Reva looked over at the man lying next to her underneath the covers. She smiled to herself. Sleeping together the night before the wedding was supposed to be bad luck. But… Screw tradition. They'd had more than their share of bad luck the few years before. Now, it was their time to be happy. To be happy together.
Tragedy had brought them close. Worse tragedy had brought them closer. She had been so afraid that she was going to lose her son. First to death. And when that threat had passed, to her own lies. But Ed had been there for her. They had grown to be close friends during that time. Through Sandy's recovery, and through her and Sandy's attempt to repair their fractured relationship. She and Sandy were close now, like a mother and son should be, and she was happy that he was going to be there tomorrow, along with Marah and Shayne. She wished that Ed could have that same joy. If only Rick hadn't run off with that psycho, then maybe he wouldn't have isolated himself from everyone else. She knew how much Ed missed his son. But, at least, somewhere in the back of his mind there was hope that he would see him again one day. They couldn't possibly stay away forever? Right? But it was a very different situation with Michelle… What she wouldn't give to be able to bring Michelle back for him. Even if only for one day.
Of course… She was missing somebody too. She thought back to the night of the car accident. Over two years ago. She had been eating dinner at Company when she'd gotten the call from the hospital. The doctor told her that Cassie had been in a terrible car accident, and that she'd better get to the hospital fast because he wasn't sure that she was going to make it. She went into Cassie's hospital room just in time to see the doctor pronouncing her dead. Reva had been crushed. And then she'd looked over across the room to see Ed. He was curled up in a ball on a chair next to the other hospital bed. He was holding Michelle's hand and sobbing uncontrollably. Michelle had been in the other car. Nobody knew who had been responsible for the accident, but it didn't really matter by then. They were both so grief-stricken. She had walked over to Ed and held him in her arms. And he held her in his. And they had stayed there like that for hours. In the hospital room, sobbing. They had been there for each other. Through one of the worst possible moments of their lives. And somewhere along the lines after that night they developed into something more than just close friends.
She shook her head slightly, as if trying to shake away the bad thoughts. No more thinking about sadness. Tomorrow was going to be a happy day.
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It was late at night when Sebastian stepped into the bar. He looked around wearily. It was almost empty; as well it should've been at this time of night. Springfield. Hell of a town. He'd come here for one simple reason. And when he was finished he would leave this place without so much as a second glance. He knew exactly what was going on and when he would make his move. "I'll give him a day of happiness…" he muttered to himself. "If only because it'll be less conspicuous…"
He walked over to the bar and ordered a scotch. Day after tomorrow he would set his plan into motion. But for right now he just needed a drink. He looked around the bar again, slowly sipping his scotch until somebody caught his eye. There was something strange about him. He seemed oddly out of place sitting at the bar. He had a certain air about him. Almost as if freedom was foreign to him.
Sebastian eyed the bartender. "Send him another of whatever he's having on me…" he said, throwing a few bills onto the bar. He kept his eyes glued to the man, as if he were waiting for something.