Gerard's POV. Last week marked the six month anniversary since the death of our good friend Erica

Last week marked the six month anniversary since the death of our good friend Erica. So much shit has happened since then, it's crazy. Well, shit has happened to everyone else, but my life still remains the same. I'm still with Frank. I still live in an apartment with Frank and Mikey and I still work at the tattoo parlor.

Frank on the other hand has gotten a new job. The owner of the tattoo parlor was a little upset at first, but understood that Frank was going after his dream job. He's a fireman. Him and Mikey finished training a few weeks ago and are now stationed in the same fire station, working for the New York Fire Department. It was hard at first dealing with not having Frank around the tattoo parlor, but things are still working out. I think it's healthier for us to not spend every waking moment of the day together and to have some time apart, to keep us sane.

As a result of Frank becoming a fire fighter, I was promoted to manager. So I guess I lied when I said that nothing had happened to me. But I guess if you look at it the way I did, really being manager is nothing different. I'd already had my taste of management from when Frank went to LA all those months ago.

Mikey has been doing a lot better. He used to be down in the dumps all the time. He couldn't do anything that reminded him of Erica. I can tell he occasionally still misses her, but that's normal for anyone who has lost their partner. But he is doing a lot better. If it weren't for Mimi, he would probably still be miserable all the time. As it turns out, my Mom truly was trying to set Mimi up with Mikey, but Mimi caught on and reminded her that her son is still grieving for Erica and that he will move on when he's ready. Since then, my Mom stopped trying to set Mikey up with Mimi. Mikey was oblivious to the whole thing and still doesn't know that Mom was trying to set Mimi up with him. So anyway, back to what I was saying before. Mimi really helped Mikey through this tough time. She told him to call her if Frank and I weren't around to talk to him or if he wanted to talk about anything that he wasn't comfortable telling Frank and I. And since then, they've become really good friends. We all have actually.

Mikey's loving being a fire fighter. He loves being able to help people, especially now since he feels like he can't go back and be a superhero. 5 months ago, Frank and I went back to superheroing, helping people on the streets. Mikey decided to retire from the superhero business. He couldn't do it anymore. He still blames himself for not protecting Erica and letting her die. This is one thing he feels he can't talk to Mimi about because he believes Mimi doesn't know who he is. Frank thinks that Mimi knows who we all are. He's seen the looks she's given us when we've said how we're going out almost every night of the week. She's never said anything to us about it, and no one has said anything to her, but I am inclined to agree with Frank. I think she knows something.

Today I had the 'afternoon off'. The boss had come to fill in for me, with the excuse that 'my Mom was sick'. Everyone was excited because The Dark Ninja and The Skeleton would be appearing in costume at the tattoo parlor to take promotional pictures. Frank and I said we'd do it for free, but the owner insisted on paying us something.

So when Frank and I rocked up to the tattoo parlor, some of the workers were so excited because they had no idea who we were, obviously. Only Mimi smiled and didn't squeal like the rest of them. It only confirmed what we'd suspected, that she knew who we were.

The owner had hired a promotional company who were making posters and stuff of us in the store and outside of it. The tattoo artists then asked for pictures with us and autographs, which was pretty weird, because we all knew them in real life.

"Do you guys know a Mikey Way?" one of the artists asked us.

"Why? Is he a supervillain?" I asked, pretending to not know who Mikey was.

"Oh. I just thought you might know him. People are saying he's Hot Boy," he artist said.

"Well people say a lot of things. Hot Boy's a great guy though. I still see him regularly," I explained.

"Really? Is he gonna come back and fight crime again?" the artist asked.

"No. After what happened to Erica, he's decided to go on indefinite hiatus," I explained. The tattoo artist immediately understood. After all, he knew who Erica was, he used to work with her. So he understood Mikey's loss a little.

"Oh ok," they replied.

When Frank and I got home, Frank told me he had a surprise for me. He told me to close my eyes and sit on the bed.

"Are you trying to sex me up?" I asked as I heard Mikey walk past the bedroom door, making Frank giggle.

"EWW!" he screeched before Frank decided to speak.

"You wish," Frank said, making me chuckle.

"Well what is it then?" I asked. He thrust something into my hands. Opening my eyes, I saw what it was. It was an application for a job working for an elite comic book company.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" I asked.

"You're gonna apply dumbass!" Frank exclaimed, giggling as he sat in my lap and wrapped one arm around my shoulders, leaning and resting his head against mine as I looked at the application form.

"I totally won't get the job. I have to have a portfolio of work. I don't have enough good artwork to create a portfolio," I pointed out.

"Actually, you do. All those photographs of the tattoos you've created," - that was something that all tattoo artists did in our parlor, so if anyone wanted something similar, we could pull out our photos and ask them what they thought of that certain design- "and the picture of The Dark Ninja and The Skeleton on the wall out in the hall. Plus there are all those other pictures you've drawn. And you know for a fact that the boss at your work will give you a fantastic reference. Plus, since I was your old boss I can give you a good reference too. And I promise that I won't make the reference like your performance review and just talk about how you're good with your hands. I'll make an effort because I know how much you want to get a job like this. You've said it so often since I met you that you were unhappy with your job and wanted to work for a comic book company, and here's your big chance," Frank said. I couldn't help but grin. Frank was gonna help me get a better job. I hugged him tight as he giggled before I kissed his cheek.

"I'll take that as a thank you?" Frank questioned, making me chuckle.

"Yes. Thank you. I love you so much," I said as his lips crashed onto mine. This man was truly amazing. He truly was my hero.