(Sooooooooooooooooooo its been a long long long while. I've had a rough time first my story was deleted then my brother broke my laptop so I had to wait for a new one and then school has been hectic but I,m finally back! So this chapter is kind of slow but it will get better promise. Let me know what you guys think ok."

Clockwork's End

-Chapter 8-

"Home Sweet home!" Kevin groaned out as he stretched the knots out of his back. They had taken an airship to New York after finding out that there were rumors of two people that looked like Edd and Reade in the underworld in the states. They had no other leads but when you have a friend who has an infinite amount of money little leads like this are no big deal. No matter the distance.

"For now let's head to the hotel then meet with some friend's tomorrow night" Jim informed their lot. Kevin looked behind him to the right, Eddy was stumbling behind Nazz trying to strike a conversation but she was tentative to the blue haired Kanker. They were talking about wonderful places to hide weapons while making it look fashionable. Keven shook his head when would that short stuff get the picture that Nazz is not interested. That she had….other inclinations as well. With a chuckle he turned his head to the left and saw Jim, with wide eyes, walking slowly a little in front of Plank inspecting everything in sight. Plank strolled by silently observing his surroundings bringing his gaze over Jim every once in a while, walking slowly to stay behind him. Kevin worried that Plank would attack Jim but throughout the whole ride Plank kept Jim out of trouble, who would have thought that Jim was such a klutz. He nearly fell off the airship a few times even Kevin felt the urge to always know where the kid was and make sure he was fine.

Kevin turned back around and sighed, he looked up at the sound of a shout and saw a horse, black as night, come running through the mass crowd of people. He was only surprised for a split second before he prepared himself to grab the horse but it dodged him. The rope of the reigns slipping through his fingers by centimeters, the horse curved and ran straight forward towards Jim, who was busy talking to a vender about his wears. Jim turned just as the horse was about to trample him and was lifted up and away from the horse, a yell escaping his lips. Plank had pulled him up into the air and sat him on his shoulders without hesitation. Plank jumped back standing in front of Nazz and Marie as they looked over at the horse eyes wide. He looked around for the small jerk and saw him hiding behind a crate.

Once everyone was accounted for, Kevin ran then dropped himself to slide under the horse. Just as he was about to pass the mare's body he grabbed onto the reigns tugging at its face making the head bow. Kevin jumped up and threw his arms around the horse's face nuzzling its hair causing it to stop its rampage. He whispered to it soothing it to a complete stop and turned to see if everyone was alright. The sight he saw made him laugh hard. Jim blushed bright red more prominent on his pale face and was muttering out incoherent sounds that he was pretty sure was a 'put me down please'. Plank shook his head and kept him there making Jim blush harder if it was even possible. His laugh stopped when he thought of Edd's pale skin the way he looked flushed and mentally kicked himself, here he was laughing when he should be thinking of how to get him back. He turned to the horse and held his hand out in front of the horse waiting for a response. The horse finally, hesitantly lowered its face to Kevin's hand allowing him to pet him.

"That is amazing sir!" Kevin turned to an old man who was completely out of breath. He was about two heads shorter than him, he had very dirty trousers with black suspenders over a stained white top, grinning a crooked smile. Kevin merely nodded at him once, stretching the reigns of the horse towards him.

"I'm guessing this one's yours?" as the old man vigorously nodded, he reached for the rope and the mare began to kick and jerk.

"Oh you damn shitty horse! Hold still!" Three other men appeared from the crowd with a large kart and mounds of rope. They tried to knock down the horse as they looped rope around him. One of the men was kicked back by one of the horse legs. Kevin anger flared at this.

"HEY! Knock it off!" Kevin yelled jumping towards the horse. He dropped down to the floor sweep kicking two of the men. Kevin took this opportunity to get up and use one of the men on the floor as a step latter to get on the horse. When on the horse he pulled out a knife from his boot and in one swoop cut all the rope around the horse's neck.

"What the hell you doin boy!" the old man grunted at Kevin.

"Who owns this horse?" He asked calmly to the men around.

"And who demands it?! It's me horse and I can do as I please with it." A fourth man came forward but this one was dressed a bit more formally than the others.

"The name is Pitket a pleasure" Kevin glared at him, great a mediocre. Mediocre were people who had money but not enough to be considered very important most of them turn out to be jack asses with connections to the underworld who handle drugs and liquor. Kevin stroked the mane of the horse, he couldn't stand people abusing animals, or abuse what so ever. Very different from new money those people were poor who turned rich and Kevin enjoyed their company, technically he was one of them, but not these jerks.

"I am Kevin Barr representative of the Bartonschmeer family." He heard gasps from the people around them and saw Nazz, from his peripheral vision, walk up next to the horse gently stroking it. Whispering things like poor horse and it's alright we will take care of you.

"I am Nazz Bartonschmeer and we would like to purchase this horse from you" she looked at them through narrow eyes. The men turned to Pitket who had a disgusted look on his face.

"Truly you cannot be The Nazz Bartonschmeer for you are so disgustingly unattended." On that note three Autos rolled up screeching to a stop. Everyone looked up at the sudden noise coming from the direction of town. Nazz let out a sigh as a finely dressed chauffer stepped out and bowed towards Nazz. She raised her hand placing her forefinger and thumb on either side of her nose a habbit she had when she was displeased about something.

"Milady Nazz! Please you should have warned us that you were back from England we were so worried! Please enter the mobile and we should take you and your guests to your home!" He came over and grabbed at her arm. Nazz swatted the hand away Kevin shook his head. He knew Nazz would ultimately would get in the car.

"Daniel stop it would you, I swear I feel like a child who lost their babysitter." Nazz grunted and walked towards the Auto she knew better he would not budge till she was in the car.

"A thousand partings my lady Bartonschmeer please take the horse…as a gift from yours truly Pitket, whom is very single" he wagged his eyebrows at her and she made a gagging noise as she slammed the door behind her. Daniel opened the door to the other cars motioning for the others to step inside.

"Nazz I'll take the horse to my place I'll meet you at your place tonight." Kevin turned the horse to start walking when he heard Nazz call out to his driver.

"Daniel we are heading to Kevin's home please!" she sat back and rolled up the window a large grin on her face. Kevin cursed under his breath and went on ahead with his new horse.

"YOU USELESS LITTLE SHIT!" Reade fell flat on his back from the impact of the hit, the tray he was holding hitting the floor with a loud clang as the food covered his face and clothes.

"I says to do one thing! What was it you idiotic piece of trash!?" Reade stared at the floor clenching his teeth.

"Answer me!" A kick to his ribs sent him sliding across the floor. Reade coughed and reached for his side holding back tears. He wished he never came back here to this man. He wanted to go back to the mansion with Eddward and Kevin together. It was short but it was the happiest time in his life.

"I have to keep him fed and get him to do what you want." Reade said no louder than a murmur.

"Exactly. Now go an' get em another tray o food 'fore I give you a shiner kid. God looking at you annoys me." Reade raised off the floor and scampered to the kitchen before his boss could do or say anything else. Once he had a full plate he took it down to where Eddward was being held. In this duration Reade tried to isolate his emotions something he practiced all his life living with the boss. At first it was fun and games but he grew attached to him and if his boss found out it would only spell trouble so Reade did his best to wipe all emotions when near Eddward.

He came by the door and pulled it open his façade nearly falling away at the sight of him. He was still tied to the chair but he dangled only the rope holding him up. He must be weak from starving himself Reade thought. Reade stepped forward laying the tray on the floor as he kneeled down under his face. He grabbed the spoon and scooped some apple sauce up to try to feed Eddward. He merely kept his gaze to the ground, his eyes growing paler and emptier as the days went by. There was no choice, Reade had not talked to him never said one syllable to him since they got there out of fear but if he wanted him to live then that's what he would have to do.

"P-please" He stuttered almost silently "Please eat now"

Eddward's eyes opened wide for a second, his lips twitched as though he tried to say something but he then clenched his mouth shut again.

"What about K-Kevin don't you want to see him again?" Reade's voice cracked slightly. Eddward lifted his face and opened his mouth. Reade happily helped feed him.

Kevin sighed as he hopped off the horse, he took him to the stables and removed the rope. He pulled over a small tub and filled it with water and another with food for the mare.

"There ya go, nobody is going to hurt you here my friend." Kevin patted him contemplating a list of names to give his new friend when he heard a knock by the stable doors.

"Well if isn't me wee flame it is, finally come back to me lad?" She stood no taller than 4 foot 9 her red curly mess of her hair nearly reaching her knees and covering her body. Kevin felt warm as he went to go hold his mother picking her up letting her legs dangle.

"Oooohooo~ what is it lamb? What's happened that has ya in a truffle hmm?" She wrapped her arms around him giving him a good squeeze.

" Ma what are you doing here you should be at Nazz's, and nothing's wrong Ma I'm not in a truffle" Kevin mocked his mother's accent but still very concerned for her safety.

"Ai ya are lad an don cha mock me or ill bust yer lip ya brat I don't need protecting anymore I canna handle myself." She swatted his upper arm when he put her down. She tilted her head as she looked at him fondly straightening his collar, patting dust of his shoulders on her tiptoes.

"We got about fifteen minutes before Nazz and her squad of nosy people get here so let's talk about this over coffee" She nodded, grabbed his hand, and walked him to their house. Once inside it smelled of apple and citrus and the warmth seemed to wrap around Kevin.

"I've got a better idea" She let go of his hand and walked over to the counter pulling a hand towel off what seemed to be an apple pie.

"Apple pie and citrus juice your favorite just like when you were little." Kevin chuckled how his mother knew he was coming today was a mystery to him, she would probably tell him it's her intuition as his Ma. He walked over to the wooden table and pulled a chair for his Ma then sat across from her taking a bite of the still warm pie. It shouldn't be this hard to tell his Ma about his feelings for the dork but it wasn't normal a guy lusting for another guy. The way he wanted to hold him so badly that it drives him crazy that he's missing. The way he wants to make a family with him and Reade even though they just met. Where exactly would they live here or Britain? Eddward can't leave Britain can he? He is way too important over there he wouldn't have it leaving his home where his parents lived. Kevin groaned and ran his fingers through his hair feeling a headache coming on.

"My lamb tell me what's wrong it's all over your face an don cha try to hide it?" He nodded tapping his index finger at his glass, his ma looked sincere but serious.

"You know why Ma, why father used to…hurt us the way he did" He cleared his throat trying to stop his voice from cracking, she nodded at him looking down at the table.

"Well one of the reasons…" he whispered continuing the tapping on the glass.

"Ai I recall lad something bout raising ye weak an….different" she lowered her voice turning to her left to look out the kitchen window.

"Ma….I am different…very different and I…I mean where I went…I met…He's just so….But he's gone….but I'll get him back!….do you get what I'm trying to say?" He looked up at her and her face scrunched in utter confusion.

"No" she said so matter of fact "but we will go through it one step at a time" She smiled at him. She began to ask him questions like where he went or who he met letting Kevin answer clearly with short answers. Finally Kevin explained everything to her from the moment he left to what happened at the docks.

"Ma he…he's this amazing guy and the kid, God Ma the kid is…you would adore him" Kevin felt his heart get heavy he missed them so much.

"Kevin I don' mind ya bein "different" an all that I don' really see the problem actually once when ya were little I found ya tangled up with the next door twins ya remember don cha. Her name was Rose I believe, an his was David ye had them fallin fer ya an they shared ya! I had quite the laugh!" Kevin slouched in his seat tilting his hat to hide his face. He remembered it slightly but blocked out the memory because of his father.

"D-did I really do that Ma?!" His mother burst into laughter. Her loud cackles gave Kevin a warm security one only his mother could give. He was so afraid that she would hate him that she would send him away. He wanted to cry.

"Ya were a devil ya were but your father he didn take it as well as I…." He remembered the countless hours of abuse his drinking making it worse. He was glad that was over and done with. He laughed as trickling memories of different romances he has had surfaced in his mind; Edward being by far the best and only one to make his heart skip. He tried only being with women it worked for a while and he tried to shut out the dork but it didn't work.

"Ma if…when I save Eddward please don't tell him these things" She laughed at him and he knew full well that she wasn't going to keep this to herself.

Kevin was tossing hay into each of the stables thinking over the discussion that the group had when they arrived. Nazz and the gang had stopped by her place to collect some things and for Nazz to report her wellbeing as well as report what happened in Europe. Once they had arrived at Kevin's introductions were made and Jim immediately jumped in to the plan.

Apparently Jim and the dork new someone else in New York and he had more power and riches than Nazz. He had many connections all over the world and had been on the straight and narrow path until recently. He was a young man named Maximillian Day and he was involved with the child of Satan: Chaddrick wrecker the boy who crawled out of hell. If anyone knew anything about the underworld it was them. Kevin walked up to the last stall where his new black mare was found lying in the hay.

"What should I call you? I wonder" Kevin sighed, he laid his head down on his arms as he leaned on the wooden gate.

"I vote for midnight or oooh~ blackie" Nazz came in to the barn laying her head on his arm. Kevin scuffed patting her on the head with his free hand.

"How bout Noche?" Kevin turned to face her Nazz now had her head lifted.

"Noche?" She asked him

. "Yea it means night in Spanish" Kevin unlocked the gate and walked into the home of his new friend.

"I didn't know you spoke Spanish" She watched him stroke the mare gaining a nudge by the horse for him to keep petting him. Kevin gave her a cocky smile as he continued his endeavor to please Noche.

"Kevin, Nazz are you ready to go?" Jim came in he looked hallow his cheeks were sunken in and his eyes that were a brilliant turquoise were dim dark circles. Kevin got up after patting the horse one more time he walked over to Nazz offered his hand to her and together they walked out.

"Remember he may be a friend but that boy he's with he is unpredictable." Jim looked straight ahead his eyes unwavering "He has a bad very bad temper anything can set him off so behave." Kevin nodded.

"Next stop the Underworld" Jim stated.