Hell & Back

Chapter Thirty Five

Eddie woke up, the moon was shinning through the window. Chrissy was asleep beside him while Annie slept soundly in the crib beside the bed. Almost a year had past since their war with Vecna and still he found it hard to sleep through the night. Eddie looked down at his little family and couldn't help but smile. They had been through so much the past few years and he was happy to just have these peaceful moments.

Sleep was the only thing that still unsettled him. When either Chrissy or Annie seemed to stir in their sleep, he instantly woke up ready to turn on the radio. For the first month he wouldn't let them go to sleep unless music was playing. He looked down and moved the fallen hair from Chrissy's face, she had been so patient with him while he worked things out.

They told him that Eleven had killed Vecna and that what he had seen wasn't real, but if that was true how was Billy still alive? Maybe Billy was wrong and it wasn't Vecna keeping him here but than how could he help him? Was Billy even real or just his imagination? Max was there though and he had taken care of her. He was still trying to fix her mind.

Slowly Max had began to wake up and talk more. It wasn't much at first but now she can almost make a full sentence. The doctors are convinced that it is the speech but it had to be Billy. He couldn't have dreamed up everything. Could he? Eddie looked at the alarm clock on the nightstand, it was only two in the morning. No one would be up and nothing would be on television, Chrissy would wake up if he moved anyway and he was annoyed with himself for ruining the little sleep she got. So he laid there and fought to find sleep.

Steve was asleep across the hall, after everything happened he moved in, basically. His father died of a heart attack about a month after Eddie woke up, leaving his businesses to his only son. Steve, who barely understood what his father did, hired Eddie to help him with a little bit of everything. Turns out Steve's dad owned most of the businesses around town. The two of then would go to each business and collect money and paperwork. Money went to the bank, paperwork was carefully reviewed to make sure the money was correct. Hiring and firing was another part of the job, so most of the kids worked at the places Steve owned.

With the money Eddie made from working with Steve he was able to take over the bills in the trailer and put money aside. It was a strange feeling. But if he was being honest with himself, he hadn't felt anything but strange since the day he found out about the Upside Down and Vecna. His life had changed in every way. He never graduated high school. He had a family. He had a good job. Steve Harrington was his best friend. Overnight he had became an adult.

"Bad dreams?" He heard Chrissy's voice interrupt his thoughts. She rolled over so that she faced him but instead up opening her eyes she buried her head into his chest. He ran a hand through her hair and let out a small laugh "Just thinking about everything that has happened." Eddie said holding her clothes. "I don't understand why you won't let all of it go. He's dead. Time to move on." Chrissy said not for the first time. "You know why." He said hearing the inpatient tone in his own voice "If he's not dead than he can come back." Eddie said. 

The had the same argument for months. He stopped talking to any of them about all of it. Steve and Chrissy both told him to let it go. Dustin and Lucas didn't listen, they had looked and found no recent signs of him, more for Max's sake. Mike was convinced that Eleven wouldn't lie about killing Vecna and was no giving it even a thought. The others were to close to Nancy and she would tell Chrissy and than it would end in an argument. 

"I don't want to argue with you. I can't stop thinking about it. I don't talk to anyone about my thoughts but they are there and I won't lie to you." He said cutting her off. "If you all are right than the thoughts will end after time, if not than he wont surprise us." Eddie felt Chrissy tense up in his arms but she didn't pull away. They laid there silently until they both fell asleep. 

The next morning, Eddie and Steve were getting ready to leave for the day while Chrissy fed Annie. Eddie was tying his boots when he heard someone knock on the door. "Expecting someone?" Eddie said looking over at Steve who only looked startled "Not that I remember." He said crossing the floor to the door. When he opened it, they were both shocked to see Max standing outside the door. 

"Sorry, I know it's early but I had to see you." Max said coming into the trailer. She was looking at Eddie. She didn't even cast a glance away from him. Eddie met her gaze and knew in his mind that everything he thought was true. "Billy told me to come. That you were the only one who could help." She said walking over to him. 

"Billy is still here?" Eddie asked more to himself than anyone in the room. Max took a seat on the coffee table across from him and took his hand in hers "Yes. Vecna is still alive. That's the only way he is still here. Eleven couldn't kill him, she only sent him away." Max said. The air seemed to leave the room. Chrissy had come in and Steve was still standing by the door. They both stared at her wide eyed. "Vecna is alive." Eddie said looking over at Chrissy.