M.j's place, I am trying, lol. Thank you. takers dark lover, Chris is adorable as always. It works. LadyDragonsblood, shhh, don't tell Adam any of that. He worries enough, the poor thing, lol. Ain't nothing wrong with misfits. As long as Gerard's okay with it, I don't think Adam would force him, he'd just find something else. Thank you, sweetheart. Guest, thank you!

The Darkest Corners;
Chapter nine/ 'The Leaves Monster'
Rated; M/ L, S (quickie, angsty perversion)

Adam watched Gerard as he chased Chris around their backyard from the porch. The backyard was spacious and fenced in and Adam felt safer letting Gerard roam free.. under supervision of course. There was a light chill in the air, but the sun was bright and warm. Adam giggled as Chris pretended to trip and stumble into a huge pile of leaves he had raked up earlier, Gerard pouncing on top of him and yelling "Got you! Got you!" Pooter was busy jumping and yipping, happy to be involved in any way in their game. At the store they had picked up a little red collar and had tags made with the dog's new name and their address and number. They also got some puppy chow and food and water bowls, along with a couple of chew toys.

Chris laughed. "Yeah, you got me.." He grabbed the smaller boy and lifted him off enough to deposit him in the soft leaves. "Hah, I got you."

"Ah, no fair!" Gerard squealed as the small dog started licking his face.

Fall was in the air and Adam breathed in the smell. Fall always smelled wonderful. They had all been decorating for fall and the Halloween season. Chris had let Gerard help decorate what didn't require a staple gun or nails. The kid was absolutely loving it and his eyes lit up the first night they turned the bright white, purple and orange lights on that adorned their front porch. They had them strung up in triangle patterns that reminded Adam of candy corn. Adam loved watching how happy it made Gerard. How he could be so excited for just lights, Adam adored that.

The blonde had already been going over plans in his head. There was Halloween, and Thanksgiving and Christmas still to come. And so many more he couldn't wait for them to all celebrate together. Gerard hadn't really got to experience them in the hospital or institute. Adam had tried to bring them to him, the staff all tried to for the patients somewhat.. but he knew it wasn't the same.

He also ignored the nagging feeling in the back of his head that told him that keeping Gerard may not be permanent. Not that he didn't want it to be, but there were people who could still take him and put him back in Gateway, or send him to a special home to be cared for. Adam knew he wouldn't really be cared for or be happy there, he'd be miserable. He didn't want to think about losing Gerard. The boy could not be released on his own right now.. maybe not ever. He knew it was a big responsibility, but so was taking care of any child or patient. And he loved Gerard, he was his responsibility. He knew it was asking a lot of Chris, but Adam didn't want this to be just a temporary thing as he had told him before.

He smiled warmly as he watched his boys, his family. Chris had let Gerard tackle him back into the big pile of leaves and now Gerard was currently burying him in the leaves. Adam stepped off the porch and made his way over. "Hey, you 'bout ready to come inside?"

Gerard shook his head. "Nope." Chris was nearly completely covered now. Pooter was treading the leaves now, bouncing every now and then, hunting for bugs in the pile and barking at them.

"No?" Adam pretended to pout. "Well, in a little while then. Hey, you haven't happened to have seen Chris, have you? He was just here and now he's gone. Like he gone poof."

Gerard was still piling on leaves. "The leave monster got him."

"The leave monster? Oh, no. Did it gobble him up?"

"Um-hm."

"Well, you better be careful then, it might gobble you up next."

On that cue, Chris sat up, scattering the leaves and growling pretty comically. Gerard squealed as Chris grabbed for him, falling back in the leaves as he was 'attacked' and squirming. "Rawr, I am the great leave monster. I hunger." It could have been the worst- or best- impression of a monster ever.

"Nooo.." Gerard giggled, wiggling away and getting up to run and be chased. Chris got up and followed, arms out and walking stiffly like the Frankenstein monster and groaning. Pooter barked and took off after them.

"Be careful. Don't run, you'll fall." Adam warned. "Chris.."

Chris had already caught his 'victim' and had hoisted him up over his shoulder. "Chill out, ma. Look what I caught."

Gerard raised his head. "Gah, no. You cheated." He saw he was being taken toward the house and pouted, protesting. "No, stay out.."

"We'll come back out later." Chris assured. "The leave monster is tired."

"But Poot is sad. Look at him." Gerard argued. The puppy sat on the porch and tilted his head, whined.. then promptly took back off and jumped back in the pile of leaves to play. "Traitor."

Chris giggled and sat the boy down inside the house.

Later Chris held Gerard in his lap on the couch as he slept, the TV on and the volume now turned down real low. They had been watching Ernest Scared Stupid and Chris was sure he was going to have nightmares of being covered in slimy gross troll kisses tonight. The movie was really silly, but fun and that was the whole point.

He looked down as Gerard sighed in his sleep, his fingers lightly curled in Chris's shirt. Chris smiled, stroking his hair back. He hadn't laughed or smiled so hard with anyone that wasn't Adam in a long time. And moments like this were nice, sitting here, snuggled up with someone he never thought he would be and enjoying the steady rhythm of their breathing and having that put him at ease. He was relaxed and warm.. all he was missing was Adam, who was in the shower currently.

He didn't think he would grow this close, or this attached. Maybe he saw now why Adam had. He was already under the same spell, he was falling in love. And then he remembered Adam telling him it was only temporary and that thought bothered him. Probably more than it should, because why did it have to be? The boy was better off here with people who wanted him and cared for him. He was happy here. He held Gerard a little tighter and rocked him.

After they got Gerard down and went over the house to make sure all was locked up and what needed to be turned off was off, Chris met Adam in their bedroom as he was making up the bed. "Is it really temporary, Adam?"

Adam stilled and wet his lips uncertainly. He probably knew this question was coming, but he hoped it would come later. "Um.. I didn't want it to be. Look, they think it's best that Gerard not be cooped up in the institute, but they can't and won't release him on his own. He has to have someone to take care of him. They trusted me, said I could try it. I couldn't turn it down. I can take him back if I absolutely have to, but he's doing so good and I-"

"Wait, Adam. No. I wasn't telling you to take him back. I was just asking. It's just like a trial basis.. but if it's working, why would they need to take him from us?"

Adam fiddled with the corner of the sheet in his hands. "They wouldn't.. I mean, they still could regardless, but.. I don't think they would. I agreed, I'm capable, we're capable."

Chris nodded. "He needs a permanent place. If they agreed to it, could we.. I don't know, adopt him? Would that be the right word?" He didn't know how this worked for adults. "Take custody, something like that..?"

"Maybe.." Adam shuffled over to his lion, placing his hands on his chest. "Oh, Chrissy, are you saying you'd want to? Are you telling me I can keep him?"

Chris wrapped his arms around the taller blonde's waist. "Yeah.. even if we can't have custody, I want us to keep him."

Adam gave a little squeal and smiled, pecking Chris on the lips. "I love you so much right now."

Chris grinned. "You better always love me." He kissed him again and lead him to bed.

They had a quickie that night, as quietly as possible in what Adam liked to tease was prison sex. They didn't fully undress and Adam bent over on his knees on the bed and tugged his pants down, Chris shoving his own down just past his cock. Chris prepped him quickly, groaning as he slid inside Adam's tight heat and pushing his hips down further on the bed as he drove in deeper.

The bed squeaked and Adam raised up in alarm, shaking his hair out of his face. "Wait.. wait.. wait.." He listened.

"He's not going to stir, Adam.. fuck, you're choking me.." He rocked his hips a bit. "Besides, I locked our door."

"You locked our door?" Adam shouted in a whisper. "What if he gets up and finds the door locked? He'll panic."

"Adam, I'd really rather he panic for a second or two than barge in and see this." Chris said stoically, holding to Adam's hips. He was pretty sure at this point, one good hard thrust would send him over.. and he'd be a lousy minute man and a joke to all mankind.

Adam sighed, he hated to admit it. "Yeah, you're right.. and neither of us are willing to try and explain it to him.. not to mention the embarrassment."

"Eh, we'd get Phil to. And I meant the embarrassment."

Adam was going to scold Chris for the Phil comment, but found himself shoved forward as Chris began to thrust, pounding him hard and making him forget all his worries for at least a few minutes.

Adam reached between his legs and squeeze his cock. "Humph.. prison fucking me, could at least give me a reach around."

"I am not prison fucking you. That insults me. This is prison fucking you." Chris grabbed to Adam's hair and held his head down to the pillow. "Yeah, bitch.. you like my cock fucking your ass.. take it, boy.."

Adam shuddered. He'd laugh later about how Chris was doing it in his usual joking way and it was cute.. but the way Chris was snapping his hips against his ass and holding him.. fuck, it was good. "Uhm.. fuck.." He buried his face in the pillow and lost it as soon as Chris started stroking his dick. He'd never be embarrassed about being a minute man.. not when he had just cum so hard he saw stars.. but he was dreading having to change his pajamas.

Chris soon followed, raking his blunt nails down Adam's back as he came and panting. They cleaned up and Adam made Chris unlock their door. For awhile they rested peacefully.. but then Adam woke Chris up by being awake. The blonde sat up and listened to the tranquil silence of the room, picked up the monitor and shook it before holding it to his ear.

"What..?" Chris said groggily.. he was pretty sure he said 'what.'

"Shhh.. I don't hear anything. He hasn't made a peep all night."

"So..? Maybe it means he's adjusting. Now turn over here and let's go back to sleep." Chris yawned.

"No, wait.." He listened harder. Nothing. "Okay.." He put the monitor back and snuggled back down in bed.

Chris got to sleep a few minutes before Adam was up listening again. The blonde was worrisome. He wasn't used to this. It just fucked with his routine. He was used to having to go calm Gerard down, but now since Gerard hadn't stirred, it was just like Adam was expecting it and it wasn't happening so he was unsettled about it.

Finally after Adam went and quietly checked on his boy to make sure the kid hadn't choked to death in his sleep or something, he laid back down and got some sleep.

-xx-

The next day Phil came over. He helped Gerard with decorations and played some with him while Adam did housework. The blonde looked like the walking dead, he hadn't got much sleep, but he was making it.

Now Phil sat on the couch with Gerard in his lap, watching some silly cartoon. Gerard watched the cartoon, Phil watched Gerard suck and nibble on his fingers, his lips spit-slick and shiny and temptingly red. Phil sighed, saw Adam was out of the room and stole a kiss. Gerard smiled and wrapped his arms around his neck, puckering his lips for more quick kisses.

Phil smiled. "I think you like those, don't you?"

Gerard nodded. "Uh-huh." He squirmed. Phil was lightly caressing his inner thigh, running his hand up and down from his knee to dangerously close to his crotch. He'd get a little closer on every stroke up, but then would move away. And there was that mewl again. Phil stilled, letting his hand just lay on his thigh, squeezing a bit. Gerard tensed. "Tickles.."

Phil snickered, moving his hand up a bit higher. "You want me to show you something that really tickles..?" He kissed his neck. It wasn't a question and Phil grabbed his inner thigh, nearly right where the leg met straddle, squeezing and wiggling his fingers. And really, if you've never been tickled there before, it's torture as Gerard discovered. Gerard literally screamed, cackling madly and thrashing as Phil held him with an arm across his chest. He pulled him back when Gerard tried to slip out of his lap. "No no. And you already went to the bathroom, so you'll just have to sit here and take it."

Gerard gasped, giggling uncontrollably and trying to plead. He had tears in his eyes. Tickling was a funny thing, it was unpleasant.. but it made you laugh so hard. Something that torturous should not make you laugh so hard. "No no.. stop.. please.." He let out the most beautiful pained moan Phil had ever heard, panting and flushed.

Phil pressed his nose against his neck, moving his hand higher. Closer. "Tell me.. just tell me.."

Gerard swallowed. Tell him what? "Stop.. uncle.. uncle.. please.."

"I don't want to stop." He pressed his lips to his neck again. Phil then heard Adam clear his throat and did stop, his blood turning cold. He let Gerard squirm away and met Adam's gaze. If looks could kill, the stern look the blonde was currently giving him would have done him in. Though, it was kind of funny. Adam had his arms folded and was literally tapping his foot. All he needed was a dress with an apron and a rolling pin and he'd look like the perfect 1950's TV mom.

Gerard slapped at Phil's leg, pouting a little, but not really angry or upset. He was oddly tingly. "Meanie." He had peed in his underwear just a little. "I'm wet."

Phil groaned and dropped his head in his hands. Of course.

Adam muttered under his breath, wet his lips and counted in his head. "Gee, go on to your room and pick out some clean clothes, I'll be there in a minute."

"Kay.. Philly's mean." He huffed, turning and stalking to his room. And Phil would have laughed at how diva-like that was.

"I know he is." Adam sighed and turned to Phil. "What did I tell you? Huh? You know the damage you could do?"

"Ugh.. fuck, Adam.. I was just.. I wasn't going to do anything, okay.. I wasn't going to do any damage by tickling my boyfriend.. or turning him on." Phil muttered, not appreciating being scolded.

"He doesn't know what you're doing." Adam reminded for what felt like the fiftieth time.

"What's it gonna hurt if he knows anyway? He's an adult." Phil argued.

Adam moved his hands to his hips. "It's taking advantage of him. Why would you want to do that?"

"I miss him. I miss- You're just never going to teach him about it, are you?"

"I don't want my baby being corrupted by you."

Phil snorted. "Jeebus, fuck.. It's not gonna corrupt him. And he's not a baby, he's 34 years old, a legal adult. He's been in positions that you can't even imagine. It's fucked up that before the accident it was fucking my boyfriend like a normal person.. and now it's molestation like I'm a predator. It's not fair."

Adam sighed tiredly. "Phil, I'm sorry.. but you can't.. He's in my care and I can't let you mess him up."

Phil stood. "I'm not messing him up. I know what it is. You're selfish. You just wanna keep him like this for yourself. Cuz you want a kid. Well, he's not your baby. You're not his mother. Why don't you go have a damn kid and stop using him as a replacement?"

Adam paled. He knew Phil didn't know about his past, so it couldn't be a cheap shot at that, but it still hurt. "I just want to take care of him. I care about him, Phil. Do you?"

"Of course I do. He was mine first, Copeland." Phil wanted to whine in frustration. "You didn't even know him before the attack. You know nothing about him."

"What does that matter? And I know plenty about him."

"The old him? Really? Did you know he could sing?" Phil grit his teeth. "And how dare you act like I can't touch him or kiss him. You think I'm gonna outright rape him or something, you think I'm that much of an asshole."

"No, I don't, Phil. But I'm not letting him go. I'm not ready for him to know about the birds and the bees.."

Phil sighed. "Alright. Look, I don't want to take him from you.. for his sake, because he needs you and you're good for him.. Fuck, I can't fully take care of him like this, I know that, I'm not stupid.. But I miss my boyfriend too. I just want to be apart of his life. Dammit, most men would have already bailed and found someone new, saw this shit as a way out. Give me credit for something."

"Okay. But I'm warning you, if you hurt him or scare him, you'll be wearing your balls as earrings." Adam warned.

Phil bowed indignantly. "Yes, mother Copeland. I gotta get out of here. Tell him I'll see him later."

Adam watched him take his leave, worry on his mind. He shook it off and went to check on Gerard, who hadn't uttered a peep because he had his pillow over his ears and looked scared and troubled.

Gerard lifted the pillow and raised up. "You were fighting. Please don't fight. Cuz'a me. No. No." He hadn't heard all of it, only some and he knew they were arguing about him.

Adam sighed and sat beside him. "We weren't fighting. Just having a disagreement."

"Cuz of me." The boy whimpered.

"No, baby.. It's not your fault." He pulled Gerard close, petting his hair and smiling as he snuggled closer. "We just get irritated at each other. But we're not irritated at you, okay." Adam shook his head. 'I'm more irritated at myself.'

Sorry it took so long, I've been taking sick spells. I just have to torment Phil. Leaf monster would have sounded better, but Gerard said it different. Poor Adam's making plans.. those sometimes don't turn out good, but maybe Adam'll be lucky. My brother was obsessed with Ernest movies as a kid, we watched Scared Stupid sooo many times.