Disclaimer: See first chapter.

Hello hello my lovely Peeps! How have you all been? Hope the weather has been kind to you all and you were able to enjoy some much needed sun. Or if you're on the other side of where I am, it's not to cold for you yet.

Life has been life, work has been work, my tooth is back to aching but I have a nice new haircut. I explain everything in my other story, so check it out if you haven't already.

FanfictionAlex: For some strange reason, I didn't get your review until the next day. It must have been canceled out while I was updating the story...strangeness...but thank you for the lovely compliment. It pleases me. ^_^

Nellie: I hope you're having a great spring break! I trust the weather is cooperating for you?

Different Guest: Just wait until the end of this chapter. Trouble is always around the corner.

I would like to thank FanfictionAlex for this chapter, as they were thinking about the same idea I was having. You go Peep!

This chapter is for all of you. Those who reviewed, followed and faved. You feed my soul and the plot bunnies. They must feed!

Enjoy!

XxX

Another week had passed and Edd was making slow but steady progress.

Kevin had located Jim...Johnny had bought the cactus as a friend for Plank...and because Plank said he didn't want Jim to be with strangers who might let him die...

Dr. McKay had spoken with the police about returning Edd's hat...at first, they had firmly said no, as it was still part of the investigation, one of the detectives from Edd's kidnapping case six years ago had informed them that the only DNA they had found on the hat was Edd's. As such, he agreed to sign over the hat in the hopes it could assist Edd in healing faster.

Now that he had his much beloved hat...getting it on his head had been a bit of a struggle, but Kevin managed to do it after slipping it on under the hoodie...and Jim back, Edd was trying to say more words.

Nazz was just Na.

Rolf was Ro'f.

Kevin's was still Ev'n.

Ed was the only one who Edd could say correctly. But it was expected, with only two letters in his name after all.

Memories were coming back as well...how Ed was allergic to rabbits...the time when Rolf dressed up Wilfred to take a test...

But not everything could remain happy...

XxX

Edd was freezing...

Snow had been falling for weeks now, with no sign of stopping...his kidnapper had told him she would give him more blankets if he behaved and acted like he was suppose to, but...Edd wasn't a dog, he was a human!

However, after months of captivity with no hope in sight, he was beginning to loose hope...

The chain connecting his collar had a thick lock on it, so that he couldn't remove it even if he was able to...it didn't help that his fingers were so cold they were slightly blue...and no matter how tightly he curled up under what blankets he had, he just couldn't shake the chill from his bones.

His stomach growled while his fingers and toes burned from the cold. Closing his eyes and trying not to listen to the blowing wind, Edd's thoughts drifted over to the other kids. He remembered how Kevin had lead the way when they all thought aliens had taken over Rolf's home...how he had made plans to rescue their friend...

Was he trying to do the same now that Edd was gone?

Did he even care?

Yes, Edd reminded himself, Kevin did care...as much as he was a jerk and a bully, he wouldn't let Edd's vanishing just go without doing something himself. They had their moments when they got along...like when Edd had tried to protect him while Eddy and Ed were tormenting him with the fake booster shot day...Kevin would return the favour now...

When he heard the crunching of snow under boots, Edd slowly opened his eyes. As much as he hated this person...this Master...from doing what she was doing, Edd had to survive...and if that meant bending to her will to stay warm...

What other choice did he have?

His spirit was breaking, his mind starting to disconnect himself from the young boy he was, into the pet the Master wanted him to be...

And he was still so cold and scared.

XxX

Kevin watched as Edd whined and twitched in his sleep, curling up into a tight ball on the couch. They had been watching a movie...well, Kevin had tried, as Edd didn't really seem to be interested in what was playing...and when Edd fell asleep next to him, Kevin covered him with a blanket. As warm as it was inside now, snow was beginning to fall. Light flurries at first, the snow looking like puffs of white cotton candy, but he knew within 24 hours, it would get worse.

Gently rubbing a hand over Edd's hat covered head, Kevin turned the movie off and carefully picked Edd up, carrying him over to and up the stairs, making sure he wouldn't bump Edd's head or long lanky limbs on the walls and doorframe as he laid Edd on the mattress and tucked him in.

It was getting late and even though Kevin wasn't working until next spring when the snow was gone, he decided against staying up later then he normally would. Dr. McKay had stressed about the importance of having a routine for Edd to adjust to.

Later on that night though, Edd woke up with a gasp and jerked himself into a sitting position, eyes darting around franticly, scared that Master was there and she was angry at him. But when his mind caught up with what he was seeing, he calmed slightly.

Master wasn't here...she wasn't taking away his warm blankets or not feeding him...

He didn't understand...he didn't remember any of that before, so why was he remembering it now? What had he done back then to make her punish him so? Whining, Edd moved so he was looking outside the window, shivering as he watched the cold fall to the ground.

The memory...or nightmare...was still fresh in his mind, and as tired as he was, he couldn't relax enough to fall asleep. He kept seeing Masters face in a twisted grin, her hand holding a thick branch and raising it high as she prepared to hit him with it...

Whining again, Edd turned away from the window and hurried over to the door, which was open a crack incase he had to relieve himself during the night. Nudging it open with his head, he looked up and down the dark hallway, trying to remember which door lead to Kevin's territory. He didn't know if he would be welcomed there, but Edd didn't know what else to do.

It didn't take long to find Kevin's territory. Moving slowly, as to not anger the young man, Edd moved over to the bed...

Kevin was dead to the world, bundled up under the thick blankets and snoring softly every few breaths. His hat was off too, his short red hair sticking up in random tuffs on his head, giving him a naturally messy look while his longish bangs were spread out over his pillow.

Shivering in the cooling air, Edd pulled himself up onto the bed and carefully moved to the side where the wall and bed touched, and snuggled close to Kevin's side. It wasn't as warm as he hoped it would be, but he felt...safe.

Something he had never felt with Master.

Closing his eyes, Edd slowly drifted off back to sleep, once again dreaming...

XxX

Master saw something move in the back room of the house.

Kevin's room was at the front and she saw his light go out just an hour ago...his parents were still gone as well, and he wasn't known for having guests over during his winter months off unless he planned on fooling around with them.

Squinting through the falling snow, Master's eyes widened as she thought she saw the old hat her pet always wore.

"No way...Kevin...Kevin has my pet?"

XxX

First off, woo! Edd is speaking more! Secondly...well, looks like Master knows where Edd is now. What will she do first though? How many others know that Edd is with Kevin? She has to find out before she makes her next move...will it happen next chapter? Or later on? You'll have to come back next week to find out!

Remember! Reading + Reviewing equals one happy Deadly Fangs!