Forever & Always

1

"Let's get out of this town, baby we're on fire..."

Gerard was more than ready to make this incredibly impulsive decision. While it was nothing short of perilous, he couldn't deny that it would be worth it.

Their lives were hard, his and Frank's. They were beyond stressed right now, what with starting a new job, helping Mikey with every precarious situation in his life, and the deteriorating health of Frank's father.

He knew his boyfriend was dealing with most of the stress. Gerard had an easy job, meanwhile Frank had to work all day, every day, and working in an emergency wasn't an easy job. Especially not the one located in southern New Jersey. On top of that, Frank was the level-headed one, the helpful leader that everyone came to when they needed guidance and assistance.

Despite being burdened, they both refused to let this turn their relationship in to something strenuous. Their relationship was fully functional and healthy- four years of dating and they were still as infatuated with each other as they always have been. But Gerard felt like there was that one extra measure they could take.

"Frank," Gerard called to his boyfriend, who was sitting at the opposite end of the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table. "Frankie-"

"Yes love?" he answered tiredly, turning his head to offer his boyfriend a soft smile.

Gerard couldn't help but return the infectious smile. "I love you so much, you know that?" he asked, though it was rhetorical; of course he knew that. Anyone knew that.

The younger man nodded, closing his eyes for a moment. The poor thing was simply exhausted. He opened them after a mere second, his smile still there. "I do. I love you too, Gee. What's up?"

Gerard shrugged and closed his laptop- not without closing out all of the tabs and clearing the search history first. He placed the laptop on the table carefully before holding out his arms. "Come."

Frank wasted no time in scrambling to lay in the older man's arms. He wrapped his own arms around the other's torso, resting his head on his chest as he watched the television playing in front of him. He inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of his boyfriend blanketing him in a welcomed feeling of comfort and love.

Gerard sighed in nothing but content, laying his cheek on the top of Frank's head. "I need you to take a vacation day- ah, two vacation days. This weekend." he dropped the bomb casually, fully preparing himself to have to make his argument.

His partner was silent for a few moments, before nodding just slightly, almost unnoticeable. "Okay," he said softly, looking up to Gerard. "What for?"

"Well," Gerard started, looking down at Frank and immediately feeling his heart begin to race. Nothing out of the ordinary, just something that happens whenever he looks at the love of his life. "I know you're stressed out, so I made some plans for us. Just to get away for a minute, y'know?"

Frank smiled and pressed a quick peck to Gerard's lips. "You're so thoughtful, sweetheart. But you know we can't afford to do that. I have to keep my vacation days available, you know that." he spoke these words softly, as it was a touchy subject for him. His father was sick, he needed to keep his extra days open for if he ever needed his son's aid.

"Baby," Gerard murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind Frank's ear. "You don't have to worry about that. I promise, you don't."