The Plan| Reddie

You Matter to Me

Richie would say he had always wanted to get married. He was a hopeless romantic and such, but he didn't think he'd get married like this. To a woman he'd slept with once, knocked her up and helped raise a child with for the past three years. He'd proposed to her out of fear when she'd first fallen pregnant and he guessed he was trying to force himself to be straight. Stanley Uris, of all people, had pointed that out to him. Richie had been out to Stanley since midway through Highschool and Stan was the only person to know Richie was gay.

"I still don't think you should go through with this." Stanley says quietly so only Richie can hear as they stand at the altar." It's not right."

"Just leaving it, Stanley." Richie sighs, nervous enough as it is. But Stanley was a blunt person and wanted to get his point across.

"Your marriage is gonna be founded a web of lies, Rich. This isn't right and you know it." He says. Richie's wearing a cheap suit that looks like it doesn't fit him and he looks visibly uncomfortable about the whole situation.

"I just want my daughter to have two parents who are together, okay." Richie sighs. Stanley goes to say something else, but the organ starts up and they shushed into silence as River walks in, arm looped with Wren, the two three year olds making their way down the aisle first. River completely forgets about her job as flower girl and doesn't throw down any flowers because she sees her dad. She hasn't seen him in a few days.

"DADDY!" She yells happily, letting go of Wren, who makes a beeline for Patty. River runs to Richie and he lifts her up with a smile, kissing her cheek. Then, he places her back down and she sits down beside Maggie.

Isla soon enters and Richie just smiles awkwardly. He shouldn't be feeling awkward on his wedding day. It's because he knew Stanley was right and he didn't want Stanley to be right. He just wanted to marry someone because he loved them. He didn't love Isla, but back then he thought he did because he didn't know what love felt like.

The vows are the standard and then, they put on the rings, Richie tensing slightly when his is on. Isla luckily doesn't notice. Then, Richie kisses her gently when instructed and everyone applauds the newly wed couple.

The wedding lunch had gone quite smooth, so had cutting the cake. The speeches had gone well and Stan had managed to lie his way through his. But now came the reception, where Richie Tozier stood, hammered, and checking out one of the male waiters not so subtly.

"Dude you gotta cut back on the drinking." Stanley states as he watches his three year old son dance with Richie's three year old daughter. Then he glances to Richie, who's biting his lip as he stares at the waiters ass. Stan nudges him." Rich, quit it. It's your wedding for fucks sake. You married a woman!"

"You think he's good in bed?" Richie asks, earning another (more forceful) nudge from Stanley." Kidding. I was kidding!"

"Stop checking men out at your wedding!" Stan says with a warning tone to his voice. Richie just shrugs and sips on his bourbon.

"Daddy can you dance with me?" River asks, her tiny hand tugging at Richie's big one. Richie grins and nods, scooping her up in his arms, making her shriek with laughter and the two dance happily to some cheesy pop song. It didn't matter if Richie liked the song or not. He danced to anything.

2 weeks after the last chapter-

Richie shudders awake as the memory swirls in his mind. He blinks up at the ceiling with a slight daze, only being brought back down to earth when he hears Eddie retch beside him. He turns his head to see his boyfriend sat up on the edge of the bed, being sick into a bowl. Richie sits up too, rubbing Eddie back gently as he spits the last of the vomit out of his mouth.