Made for Each Other
Co-written with: A'Phrionnsa Fala

Written: March 2006
Fandom: Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Rating: K+
Genre: Romance, Drama
Pairing (s): Wilt/Eduardo
Warnings: This story will eventually tread into adult waters, but for now, and for 60+ or so pages things remain pretty clean. But for now, tis all clean.

Plot: Wilt happens upon a weeping Hispanic Imaginary Friend after a sudden downpour, and we see just how Eduardo came to settle in Foster's.

Spoilers: None.

Disclaimers: Wilt, Eduardo, and the characters in this story belong to Craig McCracken. Hopefully he won't happen upon this. Yeek.

Story Notes: We've (myself and A'Phrionnsa Fala) have tried to keep some continuity going. This story takes place a good few months before Bloo graced Foster's with his presence.

Chapter One: Seeking Shelter

The rain's had finally ended - it had felt like a good week and a half had been wasted due to a sudden rain storm arriving in town and not deciding to move on until it had drenched everything. The sun was finally out now, very few clouds hung in the air as it tried to dry up all the rain puddles left over. And enter Wilt, out to do his usual job of trying to help out new friends! Wilt strides along the sidewalk, paying puddles no mind. He actually does not mind rain, or its afters, in the slightest. It's snow that prods his memory. There was snow on the ground that night... a sudden sound stirs him from his thoughts before they can wander into potentially bad places... a large shape darts into an alley a short ways ahead. Curious, he goes to it. "Hello? Someone there?"

There's no answer, well. No verbal answer - there was someone all right. Someone very large, and very wet. Whatever he was, he was desperately trying to find someplace dry and safe. He'd been out in the rain all this time, the thunder and lightning shaking him to the core. The sight that did meet Wilt was the creature half climbing into one of those large garbage bins, his forked tail and lower half hanging out while his other half was well hidden. Wilt's voice caused him to freeze; afraid if he moved whatever it was would get him. Wilt peers into the alley with slight trepidation. Alleys are also an unhappy facet of certain unhappy memories. He sees a most unusual sight too - what appears to be a massive, violet sheepdog, soaking wet and attempting to climb into a rubbish bin. Curiosity overrides fear and he very gingerly calls out too the strange thing.

"Um, hey? Are you okay?"

He moved pretty quickly, and in an instant the lid slammed shut on the bin. A few seconds pass before the lid is very slowly, very cautiously pushed open. All that's visible at first is a pair of very big horns, soon followed by part of a face. A unibrow laid across his very large eyes - obviously showing fear. He stares at Wilt for a while before he finally managed to force words out from his mouth. "H... H... Ho.. hola..." said a very gruff voice, dripping with the same kind of fear that showed in his eyes.

"Well, hi!" Wilt said cheerfully, lifting his one hand in a cheery wave. Although his big, trademark smile comes out, the fear in Eduardo's eyes is clear as day. Wilt had learnt to ignore the stares his scars, missing arm and mangled eye had garnered him. However, he'd couldn't ever remember seeing someone looking so openly and genuinely terrified of him. It was a trifle alarming, but even if this guy was piss-scared of him, he needed help. And Wilt was nothing if not helpful. It was what he lived for. "Hey now, it's okay. You don't need to be scared of me. I'm a friend." he was stared at for a while longer, before the horned creature ducked down further back. His large horns were the only things visible of him now.

"Is... is not you." he had a very thick Hispanic accent, and English was obviously not his first language. "H... has the... the loud banging finished...?" he was referring to the terrible storm. He hadn't slept for that long, not that he wasn't sleeping before that, either.

"Loud... banging?" Wilt is puzzled for a moment, but at the same time a trifle relieved. "Oh you mean the thunder! Yes, the storm's over. Why don't you come out of there? That bin's got to be stinky. It's bound to be absolute murder on all that fur of yours." Wilt smiles and laughs a bit to himself, trying to lighten the mood. When the stranger hesitates, Wilt slowly extends his hand toward the bin, taking care not to spook him with sudden movements. "...it's all right."

He did pull away slowly, but not entirely. This… this was the first... Imaginary Friend he'd seen. Not like the humans he'd seen, who had ran away as soon as they saw him in fright while all he wanted as help. Very slowly does he stand up fully in the garbage pin, pushing the lid with one hand. "...s...sí... muy.. stinky..." he agreed quietly, before his other hand went to the side of the bin and he began climbing out. Wilt withdraws his hand, seeing as the other guy is not going to take it. He doesn't take it personally, however as he watches him climbing out of the bin. He hadn't realised how very BIG this guy was and he probably couldn't have helped him out of that bin even if he'd needed it. Once he's out of the bin and peering up at Wilt with wide, uncertain eyes, Wilt finds his tongue.

"Hey, you're soaking wet. You don't look so good... sorry! Didn't mean that to hurt your feelings or anything, but how long have you been out here like this?"

Those large eyes blinked a few times, processing the question. English was... difficult. He put a hoofed hand to his large mouth, thinking for a while. "Uh... how... how to say... Viernes..." he snapped his hooves somehow. "Friday!" he looked a little bit proud of himself he worked out what day of the week he was talking about. "...last week." he added as an afterthought. Wilt blinked in astonishment.

"Last wee-! But... where is your kid?"

The question caused the heavy head to lower, as did his eyes. He hiccuped a bit, before breaking down in a flood of tears Wilt was probably not expecting. His hoofed hands went to his eyes as he bawled loudly. He was meant to protect her, he was meant to be there for her - the memories still terrified him, even after an entire week. They probably were going to for a long time, given how he's reacting even now. Wilt was taken aback as the big, tough-looking Imaginary Friend, who looked strong enough to hurl a bus across a rugby field, breaked out into a hysterical chain of sobs and tears. Once the initial surprise ebbs away, Wilt felt a rare rise of anger inside him. The tears and lack of an answer could only mean one thing... Wilt had seen many a sad story under the roof of his home at Foster's and it always saddened and angered him how easily some humans could just dispose of their friends. His hand curled into a fist. "Aw man. I'm sorry, but that is NOT okay. Some kids are so... mean. Dropping their friends like that! I wonder if they treat their human friends-" Wilt is cut off as Eduardo sobs even louder and gestures wildly, trying to speak clearly. He managed to control the sobs raising in his throat, a good thing since his chest was beginning to hurt. He had cried so much in such a short amount of time, and he was beginning to make himself feel sick. Coughing a bit, he shook his head.

"Is not l-l-like that, s-señor...?" he managed to cough out before roughly wiping at his nose and eyes with his already sopping wet furry arm. But he could barely say it himself, let alone explain it to such a nice man like this señor - actually being nice to him when so many people hadn't. Wilt blinked. He knew all too well that it wasn't uncommon for Imaginary Friends to blame themselves for the departure of their kids, but somehow, he could sense that this guy was telling the truth. He had been abandoned, but it hadn't been on purpose or out of cruelty. He was a victim of circumstance. Suddenly remembering that the guy had trailed off, he restored his friendly smile.

"Wilt. Just Wilt. What's yours?"

"Ed-Eduardo..." Eduardo sniffled, realising he hadn't said his name before. "Perdón, p-perdón." he apologised for not saying his name, nodding his head a few times. He coughed again, a mixture of being out in the thunderstorm for a week, and crying had done murder to not just his fur but his chest as well. "Sh... she..." he's not even sure how to say it, what happened so fast even he wasn't sure and that upset him even more, not understanding what happened even before his own eyes. "No... no wake up..." he managed to verbalise that much, at least. Wilt's smile shifts subtly into a look of concern.

"Aw man, you sound a little sick. And hey, I'm sorry for wigging out on you. I didn't realise. But you shouldn't worry about it now. Right now, you should worry about getting to someplace where you can dry off and get warmed up. Lucky, I know the perfect place and I can take you there. Is that okay?"

"Som.. someplace...?" Eduardo asked, tilting his head like a confused lost puppy. Could he accept this offer from someone he hardly knew? He shivered a bit, thinking this over. All he wanted was help all the past week, and no one helped him at all. And here is señor Wilt, offering him a place to dry off. He eyed Wilt a tad suspiciously, even if he didn't mean to come across like that. A slow smile spread across his face, showing off those massive teeth of his off even more, if that was possible. "S... sí... Eduardo like that idea..."

Feeling that cool rise of satisfaction, that natural high that came to him from helping others, Wilt smiles even more widely than before. "Great! It's just up the road. Just stay close and we'll there in no time. Eduardo." he adds the name on as an afterthought, offering Ed a sincere and welcoming smile. "I just know you're gonna love it. Trust me."

The walk really wasn't that long, it just took a bit longer since poor Eduardo was jumping at almost everything he saw. At a falling leaf that was weighed down by heavy water, a dog barking from inside it's apartment and especially so whenever a car would drive past. But finally the two stood before the very welcoming looking Foster's House for Imaginary Friends. Eduardo tilted his head as he looked at it, before rubbing his nose. He looked up at Wilt, before pointing.

"Is that it?" he asked. Wilt nodded and pushed the magnificent, wrought-iron gate open

"Home sweet h-" before he could get the rest of the word out, an enormous black lorry roared past behind them. One loud bellow of terror and a terrifying rush later, Wilt found himself on the sidewalk The shock of it all left his heart pounding madly, his breath coming in short gasps. The concrete was wet beneath him and moisture clung to him as he braced himself up on his one elbow. He looked up to find himself eclipsed by the bigger friend, who appeared to be attempting to shield him from... something. Speaking abilities returning to him, he spoke slowly and carefully. "Eduardo... ?"

Eduardo was panting heavily, snorting through his nose, even steam seemed to be being expelled from his nostrils like smoke from a train's pipe. He was partially aware of what had just happened, that familiar sound perked his ears mere seconds before. It almost transported him back to when the horrible event happened, he had heard it then but hadn't comprehended it fast enough. But instinctively he had knocked Wilt down to the floor, spinning around and baring his fangs as bravely as he could at the lorry that had just rushed past them. He stayed, transfixed to the spot and glaring at where the lorry had vanished - almost daring it to try and come back and try to hurt Wilt. But hearing his voice snapped him back to here and now, he blinked and looked down at him. He rose his one eyebrow. "Señor Wilt!" he cried, seeing him down on the ground like that! Did he do that? "I sorry, I so sorry!" he wasn't even sure if he should apologise, but he gripped Wilt by his only hand trying to help the taller friend to his feet. Wilt allowed himself to be pulled back into an upright position, still a bit shaken, but better off now that the initial surprise has cleared all of his circuits.

"That's okay. Just surprised me is all…" he offered Eduardo an encouraging and knowing smile "I just have to ask. You're a Guardian Friend, aren't you?"

Eduardo smiled brightly, nodding. "Sí, sí! Amigo del guarda!" he declared in Spanish, which basically translated to 'guardian friend'. He dusted at Wilt's socks, spotting a spot that had some dirt on now because he knocked him down like that. "Perdóneme por favor, señor Wilt..." he mumbled as he did. Oh he was just making a mess no matter what he did, didn't he? He cautiously glanced over his shoulder either way, checking if the lorry was coming back or not. Wilt just smiled, feeling a bit bad. He didn't know a word of Spanish, but he recognised the behaviour of a Guardian Friend; powerful protective instincts, fussing over every little thing. Though his hyper-active fear of the world round him caused Wilt some concern, he was happy to brush that aside for now.

"Hey, I think it's cool!"

"Cool?" Eduardo echoed, tilting his head a bit again. What did that mean? He processed it quickly, before walking around Wilt slowly. "Sí, the weather, she is cool." he agreed, guessing that is what Wilt meant.

Wilt blinked, confused for only a moment before he remembered the consequences of charging headlong into a language barrier. A grin spread across his face. "Yeh, it is. But this weather isn't so nice for you if you're already coughing and stuff. Let's get you inside now, okay?"

"Sí!" Eduardo clapped his hoofed hands together in excitement. He was still brand new to the American way of life, having only arrived only a month before with his creator and her family. Quite pleased was he that he'd understood what Wilt was talking about without making a fool out of himself.

To be continued. . .