We'll Meet Again - REDDIE

➵ chapter two

It was Christmas Eve of 2016 when Richie received the phone call. It was from Mike, and he was inviting everyone back to Derry to have a sort of Losers reunion. Just the six of them having dinner at a restaurant, nothing too special. It had been a while since he heard from any of the Losers, so of course Richie jumped on the offer and immediately flew out to Derry. It wasn't like he had anyone to spend that Christmas with anyway.

So, on Christmas morning, Richie arrived in his childhood town and checked into the Derry Townhouse. He wasn't expecting any of the other Losers to be there, considering it was Christmas, but as he walked down the hall to his room, he passed a cracked door and heard a very distinctive laugh coming from inside. Beverly's laugh.

Richie pushed the door open and saw Beverly, Ben, and Mike sitting together on the floor of the room, playing cards. Beverly looked up when the door squeaked, and her face lit up.

"Richie!"

Richie grinned as three of his best friends ran up to meet him. "Hey, Losers! I know you missed me, you don't have to say it."

All three of them rolled their eyes and said, "Beep-beep, Richie," but they continued to hug him, and he hugged them back.

"I wasn't expecting anyone else to be here so early," Richie said, pulling back from the hug. "I thought you'd all be celebrating Christmas or something."

Ben shook his head. "Didn't have anyone to be with, so I came here. You guys are basically my family anyway."

Beverly nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'm divorcing my husband, so I thought this would be a more enjoyable Christmas than one with him. I've only been here a few hours and I'm already right!"

Mike shrugged. "I live on my own here, so. You didn't have any plans, Trashmouth?"

Richie laughed at the old nickname. "Nope, none. I had a show tomorrow, but I had my manager cancel it. You guys are more important."

"Aww, don't get all sappy on us, Richie!" Beverly said dramatically, making everyone laugh.

"Fine, fine. Sorry, Bev. And sorry about the divorce."

Beverly shook her head. "Don't be sorry. I'm glad to be rid of him."

"Oh. Well... congrats?"

Beverly laughed. "Thanks, Rich. C'mon, let's keep playing cards."

The four Losers sat on the floor playing cards for a while longer, then the door opened again, and Bill entered.

"H-Hey, guys!" he said, smiling down at his friends. "M-Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Bill!" Ben replied as everyone got up to welcome and hug him.

After questioning Bill about why he was there on Christmas - his wife, Audra, had been gone on an acting job, so he would've been alone anyway - they dealt him into the card game and continued to play. After a few more hours, they decided they should probably get something to eat, considering it was lunchtime, so they walked down the street to the diner. It was snowing, and they were all freezing cold, but none of them really minded. It reminded them of that one night in 1989. The night they had met Eddie.

Eddie had sort of... left the group after that night. When Richie climbed up the tree to get Eddie the next night, the only thing he could see through the window was Eddie on his bed with his knees pulled up to his chest, crying, although he was obviously trying to hide it. And the only thing he could hear, besides Eddie's heart wrenching sobs, was yelling. So. Much. Yelling. Richie had been on the receiving end of that yelling enough times to know it was Sonia.