Saved -{ FRERARD }- **SEQUEL to ABANDONED**

21

*Gerard's P.O.V.*

"Frank!"

He kept running.

"No. No!"

I need to follow him. I need to get him back.

I ran until I couldn't run anymore.

I pulled out my phone and called him. Of course, he didn't answer and his voicemail mocked me with his voice telling me to leave a message.

"Frankie... I'm sorry. Come home, please? I didn't mean to hurt you. I just- I- I'm sorry.." I began to cry, "I know what I did was wrong.. I'm so sorry.." I hung up.

I walked aimlessly around the neighborhood. I didn't want to return home without Frank.

At some point in time it didn't feel like I was walking but more like floating. I don't know where I was going but I ended up in a spot in town I had never been in before. I walked around keeping my head down, not looking at anything.

Before I knew it, it started getting dark and I was standing at the bay, staring out at the horizon. I started thinking.

Maybe Frank wanted to leave. Maybe it was better this way. Maybe I didn't give him enough.

But that's when I heard crying. That's when all my attention went to the curled up body against the sand. I walked over to it and kneeled down, placing my hand on their back.

The small form looked up at me.

It was Frank.

When realization hit that I was in front of him, he threw his arms around me.

"I didn't m-mean to leave, Gerard. I'm s-o s-sorry!"

"Shhh, it's okay, I've got you. Can you stand up for me?"

He stumbled and fell into me, letting out a cry of frustration.

"Baby, I've got you."

But something burned inside him and he pushed me away.

"No! Get away from me!"

"Frank, please-"

"No! I don't want to listen to you!"

"I can make this better. Please? I promise it won't happen again. I hurt you, Frank, and I'm sorry."

"No-" He covered his ears.

"I know what I did was wrong. I know it's going to take some time for you to heal from this. But I can make it better."

"No- Shut up!"

I stood up and walked over to him so I was in front of him again. "I can take the pain away. I can make you happy again. Please, don't push me away? I need you. Fuck- I need you so bad. Frank, you don't know how hard it is to go on without you."

"It's quite simple. My parents did it. Why can't you just leave me like they did? I'll be out of your way."

"Because I don't ever want to let you go."

"But you said-"

"Forget what I said! I was angry."

"I can't forget what you said! It- it's true. I'd be invisible to the world without you. You don't need me to follow you around.."

"But I wouldn't change that for the world, Frank. Why don't I take you home? You can have a nice, warm bath, I can make a nice dinner for you, you can sleep in the bed, would you like that?"

He stayed quiet and avoided any eye contact with me. He was so unresponsive of everything I tried to do to comfort him. Whether it was pull him into me and sway him, hold his hand and cup his cheek, or even the words I was saying. Nothing worked. He wasn't giving in. But could you blame him?

"Tell me what I can do to make this better?"

He finally looked me in the eyes but crossed his arms. "Why do you want me? Why are you begging for me? I'm nothing special. You could have someone people know about, but you'd rather have an invisible, lost, pathetic-" His eyes watered, "wrecked, fuck up like me. Why am I so important to you?!"

It was killing me to see him cry because of something I had caused. He wasn't wrong to run but he was running from more than just what happened today. But I had to come clean to him.

"Because I found you, remember?"

"That won't cut it this time!"

"You didn't let me finish.

I need you, Frank. You may hate the fact I keep saying that but it's true. You can ask mom or Mikey; I've tried running away from things just like you are right now. You can't run from your own head. Your thoughts alone will kill you if you keep trying to. I can help you. And you don't realize it because I've never told you this but you're keeping me alive. Yes, I've been hospitalized due to suicide attempts before I found you. I didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. But when I saw you that first night and you talked to me, I knew I had to stay alive for you. You were so lost and I felt I needed to help you, keep you safe, and keep you alive just as much. You really don't know how much I hate leaving you at home for school or work. And when you ran away today I saw myself spiral back down. I knew I needed to look for you. I never wanted to hurt you. I never planned on it. It was an accident, Frank, I'm so, so sorry. Please come home with me so I can love you and show you how much I need you. Please? I am in love with you, Frank. And there is nothing I wouldn't do for you."

Our faces were inches away from each other and our eyes flickered between the other's eyes to our lips.

"You- You need me that bad?" He practically whispered out.

"More than that." I cupped his cheek and leaned in for a slow, passionate, forgiving, make-up kiss.

We pulled away from each other, it was like a first kiss all over again.

"I'll take you home and show you how much I need you."

"I'd like that."