Author's Note: While doing some research on Gluskin, I saw on the page that he's 46 by the time he dies. I'm really sorry but in my fanfic, by the time he makes it to the 2014 events in Outlast: Whistleblower, he's only about 31 or 32. Also, some of you might think that Eddie's character at the beginning is too weak, but I can assure you that everything will lead to the cannon events on Outlast: Whistleblower. However, it won't reach the part where he turns into a monster and ends up dying in his room of dead brides. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 3

Eddie tried peering into the window of the restaurant and found her sitting alone in one of the private tables with couches by the wall. Perfect. He entered, surprising her by planting a kiss on her cheek. "Hello, Darling."

He put the rose he carried in the tiny flower vase on the table, squeezing her hand lightly as he scooted beside her. She looked at him, rolling her eyes in mock frustration. "Why do you always insist on calling me 'Darling'?"

"Because you are the darling of my life, Mara." He held both of her hands with his, holding tightly. "And I can find no other way to let you know just how much I love you more and more every single day…and so I shall annoy you with cheesy pet names for the rest of our lives."

"Happy second anniversary," She replied, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "I love you too."

Eddie's heart still beat faster every time he heard her say it. He would have kissed her on the lips, but she was just as nervous of intimate contact as he was that it took six months before he could hold her hand for a long time and a year before he could even kiss her on the cheek. Lately, however, he had felt the urge to take it to the next step with her—and he was extremely nervous, wondering what she would do if he did it and she wasn't ready.

"I should have picked you up for dinner," Eddie said apologetically. "Your dad must be upset with me for driving you here."

"Oh no, he's fine," Mara assured him quickly. "He's with mom, watching a movie nearby. After what he saw with your dad the other day, he didn't mind making sure you never saw that monster again."

He looked at her. "Does your father know about…?"

"No, I'll never tell anyone your secret." She said firmly, squirming closer to him as she can get.

"Do you think I should…?"

"Personally, I think not." She said honestly. "You moved out of your father's house to start a new life. Your uncle's dead—"

"Thank God," Eddie muttered.

"—and you don't want to charge your father since you don't have evidence…and it's been years since your father last touched you. I think just moving on will do—forget about him, Eddie. You have your whole life ahead of you to let him affect you."

"And as long as I'm around," Eddie wrapped an arm around Mara, and when she didn't seem to mind, hugged her. "Nothing bad is ever going to happen to you…darling."

She elbowed him lightly in the ribs as he chuckled, and he let go of her. He looked at her and sighed, still slightly amazed and head-over-heels madly in love with Mara Dalton. In the last three years, Eddie had managed to win his next-door neighbor's heart despite all the odds. On the weekdays, because his father refused to let him get a dorm in the city, Eddie spent his early mornings and evenings commuting to the city, studying to become a nurse, and then making it back before his father did. On Sundays, his father was always home and went berserk when Eddie spent more than two hours studying, let alone out of the house to talk to the pretty new neighbor. That only left Saturdays to talk to Mara, and she wasn't always at home to talk to. And then one Saturday, Eddie managed enough courage to ask Mara out on a date, and she accepted.

Two months after dating casually, Eddie let her in the house one Saturday to meet his mom. It was on that day that Mara found out the truth of what a monster Eddie's father was, as well as Eddie's Uncle, who was stabbed to death in prison for being a pedophile. She was the only one Eddie shared the secret with, and the way she didn't find him revolting or disgusting for still enduring living with his father, as well as the way she helped him find the courage to stand up to his father every now and then, only made him love her more. It was as though his secret made her understand him better, and within two years she became not only his girlfriend, but also his best friend.

And for the past few days, Eddie knew he wanted to spend that "rest of his life" with her.

After they ordered from the waiter, he turned to her once more. "Aren't you going to ask how I could afford an apartment in the city?"

"How?" She asked, replying to her father's text message.

"I got a job offer," He said proudly. "Can you guess where?"

"Oh I don't know," She put down the phone and pretended to think. "A hospital?"

"Not just any hospital, darling— St. Mary's."

Mara looked surprised, and was beaming. "Holy—wow, really, St. Mary's? That's amazing Eddie, I'm so proud of you."

"I just got the job a week ago, I'll start next month when they're done with the applicants."

"So you didn't apply?" She asked, amazed. "They just really wanted you?"

"Yeah, actually," He said proudly. "They loved me during the internship, and they want me to work for them."

"Well they don't love you as much as I do," She kissed him. "Congratulations, love."

"There's something else." He said nervously, subtly reaching in his pocket. "The apartment I got is pretty big. It's got two bedrooms—but I don't think it should really matter. I want you…to live with me."

He opened the small, black box, revealing a modest ring inside. "…as my wife."

Mara placed a hand in front of her opened mouth, too stunned to speak. Without thinking, Eddie drew the ring from its cushion and slipped it around her finger before he even realized what he's done. "Oh shit—I'm sorry I forgot you had to answer f—"

"Yes, oh my god," She said, fighting back the tears. "Yes, I'll marry you. Oh my god, I love you, Eddie, it's beautiful!"

"We'll get married after you finish college, and then we'll live together, is that alright?" She nodded. Eddie looked lovingly at his new fiancé, leaning forward and planting a kiss on her lips. She returned his kiss, and he pulled her closer, not wanting to ever let her go. "I love you, darling." He muttered under his lips.

Eddie couldn't remember when he gave up on a happy ending like this, but it was certainly around when he was twelve, after his uncle got arrested for creating child porn but his father still abused him plenty of times. He knew he would never find love, because his father ruined the notion of love and physical intimacy before Eddie even knew what it meant. But Mara wasn't his father, she was sweet and innocent and a sign for Eddie that there was hope for him that he could—would—be happy with her. She was the girl Eddie used to dream of—the perfect, traditional type of girl to come home to after a long day at work, and still find the energy just to be with her. As they parted their lips, Eddie gazed into Mara's dark brown eyes, and for an instant, he saw a future with her and their future children and he knew that—for the first time in his life—he would be totally happy and safe.