Okay, so guys, I apologize for this taking like 3 months, and I really hope to get back into the regular updates! I'd explain, and beg more for your forgiveness, but instead, let's get on with the show!

Mental Edness

Chapter 11: Reunited

"Just remember the plan, Ed."

"Okie-dokie, Double D!"

The gap-toothed teen in the black hat stepped behind the corner, and held his breath as his large friend knocked loudly on the door. After a second, he heard the metal door creak open.

"Uhh... Good morning, Kanker sisters!" He heard Ed begin. 'So far, so good.'

"I would like to take the lovely M-" His sentence was cut short as the door slammed in his face. "Oh okay then, I'll just come back later!" He cheerily called out, and ventured over to his friend.

"They are busy, Double D!" He said with a smile as he stared off into space as per usual. The aforementioned boy in question had slumped to the floor.

"Thank you for the attempt, Ed. Though I do not believe they are actually occupied, I believe they do not wish to see anyone right now."

Ed was a bit confused as to why his girlfriend wasn't wanting to hang out, but just assumed it would pass. Double D had been sad lately as well, but it was probably just because Marie was acting the same, he thought. 'Girls sure are weird.' and then a second later, 'I bet zombie werewolves could beat pirate ninjas in a fight.'

Marie had stormed off from Edd that day and went straight to her room. The usually strong-willed Kanker had held it together until she got in, where she had finally broken down in front of her sisters. Her iron façade had cracked, and May and Lee were left to pick up the pieces. They had decided to protect her vigilantly.

Marie had not left her room since then. Double D had patiently waited for Marie to be alone, so he could approach her. Luck wasn't on his side though. Lee and May hadn't even left her alone when she needed to walk to the bathroom. It had been days, and even though there was something bigger than their relationship problems, Edd couldn't bring himself to get through her sisters to talk to his now ex-girlfriend. It had been consuming him. He barely ate, and rarely slept. Eddy was surprisingly understanding, and just told him to keep waiting for the right moment. He had come to be a good friend again, (a best friend again, along with Ed) which was much needed.

Edd finally decided the timing was as good as he was going to get, as the sisters had all went into the rec room to watch a movie, no doubt to try and help Marie out of her slump. He knew what he was going to go do probably would amount to little more than a suicide mission, but he took an unsteady breath and forced his legs to move towards the girls. He needed to have an unshakable resolve, even if he felt like he was made entirely of Jell-O.

Lee looked up from the tv to see a very somber looking Double D approach the trio. "Well well well... Look who decided to grace us with their presence! What's a matter, didn't hurt our sister enough the first time?" May, taking the initiative, jumped up and poked him in the chest. "Yeah! What's the big idea? You itchin' for us to hurt you back?!"

Edd had his head downcast in submission, arms out, palms open. "Ladies please, I need to speak with Marie... alone." The aforementioned girl had her knees drawn up to her chest and was resting her arms on them. Her head did not move towards the sock-headed boy, and her hair obscured any chance of seeing a reaction. She appeared to be staring into space.

Lee was the first to respond. "Anything you got to say, you can say in front of us!" May nodded her head in agreement. "Right!"

"Marie...please."

The blunette's good eye flashed over to him. "Fine." She said in a monotone voice. "Lee, May, give me 5 minutes. Please. If he's still here when you get back, feel free to do whatever you want." Double D paled at the implied threat. The duo begrudgingly left the two of them alone, but not before Lee punched him as hard as she could in the arm.

'Good Lord, that redhead can throw a punch!' he thought to himself as he reflexively rubbed his arm. He had sat down on the couch next to Marie, though at a respectable distance.

"So... Talk." Her quiet voice shattered the eerie silence that had settled in. Even though there were plenty of other people around, talking, laughing, etc., all he could hear was her.

"Ah, y-yes. I, umm..." He stuttered. Curse his neuroses coming back at a time like this! Sweat had already begun to bead on his forehead.

Marie did not look towards him as he spoke. She focused her attention on the wall behind the TV. "Very descriptive, Double D."

"Marie, listen. I've been an idiot. I was just so scared of what happened the other day, and I...couldn't stand the thought of that happening again." He looked down as the thought of Marie drugged up swam into his vision, but he forced down the thought and continued.

"Eddy..."

She spared a tired glance his way. "Eddy what? Was overjoyed he had you all to himself again?" She snapped.

"No, actually he helped push me back towards you."

That surprised the blunette. She thought Eddy nothing more than a short, selfish prick. An act of altruism seemed almost impossible from her point of view unless... "What's in it for him? Why would he want you and me to be together?" She turned to him, and caught Edd swallowing a lump in his throat.

"W-well, there is something very serious I need to discuss with you." A quirked eyebrow told him to continue. "It seems some shady business practices have come to Eddy's attention."

"In English?"

"The medication we've been ingesting is unregulated. The doctor is getting paid by pharmaceutical companies for how we react to each new prescription."

The blunette rolled her eyes at his declaration. "And you believe him?"

Double D was quick to respond. "Yes, I do. I know Eddy has had a predilection for lying when it suits him, but you should have seen him. He was angry, desperate, and anxious. That's why he pushed me to come and find you."

"What?! Double D why haven't you told someone if that's true?!" She sent a harsh glare his way, to which he shrank slightly.

"I am telling someone... You." he responded with a half-smile.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because more than likely, I'm not going to be around to hurt you much further." He sighed.

She punched him right in the same spot her older sister had earlier. "You're not going to do something stupid, are you?"

"Listen Marie... I don't believe anyone will believe me without some proof, and I sincerely doubt they'll just let me notify the police and sit here while they wait to be arrested."

"So what does that mean?"

"I've calculated that the most probable location for proof will be in Dr. Rhodes office, so I will retrieve it after he leaves for the day."

"What if there is no proof? What if you get caught? What if-"

Her protests were cut short as Edd's finger landed on her lips. "If there is no proof, then we will cross that bridge when we come to it. As for the possibility of getting caught, if you and your sisters would be willing to help, I believe I have a plan."

"Of course we'll help you, Double D."

"Oh thank you Marie!" Tears were in his eyes as he embraced her again. Marie's thoughts were racing. This felt too sudden, and oddly, right.

Marie's shock at the sudden contact, quickly melted away as she suddenly lost herself in a gap-toothed kiss. Edd poured his heart and soul into that kiss. Every regret, every tear shed, every single time she had crossed his mind, all of it. She returned it with pent-up longing. All the hurt and anger subsiding in his presence.

As he pulled back, Edd started to reveal his plan to his girlfriend.

"Eddy, do you think you'll be able to circumvent the security cameras for my task?" The boy in question broke out his patented "scammin' grin". "Relax Sockhead, I've got this under control. Besides, we've got a great team together, nothing can stop us!"

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