TONIGHT WE'RE GOLD

FORTY-ONE

'Breathe in and out,' Gerard says from the driver's seat of their car 'It's going to be okay, we'll be there soon.'

'I know,' Frank says, panicking.

'I was talking to Kaya.' She's in the back, taking deep breaths, and keeping her eyes closed, trying to remain calm. 'Did you call your sister or your mom?'

'Not yet,' she says.

'You want me to call her?'

'Please –,' Kaya responds between pants. The drive to the hospital isn't that long, but between Kaya screaming in pain in the back, Frank having an anxiety attack in the passenger seat, and his own anxiety, it feels like an eternity for Gerard, but he has to keep calm for everyone's sake.

'Frank, did you bring the paperwork?'

He only nods, resting his head on the headrest. Just then, they turn right to the parking lot of the hospital, and pull up right outside the entrance. By the time Frank has the door open for Kaya, there's already someone there with a wheelchair.

They follow the nurse inside, while she asks the girl questions about her contractions. 'Is one of these men the father?'

'Both.' There's a silence. 'They're keeping the baby.'

'Then follow me.' They head to the maternity wing, and the nurse leaves the couple at the desk while she gets a room for Kaya. They show all of their paperwork, showing they're adopting the babies, and fill out forms. 'Congratulations,' the nurse at the front desk says.

When they enter Kaya's room, she's still screaming, so Gerard calls her sister right away.

In the meantime, Frank calls his parents. 'Mom – we're at the hospital. They're on their way.' And he starts crying his eyes out, realizing he's about to be a dad.

Doctors keep coming in and out of the room, checking on Kaya, and tell the couple it could be a few hours until the babies are born, so the step out of the room. 'Can you please let us know when –' Frank begs.

'Absolutely.'

They sit right outside the room, holding hands, and Frank is desperate to know. He looks for someone who can tell him, but Gerard has to pull his arm and tell him he's okay, and that everything will be okay.

'I could really use a drink right now,' Frank says out of nowhere. He can feel Gerard's eyes on him, the disappointment and the hurt. And he regrets saying that just as much as he regrets everything he's done. 'I'm sorry. I was just trying to get it out of my system. I'm not going to.'

'Good. You're about to have children now.'

'I know. And I would never do it, just so you know.'

'Glad to know.' Gerard is freaking out, but he's gotten better at hiding it around Frank.

Just then, Mikey and Gerard's parents arrive, and they all go and hug the couple. 'Not here yet,' Gerard informs them. 'It might be a while.'

'Have you eaten anything?' Donna asks.

'No, but we could use some coffee.'

'On it.'

Donald goes with Mikey, while Donna sits with the men and comforts her son in law. Linda and Cheech get there just an hour later, and they're still waiting for the babies to come. Kaya's sister is the only one who stays with her, but Frank and Gerard come and go, checking on her and trying to help her calm down.

Linda insists Frank eats something, but he's getting more anxious the closer they get. According to the nurses it could be a couple hours, so Mikey gets him a salad from the cafeteria.

'What if I'm not a good dad?' Frank asks when it's just his husband and mom with him. They both turn to him, not sure if they should be scared. Gerard sits in his lap, and strokes his bleached hair, trying to make him feel better.

'Why would you say that?'

'I don't know. I'm just – too broken. I'm just scared I'm not made to be a father, like they told me. What if I ruin their life?'

And then he starts crying, and Gerard is the only one who notices how bad he's getting. 'Hey, honey –,' he says. 'Let's go outside, okay?'

'But what about –' He looks up, worried.

'It'll only be a couple minutes.'

They go through the nearest exist, and only now Frank regrets coming to this hospital with their strict no smoking policies that include even the outside and parking lot. But at least he won't be smelling like cigarettes when his children are born.

Instead, he just lets Gerard hugs him tight and cries on his shoulder. 'You're not broken, okay? In that case, I'm broken too.' He pulls apart, and looks at Frank in the eye, wiping off his tears with his thumb. 'There is no one I know more fit to be a dad than you. And I'm not exaggerating. I've seen you with Rowan and Kennedy, or Kaya, or every kid at the center. You were born for this.'

The tattooed man only cries more. 'But – look at me.'

'The only thing I see when I look at you is a beautiful, strong man who has gotten up every time he falls down, and despite everything, got better and showed everyone that it's possible. Our kids will be lucky to call you dad.' He hugs him again. 'I remember when I met you I understood that everything happens for a reason. And I hate that I almost lost you, and that you felt so lost you relapsed, but somehow, it brought us here. And this is the most important moment of our lives. We'll get to go back home with two little humans.' That makes Frank smile. 'I love you, Frank, and I love having a family with you. I never thought I'd be this happy, so thank you.'

'I love you.'

***

Back in the waiting room, they're all equally excited and nervous, knowing they can come anytime.

Mikey facetimes his wife so they can say hi to the girls and the dogs, and Kristin tells them they'll do great, and she can help anytime they need.

Donna and Linda try to get them to spill the names they have for the babies, but they won't tell them. And just then, a nurse comes to tell them it's time.

Both Frank and Gerard are let in the room, and they stand nearby, not sure what to do. Kaya is holding her sister's hand, and pushing hard. 'Frank!' she yells, holding out a hand, and he quickly runs to hold it. 'I want you here.'

He smiles at her, and somehow being there for her helps him.

'You've been like an older brother, and I couldn't have made it sober all this time without you. And you'll be a great dad.'

She yells again, and the obstetrician is ready between her legs. 'Here they come!'

Gerard is holding his husband from the waist as he holds Kaya's hand, and everyone is yelling and crying, it's happening too fast. Then suddenly, there's a baby's cry. 'We have a girl!'

Frank sobs even harder while they take her to the side to clean her, and then there's another cry two minutes later. 'A boy! Congratulations, dads!'

Kaya's sister comforts her as she recovers, and once they wrap them in their little blankets, they ask the mom if she wants to hold them, but she says no, and then Frank and Gerard hold them. They're pink and small, but they both seem healthy and beautiful. 'Welcome to the world, Dylan and Emi,' Frank says. 'We're your dads and we love you a lot.' And they're his whole world now. Gerard and their kids.

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AAAAAAHHHHH THEY'RE DADS!! Thanks for reading again :)What do you think?