Everything over the next few weeks felt like a blur. I didn't go to school, I didn't go to work. I was completely numb to everything around me. I felt like I was inside of the worst nightmare I've ever had. All I wanted to do was wake up to Seth banging on the door reminding me that it was time for school. I laid there in bed, day after day, waiting. Nothing.

Each passing day, it sunk in deeper, Seth was gone. He really was gone, and wasn't coming back. It didn't help that I never got to have a funeral, or a burial even. We didn't have that kind of money. There was no sort of closure.

I was truly alone in this world now. There was only me.

There was a pile of homework on my dresser that either Steve, Robin, or Eddie, or someone would bring over. I was never able to pay attention to who came or went, but I assumed those three were the only ones who knew I kept the front door unlocked.

The hall light was always on, just in case Seth strolled through the door.

I hadn't moved anything from that night. All of his stuff was still thrown around different spots in the living room, and his bed was still made on the sofa. Like he never left. I can't bring myself to go in there. All I can see when I close my eyes is his lifeless body.

The thought of him laying there that night made me sick to my stomach, even more so than usual, so I bolted to the bathroom. Once my stomach was emptied of the grand dinner of nothing, I came into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, careful to not look over to his empty spot and start the process over again.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when the front door slammed open unexpectedly. "You're up!"

"Are you stalking me, Munson?" I muttered, turning back to go towards my bed.

Eddie didn't miss a beat following behind me. "Lately, yes." Eddie stood in the doorway, leaning with his arms crossed against the doorframe. "I've been worried about you."

I pulled the blankets up to my face, biting the nails on my thumb. "Well, you can see I'm alive. So if you could show yourself out, that'd be helpful."

Eddie frowned dramatically. "Absolutely not." He cemented his place by crossing one leather boot over the other, making himself comfortable. "If you want me out, you're going to have to throw me out yourself."

I glared at him from under the blankets.

For a moment or two we just sat there, looking at each other. Each of us waited for the other to cave. I had forgotten that Eddie was just as stubborn as I am. I sighed heavily. "Can you at least sit down, you hovering there is making me uncomfortable."

"I didn't think so." Eddie breathed, partially relieved that I didn't leap up and drag him to the door. Eddie made his way over to my bed in just two steps, pulling back the blankets and getting comfortable as I sat up giving him some room.

"You look like hell." Eddie whispered, concerned in his voice.

I laughed darkly. "Thanks, Eddie. I'm so flattered."

He rolled his big brown eyes, "That's not what I mean, and you know that."

I diverted my eyes, pulling at the loose threads of the blanket. "I'm ok."

"You know you can't lie to me." Eddie whispered, pulling my hands away from the cloth, not letting them go. "What can I do, Wyatt?"

I didn't answer him, but I didn't pull my hands from his either. The warm, calloused hands felt familiar. The first bit of comfort I've felt in weeks. I started spinning around one of his rings, something I remembered doing whenever I was anxious and he took my hands in his.

Eddie stood up, tugging at my arms to get me out of bed. "Come on."

"Where?" I asked, hesitant.

"Don't worry," Eddie soothed, "I just want to take care of you. We're going to get you a shower or a bath and I'll order a pizza or something?" Eddie saw the confused look on my face. "What? It's completely innocent. I just remember when you had bad days, a hot bath always helped a little bit."

I was somewhat amazed that Eddie cared to remember those little details. He took the moment of me being off guard to pull me into the bathroom and switch on the water and plugged up the bottom. After he was satisfied that I wasn't going to run away, he took a seat on the closed toilet.

I paused for a moment, debating whether I should undress in front of him. Just like Eddie, always able to read my thoughts chimed in. "It's okay, Wyatt. I'm not here to watch you undress." Eddie dramatically covered his eyes, "See, I won't even look."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help but smile at his dramatically childish antics. I went ahead and slid out of the dirty clothes, that I couldn't remember the last time I changed, and submerged myself in the hot water.

I leaned back, looking at Eddie who was peaking through his fingers. I slashed water at him in mock disbelief. "You peeked."

Eddie chuckled, and the warmth from his voice flowed through me like sunshine. "I crossed my fingers." He moved from his seat on the throne to a spot next to me on the floor, a small smile still on his face.

"What are you so giddy about?"

Eddie shook his head a little, but when he looked at me his eyes were soft. "You're starting to show." Eddie noticed me suddenly self conscious and added. "We haven't spent much time together, so I hadn't noticed. It's real, you know."

"What did you think I made it up?"

"No!" Eddie was immediately defensive. "I….I just wish you would let me be around more." When I didn't say anything he added, "Even if you don't want to be with me, not that I blame you."

"Eddie…" I wanted to tell him so badly how much that wasn't true, how much I regretted that fight. I wanted to tell him how much I missed him; but I couldn't form the words.

"No, no, it's okay. We don't have to talk about it right now, that can wait." Eddie reached for a large plastic cup on the edge of the tub and dipped it under the hot water, gently pouring it over my head. "Right now I'm just worried about you."

Eddie reached for my shampoo bottle and squirted some in his hands, gently rubbing my scalp. I couldn't lie, it was relaxing. "I miss the smell of this stuff. I stole it every time I was over here."

"That's where all my stuff was going!?"

"Guilty as sin," Eddie admitted, rinsing the suds from my hair. "And I have no regrets." Eddie reached for the towel hanging on the rack and held it out for me to step out into. He was right about one thing, it felt good to get clean.

Eddie led me to the bedroom where he dug through my drawers, specifically the one where he kept all the clothes I stole from him and tossed some sweatpants and one of his Hellfire Club shirts at me. "Get dressed, I'll go order some food. You just get comfortable."

I obeyed without objection, hopping back under the covers of the bed, feeling cozy and refreshed. Eddie came strolling back through the door, papers in hand with a frown on his face. "Well, dinner is ordered, but we need to talk about these."

Once he sat down I snatched them from his hands and crumbled them up, throwing them in the trash across the room. "Score. I should try out for the basketball team, don't you think?"

"Wyatt, be serious." Eddie pleaded. "Those are eviction notices and a final notice for the electric. What are you going to do?"

"What am I supposed to do, Eddie?" I leaned on my side, propping my head up facing him. "It's not like I was left with some grand inheritance. Seth didn't have life insurance. I haven't been to work since….that night."

"So your grand solution is to be homeless?" Eddie laughed a little, but there was no amusement behind it.

"Can't get much worse, right?" I stated darkly.

Eddie's fingers were tracing the bats he tattooed on my arm all those months ago. The touch still gave me goosebumps, which I was grateful that he ignored. "I wish you weren't so fucking stubborn. You're absurd, do you know that?"

"Oh yeah"

"Absolutely mental." Eddie answered. "You already know what I'm going to suggest you do, and I know exactly what you're going to tell me."

"I'm not moving in with you, Eddie."

"See," Eddie playfully shoved me back. "I told you what you would say. Not like that would make total sense or anything, but I'll play along with you."

Thankfully there was a knock on the door, interrupting a conversation I knew he wasn't going to let go until it ended in a fight. A fight is the last thing I wanted with him right now. "Pizza's here."

Eddie was back with the pizza in moments, already scarfing down a piece from the open box. "So what's the plan then, Einstein?" Eddie asked with his mouth full, throwing the box onto the bed.

The aroma of pizza filled the air and I had never been so hungry in my life. I immediately took a bite. "You're going to think I'm nuts…"

"Too late." Eddie plopped down next to me.

"But…" I was careful with what I told him next. "I was thinking of maybe…trying to find my dad…"

I knew there were several ways Eddie could take that, so I understood that it took him a few moments to answer. "That's the grand plan, then? To find a man you haven't heard from in years, who you don't even know if he is alive? And then move yourself and our child to wherever he is?"

I could sense the irritation in his voice, so I didn't directly answer anything. "I haven't thought that far ahead, Eddie. I just know he could be all I have left."

Eddie's voice was quiet. "You have me."

I squeezed his hand, "I know I do, Eddie. I'm not trying to get rid of you. I just wish you'd support me in this."

Eddie took a moment, relaxed now that I was holding his hand. "I'll help you in whatever way I can, if that's really what you want to do." I hoped he would leave it at that, but it's Eddie so there wasn't a chance in hell. "But… I want you to come stay with me while you do that."

I gave him the look, and he knew that look meant I was going to object, so he cut me off immediately. "I can't sit here knowing you aren't going to have a home. Together or not, you're my best friend, and you have my child. Right now, you're both my responsibility. And Seth would absolutely have my head if I didn't make sure you were taken care of."

I flinched a little at the mention of his name. This time with Eddie had almost made me forget that Seth was gone. I felt guilty for that.

"This doesn't mean…"

"That we're back together. I know." Eddie assured me. "Consider this just helping a friend. I told you, my motives are pure. I'm not going to make you be with me, Wyatt, but that doesn't mean I don't care what happens to you." Eddie continued, standing up from where he was lounging on my bed. "We don't have to decide tonight, okay? I just want you to get some sleep and we can swing back around to this topic in the morning?"

"Eddie?" Eddie had made it to the doorway of my room before stopping and turning back to me. I couldn't believe what I was about to ask him, after what felt like ages. "Will you stay with me? Please…."

A smile broke across his face immediately. "Princess, I'd stay forever if you asked me to."