Part 83

Eddie and Gunter sat at their small folding table, eating burgers and fries while Sarah ate her meal in front of the television with Miss. Crawly.

"I feel horrible for Mr. Green. This is all my fault," Eddie said sadly. "I should have just gone home with my mom and dad. Then they would have left him and everyone else alone."

Gunter took his hand. "And you'd be dead." He reminded him.

The sheep sighed. "Sometimes I still wonder if that wouldn't be better. I don't want my friends, my family, I don't want you to be hurt because of me. But that's all I've done since…" he looked down.

Two arms wrapped around him. "Don't say things like that, please. I couldn't take it if I lost you now. I need you, Eddie. I love you, I need you." He pulled Eddie into a full embrace.

He trembled. "I love you too but… I've only hurt all of you. Buster wouldn't have even gone to Redshore if he wasn't trying to impress my parents. You all would be much happier if I never existed. You and Buster would be together. Mr. Green wouldn't be in jail."

"Eddie, if it weren't for you, there would be no theater. Buster would not have had his dream at all. He'd be washing cars," Gunter reminded him. "Eddie, I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. I love you and I'm the happiest I have ever been." He kissed him deeply.

The sheep returned the kiss. He pulled away. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't feel like this but…" Gunter put his trotter to his mouth.

"Miss. Crawly, can you help put Sarah to bed?" He asked as they stood up.

"Of course, Gunter." She looked back at them with sympathy. She was starting to wish that she'd done something about Eddie's situation years ago. When she knew that they were keeping Eddie and Buster apart.

The hog led his boyfriend up to their bedroom. He loved being the one to help Eddie through his dark times. They were getting fewer and farther between but Gunter suspected they might never fully go away. He wanted to be part of his healing and a source of comfort, a safe place.

——————————

Johnny and Ryan tag-teamed supper and Neo's bath and bedtime routine. "So, Neo, how do you like it so far?" Ryan asked. "I know the last few days have been chaos but I hope that hasn't put you off us."

The clouded leopard shook his head. "I love it here, Dad. Sarah is teaching me German. And everyone is so nice. I hope I never ever have to leave here."

Johnny shook his head. "You are our son. Wherever we call home will be your home. Even when you're grown," he promised. "Would you like a story tonight? Or a song?"

Neo rubbed his eyes while Ryan chuckled. "Or both?" He suggested.

The leopard nodded. "Please, I've never had a bedtime story or a lullaby before."

The gorilla laughed and he chose a chapter book from his new collection, most of them gifts from his aunts and uncles and his grandparents. Apparently they wanted to encourage him to read. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this is one of my favorites."

He flipped to the first chapter. "The house wasn't nearly large enough for so many people, and life was extremely uncomfortable for them all. There were only two rooms in the place altogether, and there was only one bed. The bed was given to the four old grandparents because they were so old and tired. They were so tired, they never got out of it."

——————————

Despite Ash trying to reassure Tyler that she could handle the kids on her own that night, he still promised that he was only going to get a new change of clothes for the next day. She appreciated it but how long would he really want to help her? What if he met someone special, they wouldn't want him staying at another woman's home for any reason. She couldn't let herself become dependent on his help. She needed to start trying for herself.

So while he was gone, she fed them a dinner of Mac and cheese with hot dogs. She bathed them, with the bathroom getting soaked by the splashing. And finally, she got them into bed.

"Mommy, will you play for us?" Raquelle asked, pointing at their dad's guitar on the wall.

Ash nodded. "Alright. Would you like to hear the new song I'm working on?" She took the guitar down.

"Ooo, yeah, yeah!" Lancey squealed as he settled into bed.

She strummed the strings in a legato melody. "Say that I'm crazy or call me a fool. But last night, it seemed that I dreamed about you. When I opened my mouth, what came out was a song. And you knew every word and we all sang along…" She stopped. "That's it so far. What do you kids think?"

"It's pretty, Mommy. But it sounds very sad," Raquelle told her with the honesty of a child.

She nodded. "I wanted to write a song about your dad. And the others we've all lost this year." A year trickled down her cheek.

Two pairs of little arms suddenly wrapped around her and Ash realized that they were trying to comfort her. "I'm sorry… I know… I shouldn't cry. I know you miss him just as much."

"It's okay. We can miss him together," Raquelle said.

She held them close. She missed Lance so bad and she could hear his voice in her ears. 'You've wasted enough tears on me… Five years is long enough…' "Just give me a little more time…" she whispered. "Just a few more tears…"

—————————

Alphonso were sitting in front of the tube, watching a favorite sitcom about antics at the front taking place in a mobile hospital during a "police action." He had one arm around her shoulder. They looked towards the door when they heard keys jingling across the hall. "I'll be right back. I'm going to see how Tyler's doing." He kissed her cheek.

Meena nodded. "I'm going to bake a cake. To celebrate Mr. Green because I know he's going to win tomorrow." She stood up.

Her husband smiled at her confidence. "You bet. They really have no case except maybe the parole thing but… at most, I expect they'll just make him wear an ankle bracelet for a month or something stupid like that." He kissed her once more before going across the hall.

He knocked on the open door. "Hey, Tyler. Haven't seen you home in a few days."

The orangutan nodded. "I know. I just can't bear to leave Ash on her own yet."

"It's nice of you to help her out but do you think it's wise?" Alphonso asked as he watched him packing his duffel.

Tyler looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"

The elephant thought about what he wanted to say. "I'm just worried you might be getting in too deep. It's great of you to want to help but… you're getting attached."

Tyler shook his head. "Alphie, please, I'm not getting attached. I made Lance a promise. She's going through a hard time. I want to be there for her and the kids."

He sighed. "Just promise me that you'll take care of yourself too. I don't want you to get hurt." He put a hand on Tyler's shoulder. "I know how you feel."

"He was one of us, Alphie. Maybe not for long but he was one of us. He was our friend and I made him a promise," Tyler stuffed a couple more shirts and another pair of pants and unmentionables into the bag. "I'll see you at the courthouse? We're going to support Mr. Green."

Alphonso nodded. "We'll be there. Prayers at the ready." He returned to Meena. He would just have to trust that Tyler knew what he was doing.

—————————

A short time later, they lay in their bed, wrapped in each other's arms. Gunter stroked his forehead. "You are a wonderful person, Eddie. I love you exactly as you are and that's not going to change."

Eddie's breathing and heartbeat slowly returned to normal. Whenever he started feeling the darkness, Gunter would come and chase it away, making his heart race and filling him with such warmth. The pig was just so intensely passionate with everything he did.

Eddie rested his head against him. "I love you too. Thank you… for always being here for me…"

Gunter smiled at him. "I will always be here for you. Please, don't give up on yourself because I never will." He pet his fleece adoringly. "Your grandmother knows…"

He nodded. "I told her in the hospital. I couldn't stop myself. I was just so… well happier than I've been in a long time. I didn't know you didn't…"

The dancer kissed him again. "That makes me so happy. You are so wonderful, Eddie. My Eddie. I only want us to have a chance to be us before the rest of our world finds out. I want to savor the beginning of our relationship and enjoy it without the pressure." They cuddled. "You know, I understand… I wasn't good enough for my parents either. I wanted to be a dancer, my father wanted me to be a banker like him and… when he found out that I was attracted to males… Suey! It was bad."

Eddie looked up at him. "How did he find out?"

The pig sighed. "I was secretly seeing another hog. He worked for my father at the time. We would make excuses to meet and it was nice. It was the first time I was in love. Then my brother found out. And he, I didn't expect him to say anything because he likes guys too. He said he just wanted to help me. He said I shouldn't hide it and Father would accept it if given a chance. Father paid him to leave Germany and go to America. Far away. He threatened to have him arrested if he didn't take the offer. I never forgave my father and I ran away a week later. I didn't need much money and I was careful to save enough to buy a third class ticket on an ocean liner setting sail from the Port of Hamburg. But that was a ruse, because I knew my father would come after me. I used the rest of my money to bribe the captain of a cargo ship to let me travel with them. When I told him why, he was on my side instantly." He sighed. "I tried to find him but the airport he was supposed to disembark at told me that his plane never made it. It just vanished over the Virgin Islands with no explanation."

Eddie squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry." He nuzzled into his neck. "And you never found out what happened?"

Gunter shook his head. "No, I can only guess that the plane went down. It happens… My point is… I know what it's like." He said. "I know what it is to not be good enough for one's parents. I know what it is to lose someone special because they can't accept that it's your life. To blame yourself because if it weren't for you…" Hazel eyes met brown. "But it's not true. It's not your fault. And they're the ones who weren't good enough for you." He stroked his cheek. "So please, never say that we would be better off without you because I couldn't imagine my life without you."

Eddie sighed and cuddled closer to his lover. "I'll try. I love you too. Thank you for giving me a reason to stay." He closed his eyes, letting his heartbeat calm his troubled mind, and drifted off.

The boar smiled at him and whispered. "Thank you for staying." Inwardly, he wished he could get a crack at Eddie's father. His mother was lucky she was dead. The damage they'd done to their son was unforgivable. They'd gone beyond just alienating his only friend, they'd isolated him and made him think such horrible things about himself. He couldn't let him continue to think those things. He had to find a way to really convince Eddie that he wasn't worthless.

AN: I think this has gone on long enough. I want to bring Rosita back into the spotlight a bit but not sure how. Any thoughts on what you'd like to see with Rosita and Norman in the lead?