"Every thing's working out fine

You've got all the things you want and I've got mine

No more struggle and strife

Kickin' back and diggin', it's a wonderful life"

A Day in the Sun by Hilary Duff

This chapter is dedicated to marirosa1979, for not letting me give up on this world.

As I walked down to the beach in my bikini and a white knit cover, I saw that Melissa and Adam were out in the water, pushing each other into the waves while Cora and Ian were lying in the sand, talking closely, occasionally stealing a kiss or two. Both couples seemed lost in each other, oblivious to the surrounding world. I stalled, scanning the shoreline until I found a familiar figure walking down the beach bare-chested, his ankles covered by the ocean. I started after him, splashing him across the back with the cold ocean water as I came up behind him. I saw his muscles tense as he came to an abrupt stop and then slowly turned to face me. I was already laughing as I moved towards him apologizing. "I'm sorry you just looked so serious. I couldn't help myself," I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Is that so?" He then picked me up against my protests and changed his initial destination, now walking directly into the water.

I started squealing as the water started to spray against my exposed skin. "Put me down!" I started kicking and hitting his shoulder but he simply laughed before dropping me. Thankfully, my hold around his neck prevented me from getting drenched. "You suck," my insult was wounded by my laughter. I dropped my arms from around him and started splashing him again, only this time he retaliated.

Later, as we came back towards the shore, I pulled the soaking wet cover off and tossed it on the dry sand, taking a seat beside it. Eddie settled in behind me, letting me lean back against him, as he wrapped his arms around me. "How are you doing with everything?"

"I'm happy," I answered honestly, staring out at the water. "I mean I know that the crazy will get a lot worse before it gets better and that having an open relationship will make things more complicated for us, but I have you and that makes it worth it to me."

I felt him place a kiss on my shoulder before resting his chin on it. "How are you doing with everything?"

"I'm happy, too." We stayed silent for a minute as we took in the simplicity of the moment. "Today is my mom's birthday."

I turned around to face him, my hand resting on his knee, "What?" His statement was sudden and without warning. It was as if he had been holding it in all day and given that no perfect time had presented itself, he decided to blurt it out among the silence.

He nodded, "I thought I would be devastated, and missing all of the things I can't share with her today but it's actually turning out to be a pretty good day."

I looked back towards the bungalow. "Is it okay that we're here?"

"It's perfect actually. I feel close to her here and being here with you, I don't know it feels right somehow." He pulled me in closer, forcing me onto my knees so that I was between his legs, our noses touching.

"If she were here today, what would you be doing?" I asked in a whisper.

"We'd probably be in the bungalow, watching old eighties movies, reheating leftovers from my birthday," he said with a chuckle.

I kissed him softly. "What? No impromptu family-jam session?" My fingers played with the hair at the base of his neck.

"Would you join in if we did?"

"I wouldn't have been here."

He pulled away slightly, "Of course you would have. My mom would have wanted you here, trust me."

I offered a small smile as I sat back on my heels. "No, I mean we probably wouldn't have met."

"What?" He sat up slightly.

"You and I met because you were upset about Chloe. You started seeing Chloe after your mom died because you said she was really there for you, that she comforted you. So if your mom was still here…"

"We wouldn't have met," he concluded, his face falling and his eyes suddenly wandering far away.

I mentally slapped myself and shook my head in disbelief of what I had said. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Sometimes I can be overly rational."

"I don't think that's true," he countered.

"Yes it is, painfully so, evidently."

He smiled sweetly as he took my hand in his. "I meant about us never meeting."

"Yeah, I guess we still would have met at that signing." This time he openly laughed, "What?"

"You don't believe in fate overly much, do you?"

The question caught me off guard. "Like, the idea that some things are just meant to be? No, I guess not." He nodded while giving me an odd look, "What now?" I felt like I was being left out of some kind of cosmic inside joke.

"My mom was a firm believer in fate and the idea that everything happens for a reason. When I was little and she would talk to me about love she told me that the best love stories happen seemingly out of the blue, when the people least expect it but that it was always the fates intervening. So," he pulled me in close, his hands resting on my bare waist, "if my mom was still here and I had never been with Chloe, maybe we still would have met up on that hill one day."

That earned him a kiss, one he happily accepted and returned. "I wish I could bring her back for you," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly as I bit back my tears. I owed Katy every butterfly fluttering around in my stomach, every dopey smile on my face, the twinkle in my eye. I owed her my first love. I couldn't help but wish that there was something I could do to repay her. "I don't know what the cosmic reason for taking her away from you could have possibly been."

With my forehead against his, he smiled and then cupped my face between his warm hands, locking my eyes to his. "You can't think of one?" I broke our stare to pull him into a hug, his words resonating.

"Don't say that," I whispered, fighting a tear.

"Why not," his breath tickled my neck.

"Because I'm not worth that," I replied, holding onto him a little tighter.

"Hey," he pulled away forcing me to look into his eyes. "After I lost her, I thought that Chloe was the reason, that losing my mom was how I was meant to find love but then Chloe cheated and I had my heart smashed into a thousand pieces and that same night I met you."

"And what, pray tell, was the reason you met me?"

"Learning to trust someone unconditionally," was his swift and immediate answer.

I rested my forearms on his shoulders, refusing to lean any further away from him, "That's not true. You trust your dad."

"Not enough," I was visibly confused. "He warned me about Chloe. He never trusted her, never really liked her but I didn't listen to him." He let out a short laugh. "My mom always said that he had a great intuition for people and I always believed her, but after she died I thought he was heartbroken and bitter and resented the idea of love, you know?"

I nodded slowly. "He lost his true love and didn't want you suffering the same way."

"And yet I wound up hurt anyway."

"And you learned, now you know that your dad only has your best interest at heart when it comes to your relationships, even if you don't want to hear it, he'll still tell you. It sounds to me like he's extremely trustworthy."

His arms began to snake around my waist. "He says the same about you."

"I hope I can live up to his faith in me." My arms locked around his neck, each hand gripping an elbow.

"This scares me sometimes," he confessed suddenly while searching my eyes. "I'm so afraid that I'm going to hurt you somehow."

"Why would you say that?" I was more surprised by the notion than worried or frightened.

"Because of my life and the media and my past with Chloe, I'm afraid that it's somehow going to get in the way of this," he motioned between us briefly.

"Well then, we're just going to need to talk to each other about that stuff. You can't be afraid to bring up Chloe and your relationship with me and I can't be afraid to tell you when outside forces are too much for me. If we talk about that stuff then we won't blindside each other with things later on."

His eyes turned quizzical. "Are you sure you're only eighteen?"

I nudged his shoulder gently. "I'm only three years younger than you, you know. There's no need for age jokes."

"It wasn't a joke," his hands were up in defense. "Sometimes you just seem older, that's all."

I shrugged, "The result of good parenting."

"Eduardo!" Ian's voice carried from down the beach. "Quit the smooching, we're starving mate. Let's get a fire going and cook up some grub!"

Eddie shook his head in amusement and then looked up at me, "You hungry?" I nodded and took Eddie's hand as we stood. I grabbed my cover and then we made our way back to the bungalow.

Half an hour later, the boys were over the grill with the chicken, potatoes, and vegetables while we girls were sitting by the fire with blankets draped over our shoulders. Melissa had changed out of her swim suit while Cora and I had both simply thrown on a pair of shorts over our bikini bottoms.

Cora was just as Ian had described her at Eddie's birthday dinner. She was tall and thin with bright blonde hair that hung just past her waist and deep, dark blue eyes that sparkled by the fire light. I knew I was staring but Melissa was too, so I didn't feel too strange about it.

"So, I have to ask," Melissa began. "What's your relationship to Chloe? Are you two friends, acquaintances…," she was clearly waiting for Cora to take over the conversation.

Cora smiled at the question, "We did one commercial together two years ago. I haven't spoken to her since and between us girls," she leaned in a little dropping her voice to a whisper, "I couldn't stand her."

Melissa beamed, "Cora, this may be the start of a beautiful friendship."

Cora laughed, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. "Truth be told, I was surprised that she managed to get her claws into someone like Eddie. She must be a better actress than I remember."

"What exactly didn't you like about her?" I asked, glancing towards Eddie, making sure that he was still out of earshot.

Cora followed my gaze and gave me a knowing smile. "Some people get into this industry for the passion. Me, I love fashion and loved playing dress up as a little girl. My parents moved me to the states when I was six so that I could have more opportunities to model and I started booking print ads and commercials a few months later. I never tired of it."

"That explains the lack of accent," I said. "Ian said you were from somewhere in Europe."

"Sweden," she answered with a nod. "The accent sort of phased out as I grew up. Anyway, with Chloe, there was never a passion for the work but rather for the attention. People like that are all about the rhinestones: the fake, manufactured sparkle and they can be extremely shallow and selfish."

"It sounds like you've met your fair share," Melissa commented.

"Unfortunately," Cora confirmed.

"Food's ready," Adam said as he took a seat beside Melissa, handing her a plate of food.

A few seconds later Eddie and Ian joined us, handing Cora and I plates of our own. "Thank you," I said, accepting the plate from Eddie as he placed a kiss on my cheek.

"So," Ian began, capturing everyone's attention. "You two are finally out in the open. How does it feel?" I could tell that the question was directed more towards me than Eddie.

"It's a little weird," I admitted. "I mean the fact that the press was camped outside of my work was slightly ridiculous."

"Where do you work?" Cora asked.

"Aroma Café, it's in Tujunga Village."

Cora nodded, "I know it. I love the Summer Peach tea."

"I'm all about the milkshakes," Eddie threw in.

Melissa gave him a knowing smile, "Especially when it comes with a pretty brunette."

Eddie threw a baby carrot at her causing her to laugh out loud and I just stared between the two. I hadn't realized how comfortable they had become around each other and I couldn't help the pride that swelled up in my chest. I couldn't have asked for more.

"So, how long have you two been together?" Cora asked.

Eddie turned to me, "A little over a month?"

I nodded, "Something like that."

"One month and nine days," Melissa clarified catching both Eddie and I off guard. "Well, that's if you're going by your first kiss, which I'm assuming you are?"

"How can you possibly know that?" I asked in disbelief.

She tapped her temple, "I know all."

"Clearly."

"So what's the plan tonight? Are we driving back right after we eat?" Adam asked, always the rational one.

Melissa looked around. "The sun's already set, so we'd probably better."

"Why don't we just stay here? Papa Max wouldn't mind, would he?" Ian asked.

Eddie looked at me before answering, "Probably not, but I don't know how Nora would feel about it."

"And my mom would kill me," Melissa answered. Then, after a beat, "You know on second thought, maybe it's not such a bad idea." Then she looked at me, "Think Nora would cover for me?"

I held up my hands, "I am so not asking her that. It would be like breaking the mom code."

Melissa rolled her eyes, "Lisa is not a mom; she's a prison guard."

"True." Melissa gave me her best puppy dog eyes until I caved. "Fine, I'll ask." I took the plate off of my lap and set it aside before getting up. "I'll be right back." I walked back into the bungalow to get my phone.

My mom answered on the second ring, "Hello?"

"Okay, before you say no remember that I'm eighteen and legally an adult and know that Melissa, Adam, Ian and his girlfriend Cora are all here as well."

"Okay…?"

"We're still at the bungalow and since it's getting late everyone was thinking that maybe we should spend the night here instead of driving back in the dark." The line went silent for a minute, "Mom?"

"Put Eddie on the phone."

"Why?"

"Do you want me to be okay it?"

"Yes."

"Then put Eddie on the phone."

I stood still for a second before responding, "Okay." I went back outside and gave the phone to Eddie. "She wants to talk to you."

"Uh oh," was Ian's mature reply as Eddie took my cell and walked down the beach with it pressed to his ear.

A minute later he was handing my phone back to me. "Looks like we're staying," he said with a dazzling smile.

"Why is it that mums like you so much? My own bloody mother thinks you walk on water and now your girl's mum is okay with her staying out with you all night? Bloody hell," Ian scratched the back of his head.

"She say anything about me?" Melissa asked.

"That she'll cover for you if your mom calls but that if you ever lie to her about where Loren is she'll come clean to your mom about every lie she knows you've told her." Eddie recited.

Melissa nodded with a calculating smile, "Great!" Adam gave her an odd look, "Oh, please, like I'd ever lie to Nora. If Lo ever needs to lie to her mom about where she is, she shouldn't be going. Nora is epic."

"Yeah, no kidding, my mom never would have let me stay out with a guy, knowingly," Cora chimed in.

"Yeah, well, If we were up here alone it probably would have been a very different story," I explained.

Ian clapped his hands together, "Right then, sleeping arrangements. Is it cool if Cora and I take the master bedroom?"

Eddie waved his hand, "Go ahead."

"Excellent," Ian held out a hand for Cora to help her up.

"Goodnight you guys," Cora said as Ian pulled her away.

"Night," we all replied.

I turned to Eddie, "I think I like her."

"Yeah, so do I. Hopefully this one lasts longer than Ian's other flings." Then he turned to Melissa and Adam, "What do you guys want to do? Do you want to stay in a room together or…?"

Melissa turned to me. "You okay with that Lo?"

"Of course," the weight of my answer wasn't lost on me. That meant that I would be staying with Eddie.

Eddie nodded. "Okay, you can have my room. It's down the hall on your left."

Melissa grabbed Adam's hand and led him back towards the house, "See you in the morning!" She yelled back to us.

"Goodnight!" Adam yelled.

Eddie was chuckling at the two of them. "They work well, don't they?"

I nodded as I continued to watch them. "Yeah, I always knew Mel needed someone she could boss around but I'm glad Adam fights back sometimes."

"So, since both of the bedrooms are occupied we're staying on the couch. I hope that's okay."

I turned to look at him, finally catching on. "My mom said we weren't allowed to share a bed didn't she?" He offered up a sly smile, "Nicely planned."

He suddenly grew a little more serious, "I can sleep on the floor though, if that makes you more comfortable."

I rolled my eyes, "Eddie, if I wasn't comfortable with you I wouldn't be staying here in the first place."

"I know. I just don't want you to feel pressured."

I then understood that we were talking about more than just sleep. "I never do with you." I trusted him enough to know that he wouldn't push me and would respect my limits. I stood up, extending my hand towards him. "Why don't we put out the fire and head inside?"

Inside the bungalow, I grabbed a bottle of water while Eddie grabbed some blankets and pillows to make up the couch but when he came back he also had an extra t-shirt which he handed to me. "I figured you wouldn't want to sleep in your bikini," he said as his eyes betrayed him and lingered down my body.

It was the first time he had blatantly checked me out and instead of feeling self-conscious, I felt rather beautiful, "Thank you." I took the shirt and went into the bathroom with my bag to change. When I came back out, the lights were out with only a single lamp still on and Eddie had changed into a t-shirt and sweats. "So what else did my mom say to you?"

I could tell I had startled him slightly, dragged him away from his thoughts. "Just that even though you're eighteen you're still her baby girl and that I had better take good care of you."

"That's it?"

"She said she trusted both of us and that she didn't want the trust abused and then she handed out the no same bed rule."

"Which you so gracefully found your way around."

"Like I said, I'm happy to take the floor if you'd rather that." I shook my head, taking a seat beside him. "Sometimes you seem so much older than you are that I forget just how innocent you are."

I blushed slightly, looking down. "Is that a bad thing?"

His thumb and finger were suddenly under my chin forcing me to look at him, "Of course not. I'm just not used to it."

I felt my eyebrows raise as his hand dropped, "Oh, really?"

He closed his eyes, taking in what he had said. "I just meant that…," he didn't finish the thought.

"Chloe wasn't a virgin." I stated outright.

He nodded, "Actually, no girl I've been with was."

I wasn't sure how we had ended up on this topic, but I understood that it was an important one to have. Truth be told, it wasn't as awkward as I thought it would be, though it was still a little odd. "Does it bother you that I am?" The fact that Cameron had been my first kiss made the fact that I was a virgin abundantly clear and I knew that.

"It makes me nervous," he replied honestly, for that I was grateful. I would have been suspicious if he had simply said no.

"Why?"

"Because I don't know how to gage this, I don't know how far is too far and what pushes the boundary for you."

I nodded, thinking about his words for a minute. "Can you trust that I'll tell you?" He took my hand. "I'm not ready yet, I know that for sure." He nodded, already knowing that much. "As for everything else, if I'm uncomfortable or I want to stop or slow down, just trust that I'll tell you. I'm not going to do anything I'm not ready for."

"That's all I wanted to know. I just wanted to make sure and whatever happens between us isn't because you feel like you have to." He now had two hands encasing one of mine. "I don't want to scare you off."

I brought my free hand to his cheek. "The fact that you're even worried about it tells me that you won't."

He reached behind me to turn the lamp off, "Come here," then opened his arms to me as we lied down. He drew the blanket up and over us. My head was on his chest; my ear pressed against his heart.

Well, hello there, long time no see. Clearly, I have decided to resurrect this little gem and I sincerely hope that some of you are still out there, eager to see how it ends. The original outline for this story wound up being 61 chapters, including the epilogue. That means that we're not even half way through Leddie's love story. So if you're interested in seeing more chapters please post a review and let me know! If only a few people want to see how it ends I can send out the outline to those few but if there's enough interest, I'll go ahead and finish writing.

I'm off to the dream world now.

Stay classy!

XOXO

-Tia