Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight related. Yet, I do own this plot line, and anything else involved that is not Twilight.

And when I close my eyes tonight

To symphonies of blinding light

Like memories in cold decay

Transmissions echoing away

Far from the world of you and I

Where oceans bleed into the sky

- Linkin Park 'The Catalyst'

Nothing could be compared to the 50s. It was a time of Marilyn Munroe, Elvis, and James Dean. Nowadays all you hear about are there tragic deaths, but back then, there was nothing to worry about. It was after World War II, and no one had to worry about surviving. Nobody cared about war, and nobody cared about how they were going to feed there children or keep a roof over there head. If a man had his car, his wife, his house, and his kids, well… that was pretty much all he needed in life.

May 24th 1951

Edward Masen was walking up State Street, pondering his life as he saw it. Young gentleman, turning twenty one in a month to be exact, and still he didn't know what to do. Plenty of girls had fancied there way over to him, of course, but the mere thought of marriage shivered him to goose bumps and fear. The Loop was slowly ending its partying in his midst and yet as nightfall came the great Chicago lights only seemed to get brighter. Faint snow lay in patches on the grass, the vivid moon setting a good atmosphere and forcing Edward to pull his navy suit coat around him tighter. Even if the temperature was at a decent 65 F, it still felt cold to him.

He looked to his left, and saw a fading white taxi cab slowly trudging along. Edward stuck out his hand, and broke into a small jog to keep up with it. It pulled along to the side of the road, and Edward brought his face up to the glass window.

"Know where 63rd street is?" he asked. The man effortlessly rolled down the window, and corked his head to the side.

"I couldn't hear you through this damn glass. Whaddya say?" asked the taxi driver, looking more annoyed by the second.

"Do you know where 63rd street is?" repeated Edward.

"Who the hell doesn't?" said the man, gesturing to the back. "Get in. What's your number?" Edward opened the door to the back, and sat down. The seats were quite uncomfortable, made of cheap cotton and barely any stuffing. He'd have to see to it that he told the company later on.

"11667." He replied, slamming the door to the taxi cab so hard that it shook the whole car. The driver wheeled around to face Edward, and a look of recognition lit up his old eyes.

"Aha, you're a Masen. No wonder you look at the world like you do. Think you're better than the rest of us." said the driver, shaking his head before shooting off and joining Chicago's traffic. Edward chose to ignore that comment, and held out his cigarette.

"Do you mind?" asked Edward, his hand twitching to pull his lighter from his pocket.

"Put that filthy thing away. Don't you see the sign? No Smoking." Snapped the taxi cab. "Damned people are as ignorant as a herd of deer."

"Do your children hear you saying such 'profound' language, sir?" retorted Edward, clenching his teeth and trying very hard not to lose his temper. "By rest assured, with you as a father they must be saying all the color's of the rainbow by now."

"You keep your filthy trap shut, you—"

"Quite pitying for them isn't it?" he interrupted with a small smirk and a look of triumph of his face. The taxi driver put every fiber of willpower into his body to stop himself from slamming on the brake and demanding that Masen get his ass out of the cab. But Bettie would be on his back faster than he could twitch if she found out she had thrown someone out, thrown away good, hard earned money. And the last thing he needed was to be wifeless and kicked out of his own home. So the taxi driver gritted his teeth, and didn't speak another word.

Ten minutes later, the taxi cab pulled up to Skywalker Manor. Edward, bored, got out and paid the driver, no tip to be found. The driver skidded off, and Edward walked in his home. By the glance of a nearby clock, he realized that it was later than he had intended. With a shrug of his shoulders he lit up his cigarette and walked into the living room to greet his mother, who would surely be up waiting for him.

"Edward," she said, standing up as soon as his presence was noticed. "Where have you been?" He looked at her stiffly, and sighed. Even in the middle of the night she looked ready to jet away and off to a party. Her bronze hair, so much like his own, was short and all you could see was a full head of soft curls, too many bobby pins, and spray gel. Her green eyes, again mirroring his own, were coated with makeup, making them stand out almost more than necessary. Pale complexion, fine clothes… Elizabeth Masen was a character you did not want to mess with.

"Around." He said, and turned around to walk away, only to be stopped by Elizabeth's death grip on his arm.

"Around where?" she inquired, her gaze nearly burning holes in his skin. "Edward, I hope you haven't been with Felix again…" Her tone had a warning edge on it, but he knew better than to fall for her tricks.

"I was in the Loop, Mother." snapped Edward. "Stop patronizing me. You know very well that no one would attack me in public." Elizabeth released her grip on Edward, and folded her arms across her chest. Edward turned away from her, and took a long drag of his cigarette, and held it in his mouth. She scowled in annoyance, and plucked it from his fingers before quickly stubbing it out in a nearby ashtray.

"You know I don't like that." She said. He let out the smoke in his mouth, and blew it in her face.

"We'll talk tomorrow, Mother." said Edward, sauntering away from Elizabeth before she could stop him. "There's something I want to discuss with you and Father."

Edward walked up the winding staircase, opened his bedroom door, and fell asleep on his bed.

He woke up with the silhouettes of early morning sunlight blazing down on his eyelids. Groaning, Edward attempted to roll over and hide under the covers before deciding to get up. He had to be at the plant soon anyways, or so he told himself. He stretched his legs, and looked at the clock. Seven. His Father would be going to work soon, so he would have to make their conversation short.

Elizabeth was sitting at the dining table, breakfast already set out on the table. She raised her cup slowly to her lips, bent her head back and closed her eyes, and took a sip of her tea. Edward had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes.

"Mother," he said, with a slight nod of his head. "Where is—"

"Edward," said his Father, entering the dining room so suddenly that it caused both Edward and Elizabeth to look at him with raised eyebrows. Edward Sr. sat in the chair directly across from Elizabeth, and gestured to a nearby seat. "Your Mother say's you want to talk. Have a seat." Edward could see the wheel's turning in his Father's head, and he wondered what he could be thinking at this particular moment.

Why does he seem so eager to talk to me all of a sudden, thought Edward. He's never been so 'enthusiastic' towards me in his life.

"Edward before you begin, I believe I know what you are going to say." said Edward Sr. This time Edward's jaw dropped slightly, but not significantly enough for his parent's to glance his way. "Your Mother and I have been talking for quite some time now, and we've noticed your behavioral changes towards the world… to us." Edward Sr. and Elizabeth exchanged a quick look, and nodded. "We know you must be worried about courtship towards—"

"No," interrupted Edward, his jaw growing stiff and his teeth clenched once he realized where this was going. "These are not the old days, Father. I am going to marry who I choose, and who chooses me. This is not that I wanted to talk about." All of the sudden, Edward Sr. was sitting up straighter, and looking up at the clock with more and more impatient.

"Please continue then, Edward." Said Edward Sr. His foot tapped along with the rhythm of the now playing radio, and he pushed back his chair, getting ready to leave. "And please make it quick. I need to be heading off to the plant. I'm going to assume you're not coming, again, so I won't even ask." Edward Sr. gestured for Edward to get on it. Edward nodded, and cleared his throat with a distinct, low grumble.

"I've been meaning to talk to you two about what I want to do with my life for quite some time now," started Edward, playing with his thumbs once again. "And it's occurred to me only recently what I want to do before I settled down. I don't want to be rooted to one place so soon; not so early in my years when I can do so much more. Explore, travel, and see the world that I've barely had a chance to experience." Edward stopped, and took a small breath, impressed with his beginning of his speech to push his parent's over to his side.

"So what you are saying is that you want to travel?" asked Elizabeth, looking at Edward for some sign of confirmation. Edward nodded empathetically, and flashed a crooked smile at his Mother.

"Exactly," said Edward, relieved that he had finally gotten it off of his shoulders. "I've never left the country, much less the state of Illinois."

"And what would you do while out on this… trip of yours?" questioned Edward Sr. who was finally leaning in his seat with a spark of interest for his son's strange request. Edward shrugged, and pondered the thought for a moment. He came up with nothing.

"Do whatever I can find. Eat a hot dog, climb a mountain, fly a plane…" Edward hesitated, and pulled of a faux sheepish grin. "Maybe not so much on the last two, but that's what an adventure is like. You don't know what you are going to encounter. You don't think… you do."

Elizabeth and Edward Sr. were stunned at their son's wishes. They had planned to marry him off to a lovely city girl by the time he was twenty, and here he was on the brink of twenty-one with no plan's to settle down. Elizabeth found Edward's wished intriguing and interesting. Traveling! By a plane for the first time, because no one went by boat nowadays. Who would have thought of it? Meanwhile, Edward Sr. wondered where he had gone wrong when raising his beautiful, bronze haired boy.

"Edward," said Elizabeth, turning her full attention to Edward Sr. who was still thinking of the future. "I think it's a wonderful idea. Why not give the boy a chance to experience more? By god we've lavished everything else on him! It's time for him to try to see if he can handle himself without us over his shoulder." Edward tried not to snort at that last comment. If only his parent's knew what he did when they weren't looking, or when they went to a charity party. Of course, it was all done with the expense of their money, but what was theirs would eventually be Edward's anyways.

"Course, I would need to have the access to funds…" trailed of Edward, leaving his parent's to fill in the blanks. His Mother was looking at him with a small smile of happiness, and a touch of bewilderment.

One down, one to go, thought Edward, looking over at his father with the look of a hopeful puppy when he saw a treat.

"How long will you be gone?" was Edward Sr's. final question. Edward breathed a sigh of relief, and answered quickly.

"Depends on how long I stay in one place. I might find one spot more interesting than the next and decide to stay longer. Who knows?" said Edward with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "The most I'll be gone is a year."

"A year?" sputtered his Father, pinching the bridge of his nose in bafflement and frustration.

"At the most," said Edward quickly, fearing that he was losing his parent's. "I'm sure I won't be gone that long. And I'll be able to contact you by letter or phone. Although with the ridiculous abomination of something called a phone, I'm sure..."

"Wait, wait, wait." said Nessie, interrupting the Piano Man mid-sentence. "Ridiculous abomination? When does this story take place again?" The Piano Man rolled his eyes at Nessie, and looked at Emmett with a defiant smirk.

"You're not the first one to say something like that," said Emmett, swatting Edward with a towel. "The Piano Man over here thinks that we should all go back to the days where we send messages by pigeon's and letters."

"It would save money, and would show how people truly care. How people would take the real time to wait for a loved one to send them a message." Said the Piano Man in defiance, narrowing his eyes at Emmett before looking back at Nessie. "And for your information, it take's place in 1951. Phones weren't as common as they are now, and calls were expensive and unnecessary. If they were close enough, you could talk to them in person. And if you were far away, then grab a pencil and a sheet of paper and give it a whirl."

"Give it a rest, man." said Emmett, hiding a laugh with a large cough. Nessie and the Piano Man knew better though. "She's an eighties person. Born in the eighties, played along with Mario, and yet bred in the twenty first century. Everyone's got 'a ridiculous abomination' of a phone nowadays. They've got cell phones too!"

"Can I get back to my story?" asked the Piano Man impatiently.

"Of course," said Nessie with an apologetically smile. "I'm sorry for interrupting. But you may find I do that a lot."

"You two," said the Piano man, fingering both Nessie and Emmett. "Are one and the same."

"Alright we don't have all night you know, and knowing the Piano Man, he's going to give you every last detail." said Emmett, waving the Piano Man to continue.

"True. Please continue." said Nessie, crossing her legs and getting comfortable in her seat.

"Right, right, right…" said the Piano Man, once again enthralling them with the wonders of the story…

"…you don't want to pay the hefty bills. Letter's should suffice."

"Think about where you would… supposedly, like to go first." Said Edward Sr. while standing up and pushing in his chair. "I've got to get off to work now. We'll discuss this matter more later on." Edward Sr. kissed Elizabeth on the cheek, nodded a goodbye to Edward, and left.

"You are serious about this trip of yours?" asked Elizabeth once she heard their car creek out of the driveway. Edward nodded slowly with a wide grin.

"Dead positive."

After his mother resided to going to one of her friend's house for talk, Edward left the house, Felix already outside waiting for him. Edward approached the Mercury 2 Door Coupe cautiously, a car so rare that not even Edward had ever seen it yet. Knowing Felix's Father, who worked in an industry that manufactured cars, they were sure to get every new vehicle first. He admired the car, and game a nod of approval to Felix before stepping in.

"A beauty, isn't she?" said Felix with a broad beam of his teeth. The old fool was turning red from the excitement of taking the car around for its first spin, hands twitching with anticipation and eyes darting back and forth from the rearview mirror and the windshield.

"She's a real eye for eye, you and her." agreed Edward. "Start her up, and let's get to the theatre before Dummy does." The two shared a look of knowing, and Felix stomped on the gas pedal, lurching them forward and on towards the Chicago Theatre.

Dummy was actually Demetri; a scrawny little boy with a nose to upright and a chin held too high. He lived in the suburbs of Chicago where he constantly walked down back alleys and creepy streets. Most said that he was a follower, sticking so close by to someone that he could be their shadow. Weird, and unnatural, or so everyone said. Dummy constantly knew where everyone was, even if someone said just their name, he would blurt out their location. This was, of course, because he couldn't stop pestering everyone about their business. Nowadays people knew better than to talk to him, or go near him, or even acknowledge his presence.

Dimmy, dummy, who can't find his mummy…

It was only mid morning, and still Chicago was as busy as ever. People were hustling off to work; a crowd of men with their fedora hat's walked in groups, and ladies walked their dogs along the streets with a stiff look on their face. Edward grinned as he looked at them, and thought 'This is how life really is. This is what it looks like when you look at civilization in the eyes.

The drive to the theatre took longer than necessary. The Loop was more active in the mornings then usual, and traffic was a scum to get through. They made it with five minutes to spare, and entered through a back door that had supposedly been bolted down. Felix and Edward, however, knew better.

Backstage was like its own little community. Makeup was towards the right where the dressing room was also located, and to the right was the lounge. Small, but significant enough that the performers really didn't care where they were as long as they were sitting down. This was, particularly, where Edward and Felix would regularly stay and bash.

One of the producers, Renate, spotted the pair instantly and gave them a stiff, curt nod. She didn't approve of their comings and goings, but because it made the entertainers so happy she managed to let it slip pass her eyes. Felix walked towards make up, where as Edward continued on towards the lounge. They would meet up in a while, but for now they had there own business to attend to.

Edward opened the doors of the lounge, and greeted its aroma gladly. The scent was like blue lilacs, rare and enchanting. Although after a while it would get thick and seem like a bother, Edward ignored that thought for now. It went well with the rest of the black interior and lightly painted walls. Cheery and happy after a long performance, easily supplied with a small fridge that was plugged in at the back and full of munchies and the occasional alcohol or two. It was only after he had finished looking around did he notice who was currently occupying the space with him.

"You're here again?" asked Lauren, her silver-grey fish eyes bearing hole's into Edward's skin. He shrugged innocently, and raised his eyebrows.

"When am I not?" he responded, casually taking a seat behind her and crossing his legs, trying not to look interest and slightly bored. Lauren, however, did not take his response well. She smacked him lightly on the arm, and scowled with a bare of her teeth.

"Yesterday!" she exclaimed, her teeth still gritted together so hard that it almost made her look like a piranha. Edward restrained his cough by covering his mouth with his hand and passing off a fake cough. "You said you would be here to greet me after my big show. And you missed it!" She pouted, and stuff out her lower lip.

"Sorry, dolly. I'll have to catch the next one, although I'm sure you were bashing out there."

"Did you even hear me? It was my big show, my big night! I wanted you to swing me over and—"

"You've probably already been lined up for another big act or two. Cool your engines, dolly. Your not exactly on cloud nine like usual." Said Edward with a wag of his finger. "I'm beginning to miss your tossing and smiling." Lauren swayed her head to the side to avoid rolling her eyes, and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Take no harm or anything, but Tyler and I jacketed it up last night. You've cut the string, Edward. I can't take this anymore; It's time you found another nice" Once again, Edward cut her off.

"You and Crowley dating? How's your big daddy taking that news, dolly? Know your dating a black man?" asked Edward, putting his hands behind his head. Lauren's eyes grew wide in alarm, and her face turned purple and pink in rage.

"How… how dare you say such a racist thing!" she sputtered, stumbling over her words.

"Not racist; just saying what you're daddy's going to find out sooner or later. Everyone knows that you're supposed to be circled off to Chenley." pointed out Edward, lifting his lighter from his pocket and lighting a cigarette.

"Ben is happily dating Angela. And you know you're not supposed to smoke in here!" cried Lauren, her long nail's flashing with the color black as she clawed out to grab his cigarette. Edward easily dodged it out of her way and held it above her head.

"I'll keep yours if you keep mine…?" asked Edward, still ducking out of the way of Lauren's hands.

"You don't even have any secrets!" she flared, her eyes getting more narrow by the second.

"Everyone's got something to hide, dolly. I won't tell your big daddy that you jacketed it off with Crowley if you don't tell anyone that I'm smoking. Or even smoking at all." said Edward, sticking out his hand.

"That's not a secret!" she shouted, finally sitting still. "Everyone knows you smoke!"

"I made a deal with Renata. I'm supposed to quit to be allowed back here," he said with a wave of his hand. "It's not like I'm allowed to smoke back here anyways, but I'm sure you'll take care of that."

"This is blackmail." hissed Lauren, her body going stiff and upright in anger that she had lost yet another war. Edward laughed at her fury, and shrugged it off without another notice towards it.

"No, it's compromising, dolly. But if you don't want to take the deal, then I'm perfectly fine with tell—"

"Fine!" she screeched, getting up and stomping out of the room without a single glance back. Edward made a mental note to tell the costume designer's to fix her skirt; even he had limit's when it came to how short a skirt could be. Just then, Felix strode in right as Lauren was shutting the door behind her.

"She's certainly got some classy chassis, huh?" said Felix, sitting on the couch opposing to Edward and stretching out. Edward took a puff of his cigarette, blew out, and sighed.

"You got no idea."

After spending the entire day at the theatre, Felix dropped Edward off at his home around eight. His father was locked up in his office, never to be heard from again until morning came, and his mother was still out. He took this time to think more about where he wanted to go once he cruised off on to his trip around the world. Quickly he went into the library and retrieved a few old maps; a map of North America, the USA, and the world, of course. Edward walked back to his room, and spread out all three maps on the floor. His interests, for now, were more directed to the map of the USA. He wanted to experience the greater cities of the USA before embarking on the more cultural ones of the world.

Never paying attention in History or Geography, he was at lost for where he should even look. He had heard of Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York City, but could there be more cities out there? He bent forward, and hungrily scanned over the map.

Houston…

Phoenix…

Philadelphia…

Dallas…

San Francisco…

San Diego…

Detroit…

Boston…

Baltimore…

Nashville…

Washington…

Kansas City…

How was he expected to get to them all? There was so much to see, and so much to do! Which city would have the most interest in him? Which city would be the most appealing to his eyes? Which city would captivate his attention in such great lengths that he may never leave? Which city would hold the key to his pleasures and wants?

Edward could only come up with one name and one name only. It was the city of people, the city that never sleeps, and the city with wondrous enchantments…

The Statue of Liberty…

Central Park…

Brooklyn Bridge…

Pierpont Morgan Library…

Edward knew where he was going to go first. The Big Apple; New York City.

A full day after Edward had talked to his parent's last and yet he already knew where he was going first.

"You've decided?" asked Elizabeth, her eyes widening in astonishment.

Is that a sign that she doubts my ability to actually correspond with my parents and listen once in a while?

Edward nodded slowly, and put his hands behind his head. "There's always been chat about 'the greatest city in the world'. I'd like to go and see if all the rumors are true; get a kick out of it if there not, and enjoy a highly paid vacation if it is."

"I assume you are talking about New York City?" inquired Edward Sr. his face tightening the more and more his son spoke.

"Of course. Is there no better city in the world?" said Edward with a fake laugh following.

"Chicago could compete quite fine!" huffed Edward Sr. It was always an insult to him when people decided to pick down on his surroundings and interactions. Chicago was a fabulous city with everything they needed right around the corner; his thoughts were continuously swarmed around the idea of why Edward wanted to go at all.

"And you are sure that you want to make this… journey on your own?" said Elizabeth once more, before letting her husband take over the conversation.

"Positive," said Edward with a smile of appreciation towards his mother. "And if you are worried about the hooligan so-called dangers of New York, I can assure you that I won't be staying very long. There are other countries already calling, and New York will be just the beginning."

"When are you planning on leaving?"

"June 1st. I refuse to leave any later than that." Elizabeth and Edward Sr. exchanged a knowing glance, and sighed together as if they had synchronized it.

"Well, I guess there's no stopping you," said Edward Sr. stiffly, as if he had just lost a war. "You won't be able to celebrate your twenty first birthday with us when you're out of the city, you know." Edward laughed heartily at his Father's feebly attempt to draw him back to the realms of Chicago.

"I think letters will suffice. Are we all right?"

"It's done."

Ah, and the first chapter begins and ends so suddenly.

Thank you to those who have reviewed, favorited, and put Piano Man on your alerts. Believe it or not, I check my email ten times a day and it always makes me smile when I see I have one from Fan Fiction.

Next update should be soon? A week? A week and a half?