takers dark lover, thanks, the boys are cute. Phil's just having a hard time right now. He understands, he's just testing his limits. M.j's place, thank you, I hope it was. LadyDragonsblood, Adam expected the worst. And he worries, poor dear. It seems like a logic reaction, lol. Phil's kind of right, the old him still is there somewhat.. just different. Thanks so much, hon. Guest, thank you! plebs, why thank you. I am having fun with it. Cerucci, I do enjoy the cuteness, I want more too. Gerard doesn't mind, Adam's safe & he needs that. Don't worry, I am twisted as well. I'm working up to it. Thank you.

The Darkest Corners;
Chapter ten/ 'Bad'
Rated; M/ L (adult situations, slight angst & poutiness)

Gerard was napping by the time Chris came home and Adam felt like he should be too. He greeted his lover more glumly than usual. Of course Chris noticed. "Hey hey hey.. what's wrong? Told you you'd regret not getting more sleep."

Adam plopped down heavily into a kitchen chair. "Phil came by and I caught him kissing and groping Gerard.. we had words."

"What? What did he do? Gerard okay?" He looked around the kitchen as if he'd find him somewhere.

"Just got a little too handsy for my liking. Gee's fine, he's napping. Chris, am I a bad person because I don't want to let him go? Because I wanna keep him? Because maybe I am enjoying mothering him a little too much? Am I that annoying about it?"

Chris put his hands on Adam's shoulders and rubbed them. "No, sweetheart. You couldn't be a bad person if you tried."

Adam gazed down at his lap. "But I'm not his mother."

"Well, no.. you're only four years older than him, so that would be technically impossible." He smiled because he just knew Adam rolled his eyes. "Don't. That doesn't matter. Look, Gerard's been through a very difficult thing, but he's had you and I'm sure he adores you for it. You've been nothing but wonderful to Gerard. He'd be more miserable without you."

"You think so..?" Adam groaned, relaxing if only for just a second under Chris's massage and gentle words.

"I know so. And as for Brooks, don't let that little piss-ant get to you, I'll kick his ass myself."

Adam gave a humorless laugh. "You know, I feel bad for Punk, I really do.. I just want to protect Gerard, that's my job. I don't want him getting hurt or feeling violated.."

"Well, do you think he felt violated?"

Adam paused. "I don't.. I guess not really. He was a little pouty and huffy after Phil frustrated him. It's just he doesn't know why he was frustrated and I can't explain it." He got back up and started to pace a little.

"Let Phil explain it." It was a joke, but Chris flinched when Adam stopped and glared at him. "I'm kidding."

"Phil's too eager to explain it. I don't want it explained." Adam slouched. "Is it wrong that I'm not telling him about it and explaining why he feels like he does?"

Chris blinked. "Do you feel like it's wrong?"

"I didn't.. but Phil.." Adam held his head, a headache was forming.

"To hell with Phil."

"I just don't want him hurt or frightened." He rubbed his temples. "I don't want him to be taken advantage of. I guess he has a right to know.. but what if he did something inappropriate?"

Chris nodded in understanding. "I know you have your own reasons, I get that. But he's a good boy, Adam. You would just have to teach him right from wrong if you did. Hell, he might even figure it out sooner or later on his own."

Adam pouted. "Don't say stuff like that."

Chris grinned. "You know.. this reminds me of a certain pouty, huffy blonde I know when he gets frustrated."

Adam folded his arms and huffed. "It's not the same and you know it."

Chris chuckled, pulling Adam close. "It'll be okay. I think you need a night out. We could get Jay and Heath to babysit, and just go get crazy... or well, not crazy.. but how about a dinner date?"

Adam sighed. "I don't know.."

"C'mon, it'll be alright, we'd be just a phone call away. We wouldn't be gone all night. It'll be fun. Please? Don't make me beg."

Adam giggled at the over-exaggerated pouty face Chris was trying to pull off. "Oh, okay.. since you asked nicely. I'd like that."

But then the thought of how Gerard would handle being left with someone else occurred to him. He had left him in the living room or his bedroom with people before, but he always knew Adam was in the house.. what about Adam taking off though? Some nights leaving him at the hospital or institute was tough enough.. but he had left him with nurses and staff he didn't generally feel comfortable around. Here he was leaving him with trusted family.

He decided to talk to Gerard about it later anyway and tried to explain it carefully. He had sat down with him on the couch, pushed mute on the TV 'just for a second' since it was on a commercial anyhow. "Hey, listen okay. Me and Chrissy wanna go out." He took Gerard's hand down from his mouth and got a protesting whine. "Just for a little while, just the two of us. You be alright if we leave you with aunt Heath and uncle Jay?" Heath had already excitedly said it was alright.

Gerard blinked, thinking. He nodded slowly and pointed to the TV.

"In a second. You'll be okay if I leave you for a few minutes? You won't panic, you'll know I'll come back?"

Again Gerard nodded. "Uh-huh. You and Chrissy wan' have a date. S'okay."

Adam sighed relief. "Okay then." He gave his boy a little squeeze and unmuted the TV. They set their date night for the upcoming Saturday.

-xx-

Heath sat on the couch, rubbing his tummy. "I'm due around February. Knowing my luck the kid will decide to tear out of me when Walking Dead comes back after its holiday break." He huffed. "I don't wanna miss my zombies, or my baby's birth. Not fair."

"Walking Dead's on now." Jay had been watching the guide and turned it to the show.

"Woo-hoo, zombies!" Heath cheered happily. He sat snuggled up and watching the gory goodness for a minute before that familiar feeling in his bladder started and became persistent.

Jay looked over to where Heath was biting his lip, looking apprehensive and squirming. "What's wrong, precious?" Though he could guess.

Heath let out a dramatic sob. "I gotta pee again. Again! All I want is to sit here and watch zombies and I can't because I have to pee!" He growled at Jay. "You did this to me."

"Me?" Jay chirped, amused. "I think you had a hand in it too."

"No. You're the one who put your thing in me and impregnated me."

"My thing?"

"Yes. I was an innocent pawn in all of this." Heath folded his arms, bottom lip jutting out. "You made me fat and moody and having to pee every time I turn around. I-" Heath groaned and curled in on himself. "Oh, shit.." He got up and waddled toward the bathroom. "Not gonna make it. Not gonna make it."

Jay was busy chuckling.

"Now you're laughing at me! How dare you!"

Jay giggled and got up to pick his fox up. "No, sweetheart. You're just so cute right now." He carried him to the bathroom.

Heath pouted. "I am not cute." He said as he was sat down by the bathroom door. "Oh, god.." He quickly made it inside and sighed relief.

Jay was waiting for him outside the door to sweep him off his feet and carry him back to the couch to continue watching zombies. "There. Crisis averted."

Heath smiled and wiggled to get comfortable. "Thank you, Daddy. And I'm sorry about my outburst, I know I'm moody." He let out a dry laugh. "I must be so hard to handle."

"No, precious. You're not. You're worth it." Jay kissed him on the head, cuddling him.

Heath beamed silently. Sitting up with an "ooh" as the channel played previews for the Walking Dead's upcoming season. It was so close now and the channel was having marathons of past seasons. October just could not get here fast enough. He giggled and contained his squeal. "Oh, it's gonna be so awesome. I can't wait." He rubbed his belly and "ooh"ed again. "Daddy..?" He purred sweetly, batting his eyes up at his wolf.

"Yes, precious."

"Could I have some ice cream? In one of them waffle bowls. With caramel and strawberry syrup and and and.. chocolate chips.. with cherries.. yes, cherries.." He rubbed his hands together in anticipation, licking his lips.

Jay nodded. "That actually sounds really good right now." He kissed his cheek. "Be back in a second."

And a few minutes later, Heath was licking his sticky fingers and patting his satisfied belly. Jay had barely begun to eat.. and Heath was eying his bowl.

Jay held it away protectively. "No, mine." He teased. He knew he'd give it to him if he really wanted it.

Heath giggled and snuggled into Jay's side. "I'm not gonna take your ice cream. Silly Daddy. I honestly don't think I could hold it right now." He knew that would change in a few minutes and he'd be ready to eat a horse... well, not an actual horse because that would be weird. But maybe a cow. Yeah, a hamburger was sounding spectacular now.

He looked at the TV screen as a zombie was being taken out and wrinkled his nose, changing his mind again. Meat wasn't sounding too good right now. Heath sighed, petting one of their cats as it jumped up on the couch. It was joked that Jay had a thousand, but really they only had three that roamed where they pleased. The chubby gray cat purred as its ear was scratched.

-xx-

That day haunted him, it always would. They had been in the car, Phil driving and clutching the steering wheel so tight his knuckles were white and his fingers were aching.

"I can't believe you're acting like this." Gerard said from the passenger seat.

"I'm not acting no way." They had been arguing. He loved him, but right now he just wanted him to fuck off.

"Yes, you are. See!" Gerard held on to the door's armrest as Phil took a sharp curve deliberately too quick. "Phillip Brooks!"

"You said you were in a hurry."

Gerard looked at him like he was insane, hazel eyes wide and a bit frightened. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Me? What the hell is wrong with you?" Phil shouted as he pulled down the road to where Gerard's parents lived.

"You're what's wrong with me! Ugh, fuck. I can't take this shit anymore, Phil. I can't." Gerard was tossed forward a bit as Phil slammed on the brakes hard and stopped near their driveway.

Phil only sat there. "We're here."

Gerard stared at him for a second. "Why are you treating me this way? Why are you being so cold to me? I haven't done anything to you. I don't deserve this."

Phil said nothing, just stared forward and waited, angry and stubborn. Gerard hadn't done anything to him, everything just felt so strained anymore.

"Fine. You keep on and you're gonna lose me. I may not fucking come back." Gerard shoved the door open and got out.

"Fine! I don't care, just go!" He didn't mean it, looking back he didn't fucking mean it.

Gerard took a sharp breath and slammed the door and Phil floored it out of there, leaving him alone to his fate.

He'll never forget the look of hurt in Gerard's eyes, of betrayal. The last thing he said to Gerard before the attack was that he didn't care. Not I love you, not I'll miss you, not please come back to me, but I don't care. Maybe Gerard doesn't remember, but Phil will always remember. He'd give anything to take it all back.

He wishes now that he would have just not argued with him that day, not been such an asshole. He wishes he had never took Gerard to his parents, just kept him home in bed, had angry sex, then makeup sex and never left the house. But it none mattered now.

Phil got up off the couch and grabbed the lamp off the corner table, throwing it to the ground and causing it to break and shatter. "Fuck!"

It didn't matter. It would never matter again.

He cleaned up the lamp, not caring when a piece sliced open his thumb. He cleaned and wrapped the cut, got ready for bed early. He still just slept on what was once his side of the bed, gazing over to the empty side of the mattress and running his hand over the sheet. Sometimes he'd find himself on that side, it still smelled like him. Like Gerard. He had washed it. Hell, he had bought new sheets, but it still smelled like him. Maybe it was just permanently branded into his brain. He'd never be able to wash it out or forget it or let it go. He just couldn't accept how empty it all felt.

Some might say he was throwing a pity-party, but fuck them. He did blame himself, and maybe he was a martyr for his cause.. but he was just hurt. Nothing felt right anymore. He just felt alone and lost.

-xx-

That night Gerard wanted to play Batman. Chris looked at him and nodded. "And I guess you wanna be Batman, huh?"

Gerard shook his head, looking at Chris like he was silly. "No, I'm Robin."

"Robin? Then who's Batman?"

Gerard pointed at Chris. "You."

Chris grinned. "Hah, I'm Batman."

Adam huffed playfully. "Then who am I? Batgirl?" He meant the last remark as teasing.

But Gerard shook his head again. "No." Because that would just be crazy. "You're Catwoman."

Chris fell back laughing and Adam scoffed. "Oh, please. You know I'd look good in that outfit." Any of them really. He narrowed his eyes at his boys, reaching out and curling his fingers into claws. "In that case then, I'm going to get me a bat and a bird."

Chris and Gerard both shared a look before pouncing on the surprised blonde.

Adam squeaked, gasping. "Gah.. stop.. you will rue this day, rue it.." He gave a hiss that sounded distorted since he was laughing.

"Quiet, vile fiend." Chris giggled.

Adam pouted. "Hurtful.." He pushed Chris back, pinning him. And Gerard was on his back, all three giggling as their wrestling continued.

I seem to get lazier & lazier. I'm sorry. Dramatic preggo Heath is one of the most adorable things I write. Or at least one of the most fun to write. Heath waiting for Walking Dead is so me. I loved Robin growing up. I also wanted to be Catwoman growing up. (hugs Phil) I owe him.