I know I'm mentally ill...

Panic GSF Steampunk Excerpt.

2009-12-02T22:00:26Z

"Hand him back over or your brains will be blown out," Ryan Ross threatened with his gun pointing at the masked man's chest. Jon Walker and Spencer Smith had their guns out and pointed at the man as well, though theirs were aimed at the villain's head. The masked man giggled before whistling and four other men appeared.

"Lower the guns or else I'll blow his brains out," The masked man grinned, tightening his hold around his bound and gagged captive's waist. Brendon Urie, the captive and lover of the three others, made a noise of protest and glared up at his captor. Seriously, why was it he who always managed to get kidnapped?

Reluctantly, Jon, Ryan, and Spencer lowered their guns and set them on the ground when the tallest of the masked man's four henchmen instructed them too. The masked man grinned as he put his own gun away and loosened his grip a bit on Brendon. "Now, word on the street is that you four," He gestured to the three rescuers and Brendon. "Are in some kind of polygamous relationship?"

"Christ," One of the masked henchmen groaned, shaking his head.

"Our personal lives are none of your business, sir. Now please just give us our friend back," Jon said, desperately itching to pull his gun back out and shoot the masked man square in the forehead.

"No," The villain simply replied with a crooked grin. "Not until the plans for a steam-powered airship are given to me."

"We don't have them!" Spencer exclaimed with a frown. "With us right now," Ryan added on quickly earning horrified looks from his three partners. The masked man looked gleeful. "Where are they then?" He asked eagerly, his grip on Brendon loosening more.

Ryan swallowed and glanced at Jon and Spencer before fixing his eyes on Brendon. Plans for a steam-powered airship did not seem as important as the life of one of his lovers did. Even if said lovers were all frantically shaking their heads at Ryan to not tell the masked man where the plans were.

Even if said masked man was intent on creating an empire in which he was king.

Like that would happen in a million years.

You see, there was a whole organization ready to stop such a thing from happening. Ryan and company were part of this organization. It was where he and Spencer met Jon and Brendon, prompting them all to fall in love. If you count being confused over loving three people at once and there being a huge shouting match between Ryan and Brendon before peace was made and hot, sweaty activities took the place of yelling.

"They're in Professor Brian Schecter's office, in the brown and gold cabinet," Ryan finally told the masked man, feeling bad for betraying the Professor like that. "They're in a blue folder. You can't miss it."

In glee, the masked man let go of Brendon and started yelling at his men to get their asses together and get the car. "Much obliged," He smirked before a black and silver automobile rolled up. "In the future, I'll remember to thank you four," He cackled as he got into the car which then took off down the street and slid around a corner.

Jon was the one that ran forward to untie Brendon first. And of course, as soon as Brendon was able to pull the gag from his mouth he was screaming at Ryan. "You idiot! Why did you tell him where it was? You know exactly what he's planning to do with the plans!"

Ryan shook his head. "No, I didn't. Professor Schecter gave the plans to a friend of his, remember? The plans he has are for a steam powered bread toaster," He replied, folding his arms over his his chest. Spencer's mouth fell right open.

"Ross!" He exclaimed, before laughing and hugging Ryan tight with a smacking kiss. "You asshole!"

Brendon huffed as Jon dragged him over to the other two for a celebratory group hug and various kissing. "This does not mean you can fuck me three times tonight, Ross," He informed Ryan who smugly exchanged glances with the other three. "We'll see about that, Bren," Jon smirked as he hugged Ryan's waist. "We'll see."

TBC.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

It's crap, I know but I needed something to post to anon_lovefest in time to be posted. I'm now planning a whole story based on this verse and another plot idea I've had since about April.

Honeyed Orange Tarts

2009-11-23T20:58:27Z

Title: Honeyed Orange Tarts
Author: reinvent_lover
Pairing: Greta Salpeter/Victoria Asher
Rating: PG
POV: Third
Summary: Bakery AU! Greta runs a little corner sweets shop in a small town.
Disclaimer: Completely untrue. Everyone owns themselves.
Author Notes: For anon_lovefest

Sweet Tangerine Bakery is a colorful little shop on the corner of Fifth and Main. It is painted a wonder spice brown with a white roof that makes the building look like a gingerbread house from afar. The effect is strengthened from the barber shop pole columns that framed the white door and the pale pink and blue window frames. Heck, even the window panes themselves look like candy.

Greta Salpeter is the owner and operator of Sweet Tangerine, which is known for it's delicious honeyed orange tarts. The recipe for the said famed tarts is secret. It is a Salpeter family recipe and no one outside the family is to know the recipe, especially the secret ingredient. Of course, this has led to generations of conflict with rival bakeries. Especially the damned Ashers and their ridiculously delicious English scones.

The Salpeters and the Ashers have a rivalry dating back centuries, possibly to the days of Charlemagne. Over a thousand and Lord knows how many years, wars have been waged between the two families and often they have come in conflict with wars such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, and more recently-World War II. Greta has been taught to hate the Ashers.Yet she cannot help but think of how the current owner of Asher's Baked Goods, Victoria, has nice legs.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

At 12 p.m. one March day, one of the employees of Sweet Tangerine came in from lunch with a dreadful announcement...

"Asher's selling honeyed CHERRY tarts now," Brendon exclaimed as he came barreling through the doors of the bakery, nearly knocking over old Widow Turner. "Honeyed cherry tarts, Greta!" He said, hands over his heart. Brendon had always been an overdramatic boy.

"Brendon," Ryan, one of the other employees and chief sprinkles sprinkler, asked in his usual unaffected monotone. "How do you know that Asher's Baked Goods has honeyed cherry tarts?" Spencer hid his smirk behind the the cake he was frosting.

"Jon told me," Brendon replied dutifully. A dreamy look crept over his eyes and he sighed happily. "Brendon!" Ryan exclaimed. "You're flirting with the enemy?"

"Hush, Ross," Greta spoke up, silencing all of her employees. God, sometimes she felt like the only mature one out of the four of them. And she was the youngest too. She pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow. Honeyed cherry tarts...Sounded delicious, Greta had to admit. And most people these days seemed to prefer cherries over oranges.

"Well then," She said after a few moments of deep thought in which Brendon had looked like he was going to wet himself. "We'll just have to fight tart against tart." Ryan made a choked, snorting noise at which Greta glared at him. He immediately grew straight faced and busied himself with the next customer.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

"Honeyed apple tarts?" Nate wrinkled his nose as he, Jon, and Ryland looked up at the new advertisement being put up outside of Sweet Tangerine Bakery. "Seriously?"

Jon just shrugged, a small amused smile playing at his lips. "Brendon's idea," He replied. Nate just crossed his arms over his chest.

"Does this mean war?" Ryland called back to Victoria who was the only actually doing any work at the moment.
Victoria just frowns at them from where she's kneading the dough for bread. Her cheek has a smudge of flour on it and there's streaks of the white substance in her hair. "No, it means you three should get your asses back here and help me!" She said in an annoyed tone.

Her three employees scurried quickly over to help with the kneading, or rather Jon and Ryland did while Nate shuffled back up to the front counter.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

>At 1 p.m. exactly the next day, the employees of Sweet Tangerine Bakery and the employees of Asher's Baked Goods met in the street between their respective establishments for a final showdown. Brendon gave Jon a sad, mournful pout while Jon gave Brendon a small, comforting smile. Really, this rivalry was really ridiculous.

"I hear you're selling cherry tarts?" Greta asked Victoria cooly, her bare arms folded over her busty bosom.

"I hear that you're selling honeyed apple tarts now too," Victoria smugly replied, hands on her hips. Greta's eyes uncharacteristically narrowed as she stared her rival down. Brendon, Ryan, and Spencer and Jon, Nate, and Ryland all held their breaths in anticipation. Victoria stepped closer to Greta who's lips twitched.

"Five bucks they have a cat-fight," Brendon whispered aloud as the two females stared each other down.

What happened next, though, turned out to be a surprise.

Greta stepped close enough to Victoria that their knees knocked together and reached up to curl her hand around the back of the other woman's neck. Then, as quick as a mouse, she pulled Victoria down and planted a firm kiss to her lips.

The mouths of their respective employees dropped wide open as Victoria set her hands on Greta's waist to pull her in closer and the simple kiss turned to a heated make-out session after which Victoria started pulling Greta towards Asher's Baked Goods where her small apartment was located above.

"Well, shit," Nate said, blinking after the retreating girls. "I, for one, did not see that coming."

"So, I suppose we have a truce then?" Brendon inquired. The others turned and just stared at him. "Yes Brendon, we have a truce," Jon chuckled, hooking an arm around the younger's waist.

White Roses and Hot Chocolate [Bob/Gerard; PG-13]

2009-10-28T00:19:05Z

Title: White Roses and Hot Chocolate
Author: reinvent_lover
Pairing: Bob Bryar/Gerard Way
Rating: PG-13 (language, off-scene sex, boy love)
POV: Third
Summary: "Who's the chick in the tie talking to Mikey?"
Disclaimer: Completely untrue. Everyone owns themselves.
Author Notes: For anon_lovefest

<0 months, 0 days, 11 hours, 4 minutes, 45 seconds>

"Who's the chick in the tie talking to Mikey?" Bob asks one blustery April day as he and Ray hang around by the cooler with the usual gaggle of slackers. Ray looks and lets out a honking laugh. "That's Gerard, Mikey's brother. He just got clean and Mikey got Gabe to offer him a job to start him on the right foot."

"Huh," Says Bob, now noticing the lack of breasts and curves on Gerard coupled with an Adam's Apple. As Bob's luck had it, Gerard took that moment to look up at them and smile when Mikey gestured toward Bob and Ray at the water cooler. He immediately felt his cheeks heat up and a feeling that he had not felt since the tenth grade creep into his stomach. Bob twisted his face up to make it seem like he had an upset stomach. Ray (damn him) caught the red cheeks and the funny look on Bob's face and started laughing all over again.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

<3 months, 17 days, 12 hours, 20 minutes, 27 seconds>

"So...." Bob says one afternoon while he and Mikey are outside on a smoke break (Ray would have been with them except he'd been cutting back on smoking since Christa was pregnant). "Gerard..."

"I'm Mikey, Bob," Mikey replies in his usual, unaffected tone as he blows smoke out into the humid, sticky July air.

Bob just nods as he leans against the wall of their office building and sighs inwardly.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

< 4 months, 2 days, 14 hours, 7 minutes, 38 seconds>

"Do you think Gerard likes flowers?" Bob asks Frank from where he's sprawled out on the sofa. Bob does not usually sprawl in front of guests, but it's fucking hot out. Frank snorts as he idly flicks through a drumming magazine. "He's a guy, Bob. Guys don't like flowers." "Gerard might," Bob points out, thinking of how his co-worker somehow always had a dandelion tucked away somewhere on his desk. "Dandelions are weeds," Ray replies as he takes command of the TV remote and starts flicking through the channels to find something good.

"Try white roses and say something corny like they remind you of how pale and creamy his skin is," He laughs. Frank starts to giggle his manic and irritating giggle. "Fuck you both..." Bob grumbles, feeling to lethargic from the heat to protest or make them leave.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

<7 months, 15 days, 10 hours, 2 minutes, 4 seconds>

"Have you ever had a decent conversation with him?" Ray asks at the photocopier one afternoon in November. Bob just glares at him as he presses the 'OK' button on the copier. "

You know," Ray grins, jerking his head towards the doorway. Bob just stares at him. Ray stares back.

"Uhm?" They both turn their heads at the same time to see who's at the door. Of course, it's Gerard.

Ray, the bastard, just grins as he hops down from the counter he had been sitting on. "The wife wants me home early to help with the baby." Bob nods. Ray had been leaving early for a month since Christopher had been born. Bob and Frank were both vying for the role of godfather, but Ray was most likely going to pick his brother Tito. And just as Ray's fro disappeared from view, Bob realized that he was alone. With Gerard. Who he was currently crushing and having wet dreams over.

Gerard shifts around uncomfortably and manages a small smile up at Bob. "You using that?" He asks, gesturing towards the photo copier. Bob just stares. Gerard repeats the question again and Bob snaps out of his daze. "What? Oh...I'm done," He mumbles, throughly embarrassed as he turns to the machine to get the memos Gabe had him copy out. When he turns around he's surprised to discover that Gerard's intently staring at him.

"Bob, right?" He asks in that voice that makes Bob's insides all gooey. Bob nods and tries to fiddle with his non-existent lip ring (which he had to take out when he first started working here. Once Gabe took over, the dress code became more relaxed, Frank even went blonde and black for awhile once and Patrick got to wear his trucker caps every day, but the hole where Bob's lip ring had closed up and he really had not gotten around to getting a new one.)

"Yeah...Gerard Way, right?" He asks despite that he already knows Gerard's name as well as a few other, unimportant details.

Gerard nods, a soft smile tugging at his perfect (mind you Bob's thinking that at the moment) lips.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

<8 months, 5 days, 17 hours, 3 minutes, 3 seconds>

"Bob, wait up!" Gerard's voice calls across the parking lot.

Bob turns and ignores the thumping in his heart as he watches the other man run across the parking lot towards him. He cannot help but smile at the way the object of his affections runs.The smile turns to alarm when Gerard runs onto some ice and flails for a moment before crashing down on his ass.

Before he can register anything, he's right there helping Gerard up and helping him check for broken bones. "Well," He says, once they assert that Gerard's alright despite a bruised elbow. "Would you like to get a cup of hot chocolate with me?" Bob really just blurts the last part out. He could not help it really.

Gerard stares up at him for a moment before his face cracks into his signature grin. "Yes, I'd love to get hot chocolate with you, Bob Bryar."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________<

<8 months, 5 days, 23 hours, 2 minutes, 5 seconds >

"I never knew that hot chocolate could be translated into sex," Gerard remarks as he presses his face into Bob's neck with a happy grin.

"Now you know," Bob simply replies, reaching over Gerard to grab a marshmallow and pop it into the smaller man's mouth to shush him up before kissing him.

END. (For Now.)

Happy Anniversary [Gerard/Jon; PG]

2009-06-01T16:53:02Z

Title: Happy Anniversary
Author: reinvent_lover.
Main Character: Gerard Way/Jon Walker
POV: Third
Summary: Christmas was always a special time in the Walker-Way household.
Disclaimer: Don't own
Author Notes: Originally, I posted this under bingabangaboo around Christmas '08 for the awesome emilyrose2005 . I recently found this again whilst looking around on my computer and decided to put it up again.
Warnings: Mentions of polygamy, mentions of mpreg and boy sex

Christmas was always a special time in the Walker-Way household. It was the time of year when they first met about seven years ago at a Christmas party hosted by Gerard’s brother Mikey and his husband Pete who coincidentally was a friend of Jon’s. Christmas Day was the date of their wedding four years after. Their twins, Greg and Gavin had been born the Christmas before and crowed and babbled throughout the ceremony in their respective godfathers’ arms. Greg managed to slobber all over Uncle Tom Conrad’s tuxedo jacket and Gavin kept trying to grab Uncle Mikey’s glasses off of his face.

The Walker-Way family returned their household in the suburbs of Chicago (many of their friends lived near them by the way) after the honeymoon (in Disney!) and Jon resumed his office job and Gerard stayed home to watch the twins, take care of the house and cats, and paint on occasion. He found watching the twins was a whole lot harder than cleaning the house or changing Dylan and Clover’s litter box. They had just started walking a month or so before and got into everything. Greg found pulling the cats’ tails and sticking a chubby little finger into their ears delightful and Gavin was always pulling things that stuck out (mainly the table cloth) down and ate the cat food. Gerard found it hard to scold them because Greg would hug his leg and Gavin would kiss his hand and they both would put on these cherubic expressions on so that Papa Gerard’s insides would melt and he’d bring them upstairs and let them watch TV in his and Daddy Jon’s bed before their nap.

Baby Josie was born New Year’s Eve three years later. This time around it was Gerard who carried her because Jon had carried the twins. Greg and Gavin were excited that they were getting a baby sister and chattered increasingly about it which really was a surprise since Gavin was usually quiet and Greg was the one always screaming. Josie, as it later turned out, was somewhere in the middle and could go from increasingly quiet and thoughtful to off the wall and giggly. “Just like me!” Gerard later beamed at her third birthday party and proudly showed her off on his shoulder to everyone.

*****

Greg and Gavin were identical in their looks except for their eye color. Greg had Jon’s dark brown eyes, but Gavin’s were more lighter and like a liquid milk chocolate. They looked like Jon (Greg more so because of his eyes), and Gerard wondered whether they would grow scruffy beards like Jon’s one day. They always wondered where Greg got his hyperactivity from, and Jon would always say it was from Gerard’s eccentric ways but then you would have to consider the amount of time Uncle Brendon Urie spent with him.

Josie was the spitting image of Gerard from her little upturned nose to her crooked smile that revealed the four teeth she just grew in. Her hair curled just under her ears and was dark and thick like Jon’s. Unlike the twins, she called Gerard ‘Mama’ and Jon ‘Dada’. Greg would always try and correct her, but Gavin would always cover his mouth and say, “Shhhh!” loudly before going over to Josie and petting her hair.

*****
Greg woke his daddies up on the Christmas in which this story takes place by announcing in what Jon called his outdoor voice, “Josie made a stinky, and I’m hungry and I want my presents but Gavie won’t get up soIaccidentallypinchedhimI’msorry.” That last bit was rushed and he was quite red in the face after saying it in one breath. At the same time Gavin came into the bedroom sniffling because Greg had pinched him really hard and it still hurt. He climbed into Gerard and Jon’s bed before resuming his crying which brought a loud cross of a scream and squeal from the nursery in the next room.
“The princess is awake!” Greg shouted having forgotten the fact that he should have been in trouble for pinching his brother, turned on his footsie pajamaed heel and marched off to amuse Josie while their daddies (or to Josie, their dada and mama) got up.

Gerard buried his face into Jon’s side to keep from laughing. Gavin noticed this and scowled at him crossing his arms. “Papa I got hurt. You shouldn’t laugh ‘cause of that.” He huffed causing Gerard to giggle even more and Jon to bite his lip from laughing. “Stop laughing on my birthday!” Gavin’s lip trembled and his eyes began to well up.
“It’s not just your birthday, Gav.” Jon reminded him sitting up and pulling his younger by five minutes son into his lap. “It’s mine and Papa’s anniversary.”
“Well, du-uh.” Gavin rolled his eyes. “I was there of course and Greg was too.” He added in a condescending tone before grinning and snuggling his head back against Jon’s shoulder and then kissing the top of Gerard’s head. The aforementioned other son chose that moment to come staggering into the room carrying Josie who started shrieking, “Down! Down!” and really was about to start beating at Greg with her little fists when Greg ~~dropped~~ set her down with such a thump that she screwed up her eyes and began bawling. And add to that a stinky diaper and Miss Josephine Walker-Way first Christmas wasn’t starting off well.
“Sorry Rosy-Josie.” Greg poked the tip of her nose and went to kiss her forehead, but Josie managed to grab his nose and push him away. He fell to the ground with a thud and sat up after a minute staring at his baby sister and then at his daddies and brother. “She’s a Super-baby Daddies!” He squeaked crawling back over to Josie and hugging her. “Two desserts for you tonight Super-Josie!” Josie squealed in delight and clapped her hands.

*****

It took almost an hour to get everything situated-Jon had to go get the video camera and make sure that everything was under the tree and Josie’s diaper needed changing. “Don’t forget to turn the music bells on Daddy!” Greg shouted down the stairs before marching back into the nursery. He liked marching and was hoping for a toy sword so he could feel official when marching around. Gavin had Clover on his lap and was thoughtfully stroking his back.
“Uncle Mikey said he was gonna get me and Greggie a puppy.” He informed Gerard who had just thrown out Josie’s dirty diaper.
“Is that so?” Gerard said tickling Josie’s belly before wiping her tush and putting a new diaper on her.
“Uh-huh. But don’t worry, it’s not a St. Bernard like Beethoven. Uncle Mikey said he would never do that to you ‘cause we already gots Greg who’s kind of like a doggie, but a doggie’s more cuddly like Josie and the kitties after they’ve eaten.” Gavin nodded seriously. He was crazy about dogs, especially Huskies, and wanted to breed enough for his own sled team in Alaska when he was older.
“You can come and visit.” He had informed Gerard while watching him feed a two month old Josie one afternoon. “You and Daddy can have your own hallway.”
“Wow, Daddy and I get to sleep in a hallway in Alaska instead of our own nice warm bed.” Gerard had chuckled sitting Josie up to be burped. Gavin had had a mini-spasm before indignantly shrieking, “You’re not having your own hallway now! You and Daddy can sleep in the kennel!” He then had stomped his foot and went huffing and puffing off to sulk in front of the TV.
“Uncle Pete said he’d get you a Great Dane after Josie goes to college. Only seventeen more years Papa!” Gavin let out a tiny squeal and danced around the room. Greg somberly watched him from where he was perched on a rocking horse.
“Five year olds don’t prance and dance Gavin Arthur.” He reprimanded his brother and crossed his arms all while making an attempt to give Gavin the evil eye.
“Yes we do Gregory Jacob.” Gavin squeaked as he danced around the rocking horse. “Right Papa?” Gerard shrugged.
“Your Uncle Brendon still does it and he’s not five years old.” He buttoned Josie’s pajamas back up and transferred her to his hip before smoothing back her hair.
“But Uncle Brendon’s practically a girl.” Greg frowned.
“Papa looks like a girl, but he doesn’t act like one.” Gavin reminded him gleefully before dancing over to Gerard and throwing his arms around his waist. “Well except when we go to the comic book store or when he see’s a needle.”
“Or when we saw Bride to Terabithia,” Jon’s lazy drawl rolled in from the doorway. Gerard made a face as he kept disentangling Josie’s chubby little fists from his hair. “I was pregnant.”
“But you weren’t aware of it.” Jon rolled his eyes as he crossed the room and flicked the video camera on and pressed record. “Ready for presents?” The twins squealed and raced out of the room (Greg falling off the rocking horse in the process). Josie let out a whine and reached out for the camera. “No no no, Josie-Pie, you’re too little to play with Dada’s camera.”

*****

“One at a time!” Gerard shouted over the excited squeals of his children. He was sitting cross-legged on the carpet with a garbage bag by his side. “Let the baby go first.” He gestured towards Josie who was toddling around with a bottle clutched in her hand as she inspected all the colorfully wrapped presents. Gavin picked out a round present that had Winnie the Pooh wrapping paper and a big red bow atop of it.
“It has a J for Josie!” He shouted excitedly as he set it down in front of the baby. Josie looked from the present to her bottle and back to the present before dropping her bottle and plopping down in front of the present with a squeal. Gerard pulled her and the present into his lap and helped her open it while Jon hovered over them with the camera. Josie let out little Oooo’s every so often and seemed to be more interested in the paper and bows than the actual present which happened to be a little music ball that played a tune and lit up when you rolled it.
“We may just have to get the baby her own roll of wrapping paper next year.” Jon chuckled as he zoomed in on Josie crinkling the paper.
“Can I have Josie’s presents if she doesn’t want them?” Greg popped his face in front of the camera.
“No.” His daddies said at the same time. They stared at each other and laughed. Jon handed the camera to Gavin. “Don’t drop it.” He warned him before leaning forward and taking Gerard’s face into his arms and planting a kiss on his lips. Josie let out an offended squeal for she was in the middle of her daddy and mommy’s kissing and they hadn’t showered yet. Gerard broke the kiss only to pick Josie off of his lap and set her next to him where she promptly got herself up and joined Greg in picking through the presents. Gavin set the camera on the ground sideways before joining his siblings.

The camera was faced towards where Gerard and Jon were kissing and excited shrieks and squeals could be heard in the background.
“Happy anniversary,” Jon said into Gerard’s ear before licking it and covering his face with kisses.

Fin.

You Are The Moon [Gerard/Greta]; PG13

2009-03-10T16:40:16Z

Title: You Are The Moon
Author: reinvent_lover.
Main Character: Gerard Way/Greta Salpeter
POV: Third
Summary: Her head lay on his shoulder as she peacefully slept. He moved stray hairs out of her face and kissed her lips softly.
Disclaimer: 1900’s fic. I do not own anyone mentioned in this story. Story title from The Hush Sound song.
Author Notes: The last bit was a bit of a ramble ‘cause it was like one in the morning when I finished it up and I was a bit tired. Anyways, Gerard and Greta is a way random pairing but I think it can work quite well in many situations.
Warnings: Fluff, molestation, het sex, gender swap

Gerard Way knew from a young age that luck wasn’t always on his side. His father left his family when his mother was pregnant with his little brother Mikey. Gerard remembered his mother sitting on the floor, four months pregnant, crying. He remembered tottering over to her and trying to wipe her tears away with a dish cloth and kisses. Mrs. Way had drawn him in for a hug and they stayed there together on the floor for a good hour or so. Gerard remembered when his mother died of pneumonia. He had just turned six and Mikey was still four. They were sent to an orphanage and Gerard refused to be separated from his brother. Mikey, he explained with such seriousness for a six year old, was not very smart (which was a lie) and that he suck his fingers on hot stoves if there was no one in the room (that only happened once and it was Gerard’s fault anyway). The Way brothers kept to themselves as the years passed and when Gerard was ten and Mikey was about seven they ran away to the city.

An artist took them in after Gerard tried pickpocket him for money to pay for a doctor because Mikey had gotten a horrible cold and they both were almost starving anyway. The nice artist became a foster father to the boys, but they never called him anything except Father Morrison. When Gerard was sixteen he became Father Morrison’s apprentice because apparently he had great skill in drawing and painting portraits. When he was barely twenty he set out on a ‘journey’ as Mikey called it to paint and sketch. Paint and sketch what? Father Morrison had asked. Everything, was Gerard’s simple answer.

Greta Salpeter was the picture of perfection. Her blonde hair was always neat and always held back by a hair ribbon. Her dresses were always clean and elegant. She always had a smile on her face and a kind word to say. Best of all, she was an excellent pianist with an angelic singing voice to boot. She enjoyed relaxing by her ‘secret’ stream under a tree and reading a book. Greta loved to read. She loved reading as much as she loved singing and playing her piano. She always seemed so happy and full of life. There was a rumor that her smile could make a sour old Scrooge become a saint. Starting on her sixteenth birthday, men of various ages had come to her father to ask for her hand. She politely refused each and every one of them for although they were all wealthy and successful she knew she couldn’t love any of them.

****

One day in mid-April as Greta sat under her tree a young man approached her and asked is he could paint her.

“Please ma’am? I’ll even let you keep it.” His crooked smile filled her stomach with butterflies.

“Oh, alright.” She finally agreed standing up and brushing off her dress. “I’m Greta by the way, Greta Salpeter.”

“Gerard Way.” He was still smiling as he set his supplies down and held his hand out. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

Greta smiled back as she shook his hand. “So where do you want me to sit?”

Gerard pointed over to a large rock. She sat on it curling her legs under her. Gerard handed her her book. “You can go on reading.”

She nods and smiles what she hopes what is an alluring smile and goes back to reading. Gerard stares at her for a second before biting his lip and setting up his easel.

*****

“Mind if I join you?” Greta peeked over the top of her book. Gerard was standing a few feet in front of her. He had a box of art supplies in one hand and a sketch pad in the other. She smiled and patted the grass beside her. He grinned back and plopped down next to her.

“Nice day isn’t it?” He asked as he took his hat off and set it aside. He ran his fingers through his hair before rummaging through his box and pulling out a pencil and eraser before flipping his sketch book open. “I’m almost done with your drawing.”

“May I see it?” Greta set her book aside. The young man shook his head and rolled his eyes. She pouted. “Please Gee?”

“I already told you Grets; you shalt not lay eyes on it till I’m done. Maybe if you actually let me work it’ll get done faster.” Gerard frowned as he picked a colored pencil up. Greta rolled her eyes and went back to reading her book.

A half hour passed with the only noise being the occasional turn of the pages in Greta’s book and the faint sound of Gerard’s coloring.

“Done!” He triumphantly proclaimed dropping his pencil into his box. Greta set her book aside again and shifted closer to him.

“Oh Gerard.” She whispered as she took the drawing into her hands. “This is lovelier than the painting you did of me.”

Gerard frowned slightly. “I may have to disagree, ma’am.”

Greta slyly smiled. “Maybe you’ll just have to do a third painting.” She murmured softly as she leant against him.

“Maybe.” He nodded in agreement as he began to stroke her hair. “Greta may I ask you something?”

“What is it?” She sits up as he took her hands into his.

“I-I kind of maybe like you a lot.” A dark blush invaded his cheeks. Greta squealed in delight.

“Oh Gerard! I like you a lot too!” She exclaimed happily throwing her arms around his neck and shifting around so she was sitting sideways on his lap. He buries his head into her shoulder.

“I can feel a new chapter blossoming.” He murmured against her neck, kissing it softly.

****

A year of secret love and happiness passed for the young lovers.

Greta kept refusing the suitors her parents invited to their large estate for her and Gerard contemplated proposing.

One afternoon, about a year and a half in, Gerard arrived at their special spot to find his love in tears.

“Darling why do you cry?” He exclaimed dropping his things as he hurried over to comfort her, wiping the tears from her face with his sleeve and peppering her red cheeks with kisses.

Weeping she showed him her left hand. A garish engagement ring rested on her ring finger. “Father wouldn’t let me say no!” She wailed, burying her face in Gerard’s shoulder. “I don’t want to marry Luke! When Father left the room he was so vulgar in his mannerisms!” She hiccupped and took a deep breath. “He pinched my breasts and said he couldn’t wait for our wedding night.”

Anger flashed through Gerard’s eyes. “No one should ever touch you like that!” He exclaimed pulling her into a protective embrace. “I’ll take you away from here, oh yes I will. Tonight I’ll come for you. We’ll meet here. You don’t mind living in lesser conditions, darling?”

Greta nodded as she took the ring off and cast it into the river. “We’ll be together and that’s all that matters.”

Gerard smiled and took her face into his hands and passionately kissed her. “Bring only what you can carry, but I’ll buy you some more clothes. From the perspective of an artist, dark colors are more suiting on you.”

“Oh Gee…” She sighed against his mouth as they fell to the ground together.

****

They were married that night and spent the night in an inn. The next morning they left on the 6 o’clock. Greta’s left hand was clutched in Gerard’s right and her plain gold wedding band shone in the morning light. Her head lay on his shoulder as she peacefully slept. He moved stray hairs out of her face and kissed her lips softly.

Greta stirred, but only yawned and slept on which made Gerard smile a bit.

****

Mikey was waiting for them at the train station when they pulled in. Gerard had sent a telegram earlier with the news of his coming home with his new bride. Father Morrison had been overjoyed that his oldest adopted son was finally married.

Mikey himself wasn’t married yet, but he was seeing a nice girl named Francesca who preferred demanded to be called Frank. He planned on popping the question at Christmas.

“Michael James Way!” The familiar voice broke him out of his thoughts. He smiled as Gerard came rushing up to him with a beautiful young woman on his arm.

“Gerard!” He exclaimed embracing his brother. “Two years is too long. Father Morrison said you’re not leaving his sight for another decade or so.”

Gerard rolled his eyes and grinned. “I don’t think my wife would want to be traveling everywhere. Mikes this is the love of my life, Greta.”

The woman reached up to peck Mikey’s cheek. “Gerard’s told me so much about you.” She smiled prettily.

Mikey smiled back. “He told me so much about you in his letters. To be honest at first I thought he had dreamt you up or something.”

“Mikey!” Gerard raised an eyebrow at him. Mikey raised one back.

“We better get going home, Cook’s making your favorite meal and Father Morrison bought the best wine there is.”

“Why?” Both Gerard and Greta asked at the same time. Mikey laughed.

“It’s not everyday that one’s long lost son comes back home, and with a bride too.”

Gerard scowled as he and Mikey grabbed their bags and put them into the carriage. “I’ve only been gone two years…”

****

Father Morrison nearly cried when Gerard walked over the threshold.

“Welcome home my son.” He whispered as he embraced the young man like he had always had once upon a time when a younger Gerard had bad dreams.

Gerard himself took his handkerchief out of his pocket to dry his eyes.

“And you must be Greta!” Father Morrison embraced her as well. “You are the one who has made my oldest boy happy and his to art come back to life. I thank you for this and give you both my blessings.”

Greta’s eyes misted over. “Oh thank you Father Morrison!” She cried as she pecked the old man’s cheek.

****

Frank and company (i.e. Gabe and William, Patrick and Petra, Ryan and Brenda, Bob and Ray) had come bursting in right after Father Morrison’s blessings over the newlyweds.

Gabe, William, Ray, Bob, and Ryan jokingly teased a flushing Gerard about getting hitched whilst all the ladies (except for Frank who had mysteriously disappeared along with Mikey) cooed and chattered over Greta.

“You have nice friends.” Greta commented as she brushed her hair and braided it that night.

“They all scare me-especially Bob and Gabe.” Gerard murmured from behind his book.

“Frank and Mikey look so happy together.” She added setting her brush down and crawling into bed next to her husband. Gerard put his book aside and took her into his arms.

“I remember when Frank was a front teethless little brat. She used to tag after us boys all the time. Come to think of it, Mikey was the only one who wanted her to stay and play.”

“Aww, love at first.” Greta giggled tracing a pattern over Gerard’s chest.

“Just like us.” He grinned throwing the covers over them. A small shriek and then a somewhat loud moan escaped from under the covers.

****

All was smooth sailing from then on.

Greta discovered she was pregnant a month and two weeks later. Their oldest child, a boy named Grant Michael Way, came screaming into the world about nine months after that. The Way’s doted on Baby Grant who had his mother’s fine hair and his father’s handsome looks.

Ryan and Brenda often brought their daughter, Emmaline, over for playdates. Frank and Petra by this time were both pregnant and drove everyone else (especially their husbands) insane with their mood swings and insane food cravings. The other two couples secretly thanked God that they were all male.

Ray and Bob took in three little boys named Joe (who enjoyed climbing over Uncle Patrick and cuddling up with Aunt Petra), Andrew (who insisted on being called the Butcher), and Spencer (who cried a lot although he was the second youngest of the big kids). Gabe and William took in four-a sweet faced little girl named Victoria (who was Gabe’s favorite by the way; her sweet little charms melted his heart), Jon (who minded Spencer and was very polite), Mike (who liked to scare the fuck out of everyone with his Dr. Fear routine) and Adam who liked cats, the Butcher, and being cuddled (but not by Mike who scared the living shit of him so much that he refused to sleep in the same room with him and would often go crying to Gabe, William, or Vicky because Mike pulled his Dr. Fear routine again).

Life was very eventful indeed.