Tight-Knit Family| Richie Tozier

27-

December 2011

Ever since Richie's attack, he'd been struggling with anxiety even more. He'd not sleep a night before a show or interview or press tour or premiere. He'd been in a few movies and one was premiering on Christmas Eve. So, he was currently backstage in a dressing room, waiting to do an interview the night before the premiere. He's exhausted so he's drinking his 20th coffee of the day. Eddie and the girls are sitting in the audience and Richie makes his way to the studio. It's the same show he had his first ever interview on.

"And here's tonight's guest, comedian and actor...Richie Tozier!" Carl says and the audience cheer and Richie forces a smile, waving happily as he sits down." It's been a while, how is life?"

"Life is insane." Richie chuckles in response.

"Yeah, you're a dad now, right?" Carl asks and Richie nods.

"Yup I have two daughters who rule my life." He replies with a chuckle, shifting in his seat anxiously, trying to get comfortable.

"Two? Wow. What're there names and how old are they?" Carl asks and Richie smiles, praying for his hands to stop being clammy.

"We have Willow. Willow Margaret Beverly Tozier...she's six. She's mine biologically and she looks a lot like me. Beverly Hanscom was her surrogate so we have a little red head. Her nickname is Will." Richie explains with a chuckle. Willow grins up at Eddie as she watches." Then we have Aurora. Aurora Frankie Patricia Tozier and shes four. She's Eddie's biologically. Her nickname is Rory. Her surrogate was Patty who is married to my best friend. Rory is the spitting image of Eddie. I love it. "

"Speaking of Eddie, how are you both?" Carl asks.

"Great. We're amazing. I love him very much. We've been together for almost 20 years." Richie explains with a smile. Eddie smiles in the audience as Aurora clambers tiredly onto his lap. He hugs her gently." Wish we could get married but...y'know, not legal."

"Hopefully one day." Carl says and Richie nods." So, any funny stories from parenting life?"

"Oh there's a few. Ummm, Willow is six so she's very much obsessed with princesses and unicorns and mermaids so we often have her dressed up as Ariel or something. She loves a tea party and she stole Beverly's make up once and just covered my face in it." Richie tells with a chuckle." She shoved a tiara on Eddie's head once and called him Princess Papa for the rest of the day. It was cute. Very cute. Meanwhile, Aurora is the complete opposite. Despite being named like a Princess, she is obsessed with cars and dinosaurs and playing in the rain and mud. She also swears a lot. Four years old! I'm not surprised because Eddie and I have barely any filter."

"She swears?" Carl asks in shock and Richie nods, laughing.

"Yeah. She's four almost five. One day she stormed into mine and Eddie's room, bearing in mind we were fast asleep, and she jumps on the bed and goes 'there's no fucking bread!' I woke up instantly from the shock. Then I laughed and Eddie just sort of seemed confused at this small four year old girl swearing." Richie laughs loudly." She swore infront of my mom once and she told both Eddie and I off. It was scary. My mom is scary when angry. Hi mom and dad, love you!"

The rest of the interview goes smoothly, the two discussing Richie's movie. It's a kids movie so the premiere is in the afternoon rather than the evening. He's also allowed to bring the girls, which doesn't usually happen. Once the interview is over, Richie goes back to the dressing room, chugging a bottle of water. Eddie greets him with girls and Richie smiles, hugging them all.

-
"Are you okay?" Eddie asks the next morning as he does up Richie's bow tie. Richie shrugs in response." You're really shaky and your pupils are huge and you look like you can carry groceries with the bags under your eyes. Rich, you look like you're on drugs."