Cigarettes and Sass (reupload)

Chapter 12

"Oh God... There she is." Gerard whispered, squeezing Frank's hand tighter as the two men approached the Italian restaurant. Elena was stood outside, looking up and down the street clearly trying to spot them. She was wearing another one of her summer dresses and shawls, and Frank grinned as he gazed at her.

"She looks awesome."

"She looks like she's gonna kick my ass." Gerard responded nervously, Elena finally seeing them and she stood up straighter, a small smirk tugging at her lips. Gerard prayed she wasn't going to yell at him for being late, they were only ten minutes late, and it was all Frank's fault anyway. If he hadn't insisted on the whole shaving thing...

"Finally, you're here. Punctual as ever I see, Gerard." Elena purred silkily as the two men reached her. Gerard blushed and muttered a 'hi Grandma' before Elena was turning to Frank, her arms outstretched and hands raised as if waiting to clamp on his cheeks and squeeze them.

"You must be Frank." She smiled sweetly, Frank giggling as he nodded.

"You must be Elena. I've been dying to meet you." He grinned, Elena positively beaming back at him as she squealed in delight and hugged him tight.

"Oh, I like you." She decided, pulling back to squeeze Frank's shoulders and grin at him. "How did my grandson fall lucky enough to attract someone so handsome huh?" She laughed, Gerard blushing as he stood beside Frank, pretty much forgotten.

"With all respect ma'am, I'm the lucky one." Frank smiled, Gerard unable to stop himself from blushing and smiling a little as he glanced at Frank and felt his heart tug slightly. Frank was looking gorgeous as ever and that playful sparkle in his eyes was making Gerard weak at the knees. He felt like a helplessly smitten school girl and he knew that Elena was going to pick up on it.

"Gosh you're cute." Elena gasped, her hands now on Frank's cheeks though she didn't squeeze them. Apparently, she was on her best behaviour. "And please, just call me Elena. Ma'am makes me feel so old." She groaned, flipping the end of her shawl over her shoulder before she began to lead the way into the restaurant.

"Come on boys, its freezing out here and I'm absolutely starved."

Gerard smiled fondly and glanced at Frank, the younger man smirking back at him. He took Gerard's hand and laced their fingers again, mouthing the words 'I love her' at him before following Elena to the table the waiter was showing them to.

As Gerard sat down next to Frank (making a conscious effort to make sure he wouldn't be seated opposite him in case he got any bright ideas like the time in the Chinese restaurant), he recognised the waiter who was laying their menu's down for them. He was smiling softly as he chatted quietly to Elena, telling her the day's specials before taking their drinks order, and when he glanced at Gerard it was clear he remembered him to.

Gerard blushed and tried to bite back his smirk as he took the menu from the young man. It was the waiter Elena had pointed out to him last time they had come to the restaurant together, the one she had mentioned was good looking and Gerard had insisted wasn't his type.

The memory brought a strange flutter in Gerard's chest. The waiter had walked away and Elena was already chatting eagerly to Frank, trying to learn all about him. Frank was telling her all about the guitar shop he worked in – he and Gerard had agreed beforehand that they wouldn't be telling Elena the truth of Frank's job. As Gerard gazed at his boyfriend he couldn't help but smile slowly, his lips tugging upwards until he was grinning like an idiot, melting in his seat.

It had always been his dream to be with a man special enough to bring to this restaurant that he usually only came to with Elena. Sure, it wasn't just the two of them out on a romantic date, but it was closer than Gerard had ever got so far and he felt ridiculously happy to see Frank sitting in this place.