Disclaimer: It's not mine nor would I ever claim that it is.

Chapter Summary: Eddie's first morning at the Scavos'. A post-ep for "Epiphany."

Coda

A story by Ryeloza

Part Twenty:

If Wishes Were Horses

Sunday morning, Eddie gradually woke up to the unusual sounds of a house buzzing with activity, but trying very hard to be quiet about it. The sounds of voices were jumbled so Eddie couldn't make out who was saying what, but that didn't particularly matter. For one brief moment, still half-asleep, Eddie allowed himself to pretend in a way that he hadn't since he was a little boy at his friends' houses—pretend that he actually belonged in this house, as part of this family. Because the truth was that no matter how welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Scavo had been, this wasn't his home and it couldn't last forever. Once they realized how worthless he really was, Eddie knew that it wouldn't be long before they would politely ask him to leave.

For now, though, he had to make the most of this situation. Gingerly, he padded into the kitchen, hoping to make a subtle entrance and to not draw attention to himself. Mrs. Scavo stood at the stove, frying what appeared to be bacon, though she seemed more preoccupied with how Mr. Scavo was kissing her neck than her cooking. She kept giggling, and then swatting at him and chastising him to get away, clearly not meaning a word of what she said. It had always been fascinating to Eddie how couples behaved when they thought no one was watching; it was the only time their love was uncensored—pure—and Eddie found that he could never have his fill of seeing it.

Quietly, Eddie slipped through the kitchen into the living room without being seen. He was surprised to find Penny and Parker there, the former sitting on the floor eating a bowl of cereal and the latter sprawled over the couch. They were both glued to the television and Eddie got only a slight acknowledgement as he sat down on the other sofa. From there he still had a direct view into the kitchen so he could continue to keep an eye on the couple while pretending to watch television. Mr. Scavo now leaned against the counter with his arms crossed; he was speaking in a tone so low that Eddie couldn't hear anything over the television and he wondered what had changed the mood so abruptly.

A commercial came on and Penny stood, wandering into the kitchen. Parker immediately pounced on the remote and changed the channel. "Hey Mom," said Penny, effectively breaking up her parents' conversation. "I have to go over to Caitlyn's this afternoon. We're working on a social studies project. Can you drive me?"

"Can you take her, Tom? I'm going to the gardening center."

"Sure." Mr. Scavo kissed his wife on the cheek, tugged gently on one of Penny's pigtails, and then walked into the living room, shoving Parker's legs out of the way so he could sit down next to him on the couch.

"Can I drive?" asked Parker, haphazardly adjusting his legs and still not tearing his eyes from the television.

Mr. Scavo, who seemed as instantly drawn to whatever sport Parker had put on, agreed distractedly. "Uh, yeah, Parker. That's fine."

Eddie cleared his throat and rubbed his hands against his pants nervously. Of the whole conversation, the only part that struck him was the errand Mrs. Scavo had planned for the day. He wanted something—some flowering seed he could spread inconspicuously—to mark the spot where he'd buried his mother. Something beautiful as he liked to imagine she could have been in another life. "Mrs. Scavo?" he called, drawing a glance from no one but the person he addressed. "Do you think I could go with you this afternoon?"

"To the gardening center?" She took the bacon off of the stove and began to lay it out on a plate; Penny snatched a piece on her way back to the living room. "Sure, Eddie. If you want to."

Eddie let out the breath he was holding, honestly surprised by her easy agreement. People seemed to like him best when he was invisible; it always made him nervous to admit he existed. Without another word, Eddie dismissed himself to go upstairs to take a shower, creeping quietly so as not to wake the twins. He needn't have worried; toward the top of the stairs he could hear their voices drifting from the open door of their room. Eddie wouldn't have even paused, but then he heard his name and the compulsion to stop and eavesdrop was too great to fight.

"Yeah, I know Mom feels sorry for him or whatever. So do I," he heard Porter say. "But I am not sharing this room with Parker again."

"We should move out."

"Oh yeah. Sure."

"Hey, it's only going to get more crowded once the baby comes. And if Mom and Dad keep inviting in strays we're going end up forced out anyway."

"I don't know what they were thinking."

"I never know what they're thinking."

Both boys began to laugh and like a shadow, Eddie slipped past their room and down the hall. They had a point; it was incomprehensible that their parents would invite another person into their house when they were about to have seven family members under one roof. Why now? Why had they suddenly decided that he needed to leave his mother? Why couldn't it have been a week ago? Or a month ago? And why the Scavos? Why not any of the other number of adults in his life over the years—other neighbors, teachers, parents of his friends? Why had no one else swooped in to rescue him before?

Why now?

Eddie supposed if he was a good person he would have accepted his salvation without question, but it had come too late. All of the warmth and family in the world wouldn't make up for what he had already done and he couldn't help but wonder what might have been if someone had just stepped in earlier. Maybe everything would have been different. Maybe everything would have been better.

Not that maybes counted for anything.

"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride," whispered Eddie. He stepped into the bathroom and locked the door behind him.