Hia, welcome to the new story and the final one in this part of the saga. There is no Summary page this time because if you haven't read the previous stories you will get lost in seconds, so I strongly advise that you read them, especially 'Can you Keep a Secret' and 'Parallel Lives' first.

For those of you who have, just a few notes before I start. Firstly, I forgot to credit my brother mg34 for the ending of the last story; it was his idea, I just wrote it.

This one is all my own work (more or less). I hope you enjoy it.

1. Guilt

Blossom, help me! Blossom! BLOSSOM!

Blossom awoke in a cold sweat. She was in bed, and the screams had died away. Those awful screams that echoed through her dreams as a chaotic mixture of Brick's and Sonic's voices both begging her for help, help that she'd never provided. Just thinking about it made her feel sick.

"You alright?" asked Eddy. Blossom jumped.

"You're awake?"

"Yeah, you've been screaming for the last half hour, I would have woken you, but I thought you might be sleep walking or something."

Blossom sighed, and sat up. "I'm fine," she lied, "I just need a glass of water."

"Yeah right," said Eddy with a hint of sarcasm. He switched the bed side light on. "I'm not going to sleep until you've told me what's wrong, or until I've guessed."

"Do we have to do this," Blossom replied, "I have a long day ahead of me, I need sleep."

"So do I, but some things are more important. Are you ill?"

"No."

"Having an affair?"

"Of course not!"

"Strangled by the guilt of letting Sonic get taken to his impending death?"

"N…" Blossom stopped and slumped. Eddy did a silent jig before responding.

"I would have put it more tactfully, but it is two in the morning."

"He's not dead yet," Blossom said, "probably." She thumped the pillow. "DAM IT!" she wailed, "why couldn't I do anything? Why was I rooted to the spot in fear? I was never a coward when I was young!"

"As adults we think we have more to lose though bravery," Eddy comforted. "If it was easy to be brave it wouldn't be impressive."

"That's not the point. I've help thousands of people in my life, often at a risk to my own safety. Almost all of them total strangers. Why can't I risk my self for people I know and care for?"

Eddy put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "I'm sorry Blossom," he said, "but I'm afraid I don't know. What ever the reason, you got scared and did the wrong thing…"

"Tell me something I don't know."

"BUT," he continued, "what's done is done. Let go."

Blossom looked up. "What?" she said.

"Listen, when I was young, I spent all of my time trying to cheat people out of money."

"That's really a good start for a lecture on morality Eddy."

"True, but you can learn two very important lessons from this. Firstly, how do you think I can live with my self now, after doing that?"

"I don't get it."

"You know, the three years I spent in jail for fraud, the endless lying and cheating, even the small things like when I forgot MJ's birthday. How do I live with my self, now I understand how awful it is?"

"You understand right and wrong?" Blossom laughed. Eddy looked a bit peeved, so Blossom answered the question. "You're incapable of feeling guilt?" she suggested.

Eddy laughed sarcastically. "No, but most normal people have a way of dealing with their guilt. They don't just bottle it up inside like you do, and hope it will go away."

"I don't!"

"Oh really? Brick forgave you for what you did to him, right?"

"Yes, he did."

"Then why do you hear his screams as well as Sonic's?" Blossom jumped.

"How do you know that?" she asked. Eddy smiled.

"You talk in your sleep. It's quite revelling." He raised an eyebrow. Blossom blushed slightly.

"Okay mister psychologist, why do I still hear Brick screaming?"

"Because you've never forgiven yourself for what happened to him," Eddy replied. "You've always asked other people for forgiveness for what you've done, and it's always been forth coming, but you've never forgiven yourself for anything. It's not healthy."

"Oh, I get it; I just pretend that I'm not responsible for two people's deaths and soon a third!" she said bitterly. "That's a great idea!"

"I know you're not happy about this, but you don't need to keep biting my head off," Eddy said, slightly hurt. "But if you keep on blaming yourself for ever you'll go mad… and I don't want you to do anything stupid," he finished gently, putting his hand on hers. "You don't have to forget what you did, just accept that what's done is done, and you can't change it. You regret it, that's enough. It's time to get on with life."

"I don't know if I'm capable of that," Blossom said sadly. Eddy smiled.

"You're capable of anything," he said, "just remember that." He gave her a hug. Finally Blossom smiled.

"Okay, thanks," she said, although she didn't feel greatly better. Yet.

"No problem. Love you. Goodnight."

"Hang on Eddy, you said there were too things I could learn from your exploits."

"Oh yes," Eddy smiled. He leaned in closely and smiled, before abruptly saying:

"Don't make the same mistake THREE times."

And before Blossom could respond he turned off the light.

Okay, sorry it's short (the first chapter normally is.) This story will start slowly, but it should pick up, as they normally do. Please review and feel free to ask questions/make suggestions. Thanks.