Hey guys!

Hope you've all been well. I can't believe it's almost Christmas! Man life has been hectic. I was a part of a sketch comedy over the weekend which really took up a majority of my down time but now that that's done and I'm on winter break, I can finally get some down time to really focus on the story. Also I want to thank EVERYONE who has favorited/followed and reviewed With Grace & Civility. It really helps me as a writer and honestly I love hearing other people's opinions and theories, so don't be afraid to leave a review. If you've got any I'd love to hear them.

So without further ado, here's chapter 26

Enjoy!

"Hunny could you pass the potato salad please?"

Kevin snapped his fingers to an invisible beat as he peered over the spread, his sense of smell assaulted by the sweet aroma of his mother's delicious home cooking. The family table seated for six was dressed from leg to tabletop, draped in an embroidered red runner that fell all the way to the floor. Gold plated silver wear sat neatly between each plate, scooted as close to the tables edge so that center piece had space to fit. Between the many serving dishes were assortments of tall taper candles. Each was scented differently but when lit mixed into a sweet cinnamon-vanilla flavor that perfumed the entire lower half of the house. The turkey platter sat near the center, surrounded by appetizers and at least a dozen half-filled glasses of early morning cider.

Kevin eyed the set up longingly. The cheesy potatoes were bubbling and the turkey had to be swimming its juices by now, marinating in his father's special turkey-day sauce as it baked at that perfect 135 degree temperature.

"I know what you're thinking boy." His father called from the kitchen.

Kevin snorted, kicking back in his seat to cross his arms over his gurgling stomach. "So what if I am? I'm nowhere near the oven."

Kevin's father poked his head out from the kitchen, fixing his son with a stare. "Touch my bird and you'll be the one on that platter."

"Yeah, yeah whatever."

Snatching up the potato salad he handed it to his mother, a smile appearing on her face as she scooped a helping of the yellowy goodness into a serving bowl. Kevin knew his grandmother would be rolling in her grave if she knew her grand-baby had a thing for the store bought potato mix but what could he say, it was his brand. Anything less was yesterday's garbage.

"A taste wouldn't hurt ya'know." He huffed. "Come on I'm starving over here!"

"What are we six?" His father chided.

Kevin groaned, tilting his chair back onto two legs. "Feeeeeed meeee."

Kevin's mother shook her head and whacked his shoulder. "Honestly Kevin. Is food all you ever think about?"

He smirked. Heh, don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to ma'. He shrugged. "No."

"Then how about we talk instead. Oh I know, why don't you tell me about all your wild adventures."

Kevin's brows shot to the top of his head. "Wild adventures?"

His mother leaned took to leaning on the edge of the table, her wooden spoon dangling between her manicured fingers as she gave her son a knowing smile.

"Oh come on hunny. I was your age once. You can tell me." She bumped his shoulder with her own and giggled. "Why I was such a bad girl when I was in my twenties. Bless my mother's heart- she would have strapped me to a chair and tried to perform an exorcism if she knew the things I got into." She made a display of crossing herself.

Kevin chuckled, grimacing at the thought of his snooty grandmother involving herself in her apparent wild-child's affairs. He couldn't imagine it.

"Don't tell me you snorted cocaine and danced the jive." Kevin slapped his hand to his face and laughed, his chair dropping back down on all four legs. Now that he could imagine.

She pouted, crossing one arm over the other. "There are better drugs out there than blow you know."

Kevin was stunned into silence. Did she… No, maybe he didn't want to know.

With a smug look of satisfaction his mother exited the dining room, taking to her husband's side as he worked his favorite part of the turkey feast- the giblets.

Smiling down at his bride of twenty four years. He kissed her sweetly, his mustache tickling her face. "Is he even doing anything out there?"

She chuckled, shaking her head as she took up cleaning the pans in the sink. "Same as every dear. It's been the same since he was born. He sits at that table-"

"-And he watches that clock." He finished with a chuckled. "Darlene that boy will never change."

She laughed, the sound of her laugh like church bells ringing in her loving husband's ears.

"Well as soon as we get back from the parade he can eat as much as he wants. Oh and his friend too. The poor dear. He's as skinny as a twig." She waved her wooden spoon at him. "I tell you Ron that boy needs some meat on his bones. How is he ever to father any children as tiny as he is? Looks like he can barely take care of himself."

"Hm." Ron's mustache gave way to a twitch.

Stirring the contents of his pot, he stared intently at the mixture. Past the boiling liquid he saw his hazel eyes reflecting back the unease that had been festering inside him for weeks. His lips were pressed together- a usual sign of his discontent, as he thought of his one and only son.

As any good parent would be, Ron was concerned for his son. Out of the millions of thoughts dancing around in his head the man just couldn't help but think of the new found presence worming its way so easily into Kevin's life. While the hellion was a force of nature to be reckoned with, the kid still just that; a kid; a big kid but a kid regardless. He still had so much to learn.

Ron sighed, rubbing his palm flat against his morning stubble. His eyes danced over his in wife direction. It's probably best she doesn't ask questions, he thought to himself. At least wherever that Edd kid was concerned.

Pressing a kiss to Darlene's cheek he gave her an adoring rub on the back.

"Keep an eye on the giblets. I'll go check on the kids."

As he considered shaving before the family got ready to leave he took a chance glance into the dining room, catching Kevin just as he rose from his chair. Curiosity struck him. Now what is that boy up to? Kevin never left the dinner table when turkey was on the menu. Never voluntarily at least.

"Hey Edd, I got a question for ya'-"

Ron could have slapped himself. Of course, his boy-thing was here. How could he have forgotten?

Edd looked up to Kevin as the red-head approached, offering him a fresh glass of cider. He took it with a grateful smile. "Many thanks."

Kevin smirked and clanked their mugs together. "Ti's the season dork."

Edd chuckled, sipping delightfully at his beverage. He couldn't say how many years it had been since he last tasted cider this good. He had to get Mrs. Barr's recipe before the end of the day. He hummed with glee as the warm liquid traveled down his throat, warming his insides in an instant. Delectable. It was the perfect refreshment, a relieving contrast to the biting chill of early morning winter.

"Yeah mom makes a mean cider but you ought to taste my pop's Thanksgiving turkey. Now that shit is bomb."

Eddward bit into his lip and snickered.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing." He smiled, his slim fingers cradling the ceramic mug in his hands. "You are just highly amusing is all."

Kevin murmured beneath his breath, plopping down on the couch with a heavy huff and kicking his feet up onto the coffee table. He was exhausted. Bogged down with term papers and diagrams, Kevin was sure his schedule would get even more hectic in the coming weeks. Already he was trading shifts at work to keep pace with his studies. Spending long sleepless nights hunched over his books until his brain fried couldn't be good for his health. Edd had said as such at one point. The worry emanating through the dork's sleepy gaze, a few mornings ago when Edd found him in the midst of a last minute cram session, made Kevin feel warm. It felt nice to have someone worry about him; someone other than his parents. He thought it refreshing, like the first sip of mountain spring water. Having the squirt around was perhaps the best, craziest, idea he had ever had. Unorthodox, yes, but the cookie cutter life was never his forte to begin with so- why the hell not?

"Boys!" Kevin's mom called from the kitchen. "Are you ready for the parade yet?"

Edd and Kevin turned just as Ron was making his way in. "Yeah ma' just catching the last bit of cider."

"Oh for heaven's sake did you leave me any?"

Kevin looked away and Ron rolled his eyes. The boy might as well have GUILTY written across his forehead. "There's more in the fridge hunny." He called back, smirking back at the two boys. "Kevin drank the other batch."

Kevin slapped his chest in a feign display of hurt. "Pops how could you rat me out like that?"

"Rat you out? Pft. Don't make me laugh." Ron swiped Kevin's mug from his hand and held it to his lips. "I'm only doing as a good parent should."

Now it was Kevin's turn to roll his eyes.

Eddward chuckled softly into his mug. Now I know where he gets his charm from.

He outright pretended the steam floating off the top of his drink was what caused his cheeks to redden them, proceeding to rub tiny circles over each of his apple round cheeks. It was a feeble attempt to get them back to their original color before anyone noticed.

Downing what was left in the cup Ron ushered the boys upstairs, warning if they weren't ready in exactly five minutes that he and Darlene were taking off without them. In typical fashion it took Kevin a whopping twenty minutes before he came pounding down the steps, dressed as a snug as a bug in a rug in his aviator jacket and hoodie. Hilariously Edd was hot on his heels in little more than a sweater that looked suspiciously like Kevin's old letterman jacket, chiding the red-head under his breath for keeping his parents waiting the whole way to the car. Ron of course heard it all though he pretended not to notice and slamming his key into the ignition a sorry attempt not to laugh.

His son, rough and tumble Kevin Barr, was being nagged to death by a tiny one hundred something pound boy who had taken to waging his finger at him. It was nothing short of hysterical.

As Ron's truck pulled from the drive way Kevin's pocket began to buzz. Edd watched curiously as the red-head lifted from his seat to fetch his phone, the lines of his companion's deepening as his eyes scanned the caller ID screen. He didn't seem too happy/

"Who is it?"

Kevin opted not to answer. Instead he responded with a text. "No one important."

Edd shrugged. It was none of his business. Eventually he forgot about the mystery caller and took to a lengthy conversation with Mrs. Barr. By the third minute of their conversation Edd had decided that Darlene was indeed an interesting woman. She had been a lead actress in a local theatre for many years before retiring to be a mother. She had led a fulfilling life, attending college and traveling Europe before meeting her husband. There was a lot she had to say, her motherly wisdom always at the ready to be shared no matter the type of discussion. It was easy for her to dote on people to the point of being cumbersome, especially to her son who kept begging for her to 'cram a tinker toy in it'; but Edd honestly didn't mind. Her eagerness to help others showed her capacity for kindness and as the minutes ticked on Edd found himself warming up to her much faster than he or Kevin had anticipated.

Not that Kevin minded but watching his mother and Eddward talk stage jargon was rather entertaining. The way they spoke, exchanging ideas and talking whatever nonsensical things theatre people talk about, felt oddly natural. The longer this went on the harder it was to believe this was only the second time they had ever met.

Eddward and Kevin's father on the other hand… well not so much.

They hadn't spoken a word to one another since their awkward hello at the door. Edd had seemed much too frightened, almost shell shocked, to see Kevin's father greeting them with a loud holiday welcome. Kevin wasn't sure why but he had no time to reflect on it before his father steered them both inside, Edd to the living room and Kevin into the kitchen were his mother had been waiting for him.

Another buzz from his pocket drew Kevin from his thoughts. As he stared at the screen he contemplated what to say next. Cassandra deserved an apology. He had been a real ass-hat to her that night. He wondered, however, about the details of their fight. Would he have honestly changed anything he did or said that night? For the sake of their dispute would he have chosen his friend over Edd?

He sighed before turning his phone off.

Before he could even think about apologizing or accepting her apology in return he needed to know for sure. It worried him to think that he was actually considering this. A friend should choose their buds above strangers. It was just the way things worked. Bro's before hoes. And yet, as he stared at the raven haired beauty at his side, his green eyes dancing admiringly over Edd's petite feminine frame, the red-head was finding himself at a tug of war between his conscience and logic. Would he really have done anything differently?

So what did you guys think? Any comments or predictions? I'd like to hear them.

So until next time, ciao!