Falling Into Place (EnE)

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First Chapter

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A few months after Eddward Marion Vincent turned the age of fourteen his parents sent him a letter before their arrival at their home in Peach Creek informing their son of their return. They'd asked him to have the house in tip top shape. The two preferred to come home to a spotless home. Double D was more than happy with the news of their upcoming arrival and hurried over to Ed's to tell Ed and Eddy he would be busy for the next two days and that his parents were going to be returning.

He cleaned the house more than twice during the time period of two days and made sure that the presentation was good enough for his parents' eye.

When his parents arrived they came out of a blue mini van that was used as a taxi. This surprised Edd greatly as he stared ahead from his front porch while his parents emerged from the cab, his father holding his and his wife's brief case. The expressions on their faces were as serious as ever.

room and Mrs. Vincent walked forward towards the door. Double D smiled, welcoming his parents and opened the door before stepping aside. His mother tilted her neck downward as she walked past, in behind her husband, and smiled down at her son. It warmed the young Vincent to be greeted with the sight of his mother and father once again.

Mr. Vincent, the more serious of the couple, neatly placed his suitcase on the glass coffee table and turned to look at his son who had just closed the door after his mother entered the home.

"Eddward," he had spoke to gain his son's attention.

Double D walked forward and stopped to stand directly in front of his father who was still clad in his expensive suit, something the beanie-wearing Ed had often witnessed his father wearing after he returned home from one of his assignments.

"Yes, father?"

The man explained to his son with an emotionless tone that himself and his wife were going to cover all of Eddward's expenses whilst they went over to Nicaragua to lend their services to the needy. This entire time Crystin Vincent tried to keep herself from crying, her eyes often threatening to well over with tears. The young boy stood in shock, for Edd it felt like time had stopped. Mr. Johnathan Vincent went on to tell Eddward that he was entrusting him with the keys and ownership of a brand new car that he obviously wouldn't be granted permission to drive by neither himself nor Crystin until he turned 15 years old. And then that he would only be allowed to use the vehicle to practice driving until he got his driver's license.

Double D had burst out crying which caused his mother to cry. Her eye make-up running down her cheeks as she bent over to put a comforting hand on his shoulder before she pulled him into a hug. Double D didn't protest even though he wanted to cry out that he hadn't even wanted the car in the first place and that it was his mother and father that he'd yearned the presence of for the past five long years.

His mother and father spent the entire day with their son. When nightfall came Crystin sat on her son's bed with him until he drifted off into his slumber, tucked into the soft and warm comforter. Johnathan watched from the doorway feeling sorrowful and full of blame as tears trailed down his wife's cheeks prior to her putting a clutching hand on her son's shoulder when he turned over and onto his side during his sleep.

Johnathan turned away and began walking towards his bedroom. His wife sat on the single bed and wept for a few moments before she pulled herself together and made her way to her bedroom. There at the entry way she saw her husband already packing a few clothing items and cologne from the dresser into a black suitcase. Crystin sucked up every sorrowful feeling she had, reminding herself that she must be strong, and ambled exhaustedly over to the walk-in closet and pulled out her navy suit case and began looking through some of her expensive designer dresses and business outfits. Her aim was to pack as many as possible to take with her, pick out some pajamas for herself and leave a note for her son to try and make himself some extra money by selling any extra clothing and furnishing the two left.

"Remind me to tell the taxi driver to pull over at a store so we can pick up some extra bathing and cleaning supplies, dear," Crystin's soft, feminine voice had entered the room and was directed at her husband.

"Will do," Johnathan had replied while he zipped up the first compartment of his suit case and then walked towards the bathroom to retrieve his own hygiene products.

Crystin and Johnathan spent the next fifteen minutes searching through their bedroom area for things they desired to take with them before zipping up their suitcases. Crystin grabbed a pad of sticky notes from the one of the night stands beside of the table and a black bic pen and followed her husband's lead to their son's bedroom door which was cracked open. A tiny globe night-light reflected a faint blue light into the hallway and lit the opened area. Crystin stopped at a wall right outside of her son's room, set her suitcase on the floor and with a french-manicured hand she pressed the pad to the wall and clicked the pen.

She ended what she had to say with, I love you very much, Eddward and a perfectly assymetrical heart after. When she backed away from the wall and turned her neck she saw her husband with a regretful look in his eyes and his arm sticking out with his hand flat in the air. She couldn't help but smile as she gladly placed the pad onto his palm after she removed the top note from the rest of the pad.

After the petite woman placed the pen across the palms of his fingers and crossed her arms atop her rib cage. Johnathan walked towards the wall and she forced herself to hinder her laugh. It was quite amusing to see such a serious man walking around in slacks and bunny slippers. When the man was done with his two notes to his son he clicked the pen and soundlessly followed his wife into his son's room.

They quietly stuck the notes to the table by his bed. Johnathan placed the pad and the pen on the nightstand, turned and bent over his son who was sleeping peacefully with a smile on his face. His large hand was brought from his side to lift the cap that partially covered his forehead. During this time Crystin walked around to the other side of the bed where she sat down and gently moved her long, thin arms around her son's sleeping form. The young man's father rubbed at his son's head while his wife hugged him and brought her face down to rest on top of his small chest. Some of the boy's shiny black locks spilled out from the hat atop his head causing his father to smile before he placed a kiss on his forehead.

Crystin sniffled after she lifted her head and Mr. Vincent stood. He slid his hand into his pants pocket and placed a silver credit card on the nightstand above the sticky note he'd stuck there. His wife followed him out the door after she picked up her suitcase and he cracked the door before following her down the stairs. Mr. Vincent retrieved his suitcase from the coffee table while Crystin slipped on her black two inch heels. He walked over to the door, bent down, put his shoes on his feet and joined his wife on her short walk to the car. The taxi was still outside, the meter still running, charging the two.

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The next morning Edd awoke to find what his parents had left him and the house to be empty once more. At twelve o clock sharp there was a knock at the door which Double D answered, still in his pajamas. There was a man in front of him in uniform with a clipboard and a stack of papers.

The man asked if his name was Eddward Vincent which the teenager confirmed that Eddward Vincent was indeed his name. He was handed the clipboard and a pen from his shirt pocket and told to sign and initial a few papers. After the man had gotten the information he needed he motioned for the man in the carrier truck to grant the brand new black Mercedes Benz e class. A man got out of the passenger seat of the delivery truck while Edd ran to open the garage door. He reappeared and stood by the man's side and watched as the man got into the car and slowed it down the ramp it was on before turning it and pulling it into the garage. He parked it with ease with a few of the neighborhood kids watching in the background. They chatted amongst themselves as the gentleman emerged from the car.

He handed the car keys to Double D. Double D returned his smile and thanked him to which the man had replied with a "No problem." and a "Enjoy the ride." the man who'd come to the door unclipped the car's information and handed the stack of papers that were attached to each other by a paper clip to Double D before he excused himself to leave. Double D sighed to himself before making his way back inside to mourn the departure of his mother and his father.

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At three p.m. that day Ed and Eddy showed up on the third Ed's porch and knocked incessantly on his vivid grey door until he answered the door. He opened the door, clad in his pajamas which consisted of a robe, bunny slippers, loose space ship pajama bottoms and a faded blue t-shirt. He told his friends he didn't feel like coming out today, his downer tone obvious which concerned his two best friends.

Throughout the next two weeks Ed and Eddy had tried to get their friend to come outside and spend time with them and the other kids living around the area but to no avail. The last day the two had tried they were not alone.

The two youngest of the neighborhood had become curious of their friend's unwillingness to leave his house and as the two watched Ed and Eddy leave Eddy's backyard and amble toward the ravenette's house Sarah whispered to her to tow-colored friend, "C'mon Jimmy, lets go see what's going on."

"Okay, Sarah," Jimmy had replied to the reddish-haired girl as he followed in behind her.

She snuck herself into a bush before her brother or Eddy spotted her or Jimmy. Jimmy crept into the bush after her and then hissed in pain.

"Owie, Sarah, there's a twig poking into my side!"

"Ssshhhh," Sarah whispered back with a finger to Jimmy 's lips. She took her finger away and peeked out from the bush. She watched as her brother and Eddy walked across the stepping stones and to Double D's front entrance. They stood still before ringing the bell. The door opened and Double D appeared with a dejected look on his face. Loss was in his eyes and it made Sarah feel sad for her long-time crush. She listened attentively as Double D explained his situation to his friends and promised he'd come out to see the two tomorrow. Right after that he apologized and told them that he had just needed some time for coping rehabilitation.

Ed and Eddy looked down and told him how sorry they were because of the recent events he'd been going through and the three said their goodbyes to one another.

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Sarah dashed out of the bush unnoticed with Jimmy in tow and ran over to tell her mother what was going on out of worry. Her mother looked shocked and angry. She immediately dialed child services and reported Mr. and Mrs. Vincent for an issue of neglect.

His parents were contacted soon after and before they could stop them, child services was at their old residence and claiming their son. The second Mrs. Vincent heard about the incident she called the McGee family and demanded that she speak with Olivia, Eddy's mother. Mrs. and Mr. Howard McGee were very understanding of their situation and understood why they were lead to believe that it was completely fine that they saw that their child was fit to care for himself even though it was an utter outrage to the state. Whilst Olivia talked with Mr. Vincent, Howard contacted a lawyer and was prepared to have Eddward released from their services as soon as possible. It took five days to get him released. After the papers were signed and custody of Eddward was granted to Mr. and Mrs. Mcgee within a month of him staying in their household, due to the fact they were found to be excellent care-givers, Double D was there to stay.

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A thin, pale teenage boy with dark hair covered up by a black ski hat with two vertical white stripes along the sides sat on an old, wide brown love seat in the spacious living room of the McGee house. He was texting away on his phone whilst his best friend, whom he lived with, was busily cooking some food. The walls in the living room were a burnt auburn, the tv was on, two dully lit lights were coming from two small table lamps and were starting to hurt his eyes.

The smell of pasta sauce, onions, and garlic drafted in from the brightly lit kitchen. Edd sighed heavenly and decided to move from the soft couch to the kitchen for better lighting. He entered the kitchen, he was dressed in a navy cardigan with light colored blue jeans and a white polo shirt.

The ravenette sat his phone down on the kitchen table and squirted a dime sized drop of hand sanitizer onto his palm before sitting down. He began rubbing his palms together prior to slicking the hygienic concoction all over his cool-toned hands. When he went to grab his phone a pack of cowboy killers happened to catch his eyes.

The ravenette tsked before becoming the solo peanut gallery, "Eddy, I do wish you wouldn't take up such unhealthy lifestyle habits."

Eddy, the shortest of the Eds glanced over from the stove, fixing his gaze on Double D for a moment before he turned back to give his preparations a good inspection before turning back and momentarily fixing his gaze on his friend.

Sounding confused, he asked with a quirked brunette brow, "What exactly?"

Edd grabbed the cigarettes as though the pack of them was a dirty diaper, holding it in the air with his finger and thumb. "Cigarettes, Eddy," he asked as if to say, "Really?" in a sassy tone.

Eddy looked over once more then scratched at his hairnet covered head with his mitted hand before going back to making his signature mashed potatoes.

"They're not mine."

Double D put the pack back in the spot he'd picked them up from, Eddy could be heard chopping away at a fourth of a yellow onion on a wooden cutting board in the background. To himself, the brunette wondered if one of his parents had picked up the habit. He went on to consider that his father might have went back to gambling. Eddy picked up the cutting board by it's handle and used his knife to slide the onions into the pot.

Putting the cutting board and the knife down on the white stone counter top he remembered he needed pepper. He grabbed the wooden spoon from a tall metal cup to his right and started to stir the ingredients while shaking the mixture of red pepper flakes and black pepper onto the mashed potatoes. The pepper shaker was slid away from him in a haste, he made a grab for the Cheyenne pepper, but mistakingly grabbed the salt instead. He sent it away after looking at it's appearance with seemingly sleepy eyes. This time he looked and grabbed the Cheyenne pepper and the saffron marinated mushrooms from dipping sauce bowl that was next to it with his fingers and tossed them into the pot.

Sprinkling just a bit of the spice into the mashed potatoes, stirring and then repeating the process a maximum of three more times got him almost done with cooking the helping of mashed potatoes. He placed the Cheyenne pepper in the middle of the stove and turned off the stove.

"Hey, Double D, can you get me a bowl and a spoon, please?"

"Of course, I'd be more than content with accommodating you, Eddy," Double D replied with a smile.

Eddy put the pot over on an unused burner so that what was on the bottom of the pan wouldn't get any hotter to reduce risk of burning and disposed of the hairnet. A loud knock at the door caught his attention and he made a bee-line for his worn black hoodie that was atop the door hinge nearest to the front exit. He pulled the sleeves onto his arms and without bothering to zip it up he opened the door to be faced with a familiar redheaded jock.

"Hey, man, can I come in," Kevin asked the brunette.

Tiredly, Eddy scratched at his now cut belly through his white wifebeater, "Yeah, sure."

He moved aside, allowing the entrance of the taller male. Kevin made his way to the kitchen to greet his boyfriend; Edd.

Double D looked up with a smile when he noticed his boyfriend heading his way. Eddy reentered the kitchen.

"Oh, Eddy, I filled a bowl of mashed potatoes up for you and took the liberty of adding the chili to it for you."

Eddy smiled and his eyes brightened. He lifted his arm and took the medium sized bowl from his friend and scooted around him to sit at the table before digging into his meal.

Kevin raised his arm and nervously rubbed the back of his neck in an up and down motion, "So.. Uh listen, babe, I kind of messed up. I can't buy you dinner tonight, I kinda spent it on liquor."

Upon hearing this, Eddy's gaze fell and negativity entered his eyes. He wore a frown accompanied with a look of disappointment. He had one question, how does one decide on alcohol over his or her own boyfriend? Especially when he knew taking a certain sockhead out would undoubtedly paint a smile on his face..

"Kevin, you spent your paycheck on alcoholic substances," Double D asked scoldingly while Eddy narrowed his eyes disapprovingly, "You're under age," he exclaimed.

"Y-yeah, I know.. But me and the guys really wanted to go to a senior party and it was a bring your own so I_."

Eddy, not wanting to hear anymore of his excuses cut in, saying, "Its alright. I'll feed him. I've gotta cook more garlic pot anyway."

With that Edd mosied over to the stove, mitted his right hand and opened the oven door. Kevin apologized to Edd who said, "Don't worry about it, you don't have to get me anything."

"Bon appetite," Eddy said and served the dish he'd made for himself.

The dish was a tasty special Eddy had made up himself when he'd discovered how to make garlic bread from scratch and wanted to step up his chicken pot pie. Garlic bread was the pie and the filling was a savory seasoned garlic pasta topped with a little cheese.

"It smells amazing, dude," Kevin commented appreciatively.

"Thank you very much, Eddy."

Double D sat down and Eddy picked up his bowl and sat down on the other side of the table, "Get yourself soms mashed potatoes, shovelchin," Eddy said, "I made way too many anyway."

"Uh, yeah, thanks."

Eddy watched as Double D took his first bite of his garlic pot and smiled. He was clearly pleased by the dish.

Double D chewed his food up quickly, wide grin never ceasing to enhance his facial features which made Eddy smile, "Eddy, it's absolutely delicious. Garlic bread and tiny cut up noodles that taste just... Amazing! And they're spicy?.!"

Eddy popped some mashed potatoes in his mouth then nodded and scooted over so Kevin could sit, his smoky grey eyes never leaving Edd's shining navy orbs, "Glad you like it."

Kevin stirred his mashed potatoes around before spying something amidst the potatoes, "I dunno about this, man. There's broccoli in this."

"There's also cheese," Eddy replied and Kevin shrugged. He took a bite of the mashed potatoes and utterly loved what he'd made.

"Damn, that smells good!"

Surprised, the three boys moved their eyes away from their fascination with the food to see Eddy's brother walking towards them. Eddy took the spoon from his mouth and dispensed it into his half-eaten bowl.

Eddy let out a light, nervous laugh, "H-he-h-hey, Terry. What're you doin' here?"

Terry walked forward and gripped his pack of cigarettes. The three seated males eyed him with caution as he retracted his hand and pulled out an unpacked cigarette before reaching into his pocket. He ignored the three sets of eyes while he removed his black lighter and lit the cigarette. Smoke entered the room as he spoke, "Mondo-a-go-go got closed down, I couldn't find any work so mom and dad said I could stay."

"How did you ever manage to get inside," Double D asked before turning his attention back on his cooling food.

"How I managed was walking in right through the back door, girlfriend," came the response to Edd's voiced inquiry.

Eddy blushed a faint shade of light pink, "He's not my girlfriend and he's not a girl."

Kevin stood from the table as Eddy and Edd continued to eat their meals, "He's my boyfriend, man," Kevin exclaimed in a large-mannered fashion.

The tall, brown-eyed McGee took a puff of his cigarette before flicking his ash to the side, "And you've got a problem," he asked with a raised brow.

To this Double D sent his boyfriend a look, "Calm yourself, Kevin," came his suggestion as he simultaneously tried to ignore the pesky urge to clean up the slight disarray Terry had caused.

Kevin didn't respond. Instead he reoccupied the his previous seat and returned to eating his meal. Eddy picked up his empty bowl and stood. Terry moved aside as Eddy walked by to deposite dish into the kitchen sink. He stayed off to the side and when his younger brother returned to the table he reached into the pocket of his faded black jeans and pulled out his camo wallet. He lifted his head and looked at the redhead before refocusing his attention back below and checking through a few bills. Finally, after some quick looking, he found what he was looking for. A worn U.S. note worth exactly fifty dollars. The brunette released the bill from the area it was in and held it in his hand.

"I'm going to give you some money to take Double D out for the night," he told Kevin then made it known that he was paying for his best friend to have a nice night, but that Kevin however would be put in debt if he accepted the offer.

Kevin raised his hand and waved it back and forth in the air, "Naw, man. Thanks, but I really don't wanna owe you," he turned his green-eyed gaze on Double D and asked, "We can have a good night just us, right, babe?"

The jocks rejection of his cash ticked Eddy off and he guessed he would probably be on edge for the rest of the night. Edd's navy eyed looked up from his meal and he directed a forced smile at Kevin, "Yes, I'm positive, as always, it will be pleasant," then turned to Eddy, "Thank you very much for your generosity, Eddy. I truly appreciate your kind offer of giving."

"No problem, sockhead. Here, get something for yourself tonight, I trust you."

Double D only politely declined his offer, reminding Eddy that he had aplenty of money on his visa. Eddy stuck the fifty back into his wallet and then his wallet back into his pocket, "Hey, do me a favor and take over some food to Ed in one of those plastic containers. There's gravy in the fridge I made. It's low fat, I was, ah, listening to what you were saying about a fatty liver so I went out and got some of that."

Edd stared at Eddy wide-eyed, "Why, Eddy! What a wonderful and considerate gesture..! That is so thoughtful of you to go out of your way and to provide a portion for our dear friend, Ed."

After Edd was finished with his meal the time was six thirty p.m. Quickly, he put away his dirty dishes and filled up a container with mashed potatoes before fitting the lid on top of the container and tightly sealed it. Terry had walked out of the kitchen by this time and was assumed to be having some leisure time away in his room. Double D walked forward to the fridge, spotted the zip lock bag full of gravy and took it from the fridge. He shut the door and Kevin stood from the table.

"Ready to go, babe," He asked with a tone that spilled that he was ready to get out of there.

Double D remarked that he was ready to leave and Kevin allowed the ravenette to walk ahead of him before he put his arm around the middle of his back and lead him outside.

"Goodnight, Eddy. I hope all goes well for you," Double D called out, looking at the brunette from over his shoulder.

"Yeah, night, Double D," he replied before his eyes fell and a small frown became visible on his face. He lowered his hand from the wave he'd sent his friend back to its prior position by his side and sighed dejectedly as he watched him and Kevin exit the house.

Eddy decided he'd get around to the dishes tomorrow and retired to his bedroom for the night.