"Gracie, I'm home!"

Setting down the groceries, Mrs. Bennet went in search of her daughter. It was quite unlike Grace to not greet her mother upon returning home.

"Gracie" called Mrs. Bennet. "Are you up here?"

"Yeah, mom. We're okay."

The Bennet matriarch let loose a private sigh. But the sight of a rather frazzled-looking Gracie caused her unease to return.

"What happened?"

"We had a little trauma with Edward" Craig intervened.

Quickly the two friends relayed the incident to Mrs. Bennet. Her face went chalky at the explaination.

"Oh, its all my fault" cried Mrs. Bennet. "I should never have brought home that Indian food."

"It's not your fault, mom" Gracie soothed. "He liked the regular stuff. Besides, those peppers would make anyone's stomach melt."

"I know. I just should have known better than to leave them on his plate. Where is he now?"

"He's soaking in the tub" said Criag. "He should be fine in a bit."

The two teenagers helped Mrs. Bennet with the groceries. She tried to act positive, but a nagging worry nibbled away at her. Edward had become like a second child to her. The thought of him sick or in pain made her want to enfold the boy in a tight, reassuring hug.

"I'll see you on Monday" said Criag, giving Gracie a quick embrace around the shoulders.

"Okay, bye."

He cast the girl one last wave before heading out the door.

"I'm going to go check on Edward" said Mrs. Bennet

"He should still be in the tub."

"Dont worry, I'll knock first."

While her mother hiked up the stairs to the bathroom, Gracie took the opportunity to veg out on the couch. Though they were already firmly established at the Mansion, there was always much to do. Be it school or unpacking.

"Gracie!" Mrs. Bennet hollered. "Edward's not in the tub!"

The girl could not help but roll her eyes. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. Hoisting herself from the sofa, Gracie went in search for her unfinished housemate. A trail of puddle like footprints lead away from the bathroom.

"Oh Ed," she sighed. "You could've atleast dried yourself off."

Carefully she followed the footprints down the askew hallway, being careful not to slip on the wet floor. Atlast she arrived at Edward's room.

"Hey Mom! I found him."

Sitting on the bed, an absolutly soaking wet Edward greeted his friend with a tiny smile. A large puddle had formed around his feet while bath water continued to drip from his sopping hair.

"Oh, there you are" heaved Mrs. Bennet.

She drew a hand to her lips at the sight of the very waterlogged, Edward. True he had made a bit of a mess. But she could not be mad at him. He simply did'nt know any better.

"Look at you" she chuckled. "Come on. Lets get you dried off."

After the search for their lost house mate, the little family returned to the great hall. Edward had been dried off and was sitting infront of Mrs. Bennet on the sofa. She was determined to do something with his hair.

"When was the last time you had this combed?"

"I dont remember" chirped Edward

"Well, thankfully I came prepared."

The Bennet matriach dumped out a pile of brushes and combs onto the cushions. For Edward the grooming meant almost two hours of comb teeth raking across his scalp, only to get horribly tangled in his nest of hair. By the end of the experience, Mrs. Bennet was forced to give up. Her combs and brushes had been organized into two piles. One for those that were broken, and the other for those that survived.

"I told you only engine lube would be able to untangle his hair" Gracie quipped.

"Yes and if we had any, dont you think I would have used it by now?"

"It's okay" Edward spoke up. "I dont mind it tangled."

Mrs. Bennet heaved a sigh and gave Edward an affectionate pat on the arm.

"I'm glad your living with us, Edward. You're a good kid."

A tiny smile blossomed on the boy's ashy lips.

"Oh, that reminds me" she said. "I got a call from your Aunt Dawn. She said she'll be dropping by for a visit this summer. We should get a bedroom ready for her."

"Why would she want to come see us?"

"Remember, the last time we saw her we were still living in that tiny apartment. I'm sure she's very curious about the house."

Gracie managed to stifle the spark of anger that singed that back of her mind. The last thing she wanted were nosy relatives coming by to make snide remarks behind their backs.

"It's late" Gracie said. "You should probably get some sleep, Edward. You had a tough day."

Upstairs, Gracie helped Edward settle into bed. He gazed up at her from his pillows with probing eyes.

"You're not happy to see your Aunt?" he asked.

"Its not that. I just wish she had'nt changed so much. I liked her better before she went all superficial."

But this only puzzled Edward further.

"Well, a long time ago, my Aunt Dawn was alot more like my mom. She was fun. We used to take walks on the beach and collect shells and stuff. But then Grandpa died. Dawn was never the same after that. She married this big-time executive guy and moved to the city. Now all she seems to care about is shopping and wine."

There was a long pause as Gracie struggled to come to grips with the past. As Edward watched her, a question grew in his mind. A question he had wanted to ask her for so long, but never had the nerve.

"Gracie?"

"Yeah?"

"Where's your father?"

To the boy's surprise, a sad chuckle shook itself from Gracie's lips.

"Ehh... I dont know and I dont care. He left my mom a few days after I was born. But it was okay. I had my Grandpa. He was the one who helped raise me, so in my book that makes him my father."

Going to her desk, Grace brought out a photograph framed with care. It showed a pleasent looking older gentleman and a little girl posing infront of a tree. Both had beaming smiles.

"Thats my Grandpa" said Gracie. "He would have liked you alot."

The past was becoming to strong. She did not want Edward to see her cry. Gracie gave her housemate a quick smile before turning out the light.