warned him.

"I don't care what you want, you don't care about what I want." He said still in the same defiant tone, "You can't keep me locked away forever, I don't know what your fucking stupid plan is buy it's not going to fucking work, Gerard."

Gerard was growing kind of annoyed though his sympathy for Frank was never ending, he couldn't stand hearing him act this way towards him. Yelling was one thing but hearing him curse and spit his name like burning poison was too painful, even for Gerard. All that he wanted was to keep him safe and happy and Frank was making it all too difficult.

He rubbed a hand over his face and sighed, "I don't know what idiotic thoughts you've conjured up in that pretty little head of yours between now and an hour ago, but they're all wrong. I'm doing this for your own good."

Frank stared at him hopelessly confused but still so angry that his glare made Gerard's skin itch. 

"You're happy here, I just want you to be happy." Gerard told him softly, his voice genuine and shaking near the end like he was unsure of how to be any more clear.

Frank shook his head, still making sure there was a thick distance between the two of them. He flinched once his back hit the wood of his bed frame, gripping on to it with his nails for support. 

One part of him was much too close to actually believing Gerard. What if he didn't hate it here? How stupid would that make him? Being away from all of his problems at school and with his therapist. No more feeling like his mother was disappointed in him whenever he made mistakes. . . Gerard would never be disappointed in him, he knew that without a doubt. The gentle way the man spoke to him even as he cursed and screamed in his face forced him to be calm even though he didn't want to be. Even if it was technically speaking down at him, Frank couldn't make himself the slightest bit offended at it even though he wished he was. He wanted to be angry about it and unhinged, to throw and hit until his head didn't ache like it did anymore but he just couldn't.

"I want to go home. I miss my mom. . . my friends. . ." Frank whispered weakly.

"It's okay Frankie, You're gonna see your mom again, I'm not a monster or anything." He chucked shortly. 

The promise wasn't completely empty, Gerard did have hope for their future, for frank to have earned as much of his trust possible and be allowed the privilege of having pieces of his life back. Of course right now that perfect time was far from close. 

Gerard watched as Frank's eyes lit up a bit, he smiled feeling his heart warm, he needed to be close to him again.

"I will?" He asked with unintentional puppy eyes.

"Of course you will, sooner than you think if you're good for me." Gerard promised, offering his hand out to Frank.

The boy looked down at his hand hesitantly, like looking at it would have some type of consequence. He stayed still for a second weighing his opinions. This would be being good, he supposed, showing Gerard that he trusted him enough to touch him. If he acted the part, he could see his mom again and end all of this, Gerard didn't need to know that he was faking it.

He reached out to the man, placing his own smaller hand in his. He gasped as he was swept into Gerard's arms, tensing at first but allowing himself to relax when he felt Gerard's fingertips graze over his scalp, he closed his eyes and shivered. The hand around his waist, basically keeping him upright at this point, tightened and pressed his back firm against Gerard's chest. He could feel the man's surprisingly steady heartbeat. He compared it to his own that he could feel beating in his chest still rapidly. He wondered how Gerard could keep so calm while being yelled at, there was no way he himself could do it, he could just barely keep himself from shaking pathetically when someone was upset with him, memories of being degraded for the simplest things during his childhood always creeping up on him no matter how calm the person was being with him. He sighed, pressing his head into Gerard's chest. Even if Gerard was supposed to be the enemy, Frank couldn't help himself from feeling comfortable in the safe enclosure of the man's arms.

"Look at you, all worked up over nothing, doll." Gerard soothed when he felt Frank finally calming down against him.

It was embarrassing, not being quite sure if this was a time to be offended at the invalidation of his obviously valid feelings that had him blubbering only minutes ago. Or if Gerard was right, which seemed least likely at first thought but then again here he was relatively calm regardless of the act he was putting on.

He decided to stay silent, it wasn't worth the risk of making Gerard angry even if it seemed near impossible at this point (though what did he know). Or, even worse, ruining the precious silence that had been casted gently over the room since the man had taken him against his chest. As much as he wanted to argue how wrong this all was he abandoned his recalcitrance, praying silently, to whatever God was still plausible at a time like this, that he didn't become lost in his pretending.

a/n: had to post this twice ! oops