Tight-Knit Family| Richie Tozier

23-

September 2006-

Richie smiles as he helps Willow up. Stanley grins back at Richie as Blue and Willow laugh at eachother. Richie loves that his daughter is best friends with his best friends son. They play together like he and Stan used to. Stan and Patty are visiting, Patty pregnant with Eddie and Richie's second child. This time, Eddie was the biological father. Willow is a mix of Beverly and Richie, but she looks more like Richie. She has his nose, his eyes (including his lazy eye), his ears but Beverlys face shape, lips and hair. Willow has fluffy auburn hair, Beverlys colour but Richie's texture.

"Dad!" Wren says as he plays on Richie's Wii. Stan looks over at him." When are we going?"

"You're at uncle Richie's and you're bored!" Richie mock gasps, earning a laugh from his godson." I am offended, young one."

"It's not that I'm bored...I'm just tired." The six year old replies and Richie nods. Willow looks at her dad and smiles and Richie smiles back.

"Well, we could go home and prepare dinner?" Stan suggests to his oldest, who smiles and nods." Do you mind if we go, Rich?"

"No it's fine. Eddie should be home soon, anyway." Richie replies as the two stand up. Willow holds her arms up, signalling she wants to be picked up. Richie lifts her up and rests her on his hip and she smiles.

Stan does the same with Blue and then Wren holds onto his dads hand, all of them making their way out of Richie's house. Richie smiles and says goodbye and then he notices someone standing on the sidewalk just outside of the house. Someone he hasn't seen since he was 20.

"Aunt Marlene?" Richie asks and Willow looks at her dad, slightly confused. Marlene smiles and walks up to the door.

"Daddy, who is that?" Willow asks and Richie sighs. Marlene looks at Willow, a little confused.

"You have a daughter?" Marlene asks and Richie scoffs.

"Like you care." He states. He goes to close the door but Marlene stops him." What do you want from me? An opportunity to call me slurs?"

"I came to apologise." Marlene says.

"Rich, what's going on?" Eddie asks as he gets out of his car. Willow's face lights up and she starts leaning over for Eddie, who walks up and takes her out of Richie's arms.

"Oh my god is that Eddie Kaspbrak?" Marlene asks with an awkward chuckle. She stops when she's met with a cold glare from the man.

"What do you want?" He asks as his daughter pokes his cheek. Marlene shuffles awkwardly on the balls of her feet." If you're not here for anything, I need to cook dinner for my boyfriend and our daughter so-

"Wait!" Marlene says as the two men go to head inside. They stop and look at her with a sigh." I came to apologise."

"You're about ten years too late." Richie states. Then he looks at her and lets her in. She looks around the house in fascination before sitting down on the couch. Eddie places Willow onto the floor before going off to start dinner. Richie sits on the other couch and Marlene shuffles awkwardly.

"She's gorgeous." She says, pointing to Willow who is playing with some toys on the floor.

"I know." Richie says coldly, making Marlene look up at him and causing the two to make awkward eye contact.

"Was it a closed adoption or are the biological parents allowed to have contact?" Marlene asks, trying to push past the awkward boundary.

"She's not adopted. She's my biological daughter." Richie states." Our friend Beverly agreed to be our surrogate...just like our friend Patty is our surrogate now. But this child is Eddie's biologically."