A few hours after the incident with Ben, said boy came back with gifts to apologize. He was a crying mess when he was talking to Bev on the phone, and promised he'd do anything to make it up to Richie.

He came with ice cream, candy, and pizza, enough for everyone- even Richie's parents when they got home, and asked if he could talk to Richie. Stan didn't spare a glance at Ben as he set everything up in the living room while Eddie and Bev went upstairs to get Richie. None of them had seen or heard a word from him since, music being the only thing heard coming from his room. Eddie knocked on the door loudly and the music stopped, and a faint, "Come in," was heard. Eddie opened the door and the two walked in, only to see Richie just lying on his bed, looking at his phone. Eddie sat by his feet and Bev sat by his head.

"Ben's back." She told him softly. He snorted.

"Cut right to the chase, huh? He back to blame me some more?"

"He wants to apologize to you face to face." Eddie said. Richie looked at him. "Said that you wouldn't answer his texts."

"Damn right I didn't answer them." He sat up. "Send ole Benny boy in." The two stood up and as Eddie left the room, Bev said,

"Don't go too hard on him, Rich. I know what he said was fucked up but just hear him out. I called him and he cried like a baby- looks like he's been crying for a while."

"I cry all the time too, he ain't special." Richie muttered, but Bev heard him.

"What?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not important." He waved her off and he looked at the door, where Ben was nervously waiting.

"I'll still be downstairs, Tozier. If I hear screaming I know what to do." She gave him a look and he rolled his eyes.

"He could snap me like a twig and you know it." She chuckled and left the room. "Come in, Ben." Richie said, crossing his arms. Ben walked in hesitantly, and damn, Bev wasn't wrong. His face was swollen and red and blotchy. "You can sit in the chair." He gestured to his rolling chair at his desk. Ben did so.

"Richie, I-"

"No, I wanna say something first." Ben nodded immediately. "First off, fuck you."

"I deserve that."

"Not only that, but a punch to the face. Maybe knock some sense into you." Ben nodded. "That's all. Carry on."

"I'm so sorry." He started. "I can't believe I said that to you, and I want you to know that I didn't mean it. I know you wouldn't like, do that? Or like, help make it happen, whatever. You know what I mean. When I saw that post, I got so angry. At first it was at that sorry piece of crap, and then I asked everyone else if Bev was with them and they said no, I knew she had to be here. I wasn't thinking straight and I shouldn't have come into your home, swearing at you and blaming you for something I know you wouldn't do. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I can hope we can remain friends. You're practically a brother to me, Richie, and I don't think I could handle you not speaking to me."

"No, you don't. At least not yet." Richie said, finally, after a few minutes of silence. "I'm always gonna be your friend, Ben, but it's gonna take a lot more than just a few I'm sorry's. You don't have to do anything, just give me time. I've always thought you were better than that, you know? Did you know about Bev's audition yesterday?" Ben nodded. "I took her and joined her, listened to her sing. On the way in Mrs. Gandy asked if we were together, and Bev said she was dating Ben Hanscom. You know what I said?" Ben shook his head. "I said Ben Handsome, get it? Cause you're handsome. I've never said or had to say a bad thing about you, Ben, and I hope I never have to. Not again, at least, although I technically haven't said anything bad about you."

"Thank you." Ben said softly. "Thank you for not punching me, or anything, and for what you said yesterday. Thank you for taking care of her, I know she's my first girlfriend, but I intend for her to be my last. I love her so much, and I was so worried, so mad. Mad at myself because I couldn't protect her when she needed me. I understand that you need time, and I'll wait as long as you need me to." Richie gave him a small smile.

"I'm happy that you love her so much. I love Bev to death- hell, at this point she could legally become my sister." Ben's eyes widened at that. "Don't repeat that, we don't know for sure. We still gotta talk to my parents. Anyways, I just want you to know that if you ever hurt her I will literally beat your ass. I know you can snap me like a twig but I'm deadass about this. I'd kill the fucking shit that calls himself a father if I had the chance." Ben flinched a little at the tone of voice he took. "I'm not like trying to scare you too much, just know that I'd fight for all of you. Her especially, and not just because she's a girl."

"No, no, I get it. I get what you're saying one hundred percent, I'd fight anyone for you guys too. But uh, the fact that I believe you could kill someone if you had to scares me a bit."

"Wanna just go shake on it and go watch movies with everyone or something?" Richie asked. Ben chuckled and nodded, holding out a hand. He half expected Richie to pull him into a hug and was a little disappointed when he didn't, but the two stood up and headed downstairs.

"I see Ben is alive." Bev said, taking a bite out of pizza.

"Where'd you get pizza- oh shit yes!" Richie practically jumped the last four steps- nearly busting his ass in the process- and snatched a piece out of the box.

"Jesus, Richie, are you trying to kill yourself?" Eddie shrieked.

"I'm fine, Eddie." Richie waved him off.

"Ben brought it for you." Mike said. Richie looked at Ben, who nodded bashfully.

"Cool, thanks Benny." Richie said, stuffing his mouth. For the next hour and a half, everyone ate pizza and junk food, and then the Toziers got home, bags filled with stuff.

"So, we got all the valuables we could find in your room, jewelry, your stuff for school, your essentials, and went and bought you some new underwear and some shirts and pants." Maggie said, not paying anyone any attention as she rattled off what they got for Bev, who was surprised.

"You already went to the apartment?" She asked softly, standing up.

"We did. I told you we would." Wentworth said. "Oh, pizza!" He dropped the bags.

"Jesus Christ, Went, we were having a moment!" Maggie smacked his shoulder and he shrugged innocently, stuffing his face, much like his son did. Everyone chuckled. "Oh, hi guys! I didn't see your cars. I just wanted to hurry and get her stuff to her that I wasn't paying attention."

"It's okay, Mrs. Tozier." Stan said with a smile.

"Call me Maggie, Stan, how many more times do I have to tell you?"

"I'm always going to call you Mrs. Tozier." Stan replied. She chuckled and patted his shoulder.

"If you ever get tired of saying our last name, just call me Maggie. Bev, do you want to look through your stuff now or wait until later?"

"Um, later I think." She said, biting her lip.

"That's fine! We can get you set up in the guest room until we get you actual furniture and stuff."

"So she's going to be staying here?" Mike asked.

"P-permanently?" Bill asked.

"Mhm. We've still got lots of paperwork and court and everything over the next few months, but it's official as of an hour ago that she is living with us, at last until further notice. Further notice is not on my list of things to worry about, though, because further notice is until she wants to move out." Went said matter of factly.

"I freaking love you guys." Bev said, choking up as she threw herself at Went. He chuckled in surprise and hugged her back. Maggie joined the hug and rubbed her back.

"We love you too, Sweets." Richie said, wrapping his arms around the three of them.

"That's a sight I like to see." Eddie joked. Richie looked back at him and gave him a grin.


Later on that night, once everyone finally left for the night, the four sat down at the dinner table for dinner and talked about what was going to happen over the next few weeks.

"I know I'm saying nothing is official, but we're determined to keep you here, Bev." Went said. "And considering I'm a damn good lawyer, I can convince the fuck out of anyone."

"Language, Went." Maggie said, looking at him pointedly. "What he's saying is, there's a very high chance that you're staying with us, and we want to get you settled in." Bev nodded, looking at Richie who grinned.

"Are you…" She paused for a second, "Are you going to… adopt me?" She asked, cringing a little at the way her voice cracked. The two looked at each other, surprised.

"Do you want us to?" Maggie asked.

"Yeah, I do." She nodded. "Honestly, even before all this happened I'd thought about you guys being my parents, and I want it to be real, not just in my daydreams, you know? I never really knew my mom, and my… he was nothing but shit to me. And her. I've never felt safe with him, but I always feel safe here."

"Bev, sweetie, we would love to adopt you. You're already a daughter to us." Went nodded in agreement. She smiled brightly and looked at Richie, who had a matching smile.

"Now, when you're feeling up to it, or when you… heal enough that you feel comfortable," Maggie was talking about the bruises on her face. "We're gonna go out and buy you as much stuff as you want. And I mean clothes, makeup, paint for your room, decorations, anything you want, because you deserve it."

"You don't have to do that." Bev told them. "I have some money, I can buy my clothes."

"This isn't up for discussion, Bev." Went told her jokingly. "We're buying you whatever you want, whether you like it or not."

"They're gonna do it either way, Sweets." Richie told her. "They won't give up until you agree." She looked at the two and they nodded. She sighed.

"Fine." She said, smiling a little.

"As for school, Richie, you can have a day or two off- we don't want you missing too much, either of you, but that's how it's gonna be. I'm calling school tomorrow- I'm sure they all know what's going on- and I'm telling them you won't be in school until say, Wednesday?" Richie nodded. "And Bev, we'll figure it out for you, okay?" She nodded.

"I don't want to get too behind." She said.

"I've got you." Richie told her. "I'll help you with everything."

"Okay. Sometimes I forget that you're smart without even trying." He shrugged.

"It is a gift."