Call Me Zero (Frerard)

31: I don't know why it took so long to get back home.

A/N: this is it. final big update. i blew through all three chapters and ive been crying pretty much the entire time so :) here we go.

by the way, thank you so so much for 30k. this is amazing. love you guys.

~

Frank strode back into the garage with a smile on his face that he couldn't force back.

Ray looked up at him the instant he walked in and burst out into laughter.

"What?" Frank asked, feigning innocence.

Ray shook his head and went back to his work.

"All I'm going to say is I'm glad this garage has thick walls."

Frank laughed again and stepped over to the side of the ship, bending down to pick up a tool and resume his own share of the job. They worked together quietly for a long while, before Ray spoke up again.

"So you think Zero really knows how to fix this thing?"

Frank sighed and paused to wipe his brow.

"Judging from before, I'd say yes. And they didn't seem too happy about us messing around with it either."

Ray just nodded.

"We can try to get a little more work done at least though," Frank added.

~

The garage door that led into the house creaked open, and Frank turned around just in time to see Zero step into the room. They were wrapped up in the fluffy blanket, in the same fashion they always did, with it wrapped over their head like a hood and tucked under their chin, the rest of it flowing around them like a cape. They had put their t-shirt and pajama pants back on, as Frank could see from the little bit of their body that was uncovered by the blanket.

They flashed a sly smile at Ray before they padded over to Frank, who met them halfway and wrapped his arm around their waist, pulling them in and kissing them hard. He made a show of it, bringing his other hand to the back of Zero's head and tilting them backward, like they did in the movies.

Ray laughed in the background, shutting the tool box and rising to his feet. Frank brought Zero back upright and turned to his friend with a smirk.

"Alright," Ray chuckled, "I think we better go inside and have some dinner before you make me completely lose my appetite."

Frank snickered and took Zero's hand, walking them back into the house with Ray bringing up the rear.

A short while later, all three of them were sitting at the counter together, each with a delicious heap of mashed potatoes and chicken that Frank had made. Zero kept the blanket wrapped around them the entire time, sitting as close as possible to Frank and watching him with a smile.

As they finished up their food, Ray plunked his dish into the sink and gave Frank a quick hug, and Zero a peck on the cheek.

"I think I'm gonna head home for the day. See you guys tomorrow?"

Frank swallowed his last bite of food and nodded.

"Yep!"

"Bye Ray!" Zero smiled.

Ray waved goodbye to both of them with a smile and grabbed his keys off of the hook on the wall, heading out the front door.

Zero handed their empty plate to Frank, and he stacked everything up before bringing it over to the sink to wash. He heard them get up and go into the garage, but he didn't lift his eyes. The dishes would only take a minute or two, and he could wait until then to see what they were up to.