So, this didn't come out exactly how I wanted it to, but I'm happy enough with it. I hope you guys like it.

SUMMARY: It's the Class of '86 high school reunion and for once Eddie can't wait to be back in Hawkins, Indiana.

There wasn't much that Eddie Munson could do to surprise Jensen Munson, formerly Jensen Thomas. She had known Eddie Munson since she was 9 and he was 11 and moved in with his uncle at the Forest Hills Trailer Park. Their friendship had started there. She forced him to be her live art model for many paintings and she was his biggest critic and fan as he started Corroded Coffin. She always was subjected to his various campaigns for D&D despite never taking an interest himself.

It was when she was 17 that their friendship turned into more and she never looked back. Hell, before they even graduated, Eddie had the crazy idea of them getting married on her 18th birthday. However, she had shot that idea down gently, but a month later, during spring break on Saturday, March 22nd, they had gotten hitched at the courthouse, shocking Uncle Wayne, her father, and the Hellfire Club.

Of course, Hawkins High had determined that it was a shotgun wedding and even if it was, she didn't care. She and Eddie had plans to move to New York as soon as they graduated, which they did. It wasn't easy. They had a studio apartment above a tattoo shop they could barely afford. For the first six months, they only had a mattress, Eddie's guitar, her art supplies, and a suitcase full of clothes to their name. There were times the stress of scrounging money for rent or groceries had them bickering with each other. There was a different type of stress when one didn't know when their next meal was going to come. She was honestly scared that their marriage wouldn't last the arguments and icy silences.

Somehow, they did. It all seemed to fall into place for them as she was selling her artwork on the streets as she did when she wasn't working the midnight shift at the diner when an art dealer happened to come across her display. One thing led to another, and she was asked to potentially do a private viewing for some of the elites in New York.

She remembered being so excited as she rushed home to Eddie. He had been fast asleep on their cold mattress when she jumped on the bed, startling him awake. She had been so excited as maybe - just maybe - they would be able to afford a TV stand for their TV. She knew if it had been any other man that were would have been jealousy building up between them - resentment. But he had been supportive and the best thing was two days later he had surprised her with a new set of oil pastels.

Eddie worked between a record store and a couple of nights at a music bar. He took more shifts than her to support them. She knew, though, as much as he had been supportive and helped her keep the dates of gallery openings and contact information for clients, he was waiting for his break.

It happened about six months later. It was a one-off chance encounter, as a radio personality had decided to visit Eddie's seedy bar. The two had talked about music and somehow Eddie came away with a job hosting a radio show for an hour.

It was scary and exciting how their life in New York had seemed to change overnight. Eddie's show had taken off with the radio. Her work was being featured in magazines and the value of her work was growing. They were able to afford a bedframe. However, the most frightening thing that happened was finding out she was pregnant.

Their son, David Wayne Munson, was born three years after their move to New York. It had been scary learning how to be a parent and being in charge of raising another person. Two years later, their second child, their daughter, Maddox, was born. By then, they were able to move into a brownstone in Brooklyn.

Things were good and amazing. They had been able to move Wayne into a better house in Hawkins. She moved her dad to upstate New York. They had made a name for themselves. They were becoming worth more than all of Hawkins combined.

So for the life of her, she couldn't understand why her husband wanted to go to their high school reunion. When they went back to Hawkins, she did the most to avoid anyone from her high school days. Any pleasantries she avoided as they would be fake. As much as she wanted to brag, it wasn't in her. It wasn't in her or the energy it took.

She watched as Eddie played with his mini-me, Maddox. Unlike David, Maddox seemed to be the carbon copy of her father. She never seemed to run out of energy. She wanted to be just like her father, from the leather jackets, denim vests, rock music, guitar playing, and most important wanting to play D&D.

Eddie and she were currently roughhousing on their bed as she packed around them.

"I think it will be fun, babe," Eddie explained as he placed their 5-year-old on his shoulders, twirled around, and fell back on the bed. Jensen couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips from Maddox's glee.

"For you, maybe," Jensen replied as she zipped her bag shut. Eddie could have fun staring at paint drying.

Eddie got up from the bed and held their little girl upside down. "Hey, Wayne is excited to see the kids."

"Uncle Wayne!" Maddox exclaimed as Eddie flipped her to place on her feet.

"Yep, baby girl, remember we are going to Hawkins," Eddie replied with a smile.

It was instantaneous that the two of them made devil horns and stuck their tongues out. Jensen rolled her eyes at the two.

"Hey, baby girl, why don't you go pick out a movie for us to watch in the living room?"

Maddox rushed out of the room, and Eddie pounced.

"Eddie!" Jensen yelled as she found herself in Eddie's strong grip and he brought them both down on the bed.

"You going to tell me what's really wrong?" Eddie asked her as he peered down at her. She accommodated him between her thighs. His large brown doe eyes questioning.

"I just…we hated Hawkins. It's one thing to visit Wayne, but it's another thing to mingle with those people."

In a way, Jensen had always felt she and Eddie and all the people they tormented, especially anyone connected with Hellfire club, were better than the bullies like Jason Craver and Billy Hargrove. They didn't need to put other people down to feel better about themselves.

So going back to gloat and rub it in their faces of her and Eddie's shared success felt like snooping to their levels.

"We're not mingling. We are just going back to confirm that yes, we are indeed the next Adams family."

Jensen snorted. Eddie smiled and kissed her nose. "Besides, Jeff is going to be there and I haven't seen him in years. And Nancy Wheeler helped set this up and Jonathon basically conned me through Will that I needed to go. And I can't go without the hottest woman in existence, who happens to be my wife. Let's be honest, babe, I love showing you off every chance I get."

"Glad I can stroke your ego."

Eddie's eyes turned wicked. "You do more than stroke it, sweetheart."

Jensen didn't even get a chance to make a witty retort as she found her mouth invaded as Eddie gave her a deep kiss. He nipped at her lips for entrance as his tongue expertly stroked hers.

"Don't get cocky," she muttered against his lips, as she could feel his smile as she became boneless from the kiss.

Her legs widened to accommodate him as he pressed into her. The familiar ache settled deep in her belly.

"Eddie," Jensen whimpered as he pulled back. She knew both of their lips were swollen.

"I got you," he promised as he dove back down. His right hand moved underneath her shirt.

However, there was one universal truth out there and it was children were the most effective form of birth control.

"Eww, Mommy, Daddy, that's yucky," Maddox whined.

Jensen felt the bed dip, and she huffed as Maddox's small hand pushed Eddie's face away from her.

Eddie gasped as if he was wounded and dramatically fell down on the floor. Maddox giggled.

"Daddy's silly," Jensen said as she leaned up on her elbows.

Eddie popped up. "What do you mean, yucky? Mommy gives the best kisses."

"But you're a boy, Daddy. Boys have cooties," Matilda informed him proudly.

Eddie frowned and looked at Jensen. "If I'm a boy, that means Maddox here won't get any more kisses."

"Oh," Jensen said. "You don't want to deprive Daddy of your sweet kisses."

Maddox scrunched her nose and shook her head.

"Well, I'll tell you a secret," Jensen said in a whisper that Eddie pretended he didn't hear. "Mommies and daddies don't have cooties."

She smiled as Maddox launched at Eddie, who caught her, and it rewarded him with a parade of kisses.

"Are you guys done being gross? I thought we were watching a movie?" David asked from the doorway. He pushed his glasses up as he eyed them all in the room. David took after her, according to Eddie. Serious and quiet. He preferred the company of books and comics, and he was interested in learning how to draw. When Will stopped by, they would spend hours drawing comic book characters.

"Did you pick one out?" Eddie asked.

"Jumanji!" David said excitedly. "Just the popcorn needs to be made."

"Well, I guess we shouldn't keep the children waiting," Eddie said and threw her a sly wink.

Jensen shook her head as she got up from the bed. Maybe bragging to her former peers about Hawkins wouldn't be that bad.

. . .

Thankfully, instead of driving, they flew to Hawkins, Indiana. She knew that neither she nor Eddie could possibly survive a 12-hour car ride. Sometimes, she couldn't survive a 30-minute one with Eddie. Thankfully, David could keep himself entertained with a book, although this time he wanted her help in drawing and Eddie was able to keep Maddox entertained with his crazy stories from their childhood before she fell asleep.

Wayne Munson greeted them. She didn't know who was more excited to see him, the kids or Eddie. It seemed they were all fighting for a hug from Wayne. Each kid straddled to his leg while he had Eddie wrapped in a tight hug.

She hated that Wayne was here all by himself. She knew as much as he was supportive of her and Eddie leaving; it had to hurt. Wayne had always been more of a father to Eddie than an uncle. Just like he was more than a grandpa than an uncle to her own children.

Wayne was finally able to pull away to give him a hug of her own. "It's good to see you, sweetheart."

"You too."

The drive to Wayne's was more of the same. The kids go on a mile a minute about how life is in New York. There was no point in correcting them if a detail was wrong. Wayne listened dutifully. The oldest Munson was able to pick up the details seamlessly. She figured raising Eddie had prepared him for chaotic thoughts, passing past lips with no filter.

Wayne's house was on Lover's Lake. It was a two-story five-bedroom home that, on more than one occasion, he had expressed, was too big for just him. Jensen believed that sometimes he missed the trailer he raised Eddie in.

Though the house did provide a lot of space for her children to explore. One of the unfortunate things about living in the city, her kids did not have a backyard to explore. She knew it may come to a point that she and Eddie would need to move further out of the city.

She smiled as Eddie ran out of the car after his kids.

She laughed as Wayne had a camera ready to snap pictures.

. . .

"Wake up, sleepyhead."

Jensen groaned at the sound of Eddie's voice. As she tried to stay in dreamland, she hugged the pillow tighter against her body. She wanted to stay sleeping in their bed at Wayne's. She sometimes missed the sheer quietness Hawkins brought. New York City never slept, but Hawkins did.

"Wayne took the kids for the day," Eddie told her.

Jensen popped her eyes open. She turned to find Eddie peering down at her from where he lay behind her. His brown eyes twinkled.

"Poor Wayne," Jensen muttered, causing Eddie to laugh. "And what do you have planned for the day?"

She knew her husband had something planned if the kids were gone and he was waking her up out of her precious sleep.

"Thought we could go down memory lane," he told her.

Jensen sighed as Eddie pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Come on, babe."

. . .

Memory lane wasn't really a lane. Eddie only had one place that he wanted to visit on such short notice. He had packed a basket for a picnic as Jensen got ready. He knew Jensen was not a fan of traveling back to Hawkins. When they did come to visit Wayne, she would camp out at the house. She never went into the town or wanted to visit people.

When she left this place, she never wanted to look back. As much as Eddie felt the same way considering how the town treated him, he looked back. He couldn't truly abandon the place where he met the love of his life. He loved walking through the town and pointing out places that held good and bad memories to his kids. Those moments, no matter how cruel, shaped him into the person he was today.

These moments were fuel to his success. Hawkins, as much as they hated it, it was the foundation of their relationship. She made Hawkins better for him. Sometimes he missed seeing the familiar landmarks of Hawkins that they made special to them.

Jensen's footsteps could be heard trudging down the steps. She was wearing an orange cropped tank with oversized jeans. Despite the two kids, her body looked better than ever. Eddie grinned at the sight of her.

"Why do I have a feeling I am going to regret this?" she mumbled as she fluffed her curly hair with her hands. She peered at the picnic basket he was filling with food.

Eddie wrapped his arm around her waist. His lips pressed a kiss to her neck. Jensen's skin erupted in goosebumps. Eddie wasn't one for bragging. He liked to think that most times he was above. He was a humble and simple man. Though the radio host never missed the opportunity to gloat that Jensen was his wife. They were the high school sweethearts that made it. They survived the growing pains of adolescence.

They defied the odds of their young marriage and were thriving with two kids and successful in their careers.

Though the most glaring and obvious fact between the two of them was the fact Jensen was without a doubt the most beautiful - sexiness - woman in the world. Even in the bleak halls of Hawkins High, he was fully aware that he was a very lucky man. He was just an average white boy in his opinion and somehow had scored the hottest chick to ever grace Hawkins.

"It's going to be fine," he assured her. "Besides, when is the last time it was just the two of us without the kids?"

She leaned back in his hold. With two busy careers and two of his offspring, it was unsaid that sometimes they sacrificed their time with each other. It felt that sometimes the two could only ever have some quality time if they managed to shower together. Not for any sexy time, but it was the only time they didn't have one of their kids wedged in between them.

Eddie was grateful that they were still strong, happy, and in love. They may not be able to have all the alone time they used to, but the love was still there. It was the little notes she would leave for him in the music sleeves he listened to as she did for their kids in their lunch boxes. He always made sure to dedicate a song to her on every radio show he did at the times he knew she would be listening.

"I love you," he told her. He would never get tired of telling her that. Sometimes he felt he couldn't tell or show her enough.

"You better."

Eddie chuckled as she moved out of his arms and helped him finish packing their meal.

. . .

Sometimes, he forgot how small Hawkins really was. With her smooth hand tightly clasped with his, the two of them made the trek into the woods that surrounded his uncle's place. Jensen had to of known where they were heading. There was only one reason why couples would trek through the woods.

It was to head to the infamous Skull Rock, which still stood tall and foreboding. He grimaced at the litter and wrappers of condoms on the forest floor. Some things never did change.

"This is a good memory for you?" Jensen asked.

Sure, there were a lot of other places they could have gone. Ones with much more meaning, innocent and naughty. Yet, Skull rock was the bridge between those things. It was where they first smoked a joint together with a small radio between them. Surprisingly, they admitted their feelings to each other under these stones, but not their first kiss.

They admitted their feelings, but a kiss didn't come until they were laying on the roof of his trailer looking at the stars.

After that kiss, they did the trek to Skull Rock on occasion. Kissing and touches were shared, but mostly it was a place to be surrounded by silence.

Everyone was such voyeurs in their relationship. People constantly picked them apart for everything they did. Skull Rock seemed the only place there weren't magnifying glasses on them. Here they could finally be themselves.

"Is it not for you?"

"I don't think I have bad memories with you, Eddie," Jensen replied as she grimaced at an open condom wrapper.

"Babe, we're already married. No need to flatter me," Eddie replied as he pulled the blanket out of his bag and brought it down on the ground.

"You're just easy, babe. It should be concerning."

"Oh, babe, you know it's only for you."

Jensen snorted before she joined him on the blanket. He prayed that no horny teens tried to come to this spot. She laid out some of the snacks he brought before he made himself comfortable, laying his head in her lap.

Eddie closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of Jensen's fingers softly scratching his scalp and the rays of the sun warming him. He could do this without the fear of Maddie climbing all over him and crushing his family jewels. It seemed his spitfire daughter was intent on making sure she would be the baby of the family forever.

"This is nice," he muttered.

Jensen hummed in agreement. Her fingers moved from his hair and onto his face. She traced his nose, lips, and cheeks. "Sometimes, I miss your long hair."

Eddie opened his eyes. It had been a sad day when he cut his hair. He had been debating it for a bit. It wasn't because he wanted to look professional or anything. Just the maintenance of having long hair was a lot, even with Jensen's help. He wanted something a little less time-consuming. They cut it short enough to slick back. He felt Jensen mourned the loss of his curls more than he. However, now he was growing it out a bit just for her.

"Miss me choking you in your sleep?" He pondered. He sure as hell didn't miss Maddie's and David's grubby hands pulling on his long locks.

"I miss having something to pull and you do, too."

Eddie raised an eyebrow at his minx of a wife. Maybe he wasn't the only one being horny. "Baby, I still do, and we can test that theory. I thought the two kids were a testament to that."

A smile overtook Jensen's features at the mention of their kids. The best pieces of them in the form of two beautiful kids, whom gave him daily heart attacks when they decided to tap into his reckless genes.

"It's crazy don't you think how far we've come."

Eddie nodded his head. It was crazy to think he came from a trailer to a brimstone in New York City and he still had his girl at his side.

"It was scary…those first couple of years. Couldn't have done it without, baby," Jensen told him as she bent and kissed his nose.

A kiss on the nose wasn't enough. He brought her down to meet his lips. His tongue demanded entrance. A moan escaped Jensen's throat, which had her pulling back. Her lips were swollen as she heaved for breath.

She threw an indignant look his way. "Oh no, you are out of your mind if you think I'm sleeping with you out in these woods!"

Eddie scrambled as he crowded Jensen. He hovered over her and his hands wrapped around her wrists, keeping her down. "Hey, I think we are the only couple that hasn't fucked in the woods."

"Yeah, but I think we are the only ones to fuck underneath the school bleachers. I still don't know how you convinced me to do that."

Eddie gave her a wicked gleam. Now, that was being reckless at their finest. It was her damn fault for wearing those shorts that were practically daily dukes and to top it off she was wearing a severely shrunken Hellfire shirt that clung a little too good to her skin and showed off her soft tummy and a bellybutton piercing.

"Eddie."

Eddie leaned down and inhaled Jensen's scent. His nose pressed against her neck. She found this perfume that made her smell like heaven, or marshmallows and caramel. He nipped at her neck, careful enough not to leave any lingering marks, but to get his intention across.

His lips created a trail to his lips. He used his thigh to nudge her legs apart. "Don't you want to create some new memories, baby," he whispered.

"You're nothing, but trouble."

Eddie chuckled, as he knew he won the battle.

. . .

Eddie scratched his chest as he walked downstairs to the kitchen. After making some new memories at Skull Rock, he and Jensen had enjoyed the lunch he packed. They talked and reminisce and it felt like they were teenagers again. He knew it was something they both needed. Just time and attention for the two of them. When they arrived back home with the sun setting, they found the kids and Wayne passed out on the couch. They tried to move the kids, but Wayne had woken up insisting to let them stay there.

He entered the kitchen to find a fresh brew pop of coffee and his uncle sitting on his back porch with his mug and smoking a cigarette.

Eddie grabbed his own mug. He found the kids still passed out on the couch before he joined his uncle. "I thought you were trying to quit."

"Trying being the operative word," Wayne replied.

Eddie snorted as he sat down next to Wayne. The sound of chirping birds filled the air. Small laps of the lake against the grit and dirt on the edge of the land echoed.

"You liking the place?" Eddie asked. It had been a hard bargain trying to get his uncle out of that trailer he grew up in. Wayne wasn't one for material things outside of the many mugs and trucker hats he gifted him through the years. So when he and Jensen had made it where they could help out their family, Wayne had been the most resistant to any help. Wayne just wanted to worry about themselves and the kids.

However, considering how much the kids loved visiting Wayne, his uncle knew the family had outgrown the slabs of metal.

"I got so much space. I don't know what to do with it!"

"I know it's crazy how those coffee mugs barely cover a wall!"

Wayne snorted. "But it's a nice house. Just not used to it. Can't thank you guys enough."

Eddie nodded. He understood where his uncle was coming from, as the newfound wealth had taken some adjusting. The fact both he and Jensen could live comfortably to be able to take care of two kids and Wayne and Jensen's dad was something he had trouble with sometimes. They were extremely smart with their money, but Eddie could never get over the fear the money would be gone one day.

"You don't need to thank us."

"Kids are a handful," Wayne said with a chuckle. "Or I should say Maddie is. You sure shot that one out."

Eddie rubbed his forehead. Maddie was his twin, and he knew the teenage years were going to be a grand time. She was a handful, which he encouraged. He did not want to stifle his children. Wayne never did it to him as he grew and figured out who he was. Eddie wasn't going to do the same with his children.

"We've already been getting notes from teachers. She likes to disrupt class with grand speeches."

Wayne tapped his cigarette in the ashtray. "That sounds familiar. So Davey all's Jensen?"

"I would say he is most like you," Eddie admitted. David kept to himself. He preferred his books and drawing materials. He had a serious disposition that sometimes concerned Eddie. However, any worry evaporated once he and Maddie did one of their little schemes. "But they are happy. It's all I want. And can ask for."

"And you're happy?"

"Does that even need to be asked?" Eddie commented. As long as he had Jensen, Eddie could get by. But their careers and the kids were just extra icing on the cake. "But I would be happier if you moved out to New York. Be nice to have you closer, especially for the kids."

Wayne sipped his coffee. Hawkins was all his uncle knew. He couldn't see his uncle living in the city. But out in the countryside, he knew his uncle could find something. He was due to retire soon and his uncle could live out his retirement in luxury and be a doting grandfather.

"I'll think about it," Wayne compromised. "You and Jen thinking about having more kids?"

"Ahh, I don't know. I'll leave that up to Jen, since she has to carry them." For Eddie, kids weren't something he actively planned. Even in high school, he and Jen had been so careful in ensuring there wouldn't be 'spawns of her uterus' as she would say. They had made the decision that the blessings of kids would only be considered if they could financially afford it. Even after having David, they both had been happy with him, and then Maddie came along. They had the boy and the girl. There hadn't been much talk about expanding, but Eddie wouldn't mind it. He didn't know how to describe seeing pieces of him in his children. To see both of their youth in their small cherub faces.

The sliding door opened, causing both Wayne and Eddie to look at the sleepy form of Maddie rubbing her eyes. Her eyes lit up at the sight of them. Her tiny feet walked out on the cool deck and over to Wayne. He didn't have any issues with her climbing into his lap and making a home.

"You sleep okay, baby girl?" He asked.

Maddie nodded. Her body was still heavy with sleep as she buried her face in Wayne's chest. The same way she used to as a baby.

Eddie wished he had a camera for this moment to freeze it forever.

. . .

Jensen didn't know what to expect from the high school reunion. She knew Nancy was on the committee, so it would at least look nice. Overall, she knew that it would be a drag having to mingle with her former peers.

As she stepped out of the car, her thick heels echoed against the pavement, she looked at her former classmates. There seemed to be little change if their scrunched noses were any indications. They were just older now.

She was grateful she didn't wear the dress Eddie had tried to get her to wear. Besides, she wasn't going to wear a dress when Eddie was in jeans, his old Hellfire shirt, and his signature denim and leather jacket. She was glad she stuck with just her high-waisted plaid slacks and a Nirvana shirt tucked in.

She ignored the pointed looks thrown her and Eddie's way as he led them to the sign-in table. She kept her head held up as she and Eddie were happy. They were able to move out of the trailer parks and Hawkins. She didn't start popping babies right out of high school. Their marriage was strong.

As they approached the table, Jensen recognized that familiar strawberry blonde hair. Chrissy Cunningham, or she should say Chrissy Carver. Jensen almost felt bad for the poor girl. She remembered Wayne telling them that Chrissy and Jason created quite a scandal as the head cheerleader and asshole jock had a kid 9 months exactly after their high school graduation.

The families forced marriage. They had forced Chrissy to be a stay-at-home mom while Jason had been able to work for his college degree. Yet the two had shamed the family and nothing could change that. She heard the two had four kids now.

"Eddie and Jensen Munson." Eddie gave their names while they slid two name tags over. Jensen began writing their names.

"Hi, Eddie and Jen. Wow, it's so nice to see you!" Chrissy greeted in what Jen would call that valley cheer voice. She cringed. "You guys are still going strong."

Jensen's eyes narrowed while Eddie chuckled. "10 years and two kids. Don't know how she puts up with me. You and Jason still together?"

Jensen sighed as she couldn't believe her husband was trying to make conversation with this girl. Jensen did not forget the torture Jason tried to put him through when it spread that Chrissy was seen with Eddie at his selling spot. What should have been newlywed bliss had been tainted by stupid rumors of Eddie and Chrissy having an affair or some shit. She had been furious at Eddie for not just trying to sell weed to the girl, but ketamine.

Chrissy's smile dimmed a little. "Yeah." She didn't elaborate as her fingers tapped the table.

Pity. "Well, nice seeing you, Chrissy," Jensen drawled as she slapped their name tags on. She grabbed Eddie's hand and pulled him into the gym. Where the hell was Nancy? She was only here because of her.

"Be nice," Eddie whispered in her ear before giving her a discreet pat on the butt.

"You think she is still doing drugs?" Jensen asked. There was no way Chrissy was enduring that marriage sober.

"Totally. Probably the reason Reefer Rick is still in business."

Jensen folded her arms across her chest. "And how would you know that Rick was still in business?"

Eddie's eyes went wide as a puppy. It was the look of faux innocence that she had seen in both of their children. Her husband didn't answer as he held up a booklet. "Look, it gives us all the deets on our classmates."

She snatched the object out of his hands.

"You think Chris Banner is here?" Eddie asked.

"Chris Banner?" Chris had been on the football team. He was a client of Eddie's in regards to buying weed. She knew Eddie would charge him more just because of this supposed crush. Eddie never took her on a deal, but he claimed Chris always wanted to talk about her despite knowing she and Eddie were an item. On her end, at least, the boy never asked her out.

"Yeah, he had a massive crush on you back in the day."

"Eddie, according to you, most of the boys had crushes on me."

"Because they did. It's the whole forbidden fruit. Wanting what they can't have."

"Eddie, you're so full of shit."

Eddie came next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, bringing her to his side. "Trust me, these are things I know. Never doubt your husband."

"Whatever. Let's find the booze."

. . .

Eddie bit back the chuckle at the fact that at this reunion there was not one ounce of alcohol in the gym. Jensen looked like she just walked in on Jason Carver jerking off. He knew Jensen was frazzled. He wasn't going to pretend not to know why.

Eddie could admit it was slightly underwhelming. In reality, it all just felt really sad. According to his brief skim of the booklet of his graduating class, most had stayed in Hawkins. They had done what was expected of them and got a desk job, got married, push out as many kids as you can hope for a boy, and just settled. There was no excitement or a sense of adventure.

He pressed a kiss to Jensen's temple when they were both taken by surprise by a bright flash.

"Jensen you look like you're at a funeral," Jonathon Byers stated as he brought his camera down.

"It's because I am!" Jensen cried out.

Eddie greeted Jonathon with a hug. He wasn't as close to Jonathon as he was to Will. Yet, as Nancy and Jonathon had been thinking of making a more permanent base in NYC, the two were getting closer.

Jonathan took a seat at the table and set his camera down. "Yeah, Nancy wanted to come to this thing and I have no idea why she volunteered to be on the committee. I could care less."

Jensen threw Eddie a pointed look, which he ignored.

"It's kind of sad, ya know," Jonathan pointed out. "The lack of change."

"Where's Nancy?" Eddie probed.

Jonathon's eyes lit up at the mention of his wife. He fiddled with his wedding ring. "She is out interviewing people. She thinks she can make a piece out of this or something. Although I told her, the only people worth talking to are you two."

Jensen and Eddie snorted in unison.

Jonathan smiled. "I mean, what you both have achieved is incredible, especially after all the shit this place did to you guys. Isn't that why you are here?"

. . .

Jonathan talked to them for a few more minutes. They made plans to meet with Steve and Robin for a later date, as they were all in town.

It seemed after Jonathon, a slew of people came up and tried to talk to them. Eddie knew that most people knew of him and, by extension, Jensen. With the town being so small and him having his long hair as he did, it afforded him no privacy. He didn't know whether to snort or laugh, as these people were being nice to them now. It was superficial, especially as they tried to pry into their business. Eddie didn't mind answering non-invasive questions about their jobs and even a few about the kids. Yet, there were still underlying accusations that they were still devil worshippers or some shit.

It was obvious as they eyed his Hellfire shirt and tried to joke it was crazy they believed all that stuff with Satanic panic. It was as if their bullying didn't have repercussions for him and his relationship with Jensen. He knew if he and Jensen never made it out of Hawkins that their kids would be trying to bully his own.

Eddie excused himself from their table as Nancy made her way toward them. Notebook and pen in hand. It was only then he felt comfortable enough to leave Jensen unsupervised.

Eddie found himself disappointed with a severely lacking food selection. Maybe New York was spoiling him a bit.

"Eddie Munson and Jensen Thomas, not surprised to see the freaks still mingle together."

Eddie looked up to find himself looking at their former popular basketball athlete, Jason Carver. Gone was a toned body, but a beer belly, crow eyes, and receding hairline. Eddie felt some sympathy for Chrissy. It seemed her husband was still the same as ever as he sneered at him. This man had clearly peaked in high school and was clinging to those glory days.

Eddie felt sad for him.

"Hmmm," Eddie replied. There were a lot of things Eddie wanted to say to Jason, but what would be the point? What would he gain by being nasty to Jason Carver? It would only make him stoop down to his level. Eddie could call him out for the obvious weight gain, his hair disappearing with what seems to be each of his wife's pregnancies or the obvious way Chrissy has been coping to deal with her marriage with drugs.

He had knowledge of her drug use from the first deal she made with him. He had only sold to her a few times before he and Jensen high-tailed it out of Hawkins. Hard drugs like that in Hawkins weren't easy to find, and he told Chrissy as much. Eddie wasn't a saint since he was selling. After sending some feelers, he found another source for her. He assumed she got clean for each pregnancy or Jason and his family's money just covered it up. Yet, looking at her now, thin where he could see her collar bone. Cheeks were gaunt and no illusion of makeup could hide that.

He couldn't imagine it was a happy marriage. It was one thing to play into the roles that were expected of him when they were kids. He just felt pity that neither of them was able to be something else than what their parents and city wanted.

Hell, what did Eddie know? Maybe the two were happy.

Maybe Jensen had a point that all of this was a bad idea. They had outgrown Hawkins and rose above it.

"What nothing to say?" Jason taunted.

Eddie shrugged. "Seems you do, though. Miss me or something because I'll have you know I am a happily married man."

Jason puffed his chest out. "I heard you had two spawns of Satans."

Eddie dropped the plate in his hands. It made a loud bang against the table. "Excuse me?" If Jason Carver wanted to talk shit on him, it was fine. He dealt with it in high school. However, he was not going to let any douchebag disrespect his kids or wife.

"Let's get one thing fucking clear Carver, you need to grow the fuck up. Just because you're a miserable prick doesn't mean anyone else is. This isn't fucking high school anymore. It was annoying back then, and it's pathetic now." Eddie said.

"You have some fucking nerve -"

"Me!" Eddie said loudly. If eyes weren't on them before, they surely were now. For old-time sakes, he didn't jump upon the table with the food, but he jump onto the table where a few people he didn't recognize were sitting. They released startled gasps of shock. "It seems some of you have missed me like dear old Jason Carver. Let me give you a refresher. Yes, I am still the so-called freak. I still have a head full of hair and all my tatties. I have been happily married for 10 years to my beautiful wife, Jensen Munson. We have two kids, David and Maddox. Despite what you people think, our kids were born a few years after we graduated. We are happy and successful in New York City and we've clearly moved on in our lives. So I'm sorry we couldn't be more entertaining, especially since you guys love voyeurism. If you want to know any more about us, you can read about it in a lovely article that Nancy Wheeler will surely write!"

He hopped off the table and walked straight over to his wife. His hands framed her face, and he planted a wet kiss on her lips without any objection from her.

He grabbed her hand and led her out of the gymnasium. As he reached the double doors, he turned and did his infamous devil horns with the added middle finger.

. . .

"Now this is more of my scene," Jensen crooned before stuffing a hot fry from Benny's diner in her mouth. Since Wayne didn't mind watching the kids, they knew they needed to take advantage of the uninterrupted adult time bestowed on them.

A trip to Benny's with burgers, fries, and a milkshake seemed the perfect way to cap the night. It was their tradition after every Hellfire meeting or any significant event.

After all the changes in his life, he was incredibly grateful that somehow Jensen somehow remained the most constant.

"You know I love you," Eddie told her as she dipped a fry in her chocolate milkshake.

Jensen smiled at him. She stood and met him halfway over the table and pressed a kiss to his lips. It was salty, sweet, and cold. "I love you and seeing you on that table was actually very hot," she whispered before pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

Eddie laughed against her lips. "Ya know if memory serves correctly, a nice trip to the Junkyard is in store." He waggled his eyebrows.

"Ya know, I'm surprised we didn't catch something or were arrested for indecent exposure."

"The police were too busy patrolling Lover's Lake," Eddie responded. He had fond memories of the dilapidated school bus they had made cozy. It was their place after Steve Harrington had made Skull Rock notorious for another spot outside of Lover's Lake. "We can work on baby number three."

Jensen threw a fry at him. "You are out of your mind, Munson."

"For you absolutely."