Tight-Knit Family| Richie Tozier

26-

July 2009 (homophobia tw)

"Dad promised he'd be home to tuck us in!" Willow whines as she follows Eddie upstairs. The almost 34 year old man is exhausted and just wants to go to sleep as he carries his two year old up the stairs whilst his four year old walks infront of them.

"He's probably just out with Steve having a few drinks, okay?" Eddie sighs as he walks into the girls room." He will be home soon, now please just go to bed."

Willow frowns and clambers into her bed. Eddie places Aurora into her bed with a sigh. She smiles up at her dad and he smiles back before passing her her pacifier and tucking her in. He walks over to Willow to tuck her in but she's crying.

"I didn't mean to snap at you, I'm sorry. I don't know what he's up to but he will be fine." Eddie reassures her and she wipes her a eyes. He tucks her in and kisses the top of her head.

"Papa can we have a story?" Willow asks as Eddie goes to leave the room. He sighs and walks back in, grabbing a book.

"What one is it?" Aurora asks and Eddie smiles. She really looks like a female version of him. Her hair is to her shoulders and is brown and curly. Willow is a mini version of Richie but with Beverly's hair colour. She even has glasses just like Richie.

"Ummm...A Christmas Carol. Why is this on the shelf?" Eddie states but he reads it to them anyway.

Once the girls are asleep, Eddie goes downstairs and cleans away their toys and does the dishes before going off to have a shower. Once he's showered, he changes into some sleep shorts and once of Richie's Hawaiian shirts. Then, he clambers into bed and is out like a light the minute his head hits the pillow.

But he isn't asleep long as the landline downstairs starts ringing. Eddie groans as he wakes up, contemplating letting it ring and going back to sleep. But he decides against it and heads off downstairs to answer it.

"Hello?" He yawns as he puts the phone to his ear.

"Hello, is that Mr Kaspbrak?" Comes a voice Eddie doesn't know.

"Speaking." Eddie replies.

"Hi, I'm Jill, I'm from Dignity Health- California Medical Center. I'm calling on behalf of your friend Richie Tozier." The woman says and hearing medical center and Richie in the same sentence alerts Eddie.

"Is he okay?" The man asks in a panic, his heart rate rising a little.

"He was attacked outside of a theatre...we think by a group of homophobic people. His manager was also attacked but not as badly as Mr Tozier and he advised us to call you." Jill says." Mr Tozier is unconscious right now but Mr Covall said that he'd be calm if you were there for when Richie wakes up."

"Okay...I'm on my way." Eddie says and then he hangs up. He rushes upstairs and throws on some jeans, tucking the Hawaiian shirt into them. Then he rushes into the girls room and packs them both an overnight bag.

"What's happening?" Willow groans as she wakes up, rubbing her eyes and watching her dad rush around the room packing two bags." Where are we going?"

"You two are going to grandma and grandpas whilst I go to the hospital." Eddie explains as he scrambles through their drawers.

"Why?" Aurora whines as she wakes up, yawning tiredly.

"Because...your dad has been hurt and so he's in hospital. I don't know what condition he's in so you aren't seeing him tonight." Eddie explains.

"I want to see him." Willow says as she puts her glasses on. Eddie shakes his head as he finishes packing." Papa that's not fair. I want to see dad!"