I'm the Last One That You'll Ever Remember

Gerard woke up later in the day lying naked in bed on his stomach with Frank sprawled over him, the sheets nudged down to the end of the bed. When he translated the time on the digital clock over his lover’s shoulder, he’d nearly jerked out of bed. His hectic thought was that it was past lunch and the kids had been left unsupervised all morning long, but then he recalled this morning’s events and let out a sigh of alleviation. After he had proposed to Frank and they became engaged, his in-laws had decided to take the grandkids out for the rest of the day to give them some privacy to celebrate.

Lowering his head back down onto his pillow, Gerard lifted his eyes to the window when he heard the familiar rumble of thunder outside. He could tell through the beam of light coming through the parted curtains that the skies were mostly grey, and if he hadn’t, then the rain pouring outside would have notified him. Gerard peculiarly found the desire within himself to get up out of bed and go outside into the rain. He didn’t know why he wanted to do something so random as that, but he did. The last time he’d been in a downpour like this was after Frank had left him to move to Washington unbeknownst to him at the time. God, he remembered that day like it was yesterday. How could he not? That day was his breaking point. He had taken to the roof of the Killjoy’s temporary housing and sat there under the cascading rain, wishing the droplets had the ability to disintegrate him within them so they would become as one. If so, perhaps then he could be transported all the way to the boy he loved instead of sitting there on a roof grieving over his loss.

Luckily, things turned around for him and he located his Frankie again, but right now he sought to maneuver himself out from under the small lad. He took his time in doing so, because his need to feel the rain paled in comparison to not disturbing his lover’s sleep. Once freed, he pulled his briefs on and headed for the french doors that led out into the balcony that had been a new addition to the house by Frank’s Uncle Peter and Aunt Edith before it was gifted to them. The balcony was drenched by the rain, and as Gerard stepped out into the balcony to inhale the fresh air he was reminded of another balcony he had to reach to break into Frank’s house in Washington. As the cold droplets pelted down on him, he smiled at the memory before closing his eyes and tilting his head back. Nature was a marvelous thing. It was something he’d never thought to appreciate before, but now life was his to do with as he wished.

“Gee!” A voice gasped behind him.

Tensing at first, Gerard spun around to spot Frank standing at the open doorway shrouded in a bathrobe. He had a hand over his mouth before quickly lowering it to scold him like a mother would to a child. “Gerard Arthur Way, what do you think you’re doing out here in the rain!? You can get sick!” Not awaiting an answer, he whirled around and went back into the bedroom only to return with a matching robe that belonged to Gerard. Flying across the wet balcony, he swept the robe over Gerard’s wet shoulders and began to usher the taller man back inside. “Come on, put it on and get back inside before you catch a chill or something worse!”

Chuckling at Frank’s motherly ways, Gerard shoved his arms through the sleeves and grinned down at his petite lover. “Babe, it’s gonna be fine. Calm down.”

“I don’t care! Shut your mouth and get your butt back inside!” Frank persisted, steering him back into their bedroom and shutting the french doors behind them. As fast as lightning, he turned around to stride into the bathroom for another towel and reentered to hand it over to Gerard. “Now, what were you doing out there, Mister? Trying to take a shower in the rain?”

Having plopped down at the end of the bed, Gerard took the extended towel and began to dry his black hair. “No, I was just enjoying the rain, that’s all.”

“That’s all?” Frank echoed skeptically, an eyebrow arched in disbelief.

Setting the wet towel aside, Gerard shot him the same look back. Clearly, his lover had believed another motive to be at play here. “What do you mean, is that all?”

“N-Nothing.” Frank stammered, looking somewhat guilty as he deterred his eyes to the floor. “I just...wanted to make sure you were okay...and…”

Gerard had an idea what Frank was going to say next, and he too didn’t want to say it aloud. But it had to be said. Sighing through his nose, he finished in a melancholy tone. “And you wanted to make sure I wasn’t having second thoughts about staying here with you and our children.”

“More like second guessing everything in general...actually.” Frank mumbled, shamefully staring at the floor as he fidgeted with his fingers. He had thought it, sure, but when Gerard said it aloud it sounded...much worse, and it made him feel like the worst person ever to still be doubting him.

“I’m NOT having second thoughts, Frankie.” Gerard explained slowly, emphasizing every word in hopes he’d get it through his thick head that ditching wasn’t even an option now, it never had been. Taking Frank’s hand in his, he raised it up to his face so he’d see the engagement ring on his ring finger. “Do you see that ring? That should be proof enough that I’m not going anywhere.”

Slowly extracted his hand from Gerard’s grip, Frank suddenly turned and began to exit the room. “Come with me, Gee.”

“Where are we going?” Gerard asked, and rose from the bed to pursue him.

Frank led him outside onto the back patio. Leading the way under the covered patio furniture set, he took a seat on one of the couches and patted the seat next to him for Gerard to join him. He bit back a smile when the older man did without question. Scooting closer, he snuggled into his side and voiced a fear he’d been hiding from Gerard for a while now. “I’m worried I’m gonna be too big when our wedding comes. Like a beached whale in a tuxedo.”

Allowing him to shift the subject at the mention of his pregnancy, Gerard reached down with a smile to rub his belly. “It’ll be fine whatever size you are when the time comes, baby. Besides, we’ll be in a courtroom, that’s nothing compared to a huge wedding with everybody there. No one will see you.”

“That’s true.” Frank agreed with a nod, before silence enveloped them as they listened to the rain. Unable to resist prying into what transpired with the Killjoys, he eventually inquired. “Was it hard? Leaving your Killjoy family for us, I mean.”

“It would have been if I hadn’t ever met you and decided to do it on my own, absolutely. I would have failed as many times as I attempted to leave and would have never come close to where I am today.” Gerard predicted as he stared out at the many toys in the rain deserted by their children. “But because I had already met you, it wasn’t hard in the least bit.”

“Do you…” Frank faltered, feeling Gerard’s eyes on him urging him onward with his questioning. Licking his lips, he began anew. “Do you really prefer the life you have here with us over the life you had there with them?”

“I prefer anywhere YOU are.” Gerard answered truthfully. “Day, night, in an unfamiliar foreign country across the sea, in the middle of an undiscovered jungle, living at sea with a gang of massacring pirates, or with monks on the highest peaks of their holy mountains. Wherever you are you will find me there at your side, always.”

“I love you, Gee.” Frank smiled to counter his lips from wobbling. Whenever Gerard conveyed his love for him it made him want to bawl his eyes out with how magnificent it was. He had to keep his eyes forward and off Gerard or else he’d most certainly cry, at least until he got himself together again.

“I love you too, Frankie.” Gerard answered, his eyes still locked on his fiance’s face.

Finally composed, Frank turned to look him in the eyes confidently. “So, are you excited to start this new job of yours?”

“I’ll admit I’m a tiny bit nervous about it. It’s a new arena for me. But I’ll stand up to anything to provide for you and our kids.” Gerard confessed surely. “When is your maternity leave over?”

“Very soon.” Frank sighed wearily. “And my concern is the thought of hiring a babysitter to watch the kids while we’re both at work. I have such trust issues with people handling my babies, I don't think I can seriously do it. But time is running out and we have to think of something.”

“I don’t like the idea any more than you do if I gotta be honest with you.” Gerard seconded with a frown. “If you weren’t, I would have objected the second you brought a stranger into this house to look after them. We would have definitely gotten into an argument over it because I don’t trust anyone with them, but you and I.”