They Don't Believe In Us (frerard)

29- Christmas Eve Part 2

Gerard's POV

My heart is beating much more rampantly than I thought it would. I mean, it makes sense, though, now that I process it. I'm in the split seconds nearing the moment when I introduce my first ever boyfriend that I've had, and not to mention, my fucking teacher. We're gonna have to keep a façade up, and keep it up well. My nerves are pounding as Frank sets his stuff down where he is behind me, removing his coat and setting it on top of his small duffel, before I feel him rub my back soothingly with one hand.

"Um, let's go put this in the kitchen." I rush out with stumbles, gesturing to the home-cooked food in my hand. Though I seem to be stuck in place, not knowing exactly how to move my seemingly cemented feet. Frank's tender push on the small of my back helped motion run through my body, thankfully.

"Let me get this, I'm afraid you'll drop it or something." Frank chuckles as he reaches his inked hand, the one that wasn't still placed on my back, and takes the warm, green food dish from my hands, that I just now noticed were shaking ever so slightly. "Just breathe, Gerard, it'll be fine." Frank whispers in my ear before planting an ever so gentle and loving kiss on my cheek, instantly making me forget all my petty worries, the sensation where his lips just were not a moment ago still lingering on my fair complexion.

The way my lover, if you could call the man that, appears so calm absolutely befuddles me. My heart wants to rip right out of my rib cage and leave me dead on the ground from the copious amount of nervous energy running through my body.

"Uh, Mom..." I clear my throat nervously, stepping into the kitchen from walking down the hallway, "h- um, th-this is, F-Frank." I attempt to speak, but I stumble over my words numerous times. Mom's been in the kitchen for the past hour, having started the dishes for our Christmas Eve "feast". Ever since she started, Mikey and I have been in and out as we went, helping her with small things she needed done, like peeling the skin off potatoes, dicing onions, and preparing some corn. Without leaving my eyes from my mother, I reach over, almost robotically, and grab the dish Frank brought, extending it to her direction. "H-he made, some.. um... uh-"

"It's, uh, green bean casserole. Hi. I'm Frank.. Iero! As I'm sure you know." Frank smiles warmly at my mom and extends his hand in a friendly, welcoming gesture. This is it. This is the moment. I may piss my pants I'm that nervous.

"Oh, honey, none of that formal shit, give me a hug." Relief overcomes me and I feel I'm just now letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I watch my mother wrap Frank in a tight, motherly grasp, and honestly, it looks as if he melts into the hug before squeezing her back with just as much force. "My name's Donna, no need to be calling me Mrs. Way." My mom chuckles to lighten the air before gently patting Frank's cheek a couple of quick times. "I'll leave the cheek patting for Gee now, alright?" My mom turns and winks at me, the smile having never left her face, before she continues to go back to cooking the chicken she had been working on. As she did that, I had nearly dropped the food I was still holding, and Frank had to grasp one side of it hurriedly before it went crashing to the tile floor. "And thank you, darling, for the dish! It sounds delicious. Gerard can you please just set it on the counter? I'm sure it'll have to be reheated later, so I'll pop in the oven for a bit." In a daze, I do as she asks me, ignoring Frank's amused and adoring look he's giving me, instead shooting Mikey a warning look to not give anything away as he joins us in the kitchen, which he rolls his eyes in reply to. Him and Frank exchange hellos and warm smiles, and suddenly, I feel like everything will be okay. "Oh, Frank, you've met Mikey, right? Gerard's younger brother?" Both I and Mikey turn crimson in result.

"Yes, Mom, we've met. Remember when we all went out and Gerard actually joined us for once? Frank was there." Mikey sighs out while our mom nods in understanding.