Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven:

Simone’s Notes:

Because there are no diagnostic criteria established in the DSM-IV, there is controversy regarding the existence of sexual addiction and regarding treatment. An abstract on the problem of the DSM IV's exclusion of sexual compulsive behavior is outlined in: "Differential Diagnosis of Addictive Sexual Disorders Using the DSM-IV", Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 1996, Volume 3, pp 7-21, 1996. by Richard Irons, M. D. and Jennifer P. Schneider, M.D., Ph.D. Patrick Carnes, a proponent of the idea of sexual addiction, proposed using:

Recurrent failure (pattern) to resist impulses to engage in extreme acts of lewd sex.

Frequent engaging in those behaviors to a greater extent or over a longer period of time than intended.

Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to stop, reduce, or control those behaviors.

 Inordinate amount of time spent in obtaining sex, being sexual, or recovering from sexual experience.

Preoccupation with the behavior or preparatory activities.

Frequent engaging in violent sexual behavior when expected to fulfill occupational, academic, domestic, or social obligations.

Continuation of the behavior despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent social, financial, psychological, or physical problem that is caused or exacerbated by the behavior.

Need to increase the intensity, frequency, number, or risk of behaviors to achieve the desired effect, or diminished effect with continued behaviors at the same level of intensity, frequency, number, or risk.

Giving up or limiting social, occupational, or recreational activities because of the behavior.

Distress, anxiety, restlessness, or violence if unable to engage in the behavior.

The next night, Derdra and Edward were lying asleep together in Derdra’s bed. The nurse had already gone to sleep. The alchemist was looking over her smiling. She was such a beautiful girl. So pure… So innocent… So… tasty! Edward felt himself getting hungry again. His breath became heavier again. His teeth grew out in his fangs. He could see the blood running through Derdra’s veins. Her skin looked so soft and warm. The temptation was growing harder and harder to resist. He was almost there…

But then, Edward stopped himself just in time. He shook his head softly. “No, no,” the monster thought. “I can’t taint her! I would damn myself forever.” So, Edward began thinking of ways to turn himself off. That was achieved in easy seconds. Edward slowly opened his eyes and looked at Derdra again. She was still sleeping peacefully. The alchemist couldn’t help but to smile over her again. The nurse was just so good to him. Sure she was afraid of him, but she didn’t run away from him or turn him into Mustang and them. But why? Derdra wasn’t stupid or anything. She just had high faith in him. Maybe, too high. But what did he care? He needed the nurse right now. Edward was planning to do something heinous. Something so cold-blooded. Something that he was sworn never to do unless he had to.

You see, his pet, Alex, had fallen in love with his crush, Rebecca, a few days ago. They were falling in love pretty fast. This was not good for Edward. He saw Rebecca as a threat to all of his progress on Alex. She had to be taken out of the picture. The alchemist was planning to kill her. But something was delaying him. This great need to seek redemption again. This need had been popping up more often lately. He had been able to suppress it for quite a while now. But this time, it was too loud to the point that he couldn’t ignore it any longer. The shame and guilt were on a mission to drive him mad this time. He had to fix this right away before he was eaten alive again. So, he was here with Derdra once again.

Edward lightly kissed her on the cheek. He leaned in close to her ear.

“Sweet dreams, my love,” the monster whispered to him. Then he lightly pulled the sheets over her bare shoulder and arm. Derdra looked so innocent sleeping. Edward wanted to see what she was dreaming right now. He tempted to look into her dreams, but decided against it. He didn’t want to disturb the beauty that was with right now to him. He lightly kissed her on the cheek again.

Edward lied back and looked up at the dark ceiling. He knew that he would have to split again. Staying with Derdra too long would me him too soft. He deeply cared about her, but he wanted to still be seen as a powerful monster to his peers and mistress. Manami was counting on him to help bring the Fallen World into existence to the Living World. In order to do that, Edward knew that he would have to leave soon. But not yet. He couldn’t do anything just yet until the time called for it. No, it was wiser to let the dust settle before stirring it up again. So it was better to stay with Derdra until the time was right.

Edward’s thoughts were interrupted when he felt someone wiggling next to him. He moved his eyes to his left. Derdra was turning over in her sleep trying to get comfortable again. She moved around for a few seconds before settling down again. Edward smiled to himself kindly.

This was another weird thing about him when he was with Derdra. She had this strange effect on him. Usually nowadays, Edward was a cold-hearted rapist and murderer. He would kill a woman and drink her blood without any hesitation. But with Derdra, he was just so gentle and harmless towards her. He couldn’t explain why. Maybe because she was his ticket to salvation in the end. Maybe he really did care about her. Maybe she brought out something in him that he thought he had lost long ago. Edward shook his head to himself. Who could say? The boy just couldn’t bring himself to hurt this oddly charming nurse when it was all said and done. The monster looked up at the ceiling again.

“Oh damn!” he thought. “Maybe I have been getting too soft lately!” All the more reason to try and hit the road to get back on his mission to kill Rebecca before she took his pet away. But not just yet though. It wasn’t time to sin again. After all, Edward was here for a long redemption. And he wasn’t going to leave until he got it. Simple as that!