The BBQ went off without a hitch and Kevin's parents gifted them with another two bedroom hotel suite in the city. They relived their honeymoon as best they could. The zoo and museum had different exhibits this time around, but they were still intriguing.

At this point they were both 21, so they had wine with dinner. And unlike with tequila, which just made him bold, wine made Edd flirtatious. Kevin knew he had to be as red as his hair at some point during dinner and it just flamed that spark he was holding for his husband all the more.

Edd came to his games and those kisses goodbye got more genuine. Edd couldn't help it. Kissing Kevin was fun. He liked it and he was going to enjoy doing it as for as long as possible.

Nazz was still coming up on empty on ways for Kevin to tell Edd how he was feeling. And whether he really knew it or not, Kevin decided to let his actions speak for him, because apparently Edd was letting a few of his speak for him.

Each visit had them drawing closer. Shoulders bumping, the occasional handholding. And tiny kisses just because.

When Kevin told Nazz what was happening, she decided to drill her boyfriend for info, but Eddy was either being tightlipped, or didn't have a clue himself.

Eddy wanted to strangle his smart friend.

"Just tell him, D!"

The look of sheer horror that crossed Edd's face was damn near comical.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!?"

"Yeah, otherwise, Eddy's Crazy Costume's and Gifts wouldn't exist."

Double D sighed at the mention of his best friend's small business. The costume and gag gift shop was one of a kind and doing well. Eddy was a showman and knew how to advertise. He also had a keen eye for detail when it came to finding and marketing a product that was basically a useful piece of junk. He had about a dozen different plans for Edd to use at any given moment when it came to getting Kevin's attention at making this marriage the real deal.

Edd had yet to use a single one. But had gotten really good about complaining about how he wished his husband was really his husband.

"Dude, you know what you should do, right?"

Edd just pouted.

"Fine, I'll tell him!"

The glare that Edd gave his best friend could only be described as homicidal.

"You will do no such thing, Edwin!"

"Then you better or so help me…!"

Edd sighed. And Eddy's heart damn near broke. He hadn't seen his beanie clad friend look this sad since his parents kicked him out. He and Lee TP and egg their house every year on night that Edd showed up to his house in tears over being tossed away the way he was for telling them who he was. And over something so trivial. But this isn't trivial. This was love. And love is never trivial.

"Look, from what you've told me, it sounds like he does care about you. Kinda like he did with Miranda and Carlos."

Edd just looked sadder. Miranda and Carlos were Kevin's greats. If neither had to move, he'd probably still be with one or the other of them to this day. They just worked. Peas in a pod. No one could compete really. Edd hasn't been compared to them as far as he knew, but why should he be when this whole arrangement wasn't even real?

"But I think you're better, D. Not just because you're my friend. But because I see how he is with you and compared to how he used to be, he's a better person. And I know that some of that has to be because of you. I don't think he'd done this if he didn't care about you somewhat."

"I suppose you're right, Eddy."

"Of course I am! I'm always right!"

Edd shot him a look but giggled all the same. And despite his girlfriend's nagging questions, Eddy kept his mouth shut. This was something that Kevin and Edd were going to have to figure out for themselves.

Summer came and they would come back to Peach Creek to visit as often as they could. If one of them couldn't go, they'd get a play by play in social media updates, videos, texts and phone calls. And it would make the other miss him all the more.

When Labor Day weekend came, and Edd mentioned the trip Kevin took with his fraternity brothers, Kevin as so stoked, he nearly skipped his afternoon classes to go pick up Edd for the trip. Reminding himself that even though it'd be worth the lecture, he had to keep his cool, lest Edd truly know how he was feeling. But considering that it was Edd's last trip with his bros, Kevin wanted to make the most of it. And apparently so did Edd as he was the first to arrive at the rented beach house. The overwhelming stench of bleach and Lysol filled the air as soon as Kevin opened the door. But slowly a softer scent crept in.

Oatmeal raisin cookies.

"Edd!?"

"Out here!"

Edd was on the deck, a plate of cookies and a cup of milk on the small table next to the chaise lounge he was laying on.

"Scoot over."

Edd scooted over and handed Kevin a cookie as he lay under his right arm. And while this may have been their first cuddle, it felt so natural that neither could deny it. Like Hell if they wanted to.

"How was your trip?"

"Meh. Yours?"

"I don't think I95 will ever be fixed."

Kevin laughed.

"Told you to take Hwy 89."

"But it's so long," Edd whined.

"It's not that bad."

"You only like it because you can ride that motorcycle of yours like a speed demon on it."

"Like I said, 'it's not that bad,'" Kevin smirked with a wink as he snuck another cookie.

Edd rolled his eyes and thanked the heavens he could blame his blush on the heat.

But Kevin knew. He knew.

The brothers arrived and this time vodka was the poison of choice. And it just made Edd sleepy. Last time, because they got to the house late as Kevin had to come pick Edd up, they ended up in the attic. It was perfect as there was two full sized beds on either side of the space so their secret was safe. This time, Edd chose a room in the coolness of the basement. And when his buddy Adam chose the room on the other side of the space, Kevin was forced to room with Edd.

He put the raven to bed and went back to the party, but when he was ready to crash, he barely made it into the basement on his own. Adam put him to bed with Edd, and the next morning was the most awkward morning after either young man had ever had.

They woke up in a cuddle. Edd's face was buried in Kevin's chest and the redhead had him pulled in close. The only thing that kept Edd from screaming as he shot up was the fact that it was Kevin he woke up next to. But he went back into the cuddle because it was comfortable, warm, his pillow was there and his head was pounding.

"You alright there, D?," Kevin asked as he tried to steady his own heartbeat.

"I hate vodka."

"So, that's gonna be a 'no' on the Bloody Mary I was going to make you?"

"A Hell fucking 'no.'"

"Aye, aye, Captain Pottymouth."

Edd groaned and Kevin snickered. The sound it made in his chest made Edd's still racing heart ache.

When Adam knocked on the door, they both groaned in irritation and pain.

"I'll be sure to let Tyler know that y'all gonna be taking breakfast in bed," he said as he walked away, his giggling furthering their embarrassment and the size of the pink elephant in the room.

"First things, first," Kevin said as he slowly sat up.

Edd cracked a blue eye.

"Excedrin. Water. Coffee. Beer."

"Beer?"

"It's 5 o'clock somewhere."

"I want a Mike's Hard Cider."

"Done."

They spent the rest of the day wearing sunglasses indoors and moving slowly. They excused themselves for a couple's dinner around 6 and Kevin took them for a ride on his motorcycle to his favorite diner on Hwy 89. It was small, still stuck in the 1950s as far as the food and décor was concerned, but worth the trip.

"I like this place, Kevin," Edd said as he gazed out of the window at the setting sun.

Kevin cracked a grin that went into an irritated smirk at Edd's next words.

"Why haven't you ever taken me here? You never take me anywhere anymore," Edd teased.

"It's such a long ways, Kevin. Why do we have to take your motorcycle? Do you know the statistical probability of us dying on that deathtrap?, " Kevin asked as he perfectly mocked his husband's voice.

Edd wadded up a napkin and flicked it at the redhead's stupid cute head.

"Be that as it may, I want to go out big, Big Boy," he said as he crossed his arms and pouted.

And it was adorable.

Fuck.