I'll Be Better Tomorrow (frerard)

the beaten and the damned

Alone with Frank, Gerard simply look terrified. Frank closed the door (I CHIME IN) behind him, Gerard already sitting cross-legged on the bed.

Frank didn't originally want to be bitter, but he really was towards Gerard. "You wanted to talk to me now?" Frank asked.

"Yeah, I mean," Gerard gulped, "if you want to."

"I did want to talk to you, too, but go ahead," Frank said.

Gerard nodded. "I know you've gotta be mad at me," he said, "but I'm sorry. You had to have known that I would be."

"That doesn't mean anything."

"It's true. I shouldn't have—"

"No, you shouldn't have. You shouldn't have casted me out of your life if you're gonna say you still need me. You shouldn't have wanted to make things so final. You should've listened to me and got through whatever emotional problem you were having. I would've stayed at helped you," Frank told him. He remained calm, his voice steady, but his words held how he felt, how Gerard was right about one thing—he was upset with him. "We didn't have to go through all this."

Gerard's jaw clenched, and he looked down. "You don't have to forgive me. If you don't ever want to see me again—" he shrugged. "—then I deserve it. I asked for it once." He was blinking rapidly, trying to keep the tears out of his eyes. "I miss you."

Frank could feel any roughness he had disappearing. He knew Gerard didn't really want to break up with him, ever.

Mikey and Ray had been right. Gerard was crying for him back.

Frank caved quickly enough. "I love you," he said.

Gerard took a breath.

"I can't be without you, not with things ending like that," Frank stated. "I miss you. You broke my heart." Frank shook his head at the cliche.

"I'm sorry," Gerard said again.

"Are you taking me back?" Frank asked, slowly, as if to clarify.

"Of course, Frankie," Gerard confirmed, tears welling up.

"Okay, okay."

"You're too good to me," Gerard claimed.

Considering, Frank chuckled a bit. "Yeah, maybe I am."

Gerard blushed and started apologizing again. "I don't deserve you," Gerard continued. "I'm lucky you even still care."

"I only do it because I want to, and that I just love you so much," Frank said, unable to remain angry at him for long. "I care about you a lot."

"I missed you so much. You know, everything you've done for me, I'd do for you, a thousand times if I could."

"Gerard. You already have. You don't even realize how much you've changed me."

"I hurt you," he said, looking like he didn't believe his own actions. "I can't forgive myself." A tear fell, and then another, and it was making Frank's insides turn. He shouldn't have voiced how emotional he was—if it was only going to make Gerard cry. But that was what helped him get him back, and that was also important.

"It's okay, now. I've fucked up with you too."

"Never again," Gerard promised. "I have to be here for you."

Frank wanted to hug him, crawl in bed next to him again. It was awkward, as Frank could only drape an arm around Gerard. His other was stuck in a strange sling, so he couldn't move his shoulder, leaving his entire arm unable to function. Fractured bone. Gerard laughed through his tears; fingertips brushing Frank's face. "It's really broken, huh?" Gerard asked.