"Richie!"

He didn't know how long he'd been on the floor, but his head was throbbing intensely. Eddie was hovering over him again, shaking his shoulders lightly. "Richie, get up or I'm calling an ambulance."

"Don't." He groaned in response, shifting to sit up with the help of Eddie's strong arms. "Sorry- I don't know what happened. I'm good, I'm good."

"I told you I like men and you fainted." Eddie put on a small smile as he helped Richie up, but he could feel his quick pulse through his wrist. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah." Richie sat back onto his bed with a groan. "I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing, I didn't mean to stress you out more than you already were." Eddie sat next to him, looking down at his hands where he was fiddling with his fingers. They sat like that for a few minutes, like time was standing still and the only noise filling the room was the occasional sigh or hum. That is until Richie broke it, go figure.

"I think this is the longest I've ever been quiet." He laughed, pulling one from Eddie as well.

"You just had to ruin it. I was beginning to like you more." He lifted his gaze a bit to meet Richie's. "Now I'll just have to go back to hating you."

"That's homophobic."

"Wouldn't it be more homophobic if I started treating you differently? You're still the same Richie aren't you? Still the same dumbass that we all love?" Eddie's face was smug and Richie had to physically restrain himself from leaning into his lips, so close in distance already.

"Yep, still the same dumbass. If you think this means the 'your mom' jokes are stopping, you're mistaken, my good sir!"

"Oh fantastic. At least there won't be any 'your dad' jokes." He squinted at Richie's growing grin. "Don't get any fucking ideas."

Richie shrugged and mimicked zipping his mouth shut. "Enough about me, how uh... how are you handling it? Everything, I mean."

Eddie's suddenly distant gaze scared him but then he laughed. "Do you have time for me to rant for a while?"

"I always have time for you Eds."

"Fine, you asked for it." Eddie took a deep breath before starting. "It's been a lot Richie. IT almost killed us. I almost fucking died and the first thing I wanted to do was run away back to New York. It's so pathetic and I know I said I felt like a new man after nearly dying but I still felt so weak. Part of me still does, and I just can't believe that I wanted to go back, to my shitty job, to her. That's why I had Bev stay while I called Myra, I just needed someone to understand what that's like. I told her about Myra, and that I liked guys and I wanted to tell the rest of you but I was just so scared. I forgot what it felt like to be that scared." His voice was wavering and he clenched his fists. "How the fuck did I forget about Derry, about you? And I don't give a shit that you're gay Richie. Hell, it feels so good to know that I'm not alone. I almost forgot that I even felt this way if I'm being honest, but it was always there. In the back of my head. God, when I came back it was like I remembered what it was like to be Eddie Kaspbrak. And I didn't want to lose that. Or you guys. I don't know what I would've done if you didn't invite me to stay with you..."

"There was no way in hell I was leaving you alone Eds." Richie gripped his hand and squeezed it. "You know you're welcome to stay as long as possible, I like having you here. And you know what, I'll help you with whatever you need, you just say the word. I'll help you get your stuff from Myra, we'll get you free of these bandages in no time, we can go job hunting since you're so stubborn about going back to work. Shit Eddie, I'll even help you become a doctor like you always wanted. Don't look at me like that, it's not too late. I mean look at me, I'm finally gonna write my own material, and I'm like super gay. It's not too late to start over, trust me on that."

Eddie chuckled softly, squeezing Richie's hand back. "I don't deserve you Richie. It actually feels so weird to have someone who actually loves me."

"I do." Richie breathed. More than you know. "And you deserve everything Eddie. You're so brave dude, and you really are loved. By all of us, fuck your job and fuck Jabba the Hutt."

"I love you too, Rich."

"Awe shucks, you're making me blush." He drawled in a terrible accent, a real blush actually creeping up his neck and his heart beating in his eardrums. "Stop being so nice, I want mean Eddie back."

"You're a dumbass."

"There he is." Richie wrapped his arms around Eddie as he leaned into his chest. "Are you going to hurt me if I hug you?"

"I'll let this one slide." He wrapped his arms back around Richie's torso, his hot breath sending sparks down the taller man's neck. "Just don't squeeze me too hard."

Richie laughed, holding him close for a few seconds and relishing the moment. "Hey, maybe we should pay Beverly for being such a good therapist."

"After all of this shit maybe we should get real therapists." He backed away to Richie's dismay, standing up and pointing to Richie's bed. "You're phone is ringing. You have hot men calling already? You came out, what, ten minutes ago?"

Richie rolled his eyes at him playfully but nearly passed out again when he read Maggie Tozier on the caller ID. "I'm gonna throw up." He squeaked out as bile rose in his throat, watching as Eddie's face contorted.

"Don't you dare." Eddie sat back down on the bed quickly, rubbing Richie's back. "If you throw up on me I swear-"

"It's my mom." Richie was already hyperventilating. "I can't do this right now... Eds I can't."

"It's okay, just breathe." His hands still trailed the length of Richie's back soothingly. "You don't have to answer it if you're not ready... but I think you should. You came out to the world Richie, you did the hardest part already."

"I didn't even consider this part. God, I'm such an idiot. What if she-"

Eddie didn't even let him finish the dreadful thought. "Maggie was always cool, even I remember that. Either way, all of your friends support you so what every happens so... just know that."

The phone went silent as he spoke, but started to ring again immediately. Richie held it in his hand with his finger hovering over the screen. Eddie watched his movements carefully. "Do you want me to leave?"

"No." Richie was practically begging through labored breaths. "Please don't leave." He looked down again at the buzzing phone shaking his hands. Be true. Be brave.

"Mom?"

"Richard Tozier." Her voice was stern. "Are you trying to give your poor mother a heart attack? You promised to call when you landed in Derry, then you stop answering for weeks! I had to actually look on twitter to see if you were alive!"

"I'm sorry." He was crying already, gripping Eddie's hand so tightly he was afraid he was hurting him. "I'm really sorry."

"There were reports of you being in a hospital, there are pictures of Neibolt crumbling down, please tell me you weren't in there."

"I was, I'm sorry." He said again.

"My lord Richie, didn't I tell you to stay out of there when you were little? Are you alright? Why were you in the hospital? If you got yourself hurt I swear I will go over there and grab you by the ear like I used to-" She was interrupted by a harsh sob shooting out of Richie's mouth. He removed his hand from Eddie's and quickly covered his mouth, shaking into his palm.

"Richie, sweetie, what's wrong?" Her voice was back at her soft, gentle tone that he grew up with. "What's happening, you're getting me worried. I'm too old to be worrying."

"I'm gay." He sobbed out again, feeling spit build up in his mouth. "I'm sorry, fuck." Eddie quickly got up and grabbed the small bin from the corner of his room, placing it next to Richie.

"Richard, listen to me. Calm down, you're going to make yourself sick." Her voice was still soft, and she waited a few seconds before continuing. "I love you, my sweet boy. My sweet sweet boy. Stop saying sorry, please, you're hurting my heart."

"You're not mad?"

"Of course I'm not mad! Did you ever see us look down on any sexuality? Me and your father taught you to be kind to everyone and to be accepting. Us Tozier's practice what we preach."

"Does dad know?" He sniffled, clenching his eyes at an oncoming headache.

"The whole internet knows honey." She let out a small laugh. "He's right here."

"Rich." His dad's voice came through the phone. "I'm so glad you're okay, never scare us like that again. And we love you son, never doubt that."

Richie's body shook and he let out a shaky laugh. "I love you guys too."

"Facetime me so I can see your handsome face." His mom was already calling him again, and Richie wiped his face of tears before picking up. "There's my boy."

Eddie tried to mind his own business but he peered over Richie's shoulder to get a glimpse of Maggie Tozier. Obviously, she was older than the last time Eddie had seen her, but she still looked very similar. Her head had grey hairs laced with her chestnut locks, and she had far more wrinkles than when they were kids. Despite her clearly aged looks. She was still a beautiful woman.

Wentworth Tozier appeared next to her on the screen, smiling at his son. His once dark black hair now was completely peppered black and grey. Like his wife, he had aged very well. "I was half expecting your face to be banged up. Why were you in the hospital?"

"I-uh. We were in the Neibolt house."

"We? Who is we?"

"I went back to Derry to meet with the losers. Do you remember them?"

"Losers?" It was apparent that the losers weren't the only ones that forgot things when they left Derry. "That sounds familiar actually."

"Yeah, all of us from Derry. Anyway, we just went to places we used to visit as kids. Bad timing I guess."

"Oh my goodness, you were with more people?" His mother gasped at the screen. "Is everyone okay?"

"We are now. I was in the hospital with Eddie... do you remember him?" His eyes moved from his phone to Eddie himself, who was sitting quietly with his eyes glued to the phone in Richie's hands. Maggie furrowed her brows in confusion until her face lifted up in shock.

"Eddie? Little Eddie Kaspbrak!" She looked at her husband. "Honey, do you remember Eddie and Sonia Kaspbrak?"

"I certainly do now." He chuckled, nodding. "I can't believe we could forget that fanny pack." All three of the Tozier's laughed at that, and Richie caught the smile forming on Eddie's face beside him.

"What happened, is he alright? Richard if you dragged that boy into that house!"

"Hey, he went in on his own free will. Kind of. But he's okay now... he's actually staying with me while he recovers."

"What? Where? Where is he? Let me see!" His parents nearly fought over the phone, making Richie laugh before looking over at Eddie for permission. Eddie nodded and straightened his body, smiling to the screen.

It took the Tozier's a moment to process his face before Wentworth broke out in a big grin and Maggie's jaw dropped. "Eddie Kaspbrak?"

"Yes ma'am." He nodded sheepishly.

"Oh my goodness." Her mouth was quivering and she looked suddenly very emotional. "You are a man."

All of the men laughed at that. "I would say so." He chuckled softly, glancing at Richie from the corner of his eye. "It's been a while."

"Too long." She agreed, trying to keep her composure. "You were always my favorite."

"Wow." Richie snorted, turning the screen back to him momentarily. "That's homophobic."

"Quiet Richard put Eddie back on. How are you? You were hurt?" Richie knew how much Eddie hated those kinds of questions since it was all his mother ever asked him, but this was different. Eddie was smiling, so hard it looked like it hurt. As a kid he always craved a mother like Maggie, and after all these years she still cared for him like he was her own.

"I was, but I'm almost back to new. Richie has been taking very good care of me."

"Thank the lord." She sighed. "If he starts slacking let me know and I'll handle it."

"Jesus, when did this become fuck Richie Tozier day?" Richie nudged Eddie's arm gently, earning him one back.

"I'm so happy all of your friends are back together. I want all of you coming to visit soon, especially you Eddie." Wentworth's face filled the screen more.

Both boys nodded, but there was a thicker tension in the air; an unspoken truth. All of us back together except Stan.

"I promise we will. I'll talk to you guys later, we should probably go." Richie rubbed his throbbing forehead during the silence. "And thank you. For everything, I love you guys."

"We love you." Maggie blew a kiss at the screen and her husband nodded. "And Eddie too. Eddie we love you! You handsome man, look how big you've grown."

"Alright, back off mom he's mine." Richie said under the guise of a joke. Eddie slapped him, earning a chuckle from behind the screen.

"We know. Bye Rich."

"Bye..."

Richie let his arm drop down beside him onto the bed, and he took several long deep breaths. "Hey." Eddie's voice was soft beside him. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks Eds." He shot him a small smile. "I feel better now."

"Congrats again." Eddie stood back up, straightening out his shirt. "I'm gonna go watch some more shitty reality tv and take a nap or something. Care to join?"

"Is that a date?"

"I'm gonna hit you."

"Hey now! I'll be there in a sec, I'm gonna call a few more people first." Richie held his hands up in defense as Eddie glared at him, watching him retreat back to the living room. Once he heard the footsteps disappear he closed the door and fumbled with his phone again.

"Richie-"

"Bevvy I need advice." He said quickly into the phone, bouncing his knee up and down.

"Is this about being gay or Eddie?"

"Uh, both? Same thing right?" Richie chuckled nervously, trying to control his heart rate.

"Touche." She laughed back, clicking her tongue. "What do you need advice with?"

"Everything. I just came out to the world, which is scary as hell but everyone's been really nice. My parents called, even they are okay with it."

"I told you so!"

"Yeah but what you didn't tell me was that Eddie also likes guys!" He whisper yelled, careful to not let Eddie hear. "I know its not your place to tell people but I won't lie and say I'm not offended that he told you first..."

"So did you Richie!" She giggled. "You both told me kind of in the moment to be fair. He did say he wanted to tell you."

"What else did he say Bev? I need to know everything before I fuck this up! You know what, put Ben on the phone. He has decades of experience pining over a friend." He heard shuffling on the other side of the phone and an exchange of laughter.

"Hi Richie." Ben's voice came through, and Richie could hear the smile on his face. "Congrats on being gay and everything."

"Thanks Benny, we sadly can't all be as straight as you."

"So what's up? Bev says you finally realized that you're in love with Eddie."

"Actually Benjamin-" Richie hissed, rubbing his head. "-just to be clear, I've always known. It's just that now circumstances are a little different. I mean, Jesus, he nearly died. I don't know if I would've been able to live with myself if he died without me ever getting to tell him."

"So... why don't you tell him?" Ben chuckled like it was obvious.

"It's not that easy! You of all people should know that!"

"Pretty sure I was more forward than you. I wrote her a goddamn poem and I kissed her. Not to brag man, but get on my level!"

"Help him babe." Bev giggled from beside him.

"Oh great, you two have already started with the pet names. What's next, excessive flirting? I'm gonna puke."

"Really Richie? You really wanna talk about excessive flirting? How many nicknames do you have for Eddie again-"

"Shut your whore mouth Ben." He couldn't help but laugh at his own ridiculousness. "Fine. You're right. I just- don't know what to do. God I know this isn't middle school but what if he just doesn't feel that way about me?"

"Yeah right." Ben snorted. "Eddie looks at you like you hung the moon. I mean, I don't know if he likes guys but let's just say that if he did it wouldn't be a surprise."

"Are you saying you get a gay vibe from him? Wait a minute... did you get a gay vibe from me?"

"I got a Eddie-Kaspbrak-Is-My-World vibe from you."

"Oh same!" Bev chimed in.

"We are getting off topic." Richie mumbled, flustered. "What do I do Ben? How do I tell him that I've been madly in love with him since we were kids and that I had a second sexual crisis just seeing him after two decades?"

"I know this isn't what you wanted to hear Rich, but I can't really help you. It took me just as long to get Bev after trial and error. Yeah I wrote a sappy poem but that isn't you. You need to tell him in your own trashmouth way."

"We are not a fair comparison. You got hot and I did not." Richie sighed, shutting his eyes hard. "I did actually do something a little more... cheesy. Just no one knows about it."

"Oh God Richie what did you do?"

"Well you remember that fight I had with Bill and he punched me in the face? And Eddie hurt his arm? I actually went to the kissing bridge after and carved R+E into the wood-"

"Shut up, no you didn't!" They both laughed.

"I'm dead serious. And when I left Eddie at the hospital to grab our stuff from the inn I may have... went back and carved over it."

"That's- actually really sweet." Ben's voice was gentle, and he was also probably smiling.

"Definitely the gayest shit I've ever done-"

"Beep Beep Richie." Bev scolded. "Don't ruin the sweetness."

"Whatever." He huffed. "Thanks for nothing you losers. Go back to being your gross straight selves. Sorry, I'm deflecting. What I really mean is thanks for listen to me ramble about how gay and in love I am."

"No problem man." Ben was most certainly smiling now, Richie could hear it. "Tell Eddie we say hi, I'm putting Bev back on now."

"Do your thing sweetheart." She said immediately. "I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just like before." Her voice implied something, but it only made Richie more anxious.

"Thanks Bevvy. Love ya, bye." Richie wished he could say he went out to the living room right after the call ended and confessed everything to Eddie. But he didn't. He went back out there and continued to watch reality shows which quickly turned into him watching Eddie watch reality shows. He loved the way Eddie's lips would curl into a smirk when something dramatic or cringey happened, and his heart would skip when he'd let out an occasional laugh.

Richie wished he'd been brave, but for once in his life he couldn't bring himself to open his mouth. A week went by and to Eddie's delight, he was able to fully shower and sleep without the bandages. Richie refused to admit it, but he kind of missed having to change Eddie's bandages. He still helped Eddie rub scar cream on his back though, and Eddie was able to tolerate looking at the raised skin on his chest after several times of Richie insisting that it didn't make him ugly.

Eddie spent most of his free time job hunting despite Richie telling him that it was way too soon for him to start stressing over work. He didn't have as many nightmares