𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

FIVE: adoption papers.

WHEN EDDIE set down the two mugs for them, James sends a small smile to him as a thank you before telling them in full detail about their dream. About Jane being held against some door by weird tentacles and some redheaded girl being there that she clearly cared so deeply for. And then when he got to the part about Eddie, he glanced at him and let out a small shudder before explaining what had happened, the boy that was hunched over him, crying out for him. Especially when James cried so much and was in shambles, when he didn't only see that Eddie was gone, but he felt it, him being gone and all.

"That sounds so scary..." Jane said with glossy eyes and James glanced down at his mug. "It was... especially how real it felt." He said and Eddie reached out, cupping his hand over James'. "Well, I'm here. And I'm fine... everything's okay." He says and James glanced over at him, moving his hand a bit in a way so he can hold Eddie's back.

Their fingers interlock a bit and Jane stared at their hands, a small grin growing on her face before she looks at James. "Was it just us in the dream?" She asked and James glanced at her. "That boy, that cried for Eddie... I couldn't see his face but his voice sounded so familiar. Is that crazy?" He asked and she shakes her head. "I have dreams like that a lot..." She says and he furrows his eyebrows.

"Like what?" He asked and she raised her hands over her head. "Where my hair is all gone... and I can do things with my mind. Like, lifting stuff, one dream I lifted a van." She said and he raised his brows. "That's... weird." He says and she nods. "Really weird. In one dream I was in this really dark place and I saw you. I think that's why I feel safe around you. Especially Hop." She says and he smiles faintly at that. "Really?" He asked and she nods softly. "In the dream, you were with others, talking about four gates. And when I was just standing there, listening. You looked at me. Like you saw me even though I wasn't there with you and the others." She explained.

"Sounds to me like there's a different universe we all met. Or that you guys have met in and we've met in." Eddie says, glancing at James who suddenly felt a shiver go down his spine. "If that's true... you died in it." He whispers and Eddie retracted his hand from James, fidgeting with them on his lap now. "But they're... just dreams, right?" Jane says, wanting to at least bring a bit of comfort to Eddie and that sad stare in his little doey brown eyes.

"Yeah... I know one thing's for certain though." He says and Jane looks at him curiously. "We were all meant to meet... in the laws of the universe, fate. Whatever you may call it." He said as he then glanced at Eddie who glanced over at him right away, a small smile is on the older's face. Meant to be.

"Or it could all be some kooky fever dreams your minds cooked up because of the medicine you've both taken." He says as a way to cheer them up as the air had begun to feel tense and the laughter coming from the other two proves it worked as he grins widely.

"I don't know... I don't really think something like fate even exists." Eddie shrugs and James tilts his head. "Well, I think so. I think it's fate my dad and the boys found El. And brought her home to us." James glanced at the girl who smiles softly at him. "Or some crazy coincidence." Eddie interjects making both glance at him. "Really? You really don't believe in fate?" Jane asked, raising her eyebrows.

"No... sounds made up to me." Eddie shrugs and James looks at him, frowning. "I believe in fate! Like that day we started being friends? Something was pulling me to the woods that day, I didn't even wanna leave my bed but I got up and went out anyway." And the Munson grins wide, his little dimple showing.

"So you're saying we're meant to be?" He asked and James rolls his eyes, glancing away. "You two are very meant to be. And I've known you guys for a short period of time." Jane says suddenly and Eddie looks at her right away, hiding his face with his hair. She giggles when James just smiled, glancing at Eddie who's just looking down at his hands.