Disclaimer: Don't know, don't own, don't sue. Please do not take my story idea... if you do, I'll send over one of my angry vampire friends to suck your blood...! If you know me, send me an e-mail... or message me at my MySpace- www.myspace.com/emmahelena13. No hate mail, please!

***

Emma's P.O.V.

My family- my mom, Joann, and dad, Dave- are preparing to travel to New Jersey for a week. I flip my waist-length, straight, dark brown hair over my shoulder as I fold my new black lacey nightgown. I never thought this would happen, but it is!

I became obsessed with My Chemical Romance about five months before I learned I was going to Jersey- but I had heard their songs on the radio before, and just did not know it was them, so I guess you can say I have been obsessed for about three years now.

Anyway, as I slip the last couple of items into my suitcase, a thought flashes across my mind- "Call Alyssa". Alyssa Armstrong is my best friend, and is also obsessed. I run to the phone and quickly punch in her phone number. It rings twice, and Alyssa picks up.

"Yello?"

"Green." I respond playfully.

"What's up?" Alyssa asks.

"Nothing much, just thought I'd give you a ring before heading off to Jersey," I say, checking my outfit in the mirror on the back of my door. A black and white striped tee hugs my curves and snug, black pants that go to just below my knee look excellent paired with black eyeliner and red eye shadow. I can just imagine Alyssa in her room, brushing her shoulder-length, dirty blond hair, streaked with blood red and black.

"Oh, right," Alyssa responds. "You get to go to JERSEY!!! D'ya think you'll meet Gee there?"

"Probably not," I say, my hopes getting squashed even more. "I mean, what's the chance?"

"You have good luck, Em!" Alyssa reassures me. "You'll meet him no doubt- and I'll bet you meet him when you're on the beach in that new black bikini I told you to get. You're taking it, right?"

"Duh! I just packed it. Do you think I worked all of junior year to get in great shape to not show it off?"

"Point taken. So... have fun! Did you download all those songs and music videos I told you about yet?"

"Yeah, I did." I respond, picking up my black video iPod. "Thanks for those, by the way. You rock, Alyssa!"

"I know I do," she responds. "Well, have fun!"

"I totally will. Bye." I hang up the phone and place it back in its cream colored cradle. My mom comes and tells me that it is time to start driving- the beginning of two long days where I can just write and listen to my iPod. Yay! I drag my suitcase out to our navy blue minivan, and heave it into the trunk. I place my iPod in the back seat, and climb into the car.

"Now, you're sure you have everything?" Dad asks.

"Yes, Dad, I'm sure- I've been packed for like a week!" I say, slipping my headphones over my ears and turning on my iPod. My mom gets into the driver's seat, and my dad into the passenger's side. A cooler is placed by my feet with a few bottles of water in it, and next to that a box of granola bars. I scroll down my list of songs, at last finding "Kill All Your Friends" by MCR, and blasting it. The car pulls out of the driveway, and our two-day drive begins.

**Later, somewhere in New Jersey, it is three in the morning. Gerard Way is falling asleep as he watches T.V. He eventually nods off, and Mikey (his little brother and a band member) shuts off the T.V., and lays Gerard on his side, so he can sleep comfortably on the sofa. Gerard wakes up in the morning, and immediately calls Frank.

"You'll never believe the dream I had last night. It was awesome! There was this girl, maybe junior year of high school, running on the beach in this black bikini. Her dark brown hair was blowing in the wind, and she was running right towards me." Gerard explains.

"Yeah, if only there was a real girl like that!" Frank says, sounding lost in thought.**

I wake up to find my parents already dressed and ready to hit the road. I run to the bathroom, get dressed in a black sleeveless, black leggings, and a denim, navy miniskirt, and slip on my black sandals. I quickly comb out my messy hair to perfection, and apply some pale foundation, making my skin appear lighter in color. I run my eyeliner pencil over my waterline, and brush a heavy coat of red eye shadow around my eyes.

"Perfect," I mutter, satisfied, and step back into the hotel room. Grabbing my freshly charged iPod from my bedside table, I run after my parents, double checking to make sure we had gotten every last belonging from inside the hotel room. We hop back into the minivan, and continue our drive to New Jersey. I scroll down my list of songs again, and let the highlight rest on the title "Cancer", my favorite song.

(Later... much later...)

My family and I have finally reached the little beach house that we will be staying in for a week. It is 11:30 at night. We unpack quickly, throwing random stuff in random drawers. We all collapse on a bed- my parents take the king and I get a double. We sleep until the next morning- we all wake up at around the same time, 9:00. My dad tells my mom and I to get ready, because we are going to IHOP. We throw on our clothes- me in a black skirt and black-and-white-horizontal-striped, curve hugging top, and black sandals. I apply my usual make-up, and then we all climb in the car, and eat breakfast at the nearest IHOP, which, as it turns out, is not too far from the beach house. We walk in and take a booth to ourselves as a waitress comes up to us to ask for our orders.

Gerard's P.O.V.

I sit at a table at the IHOP a few hours away from my house. Frank and Mikey are with me. We cannot wait to dig into some fluffy pancakes drowning in warm maple syrup. Frank, who is sitting next to me, pokes my shoulder.

"OW!" I yelp. "Dude, what the hell?"

"Remember you were telling me that dream, Gee?"

"Well, yeah, it was MY dream...!"

"Check out that booth." Frank points my sight at a booth across the restaurant from us. I gasp. A young woman that perfectly matches the one from my dream is sitting across from her parents.

"Happy birthday to me...!" I say under my breath.

"I don't get it," Mikey says, looking at the young woman along with Frank and I. "What's the big deal? She's just hot! You know her, Gerard?"

"Yes and no..." I murmur, losing myself in looking at her. Before I know it, the waitress comes with our order, and I look to my right to find Frank covering my hand with syrup.

"HEY!!!" I scream, pulling my hand away, wetting a napkin with water, and attempting to wipe the sticky syrup off of my hands.

"Dude," Mikey says, shooting Frank a look. "SO uncool."

"Well," Frank begins. "He wasn't paying attention."

"Oh, he was paying attention, alright!" Mikey says. "To that girl at the other booth!"

"Oh, well," I sigh, wiping the rest of the caramel-colored syrup from my hand. "Maybe we'll meet her at the beach later."

"Yeah, you hope!" Frank says, smiling slyly. We scarf down our breakfast, and I throw three bucks on the table. The waitress comes back to take the bill.

"Hey, Mindy," I say, referring to the waitress. "Are you serving that table over there?" I gesture at the table with the hot girl. She nods. "Could you maybe use my credit card to pay their bill?"

"It's twenty dollars and forty three cents... that okay?"

"Fine." I reply. Mindy smiles, tosses her blond ponytail behind her, and walks away.

"What was that?" Frank demands.

"Just trying to be nice, Frankie." I reply. We leave the restaurant in a hurry, because Mikey forgot about taping one of his T.V. shows- I do not mind much; I will be able to plan out what I would say to that girl if I met her now.

Emma's P.O.V.

"We'll take the bill now, Mindy." My dad says to the waitress as she clears our plates.

"Oh, the bill was already taken care of by a generous customer. I think they just left."

"Well, it's our lucky day, then!" My mom exclaims. We leave the restaurant after a short restroom break, and drive back to the beach house. I am glad to collapse onto my bed as I walk into my room.

"Aah, air conditioning!" I sigh. "The greatest invention yet- especially in the summer!" My mom pokes her head into my room, her short, mouse-brown hair put into a neat ponytail.

"Emma, we're going to the beach in about an hour. Get changed, and get anything into your beach bag you might want."

"'Kay, Mom." I say as she ducks out, shutting the door behind her. I quickly strip down, and slip into my black bikini. I shove a hair tie into the pocket of some denim short-shorts, and put them on, as well as a white button-up, which I only button two buttons of. These clothes serve as my "cover-up". I slide my iPod and notebook, in which I keep an on-going story in, and happen to be in notebook fifteen of, into my black beach bag, as well as my cell phone, and return to my book.

An hour later...

My family and I arrive at the sandy shore. Many people sit on blankets, swim in the water, play volleyball, or do something considered "regular" to do at a beach. I slather on SPF 55 sunscreen, sling my bag over my left shoulder, drag my ocean blue beach blanket across the beach, and set up under a tree. I shake out the sand, and spread the blanket out underneath the beautiful, green tree, about fifteen yards from the tide. I check the time- 2:45 P.M. I slip my headphones over my head, and turn my iPod on. I turn the volume so low that I can barely hear the music, and pull out my notebook and black pen. I write for a little while, and then, my mom calls me over. I put my stuff hastily in the beach bag, and run over to her.

Gerard's P.O.V.

"Woohooo!" Mikey screams as we hit the beach. Ray and Bob have joined us, and we are all going to hang out on the beach. We set up a couple red and blue blankets in an open area.

"Just my luck...!" I murmur, glancing to my left. Sitting on a white and yellow plaid beach blanket is the mother of that girl. I would not forget her or her parents, not if I tried... but why would I do that? I dash over to her, and casually introduce myself.

"Hey, I'm Gerard." I say in a calm voice.

"Oh, I know," She replies. "My daughter talks about you all the time- to me, to her friends, online... she can't get enough of you!" I smile to myself.

"Well, I'd like to meet your daughter. Is she with you?"

"Yeah," She responds. "I'm Joann, by the way." She draws in a big breath, and yells, "EMMA!"

Emma's P.O.V.

I run to my mom, reaching her and stopping short. Gerard Way stands next to her.

"G- Gerard?" I stutter.

"Emma," he says, walking over to me. "I've never met you, and yet... I feel like I know you somehow." He looks me up and down. "You wanna hit the water, or at least shed that cover-up?"

"Sure," I reply, still in disbelief. "Let's go back to my beach blanket, Gee. Then, we can talk." We walk back to my blanket, shoulder to shoulder. I can't help but wonder what will happen. We sit down on my blanket after taking off our cover-ups. He is in red and black trunks, and I am in my black bikini.

"I never imagined I'd meet anyone as beautiful as you..." He says, gazing into my dark brown eyes with his golden brown ones.

"Gerard... I've always wanted to meet you- well, for six years now, at least."

"Six years? Pretty impressive," Gerard says, not taking his eyes off of mine. Feeling a little overwhelmed, I break eye contact. He reaches over to my face, and gently caresses my pale cheek with his right hand. He then slides his hand down to my chin, and turns my gaze back towards him. "Look at me, beautiful." He says softly. I wonder whether or not this is just his way of introducing himself to a girl he thinks is pretty, of whether he is actually going to lean in and give me my first kiss. "I want to get to know you. Tell me a little about yourself." He says, slowly taking his hand away from my face.

"Well," I begin. "I'm Emma Helena Saphira. I'm gonna be a senior next year in high school. I live in Michigan. Um... I was in this program called 'talented and gifted'- TAG for short- from fourth grade through eighth grade. I have a story that's at about 2500 written pages right now-"

"Wait," Gerard cuts me off. "You've written a story that's 2500 pages long? Wow!" He says, seeming impressed. This boosts my confidence, and I continue to describe my life.

"I went to Vegas in sixth grade, and also stopped by the Grand Canyon. I realized about a year later that we had both been there, and stood in exactly the same place. I have pictures of you in the G.C. all over everything I own. It's even..." I pull my iPod out of my bag, and select the "view" mode, scrolling down to an old picture of Gerard in a dark red sweater and big sunglasses at the Grand Canyon. "It's even on my iPod." I finish. Gerard takes my iPod from me, and stares at the picture.

"I remember this..." He says, brushing his fingertips lightly over the screen. He gives it back to me after a minute, and I return it to "off" mode and place it carefully back in my bag.

"I also have the best friends in the world, which reminds me..." I say, pulling my cell phone out of my bag. I put it in "camera" mode, and close it so I can take a picture of myself with Gee. "Smile!" I exclaim. We both put on our Hollywood grins, and I snap a good picture. "One more," I say. Just as I am about to press the button, he turns to me and gently brushes my cheek with his lips. Not a kiss, exactly, but pretty damn close! I take another picture just then, and feel so special.

"Heya, Gee- are we interrupting anything?" I hear from behind me. We stand up, and look back to see Mikey, Frank, Ray, and Bob behind us.

"Uhh... no, I guess not." Gerard replies. "Everyone," he continues. "This is Emma- the girl from IHOP."

"So YOU payed for us, didn't you, Gee?" I ask, smiling from ear to ear (not literally).

"Guilty as charged!" Gerard jokes, raising his hands. I run over to a woman, and explain to her how to use the camera feature on my phone, asking her to take a picture of MCR and me. She agrees, and I run back to the guys.

Gerard's P.O.V.

Emma is running back towards me. I swear, the world seems to slow down as she runs; she completes a perfect day at the beach. She reaches us, and I wrap my arms around her lovingly, hoping she cannot detect my emotions.

"Smile big, guys! Take two." Emma says, putting her hand over mine. The woman takes a couple pictures, and Emma thanks her and gets her phone back. We all gather around her phone to see the pictures. To my surprise, they look half-decent.

"Hey, Gee, you take a great picture!" Emma says to me, still looking at the pictures of all of us. She flips back to the picture where I brushed her cheek with my lips. "You look hot!" She finishes.

"Get out!" I say, playfully pushing her.

Emma's P.O.V.

"No, really, Gerard, you do!" I reply to him. Frank whistles at the sight of that one picture of Gerard and me. "Nice one, Gerard!" He says, raising his eyebrows.

"Shut the fuck up, Frank." Gee retorts. "Now, just scram, leave us alone for a while, 'kay?" Ray, Bob, and Frank leave, but Mikey sticks around.

"Okay if I stay?" He asks, turning to me.

"Hell, why not?" I say. "Oh, Gerard, as I was saying before- I have the most awesome friends. I want you to talk to one of 'em- and, actually, it's a good thing you're here, Mikey, she's, like, in love with you."

"Sweet," Mikey muses. I punch in Alyssa's phone number, and she picks up almost instantly. I have her on speakerphone.

"Hey, Emma, what's up?" She asks.

"Yo, Lyssa, just wanted to give you a ring. The beach here is great- I'm having the time of my life, and I already made some new friends! I took some pictures with 'em, too- I'll send 'em to ya, just hold on a sec." I select the picture of Gerard with his lips on my cheek, and one of the pictures of me with MCR, and send them to her. It takes a second, but when she gets them, she screams.

"OH, MY GOD, THIS IS YOU WITH MCR!!!!!" She exclaims.

"Sure is!" Gerard chimes in.

"Who was that, Em?" Alyssa asks softly.

"It's Gerard, Lyssie." I reply, smiling slightly. She lets out another ear-piercing scream.

"I'm here, too!" Mikey adds. "It's Mikey, Alyssa."

More screams from Alyssa. "Mikey just said my name! He knows who I am!" She exclaims. I can see her in my mind, jumping up and down in her living room with her brother and sister shooting her strange looks. "Hang on," She adds. "I'm gonna send you a picture of me so they can see what I look like, 'kay?" Alyssa sends me a picture of herself with her hair covering one of her grey eyes. I show the picture to Gerard and Mikey. Gerard glances at it, but Mikey stares, transfixed.

"You still there, Lyssie?" I ask.

"Yup!" She responds. "So, guys, what d'ya think of the picture?"

"You... are... so... beautiful...." Mikey says softly.

"Really?!" Alyssa squeals. "Thanks, Mikey, you're such a sweetheart!"

"Yeah... I really think that, though." Mikey mumbles, still gazing at the picture.

"Hello?" Gerard calls to his brother. "Earth to Mikey!" Gerard waves his hand in front of Mikey's face, and he shakes his head, snapping out of his phase.

"What was that, Em?" Alyssa asks.

"Oh, sorry, Mikey was, like, lost in your picture, so Gerard brought him back to this world." I reply, smiling at Gerard. He smiles back, making eye contact with me.

"Well," Alyssa sounds like she is going to conclude our phone call. "I'll let you guys have fun...! Call me later, okay, or I'll have to call you."

"Sure." I reply. "Bye, Lyssie."

"See ya." I flip my phone closed, and slip it back into my bag as I glance at the time on the small display screen on the front of the phone.

"Three fifteen. Not bad." I mutter under my breath.

"So," Gerard says. "Emma, I want you to know-"

"EMMA, TIME TO GO!" My mom calls from by the van.

"Damn! Well, Gerard, guess I'll see you later, huh?"

"Okay, Emma. See you then." Gerard looks disappointed as I run to my mom, scooping up my beach bag in the process. I climb into the van, and we drive back to the beach house. I slip into my room, and get back into my normal clothes. I collapse on my bed, and think about the beach. I empty out my beach bag, and return all objects to their proper places. I then step out of my room, closing the door behind me with a soft "click". I step into the kitchen, which is painted a soft, peach-esque color, and is adorned by a border of palm trees at the top four inches of wall space. The light colored, polished wood feels cool beneath my bare feet, and light filters in through both of the white-bordered windows on either side of the cozy kitchen. White-topped counters border half of two walls, and a stove sits next to one of these rows. In one corner of the room, where both lines of counters meet, a corner counter supports a vase of daisies. Yellow curtains billow in the breeze blowing through the house. My mom is searching for something to make for dinner in the fridge, which is pretty much right next to the stove. I decide not to disturb her, and rifle through a pile of mail on the table.

"Junk, junk, junk..." I say as I sort through junk mail and advertisements. "What's this...?" I ask myself as something catches my eye. I read it aloud. "Beach bonfire, dinner included, the night of Friday, June twenty-second. Hey, Mom, I think I just found dinner!"

"Hm?" Mom says, pulling her head out of the refrigerator. "Oh, right! I picked that up because I thought you'd like to go- y'know, play some volleyball, meet some boys-"

"MOM!" I raise my voice, blushing a little. "There's no one around, and you still manage to embarrass me somehow!"

"Sor-ry!" She apologizes, looking out the window. "Well, you can go and have some grilled burgers at the beach, or you can stay here and have casserole-"

"Beach!" I declare, and walk back to the doorway to re-pack my beach bag.

"Oh, Em," Mom calls. "If you meet a guy you like, you can go on home with him if you want, just take your cell so you can call, okay?"

I turn to her, and smile. "Thanks, Mom." I run to my room, and shove my notebook, a few pens, my iPod, cell phone, and a change of clothes- just in case- into my beach bag. I change into my swimsuit and cover up again, and feel relieved that I had not gotten either wet at the beach earlier on. I throw my bag onto my bed, and flop down after it. I stare at the white ceiling of my room, and wonder what awaits me at the beach.

Gerard's P.O.V.

"Hey, Mom, what's this?" I ask my mom, picking up a small flyer with a picture of the beach I had been on earlier printed on it.

"Oh, that's about a beach shindig tonight. Go if you want to- stay at the beach house for a bit, too! A break'll do you good, and it's close to the beach... and that girl you were telling me about-"

"MOM!" I shout in a "whiny" warning. "Well, whatever. I've already got some of my stuff and all the supplies I need down at the beach house, so I'll be taking my car there now."

"If you leave now, you should just make it in time for 7:30, when it starts." My mom replies.

"Thanks, Mom, I'll be back soon-"

"Kiss your mother goodbye!" My mom commands. I give her a quick peck on the cheek, grab my car keys, and dash out to my black Mustang. I jam the keys in the ignition, and the engine roars to life. I back carefully out of our long driveway, and begin my two-hour journey to the beach house that my family and I own.

Emma's P.O.V.

I hear ringing of the phone at Alyssa's house. Impatiently, I twirl the cord of one of the beach house phones in my left hand. Alyssa finally picks up.

"Em?"

"Yo, Lyssa, what's up?"

"Absolutely nothing. Any news since the beach?"

"Well," I begin. "I'm going back to the beach tonight. There's this bonfire-barbeque thing there, and-"

"You're hoping to meet Gee there, aren't you?"

"You caught me!" I admit, laughing.

"So, Emma, tell about what happened before and or after the phone call you gave me. Tell me!"

"Um..." I think for a moment. "Oh, yeah. Well, so my mom calls me over, I meet Gee, and we start talking. We walk shoulder to shoulder to my beach blanket, and I start to tell him a little about me. So, I notice that we can't seem to tear our eyes apart, but eventually I do. You'll never guess what he did, Alyssa."

"Oh my God what?" She asks quickly.

"He brushed my cheek with his hand, then moved my chin so that I was facing him."

"OH MY GOD!" Alyssa exclaims.

"Not the half of it!" I continue, smiling. "While he was doing that, he said, softly, 'look at me, beautiful'. Isn't he just so sweet?"

"I envy you- I want my boyfriend to be Gerard Way-"

"Now, hold on a sec, there, Lyssie." I cut her off. "Who ever said anything about him being my boyfriend?"

"Oh, come ON!" Alyssa states. "You two are always so friendly-flirty-touchy-feely! It's as good as true."

"Yeah, well, it's not, okay?" I exclaim. "But... that doesn't mean I don't want it to be."

"Of COURSE you want it to be! You've wanted it to be for the last six years!" Alyssa shouts.

"Yes, we both know that, Alyssa. Now, I'm gonna walk down to the beach- I'll call you later... or from the beach, whatever."

"Have fun...!" Alyssa cries. We hang up, and I sling my bag over my shoulder, slip into my flip-flops, and begin my long walk to the beach.

7:30, at the beach...

I arrive just as the event is starting. Loud music blasts from speakers set up around a square area of pale grey, sand-covered cement serving as a dance floor. Standing lights are also set up around this "dance floor", and a DJ plays music at what I guess is the "head" of the floor. I set my stuff down by the tree I had been under earlier. I straighten up, look around me, and discover that the beach is now swarming with people. Cars have been parked along the line where the beach meets grass, and more still come. I walk over to a huge fire pit in the middle of the beach. A man with short brown hair and hard-as-rock abs runs over to me. His muscular legs propel him to go even faster, and a pair of blue swim trunks covers part of him.

"Hey, I'm Gabriel. Welcome!" He says, thrusting out his hand. I shake it nervously.

"I'm Emma." I introduce myself.

"Well, Emma, would you mind helping me out?" He asks.

"Sure- what can I do?" I respond.

"We need a whole helluva lot more wood for the bonfire thing- would you mind helping me and the other guys collect some?"

"No problem, Gabriel. When I get it, where do I put it?"

"In that big pile of tinder next to the pit." Gabriel says, directing my vision to a large pile of twigs, sticks, and dead leaves by the fire pit.

"Great." I reply, and start off on a search for more dead wood and other things to fuel the flame. I collect an armful of organic material, and head over to the pile along with three other people. I glance around as I dump my load into the pile, and notice a black Mustang convertible pull in beside a yellow Jeep. I stare at the face of the person in the driver's seat, barely able to believe my eyes. I pretend not to notice, wanting him to come talk to me, and go back to collecting kindling.

Gerard's P.O.V.

I pull up to the beach, and just my luck, I see Emma straightening herself up. She must have been collecting wood for the fire or something. Quickly, I climb out of my car, lock the door, make sure my trunks are not falling off, and run over to her. She looks at me as I approach her.

"Hey Emma, how are you?" I ask.

Emma's P.O.V.

"Heya, Gee, I'm fine. Why're you here?" I reply.

"Well, to tell you the truth, I was hoping to meet you here..." He says, kicking the sand with his bare feet, and looking down.

"Gerard, that's so sweet!" I say, taking his left hand in both of mine. He looks up slightly, meeting my eyes with his own. He looks so cute that I can barely contain myself.

"I just didn't think-" He starts.

"Well, then don't think." I cut him off. "Just do." He pulls me into a hug, holding my head against his bare chest with his right hand, and his left arm holds me around my waist. I throw both my arms around his midsection in response.

"Gerard..."

"Ssh, don't speak." He comforts. I close my eyes and hold onto him. We break our embrace after a few minutes, and he strokes my face.

"Emma... let me...." Gerard says, stepping in close to me again. His lips and mine are inches apart when a booming voice rumbles over the beach, coming from the direction of the dance floor. Gerard and I both look in that direction.

"Hello, everybody, and welcome to the fourth annual beach bonfire!" The DJ greets from the raised platform his equipment is set up on. "We all want you to have a great time, and so now we start the festivities- LET'S PAR-TAY!" The song "Hit The Floor" by Bullet For My Valentine emits from the speakers, and hundreds of people rush to the cement.

"Let's go, Gee!" I exclaim, taking Gerard's left hand and pulling him behind me to the floor. We push our way through the crowd, and reach the stage. We both scream, and start to dance. I sing along.

"Why do you take it all? Why do I beg for more?" I sing loudly. After the song ends, Gerard takes me to the side of the floor for a while.

"Emma, you never told me... what a great singer you are." He says softly, taking my hands in his.

"You never asked." I reply, looking into his eyes. "Just ask, and you might discover some surprising things about me."

"I'll keep that in mind." Gerard nearly whispers. "Mind if I ask you something now?"

"Not at all. Ask away."

"Would you mind if I..." He begins. Gabriel runs up to us.

"Hey, Emma! You're dating Gerard Way? Didn't know that-"

"No, we're not dating..." Gerard says. "Emma, who is this?"

"This is Gabriel. Apparently, he knows who you are, Gee, so I don't need to say." I reply.

Gerard's P.O.V.

"Hey, Gabriel!" I greet, shaking Gabriel's hand. I whisper to him, out of Emma's range of hearing. "Don't you think of taking her from me, Gabriel."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Gerard." Gabriel replies, also so Emma cannot hear him. We break our handshake.

Emma's P.O.V.

"What was that, Gee?" I ask, shooting him a little smile.

"Nothing, Emma, don't worry about it." Gee replies. "Hey, Gabriel, do you know how great a singer this girl is?"

"No, I don't." He replies.

"Well, d'ya have karaoke or something? Cuz then you'll know." Gerard asks.

"Um... yeah, but that doesn't start until, like, eleven tonight. We set up a couple mics on the stage, and we open it up."

"Can I get dibs? Emma, then both of us?" Gerard asks in his persuasive voice.

"Gerard!" I mutter.

"Sure, no problem!" Gabriel responds. "Anyway, we're about to start the bonfire. It's awesome- come watch!" Gabriel shouts over his shoulder as he runs off, beckoning us to follow him. Gerard and I look at each other, shrug, and take off running after Gabriel. We reach the fire pit, where there is a huge pile of wood stacked in the center of a ring of dull grey stones. Gabriel is dumping some form of liquid on this pile, probably to make it burn better. A woman in a deep blue one-piece bathing suit comes up beside him with a book of matches.

"Stand back!" She calls, and everyone takes two gigantic steps back. Gerard and I are still in the "front row", and I start to freak out a little. I hold Gerard around his middle, and he puts his right arm around my shoulders. He slides his left hand over my right arm, and I feel a little safer. The woman strikes a match, takes a big step back, and tosses it into the pile of wood. The dry kindling bursts into flames, and the huge flames reach towards the sky. This mountain of fire stands, amazingly, about eight feet tall- about one and a half times as tall as the pile of fuel it runs off of. Gerard and I glance at each other, smile, and separate a little. We hold hands, and gaze at the mesmerizing fire.

"It's so beautiful... but really hot!" I say, feeling a wave of heat from the fire hit me full force.

"C'mon, honey, let's go- back to the floor." Gerard says, leading me back to the floor. I think to myself- did he just call me "honey"? Gerard leads me to the square of cement, where a slow song is beginning.

"You sure you wanna dance to a slow song?" I ask.

"Yes." Gerard says, smiling a cute little smile and offering me his hand. I take it, and he pulls me into his hold. We dance close, in small circles, looking deeply into each other's eyes. I sing a little to the song.

"So I'll waste these nights for a while... but I'll be holding on to you forever..." I sing softly, so only Gerard can hear.

"I didn't know you knew this song, Emma."

"Yeah, I've only known it for a couple months, though. It's on my friend Justin's MySpace."

"Great way to learn a new song."

"I suppose..." I lean my head against his shoulder, even though I am almost as tall as he is. I close my eyes, and take in the smell of his longer black hair. We dance like this through the rest of the song, and then we break apart. The DJ speaks.

"We got barbeque stuff over by the shoreline- go on and dig in, kiddos!" Gerard and I exchange weirded-out looks as we head over to picnic tables covered with white-and-red-checkered tablecloths. We grab some burgers, corn on the cobs, and chips, and sit down side by side.

"So, Gee..." I begin, popping a potato chip into my mouth, chewing, and swallowing it quickly. "Is this everything you expected so far?"

"Nope." He replies through a mouthful of burger. He swallows, and continues. "It's so much more with you here, Emma."

"You don't mean that, Gerard, do you?" I ask.

"Of course I do!" Gerard reassures me. We look out to the beach, where the sun is beginning to set. We finish up our dinner, and throw away our plates. A breeze blows through the beach, scattering my hair around me.

Gerard's P.O.V.

I secretly thank nature for the sudden breeze. Emma looks like an angel with her hair blowing over her face, and opening up her cover-up shirt a little.

"Emma, you look..." I begin, going closer to her. "Like an angel."

"Gerard, you're too sweet!" She compliments, tossing her hair around. As I have thought previously, she completes a perfect day at the beach. Hell, she completes a perfect day anywhere! I caress her face tenderly, feeling my heart beat wildly, pounding in my ears like a stampede of raging wild animals.

Emma's P.O.V.

I feel the now-familiar feeling of Gerard's gentle touch as his hand runs over my cheek. I smile, squinting as the light from the brilliant sunset against the horizon hits my eyes. He smiles back.

"I can't believe you're flirting with me, Gerard Way...!" I whisper.

"Well," He says, pulling me into a hug. "You ain't seen nothin' yet." I wrap my arms around him, and feel his warm breath on my neck.

Later- 11:00 P.M.

Gabriel climbs up on the big stage on the dance floor. He speaks into one of the mics on the stage.

"Okay, so, we're now opening up the stage and dance floor for karaoke. You hear a song you like, grab a partner and dance! If you wanna sing, just ask Kellie over there." Gabriel says, pointing to the woman in the blue swimsuit, though she now has jeans on. Gabriel walks off the stage, and Gerard pushes me up onto it. I grab the microphone off of its stand, and motion to the guys at a booth behind me. The karaoke version of "I'm Not Okay" begins, and I feel right at home in front of a hundred smiling faces. Gerard is standing pretty much right in front of me, smiling up at me from the floor. I sing my song, doing little movements here and there to look choreographed. After my song ends, everyone in the audience cheers, some still jumping up and down- because that is what most were doing during my performance. I speak clearly through the mic.

"Okay! Everyone, I agreed to do this as long as my friend came up here and sang with me afterward, so..." I grab Gerard's hand, pulling him up onto the stage with me. "This is Gerard Way, and I'll be doing the next song with him. Gee, what song are we doin'?"

Gerard takes another microphone off of its stand, and talks through it. "Emma, we're doing 'Famous Last Words'!" As soon as Gerard finishes his sentence, the music plays. We look at each other and smile as we begin to sing.

"Now, I know, that I can't make you stay..." We sing as a duet- I change around the notes I sing while Gerard sings the melody, or the original song. We sing like this for a while, and then sing the same notes- "I see you lyin' next to me... with words I thought I'd never speak..." as Gerard and I get really close on stage. We face each other, in the center of a spotlight's beam, only inches away from the other. We place the hand that is not holding the microphone up, and our palms meet. We clasp our hands together, and I feel an excited chill run through my body. "Awake, and unafraid... asleep, or-" here, take the line of "Dead!", which I will sing over and over, and Gerard begins his part of, "I am not afraid to keep on livin', I am not afraid to walk this world alone. Honey if you stay, I'll be forgivin', nothin' you can say can stop me goin' home..." which he will also repeat. I fade out my part, and eventually join him. We end the song together, singing "...To walk this world alone. Honey if you stay, I'll be forgivin', nothin' you can say can stop me goin' home!" and we both go up on the last note instead of down. We end facing each other, breathing hard, and looking into each other's eyes with a strong but subtle passion within us. We place the mics back on their stands, and head off the stage. Gerard and I walk over to his car, or, rather, the tree by it, laughing a little.

"Wow...!" I say, still a little out of breath.

"Y'know, Em, for the length of those notes, you sang 'em well and loud!" Gerard compliments.

"Thanks, Gerard," I reply, tucking a couple loose strands of hair behind my ear. "It was fun, but I'd better get home."

"Why don't you come home with me, Emma?" Gerard asks. I think about what my mom said, and pull my phone out of my beach bag, which I had picked up on my way over to his car.

"Sure, Gerard," I reply, flipping my phone open. "Let me call my mom first, though." I punch in the beach house phone number, and almost instantly my mom picks up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mom, it's Emma."

"Oh, thank God, Emma, I was starting to get worried! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Mom, don't worry. Listen, I'm gonna go home with a new friend tonight- he's got a beach house that's just down the street, so don't worry about it too much-"

"Oh, so your new friend is a 'him', huh?" My mom asks in an excited voice.

"Yes, mom," I reply, annoyed. "Okay, see ya tomorrow." I think I hear her voice as I close the phone, but I ignore it, slipping the phone back into my bag. "Okay, Gee, ready to go!" I say, running around to the passenger side of Gerard's car. He climbs into the driver's seat, and pulls a set of keys from his pocket. He jams them into the ignition, and the car starts. We look at each other, and he smiles a cute little half smile. I return it, and he pulls out of his parking spot. As he drives, he puts his arm around my seat, and I feel the warmth of his arm close to the base of my neck. We drive on, listening to the sounds of the night and cars going hastily by as a breeze whips our hair around us. After only a few minutes, we arrive at his family's beach house, and he pulls into the attached garage. We both climb out of the car, and Gerard waits for me. He takes my hand, and we walk into his house using the garage door- the door leading from the garage to a pantry-like area. He flips on the lights, and I squint for a moment as my eyes get used to the new brightness of my surroundings. I look around the beach house, discovering that its layout is very close to that of my family's.

"Well, Em, you've got a few options about where you're gonna sleep," Gerard says, tossing his keys on a white countertop. "Out here, in Mikey's room, with me-"

"I'll take that third one," I say quickly, letting my eyes re-open. "Hey, Gee, is it okay if I take a shower? I smell like smoke, and I just need a warm shower right now."

"No problem, Em," Gerard replies, pointing me to a bathroom. "Shower's in there, complete with towels and stuff."

"Thanks, Gerard," I say, letting out a big yawn. I take my black lacey nightgown and my spare pair of undies into the bathroom with me, and take a quick shower. I put on my nightgown and undies, comb out my hair, and walk back out to the kitchen, shoving my other clothes into my bag with the ones I will wear tomorrow. Gerard is sitting on a white loveseat in the adjoining living room, with a remote in his right hand. He looks over at me, and gives a low whistle.

"Wow...!" He says, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh, stop it, Gerard!" I tease, secretly loving the attention. I snuggle up next to Gerard, and he puts his left arm around me. I bring my legs up on the loveseat, keeping them close to the rest of my body. I rest my head on Gee's left shoulder, and sooner than I know, I am asleep.

Gerard's P.O.V.

I look to my left, and see Emma sleeping like an angel. She almost is, too... I know, at least, that she is my angel. I turn off the T.V., and with my right hand, I stroke her head gently. I pick her up easily, and she wakes slowly as I carry her to my room.

"Gerard... what happened?" She asks sleepily.

"Don't worry about it, Em, you just fell asleep. I'm gonna put you in my bed, and I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Okay..." She says, letting her head drop and roll a little. I walk into my room, and lay her gently on the left side of my double bed. I look at her, sleeping peacefully, for a moment, and then go to the bathroom and take a shower myself.

Emma's P.O.V.

I wake up as Gerard comes back in. He lies down next to me, and I feel his damp hair brush my cheek. I hold him, and realize that he is only wearing black pajama bottoms. I get a little closer to him, and I feel his hand rub my own.

"I don't want this night to end, and I don't wanna fall asleep..." I say softly.

"Mmhmm..." Gerard replies. "But, hell, let's do it, anyway."

"Okay.... Goodnight, Gerard."

"'Night, Emma."

The next day, at 9:30 A.M...

Gerard and I wake up, both of us still in the positions we were last night. I let go of him, and roll away a little. I stretch out, and swing my legs over the side of the bed. I notice that my beach bag had also found its way into Gerard's room... and I notice this because my phone is ringing.

"Damn it!" I exclaim.

"Great first words of the day..." Gerard mutters as I retrieve my phone from my bag. I flip it open.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Em, you ready to go?" My dad replies from the other side of the conversation.

"What?" I ask.

"Didn't your mom tell you last night? Great Aunt Elaine died yesterday."

"What!?" I respond, shocked. "She didn't tell me!"

"Yeah, we packed up last night- your mom and I are walkin' out the door right now to come get you. We're cutting the trip short- we're going back to Michigan for her funeral."

"Well, I'll be ready when you get here. You know where I am?"

"Yeah. See you in a few minutes." I snap my phone shut and slip it into my bag, throwing it over my shoulder.

"What's wrong?" Gerard asks, coming up next to me.

"My great aunt died last night..." I respond, beginning to walk out of the room.

"Emma, I'm so sorry!" Gerard comforts.

"I gotta get dressed- my parents are coming, and we're cutting our trip short to go to her funeral."

"Okay," Gerard says. "I guess I'll have to get dressed, too." I walk out of his room, down the hall, through the living room and kitchen, and into the bathroom. I throw on my change of clothes- a black, form-fitting sleeveless and black shorts- and go back out into the living room, where Gerard waits for me. He looks at me as I slip into my black sandals.

"Emma, I'm gonna miss you."

"I know, Gerard, but we'll see each other again." I reply, walking over to him. He takes my hands, and tilts his head slightly to the left. I do the same, and we both close our eyes. Just as I figure our lips are about to hit, there is a knock at the door, causing both of us to break apart. Gerard answers it to find my mom on the other side.

"Emma, you ready?" She says.

"Can't I say goodbye to Gerard first!?" I whine.

"Be quick, we have to leave. I'll be waiting in the car with your father." My mom walks away, shutting the front door behind her. Gerard runs back to me.

"Emma, I'm going to miss you more than anything else. I wish you could stay here with me." He says, pulling me into a hug. I wrap my arms around him tightly, and I feel a warm tear run down my left cheek.

"I'll miss you so much, too, Gerard. I wish we'd made the most of our time together over this last day."

"I know. I do, too... but we can make the most of these last few minutes!" Gerard says, stepping away from me slightly. He puts one hand underneath my chin, lifting my head a little. His other hand rests on my hip, and we gaze into each other's eyes. He slowly makes his way towards me, and, at last, our lips touch. I place my right hand on the back of his neck, and wrap my left arm around him, a few inches above the small of his back. The kiss quickly turns into an open-mouth, passionate embrace, and I feel my legs begin to shake beneath me. Gerard Way is actually kissing me! My mom knocks on the door again, and we are forced to break apart. I swing open the door, grab my bag, and follow my mom to the van. I jump in the back, on my usual side. My dad begins to drive away, and Gerard runs out to wave me off. I wave back, and lean out the window.

"Goodbye, Emma!" Gerard calls.

"Bye, Gerard!" I yell back. "Never forget me!"

"I won't!" I think I hear Gerard say from far away, but my dad turns the corner, and we quickly drive away.

"Get your head back in the car, young lady!" My mom commands, and I reluctantly pull my head back into the car. I grab my iPod from my bag, slide the headphones over my ears, and blast my music, trying to keep myself in the moment of Gerard's kiss.

Back in Michigan, two days later, on Sunday, August 31st, 9:45 A.M.

"Alyssa, it was AMAZING!" I say to Alyssa the second she picks up her phone.

"What? Em, this is your home phone- what happened?" Alyssa asks. "Okay, well, my Great Aunt Elaine died, so we had to cut the Jersey trip short." I reply, looking at my dress in the mirror. It is a solid black strapless dress, which is "feathered", or in "jagged" layers, at the bottom.

"Oh, my God, Em, I'm so sorry!" Alyssa sympathizes. "But... what was amazing?"

"Alyssa, you are gonna hate me for this!"

"No I won't! C'mon, Em, 'fess up!"

"Well, in our last moments together, Gerard... Gerard Way kissed me!"

Alyssa squeals loudly. "I hate you!" She yells. "Well, not really, but you know what I mean!"

"See, I told you!" I shoot back, a huge smile spreading across my face.

"It must've been absolutely incredible!"

"Oh, God, Alyssa, it was! I told him I'd see him again, and I won't go back on that promise- in, like, six months, I'll have saved up enough to get a front row concert ticket and go see them!"

"Awesome! I've got some money saved, too- maybe we could go together?"

"No, I hate you," I respond sarcastically. "Of course we can go together! It'll be fun, because then we can see the guys!"

"Sweet! So, I'll let you get to your funeral- gimme a call soon, okay?"

"Sure. Bye, Lyssie." I place my phone back in its black cradle on my wall, and do a few touch-ups on my make-up. With the exception of blood red eye shadow and lipstick, I could be out of a black-and-white movie. My mom enters, in her black blouse and black work pants- the kind she wears to her job as the chief of staff at a hospital almost every day. Her hair is up in a bun, and she looks older than usual somehow.

"We're going, Em." She states plainly. I grab my iPod, and prepare to head to Saint Veronica's Church, where the first and only viewing of my Great Aunt Elaine's body is. I slide my headphones on, and scroll to "Helena", which plays as we travel the short distance to St. Veronica's in the car. I stash my iPod beneath my seat, and we go in. I look at my great aunt- she looks so small in her coffin. I dip two of my fingers into a small stone dish of holy water on the wall, and make the sign of the cross- from my forehead to my chest, then my left and finally right shoulders. I walk slowly over to Great Aunt Elaine's coffin, and cry softly, thanking the little voice inside my head that had told me to wear waterproof make-up. I give her cold, dead cheek a small peck, and wait for the rest of my family. Mass, in honor of my great aunt, begins, and the minister, Father Joseph, walks down the center isle, dressed special for the day.

"Our opening hymn will be performed by Elaine's grandniece, at her request. It was one of her dying wishes." I feel my hands start to shake. My Great Aunt Elaine had wanted me to sing the opening hymn of her "In Memory Of..." mass? I feel so touched, yet so sad as I rise from my seat and walk slowly up to join the minister. He shows me the hymn in the book, and announces the page for everyone else. They all flip to it, and stand. I sing with my voice echoing powerfully inside the walls of the church, and even overpower the organ without the help of a microphone. I cry as I finish the hymn, and resume my position at my seat. All throughout the mass I cry, and as I wait for the long black hearse I have seen so many times before, I sing "Helena" in my powerful voice. A small group of people clusters around me as an unusually cold wind blows through, and the clouds in the sky begin to show their sorrow as rain begins to fall from them. As I finish, my dad beckons me inside.

"I want you to help carry Great Aunt Elaine's coffin to the hearse." He tells me with a sad look in his eyes. I nod sadly, and step back into the church building. I see some guys closing Great Aunt Elaine's coffin, the sheen of the dark, polished wood catching my eye. I take hold of one of the bars of the device used to carry the coffin to the hearse, and the large wooden death box is transferred to the silver carrying device. My dad, Aunt Sandy, and Uncle Peter take the other three posts, and we slowly carry my great aunt's coffin to the long black car. We carefully set it into the back, all of us crying, and close the doors.

"I love you, Aunt Elaine." I whisper as the hearse drives off, and with it, the body of my late great aunt, to be burned to ashes- cremated. I sadly walk to the doors of the church, wanting to stay out in the gentle rain for a while. I wait for my mom and dad, who are still inside, to finish talking to friends and family. I sing "Welcome To The Black Parade" as I feel the rain come down on me, and the wind blow the cold drops in my direction. At last, my parents emerge from the church, and we walk to the car.

"Honey, why were you waiting out here? You could get sick...!" My mom says, ushering me into the van. I slip on my headphones, not really caring what happens. We get home, and I flop down on my bed, ready to just wake up from some bad dream... or go into a dream about Gerard.

"God, I miss him," I mutter to myself as I turn my head to look at a My Chemical Romance poster from a while ago- back in 2003, actually. I suddenly feel very tired, and set my alarm for 2:30, so I can take an hour long break, and escape from the world and all of its flaws. I let myself drift off into a different world- the world of dreams.

Gerard's P.O.V.

I look out the window in my room, watching the rain fall outside. I think about Emma; I wonder if she heard me shout "I won't!" when she told me not to forget her. I wonder if she is okay, and how she is dealing with the loss of her great aunt. I know it is only 1:30 P.M., but I feel tired anyway. I flop down on my bed, and hug the pillow that Emma had slept on two days ago. I let myself fall asleep.

Emma's P.O.V., at 2:30...

I wake up to the annoying beeping of my alarm clock. My room is dark because I had drawn the shades before my nap, but I do not care. Hell, it really is hard for me to care about anything right now. I decide to go and take an early shower, so I swing my legs over the side of the bed, and get up. My body feels stiff and uncoordinated as I walk out of my room and around the corner to the bathroom. I see that my nightgown and all of the things I will need after my shower are already set out for me.

"Good ol' Mom," I tell myself, turning on the water to lukewarm- or, in other words, only slightly warm- and pull down on a ring on the faucet. The water comes out of the showerhead, and I breathe deeply.

New Year's Eve, turning from 2007 to 2008...

We are having a New Year's party, and I got to invite Alyssa and her family because we know them well. So, Alyssa and I are sad together as we watch My Chemical Romance perform on T.V.

"Those lips kissed me..." I say, brushing my lips with the tips of my fingers.

"Yeah, but how much do you bet he doesn't know you got a year older on September twenty-fifth?" Alyssa asks. We sit together on my blue sofa, watching T.V. from across the room.

"He doesn't- wait, what does that have to do with anything?" I answer.

"Nothing, I guess..." Alyssa says, relaxing her posture, and slouching against the back of the couch.

"Isn't it interesting that they're playing 'Famous Last Words' and it's, like, three minutes to midnight?" I ask Alyssa.

"Yeah, it is. Well, it must be their way of going into the new year with a bang."

The band finishes playing "Famous Last Words", and the camera centers on Gerard. The reporter behind the microphone, Carmen Harlen, asks Gerard,

"Do you have any 'famous last words' for the fans?" She asks. Gerard chuckles.

"Actually, yes I do!" Gerard begins. "I just wanted to say, if you're watching..." Gerard looks right at the camera, and it appears like he's looking at me. "I will never forget you, or any of the things you've done for me. I love you."

"Emma... did you see that?" Alyssa asks, shaking my left arm. "Do you think he was trying to talk to you?"

"Seriously doubting that, Lyssie." I reply, staring at the T.V., and actually considering it- what if he was trying to tell me something? No, no, he wouldn't- why would he remember me of all people? I shrug off the thought. Gerard blows a kiss at the camera, and I hold up my hand, "catching" it.

"I knew you thought so!" Alyssa whispers as the rest of the people at the party begin chanting.

"FIVE... FOUR... THREE... TWO... ONE... HAPPY NEW YEAR!" They scream.

"Happy New Year," Alyssa and I mutter to ourselves as the adults share embraces.

"I just wish I was there with Gerard!" I whine, looking longingly at the T.V. "Then, I could... I could be with him!"

"You didn't give him your phone number or anything?" Alyssa asks again.

"If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times- no, I didn't. My pea-sized brain didn't think of it at the time!" I say, hitting my forehead against my right palm. "Bleh!"

"Well, you'll see him again, Emma. You know it, I know it, and neither of us can wait."

"I suppose you're right, Lyssie." I confirm.

About four months later, on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 5:30 P.M....

"Oh, yeah, I can't believe it's only a week until the concert!" I exclaim, holding my concert ticket in my right hand and my black cordless phone to my left ear with my left hand.

"I know! We're front and center, too, and, God, if they don't see us, we'll just have to go up there and beat the shit out of 'em!"

"Well, I couldn't do that to Gerard-"

"Oh, he'll see you, alright. I'm doubting he forgot about you, Emma."

"Look, out of all the people he's met, why would he remember me, Alyssa?"

"Well, he's clearly in love with you-"

"He never said anything to me!"

"You have got to be kidding me. What was that kiss about then?"

"Oh, yeah, well I guess that could count-"

"OF COURSE IT DOES, EMMA!!!" Alyssa exclaims. "He loves you- let's face it."

"I still don't think he'd remember me out of all the people he's met over these last, like, seven months."

"Well, you'll just have to see that I'm right when we go to that concert in a week. Just two more days of school, and then we've got Spring Break, baby! Woo!"

"Yeah, I agree Spring Break is sweet, but PLEASE don't say 'baby' to me, 'kay, Lyssie?"

"Yeah, sorry!" We both break into fits of laughter. "Hey, Emma, what time is the concert?"

"Doors open at 6:30, so I guess I'll be picking you up around 5:15, okay?"

"Sure. See ya tomorrow!"

"Bye, Lyssie." We both hang up, anxious for the next week.

One week later- Wednesday, April 9th, at 5:10 P.M....

I glance at myself in my mirror. Wearing a form-fitting, strapless shirt, skinny jeans, and sweet high tops, I look totally ready for an MCR concert. I slip on my choker and wristbands, and attach a silver chain to my pants. I check my makeup, too- red eye shadow, black eyeliner, and pale foundation complete my look. I run out to the garage, where my black Honda Accord is parked. I climb in, and start up the car.

I arrive at Alyssa's house at exactly 5:15, and find her waiting outside. She hops into the passenger's side, and we speed off towards the concert location- The Palace Of Auburn Hills. I hand her a map that I had printed out the night before, and she reads it to me as I drive.

At last, we arrive at the concert site, and I spend ten bucks on parking. We jump out, purses over our arms, and head into The Palace. We give our tickets to an admission guy, and he hands us back our ticket stubs. We excitedly go into the media area, and buy T-shirts, wristbands, and posters. We go into the actual place with the stage, and go down to our seats. At last, the lights go down, and everyone cheers.

"Finally!" I scream, and lights in the back of the stage begin to go crazy. Blue and red lights begin to illuminate the dark room, and the band starts to play. I hear singing- one of the most beautiful voices in the world, in my opinion.

"Now, come one, come all, to this tragic affair! Wipe off that makeup, what's in is despair," Gerard sings as spotlights appear on the band members. He does not seem to notice us, with the exception of a few glances towards Alyssa and me. The band proceeds to play "Dead!" and then stops for a minute. Gerard speaks.

"God, you guys, we're so glad that you all could be here-!" Wild applause. "And we know how glad you motherfuckers are to be here!" Double the applause and cheers. "Y'know, we were backstage, and Mikey's shoes weren't tied. So, y'know, three or so guys rushed right over to help him tie his shoes, and I was like, 'I want someone to tie my fuckin' shoes!' Anyone out there wanna tie my shoes?" Screams blast throughout the concert hall. "That's what I thought..." Gerard continues, setting the microphone he is using back on its stand. He starts singing, and for all true fans, we know this song well, though to others, it sounds really random. "Everybody tie your shoes, clap, clap!" Here, everyone claps twice. About half the audience joins him. "Everybody tie your shoes, clap clap!" Two claps. "Everybody tie your shoes, I don't care about you, everybody tie your shoes, clap clap!" Two more claps. "Sing with me now!" Gerard proclaims, and the entire audience sings. He takes the mic off of its stand, and holds it out to the audience. The sound of our singing is overpowering. We finish the song, and cheer, laugh, and clap. MCR continues to play their songs, doing them in this order: "The Ghost Of You", "The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You", "Our Lady Of Sorrows", "Mama", "Welcome To The Black Parade", and "Kill All Your Friends". After these songs, Gerard seems to let down his guard a little- during "Give 'Em Hell, Kid", he looks at me most of the time. I know he is looking at me because we make some serious eye contact, and Alyssa yells in my ear, because it is the only way I can hear her.

"This song is about... well, y'know!" She screams. "I told you!"

"Guess you were right, Lyssie." I shout back, smiling. The song ends, and Gerard tells the band that he is going to let them take a breather for a sec.

"I'm gonna tell a little story now, about the best birthday present I've gotten so far today," Gerard begins. "I mean, not that performing here for you isn't so fuckin' awesome, but this is the best damn thing that's happened today. So, let me start off like this- last August, I was at an IHOP, and I saw this really hot girl from across the restaurant. Most of you out there know what I'm talkin' about!" While the audience screams, I begin to go numb, and seem to lose control of my limbs, which go limp. Gerard continues. "So, anyway, the guys and I went to the beach a little later on- now, provided, this is like, two hours from my house, okay, but not that far from this little beach house strip thing. So, I met this girl, and I, like, fell in love. She was just..." Gerard looks me straight in the eyes. "So absolutely perfect. Later that night, I tried to kiss her, but dammit, there was this music that interrupted us, and... well, so I asked her home that night, and she said yes, so we drove back to my beach house. She took a shower, and came out in this beautiful, lacey black nightgown, and it was so fuckin' short it could've been, like, sex apparel or somethin'. She looked so fuckin' hot in that thing, I gotta tell ya... she would've made a zero-degree winter day into a summer-in-Florida type day." I know that Gerard is talking about me, and I cannot help myself. I smile, putting my hands over my mouth in disbelief.

"So, you didn't forget me..." I mutter to myself as Gee keeps talking.

"So, we're cuddling on my loveseat, and she falls asleep. I carry her to my bed, take a shower myself- yeah, I'm sure a whole lotta you girls out there are lovin' this, picturing me in just a towel, or with nothin' on, huh?" Screams from many of the girls, and Alyssa and I laugh along with some others. "Yeah, well, we slept in my bed that night. The next day, we woke up, and her cell rang. She had to go because her great aunt died, and we only had a few minutes left together. She changed and packed up, and her mom knocked. She wanted to say goodbye to me, so her mom left for a minute. Now, at this point, I've tried to kiss her twice, both times getting interrupted. So, finally, we get to kiss. I gotta tell ya, I spent those few seconds in Heaven- her lips were so soft, and I knew, or, hoped, she was my angel. So, we were ripped apart, and we yelled to each other as they drove off. We screamed goodbyes first, and then, she yelled to me three words that've been ringing in my head ever since she said 'em-" I mouth my own words along with him. "She said, 'never forget me', and, I wanted to let her know I haven't. I've been tellin' this story over an' over, at every show we've played since, hoping that she'll be there. I haven't seen her. She did say, though, that we'd see each other again. She promised me, and tonight, I know that she hasn't broken her promise. Yeah, Emma, I see you there, and I want you up here with me." I smile as Gerard offers his right hand to me, holding the mic with his left. I take his right hand in my own, and he helps me onto the stage as the whole crowd cheers, Alyssa quite possibly the loudest of them all. Gerard looks into my eyes as he sets the mic on its stand. We talk so that the microphone carries our voices.

"Gerard, I thought you'd forget..." I begin.

"Now, why would I do that? I love you, Emma Helena Saphira."

"Gerard Arthur Way, I love you, too." I reply. Gerard places his hands on either side of my face and goes in for a kiss. Ray interrupts, but we only stop, and do not adjust our positions.

"Should he, guys?" Ray asks the audience. They all cheer extremely loudly. Gerard and I smile, close our eyes, and kiss passionately. I do not think it is be possible for the cheering to get any louder, but it does. Encouraged, Gerard and I begin to interact orally. The camera circling the stage, projecting all images received onto three huge screens behind the stage, focuses in on this, and Mikey, Frank, Ray, and Bob also cheer. We separate, and Gerard picks up the mic again.

"So, Emma, if it's okay with you, I'd like to sing this next song for you."

"Okay." I nod my head, and Frank brings me a stool to sit on. I smile at him in thanks, sit down, cross my legs, and put my hands in my lap. The music of "My Way Home Is Through You", a B-side from "The Black Parade", starts. I know that Gerard must really love me.

"Gonna take off all my skin. Tear apart all of my insides, when they rifle in. Mom and Dad think you'll be saved..." As Gerard sings, he walks over to me. "Can't find my way home, but it's through you and I know, what I'd do, just to get back in her arms," he wraps the arm not holding the mic around me, and we sing together. "Can't find my way home, but it's through you and I know what I'd do just to get back in her arms..." Gerard holds the microphone to me for the speaking part.

"Well, my gun fires seven different shades of shit, so what's your favorite color, punk?" I say, accepting the offer. He smiles, and continues to sing. He finishes the song, and everyone applauds.

"Well, I'm gonna get caught up with Emma, and so we're gonna take a little break, but we'll be back!" The lights go up, and Gerard begins to lead me backstage. I stop him.

"Hey, Gee, can Alyssa come with us?"

"Sure!" He replies.

"C'mon, Alyssa!" I motion for her to come back with us, and she hops up onto the stage and dashes over to us. The seven of us go backstage to the dressing room area. Alyssa and Mikey sit on a black sofa talking, and the others do some make-up touch-ups. Gerard and I kiss romantically.

"I missed you, Emma." Gerard whispers, caressing the side of my face. I take his other hand, and hold it tightly.

"I missed you too, Gerard." I reply. He sweeps me into a hug, and we hold each other close.

"How come I didn't do this from the moment I met you?" He asks me.

"I don't know, Gerard. I wish you had."

"Well, I will from now on. God, Emma, I love you."

"I love you, too, Gerard. Y'know, what're we gonna do after tonight? We have to part- I have school, and you're on tour."

"Well, you'll just have to give me your phone number and I'll have to call you." He states simply. I write down my phone number where he tells me to, which is over many of his belongings. A stage manager tells us that the guys are back on in a minute, so Gerard and I kiss one last time before going back out. Alyssa and I return to our seats with about forty seconds to spare.

"So, Lyssie, what's up with you and Mikey?" I ask, smiling like I had slept with a hanger in my mouth- as if I could not wipe the smile off my face if I tried.

"Well, he gave me his number- which is their home phone, by the way, so I'll give it to you and then we'll both be able to call them. I gave him my number too, and we're going to try that long-distance-relationship stuff, like you and Gee are doing."

"Awesome!" I exclaim. The room darkens once again, and MCR continues to wow their audience with more songs- "Helena", "Vampires Will Never Hurt You", "Teenagers", "Cemetary Drive", "I'm Not Okay", "I Don't Love You", "Thank You For The Venom", "House Of Wolves", and "Give 'Em Hell, Kid". After performing these songs, Gerard stops the band for a minute.

"Hey, you guys want me to get Emma back up here?" Gerard asks the audience. The cheer in approval, and I gasp. Gerard helps me onto the stage again, and Ray hands me a cordless mic.

"Gerard, do you want me to sing?" I inquire.

"You betcha I do!" Gerard says. "You want her to sing?" Gerard asks the crowd. Thundering applause and ear-splitting cheers echo throughout the room, and I cooperate.

"Okay, okay, I'll sing!" I cry playfully. "What?"

"Only one of your favorite songs, my dear..." Gerard begins. "It's called 'Cancer'!" At hearing this, the crowd explodes into whoops and cheers. "Now, cancer affects one in every three people in this world. Sad, but true."

"My grandmother was one of those people." I cut in. "She died of cancer when I was just eleven weeks old, and her funeral is my first memory. If you've been touched by this awful disease in some way, this song goes out to you." Ray's eyes tear up as he begins to play "Cancer". Gerard and I sing- again, he is on the melody, and I sing notes that I have practiced a thousand times. Gerard and I begin to cry as we sing, and so does the audience. We put more than our all into the emotion we show through the song, and we do a pretty good job; Alyssa- who hardly ever cries- is sitting in her seat bawling her eyes out. We finish the song, and the audience approves loudly. Gerard asks a question again.

"You wanna have her do one more?" The crowd cheers, most still crying. "Lemme fuckin' hear you!" Gerard calls. The audience responds with their approval. "Alrighty, let's wrap up the concert with Emma. These are our Famous Last Words." We sing the duet, exactly like we did at the beach bonfire. Gerard gives me a peck- on my lips- before I rejoin Alyssa. They go backstage, and Alyssa asks me a question. "Emma, why didn't we go with them?"

"Because we can't we have to get right home after this, and because they're coming right back out in a few minutes for an encore."

"Sweetness!" Alyssa replies, and we wait, clapping in a rhythmic pattern with the rest of the audience. Gerard walks back out onto the stage, though only the first twenty or so rows can see it, because he and the rest of the band are in darkness.

"Did you think we were gonna fuckin' leave ya hangin' like that?" Gerard talks into his mic. "Now, what kind of bastards would that make us?"

"Sexy bastards!" Alyssa and I shout form our seats as a spotlight comes on the stage. Gerard and Mikey look over to us, smiling and laughing as many of the other audience members mimic our answer. We giggle a little along with Mikey and Gee. The band does three more songs- "Heaven Help Us", "It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Deathwish", and "This Is How I Disappear". Everyone knows the show is over after they finish, and we all depart. I drop Alyssa off at her house after she gives me Gerard's phone number, and I go home myself. My dad is still awake when I walk in the door, at about 11:30 P.M.

"So, how was it?" My dad asks as I put my purse down on our kitchen table.

"I've been to six concerts, but I guess seven really is a lucky number!" I reply as I smile. During my little backstage visit with Gee, I had gotten him to sign my ticket stub, and taken some pictures with him- one of him kissing me! I change my mind about where I am leaving my purse, and, glad that it is Spring Break, head off to my room, where I flop down on my bed, asleep before I hit the pillow.

**Months pass, and Gerard and Emma talk every day. Emma's birthday rolls around- her eighteenth birthday- and in addition to her usual call from Gerard, she receives a present from him. Alyssa has a package just like it, and strangely enough they were both delivered to Emma's house. They both open their packages at the same time- Emma's is from Gerard, and Alyssa's is from Mikey.**

"Alyssa, I gotta tell ya, this is weird." I say, tearing off the wrapping paper concealing a small, rectangular box. Alyssa does the same thing, and we both unearth the same findings. "Plane tickets!"

"Not just plain ol' plane tickets!" Alyssa exclaims. "Plane tickets to New Jersey! For CHRISTMAS!"

"Well, it may be three months away, but we're gonna go see the guys for Christmas! Yay!" I hug Alyssa, and my friend Lily gets everyone else clapping for us. "Thank you, Gerard!" I shout as Alyssa and I break our hug. We smile as I continue to open my gifts.

**The days drag on, until, at last, it is the day before Emma and Alyssa are to fly first class to New Jersey. They are on the phone talking about what to pack and what to wear.**

"Well, I guess I'm gonna wear my black pants and that black and red shirt I've got. You?" I ask Alyssa as we attempt to figure out what we are going to wear the next day.

"Okay, well, since we're revising our outfits, I'll wear... That black and red skirt I was telling you about, my striped tights, and a black shirt."

"Top it all off with that polka-dot bow you've got on your nightstand and you're golden!" I suggest.

"Em, how do you know where it is?" Alyssa asks, sounding a little scared.

"Lyssie, I was at your house this morning!" I remind her.

"Oh, right!" She exclaims as her memory is refreshed.

"Alyssa, what am I going to do with you?" I ask, sighing. "So, I guess it's time for us to hang up and bust our asses packing."

"Why?"

"Alyssa, it's 10:30 at night. Tomorrow's Saturday- we're flying out at 1:30 P.M., and we need to be at the airport at 11:30 to get the whole security check thing done, baggage claim, and get to the port of departure by 1:00. That's that- oh, and we need time for lunch somewhere in there, too."

"Okay, then, see ya tomorrow, Em!" Alyssa says energetically.

"I'll be pickin' you up at 11:00 so we can get to the airport in time... I just hope we can get a good parking spot!" We hang up, and I return to packing. It is nearly 1:30 in the morning before I think that I am set to go for a week in New Jersey with Gerard. I lay out my clothes for the next day, and fall asleep at last.

The next day, at 11:00...

I arrive at Alyssa's house, make-up on, purse over my shoulder, and plane ticket in hand. Her mom answers the door.

"Nice to see you, Emma!" She greets.

"Good to see you, too, Mrs. Armstrong. Is Alyssa almost ready?"

"I'm here!" Alyssa announces from behind her mother.

"Bye, Alyssa..." Mrs. Armstrong hugs Alyssa goodbye, and Alyssa, dragging her suitcase behind her, walks out the door. She attempts to wave goodbye with the hand her purse is in, but only succeeds in waving it in a circle above her head. Mrs. Armstrong laughs as Alyssa and I load her luggage into the trunk of my car. We both wave goodbye to Alyssa's mom, and set off for the airport. On the radio, "Famous Last Words" blasts on one of my favorite radio stations. At 11:15, we get into the parking lot, and find a parking spot relatively close to the doors of the airport. We pull our suitcases behind us, carry-ons and purses over our arms, and walk into the airport. Lucky for us, the baggage and security checks go quickly, and we walk into the terminal's waiting area at 12:55.

"Lunchtime!" Alyssa proclaims, thrusting her fist into the air.

"All right, already! Where- my treat."

"Ummm... how about... pizza?" She asks, spotting a Little Caesar's.

"Sure, let's go." I agree, and we head off. We get a couple of individual slices for each of us, and eat them as we wait, talking about random stuff. At 1:20, my cell phone rings.

"Who is it?" Alyssa asks as I glance at the caller ID.

"It's Gee." I reply, answering my phone. "Hey, Gee, what's up?"

"You all set to go?" He asks, sounding excited.

"Alyssa and I are at the terminal right now. In fact, we'll be boarding in a minute or two."

"Alrighty, then. God, Emma, I can't wait until you get here."

"I know! Well, we'll be there in about two hours, okay?"

"I wish you could just blink and be here!"

"Gerard, if it were that easy, I'd be spending almost every waking moment of my life with you, but I've got my college degree to work towards. Oh, shit, they're calling first class- gotta go. I'll see ya soon, Gerard."

"Okay, Emma. I love you."

"Love you, too, Gee. Bye." We hang up, and Alyssa and I present our boarding passes and tickets. Once we get the all clear from the gate attendant, we walk through a temporary hall to the plane, and take our seats. All through the flight, we listen to my iPod, and talk. At last, at 2:30 Jersey time, we land, and get off the plane. We see Gerard and Mikey waiting for us, talking, and start to head over to meet them. Gerard notices us, and shouts a greeting.

"HEY, EMMA!!!" I run into Gerard's open arms, letting him hold me so close I think he will suffocate me. I hug him back as best I can, and, out of the corner of my eye, I see Alyssa and Mikey doing the same.

"Gerard, honey, we should go get our stuff...!" I speak with a little difficulty. Gerard lets me go, and kisses me.

"Okay, then, let's go." He says. We hold hands, and with Mikey and Alyssa following, we go to baggage claim. Alyssa and I find our bags, and allow Gerard and Mikey to lead us to the parking lot, where Gee's car is parked. We stow our stuff in the trunk, and climb into the car. Gerard and I are in front- Gee drives- and Alyssa and Mikey sit in back, with Alyssa directly behind me. We drive back to their house, and discover...

"We have the house to ourselves for a week!" Gerard announces.

"Nice, Gerard- where are your parents?" I ask.

"They're on a vacation- they knew you guys were coming, but figured we'd be fine." Mikey replies for him.

"Okay, then. Well, Alyssa, you'll be rooming with Mikey, and Em, you get to share my room." Gerard proclaims, and we all go into the house. Alyssa and I drop off our luggage in the room that we would be staying in- she puts her stuff in Mikey's room, and I put mine in Gee's- and we rejoin the guys in the front room.

"So... what's first on our agenda?" I ask.

"Whatever you two wanna do!" Mikey answers, and Alyssa and I think.

"Well, let's see- we're in Jersey with the guys we love, and the possibilities are almost endless- what do you think, Lyssie?" I think aloud.

"I dunno- we can always just find something to do here." Alyssa responds.

"Like what?" I wonder.

"Well, Em, d'ya like The Sims 2?" Gerard asks, slipping his arm around my shoulders casually.

"You've gotta be fuckin' kidding me!" I say. "Gerard, I love The Sims 2!"

"Wanna play it with me?"

"Sure!" Mikey and Alyssa decide to go to the living room and play video games, and Gerard and I go to his room. He starts up his computer.

"I think you'll really like what I've done in my game...!" Gerard smiles a little half-smile as he speaks.

"What'd you do?" I ask, pulling up another chair and sitting down beside him. I hold his hand.

"You'll see, angel."

"Angel? That's new, where'd you get that?"

"Well, you are an angel... you're my angel."

"Gerard, that's so sweet!" I kiss his neck, and he lets out a little moan of pleasure.

"Emma, we'll do that later...!" He says.

"No, I wasn't implying that... not yet, anyway..."

"Oh, well, still."

"Yeah. We can sit on the sofa and watch a romantic movie or something later."

"Yes, finally, it starts up!" Gerard cries, clicking on one of the many virtual houses in the neighborhood in the game. A little family picture comes up, and I gasp. He clicks on the "Enter Family" button, and a loading screen pops up, with an enlarged picture of the family- a couple- in the center.

"Gerard, that's... that's us!" I exclaim.

"Sure is. Oh, Emma, you should see what we do!"

"Whaddo we do?" I ask. Gerard whispers the answers in my ear, and I giggle a little.

"You like?" He asks, smiling.

"Like it? No, I love it! I wish we could do something like that in real life!" I reply.

"Yeah, well, that time'll come." Gerard replies as the loading screen disappears, and a picture of the inside of a house takes its place. I look at the virtual home Gerard and I share, and then spot us on the couch- we are cuddling, kissing... being a couple.

"This is awesome!" I marvel at our home- a ranch-style, which means it only has one floor- but a beautiful ranch-style, and HUGE, too.

"Yeah, I know- and the good thing about it is I don't have to go on tour!" He responds. Gerard and I sit there, playing his Sims game, until Mikey knocks on the door.

"You guys, it's time to go out for dinner!" He calls through the door.

"It's that late?" Gerard asks himself, glancing at the black clock beside his bed. The LCD display reads "5:45 P.M.", and Gerard sighs. "Yeah, one minute, Mikey!" He says, shutting down his computer. He gives me a peck on my cheek, and gets up. He offers his hand to me. "You ready to go, baby doll?"

"Gerard I'd go from the Earth to the moon... under two circumstances. For you or with you." I reply, taking his hand and allowing him to help me up. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see...!" He says, opening the door for me. We put on our coats and head out in Gerard's car. We turn into the parking lot of an Olive Garden- one of my favorite restaurants.

"Gerard, how'd you know...?" I ask quietly. Gerard smiles.

"I asked Alyssa." He replies.

"Gerard, how do you do it?"

"Do what, Em?"

"Find new ways to make me love you even more than I already do!" I respond, giving him a quick peck. We all get out of the car and into the restaurant. Gerard goes up to the lady standing behind a small, light brown table. "Four for Way." He says. She checks her sheet.

"Four for Way. 6:00 P.M. on December twenty-second... right on time! Follow me, please." She guides us to a corner booth. Gerard and I sit together, across from Alyssa and Mikey. "A waiter will be right with you, okay?" She says, laying down four menus. We nod, and she walks away.

"What should I have?" I wonder aloud.

"Whatever you want- dinner's on us, honey." Gerard replies.

"Hmmm... hey, Gee, you wanna split a fettuccini alfredo with me?"

"Actually, that sounds really good right now. Sure, Emma, I'll split one with ya." Gerard says, wrapping his left arm around my shoulders. Mikey and Alyssa decide on what they are getting, and soon an Asian waitress named Julie comes up to us. We order, and she takes our menus.

"So, what's been up with you two since we last saw you?" Mikey asks Alyssa and me.

"There's not much to say, Mikes," Alyssa responds.

"Mikes? Why didn't I think of that?" Gerard comments. "I could've been torturing him for so long with that name!"

"Oh, God..." Mikey sighs, burying his head in his hands.

"Gerard, don't torture him with that...!" I tell him, smiling slightly.

"For you, my dear." Gerard kisses me on the cheek, and we talk a little.

"Well, I'm majoring in language arts- I want to teach it when I get older- and my minor is in music. Being a choir teacher would be amazing, and, seeing as I'm doing a little independent study on music myself, I figured it'd be okay for it to be my minor instead of my major."

"But, you do have some tips on the whole language arts thing, too." Alyssa reminds me. "Remember Mr. Schmittou?"

"How could I forget? Mr. Schmittou was my seventh grade language arts teacher. I learned so much from him- it's incredible!" I remember. "I would never forget him- couldn't if I tried." I glance at Gerard. He has a look on his face that tells me clearly what he is thinking. "Gerard, I don't have feelings for him! Never did, never will." I reassure him, rubbing his back in small circles. He sighs.

"Good."

"Wouldn't that be so weird?" Alyssa says. "I mean, he's married, for cryin' out loud!" Gerard laughs at himself.

"Sorry, Emma." He says. "I just... I don't want to think about what life would be like without you."

The other three of us all let out the same reply; "Awww!"

"Gerard, that's so sweet!" I say, turning his head towards me and giving his lips a gentle kiss. I am about to pull away, but Gerard holds my head in place, and continues to kiss me. Mikey and Alyssa watch, holding hands.

On Christmas Day...

I wake up next to Gerard for the third time. I am still getting used to this... but it is a great feeling. He wakes up as I get off the bed.

"Morning already?" He asks.

"Merry Christmas, honey." I say, smiling. I walk into his bathroom, brush my teeth, and change. I come out in a deep red sweater and solid black pants. Black, fuzzy socks keep my feet warm. Gerard pulls on a dark green sweater, and a pair of dark blue jeans. Together, we go out to the living room, where we meet Mikey and Alyssa.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Alyssa shouts when we enter the room. Gerard and I seat ourselves on a cream-colored loveseat, and Mikey and Alyssa cuddle on a couch. We exchange gifts- mostly gift cards and the like- and have breakfast. Gerard finishes quickly, and dumps his eating utensils in the sink.

"I'll be back in a sec- I'll do dishes, okay?" He calls over his shoulder as he walks out of the kitchen through a white swinging door.

Gerard's P.O.V.

I walk quickly back to my room. I enter, flip on the light, and swiftly shut the door behind me. I head over to my dresser, and open the top drawer.

"Socks, underwear..." I mutter to myself, sorting through my clothes. "Good, it's still here." I close my drawer, step back, and sigh. Satisfied, I walk back to the kitchen to find the other three done with breakfast.

"Time to do the dishes, Gee!" Mikey taunts.

"Thanks, MIKES! I know, MIKES!" I shoot back, smiling. Emma laughs, which is the only thing I really care about.

Gerard, one of these days, I'm gonna KILL you!" Mikey threatens. "C'mon, Alyssa, let's go pop in a movie." Alyssa takes Mikey's hand, and they go back through the swinging door into the front room.

Emma's P.O.V.

I get up off my chair, and collect the dishes from the table. I roll up my sleeves, and begin to fill up a bowl with hot water, pouring dish soap into it. Gerard shuts off the water, and takes my hands.

"Emma, what're you doing?" He asks.

"I'm helping you with the dishes- many hands make light work." I reply, attempting to pull my hands out of Gerard's grip. He holds tighter.

"These hands," he begins, rubbing my hands between his own, and looking into my eyes. "Shouldn't have to do work."

"Aww, Gerard...!" I respond. Gerard kisses me, and steps it up a notch from the open-mouth embrace. We both give little moans of pleasure, and I run my wet, soapy hands up and down his back. I pull away for a second. "Gerard, I'm sorry!" I exclaim.

"Don't be- it's just a sweater." He says, shrugging. We kiss for a few more seconds, and do dishes- together. After we finish, we join Mikey and Alyssa to watch a movie. As it turns out, they are waiting for us, so that we can all watch the movie together.

"So, whaddo we wanna watch?" Alyssa asks. We all think it over for a second, and Mikey speaks first.

"How about going back a few years- 'The Santa Claus 2'?" He suggests.

"Why not?" Gerard says happily. "I got the popcorn!" Alyssa proclaims, running off to the kitchen.

"Oh, and Mikey... sorry about the whole 'Mikes' thing..." Gerard apologizes.

"S'alright..." Mikey accepts, patting Gerard on his back. "Just... well, don't do that again."

"Aww, that's what I love to see!" I comment. "I'm an only child, so I wouldn't know, but seeing it with you guys... it's nice."

"Thanks, Em." Gerard says, holding me close. I smile, and return his hug. We rock back and forth a little, and Mikey smiles.

"Good to see you so happy, Gee." He says.

"I know." Gerard replies. "Emma, I love you."

"I love you, too, Gerard." I whisper in his ear.

"And, by the way, I have another present for you tonight." He tells me softly.

"Gerard, it's not-" I begin.

"No, no, not that, not yet." He reassures me. We break our hug, and kiss. Alyssa comes back in with two huge bowls of popcorn, and Mikey puts the DVD into the player. As couples, we cuddle on the sofa, and watch the movie. After the movie ends, it is about 4:30, because we had actually had more of a "brunch" earlier. We toss the bowls in the sink, and all meet up in the living room.

"What now?" I ask.

"Let's practice those good singing skills of yours, Emma." Gerard starts.

"Oh, no, no, no... well, only if you sing a duet with me for the first one." I reply, holding Gerard's hand.

"You got a deal, baby!" Gerard cries, holding up our clasped hands. Mikey flips on a large, black stereo against one wall, and flips it to CD mode. "All I Want For Christmas Is You", the cover by MCR, plays, and Gerard and I sing to it. We laugh at the end, and kiss lightly. I continue to sing, with Mikey, Gerard, and Alyssa cheering me on.

Gerard's P.O.V., later, at 7:45 P.M....

I am talking to Mikey. Emma is in my room, coming out of the shower, and changing into her black nightgown. Mikey and I stand just outside the room, and I pull a small black box out of my pocket, which I had put there earlier.

"No way, Gerard!" Mikey laughs as he shakes his head. "No way! You're not-"

"I am, Mikey." I reply, smiling. "I'm gonna ask her to marry me."

"She won't say yes, man. You know it- hell, I'll bet you five bucks- better yet, fifty- that she won't say yes."

Alyssa is overhearing all this, and she waits on the sofa.

"I know she will- you'll see, Mikey." I knock on the door as I reply to Mikey. "Emma, you done?"

"Yeah, Gerard- come on in." I breathe deeply, slip the ring box into my back pocket, and go in. Emma is sitting on my bed, looking like an angel... even more than she usually does. She takes my breath away every time I see her, but this time is different; this moment could make or break my entire life. I flip on "Stolen", a song by Dashboard Confessional, to try to set the mood.

"Gerard, honey, you look so scared. Come and sit down next to me." I accept her offer. "Now, tell me, sweetie, is something wrong?" She says, rubbing my back.

"Well, no," I say after a little hesitation. "Y'know, Emma, I know we've only known each other for a little more than a year, but... I've made such a great connection with you. Did you know I loved you before I met you?"

"What?" Emma asks, smiling. "How's that?"

"I had a dream with you in it, Emma. I knew that girl in my dream was beautiful, and I didn't think that anyone was gonna get as close to perfect as she was. I was right- nobody in the world comes that close to perfect. Not even you, Emma- you are perfect."

"Gerard..." Emma starts. She kisses my cheek. "I knew from the second I saw you in that dream... I knew."

"Really? Well, I've known since 'My Chemical Romance' was just barely out there. Gerard Way, you were so incredibly hot... are so incredibly hot.... I couldn't believe it!" She says, taking my hand. "I never thought I would love again after I'd gotten my heart broken so many times... but, you and I both know, I did- and I'm glad about that! Gerard... I never thought it would be you who loved me back. Out of all the women in the world who love you, you chose to say 'I love you' back to me, and I'll never know how that happened."

"Listen to the song, Emma- 'You have stolen my heart'. Do you know how absolutely true that is?"

"Yeah, I know- it's true for me, too."

We hug, rocking a little on my bed. We separate just as the song says, "You are the best one of the best ones". I snatch my opportunity, and get down on one knee, pulling the ring box from my back pocket.

"Emma," I start. "You have stolen my heart... for good." I open the ring box. "So, Emma Helena Saphira... will you marry me?"

**In a minute, Emma comes out of Gerard's room, tears shining on her cheeks. She goes over to Alyssa, and they start talking. They smile slightly, and watch as Mikey and Gerard talk.**

"Well, she came out cryin', Gerard." Mikey says as I shut my door.

Emma's P.O.V.

I see Gerard come out, and I walk over to him, Alyssa walking with me to stand behind Mikey.

"Well, Mikey," Gerard says with a disappointed look on his face. We look at each other, and both smile a little. Gerard and I kiss, and I wave at Mikey with the back of my left hand. Gerard finishes his statement. "Pay up...!"