Eddie was actually really surprised how things were panning out. Time was going by fast. It was crazy to think about, really.
May came around, and that support group seemed to be helping some. Richie went every Sunday, and there were men, non-binary parents, and women alike that had dealt with the same thing he had.
It definitely seemed to help. And now, came that final doctor's appointment. This determined whether or not Richie suffered any physical complications from The Incident.
Eddie waited outside in the parking lot, listening to the radio inside the car. He scrolled through his phone, from Facebook to his emails. Even if time had been speeding by, some moments still felt like forever.
He had asked if Richie wanted Eddie in there with him, but when he got no as an answer, Eddie respected that. He'd never pressure his husband like that. So here he sat, scrolling through his phone. But eventually, it took longer than what Eddie liked. He decided to check up on him.
"You okay, hun?" Eddie texts through, waiting for some sort of message notification in return. He was really worried. It took a few moments, but it did appear.
"I guess so. Dickwad keeps asking if I want to try again," Eddie frowned before another text came through, "I dunno if I can, Eds,"
"And you don't have to!" Eddie sent back, "I'm going to be with you either way. We can still have a family. No one said there's a deadline to heal,"
The fact everyone had been asking them when they'd try again infuriated him. And people had hinted at the subject of their grief taking too long. Oh, but if anyone actually said it, he'd sock them right in the jaw.
This is something that needs time. And everyone is different, meaning everyone heals differently. People need to realize that.
It took forever, but by the end of the appointment, Richie had been given a clean bill of health. At least physically. It was the mental health Eddie was truly worried about. Richie was so much more quiet... it was weird. He wasn't himself.
They had a long, extensive talk when they got home. Eddie was there the entire time. He cuddled Richie close, letting him cry it out, cling to his chest, or do whatever else he needed to. This was really hard on him.
It was better to let it out than bottle it up. That would only lead to him exploding later on. That wasn't healthy for either of them. It was silent aside from the cries, until it wasn't.
"I-I dunno..." Richie hiccups out, sniffling as he tried to take an actual breath in, "I don't wanna lose another one... but I want a family so bad!" Richie sobbed into his husband's chest.
Another outcome of The Incident, was Richie's hormones. They haven't been the same. The doctors assured his hormonal imbalance would correct itself, but until then, it would be brutal. Although Eddie had a feeling they just gave them false hope.
What didn't help, was the fact their doctor had no perspective. It infuriated Eddie to the point of getting Richie a new doctor. They were told that if things had gone well, he'd have a big belly with a baby to prepare for. If. That hit the wrong cord in his gut. The audacity that man had... .
Nothing seemed to be the same. If all had gone well, then the empty room next to their own would have furniture and decorations. But no. It was ripped away from him, and it threw everything off. He was livid, but to not one in particular. This was a war with fate.
Eddie frowns deeply, holding Richie close as he rubbed his head. "I know you do, sweetheart," He murmurs, pressing a kiss to Richie's hair, "And we still can... . We can wait, try again... We've got so many options, baby. I'll die before I stop finding a way," Eddie wouldn't stop. They deserved this, and he'd be damned if he didn't keep trying. He looked down when his husband made a noise.
"Promise..?" The broken tone in Richie's voice made Eddie's heart re-shatter into a million pieces. He never wanted to hear that sound ever again. It made Eddie want to cry all over again.
"I do," The male murmurs, covering them up with their comforter. "With all my heart," Eddie answers.
And Eddie made sure he never broke that promise. And once they felt they were ready, it started again.
They did it all, from the obvious to the smallest things to try and help their odds. They read articles together about what could help. Went to all sorts of support groups online and in person. Did every position, every method that applied to their sex life. Not a single thing was left out. They did it all.
And four months after The Incident, in mid September, Richie was in their bathroom again, absolutely terrified. The male was having those symptoms all over again, and the panic that went through him probably radiated off of him in waves.
He wanted this to be a pregnancy, but at the same time, he was even more terrified that it was. He didn't want to lose another one... .
Richie had taken some tests again, and like last time, sat in the bathroom alone as he waited those dreaded five minutes. Five minutes. That was all it took to change everything. It terrified him.
"Rich?" A gentle knock at the door followed, breaking his trance. Eddie was the main reason he was still here. He had been his rock. And Richie was forever grateful for him. His husband was the best man he could ever ask for.
So, with false courage, he took a deep breath and looked down at the two tests in his hands. Richie's eyes filled with tears, but for once, it was for a different reason.
"Oh my god... ." He breathes out. Richie didn't even realize his eyes leaked tears before he saw them hitting the small screen on one of the pregnancy tests.
Richie sniffles and gently pads it away with his thumb. He didn't know it, but Eddie had slipped into the bathroom and kneeled next to his husband.
And he saw the tests. Richie's heart leaped with joy, but his stomach sank. It was such a contrasting mix of emotions, he could throw up. Which proved to be a little too easy now.
"Honey..." Eddie murmurs, looking between the tests and his husband. The silence was tense, full of growing anxiety and shock.
"W-What now..?" Richie stuttered back, looking down at Eddie. He was scared beyond belief.
After they found out about the pregnancy, the two took nearly every precaution possible. Everything.
Eddie banned Richie from any exercise and overexerting himself. That meant no more tours, shows, junk food. All of it. All he was able to do was rest, eat healthy foods, and take his vitamins.
Richie was so scared, if he wasn't resting in bed like Eddie wanted him to, then he was on the couch with his phone. He was so worried, he had resided to texting friends from his group about the nearly invasive worries littering his brain.
"You're doing great so far!"
"Don't give up!"
"Everything is normal right now! That's supposed to happen, I promise"
The words of encouragement felt nice. Knowing that he had a whole group of people supporting him helped a lot.
But Richie's gut kept telling him something was wrong. It might not have been right; which is what Eddie said. But this was instinct. Something told him it wasn't going to be a normal pregnancy, but he could still hope.
He just couldn't shake it. He really did hope though.