Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

"Gerard!” Frank cries happily when Gerard walks into Skeleton Crew’s office. “Shit, I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve seen you.”

“It’s been -” Gerard has to stop and think. “A month. At least. Wow. Hi, Frankie.” Frank stands up from behind his desk and comes over to wrap Gerard in a big hug. It has been a long time because the first thing Gerard notices is that his hair’s getting really long, curling down nearly to his shoulders.

“How was everybody in Portland?”

“Good - Sid’s getting really big. Scott’s still Scott. Things went well, but I’m glad to be home. And here you are, buying my affection with freelance work. How are you?”

“Good,” Frank answers immediately, then adds, “Buying your affection, huh? Don’t I already have it?”

He’s teasing, but Gerard’s stomach still flips uncomfortably. “Of course, you do. Now you’re just going to have my stellar design skills, too.”

Frank smiles and sits on top of his desk. “Jamia’s going to be so pissed she missed you.”

“She’s not here?”

“Nah, not today. She’s at a trade show. But hey, you should come over for dinner sometime soon, okay? Maybe this weekend?”

Gerard swallows hard. “I have a date,” he says, and Frank’s eyebrows shoot toward the ceiling.

“A date,” he repeats. “Wow, that’s -” He doesn’t finish his sentence, and Gerard jumps in nervously.

“I know, right? It’s been forever. We've gone out a couple times in a group, and we've been talking on the phone, but going out... I have no fucking clue what to do with myself. But she’s an artist, and we know a bunch of the same people, and so I guess we have plenty to talk about, and -” Gerard stops. He’s rambling, he knows that. “And you’re busy, so let’s talk about this project of yours.”

Frank’s lips quirk at the corners, a very Frank-like half-smile. “One night next week, then. Call me, okay? I have all the stuff set up on Jamia’s desk, so let’s go over there and take a look.” He grabs Gerard’s wrist and tugs, and Gerard lets himself be led down the hall.

He's missed this.

****

Two Weeks Later

Frank is completely unsurprised when the maître d’ tells them Gerard is already there and waiting. Gerard is nothing if not weirdly insane about promptness. Frank feels out of place, like he always does in nice restaurants in the city. He's a diner guy. But this is where Gerard and his girlfriend - Lindsey, he repeats mentally - work and ...well, Jamia likes a nice dinner every once in a while. She looks fantastic. Frank feels conspicuous in his collared shirt with tattoos peeking out everywhere.

Frank spots Gerard before he sees them. He looks good in his three-piece suit, and he's staring at the girl on his left like she invented comic books. Like he sometimes looks at Frank. Frank feels instantly better when he sees her because she's wearing this strapless dress, and she's got a rad sleeve tattoo. Also she is pretty fucking gorgeous. Then again, so is Gerard. Especially when you haven't known him since the drunken bear suit days.

Frank thinks he's gorgeous anyway, but Frank isn't supposed to think like that at all. So when Lindsey nudges Gerard, and he looks up at them, Frank has a big smile on his face.

"Frankie, Jamia," Gerard says and gets up. He envelops both of them in a big hug and pulls back. "Thank you for coming. Meet Lindsey."

Lindsey shakes hands, and they exchange small talk while they wait for their drinks. By the time Frank's soup arrives, he knows that this girl isn't anything like Gerard's last girlfriend - which is a relief. Jamia seems charmed as well. Then Lindsey puts the final nail in the coffin with "punk rock Dolly Parton cover band".

"You can stay," Jamia says. "Gerard, where did you meet this girl, and why didn't it happen sooner?" Gerard laughs delightedly.

"We did meet a long time ago."

"And then we didn't see each other again for years," Lindsey says.

"And when we reconnected, we just knew we needed to be together." Fuck, Gerard sounds smitten.

Lindsey smiles big and wide and practically glowing. "Yeah."

"Well, I'm glad," Jamia says. "So, I know you're an artist, but do you have a favorite medium to work with or a specialty?"

Frank's glad Jamia is asking questions and helping keep the conversation going. Frank feels... strange. He hopes it's not too obvious. He listens, though. Lindsey's paper art sounds interesting, and Gerard gushes about it and makes her blush. Then Gerard gushes about Skeleton Crew and makes Frank blush.

"You'd love it. They have this whole DIY ethos where everyone chips in, and they create as a community," Gerard says.

"Except for when I have to be the boss sometimes, and it sucks," Frank grouses. "Or when J has to."

Jamia laughs. "I'm always the boss, babe."

"Yeah, okay." Frank grins at her. "But I have to go rescue bands at three am because their vans break down."

"That's not because you're the boss," Jamia tells him.

"No, that's because you're a softy, Frank," Gerard adds.

Frank opens his mouth and closes it again before he gets them kicked out of this fancy fucking restaurant. He settles on glaring, and they both laugh. He's sure his message got through nice and clear.

Once their food arrives, they settle into an easy discussion of venues and bands and general crazy shit they've seen go down in the scene. Frank realizes after a while that he's actually enjoying himself. He genuinely fucking likes Lindsey so far. She's funny, she has good taste, and most of all, she's making Gerard smile like pretty much nothing else ever has.

There's just the little problem where Gerard and Lindsey dating means Gerard and Lindsey fucking. The thought makes his palms itch. Makes him angry in ways he doesn't even know what to do with. Makes his heart hurt more than it has any right to. He reaches out and grabs Jamia's hand, and she looks over and smiles at him, and that's the thing. He's really only angry at himself.

They finish eating and chat more - and order dessert because apparently that's eighty percent of the reason Gerard and Lindsey wanted to come here.

Gerard makes obscene noises over his tiramisu, which gets him teasing from Lindsey, which turns into them exchanging genuinely heated looks. Frank eats his own dessert and satisfies himself with licking a smudge of whipped cream off of Jamia's thumb. She smirks at him and nudges his calf with her foot under the table. God, he loves her so much.

There's coffee, too, because with Gerard there's always coffee, and then there are more handshakes and hugs goodnight, and Frank finds himself on a train back to Jersey, Jamia cuddling under his arm and he doesn't quite know what expression on his face.

"She's a lot better than I was afraid of," Jamia says.

Frank snorts. "I think it's like, statistically impossible to find another Eliza or Bert."

"Eliza and Bert weren't that - okay, fine," Jamia says. "They were that bad. What is it about Gerard that made such a great guy find such shitty boyfriends and girlfriends?" Frank bites his tongue. Jamia flashes a look at him and continues, "At least he broke the streak."

"Thank god. I am not good at playing nice," Frank says.

"Babe, you are completely, utterly, spectacularly terrible at playing nice," Jamia says with a laugh.

"But you love me the way I am," Frank prompts.

"I love you exactly the way you are," she answers, lacing their fingers together.

"And thank fuck for that. What would I do without you, huh?"

"Fall apart," she replies frankly. He laughs and kisses her temple. He would. He's never, ever been without her. She's seen him through every triumph and crisis since the age of twenty. (There were a lot of crises, for a while.) They're a team, and that's never going to change, not if he has anything to say about it.

He turns his head, so he can whisper directly in her ear, "And when we get home, I'm gonna show you exactly how much I appreciate you keeping me together."

"Oh," she breathes with a smile in her voice. "That sounds exciting."

He kisses her cheek. "You better believe it."

****

Gerard wakes up before his alarm and can't go back to sleep, so he just gets up and shuffles into the kitchen. He wishes he could have accepted Lindsey's invitation to stay over, but he has a meeting. He stayed as late as he could, with her straddling his lap on her couch, making out until they could barely breathe. God, she's fantastic. Gerard isn't sure how he got so lucky.

He's glad the dinner with Frank and Jamia went - well, as well as it was likely to. Which, considering how Frank reacted to any of the other significant others Gerard's introduced him to over the years, was a marked improvement. There have been so many times that Gerard could have gotten angry, could have said, "None of your business," even "You started it," but he never has. It's not worth it. Things just are the way they are. And there's Jamia, too. Jamia who he adores. Who he would feel like the biggest piece of shit in the world for hurting. She's the perfect woman for Frank, and Gerard just has to deal with it.

But god, sometimes he wants to just yell. Not even at anyone specific. Just. Yell. He hops in the shower instead.

When he gets out, he sees a text from Lindsey. Just woke up. Hope you're up too. Good luck! He grins at his phone for a minute before remembering he needs to respond.

Up and showered, even. Good morning, gorgeous.

Still on for movies tonight? she asks.

Wouldn't miss it, he replies. Your place, right?

I'll be waiting. Probably not patiently, she answers.

:D I'll get there as fast as I can. Have a good day. He forces himself to put his phone down and get dressed. God, she's so fucking great.

*

His meetings are boring, but they go well. You're a lucky charm, Gerard texts Lindsey as he boards the train for the city.

Of course I am. You on your way?

Just getting on the train.

K. See you soon.

He sets a Blur playlist going and settles in to sketch till he has to change trains for Brooklyn.

Lindsey meets him at her door in jeans and a tattered plaid shirt, barefoot and smiling. She tugs him in for a kiss right in the doorway. He smiles against her lips and lets his hands creep up under her shirt to the small of her back.

"Hi," he says.

"Hi, yourself. I ordered pizza like, ten minutes ago. Should be here soon."

"Good," he says, nibbling her neck. "I'm hungry."

"You sure it's food you want?" Lindsey asks. He can hear the laughter in her voice.

"I skipped lunch, so yes. But we will definitely get to other stuff." He gets his shoes off and leans up to kiss her again.

"Pick a movie," she prompts, turning him toward her TV and giving his ass a little smack. He kneels in front of her TV stand and scans the DVDs. He settles on one he remembers hearing good things about, but has never seen, and puts it in her DVD player. "That's my test movie," she says, a warning in her voice. "The one I use to judge whether or not it's gonna work with people."

"I picked it," Gerard says. "Is that passing the test?"

"It helps. Now you have to like it or conduct an intelligent conversation with me about why you don't," she replies.

He gets up off his knees and slips his arms around her waist. "I will talk your fucking ear off either way. How about that?"

"I'd expect no less from you," Lindsey tells him. She gets dishes and drinks ready while they wait, and when the pizza comes, they settle on the couch to eat. "I had a nice time last night," she tells him. He beams at her.

"I am really fucking glad. Frank and Jamia are as good as family, and I just. I'm glad."

"They seem really great," Lindsey says. "Frank's more likely to give me a talk than Mikey, huh?"

"He's... I can't just say Italian?"

Lindsey makes a face at him. "Jersey stereotypes, Gerard?"

"Fine, fine. He's protective. Not that Mikey isn't, he's just quieter about it and not - yeah." Gerard trails off.

"He's your best friend. I get it," she says. He just smiles. She doesn't really get it, but that's okay. It's mostly true, anyway.

Gerard finishes his pizza and puts his plate on the coffee table. When he sits back, Lindsey immediately leans against him and pushes play on the remote. He wraps an arm around her and kisses her temple. They've only been dating for a month or so, but they felt like a couple so fast. Gerard's pretty sure a lot of his friends think he's crazy, but it feels natural. Inevitable, maybe. As long as he passes the movie test, he thinks with a smile.

Luckily, he's totally hooked into the movie before even before the title card. It's weird and cerebral and has a great fucking soundtrack, and when it's over, Lindsey turns to look up at him.

"Well?"

"Honestly? Fucking loved it." And then he tells her why, and it takes about twenty minutes. She doesn't seem to mind, just grabs one of his more wildly flailing hands at one point and holds on. When he finally peters out, she grins.

"This means I can keep you."

"I was going to fight for that anyway," he informs her. "Tell me what you did today while I was stuck in pitch meetings?"

"There was a lot of paper and a lot of glue. And the weekly 'oh god, we have to get out of this room' lunch with my studio mates. And a whole lot of daydreaming about this moment right here," she replies.

"You were daydreaming about me?" It comes out sort of squeaky and really not smooth and oh god. "That is - tell me more?"

"Well, I thought about just sitting here with you and eating and talking because I don't think I'll ever get tired of that. You gesticulate a lot when you talk, so I started thinking about your hands. Then I was sitting there in the studio gluing scraps of paper and thinking about what else your hands could do."

"Oh," Gerard says a little stupidly. "I - can think of some things, too. Linds, fuck." He starts to grin because she is just so obviously amused by him.

She pulls the hand she grabbed earlier to her breast. "You can start there."

"A very good place to start," he says.

"Did you just quote The Sound of Music at me?" she giggles. "That is really not sexy."

He lifts an eyebrow at her. "You sure about that?" He slides his hand up and under the collar of her shirt to cup the back of her neck.

"You being sexy at the same time you say something unsexy isn't going to convince me it's sexy," she says a little breathlessly. He grins and leans in to kiss her.

"I think you're lying," Gerard whispers against her mouth. "I think you love it." He shifts, so he can press her more securely into the arm of the couch. She hooks her ankle around his leg and wraps her arms around his neck.

"I think you should convince me," she replies.

"Just so you know," he tells her in a mock-offended tone, "I always think you're sexy."

"That's because I am, honey," Lindsey grins. "Now get to work."

He laughs against her cheek and kisses her again. He slides his lips down her neck and up to suck at the spot just beneath her ear. She draws in a ragged breath. "Your mouth is magical," she tells him. "Just so you know."

"I can work with that," Gerard tells her, slipping his hands between them and tugging her shirt buttons free one by one. She runs her hands down his back and pushes them beneath the waistband of his pants.

"Gerard Way," she whispers in his ear. "Going commando just for me?"

"What answer is sexier? I just need to check because I already walked into this minefield once tonight."

She laughs against his neck. "Just say yes."

"Yes, yes I did," Gerard says immediately. He pushes her shirt completely open and licks down her sternum. "This is a nice bra," he tells her. It is; it's purple lace and looks gorgeous against her skin.

"But you'd like it better on the floor?"

"So much better," he murmurs. "Actually, I'd like it even better on the floor next to your bed."

"Cheesy."

"You started it."

Lindsey laughs and pushes him upright. "Fair. Follow me?"

"Duh," he replies and lets her pull him down the short hallway to her bedroom. She tosses the shirt in her hamper and turns back toward him, eyebrow raised.

"So get it on the floor."

"That would be too easy," he murmurs, reaching into one cup to tease at her nipple. Just when he thinks she's about to growl at him, he pushes the lace down and leans in to suck instead, fingers plucking at the other nipple through the fabric.

"Any old time now," she gasps. He bites down just a tiny bit on her nipple and pulls back, slides his hands around her back and toys at the clasps of her bra, meeting her eyes when he finally unsnaps it. They both follow the path of the fabric to the floor when he drops it, then smirk at each other. "Feel free to put that oral fixation to work," she offers.

He leans forward and kisses her shoulder, across her clavicles to the other shoulder, and then up her neck. Lindsey's got her fingers curled in his waistband, and when he pulls back, she tugs his shirt over his head.

"You're a tease," she says.

"Good thing I follow through, huh?" he replies. He doesn't put his mouth where she wants it yet, though. He wraps his arms around her and pulls her tight against him, so their chests press together, so he can feel her tits against him when he leans down to kiss her.

She kisses dirty, tastes like pizza and beer and a little like cigarettes. Her hands twist into his hair and tug just right.

"Bed?" Gerard asks between kisses. "Wanna take my time with these." He reaches up to cup her breasts and runs his thumbs over her nipples. Lindsey smiles and pops the button of her jeans, unzipping and wriggling out of them. She sits on the edge of the bed in just her underwear and waits.

Gerard unbuttons his own jeans and shoves them down his thighs, flopping down on on the bed next to her to pull them off. She laughs and presses a kiss into his shoulder. "There's the naked man I wanted in my bed," she says.

"Totally graceless, but I'm here," he replies. "Lean against the pillows?"

She moves over and props herself up. Gerard can't decide where to go first. He settles for crawling up to straddle her and dipping down for another kiss. He lets his fingers trail over the curve of a breast, the other hand around her waist. "How are you so fuckin' gorgeous?" he murmurs. He traces the tattoo on her belly with his fingertip, and Lindsey sucks in a breath.

"Could ask the same question about you."

He traces the edge of her black bikinis, clinging low on her hips. "Well, if we're done with the questions, my mouth is at your disposal."

"Then put it on my tits," she says and arches up her back a bit, offering them up.

"Yeah, okay," Gerard murmurs and settles down on top of her. He wraps his lips around one of her nipples, where he's found she's sensitive, and she groans immediately. He wants to hear so many more of those noises. She wraps her legs around one of his thighs, rubbing up against him in gentle, rocking motions as he goes from sucking to licking, from her nipple to the delicate underside of her breast.

She laces her fingers into the hair on the back of his head and breathes hard. He licks across her chest and takes her other nipple in his mouth, loving the feeling of it hardening as he swirls his tongue around. "Fuck, baby, so wet for you already."

He lifts his head and looks at her. "Want me now?"

"Fuck no, keep going with your mouth," she replies and uses her hands to direct his mouth back to her tit. He laughs.

"Okay, but I'm going to do a little multitasking." Gerard slips his fingertips under the side elastic of her panties, stroking her with his fingers as he sucks her nipples one after the other, nosing down into the valley between her breasts, sucking hickeys along her collarbones. She wasn't lying. She's slick enough if he shifted a few inches, he could slide in easy. But he wants to make her desperate for it, make her beg because another thing he's learned about her is that she really, really likes being fucked. She's fucking bossy about it, and it's fucking hot.

Right now, he can tell from the pressure of her hands on his head that she wants him to migrate a little farther south. "Want me to eat you out, Linds, is that it?" he murmurs. She moans and grinds up against his thigh.

"Fuck yes, I've been thinking about it since last time. A lot," she says, trailing off throatily. He smiles against her sternum and starts kissing his way down her belly.

"So I'm good with my mouth?"

"So fucking good, Gee." She moans when he bites the little pudge of her stomach below her belly button. He pulls her panties down and off her legs, spreads her with his fingers, and leans in to suck on her clit immediately. She whines a little and pushes her hips up. He laughs and takes the hint, gentling the suction and licking down inside her. "Fuck," Lindsey groans and tightens her fingers in his hair.

He fucks into her with his tongue, circling around her lips and back. Her hips twitch up against his mouth. She's so wet now, her taste flooding his mouth. He wants to taste her come, but he really fucking wants to be inside her, too. He takes a deep breath and presses in with two fingers as he moves his tongue back to her clit.

She's twisting against the sheets in no time, fucking up against his face, and muttering his name, mixed in with a few quiet curses. He presses in hard with his fingers, searching, and he knows he's found her g-spot when she bucks and stiffens. Gerard keeps going, and a moment later he can taste it, can feel it as she clamps tightly around his fingers and comes. He sits up a bit to look at her face. She's panting and flushed all the way down her tits and so fucking gorgeous he's pretty sure he's going to die if he doesn't fuck her soon.

She grabs his wrist and tugs, pulling him up her body and putting the fingers that were just in her cunt into her mouth. Lindsey sucks him clean and would probably keep going, but he tugs his fingers free, touches her cheek instead. "Need you now, Linds," he tells her.

"Stuff is in the drawer," she murmurs, lazy from the orgasm. He'll change that. He's not done with her yet. He leans over her to get a condom out of the drawer and sits back on his heels. He tears it open carefully and rolls it down his cock. "Fuck me, Gee," she says throatily. He looks at himself, looks at her, then grabs her around the waist, and tugs her up into his lap.

"Ride me," he whispers. She sits up on his cock in a smooth arch that is fucking incredible, wraps her arms around his neck, and grinds down against him. She presses her mouth to his and clenches around his cock. Gerard chokes on a breath. Fuck, he's not gonna last.

He grabs tight to her hips and fucks up into her as hard as she's bucking down, trying to start a rhythm. It mostly works, except when she flicks his nipple with her fingernail or bites down on the side of his neck, and it's all he can do to gasp and stutter and hold on. She reaches between them and slides her fingers over her clit and back, brushing his cock.

"Oh, fuck. Lindsey," he gasps.

She smirks and pushes on his shoulders until he's flat on his back, shifting her legs to brace herself and ride him even harder. He grips her thigh and rubs his thumb over the tattoo there, reaching between her legs with the other hand to add his fingers to hers. She moans and clenches again, and her eyes slip closed. "Fuck, so good."

He leans up to take one of her tits in his mouth and sucks. Lindsey just keeps rolling her hips, fingers working her clit, pinching at her nipple with her other hand. Gerard sucks harder and rubs circles on her clit with her, steadying her hip with his other hand. He can feel her clamp down again, her head falling back as she comes a second time. It feels so damn good. He can't breathe, just gasps her name and stops his fingers, thrusting up hard a couple more times and coming. She stays there until her breathing evens out, then sits up and stares down at him with a smile on her face. He smiles back.

"Fuck," he says with feeling.

"Yeah," she answers and clenches around him again before lifting off with a little sigh. "Better than a gym membership," she says, mopping up a trickle of sweat between her tits with her fingertips. Gerard grabs her hand and sucks them into his mouth, then lets go to deal with the condom. When he looks back at her, she's just staring at him with a wondering smile.

He crawls back up on the bed and braces himself over her. "I don't care if it's too soon. I fucking love you."

"I don't give a shit what anyone says, Gee. I love you, too." She sounds confident, content. Well-fucked, too, and Gerard feels exactly the same. He lets himself down on top of her and kisses her until they're both gasping. He finally pulls back and rolls off her and onto his side.

He traces down her arm and over her breasts and back up to her face to cup her cheek. "I can stay tonight," he tells her.

"Good," she replies. "Because I don't let people out of my bed after mutual love declarations."

"Does it happen often?" he teases. She chuckles.

"Not exactly. Does it for you?"

"Not, ah, recently, no," Gerard stammers. "Fuck, Lindsey, I can't even say how much I -"

"Yeah, I got you," she says. "Come down here." Gerard lets her wrap him in her arms and tug the quilt up over them. He twists a hand in her hair and closes his eyes.

"Love you," he breathes. Just to say it. Just because he can.

He feels the press of her lips against his skin, hears a whispered, "Love you, too."

****

"So, we've just about finished the fundraising for the bowlathon, and one of the other Big Sisters suggests tee shirts for the teams which I think is a cool idea. Obviously real bowling shirts would be too expensive, and also -"

"They're like, ten and would think that's dumb?" Jamia suggests. "Okay, here's what you do. I'm going to email you from work tomorrow and give you the number of my tee shirt guy. He should be able to cut you a deal. Tell him you know me."

Shayna grins and salutes Jamia with her margarita. "You are the best."

Jamia just shrugs and grins. "I do what I can."

They go back to their drinks, and after another minute or so, Shayna starts laughing. "Man, this is really tame of us. Why are we not at a hardcore show? And don't say 'getting old.'"

"I wouldn't!" Jamia says. "I was going to say all the bands playing tonight are shitty. Also, none of them are ours."

"That reminds me," Shayna says. "Did you hire someone to do your rebranding?"

"Sort of. I mean, yeah. Gerard."

"Oh, so he's back in town, huh?" Shayna raises a meaningful eyebrow at her, and Jamia shrugs.

"It's… I'm glad he's back. You know I love Gerard."

"I know," Shayna says. "And I know he's a fucking hottie, and I know that when he's around -"

"Not a single thing has ever happened between them, and Frank's never asked," Jamia says. "It's so far beyond being a thing that..." she trails off. "Besides, he has a new girlfriend he's like, disgustingly cute with."

"The serial monogamist has a new girlfriend? Color me shocked," Shayna says.

"No, but. This is different. Frank even likes her. Well. I think he wants to like her in the way that he knows he should, and he's willing to work on it. Unlike all the others."

Shayna just shakes her head. "Props to you for dealing with it, J."

"It's not a problem," Jamia says. "It never has been. It's just a… fact of life. If they're fine with things, I'm fine with things," she says. Shayna nods.

"So do you want to hear the latest gossip from my mom?" Shayna asks.

"Obviously," Jamia replies and sips her beer.

Shayna's mom is a hairdresser. She has lots of gossip. By the time they're done discussing all of it, Jamia's practically forgotten what they started talking about.

It's a fun evening. As they're grabbing their bags and settling the tab, Jamia says, "Hey, I can still volunteer at your office one morning a week. I wish I had enough time to be a Big Sister, but -"

"Every little bit helps, J. Maybe someday. You've got the business to worry about, and you just signed on that office space...."

"Which is a disaster area. Frank complains about it every day, but I think it's going to be amazing if we can ever get it done."

"You can get it done. You're the most organized person I know."

"Aww, thanks," Jamia says, slipping an arm around Shayna's waist and squeezing.

"Anytime you need a pep talk, you know who to call. I will pep the shit out of you," she says.

"Because you're the best. Between Frank and I, we'll get it done. He's just impatient. We probably shouldn’t have scheduled the move during the summer tour season. We could have made people come in and help if they weren't on the road."

Shayna's eyes twinkle. "You should call Gerard."

Jamia laughs and then tilts her head. "Actually… if I could get Alicia in, we'd be golden. That girl is a fucking machine when she sets her mind on something."

"There, you see, I helped you out with something, too. We're even."

Jamia laughs again and trails Shayna out of the bar into the muggy night.

*

When Jamia gets home and walks into the house, she finds Frank fast asleep on the couch with two dogs, the home screen of one of his Argento DVDs repeating on the TV.

She toes off her shoes, drops her bag on the side table, and kneels on the floor beside him. His eyes blink open, and he smiles sleepily at her. "Have fun with Shay?"

"Of course. We're firming up our plans for world domination. Don't worry, you have a nice cushy job as my sex slave."

"Thought I already was," he replies.

"Yeah, but in an unofficial capacity. That would be your title in the new regime."

"Do I get business cards?"

"Of course. Office supplies are important," Jamia grins. He reaches up to cup his hand around her nape, dislodging a dog.

She smiles and leans down to kiss him, then pulls back and shoos the other dog off the couch, so she can curl up next to him. "I see you had a productive evening."

"Sinatra and Sweet Pea and I were having a board meeting. What do you think we were doing?"

She eyes the empty popcorn bag meaningfully.

"Board meetings make me hungry," Frank says. "Come over here, J."

"Move your stupid legs," she retorts. He turns more on his back, spreads his knees, and pats his chest.

"C'mere," he repeats.

She settles in the vee of his legs, crosses her arms over his chest, and rests her chin on them. Looking at him from this close is sort of weird but nice. Familiar. "You're so goddamn pretty," Jamia tells him. "Even with popcorn grease on your face."

He puts both hands into her hair and rubs her scalp lightly with his fingers. "So're you. Maybe we should get some popcorn grease on you. Even the score."

"Go for it," she says. He laughs and tugs her face up to his. He kisses her soft and slow and perfect. Her toes are practically curling by the time he's done. Then he rubs his stubbly cheek gently against her face, and she nearly forgot, with all the kissing, but she laughs and pinches him.

"Was that not a fantastic popcorn grease delivery method?" he asks.

"Gross yet effective," she says.

"You better not be talking about the kissing," Frank complains.

"Your kissing is never gross, hot stuff," she says. "Except when you're doing it on purpose because you're a shithead." Frank smirks at her. "I can think of other places you could rub your cheeks, though," she murmurs.

"With or without popcorn grease?" he asks cheekily, but she can feel him getting hard against her stomach.

"Good point," she says. "Maybe I'll go down on you instead."

"'M not gonna argue," Frank replies.

"Didn't think you would," she says and moves down the couch. "Hips up," she says, and he lifts to let her pull his sweats down his thighs. She loves it like this, clothes shoved aside to get peeks of his ink that feel like secret glimpses. Honestly, she's pretty fucking fond of his cock, too. Her girlfriends are forever bitching about their guys wanting head. Jamia doesn't get it. You literally have them by the balls. What's not to love? She wraps her hand around his shaft and takes the head in her mouth.

"Fuck, J," he gasps. She swirls her tongue and enjoys the feel of him getting fully hard in her hand and in her mouth.

"This is why you're gonna be my sex slave," she tells him. "You're always fuckin' ready to go."

"'Cause you're so damn hot," Frank says. "And so damn good," he adds when she reaches down to cup his balls and takes him all the way down, so he's hitting the back of her throat. He groans, and she'd smile, but she's busy. She just keeps working him instead, enjoying his skin getting slick with spit, his taste, the feel of his hands in her hair, gentle because that's how she likes it.

She swallows around him and starts bobbing her head. Frank curses, and his fingers tighten a little bit in her hair, but he lets them relax again. He knows to keep his hips still until she gets in the groove. She rolls his balls in her hand, then presses back behind them. Frank whines and bucks up a little. She pulls up to suck hard on the head, and he starts thrusting into her mouth. She runs her tongue over the slit and takes him in, letting him fuck her mouth.

She strokes back behind his balls again, just to hear the noise he makes. He goes insane when she fingers him as a general rule, but she won't do it all the time. Mostly because she wants it to be something kind of special she can give him.

She's not sure if tonight's the right time; her conversation with Shayna must have gotten her more worked up than she thought. She tightens her grip a bit and strokes in time with his increasing thrusts. Frank's nothing but gasps and moans, his thighs trembling where they rest against her sides. He's getting close already, and she sucks harder.

"Jamia, J, fuck," he mutters. "Fuck, please."

She strokes back further, rubbing two fingers over his entrance, and swallows around his cock again. He thrusts into her mouth one last time and comes. Jamia pulls off, leaning her forehead against his thigh to catch her breath once she's swallowed. Frank runs his fingers through her hair. "Fuck, but you're good at that."

She smiles. "I really am."

"What can I do for you, baby?" he asks.

"Mmm. Want your fingers," she murmurs.

"Gonna have to sit up for that," he says. She nods and sits up, and he moves after her. He pulls his sweats back up over his ass and runs a hand up her thigh under her skirt, making a disappointed noise when his fingers hit cotton.

She laughs. "I was out with Shayna, not looking for an easy lay, and I expected to find you in bed where I could undress and join you, not asleep on the couch."

"I'm not asleep anymore," he says, wiggling his eyebrows.

"And I don't need those, so take them off already," she replies. He reaches up with both hands and tugs her panties off.

"If you drop those on the floor, I will kill you," she warns.

"Right. Dogs," he replies and looks around. She sighs and takes them from his hand, leans over, and stuffs them in her purse.

"Carry on?" she says. He laughs and leans forward to kiss her. When he pulls back, he unbuttons her shirt far enough to pull her tits out and roll her nipples between his thumbs until they're stiff.

"Nice," he murmurs and slides a hand up her thigh just like he did before, but this time he slides two fingers straight into her, gets them nice and slick, and then up over her clit. Jamia hums a little breathlessly as he starts to work his fingers. She loves his calloused fingertips, the way the bite is just this side of too much.

"Fuck, Frankie," she gasps. He grins at her and leans back in to press his face between her breasts. He slides his fingers back down, thrusts two inside and rubs his thumb in a circle around her clit, only barely brushing it.

"C'mon," she whines.

"Is this you asking for fast?" he mumbles against her breast.

"Yes," she gasps. "Been wanting you since I got in the fucking car to drive home."

He kisses his way down to her nipple and starts sucking again, and his thumb starts rubbing over her clit. She asked for fast, and he knows exactly how to give it to her, rubbing fast circles and thrusting his fingers. After just a minute or so of that, she's whimpering and biting down on her lip and thrusting up against his hand.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," she chants. He releases her nipple and moves to her neck.

"So fucking gorgeous," he murmurs into her ear. She thrusts hard against his fingers, and he crooks them just enough to rub over her g-spot with every thrust. "Come for me, baby," he says. "Nice and loud."

He sucks at the spot under her ear and thrusts harder, rubs harder. She clenches around his fingers and grabs his wrist, holding him deep inside her as she comes, shouting his name and a string of curses. She tugs his shoulders until she can get her lips on his, kissing him until the aftershocks fade.

"I love you," she tells him.

"Love you, too," he whispers against her lips. "Forever."

She smiles. "Great big sap."

"You know it, baby," he replies. "And like you aren't just as sappy."

"Sappiness must be contagious." Jamia runs her fingers through Frank's hair. "You ready for bed, Frankie?"

He laughs. "Apparently I was ready hours ago. Let's go sleep."

They putter through their bedtime routines. When they're finally in bed, Frank rolls half on top of her, and they kiss until both of them drop off to sleep.

****

On one of Gerard's free mornings, he drags himself out of bed, makes himself presentable, and goes over to the Skeleton Crew office for a visit. Frank meets him at the front door and flags him down.

"I have to run an errand; come with me."

"Sure, Frankie," Gerard says, waving at Eddie and Jamia and turning back around. Frank leads them over to his Element and pops the locks. "Where are we going?" Gerard asks as he fastens his seatbelt.

"Errands," Frank repeats. "Staples, office supplies, come on, I know you love that shit."

"Yes, Frank. I came to visit you purely for a hit of office supplies."

Frank laughs and fiddles with the radio as he drives them down to the nearest strip mall. "Was that the only reason?"

Gerard adjusts his sunglasses and sneaks a peek at Frank. "I wanted to say... Thanks for being cool to Lindsey last week."

"I liked her a lot, dude, good work," Frank says.

He goes quiet after that and parks them in front of Staples. The actual shopping trip doesn't take long, even with a side trip to the pen aisle for Gerard. Soon they're back in the car, and Gerard mentally rewinds.

Frank liked Lindsey. It would be easy enough to drop it, but Gerard just can't help picking at the scab. "You liked her, Frank? Are you just saying that?"

"No, for real. Jamia liked her, too." Frank sighs. "To an extent, Gerard, I am always just saying that," he adds quietly.

Gerard bites his lip. "Frankie…"

"What else am I supposed to do?" He's sort of choked up, Gerard can tell. "I'm sorry. I know we're not supposed to talk about it."

Gerard can't - he has to reach out and touch Frank's hand. "Maybe it's good that we are. I just… I've never once regretted being your friend, even when I…" he trails off and swallows.

"No no no," Frank hurries to assure him. "I don't - I can't even fucking wish things were different, Gee, because that's sure as fuck not fair to J. I just -"

"I wouldn't want you to," Gerard whispers. "She's… I wouldn't ever want you to."

Frank frowns and fumbles for a cigarette from the pack crammed in his cupholder. "Lindsey's a nice girl, Gee. Really special - anyone could tell."

Gerard waggles his fingers, and Frank hands him one along with the lighter. They both take long drags. "She's… I know I tend to fall hard, but she's different, Frankie. It's different. I am totally fucking in love with her." Frank frowns again. Maybe Gerard should have said that a different way. Fuck. "Frank…" Gerard says, but Frank cuts him off.

"I know, I know that I am married to J, and it's spectacularly unfair of me to be jealous. I know that." He takes a deep breath. "But I really fucking am."

"You think I haven't felt that way? You think I don't still feel that way? But I love the way the two of you are together, Frankie. I love you, and I -"

Frank grabs his hand and laces their fingers together. "Gee. I love you, too. And if you like - if you love this girl, I will try my best not to be a fucking dick like I was with Eliza. I'll treat her like you do Jamia."

"I'm going to ask her to move in with me," Gerard admits softly. "But, Frank..." he grips Frank's hand tighter. This is a conversation he'd never quite pictured himself actually having.

"Always," Frank says. "Fucking always, okay. We'll get by. Whatever it takes." Frank rubs his thumb over the back of Gerard's hand.

Gerard wants to kiss him, but wanting to kiss Frank has been sort of ingrained into Gerard's consciousness for years, so that's not exactly notable. "Yeah," he murmurs and takes a deep breath. "Always." He lets himself look at Frank, look at his face. He's staring out the front windshield. Gerard sees his jaw flex, and then he meets Gerard's gaze. Frank's eyes look suspiciously shiny. Gerard feels at once entirely helpless and a little like something in his chest has shifted to the right spot at the same time. "Any other errands we have to run?" Gerard asks softly.

"I just wanted to be alone with you for a while," Frank says quietly in response. "Sometimes I just want -"

"You're my best friend," Gerard says. "You don't need excuses."

"We can… let's go out for lunch sometime soon, and you should bring Lindsey over for dinner. We can talk to Jamia about when would be good. I wanna get to know her." Frank takes a deep breath and squeezes Gerard's hand before letting go and starting the car again.

"Let's go get coffee for Jamia and Eddie," Gerard suggests.

Frank nods. "They'll love you. Even more than they already do," he says, smiling a little.

"Nah," Gerard says. "We'll give you all the credit. Rack that shit up for the next time you have to bail out one of your baby bands." Frank cracks a bigger smile and shakes his head.

"They'll see right through me."

"Maybe," Gerard says with a smile. "But I'll back you up. They can't argue with both of us."

Frank smiles at him and pulls out of the Staples parking lot. "You always back me up."

"I always will," Gerard says, quite seriously, and Frank flicks him one more quick look but doesn't bring the subject back up.

They go through the Starbucks drive-thru and get coffee for everyone. Gerard takes a sip of his latte and watches the road in front of them and takes a long, slow breath, letting his emotions start evening out. This was not anything he expected from the afternoon.

*

When Gerard leaves Skeleton Crew's office, he heads straight for his studio. He has a date with Lindsey that night, and she's supposed to be meeting him there. They are basically spending one hundred percent of all mutually free time together at this point, and it's been tiring going back and forth between Jersey and Brooklyn so much, but really fucking worth it.

Jon's not at the studio this afternoon, so when Lindsey walks in, Gerard gets up from his stool and crowds into her space right away. He backs her against the door; his hands are all paint-smeared, but he immediately puts them on her sides under her shirt anyway.

"Okay," she laughs, "We're doing that, then." She pulls the shirt off and reaches behind herself to get her bra off. "Go to town," she tells him with a smirk.

He fucking loves how the paint from his hands looks on her sides, so he grabs his palette and uses his fingers to draw on her. He leaves her tits alone, though. He can't keep his mouth off them, and he knows from far too much experience that paint doesn't taste very good.

"Pretty," she says. "Got anything else up your sleeve?"

"More like down," he says, dropping to his knees in front of her and reaching for the button of her jeans. Gerard eats her out right up against the wall until she can't hold herself up anymore, and then he moves her to a table and lifts her up on it and keeps licking and sucking and tongue-fucking her. He holds her thighs on his shoulders, and Lindsey buries her fingers in his hair. They tug a little bit, but it feels really damn good, and he just keeps at it with his tongue until she's coming hard against his mouth, moaning and tightening her hold on his hair even more.

Gerard stands up between her legs and kisses her, hands working her breasts. She pulls his shirt off and yanks on the button to his fly, popping it open. He grabs his wallet and gets the condom out of it, unzips and shoves his pants and briefs down his thighs. She opens the condom and rolls it down his cock and lines him up, and he pushes inside her with no hesitation. She wraps her legs around him and grabs his hips as soon as he's all the way in, holding him close.

Gerard starts thrusting as soon as she lets up her grip on his hips a little bit. She doesn't let him go far, one of her hands pulling his head down to her neck. He takes the hint and starts sucking, keeps thrusting as hard as he can as she touches him everywhere she can reach, fingers brushing down his ass and dipping between his cheeks, up his back, his shoulders, everywhere. It's too much all at once, and he comes hard, buried inside her with one hand on her breast, biting down on her neck. She moans and reaches down between them to give herself a few strokes as she comes again around his softening cock.

"Move in with me," he pants into her ear as soon as he can talk. "You said your lease is almost up. Move in with me."

"Yes," Lindsey responds immediately. Gerard pulls back, frames her face with his hands, and kisses her. When he pulls back, she's smiling, wide, sweet, and open. He feels himself smiling back. He thinks maybe the top of his head will fall off, he's smiling so wide. He finally pulls out of her, and she helps him put himself back together. He leans down to suck on her tits a little bit before doing the same for her. He finds her bra where it landed, one strap hanging on the arm of one of Jon's action figures, and she giggles. "Oops. Did we just break a studio rule?"

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," Gerard intones. But really, the sooner she can move in, the better.

***

The first time she met Frank and Jamia, Lindsey had been nervous. She's pretty sure Gerard mentioned them within the first ten minutes of their first conversation, and he really hadn't stopped. Meeting them was a big deal, nearly on par with meeting Mikey. On first glance, they'd seemed like the picture-perfect couple, and then Lindsey had spotted the tattoos on Frank's neck and hands and felt more at ease. Still, that dinner had felt awkward in ways she couldn't quite define, despite the fact that they were both great and she liked them as soon as they all started talking.

Lindsey discovered why the first time she and Gerard went to their place for dinner. Nice restaurants in the city just aren't Frank and Jamia's scene. In their house with all their dogs, though, things are completely different. There's more joking, more laughter, and infinitely more swearing. Also fewer unreadable looks from Frank, though those she had expected from the moment Gerard mentioned that Frank had hated his last girlfriend. She knows Frank and Jamia were both dubious at the speed that Gerard and Lindsey were moving. Hell, it's not like her own friends weren't. But she's reasonably certain that they like her, so she mostly puts it out of her mind.

Now that she knows them a bit better, she's not at all surprised that they prefer hanging out at home or, later, meeting at the local bowling alley for curly fries, cheap beer, and a few games. Lindsey can handle this scene. She doesn't even remember what she said to set him off, but before she knows it, Frank is challenging her to a game, and whoever wins has to admit the other is right.

The heckling starts with the very first ball rolled.

"Oh, come on. Is that the best you can do? I've seen my three-year-old niece roll a better ball than that," Lindsey says before she can stop herself.

Frank shoots a mock glare at her. She tests the weight of her own ball in her hand again. He ends up with a spare.

When it's her turn, she's sizing up the ball and the angles and trajectories in her head, drawing out the lines, seeing where it will go. She's just about to release the ball when Frank says, "Yeah, you got that angle all wrong."

He crows triumphantly when the ball goes off course and only knocks down one pin.

"You artists," Frank says with a little smirk directed at Gerard. "So easy to trip up in all the same ways."

And then it's on. As if it hadn't been before. Frank heckles, Gerard looks between the two of them with an expression that's half startled and half amused, and Jamia just smirks and shakes her head a lot. Lindsey's pretty sure she hasn't had this much fun since she and Steve got high and went on the roof of her building and lit firecrackers and threw them as far and as high as they could.

*

Jamia texts one morning right when Lindsey's coffee runs out and right after she finishes a call with her doctor's office to make an appointment to get on birth control.

Wanna take a break from packing and go shoe shopping with me?

Lindsey laughs. Perfect timing. She's going cross-eyed staring at stacks of paper and boxes full of pens. Why does she have so many pens? I can't promise I'll buy anything, but I've been told I have an okay eye.

Sounds good. Pick you up at your studio? I'm probably 20 minutes away.

Hope I don't have too many bits of paper stuck to me in weird spots. She looks down at her shirt. Nothing weird there. Who knows, though.

I'll make sure to inspect you.

I'd be grateful, Lindsey responds.

Okay, on my way. See you soon.

When Jamia arrives, she insists Lindsey show her around and also inspects her as promised. Lindsey's not sure which part makes her face heat more. Unexpected. Jamia's reaction to her art is especially gratifying.

"Jesus, these are stunning. How long does each piece take you?"

"It depends. It's certainly not the type of work you do in a hurry. But generally if I'm coming in every day and working regular hours, about three weeks per piece."

"Wow," Jamia breathes and leans forward to look closer at her current project. It's funny, the more time she spends with Frank and Jamia, how alike they are. Small and pretty and a particular intense look.

"So...shoes, is it an occasion?"

"Everyone has a vice. Mine has heels and ankle straps."

Lindsey grins. "I like big, roomy handbags."

"We have complementary vices, then. Excellent." Jamia extends an elbow. "Shall we?"

"We shall." Lindsey curls her hand into Jamia's elbow, and they go down and walk to the store a few blocks from Lindsey's studio.

"So how's the move going? Are you excited to move to Jersey?" Jamia asks as they walk.

"I will kinda miss my neighborhood, but - Gerard is there, you know?"

"And us," Jamia says and nudges Lindsey with her elbow. Lindsey grins.

"And you guys."

"You pass. Ooh," Jamia breathes as they walk in the store. It's really adorable. Jamia finds several pairs she adores immediately, and the salesgirl goes to get them all in her size. "There are handbags over there," Jamia says and points.

"Fuck," Lindsey replies with a grin. "I'll wait. I promised to lend you my eyes."

Jamia tries on the first pair, walks around a circle, and stands in front of a mirror. "Hmm. I like them? But I don't know if I love them."

"I think they're cute, but you could do better," Lindsey says.

"You're right," Jamia says and sits back down. Lindsey grabs a box and hands them to her.

"I have a good feeling about these," she says. Jamia nods and tries them on, repeating the same actions from earlier. "They make your legs look even more amazing than normal," Lindsey declares.

"Oh, well thank you," Jamia says with an eyebrow wiggle. "Damn, they do, don't they?"

"They really fucking do," Lindsey says with feeling.

"Okay, they're buy one get one half off, so I should get something sensible now."

"Being sensible is never any fun," Lindsey says. Jamia laughs.

"Maybe I'll get glittery flats to balance it out. I just like having options." She tries on a couple more pairs, then sends a salesgirl to the counter with them and drags Lindsey to the purses.

Her eyes land on one right away. It's bright red, shiny red, and just the right size. "Dammit," she says. Jamia grins at her.

"It's great, and you should get it."

"Come to mama," Lindsey murmurs. "Fuck, Jamia, feel this leather."

"Ooh. Usually patent stuff isn't that soft," Jamia murmurs as she runs her hand slowly over the side of the bag. "I want to like, wear that."

"It'd make a fucking awesome corset," Lindsey says.

Jamia laughs. "Not my speed. But a girl can imagine."

"Why not your speed?" Lindsey asks.

"Expensive and really fucking uncomfortable," Jamia replies. "I can never justify buying them to myself."

"Comfort is not the primary historical function of a corset," Lindsey laughs. "Or so my women's studies classes taught me."

"Their primary function is to be on the floor by the bed," Jamia says with a laugh. "And I have nice bras that serve that purpose well enough that I can wear all the time."

"I'm finding out so much about you," Lindsey laughs. "And I'm buying this purse. You ready to move on?"

"Yeah. We'd better, or I'll spend my entire allowance here and not have anything left for the other stores," Jamia says and grins.

"There are more stops?" Lindsey asks.

"Yup. One more shoe store and then the record store, because duh."

"Of course," Lindsey says, nodding. "Business expense, really."

"Exactly!" Jamia says. They pay for their things and go back out on the street. Lindsey curls her hand around Jamia's elbow again. Jamia smiles at her, and they walk to the next shop. Jamia finds some sneakers, "the entire reason for the trip if I'm being honest," and Lindsey refrains from buying another bag. They talk the whole time.

Jamia tells her stories about the crazy shit they all got up to back in the day, and Lindsey laughs herself sick. Lindsey notices Jamia hesitate a couple times when she's talking about Gerard. "You don't have to edit," Lindsey tells her. "I know how things were for a while."

"He... the horrible thing was that it took us all way too long to notice because we were all getting drunk or stoned at the same time. By the time anyone did, it was almost too late." Jamia sighs. "Frank still beats himself up over that. Frank would have never gotten over it if - yeah, I'm sorry, let's just talk about something else."

Lindsey squeezes Jamia's arm. "He didn't. He's great now," she murmurs. Jamia turns and smiles at her.

"Yeah, he is, and he's got you."

"And since I'm moving in, it will be that much harder to get rid of me. So - tell me what you guys like to do, you know, when you're not on your best behavior because I'm visiting?"

Jamia laughs. "We watch a lot of shitty movies and go to a lot of shitty shows, mostly. Oh, and drink terrible beer and go to monster truck rallies."

"Keep selling it," Lindsey says.

"Frank loves cooking shows, and he makes killer cookies?" Jamia offers.

"I like cookies," Lindsey says. "And?"

"Frank likes to paint. I think sometimes he's a little intimidated by Gerard when it comes to that, but Gerard genuinely fucking loves Frank's stuff, and that helps."

"What about you?" Lindsey asks. "I know you like shoes. What else?"

"I work a lot, but I really love running a label. I volunteer some." Jamia shrugs. "Just normal stuff."

"Where do you volunteer?" Lindsey asks. She wants to know Jamia, know what makes her tick.

"My best friend runs the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program for Newark. I go into the center one morning a week to help out. I'd like to do more, be an actual big sister, but I just don't have the time with Skeleton Crew."

"Kids someday?" Lindsey asks. "Or would you rather be able to give them back at the end of the day?"

"We always planned on it, but we're still pretty caught up in the label and all that. It will be a while before it happens. Maybe it won't." She shrugs. She slows, and Lindsey slows with her. "Records or food? Shop I like is right over there, but I skipped lunch."

"Lunch," Lindsey says, suddenly starving. They find a cute little cafe and linger over their food, chatting and laughing together. They hit up the record shop, and Lindsey gets Gerard "The Queen Is Dead" on vinyl.

"He's going to lose his shit," Jamia says.

"I will get so much head outta this," Lindsey teases. "Or maybe I should save it for a 'thanks for moving all my art books' present."

"I'm pretty sure you're going to get spectacularly laid either way," Jamia says with a grin. "Boy really fucking loves The Smiths."

"Between you, me, and the wall, I always get spectacularly laid. But maybe you don't want too many details?"

Jamia laughs. "If you want to share, go for it. He went on tour with us once back in the day when we still went out with the bands. He met, ah, Bert then. It was... close quarters. And all that."

“Did we not like Bert?"

Jamia makes a face. "What's one more tiny, tattooed drunk guy on a punk tour? It was the fucking coke that was the problem. Not that Bert started any of it. He just enabled. I tolerated it. Frank..."

"Frank didn't?" Lindsey asks.

"Understatement," Jamia says. "Look, Bert is a good guy. He'd give you the shirt off his back in a blizzard if you said you were cold, but Bert and Gerard were not good for each other. At all. And at the end of the day, Frankie is always going to come down on Gerard's side." Jamia clams up then. Lindsey is still trying to figure out all the conversational land mines.

"Were you married back then?"

"Nah. Not for a couple more years. When I got sick of Frankie's doctor refusing to talk to me, that's really what did it."

"Is he ill?"

"Not... right now. He got Epstein Barr, he has stomach issues, his immune system is not the greatest. He was going to tour manage a band on an Australian tour just after he got his wisdom teeth out, and he wasn't feeling great, but he's used to not feeling great, so he was just ignoring it. Mistake, because apparently the sockets got infected, and it traveled into his sinuses. On the plane to Hawaii it all basically... exploded. I flew out to LA to meet him and take him to the hospital, and they wouldn't fucking let me in or let me see him or anything. So once he was out of the hospital, we drove to Vegas and got married."

"That's actually sort of romantic," Lindsey says, and Jamia holds a finger up to her lips.

"Shh, that's the deep dark secret about Frank." Jamia really does change the subject this time, and they talk while they walk back to Lindsey's studio. Then Jamia disappears as suddenly as she'd appeared, leaving Lindsey with a hug and a kiss on the cheek and a brand new purse.

She grins at her piles of paper and pulls out her phone. Thanks for inviting me out. I had a lot of fun.

Me too, comes the message a few minutes later. Dinner at ours soon.

Yes, definitely. And then ours when I get all moved in. Lindsey puts her phone down and gets back to work. She has a goal to meet, and then she can go home where Gerard is meeting her to take a load over. She's suddenly even happier about the move. It's going to be good. She can feel it in her bones.

****

"Hey, Frankie," Jamia calls.

"You were gone longer than I expected you to be," Frank replies, poking his head out his office door into the reception area.

"Yeah, ended up texting Lindsey and dragging her with me. We got lunch."

"Did you have fun?" Frank asks.

"Yeah, I did. She's really, really great, Frankie," Jamia replies.

"Glad to hear that, babe," Frank says. Jamia has good taste in people. Except she's been with Frank for a zillion years. But whatever. He tugs her closer and sticks his nose behind her ear. She still smells a little bit like her perfume.

She wraps an arm around his waist. "I know you've been worried about them, about how fast they're going, but I think we don't need to. They're perfect for each other," she murmurs. It's sort of pathetic, how little that actually makes Frank feel better. He's sort of pathetic.

"Yeah," he says. "I've been getting that feeling." His talk with Gerard helped him sort out some things, but there's still part of him that just wants to stamp his foot and say no. This can't happen. It's stupid and selfish and awful, and he can't seem to stop feeling it. But Frank's stubborn, and that makes him even more determined to not feel it. Besides that, he basically has to like Lindsey. She's fucking moving in with Gerard by the end of the week. It's either like her or not hang out with Gerard hardly ever. There's really only one choice. "So was it a successful trip? I mean the shopping part," Frank says.

"Yeah, it was," Jamia replies, sounding pleased.

"You wanna model for me?" Frank asks.

"When we get home," she promises. "And if you finished the merch shipments, that can be now."

"Course I did," Frank says. "Come on. I missed you today." Jamia just laughs because she knows when she's being buttered up.

"Home," she says. "We still have lasagna leftovers, right?"

"If we don't, gremlins are to blame because there's no way we ate all that already," Frank says and shrugs on his jacket.

Frank wasn't lying when he said he missed Jamia, he thinks as he drives his car home behind her. They work together, they live together, and he rarely feels like he needs time away from her. He pulls into the driveway beside Jamia and hits the garage door opener. They pile inside, Jamia with her shopping bags, and heat up some food and take it into the living room.

"No fashion show yet?" he asks.

"After we eat," she replies.

"You're really raising my expectations about what you bought, you know," he says.

"It's shoes, babe. Have you developed a foot fetish I need to know about?"

"No, just a you fetish."

She grins at him. "Well, eat. You can satisfy your me fetish soon enough. Right now it's time for lasagna and... Real Housewives of Miami. Apparently."

It's sort of his favorite part of the day. It does get better when she pulls out her new shoes, modeling them in between stories about what she and Lindsey talked about and ate, and - Jamia's happy, so Frank's happy. In fact, everyone's happy. He seems to be the only one with any issues. That changes starting now, he tells himself. Jamia pulls out a final box, slides the shoes onto her feet, and stands up straight. "Oh," he says.

"Oh?" she echoes.

"Oh, your legs look amazing," he adds. She smirks.

"So I definitely saved the best for last?"

"You really did," he replies and grabs her hips. "Every time you wear them I'm gonna be staring at your legs the whole fuckin' time."

"So... Situation normal."

He laughs and pulls her close to rub his face against her stomach. "Pretty much."

"Help me clean up, and maybe I'll let you ogle me some more," she offers.

"Fine, fine," he murmurs and lifts up her shirt to blow a raspberry on her belly. She shrieks out a laugh and shoves at his head. "You always fall for that, J," he teases her.

"I'm just a sucker for you," she says and picks up their plates. He grabs the rest of their detritus from around the room and follows her into the kitchen. He follows her around the rest of the night... and that's just how he likes it.

*

Frank shows up at Lindsey's place on Saturday to help move her things to Jersey, and it's just him and Lindsey. It throws him for about thirty seconds, but there's a lot to do, and it turns out they can work pretty well together with a minimum of discussion. They load as much as they can without more hands and muscles before collapsing onto the floor with their backs against the wall and bottles of water in hand.

"Fuck," Frank says. "I thought helping Mikey move was bad. I thought helping our friend Ray move all his instruments and electronics was bad. I was wrong; art books are bad."

She cringes. "Sorry. It's a terrible addiction. I bought one two weeks ago and thought, 'I am going to regret this decision,' but it didn't actually stop me from buying it."

"Business expense," Frank says, and Lindsey laughs.

"I said the same thing to your wife about records this week."

"Seriously, owning a record label has been so great for my various music-related addictions," Frank says. "Not that I can really buy shit too often, but more often than I would have been able to otherwise."

"It's your dream," Lindsey says, hesitantly like Frank's going to make fun of her or something.

"One of them," Frank says. "It's the one that stuck."

"I think it's a good one, and you get to do it with Jamia," Lindsey says.

"That makes it pretty great, yeah," Frank says. "Honestly, it just wouldn't work without her." He tries to sit up, tentatively. "Ugh, you and your boxes of cinderblocks. When's Gerard supposed to get back here? Are we waiting? I think I might need someone to peel me off this wall."

"He should be here soon. He was supposed to get back right around when you got here, but I'm assuming he got stuck in traffic or made a wrong turn or something," she replies. "I think we can maybe manage a couple more? But the thing that really needs to go in your car is the bookcase. Which… I think we need more than just the two of us to get it down the stairwell."

"We're going to become an episode of Friends, aren't we?" Frank asks with a moan.

"You watched Friends, Frank?" Lindsey teases.

"Oh, fuck you. Everyone of a certain age watched Friends, and the re-runs are like, always fucking on. Sometimes the only thing going through my brain is the word pivot in David Schwimmer's stupid voice. I did always like how they started out as a group of friends and ended up as family," Frank confesses.

"Oh god," Lindsey says. "That's -"

"The sappiest thing you've ever heard me say? Yeah. I'll make up for it by being an asshole some other time." Frank grins a little sideways.

She grins at him, "I was going to say 'really sweet', but sappy works, too. I'm pretty sure even if you are an asshole later, you'll follow it up by another sweet thing. Speaking of, thanks for helping me move."

"Well, someone has to pick up the Ways' slack," Frank says. "I don't think Mikey in particular has seen the inside of a gym since high school."

"Whatever you say, champ," Lindsey says.

"And you make Gerard really happy, so it all works out," he says and chugs down the rest of his water. "You're gonna have to let me borrow some of these books, though," he says. "They look interesting."

"Whenever you want. It's the least I can do for making you carry them," she replies.

"But are you done carrying them?" Gerard asks from the open doorway.

Frank waves his hands around the mostly-empty apartment. "Do you see boxes of books?"

"I see slacking," Gerard says darkly, but he crosses the room to stoop and give Lindsey a kiss and a hand up.

"Ahem?" Frank says, lifting a hand toward him. Gerard rolls his eyes but pulls Frank up to his feet. "We weren't slacking," Frank says. "We were hydrating and waiting for you to get your ass back here, so we wouldn't break ourselves."

"I'm impressed. That's out of character for both of you. What's -" he must catch sight of the bookcase then because he swears. "Fuck, that's some Friends shit right there."

"Hey, it's not a fucking sofa," Lindsey says. "Be grateful that I like your furniture and that I got some people to buy mine and come pick it up. We can totally manage a bookcase."

And they do manage a bookcase, but not without enough swearing to make several of Lindsey's neighbors give them dirty looks.

"We're done now, though. All that's left is cleaning. I can stay and do that if you guys want to go," Lindsey says.

"Then how are you going to get out to Jersey?" Gerard asks.

"I know how to take a train, and Jamia is still on her way here," Lindsey says with an eyeroll.

"All I have to say is, thank god Gerard's place is on the ground floor," Frank says. "Because I think I would probably die if I had to carry any of those boxes anywhere near any stairs again."

"I feel bad about Jamia showing up to help you clean," Gerard says. "That's like...."

"Please do not say anything about gender roles," Lindsey says. "We can go by a strip club on the way if it makes you feel better."

"J would probably be up for that," Frank says. "Come on, Gerard. You have about a thousand boxes of books to unload from my car."

"Me?" Gerard squawks. "Why just me?"

"Because you missed out on the fun earlier, and I feel you shouldn't be deprived," Frank replies. "Plus I like to watch you get all sweaty," he says with a leer.

Gerard snorts. "Sure you do. And you totally haven't bitched about my sweat being smelly before, either."

"You have to work with your natural assets, baby," Frank tells him seriously. "You are in charge of his showering schedule now," he says to Lindsey. "Use your power wisely."

"Fuck off, I shower… the majority of days of the week now," Gerard retorts. "Also, she should show you her collection of dry shampoo."

Lindsey has been looking back and forth between them, and now she shoves them both out the door. "Get out of here, you two, and order some pizza when you get to Gerard's. My treat."

"Well, I don't think either of us will argue with that," Frank says. "See you there, Lindsey."

Gerard goes over and kisses her again, whispers something in her ear, and then pulls back. "Okay," he says. "Let's go."

Frank arrives at Gerard's apartment first and uses his key to get in and start unloading boxes. Gerard shows up about ten minutes later.

"How did you get here so fast?" he asks.

"I don't know? Magic wormhole? You were right behind me for a long time. Hope you weren't planning on using your dining room any time soon," Frank says as he stacks boxes. Gerard laughs.

"Do I ever use my dining room?"

"Well, no, but you've got a new person here with you. She might."

"A lot of these books are going into her new studio when she finds one," Gerard tells him.

"Is she having a hard time finding space?" Frank asks.

"A little bit, but it looks like there might be an opening in the same building as me that she can snatch up."

"Living together and working together, hm?" Frank teases. "It's like you think I'm a role model."

"Not quite as closely as you two. And... Frankie, you kind of are. You and J are like..." he trails off and shrugs with a smile.

"Creepy twins? Go on, it's not like we haven't heard it before."

"No, you... you have a functional adult relationship. You get through shit together and make it work, and you're still stupid in love after all this time. I haven't ever had anything like it. So yeah, you're a role model," Gerard says earnestly. Fuck, Frank can never handle it when Gerard is all earnest. "I keep thinking about Lindsey and how if I can build something with her that's even half of what you and Jamia have, I'll be golden," Gerard goes on.

"I hope you do. I know you can," Frank says. He can do earnest, too. "Shit, I need either a Kleenex or a beer," he adds.

Gerard blinks rapidly and steps close. He wraps his arms around Frank's shoulders and squeezes. "Thanks, Frankie."

Frank lets himself enjoy it, and he knows it goes on too long, but he just - has to. They finally step back from each other. "I'm not just saying that, Gee. I don't help just anyone move massive boxes of bricks into my best friend's apartment." He turns toward the kitchen because he's pretty sure if he looks Gerard in the eye right now, he really will need Kleenex. "I'm gonna grab the takeout menus, okay? Get an order in for when the girls get here."

"Okay, Frankie," Gerard replies. "I think Lindsey got beer if you want some, and you know there's always Coke. And don't forget Mikey and Alicia are coming over."

"So we're ordering food for an army, then?" Frank asks.

"Pretty much," Gerard replies. "Oh, and maybe Lindsey's friend, Steve. He wasn't sure if he could make it, but we should probably order enough for him just in case."

"Got it," Frank says. He reads the takeout menu like it contains the secrets to the universe. It certainly doesn't tell him anything he doesn't already know, though.

"Frankie," Gerard murmurs.

"Yeah, Gee?"

"Thanks," Gerard says quietly and leans against the counter next to him.

"You're...welcome?"

Gerard just smiles. "Have you picked everything? I can call."

"Yeah, dude, I marked it." Frank hands the menu over. "I'm gonna check in with J now." She picks up on third ring.

"Yo," she says. He laughs.

"Hey. How're you two doing with the cleaning?"

"Mopping our way out the door," she replies. "Which mostly means I'm standing here watching Lindsey work since there's only one mop."

"Gee's ordering pizza," Frank tells her. "Want us to hold off?"

"Nah. We'll be there as soon as we can."

"Okay. See you soon," Frank says.

"Yup. Love you, babe."

"Love you, too," he replies and hangs up. "They're finishing up," he tells Gerard when he walks back in the kitchen. "Then they'll be on their way, and your girlfriend will live here officially. So what're you gonna christen first?"

"Like we haven't already," Gerard scoffs. "Or doesn't that count?"

"Doesn't count," Frank declares. "Though you get extra points if it's her furniture, not yours."

"She sold the couch," Gerard says.

"Couch? Uncreative," Frank replies. Gerard looks around speculatively.

"There's a chair she brought. It's like... nice, though."

"If you can't figure out a way around that, you have less imagination than I thought," Frank teases. Gerard punches him in the shoulder just as the doorbell rings. He sticks his tongue out at Frank, pushes off the counter, and practically runs to answer the door. Frank laughs and follows at a slower pace and gets there as the door opens to reveal Mikey and Alicia.

"Hi, guys," Gerard beams.

"Hey, Gee. Frankie."

"Where are the girls?" Alicia asks as she leans in to kiss Frank on the cheek.

"Finishing up cleaning and should be on their way by now," Frank answers.

"Great. Mikey and I will go get drinks and stuff out," she says.

The bell rings again, and this time it's, apparently, Steve. He's a big dude with a big voice, and once he's introduced to everyone, says, "So Linds isn't here yet? Awesome. Let me tell you about the time..." and it just gets hilarious from there.

Steve is certifiably awesome. When Lindsey and Jamia arrive, Lindsey takes one look at him, groans dramatically, and turns to walk back out. Jamia catches her around the waist and laughs, turning her back toward the room.

"You totally just told all the stories, didn't you?" Lindsey asks Steve.

"I've only been here an hour. That isn't enough time," he says.

"That's long enough to tell the worst ones," she says darkly.

Frank laughs. "If it helps, I like you even better now."

Lindsey grimaces at him. "Grounded, you and Steve both. Gerard, I can do that, right?"

Gerard beams. "It's your apartment, too. That means you can help make the rules. So yes. You can do that."

Jamia slips up next to Frank and links their hands. "Hi," she whispers.

"Hi," he whispers back with a smile. "Everything went well?"

"Yup. Lindsey is officially a resident of New Jersey. Turned her keys over and everything."

"Cool," Frank replies and leans in to kiss her cheek. She turns her head at the last second to make it a real kiss. He closes his eyes and cups her cheek with his hand. It lasts a little too long for in public, and the whistles that erupt prove it. They pull back, but Frank just grins and flips them off. "There's veggie pizza in there for you, babe," he tells her. "Saved some. Drinks for the newcomers," he announces to the room at large. "Lindsey, you want something?"

"Beer?" she practically begs.

"Coming right up," Frank replies.

Gerard tugs her down into his lap, and Frank hears him murmur, "Tired, gorgeous?" to her as he walks into the kitchen. He doesn't hear her reply, but he brings her a Bud Light and a slice of cheese pizza along with Jamia's veggie. And a beer because he doesn't have to ask J.

The rest of the evening is great. They all tell embarrassing stories about each other and laugh a lot. Despite everything else he feels about it, Lindsey fits in well with them, and he won't complain if all her friends are like Steve.

****

"Hey, J," Gerard says, walking into Jamia's office on Tuesday. She squeaks in surprise.

"Gerard! Man, we really need to get that door buzzer fixed. Sorry! You know I love it when you visit me. What're you up to?"

Gerard grins. "The excuse is to bring you the files for the design work I did. But since I could have emailed you those, mostly just to visit."

"Frankie and Eddie are off visiting one of the bands in the studio. Ostensibly to knock heads, but-"

"Really just playing guitar and shooting the shit?" Gerard asks. Jamia grins.

"Yeah, you know it. But anyway, he's not here."

"You're just as good," Gerard says. He plops down on the chair in front of her desk with a happy sigh.

"Been busy?" she asks.

"I had a meeting with a new client this morning. Glad to sit down and not worry about looking like a tool."

"Gee-"

"Shut up," he says.

"You left it wide open, babe," Jamia replies with a wide grin.

"Tell me what you've been up to, sugar," he says.

"Should I get you some coffee, too? I'm on empty," she says after a peek in her mug.

"You even have to ask?" Gerard asks.

"Point," she replies and makes them both mugs of coffee. "I have been listening to demos and sending emails to a couple of prospects, mostly. We're trying to build up the band side of things again. I mean - it's sad when bands outgrow you, except for how it's awesome for them, you know?"

"Also it means you guys are fucking awesome at what you do," Gerard says.

"Oh, we know," Jamia says.

"Speaking of being good at our jobs, you should look at the stuff I made you," he says and fishes in his bag; he pulls out a thumb drive and hands it over. Jamia grins. She's excited; Gerard is really good at what he does, and what's more, he gets them.

She plugs the drive into the computer and opens the folder. She selects all the files, hits control-O, and waits for them to open. The one on top ends up being their updated logo. "Shit, Gee. It's fucking perfect."

"Yeah?" he grins.

"Totally. Fuck." It's their logo but better. She clicks through the other things, the letterhead, the various logo permutations for different situations. The... business cards. "Gee, we definitely did not order business cards from you. This is too much."

"Nope," he says. "Did you even read them?"

"Did you make us joke business cards?" she asks, attempting to glare at him.

"I sure did," Gerard replies. "Also legit ones. Consider them a gift, okay? I love you guys. You deserve awesome business cards."

Jamia looks more closely. Hers says "Really The Boss." Frank's says "Tiny But Badass." Eddie's says "Someone Has To." She bursts out laughing and has to get up and come around her desk to give Gerard a big hug. "Thanks, Gee," she murmurs into his temple. "You're the best."

"Anything for the Crew, Jamia," he says. "You let me know if your printer needs any size adjustments, okay?"

"Of course," she replies and pulls back and sits down. "So how did your meeting go? Aside from being worried about acting like a tool."

"It was fine. I'm just...getting the itch, you know? To do something more creative."

"And this is more design stuff?" He nods. "Is the comic not happening? You went out to Portland. I thought that was gonna take off."

"It will; it's just...publishing schedules, you know? And that was mostly for the wedding. I'm impatient."

She smiles. "You're sounding like Frank. I know it's not quite what you have in mind and not like... your career, but I was thinking we should have another craft night. You and Linds, us, Mikey and Alicia..."

"I like craft night," Gerard beams. "See, this is why you're Really The Boss, J."

When Gerard is smiling at you, it's physically impossible to not smile back. "We'll do it, then. Soon. I think maybe I'll make a tacky wreath for my door. Maybe I'll make one for yours instead. We haven't scared Lindsey off yet, after all."

Gerard laughs. "I am pretty sure she'd be really into a tacky wreath. She's kind of the best like that."

"Okay, then. It's a date. Triple date. Something."

Gerard nods. "Awesome. Fuck, now I'm really excited. We have to do it soon, okay?"

"As soon as there's an evening or maybe a weekend afternoon that works for all of us," she promises. "Are you on a schedule, Gee, or do you have time for lunch?"

"I can do lunch. Not a long lunch, but definitely lunch," he replies.

"Okay, then, you're coming with me. Boss's treat," she winks.

"You're the boss," Gerard replies. He can't keep his face straight for more than ten seconds before he's giggling.

"C'mon. You. Me. Food," she says and grabs her purse. There's a deli in the same strip mall as their office space that does pretty decent veggie stuff, and she leads Gerard down there and leaves him studying the menu while the owner makes her "the usual". He finally orders a BLT, and they sit down at the counter with Cokes and chips and eat their sandwiches and chat between bites.

Gerard tells her about how much fun he's having living with someone again. "Turns out, I don't mind talking to myself, but it's a lot better when someone answers."

"I talk to the dogs when Frank goes away," Jamia says. "They tell fewer bad jokes and swear less. But...yeah, I know the feeling."

"And she's so fucking smart and has all these insane ideas. Talking to her is so great, and she doesn't freak out or worry if I just want to stare at the ceiling and think for a few hours," he says.

"I wouldn't worry either," Jamia says. "But I've known you a long time."

"It freaked Eliza out," Gerard admits quietly. "And it made me defensive and twitchy, and... it's nice. To have someone who understands. I mean, that I live with. I've always had Mikey and Alicia and you and Frank, but it's not..."

Not the same. Jamia can finish that sentence. She also wants to ask if Lindsey knows how and when to draw Gerard back out of his shell, but that is probably none of her business. "I'm glad, Gee," she says and bumps the back of her hand against his. "You deserve it."

"I wanted to say thanks, too," he adds. "For texting her the other week about shopping."

"Well, we womenfolks sure like shopping," Jamia jokes.

Gerard frowns. So serious. "Jamia -"

"I'm teasing, dumbass. I like your girlfriend, and I also like shoes. It was fun."

"Okay," he says. "Good." He smiles the little crooked grin she's so fond of, and when they finish eating, Gerard tails Jamia back to the office. Frank is in the process of unlocking the front door when they walk up.

"Well if it isn't two of my favorite people," Frank says.

"You could've had lunch with us if you hadn't been playing at the studio," Jamia tells him and waves the bag containing the sandwich she got him.

"Ooh, lunch." He grabs her and gnaws playfully on her neck for a minute before whirling and advancing on Gerard who flattens himself against the front window, giggling.

"No way, motherfucker."

"You kiss your mama with that mouth?"

"No, just yours," Gerard says, and Frank jumps on him and makes disgusting munching noises in the vicinity of Gerard's neck. Gerard tries to throw Frank off him, but he's laughing too hard, so mostly he just ends up hugging Frank. It's pretty adorable. "I have to go," Gerard murmurs.

"Aww, c'mon. Stay and hang out with J and me," Frank replies.

"Work," Gerard says, tugging on a lock of Frank's hair. "Clients. Billable hours."

"Boring," Frank says, leaning against him for a moment before pulling back and wrapping an arm around Jamia. "And look how devastated J is."

"I'm crushed," she says and nods. Gerard beams, and oops, she's smiling again.

"God, what would I do without you guys?" he asks.

"I vote supervillainy," Jamia says because she knows it will make him laugh. "Go on, Gerard, get outta here. I'll take charge of the zombie here."

"I'd tell you not to get infected, but I'm pretty sure it's already too late," he says. "Probably for me, too, but hopefully we exhibit the minimum amount of symptoms."

"Good luck," she says and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"You, too, sugar," Gerard says and reaches out to ruffle Frank's hair. "Call me about craft night!"

"Craft night?" Frank repeats as soon as they get inside.

"Craft night. Gerard's getting fed up with the design clients again. It was the best thing I could think of that I could do to help," she replies. "I mean, it doesn't really help his wider problem, but I was thinking maybe it'd be fun and maybe help jump start his creativity outside work."

"You are," Frank says and crowds even further into her space, "the best, and I love you."

"I know, baby."

"Eddie won't be back this afternoon," Frank murmurs. "How about you let me show you?"

She grins. "How about you eat your sandwich and look at the stuff Gerard brought us, and then we go home early?" she fires back. He hesitates for just long enough to be a dick.

"Deal, Mrs. Iero."

"Deal, Mr. Nestor," she replies.

Frank sits behind her desk and pulls out his sandwich but gets completely sidetracked by Gerard's designs. "Holy shit," he breathes.

"He's good," Jamia says. "But we knew that. Wait till you see the -"

"Business cards!" And then he bursts out laughing. "That fucker," he says.

"There are real ones, too. Scroll down," Jamia says.

"We didn't ask for business cards," Frank says.

"Yeah, but Gerard loves us," Jamia replies.

"He really does," Frank replies. "Seriously, I was expecting it to be good. This is so much better than I ever dreamed. He's going to try to undercharge us, too. Don't let him."

"He always does. He said to consider the cards a gift which I'm willing to do, but he's getting paid the amount he quoted at the beginning, regardless of what the bill we get says," she replies. "Eat. I'm going to play you a couple of demos I was iffy on."

She plays him the music, and he nods his head along with one and grimaces at the other. "Yeah, that was my reaction. But they're... technically proficient. I don't know. I don't want to discount a decent band because they're not our usual style.

"Might be worth catching a gig," Frank says.

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Wanna catch a hardcore show with me, Iero?" she asks playfully.

"Always," he says, hooking her around the waist and pulling her into his lap.

"I thought we were gonna wait and go home early," she murmurs.

"What if I want it here and at home?"

"I think..." she murmurs, tracing his eyebrows with her fingertip, "That you should choose wisely."

"I could eat you out here. Then more at home?" he murmurs. "Just want you." Jamia sucks in a breath. "Yeah, you like that idea, don't you, babe?"

She really does. He's sitting in her desk chair grinning because he fucking knows it, too. "I always like the idea of putting that smart mouth to use," she retorts but stands and shoves her pants down her legs and toes off her flats.

"Sit on the chair," he murmurs, slipping off onto the floor. "Tell me you won't get off on that, baby. At your desk, me on the floor..." She laughs breathlessly.

"Been wanting you since you said Eddie wasn't going to be here for the rest of the day."

"That sounds like jumping the gun to me," Frank answers, breath hot and wet against her thigh. His fingers follow, almost imperceptible until he eases his thumb between her lips.

"I know you. I knew what you had in mind. Wasn't jumping anything," she replies and spreads her legs wider. He teases with his thumb, doesn't press in any further, just slides it up and down lightly.

"And you wanted to wait and go home?" he asks as he mouths down the crease of her thigh. She doesn't answer, and he laughs. "Right, I know you think office sex is fun because it feels naughty. What if Eddie did come back? What if Gerard came back?" She makes a little noise just as he spreads her open a little and licks. "That buzzer is still broken."

"I - know," she chokes. He sucks her clit lightly and pulls back again. He lets his thumb dip further inside and then replaces it with two fingers.

"And they wouldn't see right away. Wouldn't realize until I did this," he whispers and crooks his fingers to find her g-spot and sucks hard on her clit. She moans loudly, can't help it, and buries her fingers in Frank's hair. "Could you even do it? Keep quiet and talk to Gee about graphics while I hid down here with my fingers in you?"

She shakes her head and gasps out, "No."

"That's what I thought. He'd know right away." She wonders if thinking about Gerard walking in on them is turning Frank on even more. She imagines Gerard's face going red, imagines him freezing and staring, and bucks against Frank's mouth. He teases her with slow and delicate swipes of his tongue to her clit, then starts sucking again. She's moaning and gasping.

"Fuck, Frankie," she says and reaches under her shirt and into her bra to pinch her nipple lightly. It feels good, really good, but it's not enough. "Harder, Frank," she urges him. He increases the suction on her clit and starts thrusting his fingers hard. "Fuck, yes," she moans and clenches her fingers in his hair.

Sensation moves out from her clit over her whole body, and she pushes against his mouth. Frank pushes back, his free hand pushing her thighs wide, wider, face buried against her cunt. She rocks up against him and tugs on his hair as she comes with a ragged whine. He keeps licking her gently, tongue flat against her clit until she tugs him up into her lap and kisses him. Fuck, tasting herself on his mouth is hot.

He lets his fingers trail lightly over her nipples. "Later," she tells him. She presses a palm against his crotch.

"No, don't," Frank says. "Wait until we're home."

"Gosh, and I was thinking I'd spend an hour or two on the books now," Jamia teases.

"Fuck no, you're not. We're going home and fucking the rest of the afternoon away," he replies.

"Who's fucking who?" she whispers in his ear.

"Oh, fuck," Frank moans. "Both? I think we can manage both, don't you?"

"That's on you, baby," Jamia says. "Can you hold out? I dare you," she whispers. He laughs and kisses her again.

"I will take that dare. I think I win either way."

"Then you'd better get up, so we can go home," she murmurs against his lips. He gets up - then makes it really difficult for Jamia to re-dress. Amazing dedication, considering she can see the hard-on he's sporting. "Iero," she orders. "Cut it out."

Frank fakes a penitent look. "I just like touching you."

"You can touch me all you fucking want when we get home. Right now, you are making it so we never get there," she says and finally pulls her panties up her legs.

"Seriously, though," Frank says and leans against the desk. "I think we need to implement pantsless Wednesdays or something. It'd improve office morale."

"Not for Eddie."

"Or us," Frank muses. "You've seen his chicken legs."

She laughs and buttons her pants back up. "Pantslessness on all Wednesdays Eddie isn't here would be acceptable," she says.

"After the door buzzer is fixed?" he asks as she grabs her bag. She thinks back to how Gerard startled her this morning and turns abruptly crimson.

"Yes. After the buzzer is fixed." Definitely after the buzzer is fixed.

As they lock up and walk to their cars, she realizes she's pretty much ready to go again. She's still wet, and each step is causing just the right amount of slide and friction to make her a little bit crazy. She can't wait to get home.

*

They decide on a Friday evening for craft night which makes Jamia laugh, but it's a night that works well for all of them, and fuck anyone who says craft night can't get just as nuts as a night out would. She's got all their supplies out, and the rest are all bringing stuff. They're gonna eat some fucking tacos and drink beer and make shit, and it's going to be awesome.

Frank eyes her sourly when she starts setting stuff out on the dining room table. "I fucking hate glitter," he complains.

"Yes, well. Gerard loves it and so does Alicia, so you get to deal," she replies.

"It's the fucking herpes of craft supplies! It gets everywhere. A week from now, we'll still be finding glitter all over the house."

She raises an eyebrow. "Deal with it, baby."

He huffs. "I'm making him make me something awesome. Price of allowing glitter in my home."

She laughs. "As if he wouldn't anyway."

It's Lindsey who shows up first, though, toting a tackle box and a large canvas bag. "Ooh, awesome," Jamia says when Lindsey starts unloading everything.

"My craft supplies bring all the girls to the yard," Lindsey replies with a grin.

"Origami paper!" Jamia says and pounces. "I can only make cranes though."

"I'll teach you some other stuff," Lindsey promises and then yelps when Frank presses a bottle of beer against her arm.

"Sorry, he's still sulking about the glitter. Bad dog, no cookie," Jamia says and sticks her tongue out at him.

Lindsey reaches out and grabs the beer from Frank. "It's only fair," she says and takes a swig.

"It was for you anyway," he protests.

"Aww, Frankie," Lindsey says. "How sweet. In a very - you way."

Jamia laughs.

"He doesn't like glitter?" Lindsey asks.

"He hates it, but he gets to deal with it as it is a fundamental element in craft night," she replies. Frank wrinkles his nose at them.

"Is Gee coming with Mikey?" he asks.

"Yeah, they had to stop by their mom's for a few minutes. I was in the middle of something at my studio, so I just came straight here."

"Cool," Frank replies and pokes through the things Lindsey brought. "There are a lot of sharp things here," he says.

"Which you are banned from if you drink more than one beer," Jamia says. "I am not cutting another craft night short to go to the ER."

He pouts at her. "I'll knit you a scarf?"

"You haven't managed to puncture yourself with a knitting needle yet, so okay," Jamia allows.

Lindsey laughs and pats Frank's shoulder. "Knitting is awesome." She turns to Jamia and asks, "Anything I can help with food-wise?"

"Nope, everything's done and chopped and ready. Alicia is bringing the carnivore taco meat." Jamia hears tags jingling, and the next thing she knows Lindsey is staggering a bit as Sinatra leans against her legs.

"Oh, look at you," Lindsey coos.

"I guarantee you he was napping and heard me say the word 'meat,'" Jamia says.

"He's great," Lindsey says. "Where are the others?"

"In various states of sleeping or the backyard. Probably inside since I haven't heard anything from the back in a while," Frank replies.

"Go check, babe?" Jamia asks. "Quiet dogs make me nervous."

Frank returns with an annoyed-looking Sweet Pea under his arm.

"Was she digging again?" Jamia asks.

"Yes," Frank replies. Jamia sighs and then has to laugh when Lindsey starts cooing over her.

"A wizard hat," Alicia says, walking into the kitchen while they're still fussing over Sweet Pea.

"For the last time, no clothes. She is a senior citizen," Frank replies.

"She wears jackets!" Alicia says. "I've seen the pictures!"

"Because she is a senior citizen with bones that get cold," Frank retorts.

"Are you trying to tell me your dog doesn't deserve her day as a powerful sorcerer?"

Frank stares her down. Finally Alicia smirks and pulls a roll of fleece out of her bag. "Fleece coat with stars? It was on sale at the fabric store."

"Deal," Frank agrees. Alicia beams at Frank, and Frank smiles back. He's such a fucking faker. Jamia knows the only reason he objected is that every time Frank tried to put a hat on Sweet Pea, she freaked out.

"I don't know what's complicated about bringing in a crock of taco meat," Alicia says, craning her neck at the door.

"I'm betting Star Wars pattern in the tinfoil," Frank says.

"Should we call the Enquirer?" Lindsey asks.

"Rebelscum.com," Alicia corrects and goes to give Lindsey a hug. "Hi."

Lindsey squeezes back. "Hey. How're you?"

"Good. Excited for tonight. Craft night is the best," Alicia replies and pulls away to give Jamia a hug. "Thanks for hosting, gorgeous," she says.

"Anytime. Football soon, too," Jamia adds. "We have to make the schedule." Gerard and Mikey appear in the doorway as she turns to look at the calendar. Gerard puts the crock on the counter and goes over to Lindsey. He dips her back and kisses her like they're in the movies or some shit. She's laughing delightedly when he pulls her back up.

"Hi," he says to the room at large, who have mostly politely averted their eyes - Alicia, Mikey - or are watching with an inscrutable expression - Frank - or are...Jamia. Who was also watching, oops. They're lovely together, is the thing. She and Frank adore each other and have, if she says so herself, a generally great relationship and know how to keep things exciting. She's not jealous, really, but there's something about them that makes her want.

"Okay," Jamia says cheerfully. "If everyone is done kissing and mocking one another, go look at the football schedule while I get out food. Then, crafts."

Lindsey comes over and bumps her companionably on the arm with an elbow. "What can I do?"

"Beer wench," Jamia says, flicking at one of Lindsey's pigtails. Lindsey laughs.

"Aye aye, captain." Lindsey gets everyone beers or cokes and then helps Jamia finish setting up the taco bar.

"Obviously we gotta do the Jets season opener," Mikey says, pulling the calendar off the wall.

"You mean Steelers," Frank says.

"I mean Jets, and loser buys the pizza," Mikey says. Jamia cocks an eyebrow at Gerard and goes to fill up a plate. This could take a while.

"I do not get involved in arguments about football," Gerard tells her.

"Someone has to be a neutral party!" Jamia says. "Because neither Alicia or I can be."

Gerard laughs. "Yet another reason not to get involved." The do you think I'm stupid? remains unsaid.

"Aww, honey," she coos. "You're involved whether you like it or not. Here, distract Frank with this." She hands him a filled plate and starts another.

"You did this on purpose," Lindsey murmurs in her ear, and Jamia freezes. "To get first crack at the food. You're my hero."

Jamia grins slyly. "Just don't tell the others. They have yet to figure it out."

"It'll be our little secret," Lindsey whispers, still close. Jamia's not used to non-Frank people so far in her personal space, and she struggles through a number of confused signals from her brain before settling on a smile and a shoulder bump.

"Fill a plate before they notice, and I'll let you pick the crappy reality show," she promises.

"Top Chef is on tonight. It won't be crappy; it'll be great," Lindsey says and makes herself a few tacos. They go sit down, and the boys and Alicia finally notice the counter and food are available and continue arguing as they fill their plates. Jamia digs into her tacos feeling pretty damn happy.

After everyone's done stuffing themselves, Mikey volunteers to clean up while the rest of them spread out and dig into the art supplies. Lindsey settles beside Jamia, Frank on her other side. "What're you going to make?" Lindsey asks.

"I definitely want you to teach me some origami," Jamia says. "And I was thinking about maybe doing some cards. You brought all this awesome paper stuff."

"Can do," Lindsey says with an amused glance at Frank, who's already digging stuff out of his knitting bag. Gerard is carefully examining the supplies and gathering things to himself.

"Gee, what are you doing?" Alicia asks after a minute of this.

"Making Frankie a robot," he replies and smirks. "A really glittery robot."

"Fuck you, Gee."

"You're gonna love it, and you know it," Gerard retorts.

"He's right," Jamia replies and pulls several sheets of paper from the stack.

Lindsey leans over and whispers to Jamia, "It won't be glittery. Gee likes to make him happy."

"Yeah," Jamia murmurs back. "Yeah, he does." He always has. Lindsey pulls a couple of pieces of origami paper out of the packet in front of her and hands one to Jamia.

"Here, I'll teach you how to do a dragon."

Jamia spends the next few hours making careful folds as she watches Lindsey's fingers, then snipping paper into designs for homemade greeting cards. Frank knits, Alicia sews, Mikey comes and steals scraps of paper for some sort of decoupage creation, and Gerard hunches over a canvas at the dining room table.

They talk and laugh and create, and every once in a while, Gerard will break into a rambly story about the robot he's painting. Frank eats every word up. At this point, Jamia is certain that a little glitter wouldn't even matter. Frank hasn't even seen it yet, and he's utterly enchanted. Frank thinks everything Gerard does is wonderful. Jamia bites her lip and carefully sets a finished card aside.

Frank stirs at her side, drapes his nearly-finished scarf around her neck, and tugs her in for a kiss. She's pretty sure he thinks most everything she does is wonderful, too, though. "Soft," she murmurs.

"It's that yarn your grandma gave me," he says. "It's for you, as soon as it's done."

"Got any extra yarn?" Lindsey asks quietly from beside them. They both look over. She smiles. "I know how to make pompoms," she offers.

Frank beams at her. "I totally do." He pulls out another skein from his knitting bag and hands it over. "Go nuts. I've got like, four more of these."

"We'll have it all prettied up for her in no time," Lindsey says. Jamia grins at both of them.

"You're both great."

Alicia holds up her sewing for them all to see. "Damn, that is really fucking cute," Gerard says.

"Not done yet, but it looks like a dog sweater now," Alicia says. "An awesome dog sweater."

They switch to a movie. Jamia goes and gets drink refills while everyone else keeps working. She peeks over Mikey's shoulder. He's busy decoupaging a skull-shaped cutout with pictures of plants and flowers and animals - "For Alicia," he says.

"It's fucking great," she tells him honestly. He smiles up at her.

"I know my audience."

She doesn't look very carefully at Gerard's painting. She's not entirely sure why, except she wants to see it at the same time Frank does. When she returns to the couch, she discovers Lindsey has attached several small fluffy pompoms to the finished end of the long, skinny scarf and is listening attentively to Frank as he talks about some minutiae related to the movie they're watching. God, he's a nerd, and she really wants to jump him. She will later once everyone goes home. It's gonna be great.

"How's your collage coming, Linds?" she asks. "Or are you done?"

"It needs something," Lindsey says. "Can't decide what. Do you have any more magazines I could destroy?"

"What it needs," Jamia says, looking closely, "Is one of Frank's prints."

"One of the instrument ones," Frank says, sitting up from where he's slumped over and knitting. "There are a bunch in a box upstairs that we never used for anything."

"Want to come take a look?" Jamia asks. Lindsey nods and stands.

"Lead the way," she says.

****

Jamia leads her upstairs to the bedroom. Lindsey spends some time checking out the walls as she walks. She likes looking at other people's decorations and artwork, and Frank and Jamia have a lot of it.

When they get to the master bedroom, Jamia stoops to pull out an under-bed storage container and sets it on top of the bed. "We got a bunch of prints of his pictures made up a couple of years ago, thinking we'd use them for something. A lot of them are in the office, and we gave a bunch as gifts, so these are all free for whatever." She pulls out the folder and hands it over.

Lindsey settles on the edge of the bed and starts flipping. "Wow, he's really good."

Jamia nods with a proud grin. "It started out just as a necessity. Bands needed publicity photos, and we couldn't afford to hire photographers, so Frank did it. He found out he really loves photography."

"It's awesome that it worked out like that," Lindsey says and flips through the stack of prints. There are close-ups of guitars and keyboards and soundboards, pictures of the dogs, people she doesn't recognize but can tell are relatives, pictures of Jamia. "He takes nice pictures of you," she says with a smile. "But I think some of these equipment shots are perfect. Can I really just -"

"Yeah, go for it," Jamia says. "We can always make more prints if we need them."

She picks out a few of the photos, but she can't help but linger over a few really lovely ones, especially the ones of family. Jamia leans close and tells her about the photos, who's in them, what was happening at the time. "Something tells me you didn't print these for the label," Lindsey says.

"No, they're for albums," Jamia says. "Those should probably be our next craft night project. We consistently fail at scrapbooking."

"It's a big project!" Lindsey replies. "I've decided to content myself with the old style albums with the black corners and no other frills. They're easy and classic, but if you want to borrow any papercraft stuff, you can."

"When we have time," Jamia laughs. "Which looks like approximately never at this point, but who knows." Lindsey slides the prints back in their folder and hands it back to Jamia. "Thanks," Jamia says. "We ought to head back down before they start to suspect we're up to no good up here."

Lindsey laughs. "'Up to no good' is so subjective, though. It's really too bad we can't short sheet Frank's bed without also short sheeting yours."

Jamia smirks. "You get credit for the idea, though." She shoves the box back under the bed and offers Lindsey a hand to help her up.

Lindsey lets herself be pulled up and wraps an arm around Jamia's waist as they walk back downstairs. Frank looks up and grins at them from his perch on the couch. "Did you find anything?" he asks eagerly.

"That you have a hidden talent," Lindsey says. She displays the selected prints, and Frank grins. Gerard cranes his neck and checks them out, too.

"Oh, yeah, I love those. Frank's awesome."

"He really is," Lindsey replies. Frank grins.

"Thanks. I've had a lot of fun figuring shit out over the last few years. If you ever help us move, it'll be photography books you're carrying."

"Never move," Lindsey says darkly. She settles back onto the couch and dives back into her collage. The room is getting louder as more people are finishing up their projects or tucking them away to finish later.

Gerard's the only one left working after a while, and he won't be distracted. Well, Frank's not bugging him, so that's probably why. Frank, for what Lindsey knows of him, is being remarkably patient. He's clearly really excited. He keeps looking over at Gerard and watching him work for a while before turning back to the conversations the rest of them are having. It sort of makes her feel bad, after a while. Frank is so obviously delighted that Gerard is making something for him.

She feels pretty good about her relationship with Gerard's best friends, but she wonders how Frank actually feels sometimes. No one else is paying him any mind. He's cuddled into Jamia's side, scarf tucked away for the evening, but Lindsey can't help feeling that there's something unstated that she doesn't understand.

Finally, Gerard lifts his head and looks at Frank. "Done," he says. Frank beams and pops up immediately. He walks around the table and stands behind Gerard.

"Shit, Gee," Frank breathes. "Fucking… how are you so damn good at everything you touch?"

"Expensive schooling, natural talent?" Gerard offers. "Biased audience?" He and Frank smile at each other for a minute.

Frank leans down over Gerard to get a better look. Gerard doesn't move at all, just turns his head to watch Frank's face. They're so close, and Gerard is smiling softly, and suddenly it clicks. Oh, Lindsey thinks.

She sneaks a look at Jamia and can tell Jamia is watching them, too, but her mouth just twists sideways a little bit in a weird expression that's not quite a frown or a smile before she goes back to sweeping cut paper bits onto a sheet of scrap paper.

Lindsey has no idea what she's feeling. Nothing has actually happened between them. She's certain of that because Gerard would have said something. They've talked about exes before, but there is clearly something there. Something big.

"Jamia, come look," Frank urges. His expression for his wife hasn't changed a single bit. Lindsey sighs. Maybe she's making mountains out of molehills.

"Gee, hold it up so everyone can see," Jamia suggests. Gerard picks the canvas up by the edges and lifts it up. "Ohhh, Gee, that's so perfect," Jamia says, and Mikey and Alicia both echo her. It really is, Lindsey thinks and smiles broadly at Gerard. He used colors from their decor and threw in a few bright accents, and it is, in fact, a robot. Not a glittery one, but one in Gerard's usual style. It'll look so great if they hang it in the living room.

"Are you really done or just for the moment?" Frank asks.

"Um," Gerard says and turns it back around and studies it with a critical eye. "Done." Frank grins and leans down to kiss the top of Gerard's head, then carefully takes the painting from his hands and brings it over to sit next to Jamia.

"Where's it going?" Lindsey hears Jamia murmur to Frank after leaning in to kiss his cheek.

Frank looks around the room. "By the door," he says. "So everyone knows exactly what sort of house they're coming into right when they walk in the door."

"People already know that, Frankie," Mikey says. Gerard finishes cleaning up the table and comes to perch on the couch arm beside Lindsey.

"It'd certainly erase all doubt, though," Alicia says with a grin. "It's great, Gee."

Lindsey feels his cheek quirk into a smile where it's resting against the top of her head. "Thanks, Alicia," he says. Lindsey grabs one of Gerard's hands and laces their fingers together.

"I think you should paint another one for our living room," she says.

"Do you want a robot, gorgeous?" he asks.

"No, I want an alien. Or a squid," she tells him, glancing sidelong at Frank to see his reaction.

"Dude, a squid," Frank tells her. "That would be fucking badass."

Lindsey nods seriously and looks up at Gerard. "Squid, noted," he says, tugging gently on one of her pigtails with a little private smile for her. She bites her lip and squeezes his hand.

"Next craft night," she murmurs.

"Yeah," he replies and leans down to kiss her like he can't help it, like it's the only thing possible in that moment. Lindsey could probably kiss him forever, but it's hard to forget they're at a party, sharing a couch with their hosts, so she keeps it short. Gerard doesn't protest when she pulls back.

The party breaks up soon after, anyway, with first Jamia, then Mikey, then Gerard yawning in a comical sequence. "Home?" Lindsey asks him, and he nods. They stand and exchange hugs with everyone and make plans to have another craft night and to have a football party even sooner.

"We should do like, tabletop games sometime, too," Mikey says.

"Oh my god, that would be great," Gerard gushes. "We could do like—"

"Home," Lindsey says with a laugh, cutting him off. "We can talk about a game night when we're all not yawning."

"Thank you for not letting him say it," Frank says to her. Lindsey gives him a quizzical look, and he leans in to whisper into her ear, "Magic: The Gathering."

Lindsey laughs out loud. "Not a fan, Frankie?"

"No," he replies. "I mean, sometimes it's fun to watch them all, but there are better nerd games out there that I actually enjoy playing."

"We will have an assortment of nerd games," Alicia says. "I'm calling dibs on that party for us."

"I'll make Super Mario cookies," Frank says, sounding excited again. He and Alicia are still discussing nerd-themed food when the six of them pile out the door. Frank and Jamia wave from their front porch for a minute as they all get in their cars, and Lindsey backs carefully out of the driveway and then takes Gerard's hand once she's on the road.

He squeezes her hand. "That was fun," he says happily.

"It really was," she says. "We should see if Steve wants to come next time. He'd get a kick out of it."

"Do I want to know what kind of arts and crafts Steve likes?" Gerard asks.

She laughs. "I'm sure it would be stupid or offensive or both, but he'd have a lot of fun, and it'd be hilarious."

"Sounds good to me," Gerard replies.

Lindsey parks in her space next to Gerard's car and fishes her purse out of the backseat. By the time she straightens, he's rounding the hood to open her door.

"Well aren't you Mister Chivalry?" she asks with a smile. He bows and holds his hand out for her to pass in front of him.

"Your wish is my command," he murmurs.

She stops and hooks her fingers into the collar of his t-shirt. "Really?" she murmurs. "Anything I want?"

"Anything you want," he replies and settles his hands on her waist. "I'm yours."

"Well, then let's go inside," she suggests.

Lindsey takes one of his hands in hers and tugs him toward the door. She unlocks their apartment and ditches her jacket, bag, and shoes in the entryway. Gerard does the same, and then his hands are on her waist again, pulling her down the hall to the bedroom. He tugs her close at the foot of the bed and kisses her. She lets him but then pulls back and whispers in his ear, "Strip."

Gerard tugs his t-shirt over his head. Lindsey appreciates the lines of his shoulders, the muscles in his arms as he moves to unbutton and unzip his jeans. He slowly pushes them down his thighs and steps out of them. He throws them and his socks at the hamper and takes a step closer to her. She can see how hard he is in his pink briefs and reaches out to run her fingers over him.

"Now me," she orders, stroking the cotton a few more times. He reaches out and pulls her shirt up to her neck. It's a drapey thing with a couple of different layers at the top and he's momentarily flummoxed. They both giggle, and Lindsey reaches up to help him get it over her head. He smiles, cups her cheeks, and kisses her soft and slow.

He lets his fingers trail over her breasts and down her sides. Lindsey makes a small noise of pleasure into his mouth as he unfastens her jeans and skims his hands beneath them and her panties. He cups her ass and pulls her closer. "You're beautiful," Lindsey murmurs against his lips.

"So're you," he replies and pushes her pants down her thighs. He lets his fingers slide down between her cheeks and then kneels in front of her to pull the rest of her clothing off. He stays at her feet, sitting back on his heels and looking up at her, flushed and intent. She smiles crookedly and unhooks her bra herself, dropping it on the floor beside him.

"Go lie on the bed," she tells him. He leans forward to nuzzle her belly, then gets to his feet and onto the bed. He gets settled, and she can't help but stare at him. She's almost tempted by his cock, hard and huge inside his briefs and there for the taking, but when she gets on the bed, she crawls all the way up to his head. "Do you know what you're doing now?" she asks him as she kneels and looks down at him, tracing over his face with her fingers.

"If I'm really lucky, you're gonna sit on my face and let me eat you out until you moan so loud you annoy the neighbors," he murmurs and sucks one of her fingers into his mouth when she runs it over his lips.

"You catch on quick," she tells him, grabbing the headboard and swinging one leg over his head. She feels his arms wrap around her thighs to pull her down, and then his face is there, nose pressing against her mound as he licks between her lips. "Oh, fuck," she murmurs and slides the fingers of her free hand into his hair.

He thrusts his tongue inside, and her hips thrust down against his face. He just makes an encouraging noise and tightens his grip on her thighs. He licks up to her clit and sucks lightly, then slides his tongue all through her folds and back to fuck her again. "More," she tells him, and he slides his hands around for a handful of her ass and tugs. "You want me to fuck your face, Gee?" He sucks her clit hard and moans. "I'll take that as a yes," Lindsey gasps and starts moving her hips.

Gerard moves with her, keeping his mouth on her clit. She hangs onto the headboard with one hand, running the fingers of the other through his hair and rocking down against his mouth. He keeps fucking into her with his tongue, alternating the penetration with suction on her clit. It sounds obscene, the wet noises of his mouth alternating with his moans that vibrate against her cunt and make her moan in turn. She lets go of his hair and rolls one of her nipples between her fingers, tugging gently. Her eyes slip closed, and she concentrates on the feel of his mouth, on the suction, the way his tongue feels fluttering against her clit and how her nipple is throbbing between her fingers. He tightens his grip on her thighs again and pulls her down hard against his mouth. He sucks and sucks, and she's coming, her thighs closing hard around his head.

He's right; Lindsey does say his name in a ragged shriek as she comes, biting her knuckles and rocking gently against his mouth as the aftershocks ripple through her. He keeps licking with gentle swipes of his tongue until she tightens her fingers in his hair and pulls back. She doesn't move far, just straddles his chest. "Fuck, Gee," she murmurs and runs both hands gently through his hair. His face is shiny with her come and his own spit, his lips are bright red, and he's panting a little. "You wanna fuck me now, don't you?" she breathes.

"Please," he breathes. "Bet you're so wet."

"Mmm," she murmurs and rubs herself against his chest.

"You could ride me," Gerard suggests. She shakes her head.

"Something else."

"Whatever you want," Gerard says thickly, groaning as she squirms down his body, far enough to curl her fingers under the waistband of his briefs. She circles her thumb over the wet spot on the cotton, then tugs them down his legs, and he kicks them off.

"Get up," she tells him, and he sits up obediently on his knees. "At first I thought I wanted you to fuck me from behind," she murmurs as she lies down on the mattress. "And I do. Maybe we should do that in the morning. You could wake me up and fuck me, but right now I want to see your face. Want to feel you all over me."

"I can do that," he says, sliding up her body to kiss her neck, dick hot and hard against her hip. She pulls his face to hers and kisses him. He still tastes like her, and she kisses him until he tastes like him and then licks over his cheeks. When she's ready, she reaches between them, grabs his cock, and spreads her legs wide. "Linds," he groans into her mouth, nudging forward and pressing in with no resistance. "Fuck. Fuck, you're so wet."

"All because of you," she gasps and wraps her legs around him. He slides all the way in and kisses her hard and long without moving. It takes her moving her legs, her own hips to get him to start thrusting. She plants her heels on the mattress, fucking up against him just as hard as he's fucking her. She knows her nails are sinking into his shoulders, but he doesn't make a single noise of protest, just low groans that vibrate against her chest and tits as he sucks a series of marks into her skin. He lifts up just far enough, so he can look in her face.

"You feel so goddamn good," he murmurs. "Fuck, Lindsey. I can't..."

She pulls him back down and kisses him again, clenching around him. With her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, they're pressed together from shoulder to groin, and she fastens her mouth on his neck, sucking a big bright mark into his skin as he fucks into her over and over, moaning. They're both moaning. Each stroke sends sparks of sensation all over her body. She loves the way his cock feels entering her, loves that he's so big, the way he's getting a little less controlled, a little rougher the closer he gets to coming.

"Linds," he breathes in her ear. "Need you."

"You have me," she answers. "Harder, Gee." She rolls her hips up against him, and he starts thrusting even harder. She clings to him, arms tight around his neck, and gasps for air. "Gee," she breathes in his ear. "Fuck, you feel so damn good."

"Want you to come again," he gasps.

"So close, Gee," she murmurs. "Just keep fucking me." Gerard's at the perfect angle now, leaning down to suck at her nipples and working his hips. She gasps and tightens her hands in his hair and moves with him. He bites down on one of her nipples, and she arches up into his mouth with a loud moan. His hips snap harder into her, and she feels it start, feels the warmth radiating out from her pussy all over her body. She calls his name and comes, clenching and shaking and holding him tightly. He gasps out her name in response, letting his forehead rest against her shoulder as he snaps his hips faster, faster, and - he buries himself deep and groans, coming in a rush. "Fuck, Gerard," she murmurs into his hair and holds him tight.

"Was that what you wished for?" he murmurs.

"You are always what I wished for, honey," she tells him, nuzzling under his ear. He lifts his head and smiles down at her.

"I love you. So fucking much."

"I love you, too," she says, pushing his hair out of his face. "Tonight was -"

"Fucking... stars and fireworks," Gerard breathes and runs a finger down her cheek.

She meant the whole evening, but all he can think about is her. The knot in her chest loosens a bit. He leans down to kiss her, and she kisses back hard. She gasps into his mouth when he pulls out. "Fuck, honey."

She wriggles slowly against the sheets as he collapses beside her. God, she feels fantastic, sore in all the right places. She already can't wait for morning, for him to fuck her from behind, make her feel it all over again.

"Should clean up," Gerard mutters into his pillow. She laughs.

"Yes, I'll go get a washcloth for you." He pushes himself up on an elbow, and she looks him over when she returns from the bathroom: lean, naked, relaxed, cock soft now but still mouth-watering. She kneels on the bed next to him and swipes the cloth over his face, which makes him laugh, then carefully over his cock. She throws the cloth blindly toward the hamper and settles down next to him on the bed.

He tugs her into his arms. "Mm, that's better." She nuzzles his neck and tangles her legs with his.

"Mmm," she murmurs. She loves the feel of his skin against hers, the way he feels in her arms. She closes her eyes and breathes in his scent. He smells like paint, actually. She giggles.

"What?" he mutters sleepily.

"You smell like paint," she tells him. "You didn't even get that messy."

"Oops," he says.

"Nah, I like it," she tells him, kissing his jaw.

"'S 'cause I tend to touch my neck a lot," he says.

"I know," she whispers and sucks lightly on his throat. "It's one of my favorite things because it always reminds me of this," she nips his throat, and he moans. She smiles against his skin.

"God, Linds. If I had anything left for round two right now..." he trails off into another moan when she sucks at the spot just below his ear where there's already a hickey.

"Tomorrow," she whispers.

"I can't wait for tomorrow," he tells her, running his fingers through her hair.

"It's Saturday, you know," she whispers. "I say we stay right here all day. Fuck and sleep and fuck."

"And eat?"

"In bed."

"I like this plan," Gerard whispers. "It's a good plan."

"Yes, it is." She turns over onto her other side and backs against him. She pulls his hand over her side and laces their fingers together. His lips brush the back of her neck. "Sooner we sleep, the sooner you're fucking me again," she says.

"Goodnight," he says immediately, and she chuckles.

"Love you, Gee. Night."

"Love you, too," he whispers.

It takes her a little longer to come back down. Gerard falls asleep before her, and she concentrates on the sound of his steady breathing until she falls asleep, too.

****

It's not that Gerard dislikes football. He likes it. He just doesn't seem to like it quite as much as Mikey, Alicia, Frank, and Jamia do, but he likes hanging out with them and watching them argue over teams and plays and yell at the screen like crazy people. The dirty look Frank had given him last week when he'd chosen Mikey's team for the pool had been hilarious, though. When Lindsey chose Frank's team a while later, he'd beamed, and then given Gerard the same dirty look, saying, "Okay, we're definitely keeping her. You, though…"

It's Sunday again, and Gerard and Lindsey arrive early. They find Frank on a stepladder putting up a string of pumpkin lights around the porch. Frank turns and looks down at them, grinning. "Hi guys."

"Hey, Frank," Lindsey says and ducks under the string of lights and through the door. Gerard hears her calling out to Jamia and smiles.

"Hi, Frankie," Gerard murmurs happily.

"Here, make yourself useful and hold that up for me." Frank points at the dangling end of lights. Gerard lifts the string above his head, and Frank leans out to take them and place the string in the hook.

"Or you could move your step ladder, so you're not leaning so much and risking your neck?" Gerard suggests. Frank snorts, looking down at him, arms still holding the string of lights up.

"You'd catch me," Frank says confidently.

Gerard laughs. "I'd try. I'm not sure how successful I'd be."

"I'm not that heavy, motherfucker." Frank glares.

"No, but you'd be falling at a weird angle, and I'd be surprised, and… just don't fall, okay?"

Frank rolls his eyes but hops down from the step ladder, moves it over a couple of feet, and climbs again. "Happy now?"

"Ecstatic," Gerard says and holds up the dangling end of the lights for Frank to place in the remaining hooks. Frank hops down again, this time careening right into Gerard, who immediately reaches out to catch him around the waist.

"Told you you'd catch me," Frank says into his shoulder.

"Fucking faker." Gerard squeezes him tightly and laughs. "I know you have more Halloween decorations than this. I'll help you put them up."

"Fuck yeah, we do," Frank says pulling back. "I planned to do it all next week, but I was in the garage, and I saw the storage bins and…" Frank grins and shrugs.

"It wouldn't be Halloween without you jumping the gun and decorating way the fuck earlier than everybody else," Gerard says, kneeling down to rummage through the bin on the porch. At the bottom is a small container containing what appears to be washable glass paint in Halloween colors. He looks up at Frank. "Frankie, can I paint your sliding glass door?"

Frank grins down at him. "Duh. I mean. We'll have to check with Jamia, but I can't imagine a world where she would mind a kick-ass painting on the door. It can be my birthday present."

Gerard scoffs. "Fuck that."

"Okay, one of my birthday presents," Frank amends, his grin going all excited and eager. Gerard wants to kiss him. He ignores it and turns back to the bin in front of him. Halloween. Frank's birthday, he reminds himself.

Frank starts rummaging in the bin for his wreath hook, and Gerard ruffles an affectionate hand through his hair and carries the paints inside. He stops just outside the kitchen door. Jamia and Lindsey are inside, and Jamia is brandishing a plastic fork threateningly at Lindsey, who’s sitting on the counter grinning. “You’re a guest,” Jamia’s saying, a giggle barely buried in her voice, “so I will tolerate you messing up my antipasto. Be glad you don’t live here.”

Lindsey laughs, deep and amused, and plucks the fork out of Jamia’s hand. She spears an olive on the plate and pulls it off with her teeth. “Look, ma, no hands,” she smirks once she’s chewed and swallowed it. Jamia grimaces comically and keeps filling the plate.

Gerard lets out a slow breath. He feels movement at his shoulder; Frank edges past him and walks straight to Jamia, wrapping his arms around her from behind and sneaking another stuffed olive off the plate. She smacks his hand, then yelps. Frank must have bitten her because she squirms around in his arms and says, “Don’t make me get the squirt bottle, Frank Iero.”

He kisses her, and Gerard looks away, over at Lindsey. The corners of her mouth twitch up, then down, then she smiles conspiratorially at him and offers him the fork. “No way,” he says. “Jamia scares the shit out of me.”

“At least one of you is trainable,” Jamia says, turning to the sink to wash her hands.

“Wait, J, I wanted to ask you - can Gerard paint the sliding glass door?” Frank asks. Gerard looks down - he’d almost forgotten what he was holding.

“Duh,” Jamia says fondly. “Now take that plate out to the coffee table. I see Mikey and Alicia pulling up.” Frank leans in to kiss the side of her head and takes the plate into the other room.

Lindsey steals one last olive before the plate disappears, then holds out her hand to Gerard. “Let me see what you’ve got, babe.”

“You don’t want to watch the game?” he asks.

“You’ve got like half an hour anyway ‘til kickoff,” Jamia says, tugging at Gerard until he steps out of her way, so she can grab a bag of pretzels. “Not too much blood, okay? The neighbors get nervous.” She pats his shoulder and goes to answer the doorbell.

Gerard starts working on the door right away. He sketches in a dungeon scene around the outsides of the panes, then adds in two figures. It's Frankenstein's monster and the Bride, but Gerard makes sure to paint them to resemble Frank and Jamia. He surrounds their feet with vampire dogs.

Frank and Jamia are crazy about it which makes Gerard blush a bit. Lindsey thinks it's great and demands they paint their windows. Gerard does this shit for a living, but still the people he loves liking the silly stuff he does makes him happier than anything else.

It's a fun afternoon watching the game and hanging out together; there are many foods eaten and many pseudo-arguments about football that Gerard just laughs at.

Sundays might be his favorite time because he gets everyone. His brother and Alicia, Frank and Jamia, Lindsey. He is the happiest. He doesn't want to leave, but he likes the goodbye hugs a lot.

It's not late when they get home, and Gerard heads straight for his studio corner, looking through his supplies for paint they can use on the windows. Lindsey comes up behind him and puts her hands on his sides under his shirt. He stands up straight and turns around, slides his hands around her back, and leans in to kiss her.

Lindsey moves her hands further up his sides until his shirt is riding up so far that she just laughs into the kiss and pulls it over his head. "God, so inconvenient. Stop wearing clothes."

He grins and bends her back to kiss her, and she clutches his shoulders and giggles. He whispers in her ear, "I love you."

"I love you back," she murmurs, kissing his neck softly, then sucking on the same spot. He moans, tipping his head to the side to give her more room. "Yeah, I know you like that," she smiles. "What are you in the mood for tonight, Gee?"

"Fuck, I don't know. Want you. Your mouth," Gerard runs a hand down her arm, over her ass, down the front of her pants to rub at her clit through her jeans, "Everything."

"Really everything?" She's fussing with the button of his jeans and looks up when he stills.

"What are you thinking of?" he asks.

"Getting my fingers on you... in you," she murmurs.

"Fuck," Gerard says and grabs her hips, pulling her closer. "Yes. Want that." He kisses her, hands sneaking down her pants to grab her ass and get her even closer.

"Bedroom," she tells him. "Now."

The hall isn't even that long, but they have to stop. Lindsey gets him up against the wall and kisses the hell out of him, hands moving all over his torso. He reaches out and pulls her shirt off, leans forward to lick along her breasts where the cups of her bra stop, then reaches around her to take it off. She grabs his hair and tugs lightly, turning and going into the bedroom.

When he joins her, Lindsey's got her shoes off and her pants and underwear down her thighs. Gerard comes up behind her before she can finish and wraps one arm around her waist, slips his other hand down to finger her until she moans, then pulls back, pushing her pants down the rest of the way until she steps out of them. Once she's free of them, she turns to take care of his jeans and shoes.

She gets his pants undone and pulls them down, palm running over Gerard's cock, her thumb running over the slit, before pulling off his shoes and pushing his pants all the way down his legs. She pushes him back onto the bed and crawls up beside him, grabbing his hand and directing his fingers to her clit and inside her. She's totally wet, completely turned on, and it only arouses him even more that he's helped make her like this. He loves how she feels under his fingers, all slick and soft. She doesn't let him keep it up for long, though, doesn't let him even try to make her come before she's moving, reaching to grab the lube from the bedside table and kissing her way down his torso. She wraps her lips around the head of his cock, and he groans.

Lindsey keeps teasing him with her lips and the tip of her tongue, and he's so hard already. It's sort of unbearable but also amazing. She runs her hands up and down his thighs, urging his legs apart, and he's practically quivering when she pulls off his dick and pops the cap on the lube. She pours some over her fingers and traces down and around his opening, and he moans fucking loud as soon as she touches him.

It has definitely been a while since he's had this, and he forgot how great it felt. It's like all his nerve endings are on fucking fire. She moves her fingers over him, pressing lightly but not pushing in, until he's so fucking desperate. "Please, Lindsey." She smiles up at him, takes the head of his cock in her mouth, and pushes one of her fingers inside.

His hips jerk - he can't even help it. He tries to stay still, but he just can't. She pulls off again, licking up and down his shaft as she moves her finger, crooks it to find his prostate, and while he's still cursing and thrashing from that, she pushes in a second finger.

"Fuck." He can barely think. All he can do is feel. Her mouth, her fingers, the way she's moving both. She licks up his cock with just the tip of her tongue, works the slit for a few seconds, then sucks him down. He bucks again. It's too much, but she's ready and moves with him and then presses a third finger inside. "Linds!" he gasps.

Her fingers are strong, and she's fucking good at this - where did she learn to be so good at this? Hell, he doesn't care; he's just glad he can feel it now. She pulls off his dick and says, "God, Gerard, you fucking love this." He just moans. "Fuck," she says, "You're gorgeous."

"You gotta stop," he pants, "I don't want - but I want to - wanna fuck you, Linds, please."

"Yeah," she breathes. "Yes. Fuck, I -" She pauses for a moment, and he hangs in the balance, her fingers deep inside, her breath feathering over the head of his cock, every muscle in his body taut. Then she pulls her fingers out, and he scrabbles for her wrist and drags her straight up his body. He crushes their mouths together, licking into her mouth messily and running a hand from her ass to her hair and back down. Lindsey pushes herself up and settles astride his body, lining up and sinking down on his cock with a whine. She's so wet and hot and feels so amazing; he's shocked he doesn't come right there.

"Don't," he gasps. "Don't move for a second. Gotta…" She tries to smirk down at him, he can tell, but all she manages to do is bite her lip. She looks incredible, her ink standing out against her flushed skin, her tits rising and falling with every breath she takes. Gerard can only clutch the sheets for a minute until he calms down enough that moving to touch her won't send him right over the edge. Finally he reaches up to cup her tits, runs his hands over her nipples, pulls her down, so he can take one in his mouth.

With the other hand he reaches down to rub her clit, and then he starts moving his hips. She moves with him, rolling her hips, grinding down against his fingers.

“Gerard, Gee, Gerard,” she chants into his ear. “Fuck. You feel...” she trails off, panting for air into his ear. She lifts up, pulling her tit from his lips. She cups and squeezes her own breast with one hand while her other reaches down to join his on her clit. Within moments he feels her start clenching around him, sees her throw back her head. He fucks her through it, and when she collapses onto his chest, he wraps his arms around her and rolls her over. Lindsey hisses when he slips out but moans appreciatively and wraps her legs tightly around his waist when he thrusts back in, pressing her into the mattress, her chest flush against his.

Gerard’s almost there. He can feel the phantom of her fingers in his ass, and it only takes a few more thrusts, her muscles still spasming around him, to come hard inside her. He lifts up a bit but doesn’t pull out; he knows she likes it when he stays inside her as long as possible. He starts rubbing her clit again in slow, steady circles. She sighs, her eyes fluttering closed.

“Can you come again for me?” he asks quietly.

“Yes,” she hisses. He speeds up his strokes, adds a little more pressure, and within moments, she’s coming again. It’s almost too much around his sensitive cock, but he waits until she’s done to pull out, flopping on the mattress next to her. She rolls over, throwing her leg over his. He wraps his arms around her and holds.

“Fuck,” Gerard says after a few minutes. “That was amazing.”

“Fuck yeah, it was,” Lindsey agrees. “So, you liked my fingers in your ass.”

“Shit, Linds. That was. It was incredible,” he breathes.

“Good to know.” She nuzzles her face against his shoulder. “Still pretty early. We could start painting the window.”

“Yeah,” he says, kissing her temple. “In a few minutes.”

****

It's just a few days until Halloween and Frank's birthday, and Jamia still doesn't have a costume. Which is generally not like her at all, but she feels like she's been ridiculously busy lately. Her first free night - and she's actually free, Frank went out with Hambone, and it's just Jamia and a rather generously filled glass of wine - she flops on the couch with her laptop to look through some photo galleries for ideas. She downs at least half her glass rolling her eyes over all the "sexy" costumes. It's not even that she objects to sexy costumes. It's just so many of them are so stupid.

It turns out that a lot of the costumes for rent or purchase, stupid-sexy or not, involve corsets. "As if that's even comfortable," she tells her computer, then remembers shopping with Lindsey. She bites her lip and types "red leather corset" in a fresh search window. And wow, there are a lot of red leather corsets available to buy and a lot of pictures of women wearing them.

She clicks through to a few. Some of the photos are kind of boring, but one of a woman with dark hair and bright red lipstick catches her eye. She clicks through for the full-size and takes a big swallow of wine as she studies the photo. It looks enough like Lindsey that Jamia can verify that yes, Lindsey would definitely look good in a red corset.

Good is possibly an understatement. She closes her eyes and imagines Lindsey in that corset. Imagines how the red leather would look against her skin, imagines her breasts pushed up and curving over the top edge, looking like it's just barely holding her in. Jamia bites her lip and takes another swig of her wine. Fantasizing about friends is probably - fuck, she's just going to look at something else. Something nice and distracting.

She mouses over to the directory and hovers over a folder, then clicks. Frank thinks it's funny that he and Jamia have the same taste in porn, but Jamia knows there's a good video that she downloaded ages ago that will...well, hit the spot. She bypasses the folder with the guys and goes for the one with girls. She double-clicks on the video she has in mind, adjusts the volume to the right level, and leans forward to put her laptop on the coffee table. She takes a long sip of wine and sits back to watch.

Her head feels pleasantly swimmy, and she's comfortable, and she can feel her body start responding almost immediately. She's really glad she's in sweats and a t-shirt. As the girls on the screen kiss and touch each other, she reaches up her shirt with one hand and rolls her nipple between her thumb and forefinger. She squeezes her legs together a couple of times and then slides her other hand down her pants.

The brunette onscreen is wearing a corset, a black one, and as her partner dips a hand down and lifts a breast free of the fabric, Jamia kneads her own breast and slips her fingers between her folds. She slides them around her clit and back to get them nice and wet before coming back and rubbing slow circles over her clit as she watches the girl onscreen get pushed down onto the bed and her tit sucked. They're both beautiful and clearly enjoying themselves, thighs intertwined and rubbing together while the brunette gets her tits ministered to.

Jamia squeezes her thighs around her hand, thrusting up a little into her own fingers and letting her head fall against the back of the couch. One of the girls onscreen moans. She bites her lip and squeezes her breast, runs over her nipple with her thumb. Onscreen, the corseted girl flips her partner over and kisses her, breasts hanging down, perfect for cupping. Jamia nearly sighs with relief when the other girl on camera does so. She pushes her fingers back and fucks into herself a few times.

If Frank were here, he'd slip in behind her and let her ride him, fingering her as he murmured in her ear about what they saw onscreen. If she'd been more prepared, she'd be doing this upstairs with her toy box within reach, but her fingers feel good. A few strokes of her thumb against her clit have things sparking nicely as the brunette onscreen bends down and buries her face between her partner's thighs, ass round and white and perfect, her own cunt glistening slightly with moisture.

She really does look more than a little like Lindsey, and with her face hidden, it's easy enough to imagine...fuck. She can't stop now, can't stop thinking about Lindsey between her legs, sucking her clit with her pretty, red lips. It's been since before she met Frank that she was with a woman, and suddenly she's craving it more than ever.

One of the girls onscreen has started moaning, and Jamia wants to join her. She bites her lip instead, rubbing harder and tilting her head to see the screen. The brunette is sucking hard, fucking her partner with her fingers until she shudders and shouts. Then her partner pulls her up her body, and they're kissing again.

Jamia wonders what she tastes like. She whimpers, rubbing faster, fucking up into her own hand. The girls onscreen stop kissing, the corseted brunette grabbing the headboard and lowering herself over her partner's face. She throws her head back and tweaks her nipples as her partner eats her out. Jamia moans for the first time, thrusting into herself with two fingers. She keeps thrusting as she watches the brunette get eaten out. Her mouth waters. Fuck, she wants to taste pussy again.

She pulls her fingers out and goes back to her clit. She forces herself to keep her strokes slow but still firm. She feels her orgasm start building. The brunette is loud, too. "More, please, suck me harder," she moans. Jamia whimpers again, pushing back into the cushions, arching her back and coming hard, thrusting her fingers back inside to feel the wetness, listening with eyes closed as the woman onscreen begs and moans her way to an orgasm, too. She's trembling a little bit and fuck, so wet. She really wishes she had a toy or Frank here to take advantage of it, but she's way too lazy to get up to make the first happen, and Frank probably won't be home for hours.

She drifts off for a few minutes like that, hand still down her sweats. The video's still playing when she wakes up, and she closes the window and the laptop with her clean hand, snagging the nearly empty wineglass and weaving into the kitchen. Jamia drains the last sip and sets the glass in the sink, washing her hands and walking back to the living room. Her cunt feels slick and swollen, sensitive. The slide of her lips against her clit as she walks is almost too much, and she's glad to sit down again.

Jamia picks up a book and starts reading. Maybe she'll still be awake when Frank gets home. Frank will probably tease her if he sees the folder open on the laptop. Jamia isn't sure how she would answer the inevitable question. It's just fantasies anyway, she tells herself. Considering the folder of gay porn right next to the girls that Frank definitely makes use of, she's allowed fantasies. No, he wouldn't care, but he might ask what brought it on. "Hot girls in corsets" is an easier answer than "a totally not risqué conversation with your best friend's girlfriend" but...

Fuck, it doesn't matter. She's just going to bed. She can read there. She goes upstairs and ends up falling asleep with her book on her chest. She only wakes up when Frank comes home and crawls into bed with her.

"You're cold," she mumbles.

"You're warm," he whispers and cuddles in close.

"I missed you," she says into the top of his head.

"Yeah? I missed you, too. Heckling Hambone is way more fun with you there," he says.

"Lots of things are more fun with you here," she says, encouraging his hand which has started exploring her waistband. She feels him grin into her neck.

"Did you do things without me anyway?"

"Some," she says, tipping her head, so he can kiss her neck. He obliges, sucking lightly at the spot behind her ear and mouthing his way down her throat.

"What kind of fun?"

"Got myself off with my fingers on the couch. Kept thinking about how it was a shame you weren't there to take advantage of how wet I got," she whispers as he pulls down the neck of her t-shirt and sucks on her collarbone.

"Mm, tell me more," he says, hands sneaking under her shirt.

She waits until his hand is cupping her breast, until he's working her nipple gently between his thumb and forefinger. "Rubbed myself nice and slow, fucked myself with my fingers. Right there on the couch. Hoped you'd walk in. After I was so slick and sensitive, even just walking was fuckin'..." she trails off when he pinches her nipple a little harder.

"You like it when I fuck you when you're like that," he murmurs and shoves her t-shirt up, so he can get his mouth on her tits.

"Because you do it so slow and gentle. Fuck me exactly right."

"What were you watching?" he asks lazily, swirling his tongue around one nipple. "I saw the laptop was out." She takes a breath.

"I was looking at Halloween costumes. There were all these corsets and tits, and I just..." she trails off.

"Mm, pretty ladies in lingerie. Soft skin all hidden away under that sexy wrapping. I'm a fan." He cups both her breasts in his hands, squeezing and mouthing down her stomach, hair tickling her skin. She whimpers softly. He shoves her sweats down her legs, then nudges her knees apart and settles between them. He immediately fucks into her with two fingers and just rests them there without moving them. "I know what video you went for. Did you think about eating pussy? About the taste and feel? Getting your face wet?" he asks.

"Yes," she moans. He removes his fingers and reaches forward, slides them into her mouth as he leans in to lick over her clit. She sucks obediently and god, the taste.

"You taste so good." He licks again. "Bet you're still sensitive. I want my face wet, too. You want more?"

"Please, Frankie," she moans around his fingers and swirls her tongue around and between them. He licks all around her folds, fucks into her with his tongue before moving up to start sucking on her clit. She's moaning almost immediately, shifting her hips and grabbing on to his hair. He backs off, goes back to gentle licks, pulls his wet fingers back to rub her clit instead.

He keeps his strokes slow and steady, just how he knows she likes. Her hips jerk up against his fingers, and he chuckles against her skin. "Want me so bad, don't you?"

"Frankie," she begs. He nuzzles her, licks up over her lips, down to just barely tease the hood of her clit and back down. He teases her inner lips and finally goes back to her clit. He starts slow again, tongue flat and firm, licking her over and over. "Please," she moans. Frank pulls back and pushes his sweats down, kneels between her legs, leaning to kiss her slow and dirty - and he does taste like her - before lining up his cock and pushing in. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," she chants. He feels so fucking good. She hooks her ankles around his thighs as urges him deeper. "Need you," she mumbles against his lips.

"You've got me," he whispers back and starts thrusting. He pulls out nearly all the way and pushes back in slowly until he's buried fully inside her and then does it again and again. She can feel herself start to come almost immediately, the feeling tightening inside her, a long slow orgasm that ramps up and suddenly shatters, leaving her gasping and clutching his shoulders. "Fuck, J," Frank gasps into her mouth.

"Don't stop," she moans. "Keep going. Wanna feel you." He takes a deep breath and nods, keeps fucking her slow and gentle, each stroke putting pressure on her swollen clit. He leans down and takes one of her nipples in his mouth, and she laces her fingers through the hair on the back of his head. "I love you," she murmurs. "Baby, I love you so much."

He groans against her breast and speeds up. He keeps his thrusts steady, keeps pulling out nearly all the way, but now he's pounding back in fast and hard.

"Feel so good," she gasps, and he lets his teeth drag over her nipple and moves his mouth to the other. "Come, baby," she gasps. "Wanna feel it." He thrusts into her one more time and comes hot and hard inside of her. She clenches around him, and he moans loud against her breast. Fuck, she loves that feeling. "You're so gorgeous," she tells him, sweeping her fingers up and down his back. She can barely breathe, and her entire body is throbbing. This is what she needed.

He mouths at her breast, kisses up her chest, her throat, to her mouth. They kiss until he goes completely soft inside her and pulls out. "I wish I could give you everything you want," he tells her, curling up at her side, fingers still caressing her breasts.

"You give me everything I need," she answers. "And -"

"Ditto," he tells her. Her eyes are suddenly burning, and she blinks rapidly at the mostly dark ceiling. Sometimes she worries. She squeezes her arms around Frank and kisses his forehead. They'll need to clean up, but right now she needs to keep holding onto him.

*

Gerard knocks on the door at eleven fifty-six the day of Frank's party to help Jamia decorate Frank's birthday cake. She discovered a couple of years ago that Gerard is very skilled at gum paste sculpting. She lets him in the door and takes his coat, then shoos a couple dogs out of the way to hug him. He kisses her on the cheek. "Hi, beautiful. Smells good in here already."

"Hi, gorgeous," she says with a grin and a squeeze around the waist. "The cake is still cooling. Do you want lunch? We have stuff for sandwiches."

"How about I make you a sandwich, J? Go sit, tell me more about tonight."

"If you insist," she replies and hops up on a barstool. He moves around the kitchen like he lives there. Which, he's been in their kitchen since the very first day they were in the house. He belongs. To them, in this house. He moves like he knows it, too, humming and slicing a baguette, stacking it high with cheese and tomato and avocado. Shuffling her recipe cards aside to set a plate in front of her with a napkin tucked under the rim. She smiles at him. "Thanks, Gee." He beams at her and starts on his own sandwich.

"So, tonight?" he asks.

"Tonight is just bowling and cake and pizza and beer and costumes," she replies. "That's about as simple as it gets, but that's what he wanted."

"And Eddie's keeping him out of our hair this afternoon?"

"Took his costume to work and everything."

"Perfect. So the cake can be a surprise," he says excitedly.

"Yes, it can," she replies.

"What're we gonna do this year, J?"

"I was thinking a cemetery. Can you handle some gravestones, maybe gates?"

"I can definitely do that. Maybe some ghosts? A zombie or two. I would do a Dracula, but I think I'd get too caught up on the details of the outfit," he says sheepishly.

She laughs. "Well, at least you know this about yourself."

Jamia finishes eating, cleans the counter, and then gets out the fondant and gum paste supplies. She turns back to the cooling racks where she has the cake layers and checks their temperature.

She feels a hand on her waist and a chin on her shoulder. "Sure we need to decorate it? I sort of just want to dig in."

She laughs and tips her temple against Gerard's head. "Me, too. There will be scraps you can eat. We have to level these layers." Jamia grabs the big serrated knife from the block and starts sawing off the top of one of the layers. She holds the first scrap up to Gerard. He snags it out of her fingers.

"Mm, that's good. Spice?"

She nods. "His favorite. Okay, you roll out the base layer of fondant, and I'll get the filling and layers all ready."

They work next to each other quietly until Jamia is ready for the second layer. Gerard helps her lift it carefully onto the first one. They put everything together, and when they step back, Jamia bursts out laughing until she has to lean against his shoulder. "God, this is like surgery. We need some music or something." He chuckles and wraps an arm around her.

"Music would be good. It gets more fun from here anyway."

"You just like making fondant bend to your will," she says.

"I do," he replies seriously. "Way more satisfying than most other forms of sculpture."

"So to speak," she says, and he groans.

"Go pick some music," he tells her.

She wanders over to the iPod dock and picks one of Frank's playlists. He doesn't label it that way, but she knows it's one of several he made with Gerard in mind. It's a good one, though. The rest of the cake is mostly Gerard, so she sits on a barstool and waits for him to give her little prep tasks.

He starts mixing colors and sculpting, handing her tiny tombstones and a toothpick to do the inscriptions. She tries to make one detailed but fails utterly. Gerard laughs and smoothes it out, and she takes it back and just writes RIP and a name on them.

"Jamia," he says thoughtfully as he shapes a ghost, "Do you have any cheesecloth? When these dry we can drape them to make them flowy."

"Wow, Gee," Jamia says.

"I know, I'm a genius."

"Sort of," she agrees.

The little fondant graveyard starts to come together after a while. It isn't until he gets the idea to make limbs to stick under the tombstones that Jamia actually declares her undying love. He beams at her.

"I love you, too, J." She grins back and hands him an arm she added food coloring blood to. "Frankie is going to flip," he says.

"Yes, yes he is. Thank you, Gee," she says.

"Not a problem at all. Ever," Gerard replies. "It's nice to work on something together," he adds.

"It really is," she replies. "We should do stuff like this more often. I mean, not cake decorating. Though, if we decided to open a bakery together, I bet it'd be awesome. "

"Skeleton Crew bakery division?" Gerard asks.

"If the art thing doesn't work out for you, I'm game," she replies. "We could be the next Ace of Cakes. I bet we'd be fun to watch on TV, too."

"You would," he says, patting her cheek. "Oops, I got icing on you." He runs his thumb over her cheek gently until, apparently, the frosting is gone. She has to stop herself from biting her lip.

"Thanks," she murmurs. Gerard picked a really fucking inconvenient time to become sexy. Except it's a possibility he was all along, and she just wasn't paying attention. She's not sure where this is coming from. But god, he's fucking gorgeous. Maybe it's because he's happy. He practically glows these days. "Okay," she says, "If you are finished messing me up and vice versa, we need to let these pieces dry in the oven for a while and then dress the cake."

"Movie?" he suggests. "Or do you need my help with something else?"

"Movie would be good. Everything else is ready to go. I even have a pretty good costume ready, and I didn't have one two days ago," she says.

"Do I get to know what it is, or is it a big surprise?"

"It goes with Frank's," she says. "It's more effective if you see us together, I think."

Gerard sighs. "I can wait, I guess."

"What about you? Do I get a hint at least?"

He grins. "Mine goes with Lindsey's. It's gonna be awesome."

She sighs dramatically. "Well, that was no information. Go pick a movie." She cleans up a bit before joining him on the couch. "Of course, you picked Labyrinth."

"David Bowie's junk," Gerard replies.

"That is always everyone's answer. We are an entire generation thrown into sexual maturity by Bowie."

"I think he's probably really fuckin' amused," Gerard answers. "Mission accomplished, you know?"

She laughs. "Probably. Jennifer Connelly is really hot now, though. I mean, she's pretty here, but in the way where I feel guilty for thinking so since she's like, sixteen." Gerard just nods.

The movie starts. Jamia puts her stocking feet over Gerard's lap and reaches for her glass of iced tea. They watch in silence for a while, then Gerard says, "Is it wrong that I was always sort of sad they didn't end up together?"

"If it's wrong, then we're both wrong. Maybe in ten years she comes back, and they work shit out," she replies.

"Everybody's stupid when they're young," Gerard agrees, rubbing circles into her ankle bone with his thumb.

"So true. Frankie and I got lucky," she says.

"And you were a little older than sixteen," Gerard points out.

"Not much. And sometimes I -" yeah, no, she can't actually go there. "Sometimes I wonder about his mental age," she finishes and winks. He laughs.

"Some days, yeah. Other days he is an old fucking man." It's true. They fall silent again until the ball scene when Gerard says feelingly, "No. Really. I would totally."

"Wouldn't everyone?" she asks.

"Well, boring people wouldn't," Gerard says. "Something we are not."

"Not at all. Boring people would not be potentially awesome on their own cake decorating show. Which, speaking of, I think we're ready to finish up."

"No more Labyrinth?" Gerard pouts.

"We can finish it after. I don't want the figurines to get so dry they crack," she says.

"Depends on the proportion of gum paste," Gerard says, and she smacks him.

"Go." She pauses the movie and follows him into kitchen. They pull everything out of the oven and set it cooling. Gerard nearly drops one of the pans and swears as he twirls around in what's practically a ballet move. Jamia just stands back and cringes. "Gee, honey, I think you just gave me gray hair."

"I think I burned off my fingerprints," he complains, and Jamia takes his wrist and tugs him over to the sink to run them under cold water.

"You okay?" she murmurs. "I have some burn cream in the first aid kit."

He leans in and kisses her softly on the cheek. "I think I'm probably okay."

"Well then." She lifts his hand and kisses his fingertips gently. "All better."

"Feels one hundred percent better already," he murmurs.

"Good," she says. "Let's finish the movie while these cool."

She loves the end of this movie, especially with Gerard's asides about Escher, but she's getting excited about the cake. Really fucking excited. Frank is going to love it so fucking much. She catches Gerard running his thumb over the tips of his fingers and looking at them. "Are you sure you don't need burn cream?"

"Just considering a life of crime. Come on, let's decorate."

They study the trays and point and murmur. Gerard has it mostly planned out in his head, so it's mainly just securing everything in place. When they finish, she stands back and fucking gapes. She knew it'd be awesome, but this seriously looks amazing. Professional levels of amazing. "Call Food Network," Gerard says in her ear, arm draping companionably around her waist. She leans back against him and squeezes his wrist.

"Fuck, Gee. We are really damn good. I mean, mostly you, but. Damn."

"Let's get it in the box," Gerard says. They work together to slide the platter into the box Jamia has ready, then close it up and look at each other.

Jamia wipes her forehead and checks the clock. "Think I have time for a nap before I have to get ready?"

"If you make it like, a disco nap, maybe? If I have to go home, by the time I get there, I don't think I'll have time." He makes an exaggerated sad face.

"You can stay here, babe."

"I do have my costume in the car," he says. "I could? Lindsey's meeting me there, so she's not expecting me."

"My couch is your couch. Or the guest bed. Whichever you want. We'll end up seeing each other's costumes."

"S'not a wedding," Gerard yawns. "Plus I have terrible visions of you trying to move that cake by yourself."

"Yes, I'd be the one dropping it, Mister Can't-even-keep-his-hands-on-a-hot-baking-sheet," she says.

He pouts. "I'm injured; that's not cool."

"Pick a dog and a bed, Gee."

He laughs and squeezes her shoulder. Sinatra trails him through the living room, and Jamia follows them as they head for the stairs. He'd cuddle really well, she thinks as she watches his ass go up the steps.

"Sleep well, Gee," she says as he goes into the guest room.

Jamia wakes up forty-five minutes later when her alarm goes off. Miraculously, she's not feeling overly groggy. She jumps into the shower, figuring that will help her perk up the rest of the way.

After she's out, she shrugs on a robe and goes to knock on the guest room door. Gerard has left it ajar, and he's fast asleep. She sits down on the edge of the bed and shakes his shoulder gently. "Gee, time to wake up." He grumbles, and she gives in to the urge to brush his hair out of his face. "Party, Gee. Cake. Costumes."

"Frankie, right," he mumbles into the pillow and pushes himself up on his elbows; she lets her hand rest on the center of his back.

"I'm not leaving until you sit up, babe," she tells him. He obeys with a grumble, and she rubs his back obligingly for a minute. "There's still coffee in the pot. It's probably lukewarm at this point, so you can make more or heat it up. Or you can get a Coke, whatever you want," she tells him.

He yawns over a "kay" and leans against her.

"You're bad at naps," she comments. "Luckily, you're cute."

Gerard laughs against her neck. "I'm getting up. I'll bring you coffee."

Jamia waits until he's vertical and headed downstairs to go back to her own room and her costume pieces. She's pulls her boots out of the closet and lays out her mini and fishnets. She hangs her hooded cape on a hook and makes sure she's got her basket of candy ready to go. Red fishnets because why not. Denim mini. White blouse, demure except for the black bra underneath. Black Docs. Armful of bracelets. Her costume doesn't make much sense without Frank's. At least she has the cloak. It's dark red with a deep hood and reassuringly warm. She does some heavy makeup, slicks her hair back, and calls herself done.

Gerard knocks on the door, and she opens it and strikes a pose. "How do I look?" Gerard looks her over very seriously, then flashes metal horns.

"Rad. I think I can guess Frankie's costume now." He hands her coffee. He's not dressed yet, but he's holding a bag over his shoulder. "I might need some help," he says. “There are a couple of buckles in weird places."

"I think I can help you with that," she replies with a grin. She sits on her bed and sips the coffee and waits. There are intriguing rustling noises and amusing curse words coming from the spare bedroom. Finally he calls her name. When she gets to the door, she sees - "Well. Hello, Sir Gerard," she grins. He beams.

"I wish I could be a knight for real. That'd be fucking badass."

"Well, you look great," she tells him. "What needs to be done?"

"There's a buckle on my back, and I can't quite get the ones on the gauntlets," Gerard says and holds out his arms.

"Okay. I can handle that." Jamia gets the rest of his buckles done and then steps back to inspect him. "Very nice, you clean up well."

"Cake time?" he asks.

"Let's do it," she replies. They go downstairs and carry the cake very carefully to Jamia's car. They manage to fit it on the floor behind the driver's seat.

"I still wouldn't take any sharp turns, but I think that will be pretty secure," Gerard says.

"Maybe I should follow you. You drive like my grandmother."

"Oh, fuck you," he says.

"You wish," she shoots back and holds the door for him, so they can go gather their accessories. He waggles his eyebrows at her comically. She rolls her eyes at him, and they gather up all their stuff. "Have everything?" she asks when Gerard meets her back in the living room. "Not that it matters that much since you're over here all the time anyway." He nods. "Okay, lead on," she says.

The bowling alley isn't far, just a few miles, but Jamia swears she can feel more gray hairs grow while she drives there. "Maybe we should rethink this Ace of Cakes shit," she mumbles to herself. When she pulls in, a few people's cars are already there - Alicia, Hambone, Ray and Christa, Frank's dad. Gerard parks next to her and scurries around the car to help her lift the cake out.

"Maybe not so much with the bakery. The delivery part is killer," Gerard breathes as they walk toward the bowling alley doors.

"Yeah, I was muttering that the entire way here." Someone opens the door, and they head straight for the bar where the food will be.

Alicia, Ray, and Christa immediately come over. "I am so excited about this fucking cake," Alicia says. Jamia and Gerard share a grin and work on unboxing it. Alicia whistles. "Damn."

"It's amazing," Christa gushes. "The best I can do is wobbly piped lettering."

"Also, you two in your costumes!" Alicia says and flaps a hand. "I'm guessing there are missing pieces?" Alicia is wearing an orange jumpsuit. She's either a convict or missing parts as well.

"Portal?" Jamia guesses and gets a smile. Mikey appears from out of nowhere at Gerard's elbow wearing a costume similar to Alicia's and oohs and ahhs over the cake.

Jamia goes to talk to the manager, and they get the music going. The manager promises to dim the lights and turn on the blacklights as soon as the food is set up. Now Jamia is practically bouncing, waiting for Eddie to bring Frank. Gerard looks pretty eager, too, though that could just be him waiting for Lindsey to get there.

When she does arrive, Jamia nearly swallows her tongue. She's clearly a lady to match Gerard's knight. And wearing a corseted dress. This is punishment for Jamia's indulgence the other night, she's sure. "I need a beer," she announces to no one in particular.

"Luckily," Ray says, "You're standing at the bar."

She smiles at him. "True." She orders, and when she turns, beer in hand, Lindsey is right there.

"Hi," Lindsey says.

"Hey," Jamia says and leans in to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Oh, shit," she says when stretching up on her toes makes her beer tilt precariously. Lindsey catches her wrist before she can spill it.

"Careful, honey," she grins.

"You look great, Linds," Jamia says. "Or should I say Lady Ballato?"

"I don't think he's made an honest woman of me," she answers, eyes sparkling with humor.

"You're a lady on your own merits," Jamia assures her.

"I think I need to see Frank before I admire your costume fully," Lindsey tells her. "But there's plenty to admire already," Lindsey says. "You look hot, J."

Totally punishment. "Thanks!" she says.

Gerard joins them and says, "I saw Eddie pull up, J." Jamia grins. Awesome. It's not a surprise party, but she calls everyone over to the bar, so they can greet Frank properly.

He comes in the door looking fucking adorable in his wolf hat. He's even wearing his Banner hoodie, which is appropriate, and eye makeup which she wasn't expecting and damn. Fuck, but is her husband hot. He's grinning at all of them and comes straight over to Jamia to kiss her. He hugs everyone else after, thanks them for coming and the well-wishes. By chance or design, Jamia isn't certain, he gets to Gerard last.

"Gee," he says with a smile and a deliberate inspection. "Nice costume."

"You, too," Gerard says, touching a fuzzy ear. Frank puts his hands in the ear flaps and bares his teeth at Gerard. "Come look at the cake Red Riding Hood and I made you," Gerard says.

Frank grins and grabs Jamia around the waist. "I've been looking forward to this all day." His reaction is totally satisfying. "Holy fuck, you guys." He's beaming so hard Jamia's pretty sure he's actually emitting light. He leans close to study the cake closely. "I love you both so much," he murmurs.

"We love you more," Gerard says. Jamia nods.

"Yup, we do. Do you see what he did with the limbs? And the stained glass in the little mausoleum?"

"I see everything, baby," he says, tucking his face in her neck. He sounds all emotional like he always gets about things like this, and she wraps her arms around him and squeezes.

"It's almost a shame to eat it. I'm gonna have to take a bunch of pictures of it before we cut into it."

"Let me," he says, fumbling for his bag. "Is everyone here? I want costume pictures, too!"

"Almost. There are a few stragglers, including your mom, but they should all be here soon."

"You should pick your bowling team, so we can get lanes," Gerard says.

"You and the girls," Frank answers immediately.

"Don't think I'm going easy on you just because it's your birthday, Iero," Lindsey says, arms crossed over her chest.

Oh good. A sassy medieval princess and a knight with moon eyes for a punk wolf kid. This isn't going to be torture or anything. Jamia lets Gerard take care of the lane for them and bustles around ordering a few baskets of fries and making sure everyone has what they need. Unfortunately, that can only distract her so long. The black lights and the music are going, and Frank has finished taking pictures of the cake and is here, there, and everywhere taking pictures of costumes and talking to the guests. Jamia goes and joins him. It turns out he and Gerard are introducing Lindsey and Frank's dad.

Cheech is clearly charmed. "Nice to see our Gerard with a smile, and I can see why he's got it," Cheech says. Lindsey smiles.

"I do what I can. Though I think he was doing pretty okay with all of you as family and friends."

"And here's my best girl," Cheech says when he spots Jamia. She gets a big hug and a kiss.

"Hi, Cheech," she says and hugs back. "How've you been? Your drumming kids still little hellions?"

"Worse every year," he says. "There's always one who's talented enough to make up for what a pain in the ass he is." He nods meaningfully at Frank. She laughs.

"Well, that's good."

"We should get this bowling thing started. I gotta kick Lindsey's ass," Frank says.

"You wish," she replies. He raises a challenging eyebrow.

"We'll just see then, won't we?"

They walk toward their lane trash talking each other the whole way. Gerard grins at Jamia and rolls his eyes. "He'd stop if she ignored it," Jamia whispers. Gerard laughs.

"I think she's having way too much fun to do that," he whispers back.

They bowl. Jamia loses the cloak after about two turns. She's in danger of flashing the alley now, but oh well. She's done worse. They all have. Frank is perfectly happy, grinning away under his wolf hat. Gerard and Lindsey are - well - For one, they can't seem to keep their hands off each other. Jamia volunteers to keep score and instead of just looking up at the screen, Lindsey keeps leaning over Jamia to look at the screen on the console, and when Gerard's not groping his hot girlfriend or bowling, he's pretty much draped over Frank. Which is fine. Normal. For the most part. But it's... she can't even describe how it's affecting her tonight. Especially not when Lindsey's tits are pressing against her shoulder every few minutes. And then Frank pulls her up to dance with him when he gets a strike, and his hand low on her hip makes her suck in a breath.

He hears that because he gives her a look and murmurs, "Yeah?"

"Let's go cut the cake," she replies.

He grins. "I like cake."

"I know, babe," she replies and shoos everyone up the steps toward the bar. They sing and cut the cake and eat it, and everyone gets another drink before they go back down to the lanes.

Frank and Lindsey start in on each other again, and Gerard and Jamia just laugh. A few rounds in, Lindsey starts bowling one strike after the other. Even Frank can't muster up much to heckle her about.

"Turkey!" Jamia says when Lindsey gets her third in a row, pointing at the screen. Lindsey grins at the stupid 8-bit turkey cartoon and does a little dance.

She's fucking adorable. Jamia grins back at her. Everyone bowls their turn, and then it's Lindsey again. She takes her ball, stands in front of the lane, swings her arm, and it seems like the entire alley is holding their breath to see what the ball does. Jamia clamps her hand over Frank's mouth, just in case. Predictably, he licks her palm. It doesn't matter anyway because Lindsey racks up strike number four, and they all cheer.

The rest of them take their turns again. Frank gets a spare, Jamia manages to knock down eight pins, and Gerard gets a gutter ball that makes Frank offer to get the kiddy bumpers put up. He gets Gerard's middle finger for that.

Lindsey steps up for her next turn, and their entire team - even Frank - groans when she misses left and gets a three. She manages to bring it up to a ten with the second roll and shrugs helplessly when she steps off the wood. "You're still a winner," Gerard tells her because he's fucking cheesy. Then he tugs her close and kisses her. And kisses her. And kisses her until she actually has to pull back, breathing hard and looking dazed.

It's when she licks her lips that Jamia really squirms and tries not to think about them going back to their apartment and Gerard getting Lindsey out of that dress and… She shuts down that line of thought and looks at Frank.

Frank smiles at her and tugs her into his lap. "Hey," he says. "I'm having a really fucking good time."

"Good," she says. "That's what birthdays are for. Love you, babe." She leans in and kisses his cheek.

Guests who've already had enough of bowling are milling around in the bar area, drinking and chatting, and when their team finishes their last frame - Lindsey wins, of course - they join them.

"Rematch sometime?" Frank asks Lindsey.

"Of course," she replies with a grin. "I'll enjoying kicking your ass again."

He gets tugged off by his mom a few minutes later, and Jamia smiles at Gerard and Lindsey and Mikey and Alicia and slips off in the other direction.

Guests start disappearing gradually after that, each of them stopping to wish Frank a happy birthday again. Finally, it's only them and Gerard and Lindsey left. "I know you said no gifts," Gerard says, "But Lindsey and I made you something anyway." Lindsey produces a nicely wrapped present.

"Oh my god, you guys," Frank says and starts unwrapping it. He opens the box to find a small sculpture of himself as Frankenstein's monster. "Oh my god," Frank repeats breathlessly.

"It's adorable," Jamia says, peering over his shoulder. "It looks exactly like him."

"It looks like the painting on the window!" Frank adds.

"Which is why we made this, too," Gerard says and hands him another box.

He opens this box faster, a little less carefully. Jamia has a good idea of what it probably is, but it still makes her breath catch, makes her grin super fucking hard, to see the Bride of Frankenstein that looks like her revealed.

"What they don't tell you in the movie is that the gray hair really came from dealing with her husband," she jokes but smiles at Gerard and Lindsey in turn.

"It's amazing," Frank says, tracing the little carved and painted face. He sets it down with the other one and hugs them both.

"Seriously, thank you so much," Frank says when he pulls back. "You guys are fucking awesome. These are totally going on the mantel. Year 'round." Jamia hugs them both, too, then goes to pick up her basket and the leftover cake. They get their stuff loaded out in the cars and say goodbye before heading in opposite directions out of the parking lot.

They’re only about a mile from the bowling alley when Jamia abruptly turns down a residential street and parks in front of an empty lot. Frank hasn’t stopped touching her arm or her thigh since they got in the car. Each touch has been casual. He’s just been talking and using his hands like normal, but she can’t stand it. She’s been ready to go since the first time Lindsey leaned over her shoulder. Now Frank keeps touching her, and she just. She can’t take it anymore.

“J, did I... are you angry with me?” Frank sounds confused, and that really wasn't her intention, Jesus.

“Baby, no, I - I think frustrated is the best word to describe me right now,” she says and reaches over to tug at the button on his jeans.

“Oh,” Frank breathes and unbuttons and unzips. "I - happy birthday to me."

Jamia can't help laughing. She lifts her hips and slides her fishnets and underwear down and swears when she whacks her hand against the steering wheel. She gets them and her thankfully unlaced Docs off her feet, and then she’s climbing over the center console. Frank’s got his pants shoved down his thighs and his dick in his hand, eyes intent on her, a little smile tugging at his lips. She isn't super graceful about it, but she manages to get her left leg over him and sinks down on his dick with a sigh of pure fucking relief.

“Fuck, Jamia,” Frank gasps, hands on her hips. She rolls her hips and struggles to get the rest of her clothing out of the way to bare her tits, and Frank immediately does what she wants him to and puts his mouth on her, sucking on her nipples, licking, biting, squeezing with his hands.

“Been ready for fucking ever,” she tells him breathlessly and rolls her hips again, pushing her tits more into his face.

“Bowling turns you on?” he asks, half-moaning, half-laughing.

“Wanted you to bend me over the scoring console,” she says. With Gerard and Lindsey watching, but she doesn’t add that part.

“Shit,” Frank moans and thrusts up into her. Frank continues with her breasts, working them exactly how she likes. He moves one hand to go for her clit, and she stops him.

“No. Wanna. Want your hands on my tits. I’ll do it,” she insists and reaches down under her skirt and starts rubbing herself off, steady and hard.

She knows Frank loves it, too. Loves when her fingers slip back and brush his dick where it’s entering her. Knows he loves her holding him down and taking what she wants from him, and fuck, she really fucking wants this. She strokes herself harder and faster until her orgasm washes over her, making everything tingle. She throws her head back and moans, keeps touching herself, Frank’s mouth and hands still at her breasts.

Frank follows her a few moments later, his own sounds muffled by her tits. She finally moves her hand and wraps both arms around Frank’s neck and holds on. His hands slip off her breasts and back to her hips and she buries her face in his neck.

“Goddamn, J,” Frank murmurs into her ear.

“Couldn’t wait,” she murmurs back.

“I am totally fucking okay with that.” Frank squeezes her close. After a minute, she pulls her leg back over, and he slips out of her. She sighs and fumbles her way back to the driver’s seat, only knocking into the gear shift once. She pulls her shirt back down, watches Frank pull up his pants again, then pulls away from the curb. They should get home in ten minutes. Maybe she’ll make him eat her out when they get there.

****

Frank wakes up relatively early on November first. He's still not used to this - to waking up hangover-free on the day after his birthday. They're definitely getting old, jesus, but last night was great. Jamia made sure it was perfect. He peeks over her bare shoulder. She's still asleep, lashes dark against her cheeks, a smear of eyeliner still smudged around the corner of her eye, and so fucking beautiful.

He moves the hand already resting on her hip, lets his fingers trail up over her belly until he cups her breast. He lets his thumb brush gently over her nipple and kisses her neck. She wakes slowly, arching into his hand and murmuring encouragement before she's even fully awake.

"Jamia," he whispers into her neck, tracing circles around her nipple and tugging. She arches back against him a little harder, and he sucks in a breath as her ass presses against his hard-on. She'd surprised the shit out of him last night by climbing all over him in the car like that, and it had only gotten better when they got home. They have great sex the vast majority of the time, but that was pretty fucking special. Frank had made Jamia come in a variety of ways until he could get hard again, and then they'd fucked for a long time, bodies pressed together all the way down. Now her ass is doing amazing things to him, and she's making these gorgeous fucking noises.

"Frankie," she murmurs. "You feel good." She twists to kiss him, and that sends her hips even harder against his. This time he's pretty sure it's on purpose.

He rubs against her a few times and reaches down, slides his fingers over her clit, and back further. "Already wet for me," he murmurs against her lips.

"Mmm," she murmurs back and lifts her knee to give him better access. He positions himself and slides inside with a moan.

"I like it when I'm the big spoon," he whispers, sliding his other arm under her ribs, so he can cup her tits with both hands.

"You like it when I'm the big spoon, too," Jamia tells him.

"I really fucking do," he replies. He keeps his thrusts slow, pinches and kneads Jamia's tits exactly how she likes.

"Fuck, you could wake me up like this every morning for the rest of our lives," she murmurs.

"Should we start keeping track?" He feels a little sensitive between last night's activities and this session this morning, but fuck if it isn't a good feeling. She just moves her hips back against him and reaches back to cup his face and kiss him again. He speeds up a bit, thrusts a little harder. He knows she loves this position, so he wants to make it last.

Jamia has a bad angle on touching him much but lifts her hands to run through his hair, then covers one of his on her breast. They just move like that, bodies flush, hands and fingers everywhere they can reach. When Frank moves to reach down between her legs, Jamia stops him. "No. Want you to eat me out after you come. I know you love that taste," she adds in a whisper.

Frank groans. He really fucking does. He starts thrusting harder, squeezes her breasts tightly in his hands. It makes her moan loudly. He's not gonna last. "You're so tight, J, fuck," he tells her.

He sucks hard at the side of her neck. She clenches around him. "Feel so fucking good, Frankie." He speeds up his thrusts again, and she grinds back against him, holds his hand tight over her tit. "Come for me," she gasps. "Wanna feel it."

He’d almost be sad to obey if he didn't know what was next. He wants to make her come her brains out, so he buries his forehead against her shoulder and pumps his hips until he can't hold back anymore and spills inside her with a moan.

Jamia moans after him. "Fuck," she murmurs. "Your mouth, Frankie. Need it so bad." He pulls out and rolls her over onto her back, sliding down her belly. She spreads her legs wide, cups her tits, pinches her nipples, and watches him. He smiles at her and leans down to mouth at her inner thighs.

He swipes his tongue over her skin, licking up the creases of her thighs, into her cunt, a mix of come and sleep-sweat and her own musky taste and her skin so soft underneath. She moans loudly. He knows without looking that she's getting rough with her tits, squeezing and tugging. He spreads her wide and fucks into her with his tongue, tasting himself and her even stronger.

"Fuck," she gasps.

"Tell me," he mumbles against her cunt, shifting from tongue to fingers and fastening his lips over her clit.

"God, Frankie. Love your mouth. Love knowing you're tasting yourself," she gasps. "Want you to suck my tits a little after I come, just so I don't have to stop having your mouth on me."

He makes a noise of agreement against her skin, traces circles with his tongue. Fucks her with his fingers until she's pushing her hips up against him. He sucks hard on her clit, flutters his tongue against the hood.

"Oh god, Frankie," she moans.

He keeps sucking and curves his fingers to press into her, and she comes suddenly, moaning his name again. It's the sweetest fucking thing he can imagine. He keeps sucking lightly for a few moments then crawls up her body. He moves her fingers away from her tits, holds her wrists over her head, and sucks one of her nipples into his mouth.

"Baby," she breathes. He bites down lightly on her nipple and switches to the other. He's pretty sure he likes having his mouth on her almost as much as she does. She hums and wriggles against him slowly. He knows she's feeling good. He finishes with the second nipple and moves to her throat, then finally her lips.

"Love you, J," he murmurs against her lips.

"Love you, too, gorgeous," she replies, wraps her arms around his shoulders, and flips him over onto his back. She settles on top of him and starts kissing him again. Her mouth is soft and lazy, her fingers gently tangling in his hair. "Hope you didn't think sex meant we were getting up," she murmurs. He laughs.

"I'd rather stay here until round two."

"Good. Because round two is gonna be great," she says and smirks.

"You got plans for me, babe?" he asks.

"Big plans, always," she says. He smiles. He can deal with that.

*

Frank leaves Jamia upstairs dozing in their bed and goes down to feed the dogs and make coffee. He fixes his own cup and takes it into the living room, flipping through his most recent book for a while before reaching for his phone and calling Gerard.

Gerard picks up on the third ring. "Hey, Frankie," he says.

"Hey, Gee," Frank replies. "What're you up to today?"

"Back to the studio," Gerard replies. "I have so much to do before the gallery opening. Why did I agree to this? That was stupid."

"Because you want to get back into it? Because it's a great space and good karma or whatever the fuck with the gallery, and you have tons of work tucked away anyway?" Frank reminds him.

"Yeah," Gerard says. He doesn't sound convinced.

"We should hang out. If only to get you out of that studio, so you can think again," Frank says.

"I want to," Gerard replies. "But I don't know if I really should. There's so much to do."

"Please? For me?" Frank wheedles. Maybe it's not fair, but it's been a while since they've done anything just the two of them. Which is fine, really. He's been pretty happy to see Gerard at all. This Gerard, who is totally in love with his significant other but who Frank actually sees pretty often is new and different and great. Just…

"Okay, Frankie," Gerard replies. Frank grins.

"Good. I'll come pick you up in an hour or so?" When he gets off the phone, he goes back to the kitchen to pour another mug of coffee and carries it upstairs. He sets it on the coaster on Jamia's nightstand and sits next to her on the bed. "Baby, I'm going out," he whispers. "Don't forget you have to go to your brother's later."

"Mmmph," she replies and lifts her head. "Have fun," she mutters. "Love you."

"Love you, too," he replies and leans down to kiss her and then throws on some clean clothes and goes back downstairs. He should have plenty of time to stop at the music store for new strings and get coffee for Gerard.

Gerard is holding a travel mug when he opens the door to Frank's knock, but he makes a delighted noise at the sight of the Starbucks cup in Frank's hand. "Thank god, I was getting low."

"Linds here?" Frank asks.

"Sleeping," Gerard says with a smug look.

Frank smirks. "That's about how I left Jamia."

"So what're we doing, Frankie?" Gerard asks as he pulls the door closed and locks it behind him.

"I hadn't decided yet," Frank replies. "It's almost lunchtime, so we could go get food somewhere. Maybe the Tick Tock?"

"Perfect," Gerard nods. "You driving?"

"Sounds like you need to be along for the ride for a while," Frank says with a sideways look as they walk to his car. "Aren't you excited about this show at all?"

"I am. I'm just… stressed. I know I said I wanted to do things more personally creative, and I'm grateful for the opportunity, but wow, I definitely like having more lead-time for it," Gerard says as he slumps in the passenger seat.

"You always pull through," Frank says, squeezing his shoulder before he puts the car in reverse. He heads for the diner. "At least we had a good time last night, right?"

"We had a great time last night," Gerard says and grins over at Frank. "All birthday parties should have such epic amounts of fun."

"And thanks again for the cake and the sculptures. You're the fucking best, Gee," Frank says.

"Your wife made most of that happen," Gerard says. "You're a lucky bastard. She loves you a lot."

"She does. Pretty sure your girl is pretty gone on you, too, though. We're both lucky," Frank replies.

Frank parks at the Tick Tock, and they go inside and slide into one of the familiar sticky booths. Gerard orders pancakes like Frank knew he would, and Frank props a foot up on the seat next to Gerard's thigh and sips his coffee while Gerard doodles on the back of the placemat. It's nothing they haven't done a million times before, but that's why he loves it.

After a minute, Gerard's hand lands on his ankle, and he squeezes. He looks up at Frank and smiles. "Yeah, I needed this. Thanks, Frankie."

"Sometimes I just want to be with you for a while," Frank says. This isn't the first time he's said this to Gerard, and Gerard always says -

"You're my best friend, too, Frank," Gerard says. "Besides Mikey, but that's different."

"That's not why, Gee," Frank tells him. It's suddenly very important to him that Gerard not brush this off. Yesterday was his birthday, maybe he'll get away with it.

Gerard's hand squeezes his ankle again. "Frankie. I'm lucky for more than just Lindsey loving me," he says quietly.

"I wasn't sure," Frank says, like an idiot. "If you still - now that you're -"

Gerard frowns. "You should know me better than that. We said 'always,' Frankie. I meant that. It's… probably never going to be perfect or everything we want, but it is what it is. And it's ours." Just then, the waitress arrives with a tray and two big plates of food and sets them in front of them. Frank stares at the food and breathes deeply.

He remembers, suddenly, right after he and Jamia had gotten married, how quickly things had moved between Gerard and Eliza. How they'd been engaged for the blink of an eye and then suddenly - nothing. Gerard had never explained.

He starts eating his veggie burger, listening to Gerard as he talks about which paintings he's thinking about exhibiting, nodding in the right places. All Frank really hears is Gerard's calm voice: never going to be everything we want. And Frank wonders, maybe for the first time - what's actually stopping it?

The thing is, none of them have ever actually talked about it. Not together. Not… he's never even talked to Jamia about it. She knows, of course she knows, but he's never said the words, never asked for her thoughts. He's apologized, in a thousand different ways over the years, and the shitty thing that's just now occurred to him is that she never, ever asked him to. The thought that maybe they've let silence run the show for years takes the taste away from the food in Frank's mouth.

It's time to change that. Even if it never gets past him and Jamia. He swallows his bite of food and tries not to push the rest around his plate. Gerard nudges Frank's shin with his toes, and Frank looks up. "You okay, Frankie?"

"I'm fine," Frank says. "I was just thinking."

"Is that what the burning rubber smell was?" Gerard asks with a crooked smile. Frank flips him off.

"I'm done eating though." He checks his watch. "You need a ride to your studio?"

"If you don't mind," Gerard says. "I can just catch a ride home with Linds."

They pay and leave, and Frank drives Gerard to his studio and even walks him to the door. He wants to stop and talk to Lindsey for a minute. He's not sure why, but he doesn't want Gerard around.

Gerard catches him around the waist and hugs him tightly. "Happy birthday," he murmurs into Frank's hair. Frank squeezes back.

"Thanks, Gee. Love you," he whispers.

"Love you, too, Frankie," Gerard whispers back.

He goes downstairs when he finally lets go and knocks on Lindsey's studio door. It’s propped open, but he doesn't want to startle her. He pops his head in the door. "Oh, Frank! Hi," she says, swiveling around in her chair.

"Hey, Linds," he says.

"C'mon in! Or are you just saying hi?"

Frank steps in the door. "I can hang for a bit. What're you up to today? Gerard's up there getting back into his gallery stuff."

She sighs. "He's so nervous about that. I keep telling him he'll be fine because he will be, but -"

"He's just like that," Frank said. "He'll calm down. Eventually."

"Figured," Lindsey says. "I'm giving him some space. I'll go up and nag him to eat later."

"He ate pretty well at lunch, so you won't have to do it for a while," he says with a smile.

"Good. Being with you always helps him relax a bit. Simmer down," she says.

"He can be… a bit high-strung," Frank allows.

"It's nice," she says, smiling more sweetly than he'd have expected. "To know you're taking care of him, too."

He takes a breath, smiles back at her, and shrugs. "I… just always have."

"And I'm glad," she says. "So you like your presents?"

"A lot," he says. "I'm glad - well, this is going to sound stupid, but I'm glad you like me enough to spend that kind of time on me."

"Gerard has good taste in people," she replies.

"Yeah, now," Frank replies.

She grins. "And I'm glad you think so."

"I just - I know I'm an asshole."

"You're growing on me," she says.

Frank grins. "I'm glad. So what're you working on?"

Lindsey lets him shadow her around her studio for about twenty minutes before he figures he's interrupted for long enough. She's fun to watch - graceful in her ripped jeans and bare feet, and her art is amazingly intricate. It's strangely hard to leave. He finally pulls himself away with a kiss to her cheek and a promise to have her and Gerard over for dinner soon. "And you'll be at the opening, right?" she asks.

"Of course," he says. "Me and J. With bells on."

"Good. Then I'll definitely see you then," she replies. Then he's out the door and driving home. Jamia will probably be home and waiting for him to get back. There will be cleaning to do and dogs to take out. And maybe brownies and popcorn and movies after.

****

The day of Gerard's gallery opening, Lindsey gets a call from Jamia. "What's up?" she asks.

"Ugh," Jamia replies. "Frank is sick. Like, pretty high fever, snotting everywhere, completely miserable sick."

"Oh, fuck," Lindsey says.

"You're telling me. I basically told him there was no way he was going out tonight, and he - well, that wasn't a fun fight. But he just can't. He's worked through a lot of shit, but this is too much. He'd infect the whole place and probably pass out," she says. She sounds pretty miserable herself. "I'll still be there, but I know I'm not..."

"You're one of the most welcome faces I can imagine," Lindsey assures her.

"I really hate to ask, Linds, but - can you tell Gee for me? I just - can't right now."

"Sure, I can do that. Tell Frankie I say to get better soon. I'll save you some wine," Lindsey says.

"Please, dear god," Jamia replies. "Thanks, Linds," she murmurs.

"No problem. See you tonight." They hang up, and Lindsey takes a deep breath. Gerard's stomach is already in knots. This isn't going to help. She considers for a split second waiting until they're at the gallery, but that's not a good idea either. The problem is, as thankful as she is for how Frank - and Jamia, to be fair - take care of Gerard, no one ever fucking talks about why. And this is a situation where the why is just going to be in the way, yet again.

She squares her shoulders and goes back into the bedroom where Gerard is wringing his hands in front of the closet. Shit. "Gee?"

"I have no idea what to wear," he says, turning panicked eyes on her.

Okay, maybe if she can fix this crisis, the next part won't be so bad. "Wear your three-piece suit and your skull tie. You'll look fucking charming, and everyone wants to get in your pants when you wear that outfit." She gives him her best trust-me-I'm-an-expert smile.

"Okay. Yeah. I'll wear that. It'll be fine," he says and pulls everything out of the closet.

"Yeah, it totally will. But Gee... I just got a call from Jamia. Frankie's really sick, and he can't come."

He looks devastated for a split second before he laughs brittlely. "Figures." He starts dressing with jerky motions.

"Gee, you know he'd be there if he could. It sounds like he's really ill," Lindsey says.

"Obviously," Gerard replies. His jaw is set and firm. Shit.

"Gerard Way, look me in the eye, and tell me you're not angry about this." He very carefully buttons his vest and doesn't look up. "What the fuck, Gerard? He can't help being sick."

"I know," Gerard says after a minute, fumbling at his tie. Lindsey goes over and brushes his hands aside and ties it for him.

"Gerard, when are we going to talk about this? I'm not saying it has to be tonight, but just give me an idea here."

Gerard takes a deep breath. "I wanted him there. I thought... I hardly ever get him for important shit. I thought maybe it'd be different tonight."

"You're gonna have to settle for me," she says quietly. He takes another breath, and she says, "Yeah, yeah, I know, it's not settling. You didn't answer my question."

"I... after tonight? I know you deserve it. I've been... I should have told you. I know that. I just... nothing is ever going to change, so it seemed like a moot point at first," he murmurs and grabs her hands and holds them to his chest. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she assures him. "But it's not a moot point."

"I know. It's... this huge, stupid thing, and I should have told you the moment I knew we were serious. Well, the moment I knew you were serious back," he says with a weak chuckle.

"And when did you know you we were serious?" she asks.

"The first night I met you," Gerard replies. "I went home after and didn't even make it to bed, just crashed on the couch. Before I passed out, I distinctly recall thinking, 'I'm gonna be with that girl forever.'"

"That was almost five years ago," Lindsey says.

"Yeah, well," Gerard says and shrugs again. "I just knew. We're meant to be." She leans in and kisses him.

"We are, and sometime soon, we should sit down and really talk about this. Are you ready to go to your opening now?" she asks softly. He makes a terrified face, and she laughs. "You'll be fine, I promise."

"Let's go," he says, grabbing her hand.

"I'll drive us there," Lindsey says.

"Probably a good idea," he replies. The drive is uneventful, and Gerard nervously babbles about Star Wars almost the entire way. She doesn't mind. When they walk in, the gallery manager whisks Gerard away almost immediately, which Lindsey expects. She's done this before, after all. She helps herself to some champagne and starts looking at the installation.

It's fucking amazing. She loves everything in Gerard's head, and she loves what he did here. It's partly the nature of her work, but there's seriously no way she could have thrown this together and given it a cohesive theme like he did. Mikey and Alicia show up a few minutes later, and she hugs them both and points them toward Gerard. Gerard looks calmer now, but he's also busy.

The gallery is crowded by the time Lindsey spots Jamia an hour later. She makes her way through the crowd toward Jamia, snags two glasses of champagne off a passing tray, and stops in front of her. She's wearing a gorgeous little dress, and she looks kind of spectacular. Lindsey feels bad about checking her out when she gets close enough to see the exhaustion in her eyes. "Hey, pretty lady," she says and hands over a glass. "You look like you could use this. Did you look at the art yet?"

"Basically just walked in the door," Jamia says and leans forward to kiss Lindsey's cheek. "Show me around?"

"Gerard would be better for that, but he's..." Lindsey waves a hand. "Everywhere but here. Come with me."

"He can find us when he has a minute," Jamia murmurs and tucks her hand into Lindsey's elbow. Lindsey takes her to the piece closest to them. They make their way through the room, taking fresh glasses of champagne whenever they run out. Gerard finds them eventually and wraps Jamia in a big hug.

"Thanks for coming, J," he says with a smile.

"Hey," Jamia says, and Lindsey knows she's not imagining the tone of gentle apology, "We Ieros will always represent."

"I know. I... maybe Frank can come when he's feeling better? The four of us can have our own little showing. I can tell you all about everything personally. I would now, but the manager is motioning for me again," he says.

"It's fine, Gee. This is your big night. We'll still be here later," Jamia murmurs.

"Yeah, my big night," Gerard says. "I - he - sorry, I have to -" he kisses Jamia on the cheek and darts off.

Jamia looks at Lindsey. "Wow."

"He was really upset when I told him," Lindsey tells her.

Jamia takes a deep breath. "I was afraid of that. Sorry I forced you to be the one who had to deal with it."

"It's okay," Lindsey says.

"No, it's not - I - is there somewhere we can go sit?" Jamia says, laying a hand against her own cheek.

"Yeah. There's a bench over in the corner." Lindsey leads her gently toward the bench. The corner is actually kind of quiet, compared to the rest of the gallery anyway. "You okay?" Lindsey sits, and Jamia folds automatically into her side. Again, it would be totally enjoyable - there's no harm in a bit of gratuitous snuggling - if she didn't feel so goddamn bad about how exhausted Jamia looks.

"Champagne always does a number on me," Jamia admits. Lindsey wraps an arm around Jamia's shoulders. "And these stupid boys are... it was fine. For a while."

"Can you explain?" Lindsey asks. "I mean, if you can't, or you don't want to, or - I just wish I knew something."

"They've been in love for years," Jamia says. It's sort of stunning to just hear her say it like that, but mostly she sounds tired.

"Yeah, I'd kind of figured that one out," Lindsey whispers back.

"We've all been doing a great job of ignoring it until you came along. I don't want you to think I blame you for anything," Jamia rushes to add.

"I don't, honey," Lindsey says.

"The last time I thought it couldn't possibly be ignored any longer was when Frank and I got married. Eliza happened instead, so you can see why I -" Jamia stops. "If they don't talk, I don't know what more I could do."

"Maybe we should all talk?" Lindsey suggests.

"I don't know. I just know I can't ignore them anymore," Jamia murmurs.

"Maybe we don't have to."

"Lindsey, you didn't sign up for that."

"Well, I don't think you did either," Lindsey points out. "Maybe we didn't sign up for it, but I think we can make it work, make it good."

Lindsey looks at Jamia, and it's like she can see the strain of holding them all together for so long. It's a common expression that she and Gerard and Frank all seem to share. She cups Jamia's cheek. "You scared, J?"

"Terrified."

Lindsey tips forward without thinking; she wants to kiss Jamia pretty badly. Instead, she rests her forehead against Jamia's. "Me, too."

Jamia huffs out a little breath, and Lindsey is suddenly certain, however crazy it is, that she was expecting a kiss, too. She doesn't move, though, except to lean harder into Lindsey's side. Lindsey wraps an arm around her waist, and after a few minutes, Jamia giggles.

"God, this is all so…" she trails off and giggles again.

"Unreal?" Lindsey asks.

"No, real is the one thing it definitely is. I'm sorry, I can't - if I start talking about it, I'll never stop."

Lindsey squeezes her around the waist. "Maybe someday you can start talking," she whispers in Jamia's ear.

The party's winding down, and Lindsey recognizes Gerard's shoes as he walks over to their tucked-away corner. Then she looks up and sees his expression. He looks... tender, sad, relieved, happy. A whole host of things. Lindsey pushes herself to her feet, dragging Jamia with her because they're still huddled so close. She can feel the champagne hitting, too, now and braces herself with Jamia's arm as she kisses Gerard. "You're wonderful, gorgeous," she whispers in his ear. She barely catches the motion out of the corner of her eye, but she sees Jamia bite her lip. Hard.

"It's all great, Gee," Jamia says when Lindsey steps back. "Proud of you."

"Jamia," Gerard says hesitantly, "Can I come over and see him tomorrow? Will he be - I want to -"

"Sure, of course. That will make Frankie happy. He was really upset he couldn't be here." She looks at Lindsey, and she doesn't really even have to say anything; Lindsey nods anyway. "I should probably go," she adds.

"Are you okay to drive?" Lindsey asks her. Jamia rubs her forehead.

"I - maybe not?"

"Let me go get Mikey and Alicia," Gerard offers. "You're on their way."

Jamia nods and leans into Lindsey. "Sorry I got you drunk," Lindsey says. Jamia giggles.

"I really don't think you are."

"If anyone deserves a glass or five of champagne, pretty lady, it's you," Lindsey tells her. "Come on, I'll walk outside with you." Gerard shoots them a considering look and then goes off to get his brother.

They go outside and lean against the wall of the gallery. It's a clear night, not too terribly cold for November. "Times like this, I wish I still smoked," Lindsey murmurs. She wants to reach over the three inches between them and take Jamia's hand.

"You won't be saying that in January," Jamia says. "But I know what you mean." She's looking Lindsey up and down like she has more to say.

"Meant it about talking," Lindsey tells her.

"Yeah," Jamia murmurs. "When we're not drunk or sick or hopped up on cold meds." She reaches over and slides her hand into Lindsey's and squeezes. Lindsey gets a chance to squeeze back before the door opens, and Jamia pushes off the wall toward Mikey, Alicia, and Gerard. "Thanks for the ride, guys," Jamia says.

"No problem," Mikey assures her.

"Car keys?" Alicia asks. Jamia digs into her purse and hands them over to Alicia.

"Night, guys," she says over her shoulder. Lindsey automatically leans back, and yeah, Gerard's there.

"You ready, too?" she asks him. "You're going to have to drive this time."

"Yeah, I've been set free. It's mostly just the gallery manager's cronies left anyway. Let's go home," he says. She grabs his hand as they walk to the car.

He's quiet on the drive home but definitely calmer than he was earlier. "Any particular reason you and J were hitting the champagne tonight?" he asks after a while. His tone tells her he knows there is one. Lindsey's actually surprised he said something.

She thinks for a moment, tries to get her thoughts where she wants them. "I think we've both realized that the four of us can't go on like this. That we all need to talk. She asked me to be the one to tell you about Frank tonight because she was already stressed out because of Frankie being sick and telling you, dealing with your reaction, wouldn't have helped."

"I'll... try not to get so upset," he stammers. "I'm trying. Everything's fine. We've got this." Then he goes quiet again, watching the road even though they're like half a mile from the apartment, and there's no traffic.

"Wow," Lindsey says, "Is that all you're going to say?"

"I don't know how to… I don't know what else I'm supposed to do here. I love you. I love him. I can't have him, so I just have to deal with it. I'm sorry," he replies. He sounds desperate.

Okay, maybe she's a little mad. But she replies, "I love you."

"I love you, Lindsey," he repeats insistently.

"I know," she says. "Gerard...when we started dating, we never talked about being anything but exclusive." Gerard immediately looks so guilty, but she continues. "But... it's never been anything but obvious how you feel about them."

"Them?" he says weakly.

"Yeah, them. God, Gerard, I've never seen two people be more of a unit than them." He takes a deep breath, and Lindsey says, "It wasn't something you thought would ever happen, was it?"

Gerard shakes his head. "It's always been… I've always been happy being his friend, their friend. After I was back from my trip, and they asked me to do some work for them, we got close again. Then I had already met you, and everything happened so goddamn fast. With you, I mean. And I like how our relationship happened. I like that you're here, and you're mine, and I never want that to change. I just… I don't know." He pulls into their parking lot and turns off the car but doesn't move.

"People who say 'I don't know' always know, Gerard."

Gerard closes his eyes and reaches for Lindsey's hand. "I love him, Lindsey, and I want him. And I love you, and I want you. I know it's completely unfair of me to ask for both, so I never did."

Lindsey links their fingers together and says, "It's a little less unfair to me or to Frank than it is to Jamia, Gerard."

Gerard swallows. "I… Jamia is such a part of him. I… I don't want to be unfair to her. Ever. She…" Gerard trails off and squeezes his eyes shut even tighter, as if that will help.

Lindsey tugs on his hand. "Let's go inside." He squeezes her fingers and gets out of the car, circling to get her door, and she lets him. Once they've made it inside, and she's kicked off her shoes, she takes his hand again and leads him to the couch. "It's mostly unfair because neither of you ever asked her what she wanted."

"What would she even say? It's all so…" he waves his hands around.

"Gerard, there's such a thing as open relationships," Lindsey says patiently. "There is more than one solution to this. And even if she wouldn't want that, we still need to ask."

"Frank wouldn't -"

Lindsey just interrupts him. "You. Need. To. Ask." That gets him to look at her, at least. He reaches out and touches her cheek.

"Lindsey, what do you want? In a perfect world, how would you want this all to go?"

She lets herself think for a minute. "In a perfect world, maybe I would have talked to you when I realized you were in love with your best friend. That's on me. I - have you ever been involved with more than one person, Gerard?"

Gerard shakes his head slowly. "Jon called me a serial monogamist once. That was when I stopped… when I broke up with my last girlfriend before you, I stopped looking for a while."

"So that's a no?"

"No, I've never… not even like, random dates with more than one person in the same time period," he says and runs a hand through his hair. "Have you?" he asks.

"Yeah, I have, but it's never been particularly serious. Not like this would be," she replies. "Gerard, I am not pretending to know what the hell I'm doing, okay? I just really like them both, and I know how much they mean to you and -"

"How much do you like them?" he interrupts and oh. She's pretty surprised the other shoe dropped that fast. "You're not the only person who sees things," he says a little defensively.

"Hey, no. I didn't mean... of course, you noticed. I think Jamia is really fucking hot and kind of amazing," she replies.

"That is because you have good taste," he says. "And Frank?"

"Is growing on me," Lindsey says slowly. This is getting... more interesting than she expected. "One thing at a time, okay, honey?"

"Okay," Gerard says. "But for the record, I'm in favor of the idea of other things." She almost snorts. He looks like someone just told him he'd won the lottery, and the check would be delivered by Princess Leia. She swings a leg over and sits herself in his lap.

"For now, I think we can come up with our own things."

Gerard's hands land on her waist. "I was so nervous earlier, I totally failed to tell you how fucking hot you are in this dress, didn't I?" he murmurs.

"Not a word," she tells him.

"Yeah, well, you really fucking are," he says and runs his hands up her sides.

****

Jamia texts to remind Gerard to bring his laptop, so he can show Frank photos of his art hanging in the gallery. She makes coffee, sets Frank up in a little nest on the couch with tissues and orange juice and pills, and puts the soup on to reheat. He just sits there and watches for a while before he realizes she's making up busy work out of nervousness, and he catches her hand as she's walking by. He pulls her down next to him. "Babe, it's Gerard, not some stranger."

"Do you think that makes it not matter?"

"No, just... you don't need to stress yourself out making everything perfect for him, is all."

She laughs. "I'm not stressing myself out over it. I'm doing it because I am stressed."

"Oh," he says.

"Yeah, oh."

"Babe," he says. "I don't know - I'm sorry I yelled yesterday. I'm so sorry, I can't even tell you. I wish I could just let things go. But -" It's about as close as they've ever gotten to talking about it.

Jamia shakes her head. "I... I wouldn't want you to. It's not mine to ask. Things are just weird right now, and - It's just hard." She gets choked up, and he strokes his hand over her cheeks.

"Gerard and I - things are fine. I can... I will always do whatever you need me to."

"I need to be part of your life," she says. "All of it. That's just what we do, and I can't - I can't handle anything less than that."

"I would never want you to be less than that. Ever. You have been since day one. I never did anything about it because you are my first priority, and he's got Lindsey to think about. And - it's too much, Jamia." Frank realizes he sounds pretty frantic. She laces their fingers together.

"That's the thing, Frank, you never asked. I don't know if this is even on the table, but… I could. With Gerard, I think I could -"

"What do you mean?" he breathes out.

"What if I want to be a part of it?"

"Oh." he says quietly. It had honestly never occurred to him, and now he feels like a giant pile of shit.

"Frankie," she whispers. "Come on. In what world would I actually pass that up?" She smiles encouragingly when he lets out a snort of laughter.

"And what about Lindsey?"

It was a shot in the dark - but not really, he realizes, because he knows her. It's interesting to watch her brazen it out while her cheeks turn a little pink. "I like Lindsey," she says. "A lot."

"A lot, huh," he says, and now he's really starting to grin.

"Yes," she answers. "And fuck you, figures that would be the thing that would get your attention."

"Baby, you always have my attention." He's trying for innocent. He figures with the red nose and the rumpled hair, it might even work, but she knows him.

She smacks him on the arm and then shakes her head. "I don't know why we're even talking about this. We have no idea if he - if they -"

"If I'd known this conversation would be so easy, I wouldn't have avoided it for a million years."

Jamia gapes at him. "You call this easy?"

He giggles weakly, trailing off into a cough. "Okay, maybe not so much. Jamia - I love you," he tells her.

"That counts for something," she chuckles, leans in and kisses him quickly, and then pulls back. "I should go check on the soup. Gee will be here soon." She gets up, and before she can get too far, Frank stops her.

"Together," he says firmly.

"Together," she affirms. "Take some more meds. You're getting all snotty and feverish again. Oh, and I love you, too."

Frank dozes until there's a knock on the door. He's still blinking himself awake as Jamia goes to answer it. "Gee, hey," he hears her say. "And Linds, I didn't expect you, too." God, she sounds relieved. Frank expects them all to walk in, but it's only Gerard who enters the room. He comes directly over to Frank and flops down on the couch next to him.

"I missed you, Frankie," Gerard whispers. Frank lets himself slump until his head's cradled by Gerard's shoulder.

"I'm so fucking mad at myself, Gee. Stupid body shouldn't hate me this much."

"You couldn't help it, Frank," Gerard whispers. "It's okay."

"It's not," Frank insists. "I'm sick of missing out."

"Brought it to you," Gerard says, reaching down for his laptop bag. Frank stops him with a hand on his.

"I'm begging sick. Can you..." he tugs Gerard back. "Please." Gerard leans back against the couch and pulls Frank into his arms. "I do want to see it, Gee," Frank mumbles against his throat. "I just want this more." Gerard doesn't question him, just lets him rest and doze for a while. "Where are the girls?" Frank murmurs after a while.

"Went for coffee, maybe," Gerard answers quietly.

"Mmm," Frank replies. He feels warm and comfortable for the first time in days, and it's never been more apparent to him that they can't ignore this anymore. "Do we need to wait until they come back?" Frank asks, rubbing his cheek on Gerard's shirt.

"For what?" Gerard asks.

"Will you kiss me?" Frank replies. "I can't promise I'm not still contagious but -"

Gerard sucks in a breath. "We... we should wait. But as soon as we talk to the girls, make sure we're all on the same page, I'm kissing the fuck out of you, okay? I don't give a shit if you're contagious."

"You already talked to Lindsey, didn't you?" Frank asks. Gerard's entirely too calm about this.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Yeah, J and I talked," Frank replies. He's so tired of waiting, of ignoring it. He knows he's probably being a little too impatient.

"I just want to make sure," Gerard says quietly. "I want to hear it from Jamia. I want to ask her myself. I don't want to leave any room for doubt. I don't want to do anything to fuck this up. It's way too fucking important."

"Just don't let go," Frank grumbles. He knows Gerard is right, though.

"I won't," Gerard promises and tightens his grip around Frank.

"I love you," Gerard says after a few beats.

"Love you, too," Frank replies. He rubs his face against Gerard's chest and closes his eyes. The next thing he knows, he's blinking awake again to the sound of the girls coming in the door.

"Oh good, he fell asleep," Jamia says. She knows he was up coughing most of the night.

"Nah," Lindsey says. "Faking."

He opens his eyes to see her crouched at eye level and grinning. "Brought you tea with lemon," she tells him.

"And coffee for you," she says, looking to Gerard. Then she walks back to Jamia.

"Why'd you go away? C'mere. Both of you," Frank says and sits up, so he can sip his tea. He coughs a little, and Gerard rubs his back.

Lindsey stops next to Jamia and puts an arm around her waist. "Does he insist on puppy piles when he's sick?"

"What, can't you tell?" Jamia laughs.

"That can be later," Frank says and takes his feet off the coffee table and gestures at it. "So we can all see each other."

"Uh oh. He's brought the businessman out to play," Jamia murmurs. She has a smile for him though, softly encouraging. Frank's sure they all know what this is about. The girls sit on the coffee table, arms wrapped firmly around each other's waists.

"So," Frank says. "I think we all know what we need to talk about. I think we all know - Gee and I - you two are the most important people to us. Except for each other. And I - J," he pauses. "I want to be able to do something about it."

"That's okay with me. I have just one condition. That we explore this together," she says.

"Gee?" Frank asks, looking up. Gerard's a little red in the cheeks, but he's meeting Jamia's eye steadily.

"Of course," he says.

"Lindsey?"

"Yeah, I want that," she replies. She gives Frank a challenging little smile. The sort she gives him before a bowling match or a table game. Her face smooths out when she looks at Jamia though. She tips her head forward to rest her forehead against Jamia's temple. Frank flashes a look at Gerard. Their expressions are approximately the same, that is to say, they're dudes. It's hot, but it's not long before another thought invades.

Everyone said yes.

"Gee," Frank pleads in a whisper. Gerard leans forward, his hand reaches up to cup Frank's cheek. Frank can barely breath as it is, and he has to take a deep, shuddery breath. Then there's his lips brushing against Frank's. Frank wraps his arms around Gerard's shoulders and holds on tight. Gerard kisses him slowly, like he's treasuring it. The press of his lips and then his tongue is everything Frank's been waiting for and not nearly enough, all at the same time.

"Frankie," Gerard whispers against his lips. Frank just clings.

"Gee, god," he whispers. He dives in again for a second kiss, and he'd be perfectly happy to try for a third and a fourth and a fiftieth, but he has to stop himself and sneak a look at Jamia and Lindsey. They're kissing, too. Slowly, hands wandering up and down each other's sides. "Oh, fuck," Frank whispers. He knows Jamia hears him because she pulls back and smiles at him, slow and full and fuzzy around the edges, and he knows that smile. He wishes he could do something about that smile, but he's still feeling about as healthy as dog shit. Then he starts coughing. Which is entirely expected and completely enraging.

Gerard holds him close. "I've wanted to do this every time you've been sick for years."

"Oh, good," Jamia says. "Reinforcements."

"Is this the cue for the puppy pile?" Lindsey asks mildly. She's running a strand of Jamia's hair idly through her fingers, and Frank's fascinated by that small motion.

Frank pants through the end of the coughing fit. "Please?"

Lindsey smiles at him. "Whatever you want, Frankie."

Lindsey leans down to kiss Gerard and brushes a kiss over Frank's lips, too. Then she settles in the opposite corner of the couch, leaving room for Jamia. Jamia settles down beside him and wraps herself around him from the opposite side as Gerard. Gerard leans forward and kisses Jamia soft and sweet, and she smiles at him when she opens her eyes.

"Now what, Frank?" Jamia asks.

"Movie or something," he says. "I'm sorry, I'm just so -" He yawns.

"It's okay," Gerard says. "We have time. All the time in the world." Frank nearly gasps. He grins up at Gerard.

"We really do," Frank murmurs. He takes Jamia's hand and wriggles sideways to stretch across her lap and Gerard's. He feels fingers close around his ankle. Lindsey.

He's too tired to be scared, so this is pretty close to perfect. Jamia puts on his favorite sick movie, and he drifts. He's wanted this so long; he can hardly believe his head is in Gerard's lap and his legs over Jamia's. He doesn't suppose it matters that he believes it.

It's real. And his.

****

The gallery show loomed so large on Gerard's calendar that he barely realized it was days before Christmas and all of its accompanying insanity. Gerard has been thinking of Frank and Jamia constantly, but when Frank calls to invite him and Lindsey to dinner, he doesn't mention anything other than dinner and maybe a movie. He doesn't have to, really. Gerard can hear it in his voice.

"Feeling better, Frankie?" Gerard asks.

"Much," Frank replies. "Even the cough is gone. I don't know how I got that lucky, but I'm not fucking complaining."

"Me neither. Want us to bring anything?" he asks.

"Just yourselves," Frank says. The curl of want in Gerard's gut flares up suddenly.

"We can do that. We'll see you tonight, then," Gerard says.

"Tonight, Gee. I love you," Frank murmurs down the line.

"Love you, too."

Frank says it at every opportunity now. Gerard can't say he minds, and no one else seems to. He drains the rest of his coffee and goes downstairs to Lindsey's studio. He knocks on the doorjamb and then walks inside.

"Dinner at Frank and Jamia's tonight," he tells her when she looks up at him and smiles.

"Frank feeling better?" she asks.

"Lots better. He says he doesn't even have a cough," Gerard replies with a big grin.

"I am really glad to hear that," she replies with an answering grin. "So...when do they want us there?"

"Impatient?" Gerard asks.

"Yes," she replies. "When?"

Gerard grins at her. "Six."

"Awesome." She looks down at the paper in her hands. "I am totally not going to be able to concentrate."

"Join the club," Gerard says ruefully.

"Wanna just go home? Watch movies until six?" she asks.

"Is that code for making out?"

Lindsey laughs. "We could definitely do that. I just know sitting here pretending to have any kind of work ethic the rest of the day would be pointless."

When they get home, they eat lunch, then put on a movie. They watch for about five minutes before Lindsey leans over and kisses him. They make out for a long time, kissing and kissing, but their hands never wander below the waist. They're clearly enjoying the anticipation, Gerard thinks.

It feels like six will never come, but finally they're pulling up to Frank and Jamia's house and walking to the door. Frank jumps on Gerard as soon as he answers their knock because Frank has even less patience than Lindsey. Gerard laughs breathlessly and wraps his arms around Frank's waist. They kiss until Jamia clears her throat. Gerard looks up to see her smiling at them. Lindsey's wrapped around her from behind, nuzzling her neck and cheek.

"We do actually have dinner prepared. Maybe a little sustenance first?" Gerard detaches Frank and leans down to to give Jamia a kiss as well. She reaches up to cup his cheek.

"Hey, J," he whispers against her lips.

"Hi, Gee," she replies. When they pull back, Lindsey detaches herself from Jamia and reaches out to grab Frank.

"Hope you're ready for us," she says and pulls him in for a kiss.

Gerard thinks they maybe surprise each other a little. He's not sure who starts it either, but they don't keep it short, and someone moans after a moment. Then they pull apart, blinking.

"Dinner," Lindsey murmurs. "You guys made dinner."

"Yeah," Frank breathes.

God. The two of them.

He watches Jamia lace her fingers with Frank's as they lead the way into the dining room. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Lindsey squeezes his hand as they sit down, and he smiles at her and squeezes back. Love you, he mouths at her. She lifts his hand to her mouth and kisses it.

Dinner is amazing, as always. They all manage to relax, to talk about the usual things. Gerard and Lindsey insist on cleaning up after, and then they stand in the kitchen and just sort of look at each other until Frank giggles. Gerard raises an eyebrow at him.

"I don't know about anyone else, but I can't wait any longer than this," Gerard says. It's not romantic, but all he can do is stare at Frank, pulse pounding in his throat.

"What he said," Frank says, all trace of the giggles gone. "I... maybe we should wait. Slow down. But... I'm not going to change my mind. Are... are we all one hundred percent sure about this?"

"Yes," Lindsey replies decisively.

"Yes," Jamia echoes and looks at Lindsey. "Fuck, yes."

He steps into Gerard's space, and Gerard just has to lean down to kiss him. He does what he's always wanted to do and sinks both hands into Frank's hair and just holds him in place. Frank moans and presses up against him. He's responding exactly like Gerard always hoped he would.

"Bedroom?" Gerard asks. "I need you, Frankie."

"Yes, please." Gerard can't wait to hear what Frank sounds like when he's actually in bed. He tugs Gerard out of the kitchen and up the stairs with barely a glance at anyone else. Gerard hears Jamia laugh and knows they're okay. That they're following along. When Frank gets him in the bedroom, he immediately starts stripping Gerard of his clothes. He's fast and efficient, and Gerard is standing nearly naked in no time.

"My turn," he says before Frank gets his underwear off. Gerard takes his time with Frank. There are so many tattoos he hasn't even seen, never mind touched. The girls come in as Gerard is kneeling to pull off Frank's pants and socks. He looks over his shoulder at them. They're both looking disheveled, half unbuttoned already.

"Linds," he says, "I -"

"Don't worry about us," she says throatily. God, he really wants to watch them. Gerard turns back to Frank.

"Someday we're gonna just sit and watch them," he murmurs. "But right now, all I can think about is you. Fuck, Frankie. I've wanted you so goddamn long."

He's still kneeling at Frank's feet, and it's as easy as anything to lean forward and rub his cheek against Frank's cock, pushing up against the cotton of his briefs.

"Gee," Frank murmurs and pushes a hand into Gerard's hair. Gerard looks up at him and smiles.

"God, Frankie." He peels the waistband back and leans in, running his tongue up the entire length of Frank's cock. He hears a moan and realizes it's his own voice. He puts his hands on Frank's hips and leans in to trace his tongue over the tattoos on his stomach. Gerard has seen these before, especially in the early years of their friendship. But recently it's just been glimpses. After a while he hears his name.

"Gerard, Gerard," Frank murmurs. "Bed. Fuck me, need you."

Gerard moans and scrambles to stand. Frank catches him around the waist and shoves his underwear down. Their cocks brush against each other, and they both moan.

"Frank, now," Gerard says, shoving him backwards until he collapses over the mattress. Gerard crawls on top of him, pushing his legs wide and realizing he needs lube.

"Drawer, Gee," Jamia murmurs. She and Lindsey are mostly naked and standing next to the other side of the bed. Gerard swallows hard.

"Thanks, J." Gerard notices that Frank's staring at them when he turns to get the lube from the drawer.

"Any advice, Iero?" Lindsey asks.

Frank's lips are wet, parted, and he's breathing fast. "She...she's pretty good at telling you what she wants," he breathes with a soft look for Jamia. She smiles at him and then the bed dips as Jamia gets on and pulls Lindsey down with her. She leans over to kiss Frank, then cups one of Lindsey's tits and swirls her tongue around her nipple.

Gerard sucks in a breath, then turns back to the lube in his hands, slicks his fingers, and presses back behind Frank's balls, his other hand steady on Frank's thigh. He leans down to kiss a knee as Frank gasps.

"Gee, please," Frank moans, and Gerard circles Frank's entrance with one finger and then pushes it inside. "Oh, fuck."

"Knew you'd be like this," Gerard says. "Knew you'd be desperate for me, begging."

"Gee, I've never had - " he gasps.

"Just me," Jamia breathes from beside him, and Gerard closes his eyes for a moment. He runs his free hand up and down Frank's thigh.

"I'll be... Frankie. Fuck. I'll be so good."

"I know, Gee." Frank pushes back against Gerard's finger. "More, please."

Gerard feels lips on his shoulder - Lindsey. He leans over to kiss her before she stretches out behind Jamia, spooning up behind her and sneaking a hand over her hip. Gerard looks back at Frank as he presses in with another finger. Frank bites his lip, and his eyes stay on Gerard's. When he starts moving his hips and clenching around Gerard's fingers, Gerard starts thrusting them slow and steady.

"You feel so good," he murmurs. God, he's not going to last.

"You, too. More," Frank begs. Gerard slowly adds a third finger and watches Frank arch and push against his hand.

"Frankie," he whispers, "Condoms, I don't -"

"We're all clean, right?" Jamia asks.

"Yeah," Gerard and Lindsey say at the same time.

"Then we don't need them," Jamia says and pulls Lindsey's hand off her hip and down to her cunt.

Gerard pulls his fingers out and reaches for the lube again. This time he coats his cock, groaning a little as his hand closes around it.

"Save some for me," Frank jokes weakly.

"All for you," Gerard pants. He pushes Frank's knee toward his chest and lines up. He forces himself to go slowly, watching Frank's face and listening to every noise. Fuck, it feels good. It takes some time, some gentle thrusting of his hips, but Frank takes all of him. Gerard stops for a moment, biting his lip.

"Mine," Frank gasps, reaching for him. Gerard obediently leans down, and Frank sucks on his lower lip, then wraps a hand around his neck. He can dimly hear noises coming from the girls beside them, but Gerard can't really focus on anyone other than Frank. On the way he feels around Gerard's cock, on the feel of his hands, his mouth.

"Frankie, Frankie, Frankie," Gerard chants against his lips. "I love you so much," he whispers, and then he shifts his thrusts, hits the right spot to make Frank groan and arch his back.

"Fuck, Gee. So good. Feel so huge. Perfect," Frank gasps. "Love you, too."

He pulls Gerard back down for another kiss. Gerard reaches between them and wraps a hand around Frank's cock. Frank's as ready as he is because no sooner does Gerard start stroking him in earnest than he groans and thrusts up hard and comes all over himself.

He clenches around Gerard, and his hands grip tight. That's enough to send Gerard over the edge. He thrusts hard one last time and comes inside Frank. He leans his forehead against Frank's heaving chest. Frank pets his hair gently until Gerard lifts his head to look in Frank's eyes. They're suspiciously bright, and Gerard has to lean down and kiss him again.

"Love you," he whispers.

"Love you back," Frank replies. A moan from beside them makes them both turn their heads.

Lindsey is working Jamia with her fingers. Jamia throws her head back, writhing against Lindsey's hand, then she rolls over and stretches Lindsey out on her back. Lindsey glances over at Gerard and smiles, then bites her lip when Jamia leans down to take one of her nipples in her mouth. Jamia doesn't spend very long there. She kisses down Lindsey's stomach, slides her tongue over the tattoo on her belly, then wraps her lips around Lindsey's clit.

"She's been craving this," Frank tells Lindsey.

"She can - go right ahead," Lindsey gasps. "Jesus, fuck."

Gerard reaches over and smooths a strand of her hair back, then braces himself to pull out. Frank whimpers under him, and Gerard cups his cheeks and kisses him hard. Frank doesn't let him move farther though, just clings on, and they both watch the girls, watch Lindsey get more flushed, watch Jamia bury her face in Lindsey's cunt.

Each of the four of them make some sort of noise when Lindsey finally comes, twisting her hand through Jamia's hair and tugging. Jamia rests her cheek on Lindsey's stomach, and they all just lie tangled together, breathing hard.

****

Lindsey hadn't actually thought beyond getting to the Ieros' place that night. Maybe if she had, she'd have expected to spend her Friday night with Jamia's cheek on her bare stomach, panting down from an orgasm, or watching Gerard blink back to awareness after coming hard, buried in Frank.

But no amount of thinking or expecting could have prepared her for the dumbstruck look on Gerard's face. The way Jamia's hand feels laced with Lindsey's own. The tiny trickle of moisture at the corner of Frank's eye and her own crazy impulse to lick it away. She could do it - their heads are on the same pillow right now.

Their mixed breathing is loud, but no one says anything. Lindsey wonders if they're all as afraid as she is to say the wrong thing. She squeezes Jamia's hand, and Jamia looks down at her. "Come here," Lindsey whispers, shifting toward the edge of the mattress and tugging so that Jamia is nestled between Lindsey and Frank.

Lindsey pushes herself up onto an elbow, watching Gerard as he settles, reaching out to trail his fingers along Frank's spine as Frank leans in to kiss Jamia. Lindsey meets his eyes across the expanse of the mattress and smiles. I love you, she thinks, and he smiles back gratefully, like he heard anyway. She gets a flash of Frank's eyes as he pulls back from Jamia and rolls onto his side, looking over his shoulder at Gerard. His hand clenches against his own thigh like he wants to reach and grab. Lindsey's not sure why he doesn't.

Gerard takes a deep breath. None of them say a word. The silence expands. Lindsey hasn't felt this awkward about being quiet with any of these people in months and months. She doesn't like it.

"This is stupid," she says before she can stop herself. "This is... this was exactly what all of us wanted. We planned it. Sort of. Just because we watched you fuck, just because I helped make Jamia come, does not mean we're all suddenly strangers here."

“I made you come, too,” Jamia adds mildly. She’s smiling a little when Lindsey looks over at her, as much approval as it is satisfaction, and Lindsey leans in and kisses her, reaches out a hand and places it on Frank's chest. She feels Gerard's hand cover hers.

Jamia smiles at her again when she pulls away, and Lindsey smiles back. God, she's pretty. She looks over at Frank who's staring at her, looking a little bit amazed, a little bit confused. She moves her fingers beneath Gerard's. That gets him to smile, too. "I'd kiss you, too, but you're too far away. Gee, kiss him for me."

Gerard laughs and leans down and kisses Frank happily. When he pulls back, Frank looks at him, then at Lindsey. Less confused, but still definitely amazed.

Lindsey settles down, resting her head on Jamia's shoulder, fingers still tangled with Gerard’s on Frank's chest. It feels better now, less like they're all waiting for something to burst or some shit. They rest in comfortable silence for a while. Lindsey's enjoying the feeling of Jamia's body pressed against hers, the way Frank's breathing feels beneath her hand. She thinks maybe the others are also relishing the way they all feel, fucked out and cuddled close together.

"Is this... are we doing this again?" Frank asks after a minute.

"Yes," Lindsey answers immediately. There's no other option, really. Now that she's touched them, she doesn't think she could stop.

*

Lindsey is leaning against the counter watching Jamia move around the room, picking up the few dishes scattered around the kitchen from the night before. She stops and grins at Lindsey, sets a glass on the counter, and steps forward into her space. Lindsey is sure she's going to get a kiss, but Jamia stops short.

"I... is this okay?" she asks hesitantly.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Lindsey asks. She wants to touch Jamia, but she waits for her to explain.

"I just. I said the other day that I wanted all of us to explore it together. And... the boys are upstairs," she says.

"So do you want to be there whenever they do anything? Or have them be there when we do?" Lindsey asks softly.

"Well, no. That's not what I--"

Lindsey reaches out and cups Jamia's elbows. "Maybe I'm reaching - because I want this - but I definitely took what you said to mean while it's about all four of us in a broad sense, we all have our own individual relationships with each other, and it's about those, too," Lindsey says and runs her hands up and down Jamia's shoulders.

"That sounds a lot more reasonable than what I was trying to spit out," Jamia laughs. Then she cocks her head. "Do you want to be with Frankie like that?"

"I've been pretty focused on you in this equation, but I think I'd like to see what Frank and I could be together. What about you and Gerard?" she asks.

Jamia turns a lovely distracting shade of pink. "I can barely even imagine...I love him a lot, you know. I never looked at him that way. On purpose." Lindsey nods, and Jamia goes on. "It was always just... Gerard and Frank. And me and Frank. And the three of us as friends. There never seemed to be room for me."

"I think we just all need to spend more time together," Lindsey says. "In bed, in case that wasn't clear."

She pushes Jamia's hair off her neck and lays her lips there. Jamia wraps her hands around Lindsey's waist and tilts her head to the side to give her better access. Lindsey kisses down and sucks the spot just above her clavicle.

"You're beautiful," Lindsey murmurs. She's positive Frank tells her all the time, but Lindsey needs to repeat it. Jamia grins at her and blushes just a little bit and pulls Lindsey even closer. Lindsey wraps her arms around Jamia's neck, and they kiss until the beeper goes off telling them the coffee is done.

"What do you want to bet we see both of the guys within two minutes?" Jamia asks.

Lindsey laughs. "No fucking bet. Gerard would kill for coffee in the morning, and from what I've seen, Frank isn't much better."

Jamia laughs and ends up with her hands low - really low - on Lindsey's waist. "And what would you do?"

"I'm a big fan of coffee, but I'm a bigger fan of kissing. So unless you're the sort who would kill for coffee, I wouldn't mind kissing you longer," Lindsey murmurs. She smiles as Jamia shifts her hands to cup Lindsey's ass. "Would it be nosy of me to ask how long it's been for you?" she asks.

"God. It was before I met Frank. So probably 2000? At a house party. Drunk," Jamia says with an embarrassed little laugh.

"So, overdue," Lindsey tells her, running a finger down into the neck of the nightshirt Jamia's wearing just as the guys venture into the kitchen. Gerard doesn't seem to notice. Just automatically kisses her, then Jamia's cheek, then grabs a mug and fills it. Frank does, though.

"Having fun, J?" he murmurs. She snickers. Frank leans in and kisses her, taking his time about it. Lindsey gets a really good view of that. He tugs on a lock of Lindsey's hair when he's done and follows Gerard. Lindsey leans in and kisses Jamia again.

"I suppose we should get some coffee ourselves," she says when she pulls back. "Maybe we can convince the boys to make us breakfast."

*

Frank calls about a show on New Year's Eve - it's got one of his bands on the bill, and it's for charity, but it's hard to wait half a week to see Frank and Jamia again. Gerard's not helping; he wraps himself around her from behind as she's putting her lipstick on in the mirror.

"Punk," she mutters and finishes her bottom lip.

"I'm just excited," he says, pouting.

She laughs and leans back against him. "Color me shocked."

"You look amazing," he whispers in her ear. "They won't know what hit 'em. Especially with this," he says and reaches up to run his fingers over the cleavage revealed by the shirt she's wearing.

"Is this like those tight jeans you've got on, then?" she asks, arching into his hands a bit.

"Exactly like that, yes," Gerard replies and grinds against her ass a little.

"Careful, Gee," she says. "You're gonna make those tight pants real uncomfortable."

"I bet I can talk Frank into blowing me in the bathroom." Gerard sounds smug.

She laughs. "I am sure you can. Maybe Jamia and I will make use of a backseat."

"You do owe her one," Gerard replies. "Suits you, you know."

She looks at him quizzically in the mirror. "What do you mean?"

"Being with Jamia. You look happy. I like it."

She laces their fingers together over her stomach. "Being with you makes me pretty fucking happy, too, you know."

"I know, gorgeous," he whispers and kisses her ear. "I just think... I'm happy," he whispers.

"Yeah. I'm glad for you, Gee. Love shouldn't be as hard as it was for you and Frank," she murmurs and rubs her cheek against Gerard's.

"It was always okay, Linds. It's just...like a fantasy now." And that's what gives Lindsey the idea.