EARLY SUNSETS

12 .all i wanted for xmas.

Gerard was finally back home after a couple days.

It still hurt like hell, but at least he was in his own bed, and Frank was with him the whole time. And now that school was off, he was there literally all the time. 'You need anything?' Frank asked, as Gerard got comfortable.

'I'm fine.'

'I just –'

'Frank, please! Just come and sit with me.' He knew Frank had good intentions, and he was the best boyfriend Gerard could ask for, but for that same reason he just wanted to cuddle with him.

'Are you okay?' Frank asked, lying next to him.

'It just hurts a little.' Frank leaned over to kiss his forehead. 'But if you stay here, it hurts less.'

'Your mom said I could stay here indefinitely.'

'As if you needed my mom's permission. You already lived here.' Frank smiled, blushing. 'If you want you can move in with me.'

'As if I didn't already live here.'

'Maybe one day we can move out of my mom's basement, and get our own place,' Gerard said.

'You really mean that?'

'Of course.'

Frank stared at his boyfriend, unable to comprehend how he had found this beautiful man in the middle of a party and had managed to have him in his life. He realized in that moment he wanted to be with him for the rest of his life. After almost losing him, he'd do anything to make him happy. 'I love you,' he said, and kissed him.

***

Christmas was only two weeks away, and Gerard was still recovering.

Frank would clean the wound every morning and change the bandages. 'You should have been a nurse,' Gerard told him.

'You know I only like fake blood. I would have passed out on my first week. I'm only doing this because it's you.'

'How sweet of you.'

'That's me. The sweetest motherfucker.'

In the afternoon, Frank would go to work, and then come back, bringing food for Gerard. They would watch a movie and then fall asleep. Then they'd do it again. On his days off, Frank would cook for him or would help him to the living room so they'd have some family time.

Donna insisted on Frank being part of the family Christmas photo, which helped cheer Gerard up after getting the call the Breakfast Monkey wasn't picked up by the network.

Frank put on the sweater Donna got for him, and posed next to Gerard, kissing his cheek and climbing on his back.

'I don't know what to do with my life now, Frank.'

'Don't worry. We'll figure it out.' In the meantime, he already had something planned for his Christmas present. 'Hey – my dad invited me for dinner on Christmas Eve, and I was thinking –' Gerard gave him a look, knowing what he was going to say. 'You should come with me. I think it's time to introduce you to the family.'

'For real?'

'For real.'

***