The next few days went well. All the losers, and Audra, spent some one on one time with Eddie. He seemed to agreed that he shouldn't marry Myra but Richie knew Eddie wasn't one to back out of commitments. It worried Richie, he hoped Eddie wouldn't marry someone he didn't love but if he felt liked he owed Myra he might stay anyway. Mike assured Richie that Eddie didn't seem like he would stay with Myra but wouldn't tell him any more than that. The others were tip lipped about what they talked about with Eddie, no matter how much Richie wheedled them. All they would say was that they thought Eddie would make the right decision.

On the last night Richie and Eddie were walking on the beach, talking.

"You seem down Eds, what's wrong?" Eddie had been quiet all day.

"I just...I don't want this to be my last time here." He kicked some sand.

"Well it won't be, we'll be back in six months. Bi-yearly remember?"

"Myra found out I'm here. She checked my plane ticket. She's furious." Eddie wouldn't look at Richie.

Richie eyebrows shot up. "What did she say?"

"I haven't talked to her. She's been calling and texting me. I turned my phone off." Eddie seemed uncomfortable with his confession.

Richie wanted to scream THEN WHY ARE YOU MARRYING HER! But he knew it would only make Eddie shut down. Instead he stopped and put his hands on Eddie's shoulders and turned the other man towards him. "Eds, Eds, look at me." Eddie still refused to meet his eyes so Richie put a couple fingers under his chin and raised it until Eddie was reluctantly looking at him. "Eddie, you don't seem happy with Myra." He went with the frank approach.

"I am!" Eddie protested but without much heart.

"Are you?" Eddie didn't respond. "Be honest with me, we've been best friends for decades."

"I thought I was." Eddie's eyes watered. "I convinced myself I was, until I came here. Being around all of you strips away my lies. Being with all of you made me see that I'm not happy." Tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Eddie, please don't marry Myra. Please," Richie pleaded. He felt his eyes watering too. "Stay in New York or don't, leave your job, become CEO, do whatever makes you happy. But please, don't marry her."

Eddie paused for a long moment. "I don't love her." He said as he collapsed into Richie's chest.

"I know you don't Eds. So don't marry her." Richie stroked his hair.

Eddie nodded slightly. "I won't. I can't. It's not fair to her." Richie released a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Good, thank you Eds. Figure out what you want, okay?" Richie was shaky with relief.

"I know what I want." Eddie said solemnly as he kissed Richie. Richie was too shocked to respond for a moment and Eddie started to move back, seeming embarrassed.

"No!" Richie said, louder than he intended. He pulled Eddie to his lips and kissed him hard. He poured a decade of emotion into that kiss, he needed Eddie to know how much he meant to him.

Eddie gently pushed Richie into the sand and landed on him, deepening the kiss. His legs were on either side of Richie, trapping him in the sand. Eddie was licking the inside of Richie's mouth and his hands were in Richie's hair, gently tugging it.

Richie's hands moved to Eddie butt and he squeezed, which earned him a small sigh from Eddie. That sound! Richie's pants grew tight. Eddie's lips moved to Richie's neck, leaving a trail of kisses down to his collarbone. He reached where Richie's neck and shoulder met and he started to suck. It had been a long time since Richie had a hickey and it made his breath hitch. Eddie rolled his hips, grinding their erections together. Both moaned, Eddie into Richie's collarbone and Richie into the air.

"Fuuuckkk Eddie. You feel so good." Richie gasped out. Having Eddie's familiar weight on top of him was the best feeling in the world.

"Mmm, you taste so good," Eddie said, continuing to suck on Richie's neck.

Richie moved his hands under Eddie's shirt, feeling his abs and his chest. He was rewarded with another small groan. Eddie started to kiss Richie's jawline, moving up to his lips again. He wanted all of Eddie, right here on this semi-private beach.

But he knew it was wrong. He knew it and hated it. Eddie was still engaged and, while that status didn't mean much to Richie, he knew Eddie would regret it. Richie didn't want anymore regrets with Eddie. He wanted him free and clear.

"Eddie, baby," Richie tried to stop him by lightly putting his hands on Eddie's shoulders and pushing gently. Eddie ignored him and continued kissing Richie. "Eddie, we've got to stop." Richie whispered, already hating himself.

Eddie stopped immediately and sat up, looking confused. His face was flush and his lips were puffed and bruised. Richie wanted to yell 'kidding!' and pull him down again. But he couldn't do that to Eddie, to them.

"You're still engaged. Please, break up with Myra and then we'll take a vacation on our own. Wherever you want. Clothes optional."

Eddie looked embarrassed, like he had just remembered his fiance. "Fine, we'll stop." He said coldly as he crawled off Richie.

"No! No, not stop...just pause! Please, I don't want you to regret this, or us." Richie got up and offered Eddie a hand.

Eddie stood without him. "No Richie, it's fine. I've been rejected by Richie Tozier before. I know what it looks like." He started to walk away. Richie stood in place for a minute, trying to breathe. He wasn't rejecting Eddie! Eddie had to know that! Had Richie messed up again? Richie took a minute to calm down before he started looking for Eddie. He couldn't find him. The smaller man was sneaky when he wanted to be. Richie looked for him desperately for a while and then decided to head back to the house. He had to find Eddie and explain.

When he went back to the house he asked the others and they said Eddie had stormed in, gathered his things and said goodbye. He'd taken an early taxi to the airport.

Richie had a pit in the bottom of his stomach, he had lost him again. He tried calling Eddie and it went straight to voicemail. He sent him a desperate text "Please Eddie, I'm sorry. Call me." He didn't say what he wanted to, that he loved Eddie, that he'd do anything to fix this.

Richie started crying and the others gathered around him. They wanted to know what happened. Richie gave them the brief details then went to bed. The others tried to talk to him but Richie just wanted to be alone.

He had lost Eddie, again.