Hours ago MK was filled with people, ready to celebrate the birthday boy. Now hours late the room was practically emptied. Music played softly in the background. Not a soul on the dance floor. A table meant to sit twelve was filled with a mountain of presents and gift bags. A banner that read 'Happy Birthday Eddie' hung above the bar. Under it was his friends and loved ones who had been waiting all night.

"I can't believe this." Max yelled as his tenth call to Eddie went straight to voicemail. "I'm sure he's just running late." Nora placed her hands on his shoulders, trying to comfort him.

"Nora face it, it's after midnight. He's not coming."

"I don't understand this. What would make him miss his own birthday party?" Kelly looked over at Loren who was remaining silent. She had a feeling why he didn't show up.

Mel and Ian came bursting through the doors. They had gone to Eddie's place over an hour ago, looking for him. "Did you find him?" Jake asked.

"No. He wasn't at his flat."

"Jeffery said he left late this morning."

"With a bag packed." Ian shook his head.

"What?" Nora was stunned Eddie would do this to Max. Jake took a step back to call him again.

"Does he know where Eddie was going?" Mel shook her head. "No. When he asked all Eddie said was that he'd be back in a couple of days."

"Did you know anything about this?" Max asked looking at Loren.

"No." She mumbled. He wouldn't of cut out on his party, because of her. Would he?

Jake walked backed over. "He's phones going straight to voice mail."

"So you can't even track him." Kelly stated rather than questioned. "Tack him?" Loren couldn't tell if it was more anger or confusion in Max's tone.

"Through the GPS on his phone." Everyone, but Kelly gave Jake a questioning look. "I know a guy." Jake offered with a shrug.

"What is he thinking?" Max slammed his fist on the bar. "We have to find him."

"What are we going to do?" Ian questioned.

"Nothing." All eyes landed on Loren. "What?" Nora was surprised by Loren's answer.

"We do nothing" Max went to say something, but Loren stopped him. "He clearly needs some time to his self."

"He always tells one of us where he's going though."

Loren shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah, but he's mad at the world right now."

"Loren's right. Eddie wants to be left alone, so let's leave him be." Loren smiled at Ian for backing her up.

"Still, I can't believe he took off like that. Without saying a word." Max nodded agreeing with Jake's words.

"Eddie obviously doesn't want to be found."

"Kelly's right. He's been in a funk for a while. Maybe time alone will help." Mel offered.

"I wonder where he went though." Nora questioned. "And how long is he going to stay away."

Loren hated seeing her family and friends so sad and confused. Is this how they felt went she cut the world off while she was away on tour? The thought of that made her sick.

She reached for Max's hand. "I know Eddie, he'll resurface in a couple of days." At least she hoped so.

Two Days Later…

Eddie gripped the bottle tighter in his left hand as his knuckles turned white on his right hand as he clutched the flowers firmly. Eddie followed the path through the headstones. He hated the walk up to her grave site. Every headstone meant someone out there was feeling the same loss and pain that he felt. It didn't matter that he had never met them, his heart ached for them never the less. That was one of the many reasons he hadn't been back here in so long.

As Eddie got closer the memory of his last visit came flooding back.

Two Years Ago…

Eddie stood at the start of the path frozen. He could already feel his throat tightening as he fought back the tears. Why was this still so hard? He jumped as a hand touched his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Loren whispered. Eddie looked down and gave her a weak smile. "Yeah, you'd think it get easier with time." He sighed as his gaze settled on the headstones in front of him. "That I'd be over it by now."

"Losing a love one is one of the hardest things a person can go through." Loren wrapped her hand around his and gave it a squeeze. "I don't think we ever get over it, we just learn to cope with it over time."

Eddie let her words sink in. She was right. He was always amazed at how mature and deep she was. "I love you." He finally said giving her hand a squeeze back. Eddie's heart skipped a beat as she smiled up at him. "I love you too."

Across town Loren had just arrived at MK. Mel said this morning that no one had heard from Eddie still. Loren knew Max had to be going crazy. Especially considering what today was.

She walked over to her mom who was doing that month's books in a corner booth. "Hey Mom."

"Hi sweetie." She took off her reading glasses and gave Loren a quick side hug. "What are you doing here?" Loren shrugged her shoulders. "I wanted to see how Max was doing. I know today is a hard day from him."

Nora gave her a small smile. "That's sweet, but I'm sorry honey you just missed him."

"Oh really." Loren was surprised. Nora sighed. "He went to Katy's grave. He wanted to give her some flowers." Nora bit her lip as her gaze fell onto her paper. "I offered to go with, but Max said he needed to go alone."

"Some alone time might do him some good." Nora nodded in agreement. "Yeah he's been quiet most of the day. I think that has more to do with Eddie than anything."

"Nobody has heard from him yet?" Loren asked concerned. She thought he would of turned up by now.

"No." Loren placed her hand over her mother's. "He'll turn up soon." A tear escaped from Nora. "For Max's sake I hope so."

Eddie closed his eyes as he came to her headstone. He sat down and rested his head against his knees as tears started to escape. Eddie was still angry with Loren, but how he wished she was sitting next to him right now. She made it so much easier last time. He took a deep breath before looking up. 'In Loving Memory of Katy Duran. Loving Mother, Wife and Musician.' Only a few words describing such an incredible woman. It didn't seem right. She was so much more than those ten words.

"Happy Birthday Ma." He said quietly. "I brought you your favorite flowers." Sunflowers, they were Loren's favorite as well. "I'm sorry I haven't been by to visit in a long time." He felt guilty for not coming more often. The truth was he hated remembering her here. Like this.

As Eddie looked around he saw an old bouquet of sunflowers and knew Pop had been here within the past couple of weeks. They had never gone together. At least not since the funeral. Eddie had rarely made it out here. He hated thinking of her like this. Although each time that he had payed a visit to Katy's gravesite he always saw a bouquet of her favorite flowers lying in front of her headstone. Eddie figured Max came at least once a month.

Eddie took a swig of his bottle of amber liquid as the guilt started to consume him. "I really wish you were here right now." He wiped a tear away. "Everything is a mess—I'm a mess." The past few months all he has wanted to do was talk to his mother. She always knew the right thing to say. She could always make him feel better. The way that only a mother could. "I could use some of your infamous advice."

"If she was here right now she'd say running out on your family and friends without telling anyone where you are going is not only selfish, but stupid." Eddie jumped to his feet startled. He hadn't heard anyone walking up the path.

"Pops." Max was standing on the path, two dozen sunflowers in hand with a look of fury on his face.

"Where the hell have you been?" Eddie ran his hands through his hair. "At a cabin up north."

"And you didn't think of telling anyone." No. All he could think about was getting as far away from everyone as fast as he could. "I needed some time to clear my head. By myself."

"You had everyone worried sick."

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."

"You never think anymore." His bellowing voice echoed through the graveyard. Eddie was no longer feeling guilty, he was getting pissed off. "I get it. I fucked up. Spare me the lecture." He was a grown adult.

"I raised you to speak to me with respect." Eddie rolled his eyes and mumbled under her breath. "This is not like you Eddie." Max set the flowers next to Eddie's in front of Katy's headstone. Eddie wasn't the only one who could use Katy's infamous advice. He looked at his son. He shook his head at the drunken mess that was standing before him. "Is this about Loren?"

Eddie's head shot up and he glared at his father. "What? No." Max took a step closer. "Then why are you being, so self-destructive?"

"I just took a couple days to myself. You're acting like I killed someone."

"You know it's more than that." He snapped his fingers to get Eddie to look at him. "You are walking around with this bad attitude and trying to make everyone around you just as miserable." Eddie scoffed. "I didn't know I was such a nuisance."

This time it was Max who was the one who rolled his eyes. "Don't do the poor pity me act. You know what you've been doing." Max sighed as his looked down at Katy's grave. "You want to know what your mother would tell you right now?" Max met Eddie's eyes. He didn't wait for an answer. "She'd say if you're not happy with the way things are going in your life then get off your ass and fix it."

"It's not that easy Pops." Eddie protested.

"Nothing in life that's worth anything is."

Eddie was tired of fighting to fix things. He tried in Vegas. All he did was make things worse he thought. He grabbed the bottle and took another long swill ignoring the burn in his throat.

Max looked at him in disbelief. "You brought whiskey to your mother's grave?" He looked over Eddie's appearance. Rumpled clothes, he hadn't shaved in at least a week, and the smell of whiskey was now evident. "Are you drunk? It's barely after noon." Eddie took another swig. "Like father like son I guess."

Hurt stung Max deep. "Is that how you feel?" Eddie went pale realizing what he had just said. "I didn't mean that-" Max put a hand up to stop him from saying anymore. "Oh no, I think you did. If your mission is to alienate everyone close to you, you're doing a fantastic job." Max started to walk away.

"Pops listen-" Eddie went after him, but Max quickly spun around and got in his face.

"No you listen son. I admit I was in a dark place after your mother died." Eddie's eyes focused on his shoes as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "Yes I shut off the world and yes I drank a hell of a lot. I regret the way I handled things, but it was my choice." Max grabbed Eddie's chin forcing his son to look him in the eyes. "Just like how you are living your life is your choice. I'll be damned if you blame me or anyone else for your actions."

Eddie went for another drink, but Max quickly grabbed it out of his hand. "Hey-" Eddie protested as he watched his father dump what was left of the whisky onto the path. "What's in this bottle isn't going to fix anything either."

"Damn it Pops. That was my last bottle." He actually stomped his feet as if he was a five year old not getting his way. Max shook his head in disgust. This empty shell of a man was not his son. "I'm glad your mother isn't here to see you like this. She would be so ashamed of you right now."

Eddie watched his father storm off. He slumped back down in front of his mother's grave in tears.

"I'm so sorry Ma."

Over an hour later Max walked in MK. It was still midafternoon so he only expected his employees to be there setting up for tonight. He smiled at the sight of Loren and Nora chatting at the bar.

"Well if it isn't my two favorite ladies." Max made his way over to the bar.

"Hey Max." Loren smiled.

"Hi sweetie." Nora gave him a kiss on the cheek. Although he was smiling she could tell something was wrong. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." He nodded. Nora pegged him with a look and Max knew she wouldn't let it go until he told her. "Eddie was there."

"He was?" Loren stood to her feet hearing this. "Is he okay?" Nora asked in her worried mother voice. "Where has he been?" Max put his hands up signaling them to stop with the questions.

"Calm down, he was at some cabin and he's fine-physically that is." Loren looked at him confused. "What does that mean physically?"

"He's not thinking straight. Eddie is mad at the world and there is not anything anyone can do for him." Loren bit her lip and looked down at her shoes. She remember Mel saying he was going through a rough time. Was this all her fault? Max noticed the change in Loren's demeanor. It was time to change the subject. "Let's talk about something else. Like how we got lucky enough to see our lovely daughter twice in one week."

Nora smiled. "It is a rare occasion isn't it. Nowadays you are held up in the studio."

Loren laughed. Her meeting with Kelly this morning came to mind. She needed to tell them sooner than later. "That's actually something I wanted to talk to you two about."

"Oh no should I sit for this." Loren laughed and shook her head. "Its good news I promise." Nora sat anyway. Max walked behind her and placed his hands on her shoulder. "So, don't keep us in suspense. What is it?"

"I am finishing my album four months early."

"Wow that's amazing, and unheard of." Max hugged her. "How is this possible?"

"I've been working night and day." Especially since the Vegas trip.

"Congratulations honey." Nora stood back up and hugged her tight. "You always have been an overachiever." Loren laughed.

"There's more." Nora and Max's smile fell and the resumed their original position when this conversation started. "Okay, what is it?"

"Since I'm finishing so early, Kelly added more shows to the summer tour. It will now be more of a promotion tour as well for the album." Nora looked stunned. "What?" Loren knew her mind went to one place.

"Don't freak out. Kelly is adding shows in the beginning of the tour. So, I'll still be back in plenty of time for the wedding." Loren swore she heard a sigh of relief. "Well that's good to hear at least."

"But you'll be leaving early." Max said sadly. "Yeah." She nodded.

"When?" Loren bit her lip. "Three weeks from Thursday."

"That soon?"

"Yeah. The first couple weeks I'll be mainly doing promotions for my album and a few charity concerts. Kelly even got me on Saturday Night Live. Then the real part of the tour starts."

"That sounds great." Max said genuinely.

"So, you're okay with this?" She asked looking at her mother.

"Of course, but I'm going to miss you like crazy." Loren could see tears build in Nora's eyes. Loren knew she was thinking about how it was the last time she had went out on tour. She grabbed Nora's hand. "Ah mom, don't cry. You are going to come visit me in New York and more than once."

"More than once? I thought I was just coming out in June." She looked at Loren perplexed. "I'm going back to New York in the beginning of August. That's when you'll have your final fitting for your dress with Vera Wang."

"Really?" Nora got up and hugged Loren tight. Not because of the dress, but because her daughter was leaving the door of communications open this time around. And that was better than any dress Vera Wang could design. "That sounds wonderful."

"Think of it as my engagement gift to you." She said releasing her embrace.

"Wait a minute what about me? What do I get?" Max fake pouted making the two ladies laugh. How he loved hearing a Tate woman's laugh.

"Well, what is it that you want?" He thought about it for a moment and a great idea came to mind. "How about you perform here one last time before you go out on tour?"

"That's it?" Max nodded with a grin. "That's it." Loren gave him a smirk. "I'll do you one better, why don't I have a kick off concert for the tour the night before I leave."

"You think Kelly would let you?" Nora asked.

"A bonus concert, at the infamous MK nightclub. I think I can do some convincing. That way the band and I can just get on the tour bus from here and hit the road."

"That sounds like a perfect way to start your tour."

"Plus I want to release a video right before my tour, I can do it at the concert."

"What? How would that work?" Loren shrugged. "That's for the tech guys to figure out."

Max laughed, "Exactly."

"I didn't even know you had been working on a video."

"No one really did. I let Mel in on it last minute to film it and Kelly only gets to know enough to make it all happen." They looked at Loren surprised. "It's something I've been working on for a while now."

"Do we get a hint?" Nora asked. "Or better yet a preview?" Max chimed in. Loren couldn't help but to laugh. They were truly perfect together.

"No way. You're just going to have to wait and see." The groaned and mumbled, but nodded in agreement.

"Well at least you are going to do a performance at MK. I'm glad you agreed on such short notice."

"Of course. I'll have Kelly call and work out all the details."

"That sounds great." Loren's phone buzzed and alerted her to a text from her produce Wyatt. "I hate to run, but I have to head to the studio."

Nora gave her a big hug. "Promise me you'll come by the house before you leave and let me cook for you." Loren giggled. "Oh please, I don't leave for another three weeks. I'll be over more than once."

Nora released Loren from her embrace and pointed her finger. "I'm going to hold you to that."

"She means that." Max said with a chuckle. "Oh I know she does."

Loren said her goodbyes and headed to her car. As she walked outside she couldn't help, but to think about Eddie. Today was always hard on him. She hated the idea of him going to Katy's grave all by himself. Loren's heart ached just thinking about it. She knew how alone Eddie was feeling. She was still furious with what Eddie had said in Vegas, but how Loren wished she was there by his side right now.

Hello everyone! I am so sorry for the delay, but as I've said many, many times my life is hectic. I work two full time jobs and go to school. I'm lucky I find to sleep.

I love writing and I am committed to finishing this story. Just bare with me please!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wanted Eddie to hit bottom and realize he needs to change things. What better place than his mother's gravesite.

I also wanted to show no matter how angry Loren and Eddie are at each other, they still want to be there for each other. Remember I am pro Leddie.

To the few out there that still give me grief about Leddie not being back together, this story is about them finding their way back to each other. I have it worked out in my head why they broke up (reasons I have not yet written) and how they will get back together. Once they get back together the story is over.

I will fix my mistakes later.

I am hoping to update my other story next. I keep rewriting it.

I love everyone who keeps reading my stories after all this time! You guys are what keeps me writing.

On that note Please Read and Review! Love to know what you guys think.

Love you!