Jonny felt good. Real good. Kevin lay in wait for the ambush as Jonny came in from the front. It was simple. Kevin would light a searchlight while pounding the intruders with tomatoes and onions. In the crossfire Jonny would sneak through and steal back plank. Easier said than done, but that was his plan.

"Are we a go, Roger 1?" Jonny said through his headset.

"We're a go, dork."

Jonny approached the front gates of the factory and peered inside. Plank was tied down to a chair; an overhead light illuminating him.

"I've got you pal! Don't worry." Jonny whispered to himself.

Mr. Hopkins sat in his chair drinking eggnog as he listened to the radio. On his lap a paperback book lay open to the middle pages. Peace and Prosperity was the name. It gave him a good feeling as he relaxed before having to grade homework.

Aw the lonely and noble act of teaching. What a load.

A knock came from his front door. Who could it be at 9 at night? He put on his slippers and peered through the eyeglass. To his surprise it was Eddy standing at his front door. He opened it wide with a look of confusion.

"Eddy, what are doing here? How did you even get my address?"

"No time to explain. I get it Mister Hopkins. I really do."

"Get what?"

Eddy had already made his way to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and pulled out a drink.

"I'm in the middle of an epiphany and all you got for me is Diet Schultz?"

"What epiphany? Eddie you can't be here. What about your parents?"

"It's all good. They're asleep. Now about that book."

"What book?"

"Brothers Keeper. Do I have to remember everything? What I was going to say is I finished it."

"Okay?"

"And now I understand what you were trying to tell me."

"You do?"

"Yeah you wanted me to understand I need to give sock head some space so he can grow."

"Well done, Eddie, now please leave. On second thought wait. I'll drive you home."

"I come to you with a breakthrough and this is the thanks I get."

"Have you finished the Odyssey?"

"What do I look like a miracle worker?

Jonny walked to Plank. A voice came out overhead.

"Drop the weapons and walk backwards."

Plank watched Jonny do as he was told.

"We told you come alone."

Jonny watched as Kevin was wheeled out tied to a chair. Red kisses planted all over him.

"I tried to fight them off... They're too strong... Leave me..."

The doors behind Jonny shut closed.

"Oh Plank, get help!"

Jonny undid his chains expecting him to move.

"Oh my god! What did they do to your legs, planks?"

Jonny hugged plank as he assumed the worst was about to happen.

But it never came. As he opened his eyes all he saw was his equipment gone. Kevin still squirming.

"The horror... The horror..."

Kevin would never recover fully after the event. In the meantime Jonny set him free and the three of them walked to safety in the cul-de-sac.

Jonny knew whoever took his gear would mean trouble. That meant only one thing.

"The return of Captain Melon head!"

"What are you on about?" Kevin asked.

"Truth, justice, and the American Way!"

"Uh huh. I see."

Jonny escorted him home before donning his costume.

"Evil doers beware. The melon has returned!"

Jonny disappeared into the night searching for Planks assailants.

Eddy was in Mister Hopkins car outside his house.

"I'm sorry for bursting in, I just felt it was necessary."

"Perfectly understandable. Just make sure it doesn't happen again. Or at least call first. And Eddy."

Eddy looked to him.

"Be careful out there. You may not believe it but your all at a delicate age and-"

"And we don't want to jeopardize our development. Got it."

"Bingo."

He opened the door and Eddie made it to his house. Sneaking in towards the back.

"Good kid. Hopefully he keeps things going with Double D."

Mister Hopkins drove off to finish his date with his novel.

Eddy sat in his bed planning how he was going to break things to Double D. He was essentially giving permission for his friend to date one of their mortal enemies. But if love proved true it was in his best efforts to get out of the way.

He tried calling Double D again.

No answer.

It was definitely a pattern, but who knows? Maybe before Christmas he could appease his friends mind.

Double D sat by the phone wondering if he should pick up. He knew what Eddy was going to say. He was going to bash Lee, Marie, and May and expect him to listen. He was done with that for the day so he unplugged the phone, ate his dinner, and went to bed.

He dreamt of a blue haired tiger pouncing against a leopard and a hyena. He awoke in sweats and spent a while reading before going back to bed.

May and Marie went over the loot they lifted from Jonny. Two potato cannons, armor, and a slingshot. It wasn't much but it was enough to get the job done.

"What you have in mind?" Lee asked.

Marie laid out her plan in detail. They would surround Eddy's house and struck in tandem as soon as left.

"Are the glitter balls ready, May?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good we'll need them after we shred his room with potatoes."

"So you want us to fire in through the window. Isn't that destruction of property?"

"Fine May you can fire at the wall. Just make sure you hit him with the glitter balls."

"Aye Aye captain!"

May stood at attention.

Tomorrow would be the day. The day Eddy never forgot who he messed with.

Eddy woke to a knock on his window. Probably Ed. He opened it and took a glue glitter ball to the face.

"What the-!"

A potato exploded on the side of his house sending shards of vegetable everywhere.

Eddy dived to the ground and yanked the cord to his phone. He dialed the only person he knew could help.

"Ed, I'm under attack! I need help."

Ed burst through his window and charged the Kankers.

They didn't know what hit them.

As soon as the dust cleared, and everyone's limps were accounted for, Marie burst into a cry.

"Why!? Why does every stupid thing have to go your way?"

"Uh." Was all Ed could get off.

"You guys always win. Why can't we have our day in the sun?"

"Well it's pretty cloudy so-." Ed said.

"You Kankers always bite off more than you can chew. You got a potato launcher? I got an Ed."

Ed did a salute indicating his position in Eddy's army of two.

"But I'm going to let that slide. You know why?"

"Why? Because you're an idiot?"

"I'm going to ignore that because I've become enlightened."

"What is this guy on about?" Lee said scratching her head.

"Mister Hopkins has given me a book that's widened my perspective on this whole situation."

"Speak English!"

"I know now not to get between you and Double D."

"Oh really."

"Yes, really."

"Then why did he reject me? Why haven't I heard this from his mouth?"

"For one, that was before I was enlightened. And two, he doesn't know about this yet. I was going to tell him before you assaulted me."

"Sorry about that." May said. Lee and Marie gave her a look.

"What? I really am."

"Eddy I'm cold."

Ed was still in his pajamas as the rest of them were in their winter attire.

"Let's get inside before Ed becomes a Popsicle."

They all crawled through the window to Eddy's room.

"Nice bachelor pad you got here." Lee said admiring his disco ball. "I could get use to this place."

"Don't get too comfy."

Eddy pulled out some extra sweaters for Ed to put on top of his tank top.

"Thank you, Eddy."

"So now what's all this talk about perspective and what not?" Marie asked. Eddie explained everything. The book, the late night rendezvous with Mister Hopkins.

"So now we're good?"

"Yes. Yes we are."

"Bull$& %. You think Double D will just accept me in open arms now that he has his best friends approval? This whole thing stinks like yesterday's garbage."

"Just let me talk to him and hopefully I can clear things up."

And he did. At noon that day Eddy knocked on Double D's window and was greeted by the sock head himself.

"Eddy what are you doing up here? You could hurt yourself."

"Can I come in then?"

Double D let him in and the two talked.

"I'm sorry about the other night."

"Me too."

"There's something I've been meaning to say."

"And what is that?"

"I know we've been growing apart the past few months but it's okay. We both have to grow and become our own individuals. And that means spending less time focused on scams and hanging out and more time on girls and school."

"I see where you're going with this. But I'm not sure Marie and I-"

"Are you though? This girls been hooked on you since day one and I know deep down you like her. Just give it a shot. Who knows. If I'm wrong I'm wrong, but if I'm right."

"You have a point. Thank you Eddie."

"No problem, Sockhead. Now go get her. She's waiting."

Marie, Lee, May, and Ed stood at the corner while Double D and Eddy approached them.

"Hello everybody." Double D said.

"Hello."

Marie caught his eye and the two embraced looks.

"About the other night. I'm sorry, Marie."

"You should be, you really hurt my feelings."

"Is there anything I can do to make up for it."

"Consider yourself forgiven. I don't like to hold grudges."

"Neither do I."

"Of course not. You're kinda of a wimp if you haven't noticed." She said. They both giggled.

Suddenly music came on. As they looked they saw Nazz holding a boom box atop her window sill. Slow dance music emitting from it.

"May I have another dance?" Double D asked.

"Sure thing, Tiger."

They danced the day away, glaring above them to notice a flower hanging from the lamp post.

"What is that? A weed?" Marie asked.

"No it's a Mistletoe."

They both looked at each other, blushing, as they realized what that meant.

"Well are you going to stand there all day or are you going to kiss me?"

Double D took the hint and the two embraced in the first official kiss of their relationship.

"Isn't that something," Lee said to Eddy. "When are you going to do that with me?"

"Keep dreaming, Kanker."

From the bushes rattled a sound of an engine.

"Oh what now!?" Marie shouted.

"Prepare to meet justice at the hands of Captain Melonhead!"

Jonny came out from the bushes wielding a Gatling gun. He fired hash browns at the crowd sending them scattering.

Marie packed snowballs and soon her sisters and the Eds were in an all out hash brown/snowball war.

"Had enough?" Jonny shouted.

"Never!" Marie screamed.

She looked to Double D and apart from the fear in his eye she saw a look of love she would never forget.