Welcome Home, You Fantastic Bastard (Frerard)

9 - A Happy Beginning - (End)

Two months later...

It's crazy to think where you can end up in such a short period of time. I had been happily living with Gerard, to trailing down the wrong path, to serving time in prison, and now I was back to living happily with Gerard all over again. It all came full circle.

I was out of the hospital now. I had taken quite a beating from Bert, especially considering I had still been recovering from past injuries from when I got hit by that car, but I was doing much better now. I was back to enjoying life being healthy and happy as can be.

As for Bert- he ended up having to take a turn in serving his own time in prison for assaulting me. I was glad he was out of Gerard's life, if not permanently then at least for a while. Even when Bert did get released, I'd protect Gerard to the end. But we did file a restraining order on him as well... you know, just for good measure.

Gerard was doing much better without the stress of Bert taking over him- I could tell. He certainly wasn't paranoid or acting mysterious anymore, and now he seemed to almost always be smiling. Not to mention, our relationship had somehow seamlessly returned to the way it was when we first moved in together. We never fought, and if we did, it was over something completely stupid that we ended up laughing over by the next day anyway. Life was good with him, and I would be forever thankful that he let me in to the apartment that one day I was released from prison. To think of how disgusted he was at the sight of me back then... and how now he woke up with an ear-to-ear grin plastered on his face and kissed me lovingly every morning.

One day, while Gerard was out and about, I headed over to the park by myself in search of something important. I couldn't let him know what I was looking for. I walked around for what felt like forever, until somehow, I had the craziest of luck. From under a bush by the pond, I spotted the little box I had thrown carelessly across the park a few months ago. The one that had meant so much to me for such a time...

It was a miracle it hadn't fallen into the pond and sunk, or even worse, been discovered by a stranger and sold off for a good chunk of cash. I quickly dug it out of the bush, opening it up carefully to examine its contents. The beautiful, shiny, silver ring still sat comfortably inside its cushioned platform. I smiled. This time, I was positive about my decision. I would not turn back on it this time. I loved Gerard, and that was never going to change.

...

Back at home later that day, Gerard returned home, and I quickly stuffed the ring that I had been examining again away and out of sight into my jean pocket. Thankfully, Gerard hadn't caught a glimpse of it out in the open. He would get his chance to admire it all he wanted soon enough though.

"Hey Frank, how was your day?" he asked me, slipping off his shoes and slumping down on the couch beside me.

"Uneventful," I chuckled, "Just went for a walk around the park for some exercise. That's about it. What about you?"

He sighed, "Well I went to the comic store to pick up a new issue of the comic series I enjoy, only to find that I arrived too late. They sold out just before I got there".

I put an arm around him, "Aw, that's a bummer... but hey, maybe I can cheer you up. How about I take you somewhere special?"

"Oh, I don't know, Frank, I'm kinda tired. A night in watching a movie sounds better to me".

I had a mini panic attack as I tried to think of a way to persuade him to leave the house with me. The sun would be setting soon, and I was really hoping to be in a romantic atmosphere when I popped the big question.

"I really want to play a new song I learned on my guitar for you though... and I have a really nice place we can be alone. Anywhere is more romantic than our apartment anyways, don't you think?"

He considered this for a moment, "Ah, alright. But the second that sun goes down, I better be cuddled up on the couch munching on some popcorn, got it?"

We headed out shortly after that, with me rushing Gerard to hurry his ass up so we wouldn't miss the sunset. I grabbed my guitar as well, knowing damn well I had never intended to play him any sort of new song, and that it was only an excuse to get him out of the house for a short while. Maybe I could just improvise something on the spot, but I'm sure he wouldn't care once I got to the real chase of why I had dragged him away from home. 

As we walked down the park path to the spot I wanted us to be at, I felt myself starting to shake as I grew more and more nervous. Constantly, I was reaching into my pocket feeling the little box with the ring in it, to make sure it hadn't somehow magically disappeared from my possession.

After a few minutes, we reached a lonely spot by a large, droopy tree with flowers scattered around the ground beneath it. As I tried not to reveal how visibly anxious I was to him, Gerard simply yawned and looked off somewhere into the distance, probably growing tired and bored of being out and about rather than relaxing cozily inside.

I rested my guitar against a nearby bench and turned back towards Gerard trying to force out a smile, even though I felt my insides twisting and turning uncomfortably. This was it. I was going to finally ask him. Fuck, what if he said, "no"?

"Um Gerard," I asked him, tearing his attention away from something else, "The real reason I brought you out here is 'cause I need to ask you something... something extremely important."

He tilted his head, oblivious, "Ask me what?"

I reached into my pocket, trying to pull out the ring, but I only could play around with the box with my fingers. What if he didn't feel the same way about me...?

"I um wanted to know if uh.... you know..."

He shot me a weirded out look, still not catching on, "Know what? Why are you so nervous? Just spit it out".

I dropped down to one knee, finally managing to force the box out into the open. Here went nothing...

I opened it up, causing Gerard to open up his eyes as wide as they'd go.

"Gerard, will you marry me?" I quickly shot out before tightly clenching my teeth shut.

He starting somewhat whimpering, covering up his mouth in shock. Within seconds, tears were streaming down his face. He nodded rapidly, over and over again.

"Really?" I asked in disbelief, even though his answer was clear as day.

"Yes, yes of course I'll marry you!" He threw himself around me, sobbing with tears of joy.

I couldn't believe it. This was it. We finally got our happy ending... or I suppose, our happy beginning. From then on, everything would be different. Gerard and I could start over. We were going to be together forever, and I knew now, after everything we had been through, nothing would tear us apart this time.

After hugging and crying for ages, we both sat down on the park bench and kissed each other happily. Of course, I also took out the ring from its case and slipped it onto his finger. He immediately held his hand up, letting the ring sparkle in the yellow, orange, and pink rays of light being emitting from the gorgeous setting sun.

"You've made me so happy, Frank," he wiped his eyes and glanced over at me, "Thank you for coming back to me all those months ago."

I smiled, wiping my own watering eyes clear, before wrapping my arms around him again.

Then, just the two of us sat and enjoyed the rest of the sunset together, as I strummed my guitar romantically for my new fiancé to enjoy. 

The End.