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Chapter 1

Edward's POV…

It was supposed to be just any other day. That's what I thought when I arrived at the GCPD that day, but it turned out to be far from normal. Today of all days would be the day someone from my past would reappear out of thin air. And then every day after that would be so different from what my life had come to be. The normal I had been living would never be considered normal again.

"Normal is relative," whispered that voice in my head as I walked through the GCPD. It never stopped talking to me. It whispered things to me as if giving me advice I needed before I knew I needed it. And now it did the same thing with those three simple words. At the time I didn't know what that was supposed to mean, but as days passed I quickly learned. On that day my life changed. It changed because she walked back into it and in the normal I had been living I was never supposed to see her again. After all she had made sure of that when she ran off without giving me a second glance. Things around the GCPD had been increasingly tightly wound since the appearance of our new Captain, Nathanial Barnes.

He was a very strict man who was trying to change Gotham for the better though I wasn't sure if he'd actually succeed. Gotham was a city of madness, of danger, and of sweet darkness. The thought that someone could change it so easily seemed laughable, but part of me respected him for trying at all. On that day though I learned so much about Nathanial Barnes. I learned that despite our differences we had one thing in common; we had both fallen in love with the same girl.

"Pretty lady," commented one of the detectives instantly catching my attention making my eyes look up to the woman making her way into the precinct. And when I saw who that pretty lady was I couldn't believe it. I thought maybe I was dreaming, or even seeing things, but I wasn't. It was her, the girl I never imagined seeing again; the girl who had been mine. Every eye was on her raking their eyes over her like a piece of prime rib. Seeing them look at her like that made me want to rip their throats out, she was worth more than that. But I ignored them watching her with them looking at all of her, remembering all of her. She still looked just the same, she hadn't changed not one bit; she was still beautiful in every way a woman could be beautiful. She moved through the precinct blushing when she realized that everyone was staring at her and as she moved I realized where she was going. She was headed right for Captain Barnes office. Captain Barnes exited his office right at that moment and when he saw her he smiled.

"That is some girl huh Cap, "exclaimed Harvey leaning back in his desk chair.

"I'm aware of that Bullock, that girl is my fiancé," snapped Captain Barnes pulling his eyes away from her to glare at the detective. I didn't miss the look Jim and Harvey shared as Barnes looked at her once more. I couldn't believe his words when I heard them; she was really going to marry him. As I stood not too far from the three men I suddenly looked anywhere, but at her. And again I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it was her, Rosalie Carter, the girl that shared a very important place in the history of my life. The girl who because of that would always have a special place in my heart.

"Hi baby," smiled Rosalie kissing Captain Barnes chastely on the lips his arm slinking around her waist as she did so.

"Hay sweetheart, come here I want you to meet a few of my detectives," whispered Captain Barnes moving her forward.

"It's her, it's Rosie," whispered the voice in my head as I hid in the shadows. I ignored that voice though and I just watched her. She was beautiful, absolutely undeniably beautiful, and once she had been mine. Now though she was his and even though I knew I shouldn't I hated that. Rosalie Carter always had been beautiful even when I knew her back in our high school days. Back in those days so long ago. She had the most vibrant red hair I'd ever seen, eyes like brown pools of mud that I used to love playing in, skin like sweet melted white chocolate that always smelled of cherry blossoms, and the most memorable thing of all her laugh a joyful sound that I could never forget.

Finally I remembered myself and I knew I couldn't let her see me. I didn't know how she would react to seeing me again so I tried to slink away as quietly as possible, but before I could I heard the Captain's voice behind me. I stood stock still hoping maybe I was mistaken, hoping he wouldn't call me over; I couldn't see her. Not now, not ever. After everything that had happened years ago I knew I was the last person she would ever want to see, but when the Captain called me again I knew I would have to see her. And as happy as that made me, I hated making her unhappy with my presence.

"Ed, come over here. There's someone I want you to meet," yelled Captain Barnes and turning I walked up the stairs into her view.

"Rosalie, sweetie, this is one of our forensic guys, Mr. Edward…" introduced Captain Barnes before suddenly she interrupted him. Much to my surprise, she didn't look shocked, or upset Rosalie actually looked happy to see me.

"Edward Nygma," exclaimed Rosalie a huge smile covering her face. I couldn't believe it she was really happy to see me. All was silent then as we merely looked at each other as the Captain and the detectives stared on in amazement.

"You two know each other, sweetie," smiled Captain Barnes though I knew it was forced by the way he was looking at me.

"Yes we do me and this guy go way back. We went to high school together. Eddie and I were very close friends before I left Gotham," exclaimed Rosalie looking at him for only a second before returning her gaze to me that smile still on her face. And then much to all our surprise she stepped towards me. Before I knew what was happening she had her arms wrapped around me.

"I've missed you Eddie," whispered Rosalie in my ear as she hugged me waiting for me to reciprocate. I looked at Captain Barnes from over her head asking for permission to do so and when he nodded I slowly wrapped my arms around her. It felt so good to feel her there again.

"I've missed you too," I breathed before she pulled away smiling even wider at me. And then Rosalie looked up at me with those eyes I could never resist.

"Oh Eddie, it is so good to see you. How are you…I mean look at you working for the GCPD doing forensics that's got to be cool huh," exclaimed Rosalie smiling brightly at me as the captain returned to her side wrapping a possessive arm around her.

"Yes very interesting. It's good to see you too…it's been so long. How have you been Rosie?" I stammered slightly noticing the look the captain gave me when I called her Rosie. Avoiding his stare, I thought about our time together long ago when I was her Eddie, and she was my Rosie. Those had been our names for each other, I never let anyone else call me Eddie, and I was the only one to ever call her Rosie. And now I couldn't help, but wonder if that still rang true.

"I'm good. I'm getting married to this one here. I'm also trying to open up my own business here in Gotham, but that's proving harder than expected. But you know me Eddie; I never give up," explained Rosalie patting Captain Barnes on the stomach at the mention of their marriage.

"Yes I know…what kind of business?" I inquired smiling at her because I had a feeling I already knew the answer.

"A bakery," exclaimed Rosalie proving me right and as she smiled so big at the mention of her dream I couldn't help, but do the same. She was still that girl I knew all those years ago, so bubbly, so sweet, so full of life, and so incredibly unbelievable I knew there was no one else like her in Gotham City. It was then that Captain Barnes cleared his throat making his presence known though to be honest I never really forgot.

"Sweetie…um…did you bring my lunch," whispered Captain Barnes drawing her mind back to the reason she had come to the precinct in the first place.

"Oh sorry…yes I brought it huh here," breathed Rosalie her bubbly persona fading once more before she smiled another tiny smile kissing his lips. And when she did it took every cell in my body to hide my jealousy. I had to remind myself that I had no right to be jealous; she wasn't mine anymore. Now she was his.

"Thank you," smiled Captain Barnes making her persona return again as he wrapped his arms around her drawing her in close. When she looked at me again Rosalie looked embarrassed, but when I smiled her way she smiled right back.

"I got to get going. It was so nice meeting you two gentlemen and Ed it was so nice seeing you again," exclaimed Rosalie turning to shake the two detectives hands before turning that smile my way. But then that smile left me as she found herself in his arms again. I hated the way he was all over her. Quickly she kissed his lips before attempting to walk away, but he pulled her back into his arms just as quickly. When he was done shoving his tongue down her throat, Rosalie turned back in my direction; her face was as red as her fire red hair as she took my hand.

"Walk me out, Eddie," smiled Rosalie giving the captain a final wave before moving down the stairs to the exit pulling me right along behind her.

"Don't be afraid of Nathanial, Eddie. His bark is worse than his bite and besides I wouldn't let him harm you," laughed Rosalie seeing as I kept looking behind me at the captain as he watched our progress through the precinct. I tried to take what she said seriously, but despite it all he still scared me very much. Then all was silent around us as we came to a stop in the entranceway.

There was so much I wanted to say to her, so many questions I wanted to ask, but only one of those questions actually left my mouth.

"Listen, Rosie…would you have lunch with me tomorrow? We could catch up," I stammered looking anywhere, but at her.

"Eddie, look at me, please," whispered Rosalie taking my chin in her hands making me look into those eyes I still loved.

"I'll meet you tomorrow. When I bring Nathanial his lunch we can get lunch," smiled Rosalie making me smile as soon as I realized that her answer was yes. And she smiled even wider touching my cheek my heart beating fast just at the feel of her skin against mine. I wanted to kiss her then, but knowing that she wasn't mine anymore I couldn't. But then she surprised the hell out of me.

Just before leaving the precinct Rosalie stood on tiptoe giving me a kiss on the cheek and a wave before leaving. When she had gone I walked back to my desk and now every eye was on me. I didn't notice anyone though I kept replaying that simple kiss in my mind and placing a hand to my cheek I smiled the biggest smile of my life. In that moment I didn't have a care in the world. I didn't even care that Captain Barnes was staring at me with a death glare from his office door. Later that day as I was working in the lab I couldn't focus. Rosalie Carter, her name went through my head over and over. She was all I could think about. And then that voice that I hated so much, the voice that never left me alone had to ruin it, and start pestering me again.

"Rosalie Carter, Rosalie Carter, Rosalie Carter. You never thought you'd see her again. In fact if she hadn't of left when she did you wouldn't have to chase Ms. Kringle. You wouldn't have to chase after a woman you don't love who doesn't love you. You would have a woman who truly loves you like Rosalie did," laughed the voice making me stop all movement as I tried to tune the voice out. But it wouldn't stop as it started saying her name again and again reminding me that she wasn't mine anymore. Now she belonged to him.

"Stop," I yelled hitting the table I stood in front of my hands balled into tight fists.

"Why I'm only speaking the truth. You know I am. Rosalie never ran from your advances the way Ms. Kringle does. She never laughed at you with her friends in fact if I'm not mistaken she was your friend. She even traded riddles with you. She was the love of your life and as much as you deny it she still is. Tell me does she still smell of cherry blossoms?" exclaimed the voice making me sign as I gripped the edge of the table. The voice was right, I knew it, but I didn't want to admit it. And closing my eyes I remembered. I remembered that moment just before she left when she kissed my cheek how I had breathed her in.

"Yes, she still smells of cherry blossoms," I smiled wishing she was still mine as my eyes opened again. And smiling I remembered the first time I ever smelled cherry blossoms; it was still my favorite scent in the whole world.

"You never thought you'd see her again," breathed the voice.

"No I didn't. Fate has a way of bringing people together," I smiled.

"Do you think she's going to tell her fiancé about you two? Just think about it, Captain Barnes will know just how close you were with his future wife," laughed the voice making my eyes close once more as I remembered how things had been between Rosalie and me once upon a time.

"It doesn't matter that was a long time ago. He'll understand that plus she already said she wouldn't let him harm me," I stammered my hands shaking as I thought of all the ways the captain could hurt me if she did in fact tell him.

"Oh, but it does matter because you still love her. You've always loved her even as you've been chasing Ms. Kringle. Rosalie has always been in your heart because you still love her and now she's marrying your boss," laughed the voice making my anger flare as I pictured her kissing Captain Barnes.

And again I knew that voice spoke the truth. I knew I would always love Rosalie and only Rosalie, but I couldn't love her. She was marrying another man. Rosalie didn't love me anymore, now I was just a friend just like when we first met, but I loved her. I wanted to be over her like she was over me, but I didn't think I could do it. I would have to pine away for her for the rest of my life. I would have to watch her with another man for the rest of my life. I would never get over her. Not ever, she was my love, my girl. Since our sophomore year of high school I had loved her. I loved Rosalie Carter and I would only ever love Rosalie Carter. I wanted to stop, but I couldn't. And it didn't help that that voice wouldn't shut up.

"Shut up," I exclaimed finally slamming my hands down on an examination table.

"Are you ok, Ed," said Dr. Thompkins appearing out of nowhere. I quickly turned in her direction giving her my signature smile.

"Yes, fine. And how are you Dr. Thompkins," I smiled clasping my hands in front of me as I approached her.

"I'm…I'm fine, Ed," smiled Dr. Thompkins looking a bit uneasy as I exited the room hurrying down the hall.

The voice continued to talk to me all day. It took everything for me not to start screaming at it in front of everyone, but somehow I managed. I let other more important things occupy my mind. Things like the fact that I was having lunch with Rosalie Carter tomorrow. I was having lunch with the girl I loved, but I would have to pretend like I didn't love her. I would have to try to just be her friend. And just thinking about that I was extremely nervous. The next day lunch time came much sooner than I expected. While part of me had been dreading it all day another part had been so excited about the prospect of having lunch with her. And as lunchtime approached I was still increasingly nervous. Long ago it had been so easy to talk to Rosalie, but would that still be the case now. Before where I could spend hours talking to her now I wasn't so sure if we would have anything to talk about. I wanted it to be that way, if it could be that way again, but I really wanted it to be.

"It's time, go find Rosalie," sang the voice in my head as the designated time came to have lunch with her. I was still nervous, but pushing that along with the voice away I left my desk neat as ever. I went to Captain Barnes office in search of Rosalie and like I suspected she was there with him. As expected she was there laughing with her fiancé and the detectives. And when she saw me, when she smiled at me it took everything for me to stop from grabbing her, and kissing her. But I couldn't do that. Her lips weren't mine to kiss anymore.

"There you are, Eddie. I was beginning to think you were standing me up," smiled Rosalie and I could feel each of their eyes going from her to me.

"Where are you two going?" smiled Captain Barnes his smile once again forced as he looked me straight in the eye. It was quite clear from the tone of his voice that he was far from happy that I was going anywhere with his fiancé. And staring right back I was scared to death because I knew the only thing keeping me alive right now was Rosalie standing right next to him.

"Oh baby I forgot to tell you, Eddie and I are having lunch together today," exclaimed Rosalie kissing his cheek. Nothing more was said then as she left her fiancé's side taking my hand instead. I smiled at her as she led me out of the precinct feeling all eyes on me as we moved.

"I wouldn't worry about it Cap, it's Ed," said Gordon looking after us before returning to his work. Captain Barnes only nodded before going back into his office. I let Rosalie lead me out into the street butterflies in my stomach as she hailed a cab. I was so nervous still, but at the same time I was ecstatic just to be by her side. I couldn't help, but think as we got into the cab that I had really missed her. And again that I still really loved her.