Ed was bustling around clearing the dishes from dinner, and setting out dessert. Kristen had offered to help, but, for once firm, he had refused. Instead, she was performing that subtle art that all women somehow gain: snooping. Books of all kinds filled the cavernous loft apartment, and a few video game consoles were neatly tucked away in a piece of elegant wooden furniture that contained the television. She'd worked with this man for so long, and thought him strange. Disturbing, perhaps. But now, she wanted to know everything she could. Kristen had never met a man quite like Ed.

She smiled to herself as she came across a college diploma. Surprisingly, that too was tucked away, out of sight. Out of mind, as well, she wondered. She read the diploma, and then read it again. The name was not what she would have expected. It said Edward V. Nygma.

"Edward?" she asked softly, turning. "You never said you had a middle name." Ed went pale and almost dropped the dish he was holding. He carefully set it down, and cleared his throat.

"Where, uh, I mean," he paused to adjust his glasses in discomfort. Then he spotted what Kristen was holding. "Oh. That."

"You don't like your middle name?"

Ed fidgeted, glancing away.

"My father decided on it," he said brusquely. "He and I didn't generally get along, so I don't use the name."

"Oh, Edward, I'm so sorry." Kristen walked over and put her hand comfortingly on Ed's arm. She noticed that he flushed happily, and felt a small surge of excited triumph. "You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want." Ed covered Kristen's hand with his own hand, and shook his head.

"No, I don't want to keep any," he hesitated for less than a moment, "secrets from you." Kristen smiled encouragingly up at him. How could she have ever thought his strangeness was a bad thing? It was what set him apart from everyone else, but it was what made him better than all the other men in her life.

"So what is it?"

Ed cleared his throat again.

"The 'V' stands for Vanhalen."

Kristen couldn't help staring.

"Your father named you Edward Vanhalen Nygma?"

"Mm-hmmm."

"Vanhalen?"

"Yes."

"I see."

"I'll go get dessert."

"That would be wonderful."