The cul-de-sac was surprisingly quiet for a sunny day in June. People as they came and went did so quietly as they passed the first house as one turned into the cul-de-sac. As the children from the neighborhood walked out to the corner to catch the bus to school each looked at the second floor window with the drawn curtains with a sad forlorn look on their faces. One of their numbers lay at death's door behind those curtains.

Most of these had known each other for most of their lives. Had played together in the junk yard and down at the creek and even lived through Eddy's scams. They had grown closer and forgave past discretions and had truly became friends since they had all entered high school. Most were sixteen and in their were getting ready for their junior year in high-school.

Eddy stood on the corner talking to Ed as Nazz and Rolf walked up. Jimmy and Sarah could be seen walking in the distance, calling quietly to Johnny and Plank. Each grew quiet as they passed the house on the corner.

"Has anyone heard anything?" asked Johnny as he neared the corner. They all turned toward him and just sadly shook their heads.

"Still the same is what I heard from Double Dee's mother when she was home the other day." answered Eddy.

Just then the bus pulled up and each got on the bus deep in their own thoughts. It just wasn't the same without Double Dee and Kevin on the bus, even tho Kevin hadn't road the bus in awhile. Kevin on his sixteenth birthday had received his dad's motorcycle as a birthday gift. Each of them could recall the look of pride on his face that day.

Flashback:

Hey guys dig my new ride, It was my dad's. Mom gave it to me for my birthday. Its been in the garage every since he passed" Kevin said as he pulled up to the gang at the bus stop.

"Cool beans, when you gonna take me for a ride Kev?" as Nazz running her hand on the gas tank and Kevin's leg.

"Kevin boys looks like he has lapped up the cream from the goat this morning" said Rolf.

"Cool Kevin" Ed said as he watched ants cross the side walk.

"Salutations and Greetings this morning Kevin, I hope you had a uplifting and memory making birthday. But you do realize how many people are hurt on those things everyday."

"Hey Dork! Yeah, I'll be careful. How about this weekend Nazz, I'd take you to school today if I had an extra helmet" grinned Kevin. "What ever Rolf, yes I am happy.

Kevin looked over the group of friends and smiled. Yes, he called them all friends even Eddy. Even he

really didn't get along with Eddy, he had decided to try to get along with them all even the dorks. Ed he could tolerate, but Eddy still got on each others nerves.

As they entered the hall way each went to their separate lockers. Just then Double Dee came walking down the hall, hurrying to his locker. He looked worriedly around at his friends. They soon gathered around him clamoring for news.

"Nothing new, The home health people were in yesterday and said that they didn't expect there will ever be any improvement. We have called in some very special specialist in Neurosurgery. They will be here tomorrow. Now if you all will excuse me I have to get to class.

Nazz looked up startled, "You mean?"

"Yes Nazz my parents are flying in tomorrow just to look over Kevin's case." answered Double Dee.

The watched Edd as he walked up the hallway, stopping every now and then to speak to someone or some group of people. Even the Jock who had tormented Double Dee from the beginning of high school would approach him and ask about Kevin. These days the Jock approached Double Dee with a bit of respect and a bit of awe. Double Dee would look them straight eye and not cringe as he had once done. They never bullied him anymore and if someone forgot that they soon reminded him that Eddward was strictly off limits to be bullied.

On new student in the school stated one day that he was just a nerd, why should he be left alone when they harassed the other geeks and nerds.

"Double Delicious is to be left alone dude!" said the green haired acting Captain of the football team.

Jake rolled his eyes at Nat, turned to the other boy and said "He's single handly taking care of our injured Captain."

"What you guys condoning fag love now?" Sneered the new boy "and whose gonna stop me if I do"

"We will !"answered the whole team in one voice.

"Kevin was in a really bad motorcycle accident and the dork volunteered to take care of him." Jake replied. "Yes, we bullied him a lot but now we respect the dude. He could have never did any thing. Kevin hated the dorks and would go all out on them whenever he saw them. Although he did bring Lumpy or greatest blocker onto the team and the shrimp he just ignored. He said Double Dee was his personal Dork to bully so he was off limits to us"

The other guy just looked at the team and agreed to no mess with the Dork. From that day on the Jocks made sure Dee had peace at the school. Even the teachers and staff had a special place for Dee. He was allowed to come in late and never received tardy, if he missed he wasn't marked absent, someone would make sure he got his notes from class. Even if he got a phone call in class and left early nothing was said about it. No reprimands from the principle, no grumbling from the students

Most knew of Double Dee's Mysophobia (germophobia) and OCD. They often wondered how he was able to change Kevin's bandages and other things.

At first it wasn't easy for Double Dee, but seeing Kevin there in the hospital and needing special care when he was released someone had to step up. Kevin's dad had passed away when Kevin was twelve years old. His mother after the accident was distraught and blaming herself for the accident was practically useless when it came to tending to Kevin. She could work and pay the bills, keep the house clean to a point, but not to Dee's standards of course. However when it came to taking care of Kevin's broken and wounded body she was a total wreck.

So Double Dee stepped into the gap and went every day after school to see Kevin, learning how to change bandages and clean the wounds. Tenderly move his broken body and even how to bath him. The day of giving Kevin his first bath made Double Dee turn a beet read. Double over came his germophobia in this case so that he may help Kevin. The boy who had bullied and occasionally beat him up, Although he had to give him credit, Kevin never was as harsh on Double Dee as he was on the other Eds.

Eddward told all his teachers that he would not be at school the next day as some hard decisions were to be made and he had to be there for Kevin and his mother. Edd knew that it would mostly come down to him making them for Kevin's mother.

Edd sat in the darkened hospital room holding Mrs. Barr's hand and looking at the still body on the bed. Monitors and wires hooked up to him, a machine breathing for him. All Edd could think of is how he wanted to cry. He knew he had to be strong for Kevin's mother. He could hear her weeping by his side and moaning to herself about how it was her fault.

Just then the door opened and Dr Colston came into the room, he walked up to the bed and asked "How are we feeling today Kevin?" Turning to Edd and Mrs. Barr he said, "I know he can't here me but I hope one day he will answer me."

"Come in Doctors Vincent" Said Doctor Colston

"Yes, and how is the patient today?" asked Dr Vincent as he took the case file from Dr. Colston. As he begin to read he asked many medical questions. If they had tried this or that procedure, or medication.

(A/N I am not really versed on medical jargon so we won't have a lot of that)

Edd's mother walked over and looked at the chart shaking her head and asked about a certain procedure and if it had be applied in this case. Dr Colston replied that he was not familiar with that procedure and knew very little about it. Off the Dr and Specialist went into a long winded medical discussion.

"If your hospital is willing to work with us, we will do the operation in the morning. It is expedient that we get this done as quick as we can to give this young man a chance in life." Said Dr Vincent as she looked towards her son. "Eddward, as soon as Mrs Barr signs the consent form we will start the preparations"

"Here mother I have already signed the papers for her, she has given me power of attorney in all medical needs at this time." Edd replied handing the woman a paper.

Dr Colston looked at them aghast and thought to himself how can a boy of 16 have power of attorney in such a dire situations. He wasn't mature enough to make such decisions. Were they mad?

Edd's mother looked at the paper and then the Dr as if reading his thought. "Edd is very level headed and has a proven record of making the correct decision in all things. I have full faith in my son and I can assure you Mrs. Barr does as well." With that said she turned to her husband and started discussing the method they would use to treat Kevin. It was if no one else was in the room.

Dr Colston walked over to Edd, and looked at him. "Young man, do you realize the cost of this treatment and just how is this to be paid for. This being a new procedure his insurance will not cover it. When Mrs Barr heard this she broke down in great sobs.

"Don't worry Mrs. Barr, the cost has been absorbed by the Vincent Foundation, You have nothig to worry about." Edd turned to the Doctor and said "All the necessary papers have been filed in the office for payment of any and all medical for Kevin Barr."

"The Doctor turned to the Vincent and said "Thank you Doctors, I am sure your charity is appreciated."

"Don't think us Doctor, Thank Eddward, it's his foundation, he controls it and finances it through his grandfather's legacy."

The Doctor turned and looked at Eddward, a new look of determination on his face."

Edd looked at the Doctor and said "Doctor I would appreciate if nothing of this left this room. I wish no one to know about how all this is financed. Do not remind Mrs. Barr, all she needs to know is that the cost is covered. I have made arrangements that the finance records are sealed and that only myself and accounting know where payment is coming from. Mrs Barr won't remember any of this she is too distraught at this time to understand, and by the time this is all over won't even remember any of this."

The Doctor left the room taking Mrs Barr away with him to try to get her to eat something and maybe a sedative to calm her down.

"Mother, Father, I know you are the best in the world in your fields and do appreciate you coming here for this. I want you to know, and I have not told anyone, even Kevin this and I'm am sure he will never know. I want you to work a miracle do you utmost to save him and restore him to his life. I love him very much, even though I know he is straight and can never feel love towards me."

Edd's mother looked deep into his sky blue eyes saw the sparkle of love there and asked, "Are you sure about this my son."

"Yes, Mother I am sure, I have loved Kevin since I first met him, I have know and loved him and will love him forever."

"Very well son if its what you want the we will do what ever it takes to bring his back. I do hope he realizes one day how much loved he is. What if he can never return your love, you will find another one day."

"No mother, there will never be another because you see I feel I am not gay or straight or even bisexual and any of the other made up things people are calling themselves these days. I am Kevinsexual and will always be. I love his with my whole being and choose if it comes to that, to live alone just being his friend, and if he even takes that away from me then I will still love him."

The Vincents hugged their son tightly and held him for what seemed a long time. They turned slowly and looked at the bed and all the monitors as she watched the screen Mrs. Vincent walked over to the bed and took a hold of Kevin's arm and checked his pulse. The screen remained the same. She motioned to her husband to come do the same. He did and they looked at each other and then called Double Dee over and asked him if he knew about pulses.

Edd walked over and picked up the wrist and felt Kevin's pulse, it was a might weak but steady. The Vincents watched the screen and smiled. To those practiced eyes that saw a slight differentiation in the lines across the screen and smiled to each other.

"Eddward, tell us about this boy, I know from your letters and emails you have mentioned him. He is the star of your schools sports endeavors, a most popular fellow. I can see he is handsome and well built. Said Edd's father. "What I am asking is your take on him, is he kind, happy you know that kind of thing."

With that said Edd turned to his parents still holding Kevin's hand and said "Please sit this will be a long tale, some good some bad but mostly good."

We met on the first day we moved here, He was the first child that came over to speak to me. Up until middle school we were close friends, when myself and the Eds became friends its like something changed in Kevin. He and Eddy never got along, Ed he tolerated mostly because of the fact that Ed is Ed. In middle school he and Eddy just couldn't get along they butted heads most everyday. Eddy was always trying to scam the other children and I went along with most of it, because I was afraid of losing friends, but I guess I lost Kevin. Although he would beat us up on occasion usually from something Eddy had done, he was never really mean to me. Yes he called us dorks and dweebs, usually when he spoke to me he called me Double Dork or Double Dweeb." at this recollection Edd smiled.

"Though he called me those names it was never harsh, the was usually a smile in his words, if not on his face. He has the most heartening smile, when he does smile. His Emerald Green eyes have great suns buried deep in them that when he is happy the light burst forth to make others happy as well. When we got to high school. He had another change, as we all did when puberty took place, his voice deepened, but still had a special lilt to it if one know how to hear it. He grew taller, filled out in the most manly form, yet he is still graceful in his moves. You should see him playing football or baseball. It truly is a sight to behold.

Edd looked at his parents, afraid that he may see something in their eyes that he didn't want to see. Yet when he looked all he could see was love.

"Go on son, tell us about high school. I am beginning to wish we could have been there for you, but you have grown into a splendid young man, and all we want is for you to be happy."

"Thank you father, Well in high school, the other kids in high school didn't understand me and how I could make better grades and loved learning. The called me names. One day quite by accident I overheard some of the jocks talking about bullying other kids in school, Kevin was there amongst them and I heard some of the things he said about some others. But I also heard him tell them that I was off limits to them. That I was his special property, His Dork as it were, and that they were to stay away from me and leave me alone. That he would pound them if they so much as touched a hair on my head."

"Oh, son why didn't you tell us this was happening, we would have gladly moved you to a private school, where this wouldn't happen, cooed Mrs Vincent.

"That is precisely why I didn't tell you, even as unpleasant as some of it was I loved my high school and wished to continue on with my education there. Plus Kevin and the Eds were there. "

"Oh Eddward weren't you lonely being by yourself so much."

"No mother I was quite used to it and actually enjoy being by myself. I have learned to be my own best friend at times. Although the Eds do fill a lot of my time. They both love me in their own ways. Even at nigh when I was doing my homework, and after your nightly calls, I never felt lonely much, But when I did I could usually look out my window and see Kevin across the street in his bedroom doing his homework. He would look up as if he felt me looking at him and wave. Even in the years when we were not really close he still waved at me and smiled that beautiful smile."

"To this day, I can understand when he doesn't speak to me at school. He has a reputation to uphold. He is the most popular guy at school, He has dated almost every pretty girl in the school. Even Nazz the head cheerleader and most popular girl in our school is his for the asking. So, I know my love for his is and will always be unrequited and will never be mine, but I do want him to be happy, and will gladly watch it all from the sidelines."

For a few moments they just sat and looked at each other. The mother and father both had tears in their eyes. No one spoke, Mother Vincent reached out and took Eddward's free hand in hers, then reached over with her other hand and took her husband's hand in hers. Eddward's father reached out his other hand and placed it on Eddward's hand that was still holding Kevin's if a firm grasp.

"Son, your mother and I swear that we will do everything that is humanly possible to save this boy. I still hope that when this is all done, you still fill that this will be worth the cost to your heart. I want you to know that the love that your mother and I have is the kind you are speaking of. We love you with our whole heart, and want you to be able to find the love we have. If you feel this boy is worth it then we will love him that way as well."

As they said this one of the monitors started making a strange sound the lines on the screen, went crazy. The mother jumped up and shoved Edd out the door, telling him to stay out there until she called him back in.

Nurses and doctors sped down the hall to Kevin's room. Edd slumped against the wall feeling hopeless, but yet he knew that if anyone could restore Kevin it would be his parents. But whata if this was the one time they failed...

"OH!" Double Dee screamed out in his head.