#derpstuff

Eddie rolled his eyes as he walked in. “Thanks Rich, how chivalrous of you.”

He couldn’t keep the grin off his face. “Well, I wouldn’t be a very good fiancé if I didn’t treat you with the utmost respect, now would I?”

“Well if you put it like that.” Eddie hid his playful smile as he made an even more over the top show of taking the gift bags out of his arms and setting them down on the table for him. “Does that live up to your standards?” he said, hands resting on his hips.

“You’re ridiculous and I love you.” Richie would never get tired of the way Eddie’s face melted into one of pure joy when he said things like that. Honestly he was just amazed and constantly thankful that he could, they had been through so much to get to this point where they could love one another without conflict.

“I love you too, now get over here you overgrown puppy.” He didn’t have to ask twice, Richie gladly walked right into his open arms. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Eddie. May we have many more days like this in our future.”

He felt Eddie freeze for a moment. “Oh, I almost forgot. Today’s not quite over yet.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, why do you think you woke up late this morning? I set back your alarm so I’d have time to set up your present before we left.” Eddie had the audacity to grin up at him.

“Are you kidding me!? I had to scramble for the shower and I barely got the chance to eat breakfast, and you’re telling me you planned this? I had a bet with Stan that Mike would be the last one there. Seriously, Eddie, you owe me fifty bucks.” He tried to give him a serious glare.

Eddie stifled a snort. “Stan may have helped me pick out the present, that may be why he bet on us being last.”

“Babe, babe, babe, are you kidding me? You plotted against me… with Stan!?”

“Only a little bit of plotting, and besides, it was for a present.”

“Oh well, by all means, make it up to me and show me this present that’s worth losing a bet to Stan for. Seriously I was winning, we were like twenty-eight to twenty-nine.”

Eddie rolled his eyes and freed himself from Richie’s arms, pulling him towards the back door.

“Outside? Did you finally get me that giant middle finger statue I was wanting? The neighbors are horrible and they need to know it.”

He gave a tug, causing Richie to stumble slightly. “No, I did not. And shut up, Bill and Janice are nice; you’re just mad they don’t like your jokes.”

“Anyone who doesn’t like my jokes are horrible in my book.”

“Oh so I’m horrible now?”

“Nope, you get the fiancé pass.”

“I suppose that works. Okay, cover your eyes,” he said, as he slid open the back door.

“Fine, they’re covered.”

“Good, now don’t fall, the steps are right in front of you.”

Richie carefully maneuvered his way down the steps. “Well now I feel like you’re trying to hurt me. Is my present a trip to the ER?”

“Shut up and stay right there,” he said, letting go of Richie’s arm.

Richie did as he was told. He heard Eddie shuffle across the lawn and a small click before their arms were looped once again.

“Okay, now open.”

He opened his eyes. Lights were strung throughout the backyard, making it seem almost magical despite the lack of snow. The various trails of lights all led to one place though, the two trees in the back of the yard. Between the two trees there was a bright red hammock that hadn’t been there the day before.

He could feel the tears beginning to pool at the corner of his eyes. “Eds, this is literally the sweetest thing anyone has ever done in the history of ever,” he said, looking at Eddie who was beaming back at him.

“I know, now come on, I made sure to get one that would hold the two of us.” Once again Richie was being led.

“You hoping for some late night Christmas cuddling?”

“That’s exactly what I was hoping for, now get in. I don’t trust you not to elbow me in the face.

Richie gladly let Eddie push his towards the hammock. “Come on Eds, that was one time.” He swung himself in and got comfortable.

“One time and a black eye was more than enough for me, scoot over.”

He didn’t even have to scoot, the hammock was certainly big enough for two people and he was more than happy to let Eddie move him to where he wanted. He ended up curled into Richie’s chest, his arm providing a convenient pillow. Richie used his free hand to cup both of Eddie’s and bring them to his lips. He placed a few small kisses and smiled at the way Eddie’s eyes seemed to light up.

“Hey, Eds.”

“Hey, Richie.”

“Thanks for this.”

There were a few stray tears in Eddie’s eyes, Richie carefully wiped them away. “I was just thinking of how lucky we were to have this, have us. It made me think back to when we were kids, how one of the things that was ours was the hammock. We all may have said it was for all us losers, but it was really ours. I thought it would be nice to get you that.” It was Eddie’s turn to wipe Richie's eyes.

“It’s perfect. I’m so lucky I got the chance to have you again. You’ve done nothing but make my life better since you came back into it.”

Eddie smiled. “I can say the same thing about you.”

He pulled him closer. “Merry Christmas, Eddie.”

Now standing outside Eddie's front door he wasn’t so sure that was the case. After a full day of playing off the joke while at school, Richie had driven his beaten truck over to Eddie’s house to pick him up at 5:55 exactly, five minutes early. When the door had opened Eddie stood there smiling for a moment looking like a dream. His hair was neat and tidy like always, but he wore a baby blue button down and wrinkle-free jeans. He was gorgeous. Richie on the other hand was wearing a faded band t he had chucked on over a pair of ripped jeans, not to mention his curls were all over the place.

“You’re actually early for once, ready to go?” Eddie asked as he stepped out onto the porch, shutting the door behind him.

Richie quickly shut his dropped jaw and gulped. “Yea Eds, got the truck all nice and warmed up for ya.” Richie turned and began making his way to the truck, not able to look at Eddie for another second for fear he might die on the spot. He quickly got into the truck and slammed his door shut, trying to use the few seconds before Eddie got in to breathe and sort out his thoughts. 

Even after Eddie got in the vehicle remained silent all the way to the diner, Richie couldn’t tell whether the silence was awkward or comfortable, but either way it stayed until he parked the truck and went around to open the door for Eddie.

“After you my liege,” Richie said, bowing down and moving out of the way to let him get out.

“Why thank you my good sir, shall thou escort me into this… fine establishment?” Eddie joked before holding out his elbow for Richie to take, and he would take what he could get.

The diner itself wasn’t anything impressive. It was one of those tacky 50’s and 60’s style diners with linoleum checkered floors, big booths, those spinning stools lining the bar, and a jukebox in the corner. But nonetheless being in there with Eddie felt special as he led him elbow in elbow to a large booth in the back corner, away from the other customers scattered throughout the rest of the diner. When they sat down opposite from one another Richie couldn’t help but think how close this was to a real date.

Richie reached to the end of the table and grabbed two menus from the stack, handing one to Eddie before he popped his open. “Get whatever you’d like Eds, this ones on me,” he said as casually as possible.

“Thanks Rich,” he responded before turning his face down to scour the menu. After a few minutes a waitress walked over, a little pad of paper in one hand and a pen in the other.

“Hi, can I get you two anything to drink tonight?” she asked in a painfully obvious customer service voice, Richie almost had to stop himself from wincing.

“Milady, i’ll have one of your finest root beers, Eds?” he responded before turning to Eddie.

“Ummm I think i’ll just have water, thanks.”

“One rootbeer, and one water coming right up,” she repeated back before walking towards the kitchen.

Richie stared at Eddie until he looked up from the menu. “What?” he asked.

“Water Eds, really? I’m paying so you could get anything you wanted, and you picked plain ol’ water?” Richie teased.

“Soda has a lot of sugar, and cavities are no joke dipshit. Your dad’s a fucking dentist for crying out loud, you’d think he’s forbid you from soda and all the candy you stuff down your face hole,” he ranted. All Richie could do was smile and rest his face in his hand as Eddie went off. Would a real date be like this?

“Well Eds, you see, some people like to live a little and actually have a drink that tastes good,” he responded, a dopey grin still plastered on his face.

“Water tastes good!” People started to glance over at them.

“What the fuck? Water doesn’t have a fucking taste!” 

“Yes it fucking does!” he responded.

“Oh yea, then what does it taste like?” Check fucking mate.

Eddie stopped his rant and looked at Richie, clearly trying to think of what to say next. “I don’t fucking know, water tastes like fucking water!” 

“That’s because water doesn’t taste like anything, it’s like if your mom’s bland kinks were a drink,” he said with a smirk.

“Beep fucking beep dickhead, god i’m never going to be able to drink water again with out thinking of that, what the hell!” he practically yelled.

Of course this is when the waitress decided to come back with their drinks. “I’m going to need you two to keep it down a little bit, there’s a family here with the little kids, and if you can’t keep it quiet i’ll have to ask you to leave,” she said as she set down their drinks. 

“Sorry,” Eddie said in a quiet voice as he tried to sink back into the seat, a blush rising on his face.

“It’s alright. Have you two decided on what you’re getting?” she asked, pad ready.

“Yeah, can I just get a plain cheeseburger with a side of fries? Please,” he asked. The waitress nodded a quick response before turning to face Richie.

“I’ll have your bacon burger with everything on it, and a side of fries.” She quickly scribbled down his order and left once again towards the kitchen.

This time it was Eddie's turn to stare at Richie. “Yes?” Richie asked.

“When you die of a heart attack from cholesterol build up I won’t mourn you,” he deadpanned

“Ouch Eds, tell me how you really feel, and besides the burgers here are best with everything on it.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

As the two boys passed the time they spent waiting for their food by teasing one another, heavily. When the food did arrive Richie waited for Eddie to take the first bite.

“Okay, I will admit this is pretty good,” he said after he finished his mouthful.

“Knew you would.” Richie smiled as he ate.

They spent the rest of their meal in a comfortable silence, listening to the music flowing from the jukebox near the front, and Richie couldn’t help but observe how nicely Eddie was dressed, and how he seemed just a little bit on edge, like he was nervous. Richie thought of how happy he was when Richie had shown up to his house early, and the way they had sat in silence the whole way there. Looking forward to our date. Was this a date? 

“You good Rich?” Eddie asked snapping Richie out of his thoughts.

“Yea, it’s just-” he looked around before turning back to Eddie and lowering his voice. “-is this a date?” he asked, slapping himself mentally for even entertaining the possibility of Eddie agreeing to a date with him.

Eddie swallowed the fry he was chewing and responded in an equally quiet voice. “Do you want it to be?”

Richie didn’t know how to respond. All he could do was search Eddie's face. He looked more nervous now, but also a little bit hopeful. Richie looked down at his hand before answering. “Yes…” he was impossibly quiet.

“Then it is one,” Eddie said back. This caused Richie's head to snap up and look at Eddie, whose head was cast towards the plate in front of him, a blush rising on his face.

“Okay,” was all Richie could say.