Kevin's Pov

We are all sitting here staring at the clock. Even the teachers have stopped trying to shove information into our heads. Its the last day of school before Christmas vacation , something much more exciting than taking notes on our geometry work. Nazz is next to me fidgeting in her seat. Rolf had inched his body so far to the edge of his seat that I can't figure out how he hasn't fallen onto the floor yet and we are all counting down the last five minutes before winter break starts.

The bell finally rings and its a mad house everyone running all over the place, rushing to our lockers, then stampeding outside to go home. Nazz grabs my hand and drags me along with her and Rolf in their rush to leave the building. Right as we hit the door I look back down the hallway and see the only person not in a hurry to get out of school. Double D. The slender boy looked like he was lost in his own world, wondering slowly down the hall by himself. I wanted to call out to him, but I was still avoiding him. It was the only way I could figure, that would relive me of the strange feelings he causes me to have. I felt bad since we were starting to actually get along but I think it's better this way. I turn back to Nazz and we finally get outside.

"Kevin dude were free! We're gonna have so much fun, is Nat coming over anytime during break? "

" Yeah, he's planning on spending a few days visiting and I'm still gonna hang at his place on Sundays. Cept Christmas morning of course. What are you planning to do? "

" My mom doesn't care as long as we are all together so since my dad wants to go visit my uncle in North Dakota that's what we're doing. Skiing and hot chocolate here I come! "

I just laugh at the blondes antics, Nazz had always been a fun person, so it never surprises me when she acts silly. Rolf gives us a hug each and takes off running to his house. He had already told everyone that he was going back to the old country; wherever that is , for the holidays. He has been super excited because one of his cousins is having a baby soon and he hopes it will be while he is there. As Nazz and I begin walking the short distance back to the cul-de-sac I see Eddy running home with out Ed and Edd. I pretend to ignore the shrimp and continue talking to the blonde beside me. After a few minutes we make it to my house and say goodbye , as Nazz walks away I look back down the road, I can barely make out the figures of Ed and Edd finally catching up to everyone else who had already made it home.

Weird...it's like they don't want to go home today...

Narrators Pov

Kevin walked inside and was immediately greeted with the smell of baking banana bread and the sight of a kitchen table covered in baked goods. He went into the kitchen and found his mom sitting on the counter making a list of some sort. The sight made the young man smile, it was good to see his mother having enough energy to spend her day baking, something she had always enjoyed.

" Hey momma, how's your day been?"

" Hi honey, I've felt really good today. The community center is going to have a holiday bake sale tomorrow and I am donating some things for then. All the money is going be used for repairs . Isn't that good? "

" Yeah its good their finally gonna fix it up. Do you want any help, we haven't cooked together in a while?"

" Well I'm done cooking but I would still love to spend time with you, your faster is coming home early tonight how about we all go see a movie? "

" Momma I would love to , but... is it safe for you to be around so many people? I don't want you getting sick ... well I mean ... you know what I mean."

Elizabeth got up off the counter and wrapped her arms sons her son. She held him against her body for a few minutes before pulling back and looking down at him.

" Kevin honey I'm so sorry I don't want you to have to think that way. I want you to have a normal childhood and for your biggest worry to be your grades and your mom's health. Baby I'm so so sorry for doing this to you. "

" Momma please don't say your sorry. I know its not your fault. And I know your and dad have been doing everything you can to let me have as normal a life as possible. I'm sorry for upsetting you I just don't want you getting sicker than you are already. "

Elizabeth pulled Kevin close again andwalked the two if then into the living room to sit on the couch. She just held him like he was five again. Kevin despite not wanting to ended up breaking down in his mother's arms the twelve-year-old boy cried until he feel asleep. Elizabeth continues to hold him as he slept figuring that he just needed to let it all out since his last breakdown was when he first found out about her being sick.

About ten minutes later Nicholas Barr came through the door to the sight of his son sleeping in his mother's arms with tear tracks on his face. He set down his suite caseand went to the couch to join the two most important people in his life.

" Is everything ok love?"

"Yes, everything is fine. I think he has just been holding in his emotions and today he got worried and couldn't stop from letting everything out. "

Nicholas just gave his wife a nod scooped Kevin out of her arms to let her relax. He leaned back against the couch and waited for his son to wake up. He and Elizabeth ended up chatting about thier days and deciding that Nicholas would go buy a new movie, some popcorn and some burgers so they could do a movie night at home. Kevin woke up surprised at being in his dad's lap but calmed down after a minute or two. They told Kevin their plans he asked to go with his dad to pick the movie.

At the store Kevin and his father joked around andpicked on each other. They ended up picking up a couple of movies so Elizabeth could pick the one they would watch tonight. When they got back to the car to go get burgers Kevin spoke up about what had happened at home.

" I didn't mean to upset mom. I just got super worried about her being around so many people, in really sorry. "

" Kevin you didn't do anything wrong, your twelve not twenty, we don't want to put to much pressure on you that's why we do our best to not change things around the house. We want everything to still be normal even though normal for us now means your mom taking medicine everyday and us having to be more careful about cleaning the house. Your mom was happy that you thought about her safety and just wishes you weren't so hard on yourself. "

The rest of the evening went by without a hitch. The Barr family spent the night watching movies and just basking in each others presence. By the time Kevin went to bed most of his worries about their family life had been relived. The ginger boy jumped into bed after taking of his jeans and hat. Closing his eyes he couldn't help but think about how everything had changed and would most likely continue to do so.

Eddwards Pov

The bell rang and everyone ran from the classroom as quickly as possible. Even the teacher seemed to be in a hurry, watching me with a look of impatience as I pack my belongings into my bag before walking out of her room at a sedate pace. I made my way down the hall slowly, as I was in no rush to get back to my empty home. A yellow blur zoomed past me almost knocking me down, I could barely hear the rushed apology Eddy had thrown my way as he continued running home. I knew he was excited to begin his holiday, since he and his parents were going to New York this year. The shorter boy had been blabbering about it since he found out around Thanksgiving.

Right as I made my way to the door of the school building Ed caught up with me and we began chatting. Our conversation stayed on lighter subjects, avoiding talking about winter break or our families. We both already knew what the other was doing for winter break, since we both did the same thing every year. Ed would be spending the majority of the vacation at his grandparents home. They were actually Judith's parents, but treated Ed no different that Sarah so he loved to spend time with them. I would be home,not doing anything different than I do any other day. Instead we focused on school and Ed's skills in football, and if I would bake him a cake if he got an 'A' in his English class.

We made it to my house and said our goodbyes. Ed told me to call his cell phone if I needed to talk to him. Knowing that everyone would be busy celebrating the holidays , I agreed to call him if I need, fibbing since I would never bother him when he's with how family. Ed left to go home as I walked inside my dark abode.

As soon as I closed the door it hit me, a wave of sadness. I sink down to the floor my back against the door I had just closed. I look around at my empty house, the barren walls and sterile halls. I didn't even decorate this year, I just didn't see the point when it's just me in this big house. I spent the rest of my night cleaning the entire house from top to bottom, not that there was much to clean since I have always been very tidy. After a small dinner I make my way to the bathroom for a nice long shower. I washed up quickly, but ended up soaking under the shower head until he water ran cold. I went to bed as so as I was done drying off. What a start to my winter break.

Narrators Pov

And so it begins. Three weeks of loneliness and lights. Three weeks of nothing to do but acknowledge the fact that everyone's family different than his. The weeks to spend missing his friends who all have plans for the holidays. When morning comes Eddward walks downstairs to make breakfast and begin his day. The slender boy looked in his fridge to decide what to cook for himself. He ended up pulling out some soy sausage patties and making himself a sandwich.

Eddward spent most of his morning reading in the living room, taking a small break here and there to walk around and stretch his legs. Around noon he made himself lunch and began working on the small amount of homework he had been given by his teachers. He was done with everything within two hours and decided to go outside and get some fresh air. He packed a plastic bag with some apple slices in it and a water bottle into a small draw string back pack. He grabbed his jacket and a thin scarf before walking to the door and putting his shoes on.

After locking his door Eddward headed down the street in the direction of the creek. He really just wanted to walk around on the hiking trails that littered the woods surrounding the creek, but the closest trail stayed right next to the small body of water. As the little genius walked the pathways through the trees he started thinking about how he would spend his vacation. Wether he would use the time to aquire a new hobby or start studying ahead for the next semester , or even do the unthinkable and just laze about the house until the brake was over. Eddward had been walking for nearly thirty minutes before he noticed that as he was mindlessly traipsing down the path he had been humming one of the songs that Clayton made him listen to a couple of weeks ago.

Now which one was this, I know its one of the newer songs...blues I belive... goodness I'm going to have to look through all the music files he's given me . I need a better way to listen to them, having to be in my room on my computer is very troublesome.

Eddward ended up walking for another whole hour while trying to figure out the best way to convince his mother that he needed an portable music device. As the ravenete made his way back down the street to his home he noticed that quite a few of the neighbors had already packed up to leave for their vacation destinations . The lights were all off and his stepmother's van was gone at Ed's house . Eddy's father's truck had suitcases and duffle bags poking out of the tarp tied over the bed of the truck, they were most likely leaving later that day.

Eddward went back into his house and made himself some hot chocolate. After he was done stirring the his drink he sat down in the living room and turned on a nature documentary about tarantulas. About half way into the documentary the doorbell rang. Curious, Eddward got up from the couch and answered the door to find a UPS driver with a small package on his door step.

" Hello, can I get a signature, the sender requested the package be signed for. "

" Oh ok. "

The delivery guy handed Edd a small electronic scanner with a display screen and showed him where to sign. After receiving a signature the man deposited the box in Eddward's hands and went back to his truck. Edd looked at the box in his hand for a couple of seconds until he found the address label showing that the box was from his mother. He walked back into the house and sat on the floor in front of the coffee table, after getting comfortable he began to open the box.

In the box was a cell phone, a even smaller box with candy cane wrapping paper, a wallet, and an envelope. Eddward set the cell phone, box, and wallet to the side and opened the envelope first. Inside was a generic snowman Christmas card with a post-it note on the inside. The card merely said "Wishing You a Merry Christmas" but the post-it was what Edd was more interested in.

" Merry Christmas,

Eddward darling I'm very sorry I am unable to be home with you again this year, but we have been traveling all over for work. I have sent you a few items that I thought you might need. A cell phone ,since you are now in junior high and might want to do extracurriculars. The wallet has some money in it as a congratulations for your impeccable GPA, but more importantly I have sent you a credit card and a debit card. The red card with my name on it is linked to an account that I will automatically transfer money into for bills and necessities. The blue card has your name and your allowance will be given to you in this way from now on.

Enjoy your holiday (but keep the house tidy), Mother

Eddward read the tiny writing on the post-it the times before sighing and looking at the other items. He read all the information on the cell phone box and was pleased to see that the device had enough memory to hold the music Clayton and given him over the course of his project so far. He opened the wallet and was surprised by the amount of money inside.

" It figures tough, my grades are considered the most important..."

Eddward cleaned up the small mess from opening the package and took everything to his room. He plugged the phone into his computer and let it charge a bit wild he went to his closet. In his closet he pulled out a large plastic tub labeled " Presents". He grabbed a post-it note and wrote the year on it before placing it the small wrapped box that was in the package with the cell phone and wallet. Eddward placed the small box inside the tub and just looked down into the tub. Inside the tub were many wrapped boxes ranging in size. Some of the paper was obviously for birthdays, but there was also paper indicating Christmas, easter and even one for Valentine's day. The only thing in comments rant was that each gift had a post-it with a year on it and that not even one had been opened.

I'm not sure if it's wrong or not but I'm not ever opening these until she notices that none of the gifts she's given me are anywhere in the house and asks me about them. Of course for that to happen she has to be home for more than just a few hours of sleep. If she would just be home... that's the only gift I want... I just want my mother.