They took fall break at Edd's school as the genius was presenting a project at the Science Fair that was taking place that same weekend. When Edd took First Place, Kevin's cheering was the loudest in the hall. And something about it had butterflies taking flight in Edd's stomach.
When Thanksgiving came around, Kevin's father insisted that his son in law come home to visit. Sure, the Hills and Sampson's stayed in the cul-de-sac and Edd would be visiting his friends, but he would be staying with his in laws if Mr. Barr had anything to say about it and he did.
He took the guest room and did his best to be civil with his mother in law.
"I swear if she thinks I'm practice for whoever you really decide to marry someday, Kevin, I feel sorry for your spouse," he told Kevin Sunday morning as they packed to go back to school.
Kevin sighed and rolled his eyes. His mother's general attitude about him being bi hadn't changed and now it was starting to affect his friendship with his husband.
Not good.
So he sat his mother down for a chat after Edd went to a goodbye lunch with the other Eds.
"Ma, could you at least try to be nice? He's my husband…"
"On paper. When you grow up and get out of this phase that you're in, you'll see what a stupid idea this was. If you had married a girl, you could at least have a chance at something!"
Kevin cocked a brow and Annabelle Barr knew she was in for it. Kevin's temper was legendary. Like his red hair and green eyes, he got it from her after all. But thankfully, he was still his father's son and as he got older and matured, he learned to pick and choose his battles and fight them in a way that he would always win.
"Ma, he's also my friend and should be treated as decently as you treat everyone else."
"Here, here!," a strong baritone said over his shoulder.
Turning, he saw who his mother was scowling at.
His father.
"Edd's a good kid, Annie. We couldn't ask for a nicer son in law, especially considering what the kid has been through the past few years."
Annabelle rolled her eyes.
"Timothy, that has nothing to do with this. I'm thinking of Kevin's future here!"
"I think Kevin's got a pretty good idea about how his future is gonna work out," her husband retorted.
"A sham marriage!?"
Timothy shrugged.
"Sometimes those can better than real ones. At least they're friends! How many people do you know that can say that they're still friends with their exes?"
Annabelle bristled and Timothy grinned.
"See? You know I'm right!"
"Be that as it may, I could think of so many other, better ways for Kevin to pay for school than this!"
"Enlighten me, then, Ma! Because when I asked for help and ideas, you were kinda coming up empty," Kevin snipped.
"He's got you there, Annie," Timothy said as he crossed his arms and leaned on the kitchen's doorframe. "Considering the situation, this is the only option that I can think of that doesn't have all of us paying out the yin-yang in the end."
Annabelle sighed as tears sprang into her eyes and Kevin and his father groaned.
"Do. Not. Annie."
Annabelle quickly rubbed her face as she let out a groan of frustration.
"It's only for two years!," Timothy said as he threw up his hands. "Then you can go back to harassing him about bringing some poor girl home to be the incubator for your grandbabies."
Kevin outright laughed. The look his mother gave him made him laugh harder.
"Naw, I'll just marry another guy and adopt a cat."
Annabelle stormed out of the room. Father and son rolled their eyes.
"But seriously, how y'all doing?," Timothy asked.
"Good, I guess," Kevin shrugged. "Why?"
"Just curious. I like him, Kev. He may be your ex in a couple of years, but he'll always be my favorite son in law, " the elder Barr said as he walked away.
And the small spark of affection that started over Labor Day just grew.
Christmas was better as Annabelle did her best to be nice to Edd, but when she was more out -going with Eddy at the family's New Year's Day dinner, everyone was put on notice and Edd seriously considered filing for the inevitable divorce when he got back to Berryville. He liked Kevin and Timothy, but he'd gladly make sure that Annabelle knew that he wasn't a threat to her son's future as soon as possible if it meant that he wouldn't have to deal with a murder charge in his.
To make it up to Edd, Kevin took him to a bed and breakfast in Vermont for Valentine's Day. Edd went skiing and Kevin went snowboarding. They had hot cocoa in front of the fire at the fireplace in their suite and people watched at the lodge they got their mountain tickets from. And Edd relaxed for the first time in a long time. Seeing the serene look in his blue eyes turned that spark from just so few months ago into a smoldering fire. Even the fire in the fireplace couldn't compete. And as Edd leaned on his shoulder as they took a bus back from the mountain lodge to their bed and breakfast, Kevin wondered if this great idea of his was going to burn them up in the end.
Because their anniversary was over spring break, it didn't take too much convincing on Kevin's part to get Edd to meet him back in Peach Creek for a party. Nazz wanted to get everyone back together and check in on her favorite gay couple.
"Nazz, I'm screwed," Kevin whined as he helped her set up for the BBQ.
"What'd you do?!," she asked with wide eyes.
Edd and Kevin getting along was too good to be true. Now Kevin had to go and screw up what was probably the best thing that would ever happen to him.
"I think I'm falling for Edd," he said sheepishly.
Her grin could have cracked the sky.
"Really, now?"
"Don't look at me like that, woman!"
Nazz's grin had turned into a full blown smile. Her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks as pink as bubble gum. She was happy. Stupidly happy for her best friend. And he wanted to die.
"Well, I can't help it!," she squealed. "Does he know?"
"OF COURSE NOT!"
"Calm down, Kev," she said gently as Kevin started to pace around the kitchen.
"What do I do, Nazz?!"
Nazz bit her lip and Kevin sighed. She was just as clueless as he was.
"Look, just enjoy today. We'll figure something out."
