ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀɢʟᴏᴡ || ʀɪᴄʜɪᴇ ᴛᴏᴢɪᴇʀ

~ Edith ~

Zoeyxharrington asked for a bonus chapter of Richie and Elaine's journey after Derry revolving having Edith, so here it is! Enjoy!

A few months after the defeat of Pennywise, Elaine and Richie, having faced unimaginable horrors, started to settle back into normalcy in Beverly Hills. However, amid the echoes of their past, a new challenge emerged for the couple. Elaine, once accustomed to nightmares in the form of a demonic clown, now found herself waking up every morning with an unsettling wave of nausea. At first, she dismissed it as the lingering effects of stress and trauma.

But as the weeks passed and Elaine's symptoms persisted, the concern etched on Richie's face deepened. "Laine, maybe you should go see a doctor, this isn't normal," Elaine, still holding onto the hope that it was a passing bug, hesitated. Eventually, the couple found themselves in a doctor's office, anxiously waiting for answers. The doctor's nurse entered the room, glancing at Elaine's pale face. "So what's been going on? Any persistent symptoms or changes?"

Elaine took a deep breath, exchanging a glance with Richie. "Well, I've been sick for weeks now. At first, I thought it was just stress, but it hasn't let up." Richie chimed in, worry evident in his voice, "Yeah, and she's been more tired than usual. We thought it might be from work but it's getting worse." The nurse nodded, jotting down notes, "We'll run some tests, have you considered the possibility of pregnancy?" Elaine's eyes widened, and Richie's jaw tightened as the nurse awaited an answer.

Elaine, caught off guard, hesitated before responding. "No, it's not possible. We've had a hard time conceiving." Her words hung in the air, carrying the weight of countless nights filled with tears and the ache of an empty nursery. Richie, squeezing Elaine's hand, added with a solemn tone. "It's been tough for us." Elaine gulped, "I've given up on that possibility." The nurse gave an empathetic look, recognizing the emotional weight in the room before excusing herself to prepare the necessary tests.

As the door closed, Elaine put her head in her hands, overwhelmed by the persistent haunting of her unfulfilled desire for a baby. Richie equally vexed, remained beside her. "Hey, whatever it is, we'll figure this out." As Elaine lifted her head from her hands, her teary eyes met Richie's. He tightened his grip on her hand and offered a reassuring smile. "We'll be okay," Their moment was interrupted as the nurse returned, ready to conduct the tests. With a sympathetic nod, she began the procedure.

As the tests progressed, Elaine and Richie exchanged uneasy glances. The nurse, having finished, gave them a gentle smile. "We'll have the results soon. In the meantime, take care of yourselves." As the door closed behind the woman, Richie pulled Elaine into a comforting embrace. "We'll be okay," He repeated sounding unsure. In the following weeks, Elaine and Richie anxiously awaited the test results. His wife's nausea not going away, the nurse's words constantly repeated in Richie's mind.

A few days later, when Richie was at work, Elaine's phone interrupted her office's hum. Clumsy and trembling, she fumbled to pick it up, only to be met with the most unexpected news. In shock, Elaine dropped the phone, letting it clatter to the floor. She'd been quick to go home, her mind a whirlwind. Despite the good nature of the news, an overwhelming sense of guilt gnawed at her. Elaine questioned her own worthiness, wondering if she deserved the happiness that found her through the devastation of her past.

Why should she be worthy of another baby after killing the others? Upon reaching home, Elaine tried to distract herself in their large kitchen, baking up a storm. Later that day, Richie's cheerful greetings filled the air upon his return, "Lainey, I'm home!" Elaine managed a fragile smile, "Hey baby," Oblivious to the news, Richie immediately sensed something wrong when he found Elaine in the kitchen, flour all over her face. He furrowed his brows, concern etched on his face, "What ya cooking?" He gently probed. Elaine hesitated, her eyes nervous. "Cookies."

Richie pursed his lips, eyeing the racks of cooling cookies behind her. "I can see that..." She nodded, continuing to mix the batter. "Laine, what's really going on?" Elaine quickly perked up, hand on her hip, "No, nothing," She replied, a forced cheerfulness in her voice. Richie gave her a look, "You seem... Off. Everything okay?" Elaine hesitated, her gaze shifting away momentarily before meeting Richie's eyes. "It's just... I'm scared of this." she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Richie's eyes widened as he processed her words, a mixture of shock and realization playing on his face. "This? Wait, are you...?" Elaine looked down, finally admitting, "They called today. I'm pregnant." The revelation hung in the air, and she couldn't quite decipher Richie's reaction. "Oh my God," He whispered, his voice a blend of surprise and disbelief. Elaine glanced up, trying to read his expression. "Look, I wasn't exactly expecting it either but..." Richie's eyes softened with a warmth that caught Elaine off guard. "Babe, this is great!"

He took her dirty hands in his, emphasizing his words with a reassuring squeeze. Elaine, still uncertain gulped, "Really?" Richie's grin widened, his enthusiasm infectious. "Yes! Things are different now. Trust me, Lainey, we'll finally have our family, and it's going to be amazing." He continued to hold her hands, the reassurance in his touch easing her nerves. Elaine let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I thought you were going to be upset," she admitted, her voice tinged with vulnerability.

Richie pulled her into a gentle embrace, his words whispered against her hair, "Never, honey. I'm thrilled, really. I can't wait." As the months passed, Elaine's belly blossomed, and the anticipation in their home grew. They'd never made it this far in a pregnancy before. Soaking up every moment, one night, the glow of the TV illuminated the room as Elaine sat on the couch, folding tiny baby clothes. Richie, beside her, gently rested his head on her stomach, his hand tenderly cradling it.

Elaine smiled, feeling the subtle movements beneath Richie's touch. "She likes the show," He remarked, a mixture of amusement and affection in his voice. Elaine raised a brow, "Does she?" Richie chuckled, his warm breath against her stomach. "Yep, she told me," Elaine couldn't help but laugh, "We don't even know if it's a girl, Richie." With a certain twinkle in his eyes, Richie grinned, "Well, she told meee." As they continued folding onesies and tiny socks, Richie's excitement bubbled over. "I can already picture the three of us," He mused.

"Family movie nights, camping, bedtime stories. I want to teach her – or him – everything." Elaine smiled, captivated by Richie's vision. "That sounds perfect." Richie's voice carried a dreamy quality as he continued, "And oh, the holidays! Decorating the Christmas tree together and getting dress up for Halloween!" Elaine couldn't help but grin at Richie's enthusiasm. "It all sounds amazing." Richie placed a gentle kiss on her belly, whispering, "You're going to be the best, I can't to meet you."

Another few months passed and after a challenging labor, Elaine and Richie finally brought their baby girl home. One early morning, the couple found themselves nestled in their bed, the soft sunlight filtering through the dark curtains. Edith lay peacefully in Elaine's arms, a picture of delicate innocence that left her parents in awe. Richie, gazing at their daughter, whispered, "She's everything we've ever wanted, Lainey." Elaine looked up at Richie, her heart full. "She looks like you,"

Edi, oblivious to the world, stirred in Elaine's arms, a delicate flutter of tiny fingers captivating their attention. Richie couldn't help but smile, "She has your attitude," Elaine chuckled softly, "She's finally ours," Richie leant his head against Elaine as he teased, "Our little bundle of sass."
Elaine's eyes sparkled down at the baby in her arms, "She's perfect." As they shared this tender moment, the realization of their journey settled in – they'd done it. They'd won. From the echoes of their nightmares to the joy of holding their daughter in their arms.

Richie reached for his daughter's small hand, gently cradling it in his larger one. "Nothing's ever going to hurt you," he whispered. Elaine, sharing the sentiment, intertwined her fingers with theirs. They might've not have had the best examples of parents growing up, but they promised to provide Edith with love and protection. In the quiet assurance of that moment, Richie and Elaine found solace in the opportunity to create a safe haven for their daughter, a place where her laughter would drown out the echoes of their own pains. They'd won.