Three Cheers

I had gone to bed, and woken up to my phone ringing. I rolled over in my bed and picked up my phone from my bedside table, "Hello?" I yawned.

"Hey, I'm bringing Busy home." It was Gerard, "Sorry for wakin' you up."

"Yeah, okay." I said, rubbing my eyes, "It's cool."

"See you in a few."

We hung up, I got up and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. I put my hair up, then I went to unlock the door and make breakfast. I made myself some toast, then sat at my island counter, thinking.

I thought about my date and what Jon had told me about Eliza. It made my stomach churn uneasily. I looked at my phone, thinking I could call Frank. I chewed at my lip, and picked it up, dialing Frank.

"Hey, October," Frank sounded to cheery to be up at 9 am, "How was your date?"

I coursed my hair back, "It's was wonderful, Frankie."

"See! I told you it'd be cool. Is he your lover now?" He joked.

I rolled my eyes, "Totally."

"I'm just fuckin' with you. So, did he get to first base?" Frank snickered like a kid.

"No, he was the perfect gentleman. But, um, Frank, he told me something about Eliza last night that I want to tell you about."

"Really? What about her?"

"He told me that Eliza is notorious for pulling the pregnancy card with guys. Is that true?"

Frank was silent a moment, "No clue. We just met her like 4 months ago. She showed up at one of our shows in New York and she and Gee hit it off."

I rubbed my neck, "What he told me just didn't sit with me, y'know? I don't want to tell Gerard, I don't want him to think I'm just sayin' all this for attention."

Frank gave a small sigh, "Hey, I'll talk to him, alright? I'll get down to it."

"Thanks, Frankie."

"No problem, October. I'll see you later."

I hung up with Frankie, and just as I did I heard the front door close. I saw Gerard walk in with Busy sleeping in his arms. He gave me a small smile, "Hey."

"Hi. I would've picked her up when she woke up."

"It's cool. I was going out for coffee anyway."

"Starbucks? I'm a slave for them." I jested.

He nodded, "Yeah." He coursed his hair back, "Uh, you wanna go with me? I could drop you back off."

"No, it's alright, I'm sure you're dying for one right now."

He shook his head, "I can wait for you to get dressed or whatever. I'm making a run for the guys, too."

"I just need to put my shoes on." I told him, "Sorry about making you carry Busy back."

He shrugged, "It's alright. I'll be in the car."

I nodded, getting off the stool and shoving my phone in my pocket. I went back to my room to change into sweats and put my sneakers on. I grabbed my hoodie, then went out to the car; I got in, seeing Gerard looking a little frustrated.

"You alright?" I asked.

"Yeah, just... Battery's dying." He answered showing me his phone.

I took it as that and looked out the window as we drove. Gerard was pretty quiet, he hummed and drummed his fingers to the radio, but didn't say much. I wondered if he truly was okay or if he was bothered. 

When we got to Starbucks, he parked, "I can go in and order..." He trailed.

"I'll come too." I told him.

"Alright."

Thank goodness Busy had just woken up, she rubbed her eyes, I smoothed back her messy hair and carried her in. She reached for Gerard; he gladly took her, and she rested against his shoulder.

"You want a snack, B?" I asked her.

"Muffin." She answered.

I pecked her forehead, "Whatever you want."

The barista took Gerard's order's, "...The tallest black coffee you got, a blueberry muffin, and October," he turned to me, "What're you getting?"

"Tall mocha frappachino."

The barista took the orders, then Gerard paid; it was useless telling him I would pay for my and Busy's. We sat down in a small booth, Gerard sat Busy on his lap so she could eat her muffin.

"Did you have fun with the guys, Biz?" I asked her.

She nodded picking at the blueberries, "We play games and eats popcorn and Uncle Mikey make me potatoes." She smiled at me.

"Want to do it again, soon?"

She nodded, "I likes it there, mama."

"Did you have fun last night?" Gerard asked.

I shrugged, "Uh, yeah. It's was pretty nice." I smiled.

"Glad you had a good time." Gerard left it at that.

There was definitely something bothering him. He seemed so distant. 

Once we got our coffee, we returned to the car; Busy still ate her muffin. Gerard drove us home, he was still quiet as before. It bugged me, but I didn't know what to say.

"Gee," I said as he pulled up outside of my house, "Any time you want to see Busy, just call me."

He looked at me and nodded, "Thanks, October."

I smiled at him, grabbed my drink and got out. I helped Busy out, "Say bye, Biz."

"Bye daddy. You come later?"

"Yeah, Busy, I'll be over later. Promise."

"Kay! Love you!"

Gerard grinned, "I love you, too, B."

I waved, then led Busy up to the house. 

"B, did you get a bath last night?" 

Busy shook her head as she ran to the couch, "Nope."

"Alright, sweetness time for a bath."

She groaned, "Aw! Why?"

"Because, you need one."

Busy exasperated and walked past to the bathroom. I turned on the water and let it warm while she took her PJs off. Busy grabbed her toys from her little bucket, her bubbles and set them in the tub. Once the tub was filled with bubbles and warmth, I put Busy in.

"Mama, I know a secret." Busy whispered dramatically.

I laughed softly, "Who told you a secret, B?"

"Daddy. I no tell you." She giggled.

I shook my head, "I bet it's a good secret."

"You no tell I tell you?"

I laughed at her mangled language, "I won't tell."

"Pinky swear!" She held up her pinky as she swirled in the bubbles.

I wrapped my pinky around hers, "Pinky swear."

She giggled again, "Daddy say he loves you sooo much, mama! He say it's a secret." 

I furrowed my brows a bit, "Did he?"

She hummed, "Yes! He say he want to kiss you."

"Your daddy is crazy, Biz."

She frowned, "You no like him, mama?"

"I like your daddy a lot, Busy." I grabbed her little wash cloth to wash her up, "But, he has a girlfriend."

"Mama, he say you're pretty too." I could see Busy, even as a two year old, trying to sway me towards to be with Gerard.

"You're relentless, baby doll." I pecked her forehead.


For the next several weeks, Gerard came around a lot, but he didn't talk to me. He would visit Busy, or he'd take her out; he barely said two words to me. I didn't understand it, it bothered me a lot, especially since Busy had told me all those things Gerard had said.

As this went on, I also went on dates regularly with Jon, much to Busy's chagrin; she wanted me to go out with Gerard. It became a routine, but I always had a nice time, but Busy would frown at me when Gerard would pick her up. I had told Fran about him, I hoped she'd meet him when she would come to visit. I didn't tell her about Eliza though; I did explain everything that had happened though.

I also told her about the way Busy had been acting.

"Well, she did discover her daddy and he has a fiancée who isn't her mommy."

"She wants us together so badly." I murmured.

"She's a little girl, October, I'm sure it'll pass."

"I hope so." I mumbled.

"Me, too. Jon sounds like a catch."

I chopped it up to that, that Jon would be a nice thing for me. Still, I wondered about Gerard and if he was okay. I just worried about him.

I had asked Frank about what he had told Gerard, he had shrugged, "He just said that she's different and she's really pregnant."

"You didn't tell him I told you, did you?" I had wondered if that's why he was acting strange.

"No, I swear."

So, Gerard believed her, and I could only hope that she was really pregnant. I could only hope that she wasn't going to hurt him. I was scared for him, I didn't want him to get hurt.