Author's Note: hey guys! I can only apologize for the delay with this update, I've had a lot of things going on college-wise that just had to come first. I also have some things coming up this next couple of weeks or so which means I will be very busy. I'll try to update every weekend but if I miss it don't worry, I won't forget the story and I will update eventually! What inspired me the most to write this chapter was the lovely reviews I've been getting for both this story and my oneshot appropriately entitled 'One Shot to Make a Oneshot' which got a lot better reviews than I expected. Thank you so much to DatLittleStar and cortez30 who both reviewed my last chapter for this story. Also, yay for longer chapters! I feel like I'm starting to find my feet with this story, but as it is only my first story I'd love to know what you guys think of it, negative or positive feedback is always appreciated! Okay thanks guys, hope you enjoy this chapter... all I can say is enjoy the happiness while it lasts *evil laughs* :-)

"Are you dead?"

Kyle gives a sudden jerk of his head, turning towards the person that has awoken him from his not-quite-asleep but not-quite-awake state. He must have been laid on top of the dirt above Sharon's grave for at least twelve hours. How else would you explain the pale moonlight that is giving this mysterious figure a black silhouette? Once Kyle's vision has adjusted to this sudden darkness that he has found himself surrounded in, he sees Craig Tucker standing very clearly above him, looking particularly unconcerned about the fact that he may have just stumbled upon the dead body of his former class mate.

"Well..." Craig asks in his deep and monotonous voice.

"Well what?" Kyle asks, slowly sitting up to wipe the dirt and snow from his clothes, it must have stopped snowing a few hours ago, as when Kyle quickly gazes up at the sky he sees nothing among the darkness but the moon and stars.

"Are you dead?" Craig repeats, showing a lack of interest or emotion. Kyle scoffs and takes Craig's hand to help him up when it is offered. Although Kyle is conscious of the fact that he may be heavy to lift up, Craig seems unphased. In fact, he's grown considerably since Kyle last saw him. His physique has some tone and admittedly it suits him. Kyle never thought that Craig's delicate and defenseless appearance ever matched his cold and cynical personality anyway.

"If I were dead..." Kyle begins, "Would I be talking to you right now?"

"No." Craig replies.

"Then I'm not dead."

"Oh." Craig says, silent for a few seconds, looking like he is questioning the authenticity of Kyle's logic, "Good."

"What are you doing here so late anyway?" Kyle asks, looking down at Sharon's grave. There is a light dent smudged in the surface of the dirt from where Kyle had been laid, but apart from that it's still intact. Well, as intact as the grave of your boyfriend's Mother will ever appear.

"I could ask you the same thing." Craig says.

"Oh I was-" Kyle begins before his speech comes to a halt. There are many reasons as to why Kyle probably shouldn't mention the Randy incident to anybody, but the main reason in Kyle's mind is that it would just be so degrading for people to know that he was taken down by a middle-aged man with only one working leg. "I just came to visit Sharon's grave... pay my respects, you know?" Kyle asks, "I must have passed out or something... I guess my brain is still getting used to the fact that it's active for the first time in two years."

"Oh yeah, you were in a coma." Craig states the obvious.

"Yeah." Kyle says.

"But why is your face so fucked up?" Craig asks casually, "I mean, no offense."

"It is?" Kyle asks, showing a slight panic in his eyes. He winces when he brings his left hand to his cheek, tracing over a large cut that has been marked on his skin. Kyle plays his panic off with a laugh, "I guess I must have hit the ground pretty hard."

"Uh-huh."

An uncomfortably long and awkward silence fills the atmosphere shared by the two boys as they both look down onto Sharon's grave. Kyle thinks about the events that led to this... why did Randy just attack him unprovoked like that? Surely he couldn't still be so mad about what he saw Stan and Kyle doing, could he? Or maybe he blames Kyle for his wife's death. It would make sense. Kyle remembers Stan saying that it took him a while to realize that it really was just a freak accident. Maybe Randy hasn't realized this yet. Maybe he thinks Kyle did it on purpose. Randy's voice echoes in the corner of Kyle's mind...

"Can you see how sorry he is now, Sharon?"

One thing Kyle knows for sure about this whole incident is that he's never been more proud of himself in his life for not retaliating. Or more importantly... not crying. If he cried in the presence of Randy it would just show him that he won. Randy would go home with a huge grin on his face, knowing that he made the boy who took his son's virginity weep. But this way Randy doesn't have that privilege. Now Randy can only go home and think about the disrespect that he caused to Sharon's grave, all in vain. Yes, Kyle won this battle. But he has a feeling that the war has only just begun.

"So..." Craig says, interrupting Kyle's inner conflict and making him jump slightly in shock, "it sucks how you killed Stan's Mom, huh?"

"Yeah..." Kyle agrees, and he appreciates Craig's honesty. He is the first person Kyle has seen since he woke up that is accepting the fact that even though the crash really was just a freak accident, Kyle still had some part to play in the demise of Sharon Marsh. Although maybe not a part as intentional as Randy might be assuming. "But..." Kyle begins, "It's not like I did it on purpose or anything. People know that, right?"

"Duh..." Craig says, like what Kyle had just asked was the most obvious question that anybody has ever made, "Why would you purposely kill your boyfriend's Mom?"

Kyle swears in that second that his heart stopped beating. Did Craig just say what Kyle thinks he just said? No... no he can't have. How could Craig know? As far as Kyle could tell neither Randy nor Stan has told anybody about the secret love shared by the boys. So how could this be happening? Craig notices the shock spread across Kyle's face and he rolls his eyes in response.

"Relax..." Craig says to little effect, "You think nobody noticed the way you and Stan used to look at each other?" When Kyle doesn't reply, Craig continues. "Well I did. Hell, you two looked at each other the same way I used to look at-" he stops.

"The way you used to look at..." Kyle repeats, speaking for the first time since the bombshell, "...Clyde?" Craig looks away from Kyle and into the distance, telling Kyle all that he needs to know. Craig is in love with Clyde. Of course he is. Kyle has suspected this since they were children. The way Craig would flick off anyone but Clyde. The way Craig would secretly beat up anybody who had hurt Clyde's feelings. But both Craig and Kyle knew deep inside that Clyde didn't return the love that Craig wore so obviously on his sleeve. Clyde loves Bebe. Always has, always will. Love sucks sometimes.

"So..." Kyle says, ready to change the subject entirely. Kyle knows from past experiences that bringing up something as delicate as an unshared love can feel like being constantly reminder about the dagger that is stuck in your heart. "You didn't tell me... why exactly are you here?"

"Oh." Craig says, giving Kyle a slight nod to show his appreciation for the change in subject, then he looks back at the grave. "I guess I came for the same reason as you did... to pay my condolences to a second Mom."

"What?" Kyle asks in disbelief, before realizing that Craig doesn't mean that he came to visit Sharon. He came to visit Betsy Donovan, Clyde's Mother. Kyle sighs as he remembers the day that she died, all those years ago. Clyde was only a child, and he took it pretty hard. But Kyle never considered the fact that it might have affected Craig too. Does Craig really share the same feelings for Betsy that Kyle had for Sharon? Did he really see her as a second Mother?

"I can't believe it's been 8 years already." Kyle states, not knowing what else to add to this conversation.

"Yeah well, you missed 2 of those years." Craig replies coldly, "So I guess for you it doesn't feel as long ago as it does for the rest of us."

"Craig-"

"Don't." Craig snaps, "Look, I know it's not your fault that your driving sucks ass-"

"Hey-"

"But just because it happened doesn't mean I should feel sorry for you. Because I don't okay?" Kyle doesn't reply, he doesn't know how. So he just stands there open-mouthed, wondering what he said to make this whole situation go so wrong. Craig continues, "You know, I would give anything- anything to have been able to skip these past two years. Stan has been an absolute fucking mess. The whole town had to recover from losing one of our most respected women-"

"You think I don't know that?!" Kyle shouts, his voice echoing in the dark and lonely cemetery, "You think I don't know how much I've fucked up? You think- you think I don't wake up everyday wishing that I could be the one who died and not Sharon? Because I do. And that's something I've got to live with-"

"Yep, let's make this all about Kyle!" Craig declares sarcastically, dramatically waving his hands like he is performing in a theater, "Poor little Kyle bumped his head and slept for a while, and now he thinks he knows what it's like to hurt. Well you know what, Broflovski? You don't know shit." And with that Craig flicks Kyle off, before stomping away towards the entrance, leaving a bewildered Kyle stood at the foot of Sharon's grave.

Kyle then spends a good half an hour slowly making his way home from the Cemetery, through the streets of South Park and back to the Broflovski Residence, where he sees all the lights of the house switched on, dramatically lighting the otherwise dark and gritty street like a glistening raindrop atop a black rose. Kyle sighs, he does not want to walk through those doors, not as he is right now. Not while he's feeling so down and hopeless; Sheila will only make him feel worse when he sees the pain and worry in her eyes that are a result of him not coming home until past midnight, just days after waking up from a coma. He decides to walk around the back of the house and climb through his bedroom window, which against Kyle's wishes is always left unlocked, "When there is an unexpected fire you'll thank me, Bubby!" Sheila's voice echoes through Kyle's mind.

Once Kyle is through the window he silently makes his way over to the bed, trying to avoid standing on all of the spots on the floor that hauntingly creak when stepped on. The moment he crashes onto his childhood bed -clothed and all- he breaks down into tears. Trying to be quiet is pointless now as Kyle clings to his pillow like he would to Stan's chest. Imagining the way Stan would lovingly wrap his arms around Kyle and let Kyle soak his bare skin with tears, while Stan's free hand would stroke Kyle's red hair. How did everything go so wrong for Kyle? What did he do to deserve all of this? Kyle quickly stops crying, looking up at his ceiling and thinking about his earlier encounter with Craig. Maybe Craig was right. Maybe Kyle is just feeling sorry for himself. He's not the person who lost a Mom, a boyfriend, and a best friend all at the same time. He's not the person who has lost all feeling in one of his legs. He's not the person who is currently six feet under.

"Kyle?" Sheila asks, knocking on the bedroom door for the first time since Kyle can remember. Being in a coma really has changed the family more than Kyle could have ever imagined. "Kyle, Bubby. Is that you?"

"It's me, Mah." Kyle announces, sniffing as he wipes his tears away with his sleeve, "You can come in."

The door quickly opens and Sheila stomps into Kyle's bedroom looking absolutely furious. "And where have you been young man? Your Father and I have been worried sick! We almost called the police and-" Sheila stops once she sees her teenage son curled up on top of his bed sheets, looking worse than death. "Kyle... what on Earth happened to your face? Did somebody attack you? That's it, I'm calling the police-"

"No!" Kyle shouts, sitting up in his bed and looking pleadingly at his Mother, "No Mom, please! I'm okay. I went to see Mrs Marsh's grave and I tripped and hit my head. But I'm okay now. Just- just stay with me." Kyle says desperately, "please?"

"Oh Kyle!" Sheila yells, walking over to the bed and taking her son in her arms, "You must be more careful, Bubby! You've just woken up from a two year coma, don't take your body for granted!"

"I won't Mom." Kyle declares, "It won't happen again, I promise."

Sheila moves away from the hug and settles her hands on Kyle's shoulders, giving them a soft squeeze. Kyle can see Sheila examining his face with curiosity. She brings her hand over to the large cut on Kyle's cheek and then puts her hand back onto his shoulder when she notices him wince at the contact.

"And you're sure you just fell over?" She asks doubtfully.

"I'm sure, Mom." Kyle replies.

"Kyle, if someone tried to attack you and you're covering up for them I will find out-"

"Mom, stop." Kyle insists, "Nobody tried to attack me. Who would? I'm just Kyle, not some most-wanted criminal."

"Well... okay, Bubby." Sheila says with a sigh of defeat, "oh you poor thing, you must be starving! I'll fix you up a sandwich and then it's straight to bed, Mister!"

"Yes Ma'am." Kyle says.

Once Sheila has left the room he quickly changes into his Terrance and Phillip pajamas, before tucking himself into his bed and checking his phone. He sees that somebody has sent him one new message since he last checked. He clicks on it and is surprised to see that it is from Kenny:

hey man wats up? listen u still up for clydes tmrow? i think u should go every1 will be so happy to see u

Kyle can't help but smile at Kenny's complete lack of punctuation and grammar skills. Some things will never change. But does Kyle really want to face everyone tomorrow? Craig will be there no doubt, and maybe even Stan. And when there's a Stan there is always a Wendy. Kyle sighs as he types out his reply:

Hey Kenny. Nothing much is up with me, yourself? And I'm not too sure about the party, dude. I feel like some people won't want me there.

He clicks send. Within a minute the phone vibrates and Kyle checks his phone again. Another message from Kenny:

wat stop talking crazy brofloski, people will be so so happy to see you man,even stan! pls go, i'll get butters to drag u there if i hav to, and u know how aggressive he gets after a few shots ;)

Kyle laughs at this response, remembering that one time when he was 15 when the boys got Butters drunk for the first time. Many things happened that night. Butters puked, declared his love for boys, and more importantly, he beat the living crap out of Cartman for calling him a fag. It was a victorious night that Cartman will never ever live down. Kyle reconsiders going to the party, maybe it will be nice to see everyone again. Even Cartman. Kyle makes a mental note to thank Cartman the next time Kyle sees him for sending the Get Well Soon card. He smiles as he sends his new message:

Okay, Kenny. I'll go tomorrow, but only if you pick me up! And don't think that you'll be able to get me drunk this time, McCormick! I'm not allowed to drink. Doctor's orders.

Kyle waits a minute and giggles to himself when the phone vibrates again. He checks it and isn't surprised to see yet another message from Kenny:

done. u wont regret it i promise

Kyle rests his phone on the small table next to his bed and he lays down on the bed, his hands either side of his slim figure. The sandwich can wait until the morning, he decides. Terror floods through Kyle's mind as he wonders whether he will experience the dream again; the one where he's at the scene of the car crash. Maybe visiting Sharon's grave will have helped... or maybe it will have made the dreams even worse. Regardless, Kyle slowly feels himself slip from consciousness as he enters the world of dreams.

Kyle wakes up with a quick jolt upwards and rapid breaths. He is completely drenched in sweat from head to toe. He had the dream again last night. Except this time it was more vivid and frightening than Kyle has experienced since he woke from the coma. In this variation of the dream, Kyle was in the same car as Sharon when it crashed, and he could see everything happen in slow motion; from the face hitting the steering wheel, to the smashed glass sliding across Sharon's throat and fatally wounding her. Kyle wished that he could help, but he couldn't move. He could only scream as Sharon's blood covered him, much like the puddle of sweat that he has woken up in. It all felt so real.

When Kyle looks around his room, searching for that bit of evidence to suggest that he is definitely awake, he sees something as equally stunning as it is surprising. Sitting on the small table next to his bed, atop of the sandwich that Sheila made for him the night before, lies a beautiful purple butterfly. Kyle recognizes the type of butterfly immediately from school; it's a Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly. But how did it get in here? Just then Kyle feels a soft draft brush against his arm, indicating that the window that he climbed through is still open. He spends a few moments simply staring at the insect. It doesn't look trapped, although quite clearly it didn't surround itself within these walls on purpose. So what is stopping it from leaving? Kyle moves from the bed and attempts to catch the butterfly, but just as he moves the insect flies gracefully around the room. Kyle cups his hands, but it never lands. Kyle then moves over to his window and opens it all the way, giving the butterfly access to the open space. Kyle knows that it's home is in the sky, and that it does not need to be stuck between the walls, yet still it stays.

"Weird..."Kyle mutters to himself. He decides to take this butterfly as a sign. He's never been superstitious but something about that butterfly that won't leave his room tells him that maybe things will brighten up for him now. Maybe now that Kyle has had the worst dream yet, it can only get better. Or maybe that's just a load of old horseshit and it's just some dumb insect that is too stupid to realize that there is a way out. Either way, Kyle get's dressed and prepares himself for the rest of the day.

The front door knocks, sending a shiver of nerves running up and down Kyle's spine. He is up in his bedroom anxiously getting ready for his first house party in two years. He secretly wishes to himself that he doesn't get asked too many questions about the coma tonight, or about the accident in general. He just wants to catch up with his friends and leave. And maybe, just maybe... Kyle will be able to get Stan alone and they can finally talk properly, not like how they were the morning after Kyle woke up from being comatose. This time they will be surrounded by a positive vibe of drunkenness and teenage hormones, as opposed to the morbid, grisly feeling of the hospital room, where the loudest noise heard was the beeping of the heart monitor. Kyle fails to imagine the occasion tonight going perfectly magical however, as he has a feeling deep down in his gut that Wendy will be there to unintentionally destroy any intimacy that the two boys could potentially share. The door knocks for a second time.

"Kyle Broflovski!" Sheila shouts from downstairs, "would you please answer the door while I cook your brother some food?!"

"Coming, Mah." Kyle shouts back, he takes a deep breath and checks his appearance one last time in the mirror. With all things considered Kyle looks better than he has done in a very long time. His red hair is as unbeatable as ever, but mixed with a nice green shirt and some black skinny jeans the hair actually kind of suits him. Even the cuts on his face add to his rockstar image. Or rather... as "rockstar" as Kyle will ever be able to manage. He nods in approval at the mirror and heads out of the bedroom and downstairs, apprehensively awaiting the scolding that he will receive once his Mother finds out about his plans to go to a house party. Maybe she'll understand and be happy that Kyle is so quick to want to socialize with his friends after such a traumatic experience... or maybe not. Kyle quickly opens the front door to an already drunken Kenny and Butters.

"Well heyyy there, Ky- Kyle!" Butters shouts, his speech slurring somewhat as he goes to hug Kyle. Kyle pushes him back as politely as he can manage. Butters simply hiccups and giggles in response.

"Guys, just give me one second!" Kyle whispers, holding up his left index finger to emphasize the second.

"W-what's goin' on, Kyyle-" Kenny begins, leaning on Butters for stability. But before he can finish his sentence Kyle closes the door on the two boys and heads towards the kitchen, where he finds his Mother chopping carrots. She turns her head towards his direction and smiles when she sees how smart her son looks.

"Oh goodness!" Sheila shouts, "Bubby, you look precious! What's the occasion?"

"I'm uh..." Kyle begins, scratching the back of his head awkwardly as he tries to arrange the correct words in his head to use, "I'm going to a party tonight. Clyde's having a little get together and I thought... why not, you know? I mean, it will be nice to see everyone again and-"

"And will there be liquor at this party?" Sheila asks accusingly, her eyes never leaving the chopping board as she cuts through the vegetables with her sharp kitchen knife.

"Well- uh... yeah I guess there will be." Kyle says, "but it's not like I'll be drinking or anything. I know the Doctor said that I'm not allowed to. I just want to say hi to everyone... that's all."

"Well..." Sheila says, considering this for a moment before sighing, "Usually I'd say no... but I guess you do deserve some fun, my little Bubby has been through so much! Oh what the heck, you can go. But I want you back home by midnight at the latest and if I smell even the slightest hint of alcohol on you then you'll be grounded until you're 40, young man!"

"Okay!" Kyle says excitedly, he runs over to hug his Mother, "thanks Mom, you're the best."

"Well... I do try." Sheila says, patting her son on his back. "Now for goodness sake, go and have some fun! You deserve it."

Kyle then quickly leaves the kitchen and heads towards the front door, greeting his drunken friends for a second time tonight as he leaves the house and closes the door gently behind him. A feeling hits Kyle in the stomach like a tornado that can only ever be described as pre-party nerves.

"So..." Kyle says after spending a good 5 minutes watching Kenny and Butters stumble down the street, "how much have you two had to drink already?"

"Ohhh Kyyyle, always the worrier" Kenny says, stopping to tap Kyle on the head, "you know mee, I likes to- to start early, huh Butters?"

"Ye-yeah, you sure do, Ken- Kennyyy" Butters says as he stares straight ahead onto the open road, swaying slightly.

"How many people are going to be there?" Kyle asks, feeling nervous about the fact that he'll be seeing everyone again within the next ten minutes.

"Only- only the people that you know, Kyleee" Butters says enthusiastically, "It's your party, after all!"

"Huh?" Kyle asks in a confused tone.

"Butterrrrs!" Kenny mouths, dramatically covering his mouth with his hand to show his shock, "you- you ruined the surprise for Kyleee!"

Butters stops walking and gasps, copying Kenny as he covers his hands with his mouth also. "Oh hamburgers, you're right Kennyyy!" he wails, "I've- I've ruined everythinggg! It was gonna be a big surprise, and you all said to me 'don't ru-ruin this for Kyle, Buttersss', but then I- I go and ruin it anyhow-"

"You guys have planned a surprise party?" Kyle asks, feeling particularly touched by this. "For me?"

"Well we did" Butters says bitterly, "Until I went and- and spoiled it."

"Don't worry, Butters." Kyle insists reassuringly, "I'll just act surprised when we get there."

"But it won't be the sameee!" Butters complains, stomping his foot on the round and folding his arms to his chest like a five year old having a temper-tantrum, "You were supposed to-to be surprised for real, Kyyleee."

"Buttersss, it's okayy" Kenny states, squeezing his boyfriend's shoulders, "I'm not- not mad. And neither is Kyle, right Kyylee?"

"Right." Kyle says, "Hey look, there's the house!"

The three boys approach the strangely silent house. Kyle secretly feels sick to his stomach as they grow closer and closer to the front door of the relatively small house. That is, small for a group of drunken teenagers who will no doubt trash the house, although really it's just as big as any other house in South Park. Kyle wonders to himself whether they have the right address as they stop at the door, while Kenny makes an effort to knock whilst intoxicated, the house feels too quiet. That's when it hits him. If they all really planned a surprise party for Kyle, they're probably waiting for him to walk in so they can yell 'Surprise!' at him and shower him with the love that Kyle will sheepishly accept. Kyle almost wishes that Butters didn't tell him about this, he would have enjoyed the concept of a surprise party a lot more had it actually been a surprise, at least then he could experience this all completely oblivious and unaware of the events to come.

"Huh," Kenny says dramatically as he scratches his head, "I guess- I guess we must be the first people hereee", he's probably already forgotten the fact that Kyle now knows that it's a surprise party. Kenny turns the door knob and slowly pushes it open, revealing a pitch black living room. "After you, Kylee." Kyle takes a deep breath, before stepping into the house and awaiting the-

"SURPRISE!"

The lights of the living room turn on within a second of Kyle entering the room, revealing in front of him a group of highly intoxicated teenagers that Kyle instantly remembers as his old school friends. He sees everyone: from an uncomfortable looking Tweek, to a plastered Cartman, and Kyle almost feels himself welling up when he sees Stan stood near the back of the crowd, clapping and cheering along with everyone else at Kyle's entrance. And even better, there is no Wendy in sight! Maybe today won't be so bad after all.

Kyle tries his best to act surprised, to the point where he jumps back a little, pretending to be in shock. He even adds the occasional "Whose idea was this?" and "Kenny, was this you?" just to make it seem all the more genuine. And everyone believes him, laughing along as their childhood friend takes in the atmosphere. There is a huge banner with the words 'WELCOME BACK, KYLE!' written across it on the living room wall, with a badly drawn penis vandalized on the corner of the banner -probably Cartman's handiwork- and near the corner of the room there is a table of party snacks and cups. Butters and Kenny mingle with the crowd as they all move into their own groups, as they probably were before Kyle showed up.

"Welcome back, buddy!" Clyde shouts over the crowd as he walks over to Kyle and awkwardly man-hugs him, offering him a can of Coors Light.

"Thanks, dude." Kyle calls, shaking his head apologetically when he sees the can, "sorry but no can do, Doctor's orders!"

"Oh come on, Broflovski!" Clyde demands, he sounds a little bit drunk himself, but not nearly as paralytic as Kenny and Butters are, although Kyle suspects that the couple may have smoked a little weed before they showed up at his door, it certainly wouldn't be a first for Kenny. "You're in my house, bro. I'd be offended if you didn't accept my alcohol!"

"I really can't sorry." Kyle replies, trying to sound as gutted about the fact that he can't drink as possible. In all honesty, he hates the stuff. And he will only ever drink it when he's surrounded by his friends, at least now he has an excuse not to drink. "Hey, is Craig here?"

"Craig?" Clyde asks, looking like he's trying to remember who Craig is, "OH- Craig! Yeah- sorry, uh... he told me he can't make it, something's come up. Why, was it important?"

"No..." Kyle mutters with a sigh, "No I guess not."

"KYLE!" Kyle cringes as he hears a high-pitched voice yell from behind him that he instantly recognizes as Bebe's. She runs around him and practically forces herself onto him, giving him an extremely tight hug. She's clearly very drunk herself. She always was a lightweight. Once she has pulled back from the hug she settles her arm over Clyde for stability. "It's been, like... forever since I last saw you, Kyleee! What have you been up to? Why haven't I seen you in so long? Don't you- don't you like mee?"

"Urm..." Kyle mumbles, scratching his head.

"Babe," Clyde says, looking over to his girlfriend, "Kyle was in a coma, remember?"

"A coma?!" Bebe repeats, gasping in shock as she jumps back onto Kyle again to give him another terrifyingly tight hug, "Ohhhh myyyy God, Kyle! Are you- are you okayyyy?"

"Yeah, Bebe." Kyle states, "Yeah I'm fine now. Uh- thanks for asking. Hey listen guys I'm gonna go find Stan. Thanks for the party, Clyde."

"Don't mention it, bro. Anytime." Clyde says, raising his can of Coors Light to Kyle as he turns to Bebe and grabs her ass with a soft moan. Kyle blushes furiously as he quickly turns around and searches the room for Stan. After passing a few people who he just about recognizes, who each come up to him and drunkenly tell him how pleased they are that he's okay, he eventually bumps into Cartman. The two share a few seconds of eye contact before they both quickly turn away and scan anywhere around the room that isn't each other.

"So uh-" Cartman begins, clearing his throat as he awkwardly looks back at Kyle, "pretty gay party, huh?"

"Yeah..." Kyle reluctantly agrees, "but I can appreciate the gesture, I guess. I mean it's nice that everyone went to such an effort to make me feel welcome."

"Uh-huh." Cartman mutters.

A long and painful silence then follows as the two boys struggle to think of what to say. Kyle had been dreading seeing Cartman again for many reasons. Mainly because he'd been such a prominent and evil part of his recurring dream, this had somehow led Kyle to come to the conclusion that Cartman is just as evil in real life. Or even worse. But that's ridiculous, Cartman may be an annoying asshole, but he's still just a relatively normal teenager like everyone else in this room.

"Hey listen," Kyle begins, trying to meet Cartman's eyes again, "thanks for sending that Get Well Card, it was-" he hesitates, before faking his biggest smile and continuing, "it was really nice of you."

"Get Well Card?" Cartman repeats with a confused look on his face, "Oh- OH. That. I think I sent that a few days after your crappy driving put you in a coma."

"But still..." Kyle says with gritted teeth, "You didn't have to send me one at all, so thanks."

"Don't mention it..." Cartman says silently, before adding with an awkward and almost questionable laugh, "...Jew." Kyle breathes a sigh of relief, at least Kyle being in a coma hasn't stopped the mutual hatred shared by the boys. He doesn't think he'd ever be able to handle a world where Cartman is nice to him.

"Well, I'm gonna go find Stan." Kyle adds, "Enjoy the party... fat-ass." just as he goes to move away Cartman gently grabs him by his arm, pulling him back. Just as Kyle is about to scream in protest he sees the sadness in Cartman's eyes.

"Look..." Cartman begins, "I'm pretty bad at this sentimental shit okay? So just- try to understand that this is a pretty fucking hard thing for me to say. But I've- missed you. And... I'm glad that you're okay."

Kyle doesn't know what to say. Suddenly he feels guilty for ever assuming even in his dreams that Cartman is some mortal enemy of his. Sure, they've never gotten along swimmingly, but somehow during the years of constant bickering they have actually developed something close to friendship.

"I've..." Kyle begins, before sighing, "I've missed you too, Eric." The two quickly smile at each other before looking away again. Another awkward silence fills the air as they look into the drunken crowd of people.

"Breathe a word of that conversation to anyone and I'll murder you in your sleep, Jew." Cartman warns.

Kyle scoffs in response, before turning back to Cartman and saying, "Like I'd want anyone to know that I've talked to you anyway, fat-ass!" They smile at each other one last time before Kyle walks away from his childhood friend in the hope of finding Stan.

When Kyle does find Stan alone in the backyard, sat on a hammock at the back of the garden, Kyle goes to turn back around and into the house, suddenly feeling extremely shy and nervous. But his better judgement tells him to go and face his responsibilities. He owes it to himself and Stan to at least try to talk to him. Stan hasn't noticed him yet. He's simply sipping from his bottle and dreamily looking up at the cloudless night sky. Seeing a bottle in Stan's hand makes Kyle's heart drop as he assumes the worst. This must surely mean that Stan has relapsed. That all of those hours spent scrubbing a sick-covered Stan was all for nothing. But no... Kyle tells himself to calm down, that it's perfectly normal to drink at a house party. He approaches the hammock and stops in his tracks as he is stood behind it, coughing to gain Stan's attention. Stan turns around and looks ecstatic to see Kyle again.

"KYLEEE!" he shouts, standing up and wrapping his arms around Kyle in a loving embrace. Kyle smiles into Stan's shoulders and hugs the other boy back just as hard as he is getting hugged. Drunk or not... this hug feels genuine. It feels real. "I'm so pleased to- to see you again, dude!"

"I'm pleased to see you too, Stan." Kyle whispers, feeling his voice turn raspy as he tries not to cry. "You have no idea how pleased I am right now."

"Hey listen!" Stan says, pulling back only a little bit and keeping his hands on Kyle's shoulders. The two boys are so close that Kyle can feel Stan's breath on his nose. "I am so sorry about how I acted the other day! I was a complete douche, and I promiseee it will never ever ever happen again, okayyy?"

"Stan you really don't have to apologize-"

"Yes I do, Kyleee!" Stan insists, slurring in a drunken manor that is absolutely adorable to watch, "because you're my favorite person in the world and I love you! And I shouldn't have treat my favorite person in the world in such a shitty way!"

"Favorite person in the world?" Kyle repeats, "Shouldn't that title belong to Wendy now?"

This comment seems to upset Stan, and he removes his hands from his shoulders. Kyle instantly regrets saying anything as he sees the upset in Stan's eyes, but this upset soon turns to excitement as he smiles at Kyle, before grabbing his hand and saying "forget about all of that sh-shit! Come and sit on this awesome hammockkk, Kyle. It's got- it's got magical sitting powers!"

"Magical sitting powers?" Kyle mocks, feeling particularly flirty as he raises his eyebrows at Stan.

"Hey- don't doubt the magical sitting powers until-until you'veee sat on... on it." and with that Stan pulls Kyle by the hand onto the hammock where they both sit down and look up at the stars, hands still intertwined. Kyle has missed the hand holding. There has always been something so intimate about hand holding. It's like, while they're locked like this they almost become one being. It's like the hand holding unifies them and they become a whole person, unlike the half people that they were before they shared this kind of contact. Kyle daringly rests his head on Stan's shoulder while they look up. Instead of pulling back, Stan rests his head on Kyle's and sighs.

"What are you thinking about?" Kyle asks in a hushed tone, just like when they were kids and they would whisper to each other so no one else would know their secrets.

"Just... everything" Stan says, "Heyyyy, you remember- you remember when we decided to become a thing? Like, a secret thing?"

"Yeah..." Kyle replies, nodding as he smiles at the memory.

It was four years ago when they got together, the two boys were both fourteen. Stan had broken up with Wendy for the fifteenth time that year, but he actually seemed unphased by it, which surprised Kyle a lot. Usually after a break-up, Stan would be a complete and utter mess. He'd spend his time locked up in his room and listening to depressing songs about the one that got away. But this time he actually seemed okay. More than okay, actually, he seemed electric. Kyle decided to investigate by walking over to the Marsh Residence and interrogating Stan on the matter at hand. When Kyle reached the door he knocked and awaited a response. Sharon opened the door with a friendly smile.

"Kyle!" she beamed, "you know you don't have to knock, just walk in! You practically live here anyway."

"Sorry Mrs Marsh-" he begins.

"How many times do I have to say it Kyle?" Sharon asks as she shakes her head, "you may call me Sharon!"

"Oh, uh- Sorry, Sharon." Kyle declared, "Is Stan home?"

"He's up in his room, as always. You can go up and see him if you want. I'll be in the kitchen if you boys need me." Sharon declared as she stepped out of the way, giving Kyle access into her home.

"Thanks Mrs Marsh- I mean Sharon." Kyle said as he ran up the stairs and over to Stan's room. Kyle has never felt the need to knock before entering Stan's room before, he's never had to, they never kept any secrets from each other. But for the first time in his life Kyle wished he had knocked when he entered Stan's room to see him laid naked on his bed, touching himself to a photo that Kyle recognized as a one of the two boys together from the previous summer, arm-in-arm and smiling happily at the camera.

"KYLE!" Stan shouted in horror as he quickly grabbed his bed sheets to cover his pride.

"Shit, Stan! I am so sorry!" Kyle shouted as he quickly left the room and closed the door behind him. Kyle ran home that day without even saying goodbye to neither Stan nor Sharon. However, as soon as he got back home he instantly regretted leaving in the first place. Admittedly, he could have handled that situation a lot better. So what if he walked in on his best friend jerking it? Everyone does it! But what baffled Kyle the most was the fact that he seemed to be- ahem, pleasing himself to a photo of the two best friends together. Was Stan gay? No, he couldn't be. This was Stan we're talking about! The most masculine boy in class. He couldn't be gay... could he? The idea somewhat excited Kyle for reasons that he didn't quite understand. Kyle had always considered his sexuality to be something of a mystery. He's never really been attracted to any girls or boys. Except maybe... Stan. That was when it hit Kyle. He's gay. But he's not gay for any old dick that comes walking through the door, he's gay for Stan. Not just his dick, but his soul. He needed to make sure that this feeling was mutual. It was, wasn't it?

Kyle decided to put this question to the test the next day before school started. He decided to wait for Stan outside of his house and demand answers. He waited outside for nearly half an hour, before growing impatient and storming into the house and marching upstairs. Just before he walked into Stan's room he decided to do something he'd never done in his whole entire life... and knock.

"Stan?" he said as he knocked, "can I come in?"

No answer. Kyle decided against instinct to walk in anyway. And he felt kind of disappointed to find that he hasn't walked in on Stan in a vulnerable position again. Instead, he's walked in on Stan wrapped under his covers, shielding his face from the outside world. Kyle thought that he must have been asleep then, until he heard sniffing, and what sounded like crying.

"Stan?" Kyle whispers as he walked lightly towards his best friend's bed.

"Go away." Stan said, trying to sound as cold and distant as possible.

"Stan, come on." Kyle pleaded as he tried to pull the covers from Stan's face. But Stan clung on to his covers and refused to come out.

"I said go away!" he shouted.

"You know, we're going to be late for school." Kyle added matter-of-factually.

"Like I give a shit." Stan replied.

"Stan you're being ridiculous!" Kyle says, quickly getting tired of this whole situation. "Either you come out from under the covers or I'm coming in!"

No reply.

"That's it. I'm coming in" Kyle declares, and with that he quickly lifted the covers up, giving Stan no time to pull them back down again, and he crawled under the covers and laid next to an obviously upset and crying Stan. "Oh Stan!" Kyle whispered as he wrapped his arms around Stan and squeezed him as hard as possible, like Stan is a sponge and only with great squeezing can Kyle get rid of all of the nastiness. "Stan, I don't care that you're gay!"

"I'm not gay!" Stan shouted as he clung to Kyle, sobbing. "I'm not gay, I'm not gay, I'M NOT GAY!"

"Okay..." Kyle says, trying a new tactic. "You're not gay. Trust me I know how you feel. You're not gay because you're not attracted to any other guys. Except this one guy that you do feel attracted to, right?"

Stan sniffed as he looked up at his friend in the darkness, "Right... how did you-"

"But you don't want to tell this guy because you're afraid of the impact that it'll have on the friendship, correct?"

"Yeah- correct. But how do you know all of this?"

"I know because..." Kyle started, taking a deep breath before saying, "Because I feel that way too, Stan."

Stan is quiet for a moment, which makes Kyle panic. What if Kyle was completely wrong about this whole situation? What if Stan's not actually gay at all? Kyle wasn't sure that he could handle such a rejection. But just as he opened his mouth to ask whether Stan felt the same way, he felt Stan's warm and wet lips brush against his own lips. Two things happened that day. Kyle had his first kiss. And Kyle and Stan realized that they were meant for each other. But no one else could no, not yet anyway.

That was four years ago, and now here Kyle and Stan are sat on a hammock, reminiscing about the old days while Stan is intoxicated. Kyle sighs after thinking about that precious memory of his and Stan's first kiss. Stan notices Kyle's sigh and he gives his shoulders a squeeze.

"What's-what's wrong, Kyleee?" Stan asks sounding particularly worried, like what Kyle is about to say is as serious as the death of a martyr.

"It's just..." Kyle begins, as he lifts his head from Stan's shoulder and looks into his eyes. "I miss us, Stan. I know that you're with Wendy now and that you think that it's best for everyone if it remains that way but I'm not sure that I can deal with it. I miss us so much."

"I..." Stan begins, sounding sober for the first time tonight, "I miss us too, Kyle. But things are too complicated now-"

"Why are they?" Kyle asks, tears forming in his eyes as he feels himself becoming more and more desperate for Stan with every passing second, "Please, Stan. I need you. I don't care how but I need you. We can- we can be a secret-"

"Kyle-"

"I won't tell anyone, not even Kenny!"

"Kyle, stop-"

"I love you, Stan." Kyle declares, "And I know you still love me too."

The two boys stay silent for a while, simply staring at each other. Despite whatever outcome that may unfold from this declaration of love, Kyle feels like a giant weight has been lifted from his shoulders. Stan knows now that Kyle wants- no, needs him back. And that's enough for Kyle to be satisfied with, or at least that's what Kyle is telling himself. Kyle is about to speak when Stan moves forward and kisses Kyle. Kyle feels like he is floating on air, high up in the clouds as the kiss gets more and more deep and passionate, until Stan finally pulls back and looks at Kyle again.

"We..." Stan begins, "We can't tell anyone."

"That's fine with me." Kyle agrees as he moves forward for another kiss, but Stan backs away slightly.

"Promise me, Kyle." he says seriously. "Promise you won't tell anyone."

"I promise, Stan. You know me I won't tell anybody, I swear it." Kyle states, feeling slightly offended at Stan's lack of trust. But these feelings soon evaporate when Stan leans forward and quickly pecks Kyle on the lips.

"Okay..." Stan says, seemingly satisfied now.

"So where do we go from here?" Kyle asks, he doesn't really care where this goes, as long as whatever happens they still end up together.

"I guess now we need a reason to see each other all the time, otherwise- you know... it might look suspicious." Stan says, contemplating this for a second, "And my Dad and Wendy can't know under any circumstances, they'd flip their shit!"

"Where is Wendy, anyway?" Kyle asks, it had been bugging him for a while now that Wendy could just pop up out of the blue and ruin Stan and Kyle's moment, but so far there has been no sight of her.

"Oh she's not feeling great, she thinks she's got the flu or something," Stan says.

"And yet you still came just to see me?" Kyle says teasingly, when Stan simply nods with a guilty yet somehow innocent smile, Kyle tuts and shakes his head, "well shame on you, Stanley Marsh."

"Well... I had to see you." Stan admits, "I've missed you. So. Fucking. Much."

"You know, you've sobered up remarkably well." Kyle notices, but just as he says this Stan leans forward and spews all over the backyard. "...or not."

"I don't feel so good." Stan moans as he leans over, holding his stomach in pain.

"I can tell, come on." Kyle says, standing up and wrapping Stan's arm over his shoulder, "I'll walk you home."

It takes five minutes for Kyle to say his goodbyes to everyone. But it was pointless anyway, as practically everyone at that party was either too drunk or too stoned to care that the person the party was for was leaving. When Kyle finally leaves the house he is relieved to feel the coldness on his skin again, the house was unbelievably hot, which was a result of all of the heated sexual encounters that were happening in the living room. Kyle still has Stan's arm wrapped around his shoulder and he feels like he could be like this forever. Walking Stan home in the dead of night, with no one else around to annoy them.

"So..." Kyle begins, "While you were throwing up I was thinking about how we could see each other."

"Go on." Stan says, he still sounds ill but his puking stopped five minutes ago.

"Well, I've been told that I'll be able to rejoin school in a month or so, but naturally I'll need to catch up on a lot of work that I've missed."

"Naturally. And..." Stan says, completely lost on how this could help them see each other more.

"And..." Kyle repeats, "I thought that maybe, you know... you could tutor me. It would be at my house, obviously, that way we won't be intruded by your Dad or Wendy!"

"That's... actually not a bad idea." Stan says, like he's surprised that the cleverest boy in his old class had come up with such a kick ass idea. "Sure, let's do it."

"Awesome, we can text in the morning or something, because I highly doubt that you'll be able to do the maths on how this could work right now."

"Too true, Kyle, too true." Stan agrees as they reach the Stan Residence. "Well, here I am."

"Here you are." Kyle says quietly, disappointed that this night has come to an end. "I'll uh... talk to you tomorrow."Kyle turns around to walk home, but just as he does Stan grabs him by the arm and pulls him into a quick yet meaningful kiss. The smell of puke on Stan's breath isn't exactly inviting, but Kyle's just grateful for any kind of contact with Stan right now.

"I'll see you around." Stan says with a wink, before walking over to his front door and drunkenly letting himself in.

It takes five minutes for Kyle to walk home, and by the time he's back home and back in bed he almost wishes that he could replay this night over and over again. But right now he's too tired, and all he can think about is sleep. That night... Kyle slept easily, without being haunted by the night of the crash. Maybe the butterfly was a good omen. Or maybe, just maybe... it was Stan.