Disclaimer: The author does not own any publicly recognizable entities herein. No copyright infringement is intended.

Hey y'all! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed and favorited my little Leahward fic. I just love these two kids and hope you do too.

Here we go with the third installment! xo


Halloween 1990

"Caius, don't eat all those!" I advised from behind the counter. "You'll get a tummy ache and miss the hayride tomorrow."

"Okay, Leah!" he mumbled around a mouthful of ghostly sugar cookies.

His mother shook her head with a smile. "I'll pick up some Pepto Bismol just in case."

"Good idea." I set the change in her open palm. "Enjoy the rest of your night."

"You too!" She corralled the twins away from the sample cookie tray. "Caius, Marcus, let's go."

I brushed my hands on my apron. "May I help who's next?"

Second only to an animated pumpkin patch, Irina's Bakery was the ideal place to be on Halloween. Besides the bounty of baked goodness, there was a constant parade of little ones in adorable costumes, and who didn't love that? Witches and monsters were in short supply, thank God, yielding to baby animals, cartoon characters, and my favorite, fruits and vegetables.

Nothing cuter than a toddling strawberry chasing a pint-sized pumpkin.

"Where is The Irresistible Irina this evening?" Mr. Laurent frowned from his seat by the window. "Finalizing this year's outrageous costume?"

"I wish." I boxed a dozen cupcakes for Mrs. McCarty. "She's got the flu."

"What?"

"Yes. That's why I'm manning the store and…"

"And you let me sit here for the last 28 minutes waiting for her?" He jumped to his feet with a huff. "I should be there, taking care of her. If you'd give me her address, I could just…"

"I think she wants to be alone, you know, because she's still contagious." I smiled kindly. "She wouldn't want you to get sick."

"How kind of her." Mr. Laurent adjusted his ascot and smoothed his lapel. "Very well. Give her my best, would you?"

"Of course. Have a great night, Mr. Laurent."

He gave a terse nod, and as he walked out, Mrs. McCarty leaned in. "Given the choice, I think I'd rather have the flu."

I stifled a smile as I rang her up. "No comment."

"As if Irina would take up with a fussy fop like him. Honestly! He needs to take some notes from that handsome beau of yours, Leah." My cheeks flamed at the allusion, and I fought to stay on task. "What a prize he is. You guys have any special plans tonight?"

"Not really. We're not big on Halloween, and he'll be tired after the game, so…."

"Well, I think you two are a picture perfect couple. You'll be Homecoming King and Queen for sure!"

"That's sweet of you to say." And the last thing either of us wanted.

"Let me get these home." She took the box with a shake of her head. "If I'm lucky, maybe that greedy Emmett will let me have one."

"Fingers crossed." The next customer stepped forward, but my mind was stuck on her mention of my favorite subject.

My darling Edward.

Three years in, and I still couldn't believe it. Not because he's was so phyne or popular…though he was definitely both. I was amazed because no one really knew what was going on between us.

And that was both good and bad.

Don't get me wrong. Our relationship wasn't a secret or anything. We were publicly together and practically inseparable. Living on the same street and attending the same school allowed us to see each other about every waking hour of the day. People expected me at his soccer games and knew he would stop by the bakery after practice to walk me home.

But because Edward was our town's answer to Luke Perry, people expected the world of him and sought to build little altars around him. They assumed he was naturally gifted and good at everything, not realizing how hard he worked in school to earn average marks. Everyone other than Kate and I called him "Ace" for reasons I still didn't get, but he wasn't a great athlete and was only second string on the varsity soccer team. Yet the expectations remained, and because of them, most people missed what made Edward so special.

I saw Edward's brand of special every night at our dinner table and outside on weekends when he helped my dad with yardwork. I felt Edward's brand of special on the couch during Jeopardy when he kissed the back of my hand for each correct Daily Double. I tasted Edward's brand of special when he remembered my favorite ice cream and salty snack. I earned Edward's brand of special when he got the third-highest score on Ms. PacMan at the arcade and used the initials "ENL." I experienced Edward's brand of special in a thousand little wonderful ways, and best of all, I was the only one who ever did.

He was my best kept secret, hidden in plain sight, and I was pleased as punch to call him mine.

At last, the line at the bakery dwindled, and remaining customers nursed coffee and cookies in contentment. I used the break to straighten empty chairs, clean up crumbs, and refill the napkin holder and sugar dispensers. The next wave of major traffic would signal the end of Edward's game, and I could hardly wait to see him. This was our day, and with The Great Pumpkin awaiting us on my VCR, it was shaping up to be an amazing night.

I was adding brownies to the countertop display when Kate stumbled through the front door.

"Whoa, girlie!" I said as she collapsed onto a stool at the counter. "Did Coach Carmen wear you out again today?"

She waved me off, gasping for breath. "No….Important….Gotta tell you…."

"How about you calm down first?" I reached for a glass to give her some water. "You're going to give yourself a heart attack."

"But I…."

"Shhh. It can't be that import—"

"It's Edward."

I stopped pouring. "Is he all right?"

"I…I don't know."

"I don't understand. What happened?"

She held up her finger and gulped down some water. "Okay. So Coach suspended part of our practice to watch and analyze the first half of the boys' game. Garrett came out of nowhere trying to apologize, but I ignored him. Like any apology would change what he did with Alice."

I clucked my tongue. "For real."

"Anyway, Edward came off the bench during the second quarter, and while he was on the field, his father showed up."

"What?"

"I know! I couldn't believe it either. He didn't cheer or anything, but he stayed. During halftime, he went over to Coach James, and they talked for a quick minute. The next thing I knew, Edward and Carlisle were heading to the parking lot, and Edward didn't return for the second half."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. And I couldn't follow them because Coach had started practice again. As soon as she blew the final whistle, I ran here." She sipped more water. "Gawd, I wish there was a way I could have called you from field."

"I know, right? Wouldn't that be cool?" I wrung my hands and glanced at the clock. "Crap, Kate. What should I do?"

"Well, the first thing you're going to do is get out of here." Kate came behind the counter, ignoring my protests. "Go home, regroup, and you'll figure out what to do."

"But what if he…"

"Comes here? I will redirect him there." Kate hugged me, smoothing my hair. "Don't worry. I'm sure everything is fine."

"Are you?"

She met my eyes with a tight smile. "If they aren't right now, they will be. Go get your stuff."

I went into the back and plopped into Irina's office chair. I didn't want to panic or worry, but this story was so strange. Carlisle showing an interest in Edward for the first time in history, only to yank him from the field and disappear? What could that mean?

With no answers forthcoming, I shrugged on my jean jacket as the phone rang. Checking my pockets for my keys, I had them in my hand when Kate's head popped through the curtain.

"It's him. Line 1."

"Okay." I stuffed my keys back into my pocket, praying for courage as I picked up the receiver. "Edward?"

"Leah? Oh, Leah!" His excitement erased my fears, and I relaxed into Irina's chair. "I'm so glad you haven't left yet."

"Me too. How are you? Kate said your father…."

"Leah, I'm so…" He laughed. "I'm so happy I could scream."

"Well, share the wealth." I chuckled. "What's going on?"

"My mother's back!"

I must have heard him wrong. "Your mother?"

"Yes, my mother. I can hardly believe it."

Neither could I. "I didn't…I mean, you never said…"

"I know, and that was…" He sighed with less enthusiasm. "I never talked about her because I didn't know what to say."

"Right."

"She was…I mean, she is…she had problems with drugs. She would leave for weeks at a time, never saying where she was going or when she'd be back. The last time, she was gone for six months, and my dad had enough. So he packed up one night and moved us here. That was five years ago."

"I had no idea."

"I'm sorry I never told you all that. I just…Your family is so great, and I just…I didn't want to burden you with my crazy past."

"But your crazy past is a part of you, Edward. And I accept it just like I accept the rest of you."

"Leah, I…you are just…I don't deserve you."

"Now you're being crazy. So where is your mom?"

"She's back home in Chicago."

"Right, duh. Is your dad bringing her here tonight? Is that why he pulled you from the game?"

"No, he's…" He swallowed hard. "She's not coming here."

"Oh?"

"We're going there."

"Oh. When?"

"Now, actually."

"Wow. But I guess that makes sense. For how long?"

"I don't know."

"What?"

"I don't know."

"Well, let's figure it out now." I looked at the year-at-a-glance wall calendar above Irina's desk. "Let's see. Today is Tuesday, so if you left tonight and stayed the whole weekend, you could come back on Monday without missing any real…"

"No…Leah, it's…" He sighed. "We're not visiting Chicago. We're moving back there. Tonight."

"What?" I came to my feet, bumping my knee on the edge of the desk. "Ow, crap!"

"Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay! I just bumped my knee."

"I'm sorry."

"Forget my knee, Edward." I rubbed the tender spot as I returned to the chair. "How can you up and move back home tonight?"

"We have to."

"No, you don't. I mean, your mom is okay, right? She reached out to say she was fine and ready to…"

"I don't want to talk about that with you."

His tone stopped me cold. "What?"

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be like that. I just…Dad has a rule."

"What kind of rule?"

"A rule we live by: never talk about inside business with outsiders."

The word was a blow to my chest. "You…you see me as an outsider?"

"It's not personal, Leah. It's how we had to survive. Chicago was a big city, so no one would know our business if we didn't spread it around. My mother's struggles were hers alone, and we had no right to share them with anyone. I guess I still feel that way."

"But they weren't just hers, Edward," I said gently. "They affected you and your dad too. I mean, look at how detached he is from you, how little time he spends with…"

"You don't know my dad, Leah."

I bit my lip, feeling the telltale tingle in my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Crap. This is not…I'm doing this all wrong. I don't want things to end like this."

"End? You want us to end?"

"No, no. Leah, that's the last thing I want."

"Then why did you say it?"

"What choice do I have? We're leaving for Chicago tonight, and we're not coming back. My dad is talking about moving the three of us somewhere new where we can start over together."

"Like where?"

"A small town a few miles from Seattle."

"Seattle? That's the other side of the country! How will I see you?"

"You won't." His voice cracked. "And that's…that's why we have to end this now."

"No."

"Leah…"

"No. Edward. You can't just call and tell me we're done and expect me to be okay with it."

"I don't expect you to be okay with it. I'm not okay with it!" He blew out a harsh breath. "But… this is my mom, Leah. The first woman I ever loved, the first to ever love me, and she needs me. She needs our family together, and I need to be where she is. Can't you understand that?"

I nodded but he couldn't see me. "Yeah, I do. I just…can I at least see you before you go?"

"I don't know. I mean, my dad went to grab something from the pharmacy. That's the only reason I was able to call you. He doesn't think… I mean, he wouldn't want…"

"Outsiders knowing your business. Right."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"It's fine."

"No, it sucks. But Leah. If there was any way I could…"

"I know."

There was a long pause as neither of us knew what to say.

"And hey," he finally said. "Someday when I'm…Crap! My dad's pulling into the driveway."

"He is? But we didn't get to…I mean, I wanted to tell you I…."

"I have to go, baby. I'm sorry. I just…" He cursed under his breath. "You're the second, Leah, okay? Just never forget that."

"What? Edward, that doesn't make sense."

"I'm sorry. I have to…"

The line went dead before I could say anything else. I called right back but only got a busy signal. I tried and tried for the next 15 minutes then realized my time could be better spent elsewhere.

I scribbled a note to Kate and bolted from the back door, flying home on lovesick wings. There was no way they could pack that house in a night, and even if Carlisle slammed the door in my face, I had to try.

I had to see Edward one last time.

I rounded the corner of our block, almost colliding with a troupe of tiny trick-or-treaters, and sprinted down the street toward his house. My chest burned, my throat was dry, but it would be worth it to have this moment.

But when I reached the edge of the Masen property, the would-be moment shattered at my feet.

It wasn't that the driveway was empty or the house was dark. It wasn't that the trash was at the curb two days early or that his bicycle wasn't leaning against the house.

It was that when I looked up at his bedroom window, a dead weight settled in my chest, confirming my fears of the worst.

He was gone.

Edward, my Edward, was gone.

I dragged myself across the street, barely remembering to look both ways. When I reached my front step and found the tight bundle in orange cellophane, I clutched it in both hands, curled up in a ball, and cried, heedless of who saw me.


Poor Leah! And poor Edward! I hope you guys are still with me and will hang on for the conclusion in a few weeks. Love to you all! XO