Note From Ben: This chapter is very special to me. I actually had to stop and wipe my eyes in the middle of writing it. I've had it in my head pretty much since the beginning, and here it is at last. I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks to everyone who ever reviewed this story. See you next time!

Six – Tears, Hugs, and Kisses

"Are you sure you want to do this, dude?" Kenny says the next afternoon.

We are standing with Kyle and Kenny on the street in front of Stan's house, and the two boys are going over the plan for the thousandth time.

"Yeah, dude," Kyle says, smiling, "this will work. I went over it myself a dozen times last night."

"Well, if you're sure," the other says with a shrug.

Kenny goes to the front door and we are right behind him. He knocks firmly and stands back, rocking on his heels. After what seems like an eternity, it is opened by none other than Stan himself. He looks behind us, and then looks back at Kenny.

"I thought I saw Kyle here when you walked up," he says in a sour tone.

"No," Kenny says, "he's doing something else at the moment. Mind if we talk for a bit?"

Stan scowls, but admits his friend into the house. He gives the front yard one last dirty look before slamming the door. He turns back to Kenny and crosses his arms.

"Well? What do you want?"

"Come on, Stan," Kenny says. "Your fight isn't with me and you know it."

"You're right," Stan replies with a sigh, hanging his head. "I'm sorry."

"Think nothing of it," comes the reply, "Care if we talk in your room where it's more private?"

We follow them up the stairs to Stan's room. Kenny sits on the bed and Stan settles into the computer chair not far away. They regard each other for a minute before Kenny breaks out into a broad smile.

"What?" Stan asks.

Kenny points at the desk. Resting beside the monitor is a framed picture of Stan and Kyle, arms over each other's shoulders and big grins on their faces. The silver frame has a small heart-shaped sticker attached to it.

"Oh, that," comes a snorted reply. Stan grabs the picture and places it face-down on the desk.

"Dude, what the hell is your problem?"

"Excuse me? I'm not the one with the problem."

Kenny laughs, walks across the room, and grabs the photograph. He holds it up for Stan to see, but the other boy crosses his arms stubbornly and looks away.

"See how happy you both were? See that stupid fucking sticker? Think you're fooling anybody with this act?"

"What act?" Stan asks defensively. "That sticker is only there because it came free in a bag of Snacky S'mores and I had to do something with it. The picture's only here because…"

He suddenly stops. Kenny raises a quizzical eyebrow and motions for him to go on; he doesn't. He just keeps staring at the picture.

"What's the matter, Stan?"

"I…don't know," he says finally. "I don't know why I kept it."

"Just like Kyle didn't know what to say when Mackey asked him that stupid ass question?"

We see something click in Stan's face. The truth has finally dawned on him that he has been wrong to treat Kyle this way.

"I…"

"You're in love with Kyle, then?" Kenny says, pointing toward the sticker.

Stan is taken aback. He shakes his head violently, then jumps from his chair and moves quickly across the room, his eyes wide and frightened.

"No, Kenny…that's not true…the sticker…I told you I just needed a place to put it."

"Ever heard of a trash can?" the other replies with a slight chuckle.

"It's not funny, Kenny!" Stan cries, turning back, his eyes still showing his fear.

"It is funny, dude, because as bad as you've treated him, Kyle still loves you, too."

"He does not!" Stan moans with tears in his eyes. His lower lip is quivering and we can tell he's about to lose it. "He hasn't even looked at me in over a week!"

Kenny sighs and goes to the window. He makes a twirling motion with his hand, and then turns back to his friend, who now has tears rolling freely down his face.

"D-doesn't love me…", he says, "M-m-messed it up so b-bad….never forgive me…"

A new sound fills our ears and it seems to be coming from somewhere outside. Kenny walks over, puts his arm around Stan, and walks him to the window.

"He does love you, Stan," he says, "Look!"

We join them at the window, and sure enough, Kyle is on the lawn strumming a guitar. Stan throws it open and cries out his best friend's name.

"Hi, Stan," Kyle calls up while still strumming. "I saw this in a movie last night and…well, it says what I didn't know how to say."

So Kyle begins singing, and as he does, a look of pure adoration forms on Stan's face. His tears keep falling; however, we can safely assume that they are now happy tears.

I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad,
Carry you around when your arthritis is bad.
All I wanna do is grow old with you.

I'll get your medicine when your tummy aches,
Build you a fire if the furnace breaks.
Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you

I'll miss you,
kiss you,
Give you my coat when you are cold.

I'll need you,
feed you,
Even let you hold the remote control.

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink.
Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink.
I could be the man who grows old with you.

I wanna grow old with you.

"I love you, Stan!" he shouts up.

Stan tears away from the window (with us right behind him), then through the house, and finally out the front door. He throws himself into Kyle's arms and tells him over and over that he's so, so, so very sorry and that he loves him, too. There are a lot of tears, a lot of hugs, and more kisses than Kenny, who is watching above, can ever hope to count.

And so our narrative comes to an end. We leave them there on the lawn, loving each other madly. We begin a slow ascent back into the sky we came from. The scene becomes smaller and smaller the higher we go, until the whole town is laid out before us once more. As we drift away, however, listen closely. You can almost hear those words once more….

So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink.
Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink.
I could be the man who grows old with you.

I wanna grow old with you….

Fin