TONIGHT WE'RE GOLD

ELEVEN

It's seven a.m. and Frank wakes up to find Lois by the bed, waiting for him to take him for a walk. 'Aww you dork,' he says, patting her head. 'Let's go.'

His eyes aren't even open as he walks to the kitchen to make himself coffee, and puts on a jacket, and then they're on their way out. They pass by Frank's old apartment complex, bringing memories of another life. He can't believe it's only been a couple months since he's moved in with Gerard and he feels so much at home.

Halfway through his walk, his phone rings. 'Hello, mom!' he says, without looking at the screen. She's the only one who still calls him, especially this early in the morning.

'Good morning, sweetie! How are you?'

'I'm good, mom.' It has been a while since they actually talked, and he hasn't really told her about Gerard, or the fact that they're living together, other than he was seeing someone. Most days he feels it's too good to be true, and it could end in any second, so he was afraid to tell others and ruin it. 'In fact, I've never been this good,' he says with a smile.

'Sweetheart! That makes me so happy!' They talk for a while, catching up on what they've been doing, and life in general. Frank isn't sure why he doesn't call his mom more often. 'You should come over and visit!'

'I would love to.'

'Are you working tonight?'

'I am. But let's do it tomorrow.'

When he walks back in the house, he finds Gerard sitting on a bar stool, eyes glued to his laptop. 'Good morning, babe,' Frank says, approaching from behind, and kissing his cheek. 'New office?'

'It's closer to the coffee pot.' Gerard kisses him back, and pulls him closer. 'I want to fuck you so bad right now, but I have so many edits to do –'

'Don't tease me!' Frank pours himself a cup of coffee and joins him. 'Oh, by the way. My mom called, and we're having dinner with her tomorrow.'

'Wait – what? Am I going to finally meet your mom?'

'If you want to, of course.'

'Of course I do.' To be honest, Frank is terrified of Gerard meeting his family. It means they're serious. He hasn't been in a serious relationship in the longest time, and the last time, he never took him to meet the parents. 'Does she even know about me?'

'Are you kidding me?! Yes!'

'She does?!'

'I mean, I'm in my late thirties, I don't need to tell my mom every detail of my sex life –'

Gerard interrupts. 'What do you mean sex life? We're more than that!'

'Yeah, but it's still weird to tell my mom I'm you know, living with you, and all that.'

'I get you, you don't have to give me an explanation. Though tomorrow, I guess we're going to have to tell her?'

'We will,' Frank says with a shy smile, clearly blushing.

'You're nervous?'

'As fuck.'

Frank then gets in the shower, gets ready for work, and continues with his day. He's so excited about bringing Gerard to meet his mom, it's obvious in his enthusiastic tone and trying to make conversations with customers, that he gets almost double the tips. 

He comes home tired and sore, and Gerard takes him to bed and gives him a massage. 'This is my favorite part of moving in with you,' Frank says.

'I'm glad. I love spoiling you.' Gerard rubbed lotion on Frank's tattooed back, followed by tiny kisses all over, his hands caressing every inch of him.