There was a party, inevitably. To Eddie's shock, Dustin's mother allowed him the house for it - he had assumed it would be at Steve's. Lately, Claudia had been making a much better effort to be nice to him, and despite their previous clash, Eddie was genuinely starting to like her. After all, she had only ever been looking out for Dustin, and he could respect that.

"Oh-oh!" Henderson jumped up from the sofa as Eddie's hands landed on the next gift. "That's from me!"

"A...spice rack. You picked this out?"

"Well I paid for it."

Eddie shared a glance with Henderson's mother, who raised her wine glass in salute.

"Rosie'll have it filled up in no-time." A hug. "Thanks, Man."

A new guitar stand, a blender, utensils. t-shirts, shower curtain. It was quite the array of bric-a-brac. Some things more for Rosie, others for him, but most of it housewarming presents. At the sight of it all, Eddie found himself really acknowledging the fact that in just a few days' time he would be in his own place. With her. Leading their own lives.

It was terrifying. Exciting. Confusing. How would they survive?

"And we...um..." Warren struggled with a large box. Paulie moved too slowly to help, and it boomed down onto the floor. "Oops. Well. I kept the receipt."

"An amp?"

"Yep. It's not as big as the one you used to have." Paulie explained. "But there's a headphone jack. For the neighbors, ya know?"

"Great idea." Robin remarked.

"Aaaand..." Lucas produced a poorly-wrapped packet. "Max and me got these to go with it."

"And the headphones!" Eddie cheered, dishing out the hugs. "Appreciate it, you guys."

More gifts. More things to load into his van. They were all useful - he had to give his friends credit. As Steve drove him back to the trailer, he thought about how they could make the apartment feel like a home. He and Rosie didn't need much, but it was nice to have at least some belongings from the start.


Wayne was lounging with a beer in front of the TV when he walked in. Shook the can at the coffee table when he saw his nephew. "That came in the mail today. Last care package from Rosie."

Eddie snatched it up. Her handwriting, all right. The envelope was thick. How many photos had she sent? He tore it open and peered inside. Some polaroids, a smaller envelope, and a letter with ME FIRST printed on the back. He unfolded the paper

DO NOT LOOK

DO NOT OPEN

CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THIS

AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

XXX + OOO

"Hm."

"What'd you get?"

"I dunno. Says to call her."

"Don't run up the bill."

Eddie trotted into his room and sat on the edge of the bed as he dialed. Rosie picked up quickly, like she had been waiting for the phone to ring.

"Did you get it?"

"I got it."

"Okay. I gotta explain."

"I'm already concerned."

"Noo. It's good. I swear. Ready?"

"Ready."

"First group of photos."

Eddie poured them out, putting the smaller envelop aside and arranging the pictures across his sheets. "Oooh wow!"

"Nice, right?"

"Clean, like you said." He bent almost double to inspect the details. "Isn't the white a bit blank?"

"We can paint over it. Or fill it up with stuff. Shelves, posters, photos."

Eddie tried to visualize it. "Yeah...yeah that'd work."

"Just wood in the living area. We'd need a rug. Carpet in the bedroom's a bit worn but they cleaned it."

"Uh-huh."

"I ordered the appliances already. And the bed."

He spluttered. "Rosie, how much -"

"My parents paid."

"They did?"

"Yep."

"Hmph. Rich people."

Giggle. "Shut up. Do you want the stuff or nah?"

"I want it."

"Rob and Luke mentioned the TV, but I said we'd check the prices first."

"Okay."

"Lilah offered to help with something else. I thought maybe a stereo system?"

"Those are pricey."

"Maybe?"

"Maybe."

"So?"

"So what?"

"What do you think about it?"

"I like the windows."

"The tall ones?"

"Uh-huh."

"Makes it look bigger than it is."

"Right."

"Good?"

"Good."

"Next part." A deep breath. Was she anxious about something? "Might come as a shock."

"Uhhh..."

"But I think you'll love it."

"Uhhhhhh..."

"Open it."

Catching the phone between his face and shoulder, Eddie ripped the small envelope. Another handful of photos fell out. He gasped. "Who is this?"

"Do you like her?"

"Rosie! Is this real?"

"I got her last week."

"You have her? Already?"

"Yeah. Vanessa's cousins had some puppies, so I went to look and...tada!"

"What is she?"

"Um. Havanese and a Yorkie, mostly."

"Havana?"

"Terrier mix."

"Ah." Eddie held one into the light. "Adorable. What's her name?"

"I'm calling her Molly for now. But we can -"

"She looks like a Molly."

"Right?"

They talked, and talked. Eventually ran out of things to say, and gave in to other needs. Eddie wondered if he would miss her vocal performances, the way Rosie purred and moaned with her lips right up to the receiver. Her descriptions and requests and demands. He certainly wouldn't miss having to take matters into his own hands every day. It wasn't the same as having her in his arms, and never would be. Even her hands, her mouth... he shuddered with delight at the thought of them.

Rosie started to yawn, so they said good-night. In just three days' time, he would have her, wholly and indefinitely. As he put the receiver back into the cradle, Eddie's attention turned back to the photos spread across his bed, and the possibilities they foretold.


He went to the bathroom, then took a beer from the fridge. Wayne was relaxing, watching MacGyver reruns. He smiled when Eddie sat on the sofa. Grinned even wider when he handed over a stack of polaroids.

"This the place?"

Eddie nodded. "Deposit's paid. Rosie's going in tomorrow."

"That her dog?"

"Our dog. Molly."

He didn't know what to say as his uncle's chin started to quiver. It started so suddenly, then Wayne tried to laugh it off with misty eyes.

"Eddie Munson in a place of his own. With a nice girl. Little pup..." Wayne swallowed. "Where's the time go?"

"Down the drain, most of it."

"Now don't say that!" The older man was cycling through the photos again and again, still trying to hold it together. "You did good, kid. All I ever hoped was you'd turn out better than your old man."

"Did I?"

"Son, you're ten times the man he was."

Eddie's own lips trembled. He pursed them so tight they disappeared. "Thanks to you."

Wayne sniffled and grinned back. "Come 'ere."

They embraced. Wayne kissing him on the cheek and Eddie planting one back. There were times he wished he had a "normal" family - mom, dad, maybe a brother or sister, but if it meant giving up his uncle he wouldn't take it. Wayne had given up everything for him, loved him better than his own father ever had. Seeing him proud made Eddie think maybe he wasn't half bad. At least not any more.

"I love you, Uncle Wayne."

"Love you, too, Kid." The man puffed loudly, and pulled a magazine from the folds of his chair. A catalog, really, with some of the pages dog-eared. "I got something for you. Should be there Wednesday."

"What..." Eddie took it, opened on a page with a big red circle. "A sofa?"

"It's just a bit bigger than what you're sitting on. Rosie warned me the room wouldn't take anything else."

"She knows about this?"

"Had to let her know to expect it, didn't I?"

"It's too much."

"Nope. It's a bargain, actually. 25% sale, see?"

"I see."

"And there's a catch."

Eddie laughed. "What?"

"Thing folds out."

"Oooh."

"So if I ever come driving up to Boston -"

Eddie flung himself at his uncle, knocking all the wind out of his chest. "Any time, Uncle Wayne. Anytime."