Over the years, Kevin and his parents had desperately wanted a new member to add to their family. Kevin couldn't stand being an only child, alone without anyone his own age to talk to or to understand him and his problems within his own home. He was far too old now to have someone his own age but most of the kids in the Cul-de-Sac had siblings. He hated to admit it, but he was actually jealous of the Eds, all except for Double D, who was an only child as well. He had hoped that he could have a sibling but to his parents attempts, nothing seemed to work. It was getting to the point that only two options were left: give up or adopt.
He had just turned 17 when he realized how alone he was without a sibling. He wanted one more than anything, even more than he wanted Nazz to be his girlfriend. He wondered how he could push his parents to take the plunge and adopt already. Who cared how old the child was as long as it was part of their family.
Kevin was walking home, thinking how he desperately wanted a brother or sister. He stopped on the sidewalk halfway down the street, mere feet from his home and stared up at the sky. It was at that time that he saw a shooting star. He had never once seen one, never interested but now seemed like the best time to make a wish. He smiled and closed his eyes. 'I wish for a sibling. Boy or girl doesn't matter, as long as I have one.' He thought to himself, opening his eyes slowly and now pumped with anticipation and excitement he couldn't wait to see the results, but who knew how long that would take.
When he lowered his head and sighed he looked over across the street, directly at Double D's house. Why was Double D standing outside his house staring at it? Was he observing the sky as well? He then took a few steps across the street to meet up with Double D, being the only two in the road at night. He smiled as he called out to the dweeb.
"Yo! Double Dweeb! What's up!?" He shouted before he saw the look on Double D's face. Tears were streaming down his face, the kid's face in shock and horror. He hands were bleeding and it was at that time he could smell it. Blood, lots of it and not just on Double D's hands, dripping from the cuts on his wrist, but from the house.
"D?" He questioned looking confused as he slowly walked up to Double D to get closer to him. Double D noticed Kevin and he began to freak out, screaming and finally letting out the pool of emotions burying deep within him.
"I- I couldn't stop him!" He shouted before he fell to his knees, Kevin catching him so he wouldn't fall so hard.
"Hey! It's okay, what happened? Who couldn't you stop?" He asked calmly.
"M-my f-father. He, h-he killed her...He killed my mother..." Double D stammered through his quivering lips.
"Whoa! What!? Why!" Kevin asked curiously.
"It's my fault. I should have never been born...I was to blame...for all of it. For their outburst...for their hatred in one another...I'm just a unforeseen mistake!" He shouted, his thoughts becoming clear but not entirely as he was still locked within the nightmare of what had just occurred in his own home.
"Hey. Don't talk like that. Nothing's your fault!" Kevin said, really worried about the dweeb he had for years bullied along with the other Eds. Eddy being the sole purpose for his bullying and the lackies Ed and Double D that followed along with his ridiculous scams. Double D was the reasonable one in the group, the one who built such amazing devices out of trash and household items to go along with Eddy's scams. He was the brains, the creative one. Why would Double D suddenly lose all reasoning to life like this, enough to try and commit suicide after his parents were just done in in cold blood? It was unlike Double D to stoop this low. What had gone on that night that force Double D in his illogical reasoning that his life was nothing more than a sham?
"D?" He questioned the squirt hoping to get through to him or at least receive a logical response like normal. "Listen, whatever your parents said in there, you are not to blame. If they didn't want you they would have gotten rid of you years ago or worse, aborted you. So whatever happened, please don't let their problems affect you this much. You're better than this!" He said hoping that was enough for the dweeb to consider at least and snap back to reality.
Double D knelt on his hands and knees, his mind completely unfocused and jumbled. He was unable to understand much of what Kevin said but the tone in his voice was calm and sweet, and it made him snap back, believing that there was some Angel next to him guiding him to a better tomorrow despite the hell that just transpired.
Kevin smiled at Double D when he finally looked up at Kevin. Kevin helped Double D up and walked him to his own home, hoping his parents could help out and handle the affairs of the dead bodies reeking from the inside of Double D's home.
They made it to Kevin's door and opened it, looking upset at his parents who were shocked to see their neighbor's kid in such bad shape, his wrists bloody with a single cut on both, a suicidal attempt no doubt. Kevin's mother went and grabbed the first aid kit they had in one of the kitchen cabinets. His dad helping Kevin take Double D to the kitchen so the blood didn't drip on the floor and stain it.
"How did this happen!?" Kevin's mother shouted, hoping Kevin wasn't at fault.
"His parents, they." Kevin stopped, gulping down the pain his heart felt for even uttering such words. "They killed themselves. I am not sure how, but I found Doub- I mean Edd outside staring at his house and when I finally approached him he just fell to pieces." He said looking sad and upset, feeling guilty he bullied the kid all these years when the kid already had such problems at home.
"And these cuts?" His mother asked curiously.
"He didn't say precisely, all he said was that he feels like he should have never been born." Kevin said looking like his heart was wrenching just from the thought.
It was at that point Eddward started to think back to his parents fight and started to chant the words over and over again. "A mistake. A mistake. I was just a mistake."
Kevin's mother looked like she was about to cry, worried for this boy. What did his parents say to him or out loud that made him think he wasn't suppose to be alive? What could they have done so wretched to leave this boy behind alone and frail, lost in this nightmare they created for him.
"I'll call the ambulance." Kevin's dad said referring to the dead bodies still in the house, letting his wife and son take care of the wounded boy.
Kevin looked at his father walking over to the phone before he stared down at his mother, shaking in fear and sorrow. He was curious to ask. Curious to know. "Mom." He said before his mother finally looked up at him.
"Yes dear?" She asked, listening deeply to what he had to say, feeling like if she abandoned her own kid, Kevin may think he isn't wanted either.
"What, what is going to happen to Edd?" He asked, worried about where Edd was going to go now that his parents are gone.
"I don't know honey. Usually, child protective services take orphaned kids under 17 to a foster home so they can be assigned a new family." She said, being honest.
Kevin looked like he was going to cry. He didn't want that. He didn't want one of his neighbors, one he actually respected to leave. Who knows where Edd would end up. In the state he was in now, he needed someone he knew, someone who could help him out of this hell he was constantly living in. He didn't want the dork to leave. He was the only sensible one in the Cul-de-Sac that was even worth dealing with. He wouldn't let Edd leave, not like this.
"Can we take him in?" Kevin finally asked, his mother looking up in shock that her son even suggested the idea. She looked over at her husband who had overhead, confused at what he meant.
"What do you mean, Kevin?" She asked to gain more feedback from him.
"I mean, can we adopt him? It would be better for him to have someone he knows rather than a random stranger who may mistreat him. At least here, he has friends who care about him. Plus, I always wanted a brother." He said with a smile, hoping his smile was enough to get his parents on the idea. I mean he has pleaded constantly for a new sibling and yet they still never made any headway as to looking.
His mother looked as if she had to think it over but she knew she couldn't just leave the lonely kid alone to fend for himself. Her son was right, it would be better if he stayed here, where he had friends. Who knows where he would end up and how far from the area. It wasn't like their town to have a large orphanage they could visit like in Annie. She wasn't sure if it was the right decision and Kevin could tell that her thinking about it long and hard only made it seem like she wasn't considering not to. He still didn't want to let Edd go.
"Please! I'll take care of him! I'll help him through this and bring him back to normal. I want to mother." He said, looking like he couldn't hold in the tears anymore but he tried. He was a football player and a strong quarterback, he would not back down, not even if he had to face the opposing team head on alone. He was willing to take on this responsibility.
"Dear, this not like raising a pet." She said trying to make sure he was really serious.
"I know that! Edd's my friend! I want to be there for him. I want to be his brother, to give him the family he never had!" He said, almost out of breath. It was then that Double D looked up, sincerity and intrigue on his face. He was finally back from his constant thoughts of that night playing through his head. He was truly listening to Kevin and he was shocked to hear Kevin so interested in taking care of him. He knew Kevin to be a bully, his bully, and one that didn't like him very much or so he thought. Was Kevin honest with his feelings right now? Was he truly willing to take care of him and help him through this?
Double D almost spoke up till the sirens from the ambulance rushed down the Cul-de-Sac, the lights flickering through the blinds of the house. Double D, was now confused, not sure what was going on. He didn't know why there was an ambulance outside his house but Kevin knew, he knew if Edd understood any more than he does now, he may revert back so he walked up in front of Double D and shielded his eyes, forcing him to look at him.
"Don't worry Double Dweeb, I'll protect you." He said with a smile, leaving Edd befuddled at what was going on.