Well folks I'm glad everything is back to the way it should be. You guys are the best. You really are. Your support has been astounding and now we can get back to what matters- the next chapter!

I'm kind of excited to post this chapter. Been doing some character studying (since I'm now in another play for the spring called Jack) and I was taking notes on human behavior while comparing them to the characters in the story. I felt kind of silly at first but then it started to make some sense so I went with it. I'm eager to get your guy's opinions.

Also, I know I said I would have this posted by 6pm and- I shit you guys not- just as I was about to click the post button my roommate comes running into my room saying my cat got out. Apparently someone left the screen door open. Sigh. Thankfully we found her and now I can proceed with the posting lol

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot of this story and side characters: Cassandra, Judy, and Nicolette.

Enjoy!


As soon as Edd stepped through the threshold of the Barr residence he was enveloped in warmth. The scarf Darlene had lent to him was quickly taken off along with his gloves. He set them neatly folded on the coffee table, snatching up a sticky note from a pad of brightly colored paper he found nearby and scribbled a thank you on it. He'd keep the jacket on for now. He rather liked it. It fit him comfortably like an over sized shirt. Once the borrowed clothes were in place he returned to the front door and toed off his shoes. He had noticed Ron had taken his shoes off before stepping inside so out of respect for the man and his home he decided right away that he should follow suite. He wasn't looking to anger Ron any time soon. By the looks of it the beloved father and husband came off as the kind of man who could easily put someone in the hospital. If one didn't know his place Ron could easily find it for them. The very thought sent shivers running in rivulets down his spine.

Darlene picked up the sticky note as she dropped her purse on the ground, chuckling softly. She was a bit confused. "Oh hunny you didn't have to do that." She said smiling kindly. "A simple thank you would have been good enough."

Edd blushed as she crumbled up the sticky note and tossed it into the garbage. He still wasn't used to this method of communication. All of this face to face exchange was starting to grate heavily on his nerves.

"Come on sweetie. Let's get you washed up for dinner." Darlene smiled, taking Edd's arm to escort him to the washroom.

"S-sure?"

Kevin's mother laughed. "Oh hunny don't sound so nervous. We aren't going to eat you."

Edd's face turned crimson. "S-sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. Please forgive me."

She chuckle some more, patting Edd's arm which immediately relaxed him. "Darling don't you fret. I'm not in the least bit offended. You've never been here before so I understand. My son is just as frazzled as you are, if not worse."

"Really?" He never would have guessed.

"Oh my yes. He's tried to keep you away from me and Ron all day. I wonder if he's embarrassed or something." She shrugged, opening the wash room door. "He's probably afraid we won't make a good impression on you or something."

"Oh no Mrs. Barr. If anything it would be me making a fool of myself in your presence. You have been nothing but hospitable and generous throughout my visit."

Darlene shook her head, waving him off with a modest hand.

"I know how a boy's mind works Eddward. We have our quirks so I'm sure he's just being hyper sensitive. But don't you worry about us for a second, ok?"

She scurried about the large wash room; humming softly to herself a she went. The bathroom was nowhere near as opulent as Nat's but it was cozy just the same, the tile simple and the walls decorated in pictures of lilacs. The room smelt of flowers, not a horribly overbearing smell. He rather enjoyed it. He took the hand towel she handed him and even turned the hot faucet on for him. Once she gathered a number of cleaning products he may need she proceeded to wash the already sparkling sink. It was just something to keep her hands busy as she talked, a familiar idiosyncrasy he shared.

Taking the wash cloth he held it underneath the water and patted his cold face warm. The water felt twice as hot and he shivered at first. He gently scrubbed away the sweat of the day and lathered his face in the jelly bean scented face rub Darlene had offered him, giggling over some comment she made about children and candy. Once his face was patted dry he helped her in cleaning the tiny mess he made.

The two mindlessly chatted away as they went about the washroom, cleaning the double sink and refilling the soap tubs. They were in there together for a solid thirty minutes, gabbing on about their favorite cleaning products and what really worked well to get rid of a stain. They both agreed it would take a bomb of every cleaning product known to man to really clean anything.

Darlene laughed as Edd went about putting her towels in color coordinated patterns, which was pretty impossible considering she had a collection of un-matching multicolored towels.

"Eddward you are just a joy to be around. I've never met a boy as fascinated by house work as you."

Edd's nervous smile turned genuine. "Well it was something my mother taught me. When I was small and she had to work, she made a game out of it."

Darlene nodded. "Oh yes I remember doing the same with Kevin. Ever since I went to work at the shop with Ron, Kevin had to be the one to keep the house in shape. I didn't think it was fair at the time but we all grew to accept the change. He needed some responsibility anyways. When he took over the dirty work his father used to do it actually helped him bulk up a bit. Ron of course couldn't be happier Kevin was stepping his game up and even taught him how to cook and drive. Mowing the lawn though- pft! Forget about it."

Edd squeezed out the access water from his rag and dropped it into the dirty bin beneath the sink. Mrs. Barr had a way of making him feel safe and welcomed in her home. Unlike his house back in Peach Creek where he was faced with a cold and lonely atmosphere, this household was full of energy and the sounds of life. He never thought the annoying clack of heels on tile or the occasional shout from one room to the next would ever make him feel belonged.

"So did your father teach you to do any of this?"

Edd's hand froze in midair.

Darlene looked up at him from the floor, the sponge in her hand dripping with suds.

"W-well," he cleared his throat, pressing his palm flat against the edge of the sink. "I-"

Just ask Darlene opened her mouth the bathroom door flung open. Ron leaned against the door frame, his eyes calculating and emotionless as he took the two figures in. His wife smiled from her position on the floor.

"Oh hunny there you are. I was just about to fetch you." She rubbed her hands on her pant legs and tucked her cleaning bucket beneath the sick. "Make sure Kevin has his work schedule. He asked me about it earlier and I couldn't find it at the office. Oh! And could you tend to the turkey? I've got to make a few calls."

Ron smiled, the light reaching his eyes. "I've got it." His soft gaze turned a tad stony when his hazel eyes flickered up in Edd's direction.

Edd fidgeted under Ron's stare and tried to smile in a vain attempt to brush off his paranoia.

"Come on Edd. I've got a job for you."

Edd blinked. Well that was… unexpected. He hadn't been counting on Ron needing him for anything. It was truly unexpected.

As his nature demanded he obediently followed. He trailed the man through the house and to a room he had never seen before. It was a study of some sorts, each cream colored wall left bare but hidden behind shelves and an assortment of labeled boxes. By the strong scent of primer Edd could tell this room had been recently added on. The carpet from the hall ended where the entrance to the study began, continuing in polished thermal wood flooring. Through his socks Edd could feel a warm sensation nipping at his heels and right away he felt like sinking to the floor. His cold tootsies had never experienced this kind of luxury and he loved it. The calming sensation didn't last long, however.

Ron took to a dated lazy boy which sat next to an empty fire place. He pulled the draw string and the heavy metal chains over the fire place opened, allowing him to toss in a bit of wood and loose pieces of shredded paper. He was silent as he worked his eyes so focused on his task Edd thought he might have forgotten he was in the room at all.

Ron did not forget however. In fact the boy's presence weighed heavily on his conscience, so much so that the man was finding it hard to even look the young man in the eye. There was much he wanted to convey and yet out of the hundreds of sayings at his disposal none of them seemed fitting. How was he to approach a boy who looked as timid as he was intimidating? And when did a man like him ever feel intimidated by a kid less than half his age?!

He rubbed at the growing stubble on his face and mentally cursed. For weeks he had seen a change in Kevin, changes he once thought were insurmountable, now left behind in his wake for Ron to gawk and admire. He knew his son had always had it within himself to push past his limits and become a well-rounded individual but since meeting Eddward, Kevin has never been the same. He was far more diligent in his work than he had ever been before, keeping on time with his tasks and stretching his abilities by learning new things every day.

The things this kid has done to his son have been insurmountable and Ron had never been prouder.

Diamond cut tumbler in his hand the tired man stood and walked to a glass covered cabinet where he extracted a specific bottle brandy from his growing collection. Marquis de Montesquiou, the most expensive bottle of brandy my father ever purchased. Ron sighed as he popped the lid. His father had given him the brandy as a wedding gift, to be enjoyed on special occasions. He only ever had tasted the elegant brandy three times in his life; the first night of his and Darlene's honeymoon, the day they found out they were pregnant, and when Kevin was born. Today seemed as good a day as any. His son was finally becoming a man.

The silence of the room was broken by Ron's deep voice, shaking Edd out of his thoughts and back to reality.

"Ice. Under the table."

Nodding in acknowledgment Edd scurried quickly across the room and knelt next to the man's desk. He noted the simple design in which the desk was made with a thick plate of glass covering the top. By the indentations in the rug it sat upon he guessed the piece of furniture had been there a while, but he couldn't spot a single speck of dust. Oddly he was appreciative by how well it was taken care of.

Sure enough there was a small white mini fridge tucked underneath and Edd grabbed a couple of ice cubes. The hand sat his drink on the desk and Edd daintily plopped each cube inside, tossing the two extras in his palm into the small trash bin next to him. Ron nodded in thanks and sat down, resuming the quiet awkwardness that threatened to swallow them whole.

Edd fidgeted where he stood. His fingers tangled into the hem of his borrowed jacket as his eyes danced apprehensively between Ron and the floor. He wondered what sort of task the man had in mind. He wasn't the strongest nor did he think himself the smartest but he would certainly do whatever he could to accomplish whatever Ron had in store for him. For Kevin's sake he didn't want to look as weak as he was usually perceived.

"Go ahead take a seat." Ron said, waving his hand to the chair across from him.

Edd swallowed hard and quickly sat down.

The father sat forward and tipped his tumbler to his lips. The brandy burned on his lips, his tongue recoiling as the golden brown liquid danced a blazing trail down his throat. He shook his head, smacking his lips. Before speaking he made sure to lock his gaze with Edd's to ensure the boy was aware of the severity of their oncoming conversation.

"First of all," He began, the words rolling off his tongue like molasses. "I've got a few things to say and whether or not you want to hear them, I'm going to say them. Is that clear?"

Edd's eyes widened as a bead of sweat trickled down the back of his neck.

"I want to know what your intentions with Kevin are."

Edd's fingers gripped onto the edge of his seat and he started to fidget again. "M-my intentions?"

Ron nodded. "I wanna know what the hell you're doing with my son."

Edd's face paled. Was he in trouble? Had he done something so wrong it warranted Ron's involvement?

"Look I know what you're thinking. No you're not in trouble. I just want to know what the heck is going on around that flat when I'm not there." Ron softened his tone when he noticed how white the kid got in the face. "What sort of things have you two been up to?"

Edd bit into his lip. "Well sir I uh, that is, we have been coexisting properly if that is what you want to hear."

Ron shook his head. "No. I don't want what I want to hear. I want the truth."

Edd felt tears brimming in his eyes. The tension in the room had grown three fold and he couldn't help it. The man wasn't yelling at him but the power behind that voice was nothing short of daunting.

"Sir if I have done anything to upset you please know I never meant to do any harm." His tears turned hot. "And don't be upset with Kevin. He has been nothing but kind and I am grateful to him for opening up his home and allowing me refuge from the streets."

He didn't want to go back to that. He didn't want to be thrown out of a loving home and back into the bitter distaste of scrounging for food and shelter. It was no life to live. Please don't send me back to that!

"Hey kid," Ron tried to back track but it was too late.

The first salty tear Ron saw trailed down the side of the pale boy's cheek, and he hoped it would be the last. The sight was heart wrenching as the young man threw himself onto the floor, scraping his knees against the hard wood and gripping Mr. Barr's pant legs. Edd pressed his forehead to Ron's knees and the older man's heart squeeze in protest. Miserable and pathetic were among the words that came to mind as he watched the boy spill out his heart so suddenly and without delay.

"Sir I'm sorry! I'm sorry if did anything wrong." Edd's words ran together as he pleaded with every fiber of his being not be cast out. "Kevin is good to me and I've tried everything to be good to him in return."

He started to sob though he fought not to. Edd squeezed his eyes shut as when he caught sight of Ron lifting his hand. He ultimately feared the man would push him away. That would be the end of it all. Edd would have nowhere to go.

Ron's hand came down gently upon his head and Edd flinched in response. When he hadn't been hit Edd chanced peeking up at the man, his chrome blue orbs swimming in tears. He was confused. Why hadn't he been pushed away? Now Ron was staring at him again. His brows knitted together before he buried his face into the man's knees again. He felt humiliated but above all frightened. Loneliness was just a breath away. He wasn't sure he could handle it, not after the beautiful friendships he forged since having been found at the park.

There was so much fear in his eyes Ron almost couldn't take it. He had seen fear before and the ugly side of life but to see it in a child's eyes was beyond the use for words. It was that gut wrenching pain that turned one's knees to jelly and squeezed the ever loving beat out of their heart. No injured puppy or hungry child could surmount to the tragedy that lay at his feet pleading him for forgiveness for some imaginary sin. It then clicked in Mr. Barr's mind that this boy's prison, were well rectified walls of a consciousness fighting to protect itself. The hole in that wall his son had created in befriending him had opened a flood gate to Edd's soul and revealed a frightened and wounded child who needed so much more than just a home or a friend in his life. He needed so much more than that and it killed Ron inside to know this.

"Edd look at me."

At first he didn't want to look up. He was afraid of the rejection that was just waiting to shove him out into the cold. He shook his head.

"Look at me." Ron's words became stern.

Terrified of disobeying the man, Edd forced himself to look up. Ron had set his tumbler down and was staring down at him pitifully. Edd knew he must have looked a wreck but honestly couldn't have cared less.

"Straighten up kid. Didn't anyone ever tell you men don't cry?"

Ron clapped Edd on the shoulder and pulled him to his feet. Edd followed looking up at him in disbelief, his knees knocking as they shook. Ron shook his head and patted Edd on the back.

"Look I didn't mean to scare you. I know you've been good to Kevin. I see it." He looked thoughtfully at the wall across the room. "I've never seen him work so hard in his life. And I think it's because of you."

Eddward gasped. For a second he thought he saw dots tango into his line of vision. Ron had complimented him. He felt suddenly light headed.

"Now it's no mystery I didn't trust you when I first saw you. Hell I didn't even like you." Edd's face turned crimson but Ron continued. "But my son does. You've obviously done something to him. I know how hard my boy works. I didn't raise him to be a slacker but…"

He inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly as if the words tumbling from his mouth were hard to believe even to his ears.

"I've never seen him so happy. In my years of raising that boy he's never shown as much tenacity with life as he has since you came into the picture."

Edd wasn't quite sure what to do with this information. He couldn't think of a single thing to say in response so he opted for silence, staring hard at the man who his lover called father.

"I just… I want to know the heck is going on. What have you done Mr. Eddward to change my boy so drastically that it's got me at a loss for words?"

Of all the things he could have done or said Edd started to laugh. Not a hearty chuckle but a soft giggle of relief. The weight on his chest had lifted and now he felt as light as a feather. He wasn't in trouble. His tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy. Ron wasn't the only one at a loss for words.

"I… don't know what you're talking about."

Ron smiled, his expression softening. "Maybe. But I do."

Edd shook his head. "I've done nothing to warrant any credit Mr. Barr. Kevin has always been a model person, one to which I look up to at times."

Ron picked up his tumbler to stare at its contents. "Kevin is a good kid. He knows right and wrong. I taught him how to stand up for himself and when to say no."

He looked to Edd and sat his hand on the sockhead's narrow shoulder. The boy was small in comparison to him. Tiny in fact.

"I don't know what you expected when I brought you in here and honestly I didn't either." His mustache twitched as he thought of the right words to say. "My mission was to see you and to acknowledge a problem and perhaps fix it but as a man with faults, I am afraid one of those is looking for a problem to fix when there never really was one."

Edd touched his hand to Ron's in a gesture of acceptance.

"You are no problem Eddward. You are in fact a gift. A special someone who has a grander purpose than you or anyone else can conceive."

Edd's breath stilled.

"Whether you see that or not is up to you. I however do see it and as Kevin's father I am obligated... No. I am honored to thank you for setting in motion the good changes I have seen in him."

Ron's grip tightened and so did Edd's. The sockhead was on the verge of crying again.

"Thank you."

He couldn't hold onto them forever. The tears fell without permission and stained his cheeks in salty wet streaks. He held his head high however, sniffling in a bid not to sob out loud.

Ron chuckled softly, patting the boy on the back. "Hey there's no need for tears. I'm sorry if I scared you but you scared me too. I thought I was going to whoop some ass. Do you know how hard it is to get that boy on the straight and narrow?"

A sob escaped but it was a joyous sob. A giggle soon followed.

"That's more like it." Ron sipped at his tumbler and groaned. "Damn this stuff is good."


Hope you guys liked that. Took me long enough to figure out how the parents should interact on a personal level with Edd.

Let me know what you guys think :)

And remember:

If you see a story that has been copied/plagiarized to another site by someone who does not have the original author's consent, please do the right thing and inform the author and/or report it. They may not even know their work has been stolen. Trust me an author will be grateful that you did.

TTFN!