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Gerard seemed confused as he looked at Frank. He looked the same, his hair still the same brown but cut shorter. He still had the same honey brown eyes with their hints of green. He was still thin but worse now not disgustingly but not healthily. He looked older but it had been five years and Frank was no longer the age he had been. He was twenty, almost twenty-one. Gerard looked to Mikey. As if to prove he hadn't drifted off to sleep in his chair. "Thank you for saving my baby girl," Mikey said softly with a big smile on his face.

Gerard turned to Frank and quickly ran to him, wrapping his arms around the shorter man and hugging him close. He couldn't even comprehend what he was feeling as his belly did flips and tears poured down his eyes as he smiled and buried his face in Frank's shoulder. He could feel Frank's hands desperately holding onto his back and just breathed him in, he smelt different but part of him was still there, the perfect Frank part. He kept his grip tight on the younger man, who's feet were no longer touching the floor from Gerard's hug.

"I told you I would get you back," Gerard softly whispered against Frank's ear. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

Frank smiled softly at how Gerard's voice was a little deeper and knew his was now too. "I've missed you so much," he whispered against Gerard's ear.

"Now it can be forever," Gerard whispered gently as he was referring to the last line of Frank's letter to him, 'Sorry it couldn't be forever.'

Frank smiled so wide and continued to hold onto Gerard. The two broke apart from their hug, only in the slightest and Gerard leaned down and pressed their lips together for the first time since he had been nineteen. His heart melted and his insides soared as the shorter man kissed him back, leaning upward with his tiptoes to do so, it made Gerard smile all the more. He was actually quite happy that Frank hadn't grown much in height; he loved how cute he was at his current height.

"I can't even believe this," Frank whispered so quietly. "It's like it's a dream. I've dreamt about this so many times. God, promise me this is real," he breathed with such a worried voice.

"It's real, Frank. You're in my arms and I'm not letting you go," Gerard said with a soft smile on his lips. He, himself couldn't even believe it. He felt like he was hallucinating. He was beginning to worry he had passed out while flicking through his magazine and Mikey would wake him at any moment, Anna standing beside him and they'd be ready to go. The devastation would kill him if that was so. He just breathed Frank in and held him so close. Even if it was a dream, he wanted to get everything he could out of it.

Frank saw Mikey standing over by the chairs. He lifted one hand from Gerard's back and waved before he mouthed the words, 'Thank you.' Mikey smiled sweetly and nodded his head, letting him know it was fine. He was so happy to see Gerard smiling and happier than he had been in years. He knew Frank would only make Gerard the happiest he had ever been and hoped it would go well for them both.

The whole ride back, the two were in the backseat while Mikey drove. He didn't hear them make a noise but every time he glanced into the rearview mirror he saw Frank nuzzled close to Gerard with his head on his shoulder and with Gerard's head resting on his. Their hands were interlocked and Frank's legs laid across Gerard's. It was like they were trying to be as close and intertwined as possible so nothing could pull them apart. Mikey knew they would have a lot of catching up to do together but he figured nothing bad would come from it, they just seemed so happy to finally be back with one another. The awkwardness seemed like it was completely gone because they were just so happy to be together again.

They had gone all those years without sharing one letter, one call, nothing. Mikey knew their bond was so strong because they had found each other when they had had no one and that had made it all the more special. They had fallen in love when neither knew themselves very well and both were going through hardships. Now, with things less complicated, he hoped it would go better and knew their bond would stay as tight as ever.

He realized, seeing them in the backseat, that he really missed Jake and wished he'd come home. He felt so guilty for what he had done to him. Even still, Jake continued to work his long shifts and would only take a few hundred out of his paycheck before sending the rest to the bank where Mikey could have it for the bills at the house and the things Nora and he needed. Each time he took out Jake's hard-earned money he felt even worse so he had applied for a job at a hospital where he could work during the day while Nora was at school. He was to wash the laundry there. It didn't pay too much but it would certainly be a good help and cover most of the bills so he could leave more money in the account for Jake. He just sighed out his thoughts and continued the drive home.

When Mikey pulled in at Gerard's house, Frank was silently sleeping on Gerard's lap. Mikey shut the car off and turned back to see Gerard with watery eyes. "What's wrong?" He quietly asked him with concern.

"Look at him, Mikey," Gerard whispered so quietly. Mikey did, running his eyes over Frank's worn out and old clothes, his body was even thinner than it had been when he was younger. If his shirt had been tighter, Mikey imagined he would be able to count Frank's ribs. "He's so small," he breathed sadly and kissed the top of Frank's head.

"It'll get better," Mikey assured him. "He'll be here with you now and you can take care of him like you've wanted to," Mikey whispered back.

Gerard smile weakly before he reached one of his hands forward and gripped Mikey's hand. "Thank you so much, Mikey. This means the world to me. I can never repay you," Gerard said to him with a sad smile.

"You saved my little girl, Gerard. We're even now," Mikey said with a small smile back and gripped his brother's hand. "Come on, I'll go open the door so you can bring him in," Mikey said and Gerard handed him the keys.

Mikey quietly got out of the car before he walked over and unlocked Gerard's door, turning on the little hallway light. He went back to the car and opened Gerard's door, he got out, carrying Frank who remained asleep in his arms. "I love you, Mikey," Gerard whispered as Frank tiredly stirred in his arms before he nuzzled closer to him.

Mikey smiled and pecked his brother's cheek, making sure he didn't nudge Frank. "I love you too. You two go inside and rest," he said softly to his older brother who smiled before he walked into his house. Mikey watched the door close and then got in his car before he drove away.

Gerard brought Frank inside and was about to go upstairs with him before he decided he would sleep downstairs in his old room. He brought him down the stairs and laid him down on the bed. He carefully took off Frank's jacket and shoes before he tucked him under the blankets. He looked down at the jacket when he picked it up and realized it was his own. It was the one he had nearly lived in when he was nineteen and the one he gave to Frank. He looked to the other man who was curled up under the blankets and leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on the back of his head before he took off his own shoes and jacket. He went over and flicked on his old bathroom light like he used to in case Frank woke up. He climbed into the bed beside Frank quietly and wrapped an arm around him, looking at his resting face.

Frank did look a bit older but he still looked like he had the many years ago. Gerard tried not to sleep that night. He was afraid Frank would be gone when he woke up but sometime around four in the morning, he had nuzzled close to the others warm body and found himself dreaming before he knew it.