⚠ talk about conversion therapy, parental abuse (slapping and shaming), homophobic slurs, brief mention of needles ⚠

*Eddie's POV*

"Eddie-Bear!"

"Hello Mommy..." I sighed.

"It's been so long!" Sonia ran over to me and pinched my cheeks. "You've put on weight."

I looked up at Sonia disdainfully and faked a smile. "Why are you here Mommy?"

"You were all over my television! My neighbor, Carol, she told me about it. Oh by the way, Carol has ALSO gotten heavier, but I can recommend a weight loss program and a diet to you both."

She whipped her head around to Richie. "Oh, the Tozier boy! Can I just say, you always seemed a little too...how do I put this, gay to be friends with my Eddie Boo-Boo Bear. And I was right!" She took a step back and looked at us.

"Look at you two...fag-ing up the whole place. How disappointing..."

"It's n-ni e to see you t-t-too, Ms. K." Richie sighed. Sonia's eyes lit up.

"That's MRS. K to you, Richard. I've remarried!"

"Wow Mommy, that's really cool, but could you leave us the fuck alone?" I said angrily.

"Edward!" Sonia gasped and slapped me quickly. "Don't curse in front of me! I raised you to be a good straight Christian boy, and you've grown up to be..." She waved her hand around my face. "Whatever this is."

"W-w-well Mrs. K, th-this has b-been a fun visit." Richie said, sarcasm thick in his voice. "But I th-think you should g-go now."

"Why?" Sonia asked, giving us puppy dog eyes. "I still have so many questions!"

"Mommy c-" I started.

"Listen here Edward," Sonia snapped at me. "I'm your mother. I can do whatever I want. And right now, I want to stay here."

"Hey Rich, where's the- woah who are you?" Ruby walked into our room and stopped short.

"I'm Eddie's mom, who are you?" Sonia snapped before going soft. "Wait a minute!" She turned back to me. "Oh Eddie, you're not a disappointment after all!"

"Um... I'm sorry, what?" Ruby asked, confused.

"Mommy, please stop talking." I groaned.

"You aren't a queer! You're dating this lovely girl!" Sonia sighed and smiled. "Thank the Lord! I knew my son wasn't a filthy, awful, disgraceful, horrid fag! I thought to myself, 'How disgusting is it that my son is getting fucked in the ass by a greasy trashmouth', but he's not!"

Sonia aggressively shook Ruby's hand. "My future daughter-in-law...it's so nice to meet you!"

"Listen lady, you've got it wro-"

"Oh dear, I suppose Eddie hasn't told you about me, has he? I'm the reason you two are together! I kept telling my silly Eddie-Bear this, I said 'Boy, one day you're going to find a nice girl, and you'll get past this phase.' Without me and the therapy, he never would've had a chance with you!"

"Th-therapy...?" Richie turned to me confused. "Wha-" Sonia cut him off.

"Not another word from you! You led me on, and made me think that you and my Eddie-Bear were in a relationship. How dare you?!"

"MOMMY I'M NOT DATING RUBY!" I yelled. She looked at me with anger and disappointment in her eyes. "I'm dating Richie. And you can't do shit to change it. So just leave already, ok?!"

Sonia glared at me. "You still think you're in this phase...wow. And you cursed AGAIN?!" She slapped my other cheek, even harder this time. "Dr. Hartley and I almost fixed you..."

Sonia sighed and started to walk out of the room. She stopped and turned around, putting her hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"At least you're not a queer..." Sonia sighed again.

"Hey babe!" Emily walked over to Ruby and kissed her. Ruby smirked at
Mommy and kissed Emily deeply.

"Emily, darling. Light of my life!" Ruby exaggerated, making Emily giggle.

Sonia grunted loudly and rushed away, mumbling something about how the gays are taking over the world.

She's not wrong.

*Bill's POV*

I slowly walked into Stan's room. He was still under the anesthesia unfortunately, so I haven't gotten much of a chance to talk to him.

He was in and out of consciousness during the ride back to the hospital. Even when he was awake and we could talk, it's not like he made much sense.

I think he was trying to explain what had happened with Dan. But he was looped up on pain meds and passing out, so nothing sounded right.

He said that Bev had the "addition" spell chanted, and that the hand guardians have cursed him, whatever that means.

I sighed and sat down next to Stan's bed. He looked...peaceful almost.

Except for the fact that he's bruised and bandaged and he's hooked up to a bunch of needles and IVs. Besides that, he's very peaceful.

"Knock, knock..." Ben smiled and walked into the room. "How ya holding up, Bill?"

I shrugged. "Meh. But I heard you yelling about being a father back at the unit...?" I smiled.

Ben smiled and nodded quickly. "Bev's pregnant! The OB said that it's a miracle the baby's ok. He said he saw...something else, but it's probably nothing."

"I'm happy for you two. Once Bev and I broke up, I was always rooting for you guys to get together. And here you are...when's the shotgun wedding?" I laughed.

Ben's face paled.

"Wedding...oh fuck Bill, I've never had a wedding before-"

"Yeah, I know Ben." I rolled my eyes playfully.

"What if I mess up? And then Bev hates me, and her hate seeps into the baby and he or she or whatever hates me-"

"Do you understand how pregnancy works...?"

"Oh God, what if Bev divorces me AS we're getting married?!" Ben yelped. Stan grunted, waking up.

"Ben, I'm trying to sleep. Please, for the love of God or whoever, stop being an idiot."