"You have everything?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets, still glancing sheepishly at her father and shuffling his feet. "I think so. Not much to pack."

"Oh come here, Darlin'" Rosie's mother, unable to contain herself any longer, squeezed Eddie around the waist, getting in a few quick kisses on his face as he bent to return the hug. "Don't you drive too long after dark. Stop at a motel like we talked about."

"I swear I will."

"Regular meals."

"Yep."

"Keep water by you."

"I will, Carol. Thanks. I'll call Rosie when I get home, too."

She finally released him, and Jack stepped in front of him. Eddie swallowed his fear and offered a smile. The old man stuck out is hand. Eddie shook firmly. "Good to meet you, Mr. McKinley."

"Likewise." Jack stared over his shoulder at the van. "Might want to get those tires replaced soon. Tread's had better days."

"I-I will, Sir."

"Safe drive."

Rosie's father marched away, pulling her mother with him. Carol blew another kiss back at Eddie.

"They gone?"

"Yeah."

Rosie threw her arms around him, little sigh escaping her. Eddie saw her lips pucker sorrowfully as they parted and rushed in to catch them.

"Tell Wayne I said Hi."

"I will."

"And the others."

"Yeah."

"Whaaat?"

"I'm just thinking." He brushed her hair. "This is the last time."

"I knowww."

Still, her arms remained around him, like she couldn't let him go. Was she worried he wouldn't come back? Eddie rested his head against hers.

"I promise."

"Me too."

Wayne appeared out of his room as Eddie closed the door. Hurried over to embrace him, and plant a kiss on his cheek. Eddie often wondered what he would be like without his uncle's affection - the man loved him better than his own father ever had - and wondered who he would become outside of it. He hoped he could do him proud.

"How's the wedding?"

"Good." He replied. "It was fun."

"The family?"

"Really nice. All of them."

"That so? Even her daddy? The one that had you wetting yourself?"

"Yeah. He...he seemed to like me."

"Well there you go. All that fussing for nothing."

Eddie laughed. "Yeah. I guess."

"And Rosie?"

"Rosie's...still great."

"Not even four weeks now."

"I know! She said she's been looking at places."

Wayne turned stern, and jabbed a finger into his chest. "Now I'm telling you, Eddie. Don't you dare hurt that girl again."

"I don't plan on it, Uncle Wayne."

"I know that, but planned or unplanned - don't. The two of you...you have something special."

"Yeah. We do." Eddie agreed. "Sometimes..."

He hesitated. Wayne's brow furrowed. "Out with it, boy."

"It's silly."

"Most likely."

"Heh...just...sometimes I wish they could meet her, you know?" Eddie turned the ring on his right hand. "Mom...Grandma...Lloyd."

"Not your dad?"

"Fuck him."

"Fair. I bet they would've liked to meet her, too." Wayne shrugged. "But I'm afraid I'm all you got."

Eddie hugged him again. "More than enough."

A little sniff against his shoulder. Wayne turned to his chair hastily, his eyes dry by the time he lit up. "So tell me...what'd you get up to?"

"Oh, you know. Wedding stuff. I took photos -"

"I'll see them later. Tell me about it."

"Met some horses. You know Rosie can ride?"

"She mentioned it before."

"Tried to get me up on one, too."

"I can imagine how that went."

"Not a chance in Hell."

"Still brave as ever."

Eddie pouted indignantly. "I'm brave!"

"'Course you are." Puffs of smoke drifted across the room. "I bet you danced."

"Not really."

"Not really means you did."

"Well, Rosie -"

"Made you? Yah. Exactly how I pictured it."

Wayne made him start packing piece by piece. Since the "earthquake" he had managed to accumulate a lot of junk - mostly due to donations and the Hawkins Relief Fund. It wasn't nearly as much as he'd owned before their home had been ripped in half, but the more he tried to put away the more seemed to materialize. Dustin's mom bought him a photo album, and he organized as many pictures as he could into it - of his friends, town, uncle - Rosie's special photos went into a cleaned-out cigar box his uncle gave him, secured with a brass latch. Any cash he'd kept lying around he spread between his safe box, bag, and van. He knew well enough to stash anything he didn't want compromised in multiple different places, so the vehicle had dozens of little nooks he had either found or made. His suit and shirts remained hanging up in the back.

"Gotta be careful those don't get damp, Ed." Wayne remarked, feeling the trouser leg as he put down a box of tapes.

"They're fine in there. I put the AC on every now and then to air it out."

"Munson you wore this?" Steve had partially crawled in and was inspecting the work on the vest. He let out a whistle of approval. "Since when do you have taste?"

"Since I went down on your mom."

Wayne choked out a guffaw from the trailer. "EDDIE!"

Steve gaped. "You know, just for that, you're not getting a party."

"I don't want a party."

"Yes you do."

"Nope."

"You need one last reason to look at all of us before we're gone."

"None of you are dying."

"No, but you started the movement, Eddie. Everyone's looking outside of Hawkins now. Mightn't be anyone left here next time you're in town."

"Sure."

They walked back in only to stare into his bare bedroom. The desk still stood at one wall, his bed shoved all the way up against the other. A few changes of clothes, a mirror, and his guitar. It looked so cold.

"Did Rosie find a place yet?"

"There's two she likes." Eddie replied. "Said she was gonna see them this week. Try to get a deposit down at least."

"No photos of 'em?"

"Nah. I just need a bed and somewhere to piss. Even the second part is negotiable."

"Lovely."

"You know, I always figured if I ever left here, it would be because Wayne finally got sick of covering for my ass." Eddie admitted. "Probably end up on the streets, or laying low somewhere. Never expected I'd actually leave for something better."

"Not even with the band?"

"Ideally? Yeah. Realistically? Nah."

"I'm happy for you, Dude."

He smiled at the empty walls. "I'm happy for me, too."

"Don't fuck it up."

Eddie snorted. "Sound like my uncle."

"Good." Steve sighed. "Still can't believe The Freak is settling down before me."

"You'll get there, Man. If I can do it, anyone can."

"EDDIE!" Wayne yelled over the evening news. "PHONE FOR YOU!"

He reached for the hook and rolled so the receiver was trapped under his ear. Luckily Steve had left just after dinner. "You're late."

"Late?" Rosie echoed. Eddie saw her head tilt in his mind's eye.

"Yup. I went ahead and finished without you."

A light laugh. Did she crinkle her nose? "Missed the grand finale?"

"I dunno about grand. But there was a finale."

"I can call later, if you want."

Eddie eyed the lotion on his locker. The mind was willing but the body was weak. "Maybe later. But I also want to hear you now."

"Same."

"How's everything? Did you start your project?"

"Not til September." She answered. "I'm trying to do a bit of reading now, though."

"Sounds about right."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you're a nerd who would rather prepare for a research project all summer than go out and have fun."

"This is fun."

"Ugh."

Snigger. Sometimes she stuck her tongue between her teeth when she did that. Like a scheming gremlin. "I think I found our place."

Eddie sat up. "You did?"

"Uh-huh. One of the apartments was a lot moldier when went to see it."

"Ew."

"Right?" Rosie went on: "Second one is in an older building, but the landlord did some renovation when he bought it. It's clean, bright. Small. But I think it'll do."

"Sounds great."

"I sent some photos today."

"I told you, Rosie. Whatever suits you."

"Oh I've already put the deposit down." She shot back. "This is me just letting you know."

Eddie chuckled into the phone. "That's my girl."

"Sure am." Rose affirmed. "I was thinking about trying to get the keys maybe a week - or a few days before. Get some furniture in, that sorta thing."

"Yeah...yeah perfect. What's the address?" Eddie took it down on two pieces of paper; one for Wayne. "I'll be there on the 12th. Just like I said."

"I trust you."

His heart did a flip. "I know."