Three Cheers

It was 1 am when my door bell rang feverishly, causing Busy to wake up and shake me. I sat up, the incesive ringing gave me a headache. "Mama, door." Busy crawled into my lap.

"I know." I said softly.

I picked Busy up, carrying her to the door with me. I knew it could only be Fran or Gerard. I was betting on it being Gerard.

I looked though the side window and saw Gerard swaying. I opened the door, warm summer wind swept through, "Gee." I said his name.

Gerard looked different, he looked as if he had tension in his shoulders. His eyes had this glassy look. I stiffened, "Are you high?"

He nodded dumbly, "I won't hurt you. I just need to get away from my brother."

I felt angry at how terrible I felt. I wanted to smack him in the face, but at the same time I wanted to take him into my arms. I wanted to comfort him, tell him how much I love him.

I let him in, closing the door behind him, and balanced Busy, who was watching Gerard. She was frightened, she hadn't spoken and her grip around my neck tightened.

"Don't worry," He said mindlessly, "I won't pretend like it never happened. It did happen and I'm glad. I'll crash on the couch." 

His rambling made no sense at all.

"Gee, go lie down, I'll get you a blanket." I patted his back gently,

He turned to me, his hand went to Busy's head, brushing her hair back. I watched him, cautiously, wondering if he would hit her or something. "I'm sorry I said all those bad things about you when you were a baby. I didn't mean it."

Busy lifted her head to look at him, she reached out for him, and I patted her back, "Daddy's sick right now, B." I told her.

"You sick?" She asked him.

He nodded, "Yeah, I'm an idiot."

"No." Busy told him softly, "Not idiot."

I rubbed her back, "It's okay, B." I cooed.

I carried her to my room and sat her on the bed. She looked at me as I put her beneath the covers and kiss her head, "I'll be right back."

Busy laid back, rubbing her eyes before shutting them. I went out into the hall, to the closet and grabbed a blanket. Gerard was lying on his back on the couch, trying to unbuckle his jeans and belt. 

I sighed heavily, this scene was all too familiar.

"What'd you take?" I asked him; I placed the blanket on the couch beside him and helped him get his shoes and jeans off.

"I don't remember." He said softly, "Never do it again."

"Did you drink?"

He shook his head, "I was... Then I thought of Busy."

"Before or after you shoved some pills down your throat?" I snapped at him, it was hurting to keep it in.

Gerard looked down, "I'm sorry. I just... I don't remember what came over me. It just happened and I'm sorry, October."

I wiped my eyes, "Get some sleep, okay? I'm sure Busy can't wait to play with you in the morning."

He rubbed his eyes, "I... I still wanna marry you."

"I want to marry you too." I said truthfully, "But I won't be that wife again."

"This was a slip up. I regretted it as soon as it happened." 

I combed my hair back, "Make sure you're sober in the morning, please."

He stared up at me, "Check my pockets. I ain't got anything in them. It was just an old friend I ran into."

I had so much left to say, but I decided that it could wait until morning. I gave Gerard one final look before I walked away. It pained me inside to think that it was all crumbling down before it even started.


I felt Gerard's arm around my waist when I woke up. Busy was on my other side, her arms were wrapped around my arm. The both of them clung to me like life preservers.

Gerard woke up first, his fingers traced invisible circles around my belly button. I rolled over slightly, "You good now?"

He nodded, "I'm sorry."

"I know you are, you don't have to keep saying it."

"I fucked up, I didn't mean to, just the shit Mikey was sayin' got to me..." He trailed.

"So why did you get high? Pressure too much?" I didn't mean to come off so angry.

"I couldn't clear my head, Sugar." He murmured.

"Don't do that shit anymore. You come to me, I'll gladly clear your head, your daughter could run through a million things that are better than being pissed off at Mikey."   

Gerard nodded, he pressed his head against my shoulder, "Can we still do it?" He asked shyly.

I looked at his head, sighing, "Gerard look at me." He tilted his head up, "We can still get married, but I have rules, and you have to follow them if you're gonna be my husband."

"I will, October." He rested his cheek against my chest.

"No drugs, no alcohol. You cannot snap at me for no reason. I understand you get pissed sometimes, but you have to talk to me about it." He nodded, brushing his lips along my collar, "Busy comes before anything else."

He nodded, "I know."

I sighed softly, licking my lips, "We can go today."

Gerard smiled softly, kissing my lips gently, "I'll make it up to you later, I promise."

I didn't reply, I just laid back, my arm wrapped around Gerard's back. Busy didn't stir at all; we all just laid quietly.

I was surprised at how I didn't think about anything. I relished in the quiet, comfortable with the bodies beside mine, sandwiching me. Nothing seemed to bother me, it must've been a good sign. I hope.


Busy had asked what we were doing at the courthouse. She was still sleepy, but we couldn't leave her home alone. So, she was snoozing in Gerard's arms as we signed our marriage license and were officially married... Again.

It was scary, I had been shaking and I almost threw up. I was afraid that I had made a mistake, but when it was all over, I felt relieved. Busy hadn't known what we did, and Gerard and I had decided not to tell her. We wanted to keep it a secret, and Busy would have loved to brag. We would tell her eventually, but for now, it was a secret that only Gerard and I knew.

The whole thing was a lot less romantic and quicker than our first time. It was nice though, I was happy with it. I don't ever want a huge party to celebrate my commitment to my significant other. A small ceremony is all that mattered.

Gerard had a big smile when we left. He couldn't stop himself from kissing me, it was almost to cute to handle. Gerard made me forget about all the mess that had happened, I was happy to just be with him.

"How do you feel?" Gerard had asked once we arrived back at my house.

I gave a small exhale, "I feel... Good." I answered with a small smile.

Gerard smiled too, planting a soft kiss on my cheek, "Me too."

Busy interrupted by jumping on Gerard's lap, "Daddy, I want Happy."

He nodded, "I'll call Frank. I think he's leaving soon."

Busy curled up in his lap, playing with the hem of his shirt. I placed my hand on her head and petted her hair back. She looked up at me, "Mama, I miss Happy.

Gerard began to speak to Frank, "He'll be here soon, baby."

She nodded, lying her head against Gerard's chest. He hung up, then pulled me over to him, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. His other hand rubbed Busy's back until she shut her eyes and began to nap again.

I was nearing sleep too. I shut my eyes and rested against Gerard's shoulder. Just before I fell asleep, I heard Gerard say faintly, "I love you."