Author's Note: For anyone who REALLY likes this fic, me and my best friend (who is the one who has been helping me conceptualize this fic since day 1 and has drawn a lot of art for this fic) made a Spotify playlist for this fic :] It's a very specifically curated playlist that's organized by plotline and characters (and general vibe). So if you're curious here's the link [ playlist/6soM7t8AyRilhvd7uALMA9?si=ZmsSrDBLRUKoFa44GQ4ApA] I'm not sure if you can copy/paste that so otherwise it's called "Order and Pandemonium" by user limefirefly (with me, verstandkampf, as a collaborator). I will note tho it might be a bit spoilery for later in the story that is yet to be written, but hey idk maybe you're from the future and the fic is already done. Anyways just thought that might interest someone! Happy reading!

"Caitlyn's mom says you're weird," Amy looked up from her phone as her thumbs drummed against the screen.

Edd looked at her from across the table, chewing softly on his dinner. He joked, "are you texting her right now?"

"No."

"Talking to Caitlyn then?"

"No," Amy's food was getting cold. She was too wrapped up in her digital conversation.

"Alright," Edd said after realizing she had nothing more to add. It had been days since the incident at her dance practice. Once again she was at Edd's house for the weekend, and like every other dinner it was silent and Amy was deep in her phone. They had barely said anything to each other that day, and have shared no thoughts about the situation that occurred last weekend. It was hard to tell how she felt about it. Was she angry at him too? Did she lose a friend after all? Well, good. I don't want her to hang around those sympathizers anyway! "Well, it's a good thing I don't care about what people think about me," he finished bitterly.

He couldn't tell if she was even listening, because as she raised her fork for another bite she almost missed her mouth completely. Tearing her eyes away from the screen she took the bite and chewed slowly. She put the fork down and interrupted herself to reply with both hands. "I don't really care cus…" she trailed off distractedly with full cheeks, "I didn't really like her anyway."

Edd couldn't help but chuckle at her blunt criticism. If he was expecting any reaction from her, it certainly wasn't that. "You don't?"

"Nah." With a clunk, she set her phone down and eagerly ripped her knife through her food. Now that her matter was settled, she was suddenly present as ever. "She's super mean- all of those girls are. You should hear the things they say about each other in the changing room. They probably call me those things too when I'm not around."

Edd frowned, "I'm sorry to hear that." The last thing he wanted was for her to be bullied like he was. He remembered being called names in the changing room too, being stared at, talked about behind his back. The attitudes the dance moms had that day reminded him too well of his high school bullies. Was the same thing happening to Amy now? Was there something he could do to stop it? "They don't sound like very good friends to you."

"Pfft, they're not my friends," Amy scoffed. But it was comedic, as if that concept was humorous to her. "I don't want or need them as friends either, I have Robin." There was a smile on her face as she said her name, and her statement was full and satisfactory. Edd believed her, she didn't need anyone else or seem to want any other friends. For the first time, Amy had a real friend, someone she talked to all the time. And it was Matt's daughter. Matt's girl, who shared his light and carried his essence with her, who reflected him the same way Amy reflected Edd. Would Amy ever understand how much that meant to him? Did she ever think about their friendship being the next generation of a lifelong bond? Would they share the same bond that Edd and Matt did? Would this continue for generations to come? He hoped so with everything in his heart. If he could do anything to preserve their friendship and nurture it, he would.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it," Edd smiled at her and she looked up at him. She seemed unbothered by what happened, and he was relieved to see it. If anyone had the right to be angry it was her. One thing Stacy had said stuck out in his mind, this is about Amy. Edd realized now that Stacy would willingly sacrifice everything she thought and felt for the sake of Amy's reputation. At first, and in truth, he felt she was cowardly for that. But now he had a newfound respect for that gesture. Not enough to forgive the things she had said to him that day, but enough to understand why she did it. She and I are just too different in that regard. You couldn't pay me to pretend I'm loyal to the Reds.

The next morning, Edd invited Amy out with him. He had justified it by saying he wanted to get her mind off everything that happened with dance practice, but in reality he was justifying it more for his own peace of mind. The city was nowhere as big as London, but in the last decade the population had boomed and things were busier than ever. He intentionally avoided the docks, everything that had happened there put a bad taste in his mouth. He stayed in the populated areas, it felt safer there. Weeks ago he would have thought twice about showing his face so openly in public. There was a fear that Red Leader and his men had been hunting them down ever since the raid on the Keyhole, but nothing had happened. Even Tom, after moving house to avoid his own capture, had not reported anything about being tracked. He actually hasn't reported much of anything, even after Bing. But it wasn't time to worry about Tom now, he had to trust that he was busy doing his own things in London.

Amy was walking beside him, taking two steps for every big step Edd took with his longer legs. Her eyes were ahead and flicking between anything of interest, but didn't comment on anything. They had just left a bakery, and buttery flakes still clung to the corners of her mouth. Edd's neck was hot inside a wool scarf and the edges of his jeans were wet from the sleet he stepped in. It was the beginning of Christmastime in England. Stores were already decorating their outsides with wreaths and sparkling lights. LED outlines of Santa and his sleigh flashed in his face as he passed by, and he wondered what the holiday was going to be like for him this year. It was the first time in a decade that he would get to spend it with Matt and Tom. Matt already mentioned joining plans for that day with their families, but Tom never answered him when he had asked about it. He still needed to talk to Stacy about it too and arrange where Amy was going to be, but I think I'll hold off on that for now, he thought.

They were nearing the city square. Here all kinds of people were waiting at bus stops and walking along the shoveled sidewalks in groups. A man walked past them with freezing hands deep inside his coat pockets and sniffed with blocked sinuses. The square resembled the parts of London Edd hated the most every time he visited. Large flat screens were posted on the outside of the skyscrapers showing short clips and graphics of ads. Loud music blasted from every building and layers of speech from the videos overlapped each other until they all formed into a glob of voice drowning inside his ears. It was too in-your-face for his tastes. But Amy didn't seem to mind. Maybe her generation was used to it. As they waited for the pedestrian light, Edd remembered how she used to hold his hand to cross. She would hold up her hand expectantly, feet glued to the curb and refused to take another step if she wasn't holding onto him. He thought she was so clever, reminding him that sometimes that even he forgot his own street crossing rules. But now, she stepped onto the crosswalk first and didn't look back at him.

Then, a sound pitched just so that it stung his ears declared itself from the big screens. The air lit up a bright red as all of them tuned into an emergency broadcast in unison. Everyone around them stopped where they were to stare at them. Edd's stomach dropped, something big was happening. Before anyone could think too fast, the broadcast showed the morning news anchor sitting at his chair with a piece of paper in his hands. He looked at the audience with a face that showed utmost seriousness and determination. He delivered his message, "this is Channel 4 News speaking on behalf of the Red Nations to report to you a national emergency broadcast. Today, Chairman Red Leader has met with President Jones of the United States of America to discuss his surrender to the Red Army and their annexation into the Red Nations." No…Edd didn't dare look away from the screen as the broadcast changed to live footage of Red Leader, standing broad shouldered and straight, next to the defeated stance of the American president. Cameras were flashing at them, capturing the historic moment. They were standing in front of a table inside some sort of government building. Two chairs were on either side and Edd spotted large pieces of paper and a single pen to share between them. Red heavy curtains hung on either side of the stage, but there was no microphone. There would be no speeches delivered here. There was nothing on Red Leader's face. Not even satisfaction, not happiness. He wasn't gloating nor giving respectful smiles. He was just…standing. Looking off into a place he did not know.

"For the last year the United States have given their final push to resist our grand forces, but on this day, December 3rd, President Jones will be officially surrendering and ending the war on the West front. Shortly, they will be reviewing the terms of surrender and signing the treaty, which will be going into immediate effect." Edd couldn't believe his ears. They were giving up. The army had won again. He held his breath to see if it wasn't true, that any second now it would cut out or the real news would come on and say it was a mistake.

A tug on his arm pulled his attention from the screen, but he did not look away. "Dad, what's happening?"

He leaned down slightly to her and kept his voice low, knowing full well the rest of the square was in complete silence. "I don't know."

The anchor kept talking, but Edd was focused more on the recording. The man before him was carrying himself unlike he had ever seen him. He had seen how Red Leader walks and talks since he became Chairman, but somehow the knowledge that it was live was more unnerving than anything. That right now, in that very second, Red Leader was there and Edd was here. It reminded him that Red Leader was real, just as much as he was. It was hard to believe that fact sometimes, as the media portrayed him as more of a character than a real person. But he had seen his life in another light, through Alison, while he was in his bedroom in the Keyhole. He was alive, he breathed, he felt, but why didn't he look that way now? Why did he look dead in the eyes and pale in the face, but not in the way that showed guilt or a smidge of remorse?

They broke away from the line of cameras and slowly moved towards the table, and finally Edd noticed two particular men behind Red Leader to the right of the screen. A tall figure slid the chair out for him to sit down, his scuff was well manicured for the occasion. The other held his position securely behind him, both hands gripping a machine gun. The generals! Edd recognized them in horror, they went with him to America! Did the Blue Order know? Were they watching now? It was a dumb question, of course they were watching. Probably more intensely than Edd ever could. He wondered if Tom was in the base sweating with anticipation as he watched the war finalize its latest move before his very eyes. "Why do they have guns?" Amy was pressed against Edd's side now, feeling unsafe. He couldn't hear the reporter over her, so he hushed her by pulling her closer so they stood side by side. Together they stared up at the screen. They stood in the middle of the crosswalk, no car moved as every person within eyesight was glued to the screens. The traffic lights continued their cycles, confused as to why no one was moving. The sky behind the buildings were glowing red as blood, they reflected the harsh lights and heavy clouds caved them all inside. It reflected off the snow piles too, and everybody's faces were engulfed by the light.

A lump formed in Edd's throat watching President Jones sign his name in several places along the document. Red Leader pointed with his finger at the dotted lines and his lips moved with silent directions to sign. To the left were more soldiers, surrounding them. Everyone had guns, even Red Leader had a handgun on his hip. If Jones were to try anything, he'd be dead in seconds. But, no one stepped out of place. And as Jones finished his last signature, he looked up and met eyes with Red Leader, who was already looking at him expectantly. The president's shoulders sagged and his television makeup failed to cover up his eyebags. The man was exhausted, and it showed. They both stood up and shook hands. Before he could break away, Red Leader put his other hand on top of his. His head bobbed as he said something to Jones, showing his sincerity. Finally there was a hint of some emotion in his face as the very corner of his mouth curled in a smirk. It was friendly, and Edd thought the scene reminded him of two players at the end of a game of chess. He was declaring it a good game.

He stepped out of his chair and glanced at General ver Toorde, who only gave a curt nod in response. It must have been a signal because he knew what to do next. The general stepped out of sight while Red Leader and President Jones met in the middle of the screen. Assistants appeared and carried the table and chairs away so that the audience could see the men from head to toe in all their glory. The anchorman said with gusto and his line sounded louder than anything else that was said before, "ladies and gentleman, the United States of America is now the newest member of the Red Nations. Glory to Red Leader and our beautiful nation!" Edd swallowed. His brows furrowed, confused. How? He kept repeating in his head. How? They were fighting for so long. They didn't even reach the West Coast. A woman nearby let out a strained gasp, stopping herself from crying. Edd broke free from the screen and saw her, eyes glistening in the light. The clouds were so thick they blocked out the sun like a layer of wool. Perhaps even God disapproved. But the people of New York City were protesting. They were going to win it back. What about the hashtags and the sympathetic news stories? What about the other dance moms and Stacy and everyone else who may have felt some pity for them? What about Medi and his family across the ocean? Was this really the end for them? Was this the world his daughter was growing up in? Was this how it was going to be for the rest of her life; watching desperately as she finds out through the news that yet another powerful country had been lost under the force of the Red Army? And what about the Blue Order? Has this gotten so large of a job that not even the smartest people he knew and all the resources they've created were able to stop them now?

"And I believe-..." the anchorman trailed off, for the first time unsure what to say. Edd snapped his gaze back to the screen and saw that General ver Toorde had returned holding a distinctive weapon in his hands. "That…" he was on the left of the screen, the footage minimized into the corner. But as the producers realized that his lines had run out, and the scene was unfolding in an unpredicted twist, they had cut him off and allowed the live to be centered again. The anchor did not speak any more, and Edd wondered if it was because he too was curious to see what was happening to comment.

It wasn't shown completely, but Edd thought it was an axe. An assistant hesitantly followed an order from General Dadulewicz to return a chair from the table set. The president sat down instinctively, and Red Leader stood beside him and together they took more regal pictures. Is the axe some sort of ceremonial item? Edd thought, but this was quickly proven untrue. Red Leader turned to Paul and took the axe with both hands and nodded to him as thanks.

It all happened so fast. Within seconds of grasping the axe in his hands, Red Leader raised it high above his head and like a guillotine dropped it with all his force into the neck of President Jones.

Like lightning, the movement burst from Edd's arms. He grabbed Amy's head and shoved it so far into his chest that he didn't care if she could breathe. He held her so tightly that not an inch of her was not shielded by his body. Did she see the blood splatter onto the floor? Did she notice the grin on Red Leader's face as he did it? Amy did not protest, but instead buried her face into his stomach and trembled with fear. The broadcast abruptly cut out and the screens did not return to their ads, leaving everyone in total darkness. Edd looked at the woman who gasped before. She was desperately dialing a number on her phone and put it up to her ear. As it tried to connect, she walked away with a hand covering her mouth. Someone in front of them broke into a sprint and dodged past them. Where were they going? If here wasn't considered safe, where was? Commotion from inside a store caught his eye, and he spotted a group of men throwing their hands up and hollering together. They're…cheering. The thought of celebration made him sick.

The car that was stopped at the crosswalk honked at Edd. He swung around to face it with anger twitching on his face. How could anyone expect him to move right now? Begrudgingly, he continued walking to the other side and encouraged Amy to move with him. He let her head peak out from his arm, but he still held onto her firmly. Wrapping half of his trench coat over her, he hoped that the warmth of his body would help calm her down. The city sprang back to life, people kept moving. Though some needed a few more moments. A man in front of them had fallen to his knees and was still staring up and ahead at the screen as if the broadcast was still there. When Edd moved by him, the man's eyes met his. Unable to comprehend it, Edd quickly looked elsewhere and scurried away.

"Where are we going?" Amy asked worriedly from inside his coat.

"Home," Edd took in everything at once. Traffic was bound to get busy after such an event, it would be a miracle if he didn't get stuck in it. He'd have to call Stacy even if he didn't want to talk to her right now. He'd have to call Matt and Tom too, if he wasn't too busy already. "Let's go home."

The mailbox screeched shut as the rusted mouth struggled to fit together in its warped shape. The letter was safely inside now, and evident through many previous correspondences, Tom was sure it would be undisturbed. He licked his lips, they were chapped from the frostbitten weather. He always felt like this every time he visited the mailbox. On one hand, it was exciting. He had already learned so much about the inside of the Keyhole, the ranks of the army, even past military operations. But he knew he was betraying Medi's wise warning. The Rebel, a mysterious man cloaked in shadow but held promise of insider information. He had done nothing but keep his word, and their letters got friendlier with every response. Perhaps one day they would graduate from allies to friends. Tom had a small desire to meet him in person someday soon, but knew that it was extremely unlikely. Which was fine, he felt, because the way they worked now was perfect. Every few days he would visit the hidden mailbox, tucked away inside a brick wall, and find a letter for him. That night he would write his own and replace it the next day. This time was no different, and Tom eagerly awaited the Rebel's news regarding the Keyhole's security protocols. According to him, since the order's assassination attempt they had changed the way they dealt with intruders. If he wanted to try that stunt again, he would need to change his approach.

Screaming in the distance made Tom jump and snap at attention. He instinctively grabbed the handgun he kept hidden under his coat and ran to the entrance of the alleyway that housed the mailbox. At the same time, Medi's contact name appeared on his phone screen and his custom ringtone alerted Tom to pick up the phone. Realizing something must be wrong, he answered right away and held the phone tightly to his cheek. "Talk to me."

"You're going to hate this boss," Medi began, a worried edge to his tone, "something's going on- it's an emergency broadcast I think."

Tom was already walking back to the Blue Order headquarters, "do you need me at the base? I'll be right there-"

"Good luck getting here in time. I'm already seeing people running around outside." He could hear other order members discussing what they were seeing in the background of the call. "Just stay where you are and get somewhere safe. I have a bad feeling whatever's about to happen is gonna send people into a panic."

"Well shit, you know more than me, what are you seeing?" Tom was hurrying on the sidewalk, and already a few people blazed past him in the other direction. Whatever was going on up ahead, people were trying not to be involved.

"Looks like the entire city center shut down. Channel 4 is on, and- wait. Let me listen…" Tom impatiently waited to hear his response and craned his neck to see into the distance. All he could see was an ominous red glow that clung to the ice particles in the air. He'd never make it to the inner next court, where the screens were more prevalent. Deciding to abandon that idea, he ducked into the nearest side street. There sat a storefront with a small TV playing and he spotted the emergency broadcast. "Holy fuck, Tom…"

It didn't take long to see why he was so desolate. The American president was meeting with Red Leader, and Tom deduced there was some sort of treaty about to be signed. He couldn't hear any audio, however, the TV was locked behind the window glass. "Why are there no headlines?" Tom asked, frustrated that he couldn't know more. Tom searched Red Leader's face, what are you planning this time? Feelings of hatred old and new flared up inside him as he gazed upon his enemy. He tried to leave them at bay for now, soon his time to take Red Leader down would come, but it wasn't now.

Then he saw it. It wasn't long after the session of picture taking that he witnessed Red Leader decapitating the American president. He had seen it before, Red Leader killing people. He's seen war footage of him doing so, home videos of people recording him during terrorist attacks. Usually with guns, sometimes handheld blades. But this was an axe, an unconventional but purposeful choice. The cameras cut, cropping out anything past the horrified gasps of the people in that room. Tom blinked, staring at the TV. He was alone in that alley, or at least he remembered being alone. There were people running around him, not many but a few. He still didn't understand where they thought they were going. A gust of icy wind blew into his side. He felt so light that he wouldn't be surprised if it swept him from his feet and cradled him away in its arms. The gust had grabbed his phone from his hands, now frozen in place and could no longer support its weight. The thin plastic case clacked on the sheet of slippery ice that had covered the ground. It was that sound that had brought him to the fact that Medi was desperately calling his name on the line. Tom tore his attention from the TV, which was now just static. Medi's contact name stared back at him. Commotion from the city streets erupted, he could even hear the chattering of glass. Perhaps someone dropped something as well? Crouching, Tom picked up the phone. "Medi."

Though Tom could not see him, he knew Medi had tears in his eyes. Whether or not they were falling down his cheeks he did not know, but he pictured his cheekbones rising into his eyes as they squinted through the pain. The corners of his mouth peeling back as his teeth shattered. The hitch in his breath. If it were anyone else, they would be focused and straight-faced, like Tom was. But Tom knew Medi more than that, and knew that he had a family and friends there. No matter how much he wished it was, England was not his home. Like many members of the Blue Order, he came from somewhere else, desperate to find like minded people. Empathy seared his face as his friend replied, "...Tom."

"Can't I just stay up a little longer?" Amy yawned and ended with an exasperated frown.

"No, I think you've had enough for one day," Edd replied firmly. He was on his knees at her bedside, arms folded on the edge of the sheets. Amy only rolled her head to the other side. "I know. It's been a tough day. I know what I said was a lot but, do you think you feel a little more safe now?"

She shrugged solemnly. He had just finished giving her a briefing of the war, in terms that were perhaps a bit too mature for her still. Edd had confidence that while she may not understand the scale of a war, she would still understand the importance. She expressed her fear when they got home that something similar would happen there, in England. He had to remind her that Red Leader was the chairman of England, among other countries, that no such death could occur. She had asked if they would be bombed too, if they needed a bomb shelter like they did in old movies. He assured her that no, it was unlikely that America would retaliate at this point. He was unsure of this himself, and curiously tucked the thought away to ponder another time. He explained that no matter what happened now, she was still in the Red Nations. Where, even if Edd didn't want to admit it, she was safe.

Still, her mind did not look eased, and Edd understood why. He had a lot to unpack about what he had seen too. But it was unfair for a child to witness. It was unfair that she had to be there, around all those people. To watch people cry, scream, cheer. He was reminded too that she was soon to be a teenager one day, who would then gain a much deeper knowledge of the events that she had witnessed. Was he doing a good job by shielding it from her? Should he have left as soon as those red screens came on?

She had talked to her mother too, naturally. And for once Edd and Stacy had agreed on their approach, though both unsure of its effectiveness. If she had questions they would answer them. Stacy advised to remain unbiased. Just give her facts, not opinions! She had said. But Edd felt that he need not worry about Amy forming the wrong opinions. If he had taught her any basic human decency she would find it barbaric, wouldn't she? She would be disgusted by the way those men in the bar were acting. Regardless, the wound was still fresh, and she churned her feet anxiously under the covers. He tilted his head, "just try to keep it out of your mind and find some sleep. Things will be clearer tomorrow."

But as he got up, along with the sound of both his knees cracking at the joints, she asked, "are you leaving tomorrow?" He looked down at himself, good question. Surely the Blue Order was tripping over itself at such big news. Tom would most likely call him tomorrow morning, since he hadn't yet tonight.

"I might be," he shrugged. There was a glimmer of mischief as he guessed why she asked. "Did you want me to take you to Robin's house?" If the answer was yes, it would be the perfect time to update Matt and exchange plans.

"Of course you are…" she muttered and nestled her face into the blanket. Edd blinked in surprise, that was not what he expected.

Edd widened his eyes in shock and stammered, "well…okay. Let's not have an attitude now." He shifted his weight onto his other leg and crossed his arms. "And why would that concern you?"

"Because you're a liar, that's why!" she peeked at him from the corners of her eyes but did not budge. "You honestly think I don't know?"

Was this about today? Was she more politically informed than he originally thought? "Wha-"

"About where you go every week. What you really do when you say you're 'going to Uncle Tom's house.'" Edd's blood ran cold. Heat swelled up from his neck to his cheeks. She knows…? She knows about the Blue Order? This was bad. She couldn't know, she would tell Stacy. They wouldn't understand, neither of them. Maybe she caught a whiff through Robin, does Matt know? He thought about his teenagers. Roy was a slinky kid, perhaps he snooped through Matt's things and found him out.

"Amy…" Edd put his hands up in an attempt to ease her. "I…I know that's a lot. A-and it's confusing-"

"So you admit it then?" At that, she threw her blanket off her shoulders and shot up in her bed. Staring directly at him she spoke with such ferocity. Rarely did Amy talk back, but when she did she looked and sounded just like her mother. "And I had to find out for myself? You couldn't just tell me? Did you think I just wouldn't get it or something?"

Her intensity frankly scared Edd. It was so sudden. And the emotion in her eyes told him she knew for a long time. This had been brewing inside her for a while. Poor thing… But it did not change his stance on the matter. She should not know about this. It was too much, too serious, too violent. Does she know I killed a man…? The thought of her face if she found out such a detail shook him to his core. Is she disgusted by him? Was she…scared of him now? "Well, no. And I don't think you do understand." He needed to gain back control of the situation as soon as possible. Not just because of the severity of this discovery, but because he was her father. Letting her walk all over him should not become the norm, upset or not.

"Well you're right, I guess I don't. But it's not just about that. Not only did you lie to me, you hid it all with your friend and covered it up by slapping me at his house all the time. You lied to mom, too! And you're lucky I didn't come to her first and decided I wanted to get you to confirm my theory. Why are you so mean to her, she should know!"

"Amy, wait!" He dropped his arms and got closer to her. She turned to face him but shuffled away. "Do not tell your mother."

"Why?" She huffed.

"Because she…she wouldn't get it Amy." He desperately looked at her, hoping she would understand how important it was. When she didn't let up, he decided to let out the fear that even he had trouble saying to himself. "She would take me away from you…" There wasn't a doubt in his mind that she would file for full custody like she had threatened. If she knew that he was putting himself in life threatening situations that broke the law she would do anything in her power to get their daughter away. But that couldn't happen, not if he could help it. Surely she wouldn't willingly go with her? Maybe if she really knows everything like she says…

This only made Amy's eyes widen to the size of moons. Her brows crashed down hard, she scrunched up her nose. Taking a deep breath, she took her hands and pushed his chest with all her might. With her limited strength, she pushed herself away more than she could move his beastly frame. But her move had done enough. "What are you planning?!" she cried. "Are you planning on running away with her then? Getting married? Are you never going to see me again?" The tears came pouring down now. Her cool brown hair, the colour of dead fallen leaves in autumn, fell around her shoulders. Stray strands clung to her forehead that, with all the stress, started sweating. She pursed her lips to stop herself from openly sobbing, but her chest heaved.

Edd looked long and hard at his crying child. Her…? Who was she talking about? Her mother? "Amy…what are you talking about?"

She rolled her eyes and let out a breath that was trapped in her throat. "Great. Now you're acting dumb." She pulled the hair from her face and ran an arm across her wet eyes. "Why can't you just be honest for once?"

Edd's muscles relaxed and he sat up straight again. Resetting himself completely, he sat down at the foot of her bed and brought his knees up to lean his chest against them. "Honey, I don't know what you're talking about. Please explain it to me."

She looked away, too angry to meet his eyes any longer. "Your girlfriend. The one you skip out on me to go see every week. The one that you went to visit when you forgot about my birthday. You think I'm stupid but I'm not. So guess what? I caught you. And now you have to fess up to me." Edd tried to speak but she was determined to empty her mind. "You have to fess up to me and you have to fess up to mom too. Because she probably won't care that you have a new girlfriend and that way she can meet her and it doesn't have to be a big deal anymore. And that way if you move away and marry her we can still see each other even if it's not as often." The last part seemed to be the most devastating for her to say out loud. Her voice was breaking, and she had to pause to take a deep breath.

"Sweetie…" Edd melted, and not just in relief. She was so dead set on this idea. It broke his heart to hear that she thought he was replacing her with someone. "I don't have a girlfriend," he couldn't help but chuckle as he said it, "trust me, that's probably the last thing on my mind right now."

Amy miserably looked up at him, "oh really?"

"Uh, yeah." Edd tilted his head, "you think an old man like me is finding a girlfriend around here? I promise, that's not true at all." Besides, I'm still in love with your mother, he thought. But he purposefully did not add that last part out loud.

"Then where do you go when you leave every week then?" She baited him. He had to think fast. If his secret was still safe, she mustn't find out now.

He would only tell the truth, "I'm hanging out with Uncle Tom, I've never lied to you about that."

"Last time I checked, according to all those pictures of him you won't stop showing me, he doesn't have long curly black hair." She got up out of her bed and made her way over to her dresser. Opening a jewelry box, she pulled out what looked like nothing until she returned and shoved her pinched fingers in his face. Dangling between them he spotted in the low light a strand of hair exactly as she described. Alison! "I found it on your coat when I hung it up the other day. I don't know a single person with this hair."

It must have shed from her when I was carrying her back at the Keyhole! But he was backed into a corner now, how was he to convince her that it was not as she thought? "Oh…Amy that's nothing! It's a coworker of mine, I must have hugged her or something a while ago. Our cubicles are next to each other, it could have come from anything-"

"Liar!" Amy argued. She safely tucked the hair back into the box. Edd found it curious why she would keep her evidence safe like that. Why was she so adamant on proving him wrong? "You're always up waiting for her to call. You always look so exhausted when you come home." She shot him a cold knowing look. "It's not like you can ever tell me what you're doing with 'Uncle Tom'. And I also never hear Mr. Hargraves talk about this Tom guy either. And if the three of you are supposed to be such good friends, I would have thought he would. But no. And who else would keep a secret like that other than your best friend? Even in front of mom's face at Halloween! So tell me, what's her name? Where does she live? How long have you been seeing her?" Edd put his head in his hands, unsure how to deal with the situation. "Have you kissed her?"

"No!" Edd looked at her again. She was no longer crying, but the distraught stayed on her face.

"I just don't understand," she sniffled, "Robin's family isn't ever like this, they just work together. They don't lie, they don't mess up, and they certainly don't keep secrets from each other!"

"Well we aren't Robin's family are we?" Edd glared from across the bed. What gave her the right to compare him to Matt? What an unfair comparison anyway. I don't know how he manages to make everything so perfect all the time.

"You can say that again," Amy threw her hands up and rolled her eyes.

"Look, I'm sorry we can't be like them, but I'm trying my best, okay?" Edd said through gritted teeth. "You have no idea how hard I'm trying." He desperately looked at her, hoping that if she looked into his eyes she would somehow understand him more. But she didn't, and instead she looked away entirely. He searched her face and all he could find was frustration. "I don't know how else to tell you that there is no girlfriend." He looked at the ceiling, letting out a sigh. "How about I video call you next time I leave? Or show you a picture of him? I know I can't prove to you that I didn't just now go to visit him like I haven't the whole time. But you have to trust me." Amy didn't look at him again and laid back down in bed. "I can't take you with me, but just tell me how to gain back your trust and I will try my best."

"...A video call is fine."

"Is it…?"

"Yeah." She tucked herself in again and finally looked about done with the accusations- though noticeably still unsatisfied. Edd got up and made his way to the door. "For the record," she began again, "I would have been okay with you having a girlfriend."

"Oh?" He turned to her with one hand on the doorframe.

"I just didn't want you to stop spending time with me." She looked small when her puffy comforter was fitted over her shoulders and around her neck.

Edd didn't know how to respond. Instead, as he turned and started to close the door, he said, "I love you sweetheart."

"Yeah."

After his exit, he could hear the faint sound of sniffling on the other side of the door.