Hell & Back

Chapter Thirteen

Chrissy had taken most of his belongings from his bedroom. She had explained that his uncle moved and that he was going to throw this stuff out so she went in and took it. Lucky for both him and Steve at least they would have something to wear, showering was a must before Chrissy would even consider letting them sleep.

"You kept it." Eddie said walking over to the bed and taking hold of the pick necklace he had worn for years. Chrissy moved to sit on her knees, facing him and put her hand over lightly over his, the feeling sent shivers through his body. "I never take it off." She said lightly. They hadn't touched since he came back through, both were scared that the other would leave.

Eddie reached out with his free hand and pushed her hair back behind her ear. "I have missed you." He said low. Steve was in the shower and Eddie was still covered in dust and dirt but she didn't pull away from him. "I...I um...I understand if you moved on while we were away." He said struggling and avoiding her eyes. Chrissy put a hand on his cheek and smiled "I love you." She said and kissed him. He let go of the necklace and wrapped his arm around her pulling her closer, his other hand traveled further through her hair. He could feel the strands through his fingers. She pulled away and smiled at him but before she could say more he kissed her again. She was really here, she wasn't a delusion. He wanted to stay here forever.

"I couldn't even sit down until I showered." Steve said coming out of the bathroom with a goofy grin. He looked like hisself again. "Found scissors did you?" Eddie said with a laugh trying to change the subject as he let Chrissy go and headed towards the bathroom. "Thankfully, your turn wolf man." Steve said letting Eddie past. Eddie grabbed the clothes and headed into the bathroom, he turned back and stole one last glance at Chrissy smiling on the bed.

Chrissy had wrapped the blanket back around her as Steve came out of the bathroom. Not that he hadn't noticed before that she was half naked. "Thanks for letting me crash here." Steve said making himself a bed on the floor. "Thank you, for keeping him safe." Chrissy said looking over at him. Steve met her gaze and put on a half smile "It was a joint effort." Steve said laying down. Chrissy was wondering whether or not to ask about the Upside Down when she heard little snores coming from the ground. She leaned over and turned off the laps with a laugh to herself. 

Eddie walked into the dark room and almost tripped over a sleeping Steve. He felt like his old self again, he didn't bother cutting off the extra inches from his hair but he did shave off the beard that was growing and cut his bags so they didn't hang in his face. His clothes were big on him, who knew living off of monster meat and junk food would make you lose weight. 

He was about to lay down on the floor next to Steve when he heard movement from the bed."You can sleep up here, if you want." She said keeping her eyes close "I won't try anything, I promise." She finished with a smile. Eddie let out a small laugh and walked over to the bed. He took a deep breath and climbed under the blankets. He laid on his back looking up at the ceiling, the feel of Chrissy's body pressed against him. 

"How long did you try to open the gate?" Eddie asked looking up at the ceiling. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer. Neither answer would make him feel better, either she stopped living her life looking or she didn't try at all. "We never stopped." She whispered "Nancy and I looked through everything and we could find but nothing changed. Eleven wouldn't open it unless we had proof you both were alive." There was the sound of her muffled crying. Eddie rolled onto his side and wrapped an arm around her pulling her close to him. "I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse." He whispered. 

Down below a boy with blonde pushed back hair was starring up at the window of the reddish blonde haired girl from the woods. He watched as the shadows for two more people passed through the curtains. One was a boy while the other looked like a girl. He hadn't seen anyone walk into the house. The lights went out and after a few more minutes he walked back into the woods.

Chrissy woke up, Eddie's arm was no longer around her and she couldn't feel the warm of his breath on the back of her neck, she had a sudden fear that last night had all been a dream. When she went to get up though she tripped over a body on her floor, she almost screamed but looked down and seen Steve Harrington still asleep. "Sorry" she muttered and headed to the bathroom.  

As she walked to the door, it opened and Eddie walked out. He gave her a sleepy smile "Morning beautiful." He said pushing the hair away from his face. "Morning." She whispered looking down at the ground. She went around him and into the bathroom, before she walked out she quickly brushed her teeth and than shook her head it was like this was their first morning together. 

When she walked back out, Eddie was sitting up leaning against the headboard asleep. Chrissy laughed to herself while walking over and laying a blanket over him. All of a sudden she realized that it was morning and a school morning, what was she going to do with them. Chrissy went to the dresser and threw on a pair of shorts before heading downstairs. Everything would be fine she kept telling herself. 

"Sleep well." Her mom asked absently. "Yeah actually." Chrissy said with a smile to herself. "I'm actually not feeling to well today, do you think...I um could maybe...stay home today?" Chrissy asked sitting down at the table. "Chrissy, you already had to repeat the semester, do you really want to fall behind?" Her mom said disapprovingly. "I'll work harder. I have just been really upset, but I'm doing better now." Chrissy said honestly and her mother only sighed "Fine." She said "but only today." 

Chrissy was surprised by her mothers answer. She was sure that she would have to basically beg to stay home. She stayed in the kitchen and thought about what she could make the boys to eat. She wasn't sure when they would wake up but it was almost a sure thing they would be hungry. She was only half listening to her mom complain about going to work when there was a knock on the door. 

Nancy was standing in the doorway excited and trying to explain a paper she found. "I have to show you something." Chrissy said taking her hand and pulling her upstairs. Nancy was still trying to tell her about the lab report as they walked into Chrissy's room. Than she dropped the papers and stopped "How?" She asked in a low voice. Chrissy rushed her inside before her mom heard. "I don't know." She said whispering. 

"Steve?" Nancy said knelling beside him. "Go away." Steve groaned out annoyed while rolling over. Nancy smiled and walked across the room to the desk sitting in front of the window. Chrissy sat across from her on the bed, she laid a hand on one of Eddie's legs, afraid that if she didn't hold on to him for to long he would disappear. As she explained everything that happened the night before Nancy sat there and listened intently, than she turned to look out of the window and something caught her eye. "Chrissy, who is that?" She said staring down.