better friends - eddie roundtree x oc

Los Angeles, 1974

Graham had just left to pick up Billy from rehab. Camila was hurt that Billy went there instead of coming up and meeting their child, but she knew it was what was best for him. As for the rest of us, we were back home after the tour had been officially canceled. Eddie and I still had our own thing going on, and every day I grew more and more suspicious that Karen was beginning to have feelings for Graham. I knew for a fact she hadn't acted on them, but I had a feeling she would, eventually. Warren grew a mustache. That was basically all that had changed with him. I had come up with a couple new riffs, so had Eddie and Graham. But we decided that we wouldn't pester Billy with all of that right away. We'd give him a couple days to settle in again.

I went out into the backyard and saw Camila playing with Julia. That was what she'd named the baby. I crouched down beside them and shot Julia a funny face, making her laugh. God, she had the sweetest little laugh in the world. I was never big on kids, and I didn't think I'd ever want to me a mom, but I'd make a really good aunt. "How's my favorite girl? And her mom?" I teased. Camila looked at me and rolled her eyes. "We're both amazing. Julia's learning how to roll over. I mean, she still has a few more months before she'll actually be able to do it, but she's trying." she smiled, turning to her daughter and talking in a baby voice. "Yes you are, aren't you? Yes you are." She started to pretend she was eating Julia's feet as I tickled her tummy. "She's so beautiful," I started, then flipped my hair out of my face and leaned back into a voguish pose. "Takes after her godmother." I claimed in a posh accent. Camila rolled her eyes. "You know, I can take that privilege away at any moment. Graham would do just fine on his own." I opened my mouth and put a hand to my chest, offended. "He would not! Graham can't even make oatmeal without starting a fire!" Camila looked like she was about to argue when Eddie came up behind me and put his hand up to stop her. "No, no. She's right. It's frightening, really." Camila shrugged and got up, taking Julia with her as she announced, "Gonna go see how Grandma's doing." Then she turned to Julia again. "Yes we are, aren't we?"

I chortled at her dorky voice she put on for her daughter as Eddie sat down next to me. "How's it hanging?" I asked, bringing my knees up to my chest. "Fine. Eagerly awaiting wonder boy's return home." he carped, pulling his lips back in an unamused manner. "Hey, it's not so bad. I mean, at least he's clean now. Hopefully everything can go back to normal." I offered, hoping I'd cheer him up but knowing that I wouldn't. "That's the issue, Mal. What if everything is the same as before. I mean, he's still in charge of everything, we still have to listen to him, he doesn't respect me. I get his addiction was terrible and he went away to get better, but he can't just leave for two months, force us to cancel our first tour, lose us our main source of income by having the label drop us, and then just waltz right back in and take over again. It's not fair to us." I stood up and stared down at him. "Not fair to us, or not fair to you? Look Eddie, I get that you're envious of Billy and you don't like him, and that's valid. But you need to get your head out of your ass for a second. He was so low two months ago. I almost thought he'd never get better, but here he is. He's out of rehab and he's trying. Sure, I'll never fully forgive him for what he did to Camila, but I have to give him credit for trying to be better. It's not an easy thing to do, and right now Billy needs our support, not grief." Just as I finished speaking, there was a honk coming from the front yard. I looked over my shoulder for a second, then back down at Eddie. "He needs a friend, not a jealous adversary."

I ran to the front porch and met Karen and Warren. Eddie followed closely behind me and grabbed his guitar. Great, despite our agreement, he was going to try and shove music back in Billy's face first thing. He needed to meet his kid first. Billy and Graham stepped out of the wagon and toward us. Billy looked better. Not great, but better. "My man!" Warren greeted, pulling Billy in for a hug. "Hey," he said solemnly, using one arm to hug him back. Warren stepped back and Billy noticed the new addition to his face. "Looks good on you." he complimented. Warren smiled and stroked his mustache. "It's not too bad." he replied, putting his hands on his hips. Karen hugged Billy and laid her hand on his chest. "You good?" she asked. Billy nodded. "Yeah. Been worse." I ran up to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He squeezed me in response as I mumbled, "I missed you." into his shoulder. I pulled back and he looked at me sadly. "I missed you too, sis." I got a bit teary eyed and, trying to lighten the mood, Warren put his hand out. "Pittsburgh on three?" he chuckled nervously. No one else put their hand in, knowing the moment wasn't right, so he pulled back and scratched the back of his neck.