A/N: I just wanted everyone to know that there will be regular weekly updates of this story every Saturday, and therefore should show up on the site by Sunday evening. So mark your calendars, or something like that.

Plus, thank you for all the kind reviews! Ditey, your comment made me teary. Seriously, that's the sweetest, most heartfelt review I've ever gotten. And liatli-1228, I would have been totally happy if you posted all your funny lines. Stuff like that makes my day. And, yes, the whole "Bright understanding" thing will come into play, but besides that, I find Bright a very astute character in terms of empathy. He's very good about reading people's emotions (i.e. telling Ephram to go to a party because he's "the only one who can make [his] sister smile"). Yeah, anyway, here's chapter three.

~*~

But who am I to preach a word or two
when I can't lift my own head without you?
If my mental state kept you from coming around
I hope the world would shoot me down for losing you.
A broken branch I'd be if you weren't grown to me

-"Family Tree", Ben Kweller

~*~

"Ephram?" called Dr. Brown, knocking on his son's door. "What are you two doing in here?"

The boy loosened his lips from Colin's for a brief moment. "We're studying, Dad!" Colin reached over to the stereo and turned down the volume on Incubus, panting.

"I'm taking Delia out for ice cream, do you boys want anything?"

"No thanks, Dr. Brown!" replied Colin, trying not to sound too short of breath.

"We'll be back in half an hour." The boys waited as they listened to Dr. Brown walk downstairs and out of the house.

"Thought he'd never leave," Ephram said. He pressed his lips onto Colin's, letting his body relax. They'd been "studying" for the same test for more than two weeks, and both boys were finding their makeout sessions more relaxing than nerve-wracking. Roaming hands and sloppy tongues had become soft kisses and slow stroking of thighs and chests, followed by enthused smiles and comfortable silence.

"When's your dad gonna figure out," Colin wondered, laughing a little as Ephram began to nibble away at his ear, "that we're not actually studying?"

"Never, hopefully," Ephram replied heavily. Colin lay back on the bed, Ephram at his side. He liked it when Ephram's head was resting on his shoulder like it was now, and Ephram's hand was locked with his. "So, do you know what Friday is?"

"No, what?" Colin lied, turning the stereo off.

"Valentine's Day," Ephram told him. "Maybe you'd wanna hang out here with me? Delia's sleeping over next door, and hopefully my Dad will find something to do with himself besides being a wet blanket." Ephram waited nervously. Valentine's Day held a certain connotation. Now they weren't just "boys healthily exploring their sexuality"; this was like… a date.

"Sure, I don't have any plans." Ephram frowned and lifted his head from Colin's shoulder. There was no way of masking the guilt in his voice. Colin ignored the questioning look Ephram was giving him. "What?" he said naïvely.

"What's bothering you? Something is, I can tell."

The boy smiled sheepishly. "You think you know me so well, don't you?" Despite his tone, Colin grew serious. "It's Amy. I feel like such a jerk for breaking up with her a week before Valentine's."

"It's OK. You are one."

Colin tried to give Ephram a withering glare, but let a smile slip through as Ephram rested his hand on Colin's leg. "The feeling's mutual," he joked. He frowned, his face becoming pensive. Ephram tried very hard not to stroke him or nuzzle him as he spoke. "But, she really wants us to get back together. And my parents keep asking me why I broke with her. I think they want us back together, too. I don't know what to tell them."

"Why don't you just tell them the truth? That would go over really well. 'Mom, Dad, I broke up with Amy because I enjoy making out with the extremely attractive Ephram Brown'. Don't forget the extremely attractive part."

"Seriously, though." Colin stopped looking at Ephram, instead focusing on the anime poster on the wall. "Do you ever think about telling anyone?"

Ephram shrugged, looking tense. "Not really. I'm just waiting to see if after you, I'm ready to head back to Girls Town." Colin opened his mouth to protest. "That was a joke, Colin." His gaping mouth turned into a slow but uncomfortable smile; every time Colin brought up telling anyone about their relationship Ephram had to make a joke or change the subject. "So, Valentine's Day. Are you coming here? I'll rent a movie, possibly something from the Monty Python oeuvre, we'll make out for most of it, and maybe I'll buy you a heart-shaped box of chocolates."

"Sounds perfect," replied Colin, this time smiling for real. God, he could never describe how good it felt to be with Ephram. "Could we get those hearts with the words on 'em?"

"Sure," replied Ephram briskly as he moved his mouth to meet Colin's.

~*~

At his locker the next day, Colin whipped out his pad of paper and a pen.

Ideas for V-Day Gifts

1.  A CD

2. A manga

3. A piano

Colin scribbled the last one out. Ephram had told him they'd left their grand piano in New York at his grandparents' house, because it was too big to fit in the Browns' house. It was awesome to watch Ephram play the piano; it was like when Colin stopped pretending to be Colin the First, and you saw the actual person underneath. Before Dr. Brown had brought Delia home last night, Ephram had let Colin watch him practice the piece he was going to play for his recital. "If it makes you nervous, you don't have to play," Colin had said.

Ephram had shaken his head, looking bashful. "I'll probably play better."

A smile appeared on Colin's face. Ephram could play Mr. A-Smile-Will-Break-My-Face all he wanted to, but he could see his face lighting up as he rolled a Steinway into the Brown living room. A burst of unrestrained joy filled him at the thought.

"Colin." At the sound of his name Colin stuffed the pad of paper in his pocket. He turned to the speaker who approached him; Amy. Just seeing her face made Colin feel guilty for even thinking about pleasing Ephram when he'd hurt Amy so the boys could have a relationship.

"Hey, Amy," he greeted her.

"Hey," she replied. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead." Colin prayed the question was not "Can we get back together?"

"Um, some of us are going out to see a movie on Friday, as a big group. Bright and Gemma will be there. Do you wanna go?" Her cheeks were bright pink and she seemed so nervous, like she was afraid Colin was going to yell at her, or hit her or something. I am the biggest jerk, Colin thought again for the thousandth time.

"I'm sorry, I have plans," he said. He was sorry, especially when she quickly looked away and her eyes became glassy.

"That's cool. Um, OK. I guess I'll just see you around." She made a beeline for the math room across the hall.

"Amy!" Colin called. She turned around. "I'm sorry."

"I know you are," she replied as she entered the classroom, but Colin couldn't tell if she meant her words.

~*~

"Hey," Colin said as he sat down with Ephram in the lunchroom.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Ephram said, voice full of faux surprise. "The realm of the Popular People is over by the windows."

"Turns out I'm not so welcome there anymore." Colin began to rip the top of a pudding cup.

Ephram took Colin's bag of chips from his tray and ripped them open. Colin smiled as he began to crunch away. "Why not?"

"Well, the girls-" Colin jabbed a spoon towards Amy, Paige, and Kayla- "have decided I am no longer welcome there. Bright tried to save me a seat but…" Colin sighed. "Whatever. I'd rather sit here anyway."

"Cool with me," Ephram said coolly.

"So, you need to get me a gift," Colin began. "I have yours picked out."

Ephram looked around the lunchroom, checking for suspicious faces. "Not so loud. You don't people to think… stuff, do you?"

Whoa, Colin thought. It hurt a little, that Ephram was so afraid of people finding out about them. "OK," he said cautiously.

Ephram seemed to notice Colin's tension and changed the subject. "So what am I going to get you? Do you like CDs?"

"I don't know," Colin admitted. "The music I have from before I was, you know, a big drool machine- Don't laugh!" Ephram struggled to hide his amusement. "I'm not really into it. It's all rap and stuff. I listen to it and feel like I should be liking it, but I'm not."

"OK, then, I'll get you something non-rap and stuff." The bell rang. "That was fast."

"I gotta get to class," Colin said quickly, finishing off his pudding. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah. 'Bye."

~*~

Ephram sat at his computer, looking through his downloaded music files. He wasn't sure what Colin would want to listen to. A classic rock collection, like the Beatles and the Clash? A classical mix, like Bach and Schubert? He frowned and opened his other web page. He'd searched "gay sex", and now he was being assaulted with pop-ups asking him if he wanted to look at "HOTFRATGUYS" or "HORNYTEENSONSPRINGBREAK".

One pop-up caught his eye. He stared at the two guys on the screen. How do people get in that position? he wondered.

"Hey," he heard his father say as he opened the door to his room. Ephram slammed the laptop shut, his heart pounding.

"So have we decided to skip the formality of the knock altogether and just barge in?" Ephram inquired nervously. Dr. Brown smiled.

"So, do you feel like an anti-Valentine evening for the dateless losers?" the doctor asked cheekily.

Ephram smiled. The joke wasn't that funny, but lately he'd been in such a good mood he felt like being nice to his dad. The planets were obviously out of alignment and Earth was making its way into a black hole. "Actually, Colin's coming over to hang. We're gonna watch a movie." He held up the Monty Python and the Holy Grail box sitting on his desk. Dr. Brown raised his eyebrows.

"That's great! Delia was going to sleep over at Sam's tonight because I thought we'd be out, but now they can stay here, give Nina a break."

"What?" Ephram burst out. Dr. Brown looked surprised at his reaction. "I mean, I thought it was just going to be 'just the guys', you know? Just me and Colin."

"Well, they'll fall asleep by ten anyway, then you two can chill." Dr. Brown grimaced. The word sounded incredibly awkward in the older man's mouth. "Maybe Colin can even spend the night-"

"OK! I mean, that- that'd be cool."

~*~

"Thanks for the ride, Mom," Colin told his mother as he put his hand on the car door handle. His mother grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back towards her.

"You and Ephram have been together a lot lately," his mother said. "Is everything all right with you and Amy and Bright? Maybe you could invite them over to watch a movie or something."

"They're fine," Colin lied. He and Bright were all right, but he and Amy…ugh. He really wasn't in the mood to get depressed now. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Call me by noon," Mrs. Hart ordered as her son got out of the car, clutching a duffel bag.

"I will." Colin walked to the Browns' door and rang the doorbell. Ephram answered quickly. In the background Colin could hear what sounded like a Disney cartoon. "Not exactly what I think of when I think date movie," Colin told him, peering into the living room and seeing two small children on the couch watching The Little Mermaid.

"My dad thought it'd be a great idea if Sam and Delia had a sleepover over here tonight," Ephram said sardonically as he led Colin into the house. He took Colin's coat and hung it on the hat rack.

"Please, tell me you're kidding."

"I wish I was" was Ephram's acidic reply. The boy rolled his eyes good-naturedly and took Colin's bag. "Let's go into the kitchen."

Colin followed him into the kitchen. "Sit here," Ephram ordered, pointing to a seat at the island in the center of the kitchen. Colin followed the order and was about to lower himself into the chair when he saw something on the seat. With a grin he picked up a pink conversation heart. Be Mine, it read. "You shouldn't have," Colin quipped, popping the heart into his mouth.

"I know, but I only want the best you," Ephram cooed sarcastically, motioning to the bag of conversation hearts on the table. He handed Colin a square wrapped in pink paper covered with red hearts. "Happy Valentine's Day."

With a shaking hand Colin took the square. He unwrapped it slowly. It was a CD. His eyes ran down the list of names and titles: The Beatles, the Clash, the Strokes, Al Green, Bach… He knew some names but not all of them. But at the very bottom it said: Made by Ephram.

"Ephram…"

"It took me a few hours to narrow down the choices. I hope you like it."

Colin looked up at Ephram. "I know I will," Colin promised. After a silent moment he said, "Your present's in my bag. Right on top."

Ephram sat next to his boyfriend at the island and zipped open Colin's bag. He raised his eyebrows when he removed the comic book. "How to Draw Manga," read Ephram.

"Do you like it?" Colin asked uncertainly. "I saw it in the comic book shop and thought- what? You look… kinda weird."

Ephram didn't even hear what Colin had said. It had been nearly a year since the last person who had really understood him had died, and he thought he was all alone. But Colin- he just got him; it just clicked. "No, no, it's perfect," he said, sounding awed. His gaze traveled from the book back to Colin. Ephram stood and wrapped his arms around Colin. The seated boy spread his legs, allowing Ephram to hold him closer. They kissed.

There was a loud gasp. Both boys turned to the entrance of the kitchen, where Delia stood with her expressive eyes clearly shocked.

~*~

"Once upon a time," Ephram began as he tucked Delia into bed, "there was a prince named Ephram. He lived in the kingdom of Everwood and another prince lived in the kingdom, named Colin. And the two princes, well, they liked each other."

Delia nodded. "In a gay way?"

"Delia!" Ephram said, not even trying not to be shocked. "How do you know about that?"

"I know a lot more than people think I do. I listen."

Ephram almost began to argue with her, but changed his mind. "Back to the story," he said, smoothing out her quilt. "So the two princes kept their relationship secret. But one of the prince's sisters, Princess Delia, found out. But Prince Ephram made her promise to keep their relationship secret when he threatened to blackmail her." Ephram stood up. "So what's the moral of the story?"

"Slow and steady wins the race?" she guessed.

"No. The moral is, you don't tell anyone about Colin and me, and I don't take your baseball caps and throw them into the fireplace." Ephram bent over and kissed his sister's head. "Guess Sam fell asleep?" The little boy was laying in his sleeping bag on the floor, snoring. "Goodnight, Delia."

"Goodnight." Ephram walked to the door of Delia's room. "Ephram?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you love Colin?" She watched as her brother become awkward and fidget.

"I-I don't know, love's kinda a- a weird word-"

"I think being gay is OK. And if Colin makes you happy, that's OK too."

Ephram grinned. "Goodnight. Love you."

"Love you, too." Ephram opened the door, flipped off the light, and closed the door behind him. Colin was waiting, back to the wall. He stared at Ephram like a famous painting, something he'd only seen in books but now got the chance to see up close.

"Jesus, Ephram," he said. "How do you do that?"

"Uh… do what?"

"Like…" Colin lowered his head, deep in thought. "You just have this way of saying the right thing, y'know? It's just perfect."

Ephram had no idea what he was talking about.  "Thanks. I just hope Delia doesn't tell anyone."

"Me too." Colin smiled shyly. "I'm kind of tired. Let's go to your room."

"And do what?" Ephram said, following him.

"Do I really need to tell you?"