8:30 AM. Edd had slept straight through the night. It was the first time since he returned home that he had slept well. Of course, it only took two days to adjust back so he couldn't really complain. He opened his window, relishing in the breeze of the beautiful day.

It seemed with each passing day the kids of the neighborhood made an effort to get outside earlier and earlier. You'd think with school staring in less than a week they would all be sleeping well into the afternoon and be up all night. Edd was ecstatic about getting back to school. More then anything he looked forward to being with his best friends again. Already his third day home and he is yet to speak to either Ed or Eddy. The ladder may be a good thing however, considering his situation.

Since returning home Edd had realized in the absence of his best friends, he still had great friends he could rely on. Like Rolf and Kevin, and even Marie. It was a good feeling. Considering during his youth the only friends he had were Ed and Eddy. It made him happy when he thought about how far he'd come.

Edd was in an unusually good mood this morning (considering how he was typically a grouchy person in the morning). This was because he was awoken by a phone call by his mother. Due to the nature of their jobs his parents couldn't call as often as they would like to. Most of the time it was just texts. He and his mother had a chance to talk for about 20 minutes before she had to go. His father was sleeping but he managed to get on the phone and tell his son he loved him. Edd's mother liked to pry into every nook and cranny of his life when she got the chance. She asked how Ed and Eddy were, happy hearing Ed was still employed, and not exactly shocked at the news about Eddy. She knew Edd had "helped" him with his work throughout their years of school. They talked about how he was researching to make a garden, an idea his mother loved. He even brought up how he had spent time working on Kevin's car with him and talking to Marie about books. The last bit is what really caught his mother's attention. Edd assured her there was absolutely nothing going on between them and they were just friends. His mother always thought he and Marie were cute. Seeing her chance him around all the time when they were younger. Speaking of which. Edd realized he again had no books to read since finishing the one Marie lent him. She mentioned yesterday she was working today, so he could go down to get a book, as well as visit Marie and enjoy the cool air.

Edd walked along the sidewalk leading to the front doors. Rounding the corner, he noticed an overturned trashcan rustling around. Cautiously, he observed and soon after stopping to look, Victor the goat rolled out, covered in various articles of waste. A wave of disgust washed over him as he set forth to the library entrance. Which is where he saw Rolf, as well as Marie, who was repeatedly smashing her head into a table.

"What is this dribble? Rolf does not understand!" he heard his friend yelling from across the library. He went up to the front counter to ask Marie what was going on.

"He won't leave Double D! I've screamed and screamed but he just won't leave!" she said sobbing. She explained that he had been there for 20 minutes trying to find some book on goats that

Marie explicitly told him they didn't have. Knowing how stubborn Rolf was, and how easily Marie got irritated, Edd decided to go and help Rolf find a book of similar taste to what he was looking for.

The sight of Rolf leaving brought a huge smile to Marie's face. She grabbed Edd's hand and repeatedly thanked him. Has she being a little mellow dramatic? Probably. But Edd wasn't about to stop her. He thought the whole situation was hilarious. However, now that the situation was resolved, he could finally find his own books.

"I don't understand how you can handle that guy Double D. I'm ready to just lay down and die after that". Edd smiled and handed the book he wanted to Marie. Who instantly dropped it. "Feed? Double D! This is the worst book I have ever read. I will not let you waste your time with it." She pulled out her bag and reached around for a second. Some make up, a button that said "Believe in the Shield" and a wrestling magazine poured out. "There it is. Here. This is a much better book." Green Angle by Alice Hoffman, he read. "Just trust me on this one. Feed is a god awful book." she said as she struggled to put everything back into her bag while still keeping eye contact with Edd. "I just finished it last night. It was an early birthday gift from my mom". Edd looked up from reading the synopses of the book. Was her birthday soon? She's been so nice about lending out books to Edd lately. Would it be expected of him to get her something? "It's tomorrow in case you were wondering. And yes, you have to get me something." she said with an evil grin. "Now go home and read that!" she barked., "I have something else for you after that too, so read it quick". Edd scurried out of the library both out of fear of Marie, and interest in the book. And what about her birthday? What on earth would he get her? What could he get her? He could use express delivery on amazon and get anything by tomorrow. But what would she like? The Wrestling magazine, and the pin. Maybe that will give him some sort of an idea. Whatever he was going to get, he had to do it soon.

6 AM and Edd was awoken by the sound of knocking at his door. Though, he was actually relieved about it. Last night he was up on amazon for hours trying to find Marie a decent Birthday gift. He finally managed to find something he thought she would like, and even snagged the last one in stock. He had it shipped overnight (which wasn't cheep. So Marie better love it). He had to go and sign for it, but since that was out of the way he could get back to sleep not worrying about anything except actually going to the library later and giving it to her.

Edd was actually fairly busy today. A lot of chores that needed to be done around the house as well as helping Mr Golden make his house a little more presentable for some people coming by to look at it today. After all was said and done it was around noon and he figured it was a good time to go and give Marie the gift he bought her. He had wrapped it in some black skull paper he picked up. He debated whether or not to get her a card as well, but decided against it.

Thankfully today was one of the cooler days at Peach Creek only being 75 out, a welcome change from the high 80s-90s they've had ever since he returned. The cool breeze of the library's air conditioner was still a very soothing sensation.

"Hello Eddward. Finish your books already?" Donna was behind the front desk where Marie usually was.

"Good afternoon Donna. May I ask where Marie is"?

"Oh sweetie, she asked for the day off. It's her birthday today. But judging from the present in your bag you already knew that." A now blushing Edd thanked Donna and quickly exited the library. He had considered asking Donna to give Marie the gift tomorrow, but it was her birthday and Edd wanted to make sure she got it today. So it looked like he was going to have to go down to the trailer park and give it to her himself. Which he had no problem with. Or, he wouldn't if the trailer park hadn't become a much more shady area then it used to be. It was a ways away from the Cul-de-sac so he's never had to deal with it. The worst stuff usually happens at night so he should be fine. Hopefully.

It was rather difficult remembering the area where Marie's trailer was located, but after a little searching he found her beaten and battered mailbox. Hearing the screaming from all the neighbors, large barking dogs, and what he hoped were fireworks, made him all the quicker to get to her door.

'Knock knock knockknock knock, Ding Dong'

Every second he waited it seemed like the terrifying noises around him were getting closer. He heard distant footsteps coming from the trailer. The door swung open, and a not to pleased Marie stood in front of him. She was looking in the direction of what he guessed was a TV. Sounded like she was watching wrestling.

"What do you want?" she barked, still not knowing who exactly she was talking to.

"Um... hello Marie". She turned her head seemingly shocked at hearing Edd's voice. He pulled out his gift. "Happy birthday".

"Double D! I was totally joking about getting me a gift! Why would you do that"?

"Well, if you don't want it" he said as he began to put the present back into his bag.

"No no no I want it!" Marie snatched it from his hands. "Well come in." she said with a giggle. Marie's Trailer was a lot cleaner on the inside then it was on the outside. "Would you like something to drink?" pointing to her refrigerator. Edd merely shook his head.

"Where's your mother Marie"?

"She got a huge promotion at her job. Makes a lot of money now, so of course she's out looking for things to buy". Marie was headed down a hallway where the source of whatever she was watching was coming from. "Sorry about the mess. I'm not as clean as my mom". Indeed she was not. Marie's room was very cluttered, things in every corner. She stood in the middle of it completely engulfed by the wrestling match on her television, which made Edd all the more proud of his gift. "Yeahhh!" Marie shrieked as the match ended. Afterwords she looked at Edd, clearly embarrassed. "I'm so sorry. I've always been a little to into wrestling". She jumped on her bed and motioned for Edd to join her. She shook the package as if she had no idea what it was. She excitedly ripped the paper off, and her face lit up like Edd had never seen before. She screamed and wrapped her arms around Edd. "How did you know to get me this shirt Double D"? Edd had managed to get a T-shirt of wrestling Faction The Shield for her.

"At the library. When your bag spilled I saw the wrestling magazine and the pin. I did a little research and found this. I'm sorry about the size. It was the last one and they only had mediums left".

"That's fine, I'm going to go put it on. Hang on here for a second". Marie dashed quickly into another room. Edd, alone in her room took a look around. He had never been in a girl's room before, much less a girl like Marie. All around the room he saw stacks of Comics and books. On her bed she had a Nintendo 3DS with boxes for Pokemon and Fire Emblem next to it, a card game called Boss Monster, posters for Jurassic Park and some bands named War of Ages and The Gazette. DVDs stacked surprisingly neat of Boy meets world, Supernatural, Teen Wolf, third Rock from the Sun and a whole lot of Anime. He even saw a Camera next to a sketch pad. It amazed him how different their interests were, yet they could now get along so well.

Marie excitedly returned to the room now wearing her new shirt. She did a little twirl.

"I love it. Thank you so much Double D. You have no idea what this means to me".

"I'm just glad you like it. I had no idea what you would like". Marie jumped back onto her bed next to Double D.

"You know you didn't need to do this. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you did. But you really didn't have to."

"It's the least I could do after you've been so nice about loaning me your books". Edd realized now that Marie had applied some make up while she was gone. "So. Could you explain to me why they're called the Shield"? Marie practically jumped on him when he said that.

"They're the Shield from injustice! They...I can't explain it to someone who doesn't watch. She turned to her laptop, which was actually hooked up to her TV, and opened a few videos. "You're going to sit here with me and watch some matches. I know it's really not your thing, but trust me, you'll love it". Her television screen had a picture of three men in swat like gear. Speaking truthfully it did seem rather interesting to him. So he decided to stay and watch with her. After all, it was her birthday. You can't tell someone no on their birthday.

One hour turned into two and then three. Two bowls of popcorn and a dozen or so wrestling matches later she closed her computer.

"So, what ya think? Cool Huh"? What could he say, he actually really enjoyed watching with her. There was something so captivating about it.

"I must say Marie, I enjoyed watching with you".

"I knew you would. See how well I know you." She winked making Edd blush a bit. "As fun as it's been having you over, it is getting dark soon. You shouldn't be here at night. Never know what crazy people are out. You going to walk home"?

"I text Kevin a little while ago asking if he could swing by and get me. I helped him out with his car the other day so he owes me one". 'Honk Honk' "Speak of the devil. Well I guess I'll be going Marie. Thank you for a wonderful evening and for spending your Birthday with me".

"No problem Oven mitt, come by anytime".She gave Edd one last hug and thanked him again for her shirt before he left. As he walked down to Kevin's car he turned back and waved one last time before getting in.

"Never thought I'd see you coming out of Marie Kanker's place. What were you guys doing?" Kevin asked with clear intentions of what he really meant.

"Just, two friends spending the day together Kevin. Nothing else".

Once Kevin dropped Edd off home he saw Mr Golden saying goodbye to some people.

"Mr. Golden, how'd the house do"?

"I think we got some real interest in the old girl. Can't imagine it'll be long before she's sold". As much as Edd would miss them, he loved the thought of new neighbors. Someone new to the neighborhood.

AN: Thank you to everybody who has taken the time to read, review, follow or favorite my story. It means the world! This chapter was written in a day, I'm sure I missed some stuff so please don't mind the little errors. Is it bad to put up two chapters in a span of 3 days? Hope not. Anyways, hope you enjoy :)