Back by popular demand I have a new chapter for you all. I really am so sorry the update has taken so long to come out. My current employment doesn't leave much time to write as I work seven days a week and twelve hour shifts. I will try to squeeze out updates here and there so please do be patient with me. I will warn you this chapter is a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I hope you guys enjoy it. Again I'll update this when I'm able. Please definitely let me know what you guys think about it and f/f so you get emailed when I've updated. It's not done yet. As far as where it goes from here, well I haven't decided that part yet. The song featured is Die For You by Starset if you want to give a listen. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Edd never glanced at his phone for the rest of the day. He really hadn't wanted to face the consequences of the words he'd spoken earlier. The school day had finished uneventfully and he now stood next to Kevin's car, waiting for the jock to exit the school so they could go home. Thankfully the wait was short lived and the ginger was already sauntering towards him. The scowl etched on his face told the nerd this wasn't going to be a pleasant ride. Kevin clicked the unlock button on the key fob and both boys climbed inside the vehicle. "Look I'm sorry I didn't reply. I hadn't meant for anyone to hear that thought okay?" Edd tried but his boyfriend didn't even look his way. He sighed, the guy was probably beyond pissed and needed time to cool off. Their drive was silent save for some music that played quietly in the background. It frayed Edd's nerves which in turn made him worry his lip with his teeth. "Would you stop that?" Kevin's gruff voice pulled the nerd from his thoughts, his bottom lip slipping from his teeth in the process. "Sorry, it's a habit. Much like you rubbing the back of your neck when embarrassed," Edd snapped. He normally was understanding but for the first words spoken the entire ride by his boyfriend to be those, just pissed him off.

The car came to a stop in Edd's driveway and the genius scrambled out of it. Kevin barely waited for him to close the passenger door before throwing it in reverse and heading to his own house. With a huff Edd turned and unlocked his front door. Once inside his home he tossed his bag to the floor and collapsed on to his couch. Resigning himself to just taking a nap and dealing with everything later the genius draped an arm over his face and drifted off.

Anger was still coursing through Kevin's body. The ravenette had ignored him for the second half of the school day and for what? A slip of the tongue? It hadn't even been something that bothered Kevin. Just taken him by surprise is all. Edd was constantly talking about a future, it scared the hell out of the jock. He didn't want to put all his eggs in one basket with this. The door slammed harder than he meant for it to when he entered his home which naturally drew his dad's attention. "Everything okay son?" the voice bellowed from the living room. "Fucking peachy," Kevin bit out. Within seconds James rounded the corner to stand in the entryway. "Aight. Spill. You two fighting again?" James crossed his arms and his eyes hardened. Kevin hated always being so transparent but then again his dad was also an extremely observant person. "I wouldn't say that. He just keeps throwing curveballs my way and I don't know what to do," Kevin mumbled. "Just what does that mean?" "He keeps talking about marriage and futures and stuff like that..." Laughter bellowed out from his father making him cringe. He knew this sounded dumb, now it was just flat out embarrassing.

James wiped his eyes and stared at his son. "Why don't you know what to do with that? You love him don't cha?" The jock's eyes fell to the floor and he kicked a spot on the tile. "Of course I do. But I also know high school loves barely ever last. I think we should be smart about it all," "Oh my boy. Haven't I taught you anything? It's the scary stuff that is best for us. If it didn't scare us a little bit, it wouldn't be worth doing," Green orbs snapped up to meet his fathers. "What if it fails though?" "So? What if it goes off without a hitch and you spend the rest of your life loving just one man your whole life?" Kevin couldn't really argue with the logic his father was presenting. "Look, you love him, he loves you. That is reason enough to take a chance. I'm not saying to go and do it tomorrow. I definitely would prefer a long engagement, but stop turning down the idea completely," James gave his son one last glance and retreated back to the living room. The ginger stood there for a moment and his hands found their way on to his neck rubbing it raw. He knew his dad was right that he should stop being stubborn but the Barr men were the worst of mules. But Kevin couldn't help but wonder what happens when an immovable object like himself is met with an unstoppable force such as Eddward. Unwillingly his eyes flicked to the home across the street, dredging up the memories of finding the man he loved bloody. His stomach churned with guilt at his over reaction. He knew better than anyone that the ravenette analyzed everything he did and said. His parents had wanted the perfect child and Kevin knew that boy had done everything he could to please them. Kevin groaned as he dragged a hand over his face. Eddward was probably still pissed so he just decided he'd face the music tomorrow after they both had a good night's sleep.

After having shifted multiple times Edd was awake and it was past midnight. Unable to sleep any longer he trudged upstairs and pulled out some paper. His pencil was at the ready, his perfect penmanship filling the page with a new song. One that he felt could put every thought he ever had about Kevin into words. It would be their final song at their upcoming gig. If the ginger didn't understand after this he never would, Edd decided. He rewrote the words at least a dozen times before he was satisfied. By now his clock was screaming at him to get ready for school. Eddward groaned, his sleep schedule was officially shot at this point. He trudged to the shower and set about his normal morning routine. It was going to be a very long day.

*Three Weeks Later*

"Marie come on! We don't have to be all done up like when we were on tour!" Lacey squealed. The boys rolled their eyes, the bluenette was going to get her way and there was no stopping her. She had been fussing over hers and Lacey's makeup for at least an hour. Everyone else had already changed and was just waiting to take the stage when they were up. "Girl. This is the first show we've done locally since we got signed. We have to show off at least a little bit," Marie snipped as she finished smudging the eyeliner to give the smoke effect she had on her own eyelids. "There" she said with a triumphant smile, stepping back so the girl could see her handiwork. Lacey's jaw fell open and Bo gave a whistle. "You look good. Probably gonna take a guy home tonight," Jack teased. Lacey stuck her tongue out and got up from the chair. "So is everyone ready then?" They all nodded and she turned to Edd. "You said the new song is gonna be last. Are we just following our normal set list aside from that then?" Edd bobbed his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Cool. Easy enough. Nazz texted and said they're here. You and Kevin haven't talked much lately. Everything okay?" All eyes were instantly on the raven. "We'll see after the show," his words were cryptic but they still understood. The boys hadn't broken up but their relationship had been under noticeable strain. His bandmates figured something was up when he'd presented them with his newest song. Just as Marie opened her mouth to speak, Marcus poked his head in the door. "You guys ready?" the band grinned, they were all ecstatic to be back on stage after nearly a month off. "Alright, then get out there and put on one hell of a show," With that everyone jumped up and headed to the stage.

Your Biggest Mistake's set went just like normal. Edd's voice was on point tonight and the crowd was definitely into it. He gulped down some water, his eyes scanning through the sea of people for the red hair that lit his heart on fire. The ravenette spotted them in the same spot they had been the last time Kevin had seen the band live. "Alright guys. As you all know by now, every show I try to give out a new song. Well this one, I spent nearly a month on. I hope my words reach you," The last sentence was barely a whisper but the microphone still caught it. Even in the dark club he could see Kevin blush and Nazz squeal. The beat filtered in and within seconds Edd's voice poured out in a soft melodic tone. I will run alone tonight, Without you by my side. I guess you had a place you had to get to. I know your eyes, I know inside, The walls you hide behind, And I saw the truth inside the real you. His bandmates hit their cue flawlessly. Because I know you're lost when you run away. Into the same black holes and black mistakes, Taking all my will just to run alone, When are you coming home? They were nailing every note, seamlessly moving into the chorus. Even if the sky does fall, Even if they take it all. There's no pain that I won't go through, Even if I have to die for you. And when all the fires burn, When everything is overturning. There's no thing that I won't go through, Even if I have to die for you. Edd's voice fluctuated with the emotion that was bubbling to the surface but it went perfect with his lyrics. One day the earth will open wide, And I'll follow you inside. Cause the only hell I know is without you. His voice cracked on the line but he recovered blinking back the tears that he could feel trying to surface. Some day when galaxies collide. We'll be lost on different skies. I will send my rocket ship to find you. He fell right back into the chorus, letting his hair hide his eyes that were watery at this point. The bridge coming up helped him solidify his resolve to finish the song. And if the sun grows cold for you along the way, And if the stars don't line to light the way, And when you fall away and crash back down below. I'll search the skies for you and I'll follow, I'll be in your afterglow. And I'll bring you home. With a slightly slower tempo they went back through the first lines of the chorus before kicking right back to the same beat.

Kevin's cheeks burned as Edd's band played their final song of the night. The raven's lyrics were hitting home so hard he felt like he couldn't breathe. Nazz's stare was boring holes in his skull. "Kevin Barr I swear to god if you let that boy slip through your fingers you are the dumbest man on the planet," She grumbled. He couldn't argue with her there. This was twice now that Eddward had bared his soul to him in front of a crowd. "Nazz I feel like I'm gonna vomit," he murmured his fingers clench the piece of metal his father had given him. He had come here with one intent in mind and now Eddward had just made him realize he was definitely making the right choice. "Why?" she asked her blonde hair swishing as her head snapped to look at him dead on. "Because of this," He pulled the band from his pocket and let her see it for a brief second. "Holy shit dude. You sure?!" Her eyes saucer wide. "If I wasn't before, I am now," he breathed as the song drew to a close. "It's now or never," Kevin stood up and made his way to the stage. Their song just finished and the band was about to exit to the dressing room. "Eddward!" he yelled, which naturally pulled a hundred pairs of eyes to him. The only set he cared about though were the cobalt ones swimming with tears. Kevin climbed up on to the stage and audibly exhaled. "I get it now. I really do," his words ringing clearly thanks to the still hooked up mic. The crowd fell silent and the ginger inhaled while silently praying his gut instinct to do this had been right. Without another word Kevin dropped to one knee and pulled out the metal band that had been his father's. "Eddward Vincent, I would be crazy to ever let you out of my life. You say you would die for me. But all I truly need is for you to spend the rest of your days living as my husband. Will you marry me?" His voice was shaking and the ravenette was frozen. It wasn't until Marie lightly punched Eddward's arm that he seemed to come alive. "Yes! Oh my god yes!" he practically wailed. Cheers erupted and Kevin stood up sweeping his boyfriend into the tightest hug he could muster.

A slow clap sounded from the back of the club, the presence making Eddward's blood run cold. Just seconds ago he had been beyond elated given that his boyfriend proposed. But now there was an ominous feeling settling deep in his stomach. He strained his eyes to see the person, their face shrouded in the shadows. They stepped into the light and all color drained from Edd's face. Max was standing there with the same maniacal grin he'd had as he sliced the raven's body in the cruelest torture those months ago. Kevin's eyes followed his boyfriend's and he stiffened at what he saw. "Awe come now. Don't stop celebrating on my account," the boy said his sadistic smile never faltering. "How is this possible?!" the ginger yelled. "Well you know. good behavior and all that. Parole is a nifty thing," Max said with sarcasm. Kevin stepped in front of Edd, his arms stretched wide. "I won't let you hurt him!" Max scoffed. "I have no problem going through you to get to him. Cap," he spit. It was then that cyan eyes fell to the weapon in Max's hand. The deranged boy had a gun. Eddward tugged on Kevin's arm, "Kevin. Move," Edd tried. "No. I refuse to let that psycho hurt you ever again," the raven could hear the fear in the jock's voice but the man stood firm. Max raised the gun, "Either you move out of my damn way or I'll shoot you both," When the crowd realized what was going on they all began screaming and running for the nearest exit. Edd took the opportunity in the mayhem to tug Kevin's arm, managing to pull the jock from the spot. Noticing their attempt at escape, Max began firing recklessly. "Kevin we have to run. He's completely lost it!" The ginger nodded and they took off at a full sprint. Both of them managed to get behind stage and Edd was still pulling the ginger along. "Come on Kevin! We have to get out of here!" Edd yelled not even looking back. "Edd..." At the sound of the ginger's voice wavering, Eddward halted and turned around. The jock was clutching his midsection. Red pouring between his fingers. "No! No no no!" He wailed. "Help! Somebody help me!" the raven screamed as he fumbled for his cellphone. He sat Kevin down who at this point was wheezing. "I'm getting help pumpkin. Just hang on," "S'ok Edd. I managed to save you after all. S'ok," The ginger gasped out. "Vous ne me quittez pas! Je ne peux pas survivre sans toi!" Eddward yelled as he held his phone to his ear and began speaking to the dispatcher. Worried azul eyes settled on content green. "They're on their way Kevin. Just please hang on. Ne me quittez pas!" Edd sobbed.

Kevin tried to keep his eyes open, he really did. He was just so tired. "I love you Eddward. That's never changed," he mumbled as his eyes closed. He could hear Edd shrieking but now it just sounded muffled. He had meant what he said. He was okay with this. He had saved Edd this time. Edd had said yes and was willing to marry him. They had shared so many beautiful moments. Kevin was beyond grateful that he had found something so pure in his life. He thought about all the times he had seen Edd smile, how kissing him had made Kevin's heart stop. Every. Single. Damn. Time. The ginger loved him with every fiber of his being and knowing that Eddward was going to make it out of this insanity alive was enough for him, even if it was at the cost of himself. Kevin had no idea how much time had passed since the ravenette had called for the ambulance. He doubted they'd make it though. With as exhausted and cold as he felt. He knew this was more than likely it. He just had to say those words one last time. "I love you Edd," with that blackness swallowed his mind.

Translations:

You can't leave me. I can't survive without you.

Don't leave me.