I could swear I uploaded this, but apparently I didn't...Here it is, rather belated, but hopefully well worth it.

"Double D! You're seriously dating a Kanker?!" Eddy demanded. "But they're horrible!"

"Marie is not horrible. Your Kankers, I'm not sure of, but Marie is exceedingly wonderful," Edd muttered. "Now shut up Eddy."

"But Double D!" Ed gasped. "They hug us and kiss us and make us do things for them!"

"I don't mind doing those things with and for Marie."

"Sockhead, you've lost your mind!" Eddy growled.

"Hey, look! There's our boyfriends!" May's delighted voice exclaimed.

Ed and Eddy froze to see their own lovestruck Kankers staring at him. Marie was standing behind them at her locker. Double D kept walking and pushed past the oldest and youngest Kanker to his. He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, and she glanced at him. She looked miserable. He grabbed her books in one hand and her hand in the other then began to walk to their first class. Everybody in the school stared at them, but it didn't matter to either of them. Together they could handle them.

At lunch, they picked a lonely table in the corner and sat down across from each other. Edd pulled out the remainder of the pasta from the night before and Marie pulled out the half of pizza they hadn't eaten. They didn't bother heating it up and began to eat.

"So how bad was it?" Edd asked softly.

Marie looked away. "They called me a traitor and pretty much nailed me to the wall. Mom was pissed that your mother was so rude to us."

"Speaking of which, my mother and father wish to extend an invitation to you and your mom for dinner tonight so that they can resolve their differences."

Marie nodded. "I'll tell her."

A tray dropped beside Marie on one side then one on the other. It was Lee and May. They stared at Double D.

"So, you're really datin' eh?" Lee finally asked as she began to eat her hot dog.

"Yes," Edd said simply.

"What changed your mind?" May demanded.

Edd weighed his response carefully. "She understood me."

"In what?"

Edd stared at them as he slowly touched the front of his head that was covered by his hat. Understanding flashed in their faces.

"Oh. Right. Is that all it really took?" Lee asked.

"No. She also doesn't jump me every five seconds."

"What? But you kissed her!" May said in confusion.

"I didn't say we don't kiss or hug or hold hands," Edd said patiently. "But she doesn't smother me with them. The reason we Eds are, or in my case were, so afraid of you is that you attack us with your love. I don't know about them, but I wasn't ready for that kind of relationship with anybody. Marie changed my mind. Keep in mind that boys mature more slowly than girls. They're probably still not ready to be somebody's boyfriend. I mean, they struggle to talk with Nazz, who both of them like. Nazz is pretty and sweet, but ever since the incident with Eddy's big brother, Kevin's been super nice to her and they will probably end up dating in the next year or so, so that takes out that option. Just be patient with them, stop attacking them, and start doing nice things to and for them. It might take awhile, but, and this is no guarantee, they might come around. Okay?"

Lee and May stared at him then nodded. "Alright. We'll give it a try."

Marie was staring at him funny. "Yes, Marie?" he asked.

"You think Nazz is pretty and sweet?"

"She is. I can't change that."

Jealousy wound its way into her face. "Then what am I?"

Edd smiled.

"Her gesture, motion, and her smiles,

Her wit, her voice my heart beguiles,

Beguiles my heart, I know not why,

And yet, I'll love her till I die."

All three girls stared at him. Marie blushed. "Really?"

"Really. I must admit, it's not my own poetry, but it fits the situation. I love you, Marie, even if we haven't said it yet."

"Shh," she said slyly. "We'll pretend you didn't say that and that I'm about to say that I love you, too."

Edd laughed. May looked at their food. "Can I try some of that?"

"May I," Edd said, and Marie snickered into her thermos of tea.

"May you what?" Lee asked.

Edd slapped his forehead. "What have I gotten myself into?"

That night, the Kankers sat around the table with Double D and his parents. Tammy and Margaret were tensely talking. The latter had apologized first to Tammy, then to Marie. Marie had accepted the apology readily, but Tammy had just nodded sharply. Dinner was served and it was beef enchiladas covered in cheese sauce. Dessert was apple crumble. Double D got out a game for himself, Lee, Marie, and May as the adults talked. It was actually rather fun once the sisters had gotten the hang of it.

Marie looked up after a while. "Double D? How much poetry do you know?"

"I've read many famous poets, like Edgar Allen Poe and William Shakespeare and Robert Frost, but I have also read many poems that are more famous than their authors. I have also read obscure poetry. I like to read, what it is doesn't really matter."

"Can…can you say another one for me?" she pleaded, glancing at her sisters.

Double D sat back on his heels, looking thoughtful.

"She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes."

Marie blushed and none of the kids noticed the three parents standing and watching them. Marie kissed his cheek.

"You say poems really well," she admitted. "I never know the rhythm."

"Some poems have no rhythm," Edd said. "I prefer the ones that have one. Iambic pentameter is my favorite."

"I have no idea what that is."

"Eh, I'll explain later."

"Cool."

"Well, girls," Tammy said suddenly, startling them all. "Say goodbye to Eddward. We should get back to the trailer before dark."

"See ya Double D," Lee said.

"Yeah, see ya," May said, standing along with her sister. Double D helped Marie up and walked her to the door.

"Want to watch that movie tomorrow?" Edd asked.

"Sure!"

"There's a showing at two. You can come over here for lunch then we can go."

"Cool. See ya, Double D."

"See ya kitten."

Double D gave her a lingering kiss on the lips and waved her out. He watched them go and saw Eddy glaring at him from his house. He shut the door.

"Why does love have to be so difficult?" he asked his parents.

"Because it involves more than one person," his father responded.

Double D nodded and went to pick up the game. He heard a popping noise and his father asked him a question that made him blush.

"Where in the world did you get gum?"