Careful

Chapter 1

A/N- Yay! New fic, what fun. I don't have time in my life to start a new fic, but oh well *shrugs*. Enjoy.

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"It's not fair!" I whined.

Mum hadn't fostered a kid in months, i didn't really mind it when she did, but I was getting used to it being just the two of us. It was simple, and the both of us were so much less stressed.

"Gerard," she sighed, sounding annoyed, " I know that you like it being just the two of us, but you know this is my job. It's important and it's what pays the bills."

"I know that," I levelled with her, "but...I just-"

"I know, dear, me too." She cupped my face, pulling me into a warm hug.

After a few moments, I continued, finally accepting the idea that someone was coming to stay with us.

"Do you know what they're like?"

"Well...not much, no." She sighed, "His name is Frank, he's...15, I think. He's not had it very easy, so you'll need to be nice to him, love."

I mocked offence, "I am always nice to the kids that stay here."

"Yes, I know. But Gerard, you're going to have to be really...careful, with Frank.  Do you understand what I mean?"

"I think so..." I replied.

"Okay. Well he'll be here in a week, so we need to sort out his bedroom. Are you up for helping me out? You're a teenage boy, you know more or less what he'll like." She forced this weird, enthusiastic, but more desperate, tone of voice. I could hear behind it though, she was worried. These kids only really ever stayed for a few weeks, but this one- Frank, he would be here indefinitely, she didn't know what was going to happen. And, well, neither did I.

"Of course, you'd probably mess it up. I'll help as much as I need to while he's here." I reassured her.

She sighed in what I think was relief, "Thank you, Gerard. I really don't deserve you." She planted a small kiss to my forehead and I pushed her away playfully.

"It's okay, mum." I smiled.

She left the kitchen to fill out some paperwork or something, while I finished my coffee.

Frank. I didn't know what to expect of him, really, how could I? But I decided that I'd try my best to help him and my mum out while he was here.

I thought back to what my mum had said, I need to be careful around Frank. But why? Why careful? He needed to be handled with care, I didn't understand, I really didn't, but I would oblige. I'd be careful.