TONIGHT WE'RE GOLD

Halloween

*a special*

'Happy birthday to me,' Frank says as he wakes up to take the dogs for a walk

At his age, he doesn't go crazy as he used to. He already has everything he always dreamed of. The husband and family of his dreams, a job that he loves, while he also plays music every now and then. He's healthy and the happiest he's ever been. So, he doesn't need anything else than to spend it with his loved ones.

Gerard was obviously the first one to congratulate him. A birthday fuck just past midnight, and a tiny Halloween cupcake.

They're planning on taking the kids trick-or-treating later, and maybe hanging out with Mikey and his family afterwards. Maybe if Frank is lucky, he can get some alone time with his hubby.

But he can't ask for anything.

Walking the dogs to the park, he realizes how lucky he already is. And he just wants to enjoy it.

He sits on the same bench he's been sitting for years, just to take a moment. He's alive. Even after all the shit, and those awful days, he made it. He's alive and well, and he got to get married to the love of his life and have kids. He got to graduate from college and became a therapist, something he never thought would happen, not in a million years. And hearing his patients thank him for staying alive one more day when they thought they couldn't, is a lot sometimes. Because he's been there before, thinking there was no other way out, and considering taking his own life. He knows what it is to not know if you're going to be alive at the end of the day.

So, being here, alive and happy, is the best gift ever.

And just as he feels his eyes starting to get wet, he gets up and goes home. Gerard should be home from picking the kids up from preschool by now.

***

'Ready, guys?' Gerard asks his kids. 'Your dad is coming.'

The twins giggle from under the sheets, and yell in unison. 'Yeah!'

'Awesome!' They've been going through this for the last couple days. Gerard wants to make the day special for Frank because he deserves it more than anyone. So, he dressed up the kids as ghosts, got some Halloween balloons and more of those cupcakes Frank likes.

He stands behind the kids, and as soon as the door opens, the three of them scream. 'Happy birthday!' Gerard knows Frank is faking surprise, but he loves him for it.

'Wow! Thank you, guys!' Frank says while both twins run to his arms, and each give him a kiss on the cheek. 'Your costumes look awesome, by the way. You scare me.'

Gerard steps closer and kisses him. 'Happy birthday, my love.'

'Thank you, my love.' He kisses him back, and they stay like that for a second. The four of them, hugging. 'You just made my day.'

During breakfast, they go over the plans for the day. Mikey and his family are coming over for dinner, and they'll go trick-or-treating afterwards. Frank's parents are coming too. They have a few hours to decorate the rest of the house, and get the kids ready in their costumes.