What bliss…That's the only word for it. Brief flashes of the night before blip in and out of his memory as the sweetest dreams he's had in ages. Memories of escorting a sleepy little Edd back to bed — stopping to brush their teeth, of course — lying beside him for hours as he whispers his affections into his ears and as he peppers kisses along his cheeks and forehead, basking in the lovely smile that graces Edd's adorable face. He hardly remembers drifting to sleep, but he knows he did so with his little Princess nestled sweetly in his arms. Not shyly turned away to show Terry his back. Not reluctantly pulled towards him into a forced embrace. No; turned towards him with his head resting comfortably in the man's neck and shoulder.

Yes, bliss is just the right word.

That is, however, until Terry slips briefly from the bonds of sleep. As he reaches around for the body that he can no longer feel against his own. Pawing at the sheets until his eyes blink open. The sheets are bare. The bed; empty. He bolts upright, his eyes wide. The door; slightly ajar.

"Goddammit!" he hisses, throwing the sheets and comforter off of himself as he jumps to his feet.

He knew this would happen! Goddammit — he fucking knew this would happen! He curses himself — his weakness for his little beloved. Edd had whittled away his guard and played him like a fiddle — again! He grabs his robe as he races to the door. The panic drives him, pumping adrenaline through his veins and willing his sleep-laden body to move as fast as fucking possible. He grabs the doorknob. How far had he gotten?! He swings open the door. How long until the police would be breaking down his door?! He runs out. How long —

He just barely manages to come to a stop to avoid barreling over the small figure in the hallway. The object of his rage — the current cause of his disheveled response — stands before him, his eyes wide and shoulders hunched from the surprise. Terry too, finds himself too stunned to think of anything to say or even to remember how angry he'd just been. After a moment, Edd's shoulders fall and he raises a bottle of water towards him. He doesn't say a damn thing and he doesn't look at Terry for long before his gaze drifts solemnly to the floor.

Terry finally regains his senses, suddenly recalling the entire reason he'd come racing out here. Gritting his teeth, he grabs Edd's arm and yanks him back into the bedroom. To his surprise, Edd doesn't struggle. Doesn't fight back or protest for even a second, and, as Terry slams the door shut, he trudges to the bed and sits down, cradling the bottle close.

"What the fuck were you doing out there?!" Terry demands, whipping around to him, "I let you out for one day and this is how you repay me?! How fucking dare you leave this room without my permission?!"

Edd glances up at him wearily, holding up the bottle again.

"I was thirsty…"

"I don't give a frog's fat ass!" Terry snaps back, stomping over to him, "You wake me up if you want some goddamn water!"

"I didn't…" Edd's voice wavers a little, "I-I didn't…want to wake you…over something as…a-as trivial…as that…"

"I don't care how 'trivial' you think it is!" Terry towers over him, his vision tunneling, "You don't leave this room without my fucking permission! Fuck, at this point, you ain't gonna leave this room fuckin' ever!"

Edd sniffles a little; "I just wanted some water…"

Terry's fingers curl into shaking fists as the overwhelming urge to strike Edd for skirting the issue courses through his body like the water the kid had blatantly disobeyed him for. With a groan, he turns away and storms out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him. He can't hit him again. He can't bear it. Not after the beautiful evening they just shared. Not after seeing Edd's sweet little smile — a smile he drew from him! He can't chase that away again by an unrestrained fist. Instead, he tries to calm himself down and think logically. Edd had left the room, but he'd come back too. He hadn't tried to run…

Or maybe he just couldn't find a way out?

Breathless, he stumbles out into the kitchen, his eyes darting around frantically in search of any sign that Edd had tried at all to slip away. The front door; still locked up tight. The windows; shut against the frigid night air. The phone…His heart stops. Did he…

He rushes towards the slumbering device, catching his toe on one of the kitchen chairs on the way. He curses against the pain, cradling his foot for a brief moment before continuing his hobble to the counter where the phone rests. The landline is hooked back in. He distinctly remembers leaving it disconnected when they retired to bed. That would mean…

His heartbeat goes from zero to one hundred as he picks up the receiver and as his thumb dials in star-six-six. Holding his breath, he brings the phone to his ear as it automatically dials the last call made.

Each ring makes his throat drier and his heart heavier. The possible answers that he might get run through his mind. Maybe he's being paranoid. Maybe it'll be Mike, picking up and sounding ready to strangle him for calling at three in the goddamn morning? But what if it isn't? What if it's some 9-1-1 operator? A cop? His shithead brother? The line clicks — the familiar sign of the recipient answering.

"Hello," a woman's voice greets, her tone slightly irritable, "Vincent residence. This is Valerie speaking."

Terry's blood boils against the sound of her voice and his fingers twitch and curl into shaking fists. He doesn't dare speak, of course. Only seethes in silent anger. He hadn't placed a call to this bitch. He's never called this number. Why the fuck would he have?

Goddammit!

He can just barely hear her through his rage.

"Hello? Hello?!" she gives a huff, "Again? Please, whoever you are, cease calling this number unless you wish to say some—"

He doesn't bother letting her finish as he slams the phone down, effectively hanging up on her. Probably not a great move, but he doesn't care right now as he returns to the bedroom, more manic than ever. Just because that bitch was the last person Edd had called, doesn't mean he hadn't tried anyone else!

When he enters the room again, Edd's staring down at the sheets, fidgeting with the bottle's lid. He glances up at Terry, but looks no more perturbed by his anger than he had been before. Then it's back to gazing down at the sheets.

"You called home," Terry begins, his voice shaking a bit as he locks the door behind him.

Edd's shoulders raise ever so slightly; "Yes." He furrows his brow and glances up at him again. "How did you know?"

Terry approaches him slowly, any thought of not hitting him slowly drifting away as he clenches and unclenches his fists.

"Star-sixty-six, Princess," he retorts through his teeth, "Redials the number from the last call received."

Shutting his eyes with a grimace, Edd's body tenses a little. Terry tries to calm himself.

"So you admit it," he hisses, his fists shaking a little, "You called home."

"I didn't say anything…" Edd murmurs, his voice beginning to waver.

Terry brings his fist down on the bedside table, making the boy jump with the sudden slam!

"What the fuck were you thinking?!" Terry roars, "Who else did you fucking call?!"

Edd shakes his head; "No one."

With a bit of a growl, Terry grabs the side of Edd's head, digging his fingers into the soft, dark hair and pricking the boy's scalp with his nails; drawing a pained cry from the quivering child.

"Who?!" he demands, squeezing a little tighter.

"N-No one!" Edd sobs back, "I swear!"

Terry considers holding him down and hitting him for lying, but he can see that hurting him isn't changing his story. He eases his grip just a bit, leaning into Edd's face.

"You didn't call the police?" he hisses.

Edd shakes his head very slightly; "No."

"You didn't call that little dipshit you used to hang around?" Terry continues, his voice dripping with warning, "Or that fucking Pipsqueak?"

"No," Edd whimpers, "No one else — I swear!"

"Why?" Terry growls.

Finally, Edd looks up at him again, his eyes shining with tears and his gaze pitiful.

"Please…" he weeps, "Y-You're hurting me!"

The desperate tone in his voice sends a pang of regret through Terry. It's not like before, when he'd punished him so harshly and without remorse. Yes, Edd had cried. He'd begged Terry stop. He even vaguely recalls hearing those very words before. But now, it's…different. There's a hint of betrayal in Edd's voice as he cries. As he looks up at him so weakly.

Terry releases him, his own breathing shallow as he backs away just a bit. Raising his hand to the side of his head, Edd cradles the stinging flesh of his scalp and curls further in on himself.

"Why?" Terry repeats, "Why did you call home?"

For a while, Edd says nothing, just sniffles and holds the side of his head. It becomes obvious that it's less about easing any actual pain and more about a different kind of comfort.

"I just…wanted to hear her voice…" he murmurs moments later, shivering horribly.

He wraps the bottle up in his arms, hugging it like a stuffed animal as he peeks up at Terry through his tears.

"I-I saw the phone…" he whimpers, "A-And…" He bows his head shyly. "I thought about her." He shrinks in on himself more. "A-And I…I thought…I wanted to…know…"

"Know what?" Terry hisses, utterly lost to where Edd might possibly be going with this.

But that question seems to be lost on Edd as well as he starts mumbling to himself.

"…didn't even…" he mumbles, "she wasn't…"

Sniffling, he drags his hand over his cheeks, trying to wipe away his tears.

"I-I didn't know what to say…" he cries softly, "When she answered the phone…it was like…nothing was wrong. Like she wasn't expecting a call or…or hopeful that…" He glances up at Terry. "Sh-She got angry and…a-and hung up b-before I could sp…" He tries to calm his breathing. "Before I could speak…"

Well…Terry's not sure how to take any of that. Edd's rambling does indeed imply that he hadn't actually reached out to her. From what he can gather, he just…called? Nothing else. But it seems too good to be true. He can't tell what to believe.

Edd continues.

"I-I really…was just getting water," he insists softly, "I'm sorry for leaving the room. Really, I just…I-I didn't want to wake you. Y-You've been so angry with me…I thought…I-I'd just get a drink…and come back…so I wouldn't have to wake you up and…a-and make you even more upset with me."

Terry grimaces a little, watching Edd devolve further into tears.

"I-It's late…right?" Edd hiccups, raising his head, but unable to look at Terry again, "M-Maybe she just…wasn't thinking straight…?" He peeks at Terry shyly. "R-Right?"

Terry rolls his eyes; "She sounded pretty 'awake' to me…"

The bottle crinkles and cracks as Edd squeezes it in his quivering hands.

"M-Maybe she just…" he stutters, "had too much on her mind? O-Or maybe it's just been too long? A-And it didn't occur to her that…that it could be…" His voice fades a little. "…me…?"

It clicks a bit easier as Edd goes on mumbling. Come to think of it, that bitch hadn't sounded even the slightest bit concerned about a strange call coming through in the middle of the night. No worry in her voice about who might be on the other end of the line. Is that how she'd answered Edd too? Like it was a typical phone call? Did she not find it suspicious at all that this three a.m. caller would remain silent? Would that not have made her curious or even the least bit suspicious?

Clearly, Edd was expecting something like that: a frightened mother, delicately asking who this mystery caller could be. A distressed mother, who was perhaps holding on to a tentative hope that it might happen to be her darling child so desperately reaching out to her after so long away from her loving embrace, but unable to voice his cry for help? But instead, he had those expectations cruelly dashed by the nonchalant tone of a routine answering of the phone laced with an irritability that came with the late hour.

His attention is drawn back to Edd as the little fingers graze his wrist. He's let the bottle slip from his grip to rest in his lap.

"Or…Th-They don't…" he weeps, "…m-miss me…Do they?"

The opportunity is almost too much. Terry tries and fails to restrain the self-satisfied scoff that escapes him.

"Sorry, sweetheart," he retorts, "I tried to tell ya…"

Edd sobs deeply, feebly rubbing his eyes with one hand. With the other, he weakly grasps at Terry's wrist.

"P-Please…" he whimpers, "I-I…"

He can't seem to bring himself to finish his plea, but he doesn't need to. Eyes wide, Terry sits beside him on the bed before wrapping his arms around the small, shaking body, all anger forgotten. And really, how can he be angry as Edd climbs into his lap, burying his face in his shoulder and digging his fingers into the fabric of his robe? As his darling Princess voluntarily seeks comfort in him and weeps more openly; sharing his sorrow? The longer he clings to Terry, the more his weeping turns to wailing, full of anguish and dripping with his hurt.

It's almost unsettling. Though it's similar to when he came to his recent conclusion about Eddy, it still feels different than the other times Edd's cried. Any other time, he wouldn't seek Terry out for comfort — whether out of stubbornness or because it had been Terry himself who'd made him cry. Now, he's not only allowing himself to be comforted by Terry, but he's specifically turning to him for it. So, of course, Terry gently rubs Edd's back, cradling him delicately as he quakes with his sobs. Covering the hand clutching his robe, he gives it a firm squeeze; a gentle reminder of his presence.

He's not sure how long Edd cries like this. He doesn't try to talk to him through it. Just grabs the nearly empty roll of toilet paper from the bedside table and lets Edd wipe his face and blow his nose when he can. Eventually, Edd goes from holding onto Terry's robe, to gingerly turning his hand and pressing his palm to Terry's own, giving little squeezes back.

Only when Edd is reduced to timid hiccuping does Terry speak again, keeping his voice low and steady in an effort to avoid upsetting him again.

"What did you want to know?" he asks, resting his cheek against Edd's temple, "When you called…her…what was so important for you to know?"

He feels Edd's shoulders hunch up and the lithe fingers squeeze his hand again. He doesn't answer right away. Whether or not he even knows the answer himself is unclear. As Edd's grip slackens and his breathing slows, Terry wonders briefly if he fell asleep.

That is, until he speaks softly, his tone revealing his weakening connection to the waking world.

"To know if…you were right…" he murmurs, "If they missed me or…not…"

Sniffling a bit, Edd nuzzles his shoulder, his breath still a bit shaky. With a soft sigh, he leans more heavily against Terry's chest.

"I'm sorry I left the room…" he breathes, his voice all but gone, "M'sorry…"

He goes on mumbling 'I'm sorry' over and over, his words slurring and his voice drifting further and further away until he finally seems to pass out. Terry doesn't bother saying anything more during Edd's rambling. He doubts it'd get through right now anyway. However, he also doesn't let himself relax.

Edd was adamant that he hadn't called anyone but his mother, but Terry still finds himself skeptical. And really, why shouldn't he? Because he didn't let Mike see him? Maybe he just didn't believe that fucker would help him? Or maybe he expected Terry to do something drastic if he had? But to call for help in the dead of night? While Terry was sleeping and unable to prepare or make a getaway? It'd make too much sense. Although…Edd doesn't know the name of the park, let alone an address to go by. Even if he had called the police, would they be able to find the trailer?

But what if Edd decided to ring the Sampson residence back in Peach Creek? He said he didn't call Eddy, but Terry's sure his old man would be more than happy to see him behind bars. And after what he's told Edd about his home life, he has a feeling Edd knows that too. And his parents do know his address and could get the cops on his tail within the hour.

Panic bubbles up in him again, making his mind go a mile a minute as he ponders the likelihood of that happening. Holding his breath, he carefully untangles Edd from him and lays him down on the bed. Tucking him in, he slips away and out of the room again to process what the hell he's going to do.

Pacing in his kitchen, he goes through about a dozen steps to escape. There's enough time to grab his van and slip away with Edd. He'd have to handcuff and gag him again, but he supposes that he needs to be punished anyway, so fuck it. But then there's the packing. They don't need that much, but he's not sure he could pack even the essentials in the time it'd take those pigs to arrive. He spots the phone again, his brow furrowed.

No…No, Edd had sworn to him he hadn't called anyone else…He hadn't changed his story in the slightest. He hadn't even denied it when Terry accused him of calling home. And, frankly, he's jumping to conclusions assuming that Edd would call those two as well. Worrying his lip between his teeth, he decides there's really only one way to find out. He approaches the counter, being mindful of the chairs this time, and picks up the phone. Dialing the familiar number, he brings the phone to his ear. The anticipation rises again as he waits for someone to pick up.

One ring.

Two.

Three. He half expects the machine to pick up before—

"Fuckin' callin' in the middle of the goddamn night…" the muffled voice of his grumpy-as-fuck father slurs through a yawn on the other end of the line, "What?"

Terry grits his teeth, realizing he never actually had anything in mind to say. What kind've excuse could he throw out?! Swallowing thickly, he opens his mouth.

"Oh…iz you…" he grumbles, forcing a slur of his own that he prays his old man will believe reflects one too many beers, "Put the lil Pissqueak on willya?"

Sure, it's weird to call the little pissant at this hour, but maybe his dad won't consider that?

Tony snorts his groan; "Fuckin' drunk." Nailed it! "The fuck are you doin' callin' so goddamn late? Your brother's in bed. You wanna talk to 'im, you call when the goddamn sun is up."

Without giving Terry time for a response, the line goes dead. Terry sighs in relief, placing the phone back in its cradle. It would seem that Edd was telling the truth. His dad can't act to save his goddamn life and it sure as shit sounded like he just woke up. If Edd had called them, he knows his old man would be wide awake and rallying the troops to come after him.

So…he's safe?

For now, at least, that seems to be the case. Nobody else back home knows where he is and Edd hardly has any idea about that either. Still, he returns to the bedroom with a sense of unease, like he's still missing something. When he walks into the room, Edd's sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"Where were you…?" he asks, his voice hoarse and almost pained.

Grimacing, Terry closes the door and locks it; "Had to make a call."

"A call…?" Edd echoes, peering up at him with a furrowed brow. It seems to dawn on him what Terry meant by that a moment later, drawing him to sigh, "You still think I called someone aside from mother…?"

"Why the hell wouldn't I?" Terry retorts with a glare, "After everything you did to try to leave me, why would I believe you wouldn't pull a stunt like that?"

Edd shrugs, hugging his arms; "I told you; I'm not going anywhere…"

"Yeah, and I don't get that," Terry insists, approaching him, "Given your track record, it's a little hard to believe."

Pulling his legs to his chest, Edd looks away, raising his hand to toy with his hair near his temple.

"Where would I go?" he asks softly.

Terry scoffs; "The fuck do you mean by that?"

"I mean," Edd sighs, turning his head to look at him again, "I don't…know where I could go. I have no friends or close family outside of the cul-de-sac, it's likely below freezing outside — so even if I were to manage to get out, I've nowhere to run to —" His speech gets a bit more erratic. "And even if I tried to seek asylum with one of your coworkers, they'd probably just call the police and the police would take me home and I…"

He pauses, breathless, and curls in on himself further, his face turning pink. Terry grimaces.

"So, you'd get to go home," he grumbles, "Isn't that what you want? What you've been bitching at me for all this time? You ain't exactly makin' a good case for yourself here."

Edd shakes his head, his brow furrowed.

"What?" Terry scoffs, "All of a sudden, you don't wanna go home?"

There's a pause, before Edd answers softly; "I…I don't…know…"

"The fuck do you mean 'you don't know'?" Terry groans, "How many times are you gonna give me that fuckin' excuse?"

"I mean I…" Edd stutters to silence, starting to quiver, "I don't…know…if I want to go home…"

Terry's not sure how to respond to that, but excitement begins to rear its head. Though it still doesn't really answer his question, it almost sounds like victory is within reach. But…why? He imagines the confusion is written on his face, because Edd continues.

"As horribly as you treat me…" he begins weakly, averting his gaze, "I…If mother and father don't…miss me, and…my friends don't miss me either…" He gulps a bit. "I don't…I-I'm not…"

He blinks away a few fresh tears, looking unable to muster the strength to finish as he shakes his head. Giving Terry a weary pout, he shrugs a bit.

"I don't know if," he mumbles softly, "I can handle that. I'm not sure I can go home…"

And there it is. As Edd bows his head again in sorrowful resignation, Terry drinks in the victory brought about by this final concession that made all the stress and paranoia worthwhile. It sounds to him like Edd now believes that this is all he has. That going home is no longer an option. It's about goddamn time. For a moment, he's not sure how he should respond. He wants to praise Edd for coming to such a conclusion — to further reinforce that view — but then again, he's still wary of rewarding his behavior after Edd disobeyed him. The conflict is goddamn frustrating!

Luckily, Edd doesn't let the silence simmer much longer.

"I know you're mad at me…" he begins, hugging his middle, "But I…I need…"

The urge to swoop in and collect Edd up in his arms again is almost too great, but Terry holds back as best he can. Edd's so close to just saying it. To saying three words he's longed to hear. He has to be strong. He can't give in until those words pass Edd's lips. That's the behavior he has to goddamn reinforce.

Edd's shoulders fall; "I need…you."

As though a switch were flipped on, Terry is at his side, pulling Edd up into a comforting embrace. He knows it doesn't mean what he wants it to mean, but it's enough. With little whimpers and whines, Edd leans into the gentle nuzzling and kisses that are so generously applied to his temple and cheeks.

Terry takes it no further than that as they settle back beneath the covers to sleep. Edd's hurting enough as it is and he can't bear to upset him again through a night of passion. Instead, he cradles Edd's fragile body against his own, muttering sweet words and promises into his ear. How much he loves him. How perfect and precious Edd is to him. How he'll always be with him. How he'll always love and cherish him the way he should be. And, most importantly…

How he'll never let those neglectful pieces of shit hurt him ever again.

It seems to be enough to soothe Edd's sadness and, in no time at all, he's back to sleep, his lithe arms wrapped tightly around Terry's chest. Carding his fingers through Edd's soft hair, Terry too drifts to sleep with him in pure satisfaction.