#whereshallwestart

Ahhh!!! I am so sorry it took me so long to write this!! And thank you so so so much!!!

“You didn’t really think I’d let you spend Christmas alone, did you?” & “Tell me what you want for Christmas”

Rating: G (pure fluff buddio) Words: 965

Eddie's face perked up as his phone started to buzz. It was time for his nightly call with Richie. Ever since the whole… situation in Derry, they'd been talking every night. Richie had helped Eddie through his divorce, and Eddie had been there for Richie as he panicked about coming out. It was all great.

But there were still things left unsaid. Things that lingered on Eddie's tongue when they said their final goodnight. It was hard, knowing Richie was so far away. He was in New York, Richie was in Los Angeles. But Eddie would take what he could get. He'd take anything if it meant talking to Richie.

"Eddie Spaghetti!" Richie shouted through the phone. Eddie grimaced at the loud volume, but was still happy to hear his voice. 

"Hey, Chee. How was work?" 

"It was alright. Work, ya know. I'm really liking writing my own stuff, though. How about you?"

"Fucking terrible. I don't know why I don't just quit. I hate this stupid fucking job almost as much as I hate this stupid fucking loud city."

There was a comfortable silence while they both thought about the next thing to say. Finally, Eddie piped up.

"So, what are your Christmas plans?"

He heard Richie sigh through the phone. "Oh, probably just getting drunk and eating Chinese food. The usual. You?"

Eddie hesitated. The conversation had been light, but his answer wasn't. "I honestly don't know. It's my first Christmas… alone. And like, I'm glad that it's not with Myra, but it's still weird. No family, no friends, nothing. Just me." Eddie frowned into the phone.

"I'm sorry, Eds. You know I'm always here. I mean, I know I'm several time zones away, but still. I'm always here." Richie paused. And then, "Tell me what you want for Christmas, Eds. Let me make all your Christmas wishes come true."

"Honestly?" Eddie asked. He wasn't sure if he should say you. He didn't know if that would make things too real.

"Yeah, honestly. No matter what it is, I'll make it happen."

"I wanna see you."

He heard Richie's breath hitch through the phone. He knew it was probably too much, that he had probably scared him off. But then Richie's soft voice carried through the phone.

"I wanna see you, too, Eds. I miss you like crazy." 

Eddie smiled. He knew it was improbable, knew that Richie had gigs over the holidays. It's a popular time for comedy. Eddie guesses it's because people need a break from their families. Everything was quiet for a while. And then their conversation picked back up, and it was normal. They talked about their days and joked around. Richie tried some new material out on Eddie, and as much as Eddie wanted to criticize it, he couldn't help but let out an absurdly loud laugh. Richie was the funniest person in the world to Eddie.

---

Weeks passed, and Eddie tried not to think about that conversation. It was Christmas Eve, and he was sitting on his couch alone, uncorked wine bottle in hand. He missed Richie. He always missed Richie. He was contemplating whether watching Richie's new Netflix special would just make things worse when he heard a knock at the door. His mind immediately flashed to the worst: Myra coming by and being possessive. He dodged all of her calls, so he wouldn't even know if she tried to tell him she was coming over.

Except when he opened the door, it wasn't the worst. It was the best. Staring back at him, through thick-rimmed glasses, was Richie, complete with an ugly Christmas sweater and a Santa hat. He had a duffle bag slung over his shoulder and a grin on his face.

"What? You didn’t really think I’d let you spend Christmas alone, did you? Now are you gonna let me in, or just stand there staring at me like you've just seen mommy kissing Santa Clause. Which, by the, she did, and-"

Eddie cut him off with a kiss. Partially because he just wanted Richie to shut up, but partially because that was all he wanted at this moment. When they separated, Eddie stepped to the side to let Richie in. But Richie just stood there, dumbfounded. Eddie started to panic.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have just-"

Now it was Richie who cut him off with a kiss. He stepped through the door frame, crowding Eddie's space and pressing their lips together. His hands came up to cup Eddie's face, and Eddie sighed into the kiss. When they separated this time, both men were blushing. Eddie didn't know you could blush so furiously at 40.

"If I had known you wanted to kiss me, I would have flown out here literally months ago," Richie said breathlessly. Eddie let out a little chuckle. Then Richie extended his arm, holding out a poorly wrapped gift for Eddie.

"Oh, Rich. I didn't get you anything. I mean, I didn't know you were coming, but still."

"It's alright. That kiss was the best Christmas present I could ask for. It's way better than this crap," Richie said, motioning towards the box in his hand. Eddie took it, unwrapping it to find a plane ticket. He looked up at Richie puzzlingly. 

"I figured you could come out to LA. Move, even, if you want. I know you hate it here, and I have an extra room, so." Richie was shuffling nervously, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. Eddie just smiled.

"My only complaint there is the extra room. If it's alright with you, I'd like to share," Eddie said as he leaned up to press a gentle kiss to Richie's kiss.

oh! oh boy this is yelling! i just did a dramatic reading of this aloud thank you for the giggle i’m VERY glad you liked that chapter; definitely more of this dynamic to come, in a steady stream for the next few. 

💞💞💞

oh yes, always so lovely to be told i’ve dropkicked someone! i’m VERY glad to have achieved this effect, and yes i PROMISE that i wouldn’t just. put all sorts of pain in there with no intention of doing something about it, y’know? there is a rhyme and reason to all of this, including rhe next snapshot that’ll come up tomorrow, which is. arguably more painful than this latest one, on account of — shockingly — the distinct lack of things like bird bones and mythics.