It was a question you had asked at least five different people in the space of an hour, and no one seemed to know where he was. He wasn't practicing in Gareth's garage with the rest of Corroded Coffin, he wasn't with any member of the Hellfire Club as far as you had been able to find out, Steve hadn't heard from him...
Uncle Wayne was your next option. Usually would he be the first person whom you would ask, but he had worked the night shift and had been resting all day.
But he was awake now, and the anxiety and want to see Eddie was bubbling up in your chest.
"Hey, dad," you smile into the receiver of the talkie Eddie often left on the kitchen counter, and it saturates your every syllable. The term of endearment for the man who continues to raise your beloved Eddie so beautifully, slips out easily, and you know Uncle Wayne is smiling too.
"Hey, kid," his tone is gruff but welcoming,."y'wantin' our boy?"
Your fingers grip the talkie tighter and you hear the plastic creak in protest. "Mm-hm," you sniffle, suddenly feeling more vulnerable. Uncle Wayne had always had that effect on you.
"He's out runnin' errands, left his talkie here. Comin' over, darlin'?" A pause and then, in a softer tone, "Eddie won't mind and neither do I." Uncle Wayne giving you reassurance before you even knew yourself that you wanted it was such a him thing to do. It really reminded you of Eddie; Uncle Wayne gave Eddie all of himself.
You pictured Uncle Wayne's tender blues crinkling in a smile as the talkie clicked off and you made your way to the Munsons' trailer.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity and yet no time at all, with Eddie's name running through your mind like a mantra, a prayer, the man himself bundled through the front door. His hair floofed about his shoulders as he turned to lock the door behind him, and it was like your body responded to the gravitational pull which attracted lost sheepies to Eddie, the shepherd with limitless capacity for his ever growing flock.
His chocolate browns landed on you and a smile threatened to split his gorgeous face in two as you finally crossed the distance between the two of you and flung your arms around his neck, tugging yourself home and paying no mind to the audience member on the sofa who loved to see Eddie being loved.
You sighed deeply, instinctively, your entire body relaxed into Eddie. He shuffled his centre of gravity to accommodate you and pressed a kiss wherever he could reach.
"I am now. I just wanted you."
"M'here, sweetheart. I'm right here and I'm not leaving, I promise."