Bloody Noses & Crack'd Crowns

Chapter 37

I DO NOT OWN THIS STORY. All credit goes to TheWeaverofWorlds on ao3

By early January, Ellie Phillips had moved into the Urises attic. The once quiet house was full of life, brighter and louder with the addition of the two women.

Arlene had gotten the house in Castle Rock, and was elbow deep in preparing to move. Aunt Jean's tiny house filled with boxes. At the new house the rooms were being repainted, a new heater installed, and whenever Ben had a chance he would make the journey out to Castle Rock to talk to the contractors. He had designed some surprises for his mother, and the men were more than happy to indulge him.

Eddie had moved out of the Toziers' and was living with the Hanscoms now, even though the adoption had yet to be finalized. He had been anxious to meet Mr. Pibbles, worried that the hamster's dander would set off his asthma, and instead of being shamed for reverting to his old fear, Ben and Arlene helped him through it. He came to love holding Mr. Pibbles, feeling the little creature's soft breaths, and in their free time would help Ben construct more and more elaborate mazes for the tiny fellow.

–

By now Bill had been living with the Toziers for a couple of months. The guest room, was much larger than any room he'd had before, and even though he had to share it with Georgie he didn't mind. One night he was sitting by the window reading as Georgie was working on some worksheets when there was a rap on the door frame.

Bill looked up to find Maggie there. "Hey boys, I was wondering if you could come to the living room? There's something I would like to discuss."

Bill nodded, but he couldn't calm the way his heart began beating faster. Even though he knew the Toziers were nothing like Mr. Gray some part of him was still wired to fear any sort of confrontation with an adult. It was something he was working on unpacking in therapy, but it would take some time.

Maggie didn't see any of this, and left them to go downstairs.

Bill looked at Georgie. The other boy had become solemn at Maggie's words, and Bill was sure he must be having similar thoughts. The two of them put away their things, an unspoken promise of being perfect house guests, before making their way downstairs. Already seated in the living room was Richie and Wentworth. Richie could barely sit still, and in some way his excitement began to calm Bill down. Richie wouldn't look like this if something bad were coming.

Bill and Georgie sat down across from the Toziers.

Maggie took a steadying breath before beginning. "Bill and Georgie, I know that there has been a lot going on, and your permanent living situation has been up in the air for longer than that of the others. That is because there has been more paperwork to sort through due to your adoption taking place in New York. However, we have finally gotten it all worked out, and essentially you are free to go wherever you want. You could go back to Brooklyn. Your parents actually had some family friends who would be willing to adopt you."

Here her voice began to waver. Wentworth grabbed her hand, and gave it a squeeze, and she continued. "However, we would like it if you would consider adopting us as your family and staying here."

Georgie looked up to Bill curiously.

"W-what?"

"I know it's a little backward, but you're already such a family unit that we're wondering if you'd let us into it. We would love nothing more than to be a part of your lives, but if you want something different we will do everything in our power to help you get it."

"Rich?" Bill looked to Richie to see his thoughts. What he found moved him. Richie looked neither surprised nor disgusted at the prospects of changing his status of only child. In fact he looked overjoyed. "Y-you knew?"