Epilogue: October 2008

Christina was writing the check for the electricity bill when the screech of a guitar interrupted her thoughts.

"Not again," she muttered to herself as she pushed back her chair. She took long strides to the door leading to the garage and threw it open.

"Stephanie Robin Munson, you will put away that guitar this instant!" Using her daughter's full name reminded her of how her mother did the same thing when she scolded her or her brother. That was where the similarity ended though. When she had been in the hospital 17 years prior and they put that little girl in her arms, she had vowed to not put her through the same hell.

Stephanie turned, the long, curly black locks that she inherited from her father swinging behind her. The teenager went with the pouty look this time. My mom used to tell me to cut the crap when I tried that look, Christina thought. She was thankful that her daughter took after her dad and chose music over trying to be part of the in crowd. She knew that the popular girls still felt pressure to be thin, and were still turning to dangerous means to do so. She'd rather deal with a guitar interrupting her thoughts than learning that her daughter needed the same treatment she had gone through.

"Mom, Battle of the Bands is next week. I need to practice!"

"We're going to get another noise complaint, Steph. You can pick it up again tomorrow morning."

"At six?" Steph asked with a smile. The girl had also inherited the grin that Christina had learned to resist after years of marriage. Most of the time, anyway.

"Maybe ten," Christina said. "Did I ever tell you about how I met your father when he played at our middle school talent show?"

"No."

"Good," came a voice from the doorway. "Because she didn't talk to me again for like six years after that anyway."

Eddie's long hair was now a much shorter ponytail. He had cut it short when he started looking for office jobs. Chrissy had told him days before that they had a little roommate on the way. After years at the same job, he felt confident enough to grow it out again.

"The important thing was that we did meet up again," Christina said. "I still remember that day at the picnic table. In the woods behind the football field."

"Whoa, Chris. Are you sure you want Steph to know why you came to talk to me all the way out there?"

"Nope!" Stephanie said. She put her hands to her ears. "Gross! I don't wanna hear this!"

"It wasn't like that," Christina said, taking one of Steph's wrists to put her arm down gently. She took a moment to think about it. "Although it did become a make out spot for us like a month later."

"Mom!"

"Anyway, I think you're old enough to know what happened. But you have to promise to not tell anyone."

"Is Dusty ready to know about this yet?"

"No," Eddie said, taking a step forward and closing the door. "Maybe someday, but probably when he's closer to your age."

The Party had a reunion every few years. Dustin Henderson had jokingly gotten on Eddie's case about the couple naming their child after Steve instead of him. Eddie said he would take it into consideration if they had another kid.

Christina began to tell Stephanie about the events of March 1986. "This story is going to be hard to believe. But it's absolutely true. You know why we don't see grandma very much, right?"

Stephanie nodded. "Great Uncle Wayne is cooler anyway."

"He is," Christina said. She referred to Wayne as her father-in-law sometimes. He truly was, as far as she was concerned, and the best one she could have hoped for. When Stephanie had been born, he had promised to quit smoking if it meant seeing her grow up. He seemed to have kept that vow, although she wouldn't have judged him for a slip up. She knew how hard it was to not have the occasional relapse.

"Well, I was having nightmares about how grandma was treating me. I had heard that your father sold weed, and I thought that it might help."

Christina resisted altering the story. There was a superstitious side to her that wondered if mentioning Vecna could somehow make him return. Then she realized that was silly. She assured her daughter that Mom and Dad killed him so that he could never harm another teen.

"I know it's hard to believe Steph," Eddie said.

"It is," Stephanie said. "But I believe you guys. Mom, you were trying not to cry at one point."

"It was one of the hardest weeks of my life. Of both of our lives. But things got much better afterward. I wouldn't have gotten to know your father if it hadn't happened. You and your brother wouldn't be here. I may not have gotten the help I needed for my eating disorder. What I want you to remember is to keep on going. No matter how shitty things may get. And don't be afraid to reach out if you need help."

"Also," Eddie added. "The reverse is important too. It's the Munson family motto. Look after the little sheep."

"I will," Stephanie said.

A loud knock made the three jump. Dusty opened the door and peeked his head in. "Can we pick up some burgers already or something?"

"Sure we can," Eddie said.

"Can we go through the drive thru so you guys won't be holding hands like you do every time we're in there?" Dusty asked. "It's embarrassing. You agree with me, right Steph?"

"Actually," Stephanie said. "I've changed my mind. I think it's a sweet little tradition. You never know, there could be a story behind it."

Notes: Thank you for reading! I wrote this epilogue after the first five or six chapters to make sure that I would write a happy ending.