Shad0w zero- Yeah, I wanted to let her live but somehow it just wouldn't fit what I had planned for the story.
Comicfreak1007- Oh I wish I could…but I'm very glad that you like the cliffhangers!
AmarieC- No, I'm not going to abandon my story. I just get inspired at a snail's pace!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ed, Edd, or Eddy….Sadly.
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Chapter 12- Home
After what seemed the longest time possible, one of the paramedics offered to take Eddy and Double D home. She was a tall woman with dark hair and beautiful features; if she smiled she would undoubtedly look like Miss Scarlet save for the hospital clothes.
"Do you boys live around here?" She asked, pushing past some brush and using a flashlight to find a safe path.
"Yes, we live on the cul-de-sac." Double D replied. They stumbled along in the semi-darkness for a time before Eddy finally summoned enough energy to speak.
"How'd you find us?" He asked the woman.
"A girl called us and reported an assault that was going on…name's Nikki I think." She told him.
"Is she okay?" Eddy inquired, surprising Double D: he didn't think Eddy would even care about her now.
"Besides a broken wrist she's just fine. Are you two boys alright?" She questioned, holding up a tree branch so they could get past.
"Just some cuts and bruises probably." Double D said quietly.
The woman murmured to herself but did not speak to them again. Double D turned to Eddy. "Are you okay?"
Eddy peered at him thru eyes which normally were a ticket to the golden schemes inside his brain, but now seemed hollow and empty. "I guess."
"Why did you ask about Nikki?" Double D said with a near hostile tone.
"Because…she did something stupid but that doesn't mean that she knew what was going to happen." Eddy replied absently. "What Cat had planned for me."
Double D's mouth became a thin line as he relived the moment which occurred only minutes before. Would he ever forget it? A soft voice disturbed his thoughts.
"Thank you."
"What…what did you say?" Double D said.
"Thank you," Eddy repeated again. "If it weren't for you I wouldn't be here right now."
A faint blush came to the older boy's face. "It was nothing."
Eddy rolled his eyes. "There you go again; acting like you didn't do anything. Well I've got news for you Double D…you did do something! So quit acting like you didn't and just accept it!"
Double D smiled. "Okay Eddy, I will. You're welcome."
Then the woods finally gave way to the familiar houses on the familiar cul-de-sac; lights were on in practically all the houses so the boys assumed that everyone had heard about what happened. It was a small cul-de-sac after all. The paramedic led them past one of the houses and towards the ambulance which was parked on the left side of the street.
Nazz stood on her porch, looking half asleep in her pajamas and hair curlers.
Jimmy and Johnny were both talking to Rolf on his front lawn.
And Double D's mother Tara was shouting wildly at a police officer who was parked near her house.
"I don't care what you have to do! I want my son!"
"I can understand what you must be feeling right now, but believe me we are doing the best we can." The officer replied.
"Understand? You don't understand anything! My only son could be dead and you're trying to empathize with me? Don't you dare!" Tara yelled, her arms flailing.
"Mom!" Double D shouted, running to his mother. She turned and her whole expression instantly morphed into one of complete love. With a sob she took her son into her arms and hugged him tight. "Oh baby, oh baby…….." She murmured, not finding the strength to say anything else.
"It's okay Mom, I remember everything now." Double D whispered to her. "I'm alright."
The officer that Tara had previously argued with cautiously walked over. "Mam, a report needs to be filed."
Tara gave him a saucy look and said, "Then I'll file it in the morning."
The officer nodded and awkwardly went back to his car, said a few words to the paramedics and then drove away. The paramedics started getting ready to leave and Double D heard a few snippets of their conversation.
"…very weird, don't you think?"
"…don't usually have stuff like this happen…where'd that girl go?"
"…neighbor……to the hospital….should be okay."
Finally they finished packing their equipment up and left the cul-de-sac. Nazz went back inside her house and the lights turned off. Johnny and Jimmy's conversation with Rolf finally ended and all of them went back to their respective homes. Eddy waved to Double D before he walked back to his house.
"Would you like something hot to drink honey?" Tara asked.
"That would be very nice Mother." Edd said with a smile. Tara smiled back as they walked home together.
As the lights in the cul-de-sac slowly flickered off and the street lights came to be the only illumination left, Double D couldn't help be feel grateful for a sense of normalcy—one that had avoided him for such a long time but now had finally come back. Just like Double D himself really.
He followed his mother into the kitchen and watched her pull out a packet of hot cocoa mix. With a smile he surveyed the tidy kitchen and the sweet, loving looks his mother would give him whenever she caught his eyes. 'Yes," He thought to himself. "I'm finally home."
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Like I said, I do get inspired at the pace of a snail but I don't let that face deter me one bit! We are almost done with this charming tale which I hope you've enjoyed. So please, review and tell me what you thought…I thrive off of perfecting my writing ability. Thank you so much everyone!
Hooded Kaio Ghost
