Certain Circumstance Ch. 1

Gerard looked at his niece in her ballerina uniform on the stage, standing on her tiptoes and twirling, he smiled softly. Mikey and Jake had adopted Nora when she was two years old, they had been so happy to get her, she was five now. They had been together seven years now and couldn't be happier. Gerard looked at the two of them. Mikey's hand was in Jake's and Mikey smiled and waved at Nora, taking another quick photo of her and she smiled as she pointed out her little foot and twirled in the middle of all the ballerina's. Mikey had helped her practice and since she had the moves down best the teacher had placed her in the middle, center stage. Mikey was so proud.

Gerard looked beside him at an empty seat and he found this ironic and very symbolic.  He was alone, he hadn't found Frank. It had been six and a half years since he had stood on Frank's front porch, saying goodbye to the fifteen year old. He had done everything to find Frank and never could, inside his budget. If Frank was still alive he would be twenty-two in a month or so. Gerard was now twenty-five and still completely alone, unable to move on. He had promised Frank he'd find him someday, he wasn't just going to give up and move on. Though he was worried that Frank had already done that and all his time and emotions would be wasted. His heart ached everyday from the loss of Frank and he had been completely useless for the first year after he was left alone, without him.

The curtain slid closed and Gerard joined everyone by clapping, there was another scene coming up so he sat in his seat and waited as Mikey and Jake went to sneak out back and tell Nora she was doing an amazing job. Nora was nearly Gerard's whole life now. He smiled for her. He woke up for her. She was his little ball of sunshine and in ways she reminded him of Frank. She had never ending energy and could be so happy but at night or at certain times she would become scared and hide into him, wanting him to protect her, and he would.  He hung out with her at least one full day a week and she would often spend the night at his house, which was good for Mikey and Jake's relationship, giving them a whole night to themselves, when Jake wasn't working.

Gerard knew that Jake and Mikey were just as in love with each other as they had been seven years ago, if not more in love. Jake treated Mikey perfectly and Gerard liked that. He had never laid a hand on Mikey or so much as raised his voice even when Mikey would scream at him. He would calmly talk to Mikey and worry about Mikey stressing out too much. He was always home from work right on the dot and most nights he would bring Mikey home a small gift or flowers. Gerard always kept and eye on them, every so often, but Jake only proved to be perfect for his little brother, Gerard didn't mind this in the slightest, he was happy for them.

Many nights Nora had asked Gerard why he didn't have a wife or a husband, at least a boyfriend. He always told her that his special someone was like sleeping beauty, waiting for him in a tower to go find him, he just hadn't found the tower yet. Which was true, Gerard just hadn't found Frank yet but when he did the two of them, would hopefully, go back to the way they used to be.  "Why doesn't he find you?" Nora would always ask him and tilt her head as she lay in her little bed. He never liked the question because it scared him that he had never found Frank and that Frank hadn't found him.  So he would tell her and himself, 'We'll find each other soon.' Then he'd kiss her forehead and tuck her in, leaving the door cracked and the light on in the hall.  Then he would go downstairs and watch TV until he became tired in which he would get up and walk to the door, locking it and making sure the outside light was on, incase Frank had found his way back.

Gerard and Mikey's father had passed away a year ago from a heart attack. Gerard now owned his fathers business and worked at the garage and still lived at the same house. He didn't really care for it but he wouldn't let his father's business go under.  He had gone to college for art and also went for a bit of mechanics which was now quite useful. Gerard and his father had managed to find a good relationship with one another, had worked through all their problems and came out to have a close relationship.

He sat and watched the curtain, waiting for Mikey and Jake to return to signify that the show was about to continue. Gerard glanced around the room, seeing all the people he had went to school with and ones that were a couple grades higher or lower, here with their husbands or wives.  Ones with babies, coming to see nieces or family in the play. Even Janet was here with her child she had almost six years ago. He felt alone at activities like this and looked beside him at the empty chair again, sighing quietly.

Soon enough Mikey and Jake came back and the play continued. He watched and smiled as his little niece headed the show, giving it her all. He looked at the props, he had done most of them, he liked to help out with things at the school because he got to see Nora more and it looked better to the school. Mikey and Jake paid for Nora to go to a well respected private school and they were very strict about families helping out at the school, it was no big deal to Gerard. Every school event, even for older grades, if it involved a play or some sort of recital, he was the first person called and he always accepted with a good attitude. He was well liked and respected around town since he was a caring man who was good with kids. He often would sub for the music teacher when she was sick and also the art teacher. He would also help with counseling and older kids seemed to open up to him.  He liked to keep busy and did many more things for the school.

He was considered a real catch, not that he had any idea, he was oblivious to the women who liked him. The single mothers of the school all wanted to hook him. They all talked of the man who loved kids, was caring, smart, dark, tall, handsome, and mysterious. All the single mothers wanted to get with him but he didn't seem interested in any of them, he wasn't.

The curtains fell closed and everyone stood and clapped, Gerard was one of the first people to stand. When it opened back Nora stood there with a bouquet of roses and motioned for him to come up. He smiled as the teacher nodded and he moved down the aisle of seat before walking up. He climbed up onstage, picking Nora up in his arms, kissing her cheek and whispering a 'good job' in her ear.

"As you all know," the teacher began, "Mr. Way has helped with a lot of school performances and decorations for the school. He's subbed, painted, designed, and drawn. Heck, he even helped sow a couple of these tutu's that I couldn't even begin to fix. "Everyone smiled and laughed a little. "He's done just about everything for this school and we wanted to thank him for all of his hard work. Everyone give Mr. Way a hand." She smiled and clapped herself as everyone stood and clapped, cheering. Gerard became a little bashful and felt the whole thing was unnecessary. Nora handed him the flowers and he kissed her cheek again. The teacher walked over and gave him a quick hug, pecking his cheek. She was one of the older teachers who had been very open with Mikey and Jake bringing Nora here, not minding that Nora had two fathers instead of the regular mother and father.

Gerard was very modest for all his hard work and found he didn't need all this praise but he smiled and thanked everyone for applauding him. He gave a quick speech that was witty and thoughtful and everyone continued to applaud. He soon set down Nora and the curtain closed. He went out back and helped Nora change out of her outfit, since there were a lot of buttons on the back and waited for her while she got dressed. She came out and he picked her up.

"You still have your slippers on silly," he smiled at her little ballerina slippers.

"I like them. They make me feel like a princess," she smiled.

"You are a princess beautiful," he smiled at her and she hugged her little arms around his neck.

"I love you Uncle Gerard," she smiled and kissed his cheek.

"I love you too Nora. Now let's go find the daddies," he smiled and she nodded. He put her up on his shoulders and she laughed happily as she messed up his hair. "Oh very nice," he laughed a little as she made it stand up when they walked out in the big auditorium.

He put her down when they saw Mikey and Jake and she ran up into Mikey's arms. "Daddy did I do a good job?"

"Amazing," Mikey smiled, "Like a real faire princess." Jake leaned in and gave her a kiss.

"Nice wings Gee," Jake laughed a little at Gerard. He had Nora's faire wings on his back.

"I know, I'm gorgeous," Gerard laughed a little. Nora giggled at him.

"Daddy? Can I stay with Uncle Gerard tonight?" Nora looked hopeful and smiled wide.

"I suppose you could but only if you call me before bed and make sure you get a bath," Mikey said with a smile.

"Yay!" Nora wiggled out of Mikey's arms and he put her down so she wouldn't fall. She ran up and jumped into Gerard's arms. "Let's go home and eat ice cream and watch Spongebob," She pulled on his collar and he laughed,
"Alright kiddo. Let's go." They said 'goodbye' to Mikey and Jake before they separated and went to their different cars.

"You all buckled?" Gerard checked behind him to see if she was before he even finished the question.

"Yep, all buckled," she smiled and tapped the toes of her ballerina slippers together. Her brown curls around her sparkling face bouncing a little. Gerard made a note to make sure he got all the glitter off her once she was in the tub.

"Alrighty," he said with a big smile, making sure to be careful as he backed out of the busy parking lot.

They drove home and Gerard put on her favorite CD so she could sing to it in the backseat of the car. They stopped at a stop light and Gerard looked back and forth, a car was coming but his light turned green, he pulled out into the empty intersection and that's when he noticed, the other car wasn't stopping. It was like it was all in slow motion he looked into the backseat and saw Nora playing with her doll, singing happily and watching it dance as she shook it around. The headlights of the car illuminated her window and Gerard looked back up to the car.  He sharply turned the car to the left and he heard Nora scream at the sudden jerk, right as his car forcibly swung around, the other car collided with the driver's side door, slamming them the other way. Gerard felt pain engulf his body and Nora scream in the backseat, the windshield shatter and he was sprayed with the glass. The car flipped from the sudden impact and they were upside down, spinning on the hood of the car and into the ditch where the front hit a tree and the car stopped instantly.