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Two Years Later

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"Mom," Ed whines.

"Yes, Ed?" Trisha asks politely.

"Why do we have to go?"

Trisha is making the boys go spend the week with Theo. Ed likes Theo, despite all of his faces, he just doesn't want to leave Trisha. She's grown sad since he left. Ed doesn't want to be like him, and leave her behind.

"Because Mommy needs some me time," Trisha replies smoothly.

Ed doesn't believe her. He stopped believing in the words that come out of her mouth since Uncle Theo showed up that faithful day. Ed loves her, he just doesn't trust her.

"Come on, Ed! Uncle Theo is here!" Al shouts from across the house.

"Coming!" Ed shouts back.

"Go have fun," Trisha shoos Ed away.

"Bye, Mom," Ed waves.

"Bye, Ed."

Ed runs out of her room, down the stairs, and out the front door. His suitcase is outside beside Al's and Al himself. Theo is off on the horizon driving an automobile. Ed and Al gape in awe, them never having seen one until now.

Theo pulls up with a sheepish grin. "Sorry I'm late."

"Better late than never," Ed replies.

Theo gets out of the automobile to put the suitcases in the trunk. Ed and Al watch curiously. They didn't know automobiles have a back compartment. Theo opens the back door for the two. Ed and Al climb in, eager to see the inside. Theo laughs, and shakes his head.

Trisha comes out of the house as soon as Theo closes the door. Al is too excited to notice, but Ed does. He watches the interaction of his uncle and mother. He doesn't like it how little space there is between the two.

Ed glares at how the automobile muffles the sound of the outside world. He thought he would like being in here, but he thought wrong. With a few deep breathes, Ed convinces himself that what he's feeling isn't claustrophobia. He isn't afraid of being in enclosed spaces. Ed knows that. It's just seeing his mother with another man angers him. No one will ever be good enough for her.

Never.

Theo waves Trisha goodbye, and gets into the driver's seat. The door closes with a click, and the engine hums louder when Theo presses down on the accelerator. The automobile lurches forward.

Ed and Al cry out in surprise. To feel the ground move underneath them is a new and odd feeling. It leaves Ed's stomach rolling. He shifts in his seat, not bothering to notice Trisha's byes and good wishes. Al did though. It took him a few seconds to figure out how to roll down the window, but he does. His upper half hangs out of the automobile, arms waving and mouth shouting.

"Al! What are you doing?" Ed demands in aggressive concern.

"Please sit down so you don't fall out the window," Theo demands much more politely than the brother.

"Sorry Uncle Theo," Al grins sheepishly.

"It's alright. I understand that you're excited. Just, please, be careful," Theo requests.

"Yes, sir."

"You too, Ed," Theo snickers.

"Hey! I didn't do anything!" Ed snaps.