Hey guys here's the next chapter :)

Thank you all so much for your reviews. I think this was the largest sum of reviews to ever hit my email and I was ecstatic to read each and every one of them.

To be honest I'm excited to end this arc and start the next. This mystery person in Edd's life will be revealed very very shortly. Like in two chapters shortly. If I promised revealing him sooner, I apologize, I had to go and edit some things to create a better flow. But to make up for it here is a taste of him and good ol' Peach Creek.

Enjoy!


RING RING

RING RING

A sleepy pale blue eye peeked through thick black lashes, glaring across at the lit cellphone sitting readily on its charging stand. He hoped what he heard was just the product of a lucid dream brought upon by an over active mind, but his hopes were quickly dashed as the blaring ringtone filled the otherwise silent room. The caller ID was a blur and it didn't help that his eye lids fell back down heavily.

With a snort he turned over, throwing his comforter over his shivering form.

RING RING

RING RING

RING-

Finally he flipped back over, not even bothering to reread the caller ID as he hissed into the receiver.

"For the good of your health, this late night disturbance better be important."

On the other end of the line groaned a thick male voice and closing his eyes was all he could do to keep from tossing his phone across the room. Thick lips pursed in pleasure as ebony skin danced across his own, course black hair tickling his shoulder as a horde of kisses made their way up the side of his neck. The sleepy voice on the other end growled in reprimand as Caesar, the bouncer, cleared his throat in embarrassment, shooing off his girlfriend who pouted in displeasure.

"Sorry man. You know me, can't keep the ladies off me." He chuckled, dodging the pillow his girlfriend threatened to throw at him.

The male voice on the other end growled once more. "Caesar I swear if you don't get to the point-"

"Dude just shut up and listen."

The other man huffed in frustration. "Then out with it. I haven't got all night."

Caesar sighed, rubbing his palm over his face. "With what I'm about to tell you, I'm sure you'll make time for it."

"For heaven's sake!"

The man the other end was obviously perturbed but Caesar was hardly fazed by the string of foreign curses that assaulted his ear.

"Good lord man it has to be three in the morning there. What on earth could be of such great importance?"

Caesar bit his lip, glancing worriedly at the wall across from him. "Hey man if I tell you this you can't freak out ok?"

At his friend's baffled silence Caesar continued.

"Man, don't give me that silent crap. I'm serious."

The other man made a sound and Caesar would be willing to bet his life savings it was a perfect vocalization of an eye roll.

"Promise?"

"Yes for goodness sake yes I promise. Now OUT with it!"

Caesar exhaled slowly, picking nervously at the heel of his foot. "Ok so I was working at the club tonight and you know how I keep an eye out for trouble makers?"

The other man nodded, almost forgetting he was on the phone and replied with an impatient, "Yes."

"Well you see-"

Caesar's girlfriend crawled back up to him, placing her hands gently upon the taught muscles of his shoulders. He wasn't quite sure how to say what he wanted without his friend blowing like a nuclear bomb. He knew his friend better than anyone and if he were to react anywhere near as hostile as Caesar had after discovering why that boy at the club had been so familiar to him, the bouncer knew none of this would end well. Not for him, not for his friend, and certainly not for Eddward.

"Dude you promise not to flip?" Caesar had to be persistent. "I know you man. You cannot, and I repeat, cannot flip out on me here."

The man on the other end sighed. "Caesar once I have given my word it is final, you know this. Now please continue or I shall be forced to hang up on you."

The bouncer gave a heavy exhale before continuing. "Ok so at the beginning of my shift I saw these two guys come up to the door. I think they were together but I wasn't really paying attention so I can't say for sure. Anyways after a minute or two I let them in but this kid, man this kid, his face wouldn't get out of my head."

The man on the other end quirked a brow.

Caesar's girlfriend flashed him a supportive smile and the bouncer continued.

"I thought maybe I saw this kid before. Like one of those trouble makers I've thrown out but I couldn't for the life of me remember. So I went home and looked through our senior year book from back in high school. It was in his face. Even if he was wearing those weird sunglasses I know I knew that face. I'd know it from anywhere."

His friend was hesitant to answer. "And what did you find?"

"It was just one of those faces you don't forget." Caesar rubbed the bridge of his nose. "He was in the book; two years behind us, black hat and gap in his teeth. You get what I'm saying?"

The man fell silent.

"It's him man." Caesar finally said. "Edd. He's here in New York."

His answer was followed by a moment of silence that seemed to stretch on forever. Two hellish minutes passed before one of them spoke.

"Are you certain?" The man responded, his sharp voice cutting through the static of the phone's faulty connection.

Caesar nodded, falling back into his girlfriend's waiting arms. "Yeah man. What, do you think I am stupid or something? Like I said it's not a face any man forgets."

The muffled sound of shuffling told Caesar his fried was now on his feet, awake and no longer grumpy for having been woken. He couldn't blame his friend for getting riled up however, the news he just hit him with was critical.

"Where and when did you last see him? Was he with anyone?"

Caesar rubbed the growing stubble on his chin. "Just a few hours ago at the club. He was with some tall guy with really red hair."

"You saw them go in." The man stated as if to himself, but directed the next part to Caesar. "Did you see them come out?"

"No. I got off shift before then- no wait," Caesar sat up, his face lit with realization. "I did see them come out but each was alone. First the red-head and then him."

"Alone?" The man's sharp voice turned venomous. "Why was he alone?!"

"Like hell if I know." The bouncer snapped back defensively. "I don't know when the other guy left but I saw Edd come out first. He was all, like, red in the face. The ginger came back about a half hour later and asked if I saw him come by."

"Where did he go?"

Caesar yawned. "Down the avenue I think. On thirteenth and Parks Avenue."

Caesar caught the distinct sound of a breath, trembling and heavy as it escaped from a man half way across the country. He understood.

"I'll have a room ready for you man. See you when you get here."

As soon as Caesar hung up the dark haired male threw himself across the room, digging madly into his dresser drawers. The trophy sitting precariously at the edge wobbled when he slammed the drawer shut, finally toppling to the ground with a noisy THUNK. His closet door was thrown open as he gave no care to the obnoxious noise he was making, stirring the only other member of the empty house hold awake. He ignored the soft shuffle of slippers as they appeared in his open door way, a thin pale hand gripping the front of a fuzzy purple bathrobe.

A woman in her forties, edging on her fifties, stood red eyed and irate as she watched the young man she shared her home with clear the space of his room in just a handful of steps. She always admired the way his long legs carried him, far and with purpose. His stride never once broke even as he turned his head in her general direction, striking blue impaling her with a look that made her want to shrink to the ground. She avoided his gaze, crossing her arms defensively.

"What are you doing?"

Her voice cracked, sounding more like nails on a chalk board in his ears than the tempered tone of an aged and hurting woman.

He didn't answer her right away, tossing a backpack onto his bed. "I'm leaving."

The woman's eyes widened, her arms dropping heavily to her sides. She couldn't have looked anymore pathetic in his opinion.

"Not like that." He stressed, fighting back a growl in his tone. "I know where he is."

At this the woman remained silent, much to his relief. He couldn't stand the sound of her grating voice at the moment and it would prove only to further distract him. He knew he wouldn't need much but had made sure to pack himself a spare change of clothing. His computer offered him a dim blue glow which combated the yellow light of his bedside lamp as he checked online for the next flight out. He was in luck. If he left now he wouldn't have to wait long at the terminal. Pocketing his wallet the blue eyed male made a mad dash for the door, stepping out of the sterile home and into the chilly night. His boots crunched atop the snow covered ground, filling the otherwise silent air around him.

The woman ran after him, stopping at the door with her hand to her chest. "Wait!"

The male paused only to glare at her over his shoulder. He watched as the sleeve of her robe slipped off her lifted wrist, revealing a bony limb wrapped tightly in gauze. The male stifled a sigh at the sight and narrowed his eyes, urging her with just a look for her to get straight to the point. This wasn't the time for her antics. Every moment here was a second wasted that could have been spent in finding Edd.

The woman swallowed hard, casting a guilty look to the ground. "Please. Bring Eddward home."

He didn't bother to grace her with anything close to a response. Instead he turned confidently on his heels and strode to the drive way where his beloved Jeep sat waiting. He threw his bag into the seat beside him, wiping the snow off his driver side mirror, and shoving the key in his ignition. He took a moment to enjoy the purr of the vehicle as it stirred to life. His heart was pounding a million beats per minutes, thudding persistently against his rib cage. He needed to calm down less he drive himself right off a cliff.

The chill of Peach Creek winter worked its wonders on him, cooling his heated face but that was about all it could do for him. Once he was sure the motor was warmed he sped out of the cul-de-sac, the tires screeching against the pavement as he made his way down the highway to the airport.

Long pale fingers gripped the cover of the steering wheel with unforgiving force, turning red knuckles white and biting nail shaped marks into the leather protector. He ignored the way his windshield wipers squeaked as they batted away fallen flakes of snow and concentrated on the road, his breathing eventually evening as the quiet row of homes gave way to fields and fences, the booming sound of plane engines ringing in his ears as he approached his destination.

Eddward I will bring you home. Make no mistake about that!


So it seems Edd's past is about to catch up with him, and fast. Guess Edd will have more on his plate than he bargained for.

What did you guys think? Let me know!