TONIGHT WE'RE GOLD

TWENTY-SEVEN

'Hello,' Frank says, answering his phone.

'How are you, kid?'

'I'm better.' He's trying. He really is. It takes all of his energy, and sometimes he doesn't have any, but he still tries. 'How are you?'

'Missing my son. Who I only see when he's at the hospital.'

'I know, I'm sorry.' He throws away the cigarette butt, and continues walking behind Lois. 'You know what? I have tonight off. You should come for dinner.'

'He remembers me!'

'Oh, shut up.'

'I'll call your mom. I know she misses you too.' Sometimes he realized how lucky he is to have parents who still get along even after being divorced for so long. He knows it was all because of him, raising him as an only child and making sure he had the best upbringing, and he's thankful for that.

'Fine. See you later then.'

He hurries up home, where Gerard is brewing more coffee when he comes in. 'Hey, babe.'

'Hey,' Frank says, approaching him for a kiss. His hands are still cold from being outside, and he doesn't take off the beanie. 'So – my dad called, and – they're coming over.'

'Your parents?'

'Yup.'

'But why?'

'I kinda invited them?'

'Then we should clean the house before they show up.' Luckily for Gerard, Frank is a clean freak, so he goes through everything, dusting, sweeping and mopping. Vacuuming and moving things around.

In the meantime, Gerard makes dinner. A mushroom lasagna and zucchini soup.

They take a shower together, and dress up, just in time for them to show up. 'Hey!' Frank says all excited when he opens the door.

It's been two months since the last time he saw them, back in Texas. Things have changed since then, for the better.

'Frankie!' Linda hugs him the second the door opens, and that feels good. He misses her. 'You look a lot better.'

'I am, Ma'.'

His dad hugs him too, and Frank can't help but cry. He's almost forty, and yet being with his parents makes him emotional.

Linda and Gerard talk about food, and Frank's process, while he gives his dad a tour around the house. 'Wow! Impressive.'

'Well, it's pretty much his house. I mean he had it already when we met.'

'Still, it feel like a home. And I see a lot of you.'

They have dinner, and talk about Lois and the weather. Cheech asks Frank what happened with Death Spells. 'I was just talking to James and Chad this morning, and they were able to get me off the contract. James can still play the songs with someone else, and they still credit me.'

He knows his dad wants to ask him whether he plans on doing something else related to music, but knows it's a sensitive subject, and it's too soon. So Frank is the one who brings it out. 'I'm writing again.' The three of them look at him, almost gasping, unsure if they should celebrate or be afraid. 'It's just for me. Keeps the monsters away.'

Gerard responds by kissing his forehead.

'And when were you telling us that you guys were engaged?' his mom interrupts, causing all o them to laugh.

Frank hopes the plan is still up. A lot of things have changed, and he sometimes feels Gerard deserves better than him, and they haven't really talked about what happened. Though things are good lately, so yes, things seem to be back to normal. 'I was planning on – but then – you know, things happened –'

'It's okay, baby. But you guys are still getting married, right? I'm getting old and I want to walk my son down the aisle before I can't walk anymore.'

'Yes,' both Frank and Gerard answer, holding hands and sharing a look. That was all Frank needs to know.

***

They're in the living room, sharing stories about Frank when he was young, embarrassing him as parents should do, when Frank phone rings.

It's Kaya.

He runs out to the patio to get it. 'Hey, what's up?'

She's crying, which worries Frank. 'I'm with some friends. They offered me some pills and vodka.'

No, not again, not to her. He would not allow it to happen. 'You're okay?'

'I didn't take them. I just wanted to let you know I didn't take them'

'Good.' He doesn't know what else to say. 'You want to go somewhere else. I can pick you up, and you can have dinner with us.'

Kaya doesn't respond for a while. 'Is that okay? I can't go back inside.'

'Yeah. Text me the address and wait for me there, okay?' He excuses himself with his parents and tells them he'll be back.

The building isn't that far from Frank and Gerard's house. It's an apartment complex in front of the college campus. And Kaya is right outside.

She gets in the car, and starts sobbing when Frank hugs her. 'I almost took them,' she says.

'I know. It's hard. But we'll get through it.'

He lets her choose the music, and when they pull outside the house, she's impressed too. 'You make big money then.'

He laughs and shakes his head. 'Not me. It's Gerard's house.' His parents are still there, so he introduces Kaya to everyone. 'She's like a little sister,' he tells them.

Both his parents tell him how proud they are of him, and that they're happy he's back on track. 'Thank you. It means a lot, because I'm really trying,' he says.

'And you seem happy,' Cheech mentions.

'I am.'

Frank insists Kaya stays in the guest room, and that he'll take her to school the next morning. 'Thank you for everything,' she says, hugging him. 'You have a nice family.'

Frank nods. 'You're welcome anytime.'

And then he goes to bed, where Gerard is already waiting for him. 'You have a talent, you know?' he says.

'Are you talking about what I think you're talking about?' Frank asks in a flirty tone, attacking his neck and collarbone.

'Helping others. Understanding them and making them feel better.'

Frank seems disappointed it wasn't what he thought it was.

'Didn't you almost finish your psychology degree?'

'I dropped out on my last semester.'

'The last semester?'

'I was going on tour!'

'Well, maybe you should finish and do something with it.'

'But I hate psychologists.'

'Then why did you want to major in it?'

'I didn't want to. I just thought it'd help me understand myself better, but it didn't cause look where I am.'

'But you seem happy when you help Kaya.'

He is.

'Just think about it, okay?' Gerard says, and kisses him, turning off his night lamp.

'Okay.'