Frerard - Free Now (Null Trilogy Part 2)

Part 3

Gerard's P.O.V

Frank, Mikey, Bob and I were out of the town for the day. We'd decided that we needed to relax.

We were only half an hour out of Belleville. I drove up a dirt track, past jagged granite rocks overlooking a fast running creek, on into a pine forest with the heavy, scented boughs. Soon I was out of the long shadows onto a clear road zig-zagging up to the aspens ahead.

My car bumped over boulders, and Mikey whined in protest, hugging his stomach. The tyres crunched over gravel and skidded around tight bends. There were no houses, no other vehicles, just an expansive midday sky and a bright sun high up in it.

We soon came to another bunch of trees and saw a narrow track to our left. In the long grass, a mule deer raised its startled head, bounding away quickly as we swept past. I smirked as I recognised the track rising up through a natural meadow into a cluster of aspens. Just beyond the trees was our destination. I parked the car at the edge of the small woods.

I got out along with the others, sending the deer bounding further into the silvery grass. The tress behind us moved gently, their leaves rustling in the calm breeze, like a million wings beating.

I took my husband's hand and began traversing down the path that twisted round the meadow, not wanting to startle the meadow's beauty. The path sloped away, down into a wide valley where a creek ran. The three beside me gasped simultaneously. I grinned again and led them down the slope before we found a comfortable spot on a smooth rock. Frank beamed across at me, his eyes shining. "Gee, this is beautiful," he signed breathlessly.

"Not as beautiful as you," I motioned back. He blushed and nuzzled into the crook of my neck. After a few minutes of awed silence, Bob handed me a bag I'd packed before leaving. I nodded my thanks and reached into it, pulling out a few glasses and a bottle of champagne. I pulled the cork out with the aid of a nifty tool and aimed the stream of weak alcohol toward Bob. The bearded man yelped when he got sprayed slightly. I giggled. Bob scowled at me and I kissed his cheek, earning an eye roll on his part. I began pouring the drinks, flashing Bob a cheeky smirk.

Frank detached himself from my neck and signed something to Mikey. Mikey nodded and smiled to him.

"We'll be back soon," my brother told me, before prancing away with Frank. Bob shrugged at me and I returned the shoulder roll.

"So how's things going with the pregnancy?" I asked Bob. My vocal performance had improved a lot within the past few years of having my hearing back. I had proper clarity now, and despite my voice not being perfect, I at least sounded normal. I hadn't told anyone, but...I wanted to be a singer. Though my mind deemed it as impossible due to my still slightly drawly and sloppy voice, my heart told me that I should aim high and go for it. But right now, I was too shy.

"Pretty well," Bob replied after a moment's pause. "We think the morning sickness has passed now." I smiled. Bob's voice was my favourite. It was deep and had a growly, hauty edge to it.

"That's good. How's Mikey feeling about it all now? He was pretty scared last week when you told us," I inquired.

Bob hummed. "He's actually pretty excited now that the initial shock and fear has passed. That scan helped us a lot."

I nodded. Mikey had been informed that he was just about to hit six months. The baby was healthy, and they told him that he would indeed have a C-Section when he went into labor. It took a huge weight off not only his shoulders, but ours too.

"Yeah. As weird as this whole situation is, I'm still excited to be an uncle." I grinned. "Are you looking forward to being a father?"

Bob smiled shyly. "I never really thought about having children with Mikey until he suggested it. I realised that I did want kids. So yeah, I guess I'm pretty excited too."

I giggled and wrapped an arm around Bob's shoulders, snuggling into him. Bob smiled softly and kissed my head. We were even closer now than we were in school, same with Mikey and Frank. It was pretty normal for Mikey and I to cuddle and kiss the other brother's husband. I loved that we could be this way. We all knew that we weren't cheating or in love with another. It was just a friendly gesture, and we it gave us room to be open about our relationships, showing how comfortable we could be even when we were cuddling or kissing another.

Bob took a sip of his champagne. "I like this idea. Of coming to a beautiful place just to relax together. I just wish that Ray and Andy could be here with us."

"Me too," I sighed, frowning sadly. We didn't really see the pair much since they had moved to Arlington. In fact, we'd seen them three times since. It wasn't their fault, of course, and we weren't bitter about it. We just missed them a lot. The group didn't quite feel the same without them.

I heard footsteps and looked behind me. Mikey and Frank had returned, smiled on their faces and their hands behind their backs.

"What have you two been doing?" I questioned, signing it for Frank.

"We made you flower crowns!" Frank struggled to sign, attempting to do so with one hand, but I understood. He revealed the crown from behind his back, made up of pretty red and blue flowers from the meadow.

I gasped and smiled, giggling. "Bless. I wanna wear it!" I signed quickly. Frank beamed and placed it on my head. I got my phone out and used it as a mirror. I grinned and hummed, turning back to my husband. "I love it. It's beautiful." Frank kissed my cheek and cuddled me again, one hand around my waist while the other let the champagne glass adorn his lips.

Mikey placed his pink crown on Bob's head. I giggled. He looked so gay, but so cute. Bob smirked. "Now I'm your king. Bow down!" he signed.

"And I'll be your queen!" I joined in. Mikey hit us gently and playfully, laughing. Frank smiled and rolled his eyes. I loved that we could be so childish, even as we entered our twenties. Frank was already 24, but I always treated him as younger than me, probably Mikey's age, but it was kinda hard to tell who wore the pants in our relationship. Probably him, now that I was the one who was hopefully getting pregnant. Though, I felt like I was the one who looked out for and after him more like the man of a relationship, due to his deafness. Speaking of which...

"Frank, I've been thinking about the charity and the appeal and stuff," I signed. Frank perked up and listened in. Well, looked in.

"I have a feeling that someone is stopping you from having that operation. I don't know why, and I don't know who would, but I've always felt that way," I explained uneasily. "I know we have more than enough money, for one of your ears at least."

"That's exactly what I've been thinking," Frank signed, sighing. "There has to be someone in that charity, or at least someone who is influencing the charity, who really doesn't want me to hear again."

I nodded. "Thee is someone behind this, I just know it," I signed firmly. "And we're gonna find out who it is..."