A/N: Happy October, everybody! Here's the weekend's update, as silently promised! XD

Chapter 7: Warmth

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.

Edd was awaken from a nap he barely knew he had started. Groggily, he found himself laying in Ed's lap on the living room couch, the sweet oaf playing with the fabric of his crimson shirt and totally disregarding the telephone.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

"…mngh…" Edd rubbed his eyes. "Ed… what time izzit…?"

Ed glanced at the wall clock. "4 'o clock."

Ring. Ring.

"Hand me the phone, will you, Ed?"

"Sure thing, Double D." He lifted the phone form its receiver and placed it in Edd's functional hand.

Ri…

"Thank you, Ed." Tiredly, he put the phone to his face. "Double D's house." A huge yawn interrupted his greeting. "…Double D speaking."

"You sound tired, Double D," came a shrewd response on the other end.

"Hello, Eddy. And I'm not tired. I'm…" He smiled at Ed. "…relaxed."

"Whatever. What happened? You and Ed disappeared on me."

"Not unlike a certain someone we know," Edd retorted with a smirk. "…who left his chums alone on the account of his maturity level rising."

"…Aw, man! Ed told you, didn't he?"

"Would you like to direct your anger unto him? He's right here."

"Of course he is. Get him on the phone."

"Sure." He handed the phone back. "Here, Ed, it's Eddy."

"Goody! Hello, Eddy!"

"Ed, you twit! You ruined the shock value on my end!"

"Sorry, Eddy… he was too fast for me."

Eddy sighed, his tone shifting. "So… you did it, Lumpy."

"I did it, Eddy!" he chorused.

"See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Nope!"

"So… Double D really does swing that way, huh?"

"He sure does!"

Edd blinked. He could've sworn he heard Eddy speak his name. "I sure do what now?"

"And imagine, you wouldn't have had a clue if you hadn't bucked up and talked to him! Congrats, Ed!"

"Ed, what did Eddy say about me?"

"He said you swing that way, Double D!" Ed delightfully relayed.

Edd rolled his eyes, talking loud enough for Eddy to hear him. "Okay, yes, Eddy! I'm homosexual now! Are you satisfied?"

"…Ed?"

"Yes, Eddy?"

"Tell Double D to get that knot out of his sock, will ya?"

"Will do! Double D, Eddy said…!"

"Forget it, Ed," Edd sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I heard him."

"Hey, sit tight, alright? I'm coming over."

"Be sure to bring appropriate rain gear with you," Edd reminded. "A storm could start at any moment out there."

"Thanks, Mother."

Click.

Edd frowned. So much for maturity.

"Naw, Eddy's just playing around, Double D," Ed assured, tickling his belly. "Relax, remember?"

"E-Ed!" Edd laughed, squirming. "Okay, okay! Relax! I need to relax! Ahahaha!"

He collapsed atop Ed awkwardly once the tickling was over, and once he recovered from his laugh attack, the two found themselves gazing at one another fondly. After nuzzling noses affectionately, their lips found each other again, and they delightfully cuddled closer together to share another kiss.

"Geez, get a room, you guys."

Their eyes bulged in unison, and they broke off with startled jumps and tumbles. With Ed leaning halfway over the couch's side and on the floor and Edd nestled nicely under his legs, they glanced up only to find their friend in the living room doorway, prompt as promised.

"EDDY!" Edd shouted in utter vexation. "Don't… DO that, please!"

Ed looked around, then gave him a clueless gaze. "But Eddy, we are in a room."

"So…" Eddy nonchalantly strolled in, wearing that familiar wily grin of his. "My two best friends have hooked up as a gay couple. Gotta admit, you're the last two I'd expect to be like that." He paused. "…no, that's a lie. Double D I had pegged as a possibility for a while, but I didn't wanna assume…"

"Well, thanks very much, Eddy," Edd muttered, crawling out from under Ed.

"Hey, that's a compliment, so lighten up! Anyways… what can I say? Thanks for turning out to be more interesting than I'd have hoped."

"No prob, Bucko!" Ed piped up, leaping back onto the sofa next to Edd.

"Yes, well… I'm finding myself a little surprised as well," he replied, giving his gleeful Ed a scratch atop his head, like a puppy. "At your easily accepting reaction, I mean."

"Tell me about it. I always imagined the sight of you kissing each other would be a heck of a lot more traumatizing than what I just saw a minute ago."

"I think we can safely blame the Kanker sisters for that."

"Eww…" Eddy shivered, quickly brushing those disgusting images aside. "Anyways… so tell me, how was your first hour as a couple, hmm?"

Edd gawked, blushing. "E-Eddy! Those are private matters!" he hurriedly argued, turning up his nose.

"Oh, come on. I won't tell anyone."

"That's only for Ed and I to kn…!"

"Well, at least what went on inside. I saw your first makeout session outside your house. Not bad for your first time."

An awkward silence was the reply, except for Ed's little giggle fit.

"Okay, fine, Eddy," Edd swallowed his deep blush and submitted. "Have it your way. But I'll tell you right now, you're going to be quite disappointed, because it was nothing very exciting."

"Out with it, Sockhead."

Edd sighed. "Well… after you left, Ed told me how he felt towards me… then I told him that I noticed his strange behavior and had given it thought until I realized I felt the same way in return, so we agreed it was best to… 'hook up,' as you so eloquently put it. With the storm rolling in, we cleaned up the scam supplies and stored them in Ed's shed until later, and Ed offered to walk me home. Then yes, we kissed in front of my house, then went inside to sit together here in the living room… and I guess I fell asleep in Ed's lap until you called." He leaned back, signaling the end of his explanation.

Eddy stared at the two of them before sighing and plopping into a nearby armchair. "You're right… that is boring."

Edd couldn't stop himself from grinning, shaking his head. "I told you."

"...oh well. It's your relationship, not mine," Eddy admitted. "Not my job to judge how you two enjoy each other's company."

Edd was taken aback by the mature comment. "Why, Eddy, that's…"

"BUT!" He shot up, pointing at their surprised faces. "I've got two rules." He raised one fierce index finger. "Rule Number One: no hitting on me, no matter how tempting it may be."

Ed nodded, whereas Edd frowned inwardly. "I'll try to contain my urges."

"Good!" As usual, Edd's sarcasm flew right over Eddy's head as his index finger was joined by his thumb. "Rule Number Two: no letting any part of this interfere with any work involved in scams or other pigeon-filching activities."

Edd blinked. "…That's it?"

"Are we all clear?"

"C-crystal."

"Clear and ready for takeoff!" Ed announced with a sloppy salute.

"Good! Glad that's squared away." Eddy settled back in his chair, growing serious again. "Now to tackle on the other issue. Do we tell anybody?"

It was a heavy question that was left in the air for a few thoughtful minutes.

To no one's surprise, Edd spoke up. "…well, I'm always a firm advocate for honesty… and I believe keeping it a secret will prove to be more difficult than simply revealing the truth to everyone."

Eddy nodded in agreement. "Right. We all know Ed can't keep his big mouth shut anyways."

Ed threw him a glare. "Says you!"

"Both of you, please, this is serious," Edd personified the conversational referee, as usual. "I suggest we tell our families first. They have to accept us before anyone else can."

"Okay!" Ed agreed. "I'll tell my parents tonight if you tell yours, Double D."

"Sounds fair. They'll be home earlier tonight than usual, so that'll work out just fine."

"I'll tell my parents too," Eddy piped up. "Just to let 'em know who I'm hanging with. Shouldn't be a problem to them."

"It's settled then," Edd sat up in confirmation. "We'll all convey the news to our parents this evening. We'll worry about informing the others later."

"Sounds good to me." With the end of that discussion, Eddy got up from his chair, approaching the doorway to the entry hall. "Well, I guess I'll leave you two ladies alone for the night." He paused, leaning slyly on the door frame. "By the way, I'll be calling you guys that a lot more often now. Just a heads up."

Edd sighed. "I suppose that makes sense in context, at least."

"Good luck with the folks." With that, Eddy grabbed the rain gear he left by the front door and departed for home.

The couple remained in each other's arms for a moment, until Edd gazed at the clock, pulling away slowly. "…I think it's time you headed home as well, Ed."

"Huh?" Ed cocked his head. "How come?"

"I wanted to get started on dinner before Mother and Father came back."

Ed looked at his splinted arm, concerned. "By yourself? Are you sure?"

"I'll manage." They grasped hands again. "Please, Ed, I want you to get home before the rain starts."

Not convinced, Ed moaned and frowned dejectedly, until a tender kiss was placed on his cheek.

"Ed…" Edd whispered gently close to his ear. "…I'm not going anywhere. I'll see you tomorrow… okay?"

"…m'kay."

Edd walked him to the door, opening it and frowning at the even denser clouds above. Ed stopped on the doorstep, turning back to face his beloved, reluctant to leave his side. At least, not without a proper goodbye. Edd fully understood and closed the distance between their faces, giving Ed a chaste goodnight kiss.

"Good night, Ed."

A soft grin was the response. "Good night, Double D."

"Good luck with your parents."

"You too."

A distant rumble, yet closer than ever, reminded them of their urgency. Ed stayed to give Edd one last quick hug before pulling away and hurrying for home.

Edd lingered in the doorway from the effects of that embrace, and the warmth crawled its way through the deep recesses of his heart. Finding at last the adoration he had been searching for all this time, he held his hand to his beating chest and sighed dreamily.

With a giddy mood lightening his spirits, he shut the door behind him, humming a jolly tune.

A/N: Yes, short chappie, I know. XD Oh well. Well, THIS is what I believe a relationship is truly about; emotional security. All the superficial sexual attractions are a plus, but that shouldn't be the main focus of the relationship. Those tend to not last very long, if you know what I mean. Your partner should also be your friend, and you should be able to enjoy DOING things together, y'know? But, yeah, that's my philosophy. XD Review please!