A New Beginning

Chapter 1

         It all happened so fast. Richie was just freaking out, beaming with relief as he saw Eddie awake. He called up the group on a group chat they set up and announced his state. He had them rushing over like it was the hottest spot to be at.
         Eddie had to calm him down before they got a noise complaint from the neighboring patient. The motherfucker didn't know how to control his volume. Eddie also wanted another nap before they got here. The pain medication was making him kinda drowsy.
            Eddie got a small nap in before the nurse woke him up to state that he has visitors arriving soon.
          He checked his left and saw no Richie in the chair beside him. He looked to the nurse who started to leave and called "Hey! Uhm, can I sit up a bit more?"
         She came back in with a smile, "Sure. Just tell me if you experience any discomfort."
         She grabbed the remote and adjusted the bed into a more upright position. I felt a twinge of pain and stated "That's fine, maybe just back a bit."
         She nodded and lowered it to relieve his discomfort. "That good?" She asked and fidgeted with Eddie's pillow.
        "Yeah, Thank you." He smiled faintly before hearing a voice call from the doorway.
       "Look who's getting pampered" Eddie looks around the nurse and see Richie with his shitting eating grin plastered on his face.
         "Sorry about him," Eddie apologized to the nurse, but she only laughed.
         "It's all good, just remember to keep it down in here," she stated pointedly to Richie before leaving the room.
         Richie shrugged and entered the room, where he was followed by the rest of the club. "Eds" Beverly approached Eddie first with a hug, then pulled away, "We almost lost you back there."
         "Hey," Ben nudged her lightly, "what's important is that he's still here with us."
        "You guys are talking about this like I'm not right here." Eddie told them, "Yeah, I almost died. I'm glad to see you guys to."
       They chuckled in response to him. "It's good to see it hasn't changed you," Bill added with a soft chuckle.
       "Nothing could change Ol' Eddie Spaghetti," Richie stated and ruffled Eddie's hair.
      Eddie swatted at his hand causing the laughter to start up again. He is such an asshole. Eddie fixed his hair as best as he can before Mike spoke up, "How much do you remember, Eddie?"
      The room seemed to grow quiet as they all looked to Eddie. He told them what he knew, "I remember fighting It. Richie was in deadlights and I had thrown the spire down It's throat."
       "And then..?" Bill questioned, trying to pry his memory open.
       "And then," Eddie remembered in an instant, "I had told Richie I killed It. In return, It got me. You all moved me from the situation and I told you I felt It's weakness before you all started to use it against him.
         Then it all started to blur together. I think the place started to crumble and that's mostly what I remember." He looks back up to them to see small smiles on their faces.
       "It is dead" Mike stated, "Neibolt was destroyed along with It. It's over."
        Eddie felt the relief roll over himself. It is dead. It's over. We can now live our lives.
        "All thanks to you, Eddie," Bev smiled at him.
       Eddie looked around and they were all smiling at him. Then his glance landed on Richie, who seemed more upset than happy. "Why the long face, Tozier?" Eddie asked, "You seemed very happy when I just woke up."
        "Dude, what the hell were your last words?" Richie spat, "'I fucked your mom'? What the fuck?"
        "Payback, asshole, that's what." Eddie cheekily smiled to lift the tension.
        "Ha.ha. What a funny payback, Eds. So funny." Richie sassed Eddie and Bill nudged him.
       "Shut up, Richie." He then looked to Eddie, "Have you checked your hand?"
        "Of course I checked my hand," He blabbed, "Needed to see where the hell I was."
        "No, Eddie. Your palm," Bill raised his and pointed to his palm.
       No mark. Eddie looked at his and saw the lack of the mark. "Wow, it really is over, huh?"
      "Yeah," He nodded, "its really over."
       Eds looked to Bill, who gave him a small smile, then Ben and Bev, who were oddly close together. Mike also just smiled at him. His whole demeanor just seemed relieved as he wasn't tied down to Derry anymore.
       Eddie finally looked at Richie, who was looking back at him. His eyes looked as they longed for something. His smile was genuine, despite the look in his eyes. He did so much for Eddie in these past few days. That bastard.
      "So, I guess it's new beginnings for you guys, huh?" Eddie gestured to Ben and Bev.
      "Yeah," Bev tucked her hair behind her ear, "I guess what I was looking for was closer than I thought."
       "We're gunna go back to her place and" Ben changed his view from him to Bev, "talk to her husband."
       "Oh that sounds like it's going to be a totally chill talk. No fights, whatsoever." Richie snarked and Bev rolled her eyes.
        "What ever in our lives has been easy, Richie?"
        "You've got me there," Richie points at her, gaining a chuckle from the group.
        "What about you, Mike?" Eddie asks, gaining a bigger smile from him.
       "I'm going to travel the US then end my travel in Florida." He told the group and Eddie smiled back.
       "Well, be sure to keep in contact with us during your adventures, okay?"
       "I just got in contact with you guys, you think I'm just going to leave you guys?"
        "I'm just saying, pics from across the country would be nice to see."
        "I'll send you guys post cards from the places I've been." Mike promises with a smile "but I'll be here until I clear my space in the library."
       "That's too bad," Bill musters "I really enjoyed that nook you had up there."
       "Wait, you lived in the library?"Eddie gapes and Mike nods.
      The conversation lingers as the six reunite together for the first time after the fight. No sad moments. Everyone was happy.