In the midst of their grief, January had turned to February, and Richie had yet to move from their bed for just about nothing. He only got up for the bathroom. And even then, Eddie couldn't even remember the last time Richie had actually showered. It was obvious what was happening. Richie was depressed, and it hit him hard. And he wouldn't let it get too far. He wouldn't forgive himself if he did.

Eddie peeks his head into their bedroom to check up on his husband, frowning gently. Richie had been laying in bed for weeks now. He hardly left, and it worried him a lot. He'd lost a little weight, and he slept almost every waking hour. Richie wasn't okay. They both knew it. Eddie's heart felt heavy whenever the topic came up, whether it be in his head or in actual words. The male took a deep breath in, and opened the door better so he could check up on his husband better.

He walks up to his husband, kneeling on the floor by his head. "Rich, honey... you wanna come to the store with me..?" He asks gently, fingers brushing greasy locks from his face. No response. It made his heart sink to his stomach. "Rich?" Eddie murmurs gently. This wasn't okay.

"'M tired..." Richie mumbles. The male laid on his side facing towards Eddie, eyes hurt and his face blank. It was devastating, but then again, Richie went through a devastating event. It was only natural for this to happen. His heart broke seeing Richie like this.

"Why don't you take a shower, sweetheart? Freshen up and have some lunch?" Eddie coaxes, rubbing his scalp a bit. He knew it soothed his husband. Any other time, he'd screech at him to wash his hair because it was so greasy, and he didn't exactly smell like daisies. But now wasn't the time. Now was when he needed to be supportive and do anything he could to help. A shower wasn't life or death.

But when Richie didn't budge, Eddie sighed in defeat. Maybe he needed more time? He truly didn't know. He's a nurse practitioner, not a physiologist. Eddie knows the signs and symptoms, but he doesn't know exactly what can help his husband start the recovering step. The male kisses Richie's forehead, and covers him up better with their comforter. "Well then I'm right here if you need me," he murmurs.

By mid March, it had finally happened. Eddie had had enough. Something needed to be done. "Richie," He says, gentle yet firm, "Get up," Eddie couldn't just sit and watch his husband disintegrate into their mattress. He wouldn't let him.

Richie only curled up in response. This had been going on long enough. Yes, he understood Richie was in pain. But at some point, you need to at least try and get back up. Richie was overdue. Eddie should've done this a month ago.

Eddie sighs gently, walking up to his husband. He tugged the blanket away from the lump underneath, and lifted his husband up in his arms. Richie barely protested. What concerned him more, was just how light Richie was in his arms. Eddie used to have to put an exhausting amount of effort into carrying him. Now... he was too light. It made his eyes sting. "You can't stay in bed forever," He says gently.

Eddie carried his husband over to the master bathroom attached to their bedroom, keeping him close. It felt like if he didn't, Richie would just slip through his fingers. His husband wasn't like himself at all. And it was freaky. Eddie male set his husband in the tub, doing the work of undressing him before turning the tap on. And once it was the temp he knew Richie liked, he plugged the tub. It was silent for the most part, even as Eddie got Richie a towel for when he was cleaned up. Eddie's attention was caught again when his husband spoke.

"Its my fault... ." Richie looks away from his husband, ashamed and heartbroken. No matter how many people told him it wasn't, it truly felt like it was. The doctor said he wasn't at fault, his mom, Eddie, Bev, his manager, everyone said the same thing. Anyone who had kids and knew Richie was telling him the same thing, that it happened sometimes and he did nothing wrong. He did everything right actually, but that didn't stop the guilt eating him from the inside out.

"Richard Wentworth Tozier-Kaspbrak, don't you ever say that again," Eddie scolds gently, cupping his husband's stubbly cheeks in his hands. He makes his husband actually look him in the eye, thumbs rubbing over his cheekbones. "You did absolutely nothing wrong. No one could've predicted what happened,"

Richie's eyes watered at Eddie's words. It felt like he didn't deserve this much support. He didn't deserve such a great husband. "How can you say that?!" He asks, "I did everything... I-I took the vitamins, I ate right, I took plenty of rest, I took time off work, and... a-and I lost our baby," he sobs out. It was absolutely heart wrenching. The male didn't know if he'd even survive this.

Eddie could only sigh, deep and sad. He moved over and kneeled on the bathroom floor to level with his husband, hugging Richie close as his love sobbed into his chest. He kisses Richie's hair, eyes squeezing shut as salty tears slid down his cheeks. He'd never felt heartbreak like this before.

The rainy month of April came, and Eddie had decided to take even the smallest milestones as a victory. Like Richie getting out of bed more than maybe twice a day, and actually starting to eat and shower again. Albeit it wasn't as much as Eddie would like, but he'd take it over nothing at all. What also soothed him, was Richie's willing attitude towards support groups when Eddie introduced the pamphlets and websites.

"I'm not going," Richie says, slipping his hoodie on over his head that morning. "You can't make me."

Eddie sighs gently. He's been sighing a lot lately. "Richie, there's no shame in going to a support group. Everyone there lost the same thing one way or another. They all know what it feels like. They're there to help you, for you all to support one another," Eddie says. He comes up and rubs Richie's shoulders. "You had a miscarriage..." The word felt like lead on his tongue, "You need to talk about it, honey, to someone who knows more about this than I do..."

He may have been a highly qualified nurse, but he didn't know how to help Richie heal mentally. Physically, he was almost fully recovered. It was the emotional status that worried Eddie. The male looks at his husband, watching the war going on within Richie's thoughts. This had been difficult on all of them.

Until finally, it happened. Richie sniffled, finally giving in. He nods a little. "Okay..." The male hugs himself close to Eddie, resting his head on his shoulder. The shame that came with this... it made his stomach swirl and his heart sink. It still felt like all his fault... . No matter how many times people told him that it wasn't, it sure as hell felt like it.

"We'll get through this," Eddie murmurs, "I promise," He adds. He'd make sure of that. And so far, he'd like to think they have been.