"Oh. My. God!" Nazz exclaimed in an excited giggle as she watched the exchange between Marie and Double D from the bushes. Together with Rolf and Ed, she had watched the entire scene unfold, much to her sock and joy.

"Quiet Nazz girl! If the blue haired Kanker discovers us, Rolf's bunions will be inflamed for a week." Rolf whispered back anxiously, yet there was a prideful tear in his eye has he watched the Sock Headed Ed Boy.

Son of a gun, he makes the son of a shepherd proud….

Crouching next to Rolf, Ed's reaction was complete total opposite to those of his friends. He desperately wanted to shout a cootie warning to Double D, yet Rolf had clasped a hand over his mouth, muffling any attempts. Instead, Ed could only watch in horror as Marie subjected his hapless friend to the dreaded make out of doom.

No, not Double D!

The morning has started out simple enough. Ed and Rolf, as promised, had gotten to the school auditorium to help Nazz set up for the fall fashion show. The two had gotten close in a year, ever since Rolf had fallen ill to the flu. During that time, Ed had helped around the farm, taking care of the animals whilst Rolf was too sick to do so. Although the Ed Boy needed constant supervision, his freakish strength had come in handy. Plus, he loved animals- something that had earned Rolf's respect.

The trio had been walking back to the cul-de-sac, passing by Double D's house when they heard a commotion. Seeing Marie emerge from the house had sent Ed into panic mode, where he had grabbed hold of his companions and dove headlong into the bushes. Neither Rolf or Nazz had been too happy to eat a face-full of leaves, but had quickly shut up as they overheard the conversation. Everyone was shocked when Marie stepped closer to Edd, more shocked when she kissed him, and practically through the roof when she kissed him again.

The biggest kicker though had been when Double D had kissed her back; although Nazz and Rolf had noticed it, Ed had been too busy cowering to notice such details.

Frantically, the big guy racked his brain, trying to think of a way to rescue Double D. The obvious choice was to leap forth, grab Double D, stuff him under an arm, and run until they had made it halfway across the country. Of course, experience had taught the big guy that such a plan would likely fail, and quiet painfully. Although Marie wasn't the matron of make-out who filled him with the most dread, Ed knew well enough that an enraged Marie made for a sad Ed.

A very, very, very sad Ed.

Ed's complete misread of the situation was interrupted by Rolf, who silently gave a sniffle as he wiped away a rouge tear. The action was also noticed by Nazz, who turned away from Double D and Marie and regarded him with a somewhat puzzled expression.

"Aaaah, dude you alright?"

Flustered, Rolf half-heartedly snapped defensibly at his companions, making sure to keep his voice quiet as to not alert either Double D or Marie. "Do not judge Rolf! The courtship of the ram is a beautiful thing, is it not?"

Nazz giggled at the thought of Double D being called a ram, but couldn't help but agree. The smarty and the bad girl: good for you Double D. It's about time after all, she inwardly added.

Ed said something incomprehensible, owing to the fact that Rolf still had a hand firmly clasped over his mouth. Letting go of his friend, Rolf immediately placed a finger over Ed's lips instead, stifling a panicked shout just in time.

"Be silent Ed Boy! What must Rolf say before your barren skull comprehends?!" He hissed as silently as possible.

Nazz put a shoulder on Ed, also trying to calm him. "C'mon Ed, we're in high school: you see this stuff every day. What's with the hysterics?"

Using his undeniable, matter of fact logic, Ed replied, "You don't understand Nazz! Marie has Double D trapped!"

Glancing over, Nazz felt a giddy giggle as she looked at Edd and Marie. "I dunno dude, Double D looks pretty relaxed from this angel.

"But she's a girl!"

Nazz frowned, not sure where Ed was going with this. "Yeah….?"

"Girls have cooties!"

Dumbfounded, Nazz simply looked at Ed. Taking a moment to collect from shock, she gently pointed out the obvious. "Ed…" she began, unable to believe she was having this conversation, "Girls don't have cooties. I would know: I am a girl."

Ed blinked, starring at Nazz as he processed the information. Looking at her head to toe, he put a finger on his chin as he mulled, deep in thought. After a few seconds, his typical smile returned, followed by a happy exclamation of "Hello, sailor!"

Nazz rolled her eyes, but smiled warmly as she did. Quite honestly, she doubted Ed had any idea what that expression even meant, yet there was something disarmingly endearing about Ed's innocence. The guy may have had his peculiarities, but he still was one of the friendliest and good hearted people she knew- even with his Kanker Phobia. Nazz placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but before she could say anything Rolf interrupted with a nudge.

"Look, look! The blue one departs!"

Looking over, Nazz saw it was true. Marie was walking away, her expression one of giddy happiness and immense self-satisfaction. Edd watched her until she disappeared from sight. He then turned toward his house, staggering slightly as though drunk. The trio waited until he had stepped inside before they spoke again.

"You see guys! She has taken his brain, leaving him weak like the Drone People from Jupiter!" Ed said, lamenting the fate that had befallen his friend.

Rolf slapped him on the shoulder, exclaiming, "Nonsense! Come now, we must go congratulate the Ed Boy for his growth of the manly hair chest!" As Rolf stood up to leave, Nazz reached over and yanked him back down.

"Dude! Yeah, don't you think Double D wants, I dunno, some privacy?" She asked in an exasperated voice.

"But weren't we just violating his privacy by spying on him?" Ed asked, hitting the nail on the head.

"Well, umm…that's….." Nazz struggled to find an answer as the trio rummaged their way back to the sidewalk. Grudgingly, she realized that Ed did make a point. Not that she would admit it out loud.

Rolf snickered slightly, thoroughly enjoying her fumbling attempts at locating an answer.

Giving up, Nazz stated defensively "That's different Ed! We were just passing through!"

Ed frowned, "But Nazz, we were hiding inside shrubbery."

Rolf laughed out loud, now greatly enjoying the conversation.

Unable to come up with any convincing counter claim, Nazz quickly changed the subject. "Okay, well we need to keep this to ourselves. We start talking and the whole school is gonna have a field day."

Rolf let out a frustrated sigh, asking, "Why must the youths of today always make things complicated? Where Rolf is from, the first season between two wildebeests is something celebrated, not hidden."

Wiping away leaves and dirt, the trip made their way toward Rolf's house. "Okay, well I don't know anything about seasons, but this is something Double D and Marie need to work out on their own. No need to put them under a magnifying glass." Nazz said as they walked.

Ed paused in misstep, comprehending what Nazz was saying. "What about Eddy?"

Nazz turned toward him with a curious look. "What about him, Big Guy?"

"Wouldn't Eddy want to know about Double D's latest trauma?"

Nazz gently patted Ed on the shoulder, a bit touched that he still didn't quiet grasp the situation. "Noooooo, Ed. Firstly, Eddy's probably the last person we'd want knowing about this. Secondly, Double D wasn't in any trouble; Marie wasn't doing all the work back there. He was kissing her back, Ed."

Ed starred back, digesting the information. "Kissing?"

"Yeah."

"As in icky yucky kissy face?!"

"Yeah, except the whole 'icky yucky part'" Nazz replied with amusement, using air quotes at his choice of words.

Ed and Nazz starred at each other for a moment, with respective looks of shock and happiness. In unison, they turned to look back at Double D's house.

"So another brave warrior falls prey to dreaded bite that is love" Ed said with horror and resignation.

Nazz laughed as she playfully elbowed Ed. "It's not that bad, Ed- trust me. One of these days you'll understand." She paused, growing reflective as she thought of Double D and Marie. With a grin, she added, "I think Double D and Marie might just be starting to understand it themselves.

Authors Note: Sorry for the (long, loooooong) delay: work and life in general made it a tad difficult to find the time to write consistently. But, returned I have! I can't promise anything even closely resembling a regular publishing schedule, but I have the story mapped out fully and plan to keep chugging ahead.