It had only been hours since the battle in the sewer, where the Losers Club fought the monster known as IT, finally ending IT's reign of horror, at least for another 27 years. The memories of what they'd done had already started to fade, and over the next few months, the seven youths wouldn't remember what brought them together in the first place.

As each member headed home, Bill Denbrough found himself sitting in his little brother Georgie's bedroom, sitting on his bed while looking a picture of the two brothers that had been taken over a year ago on Georgie's final Christmas with the family. Georgie had wanted a Lion-O Thundercats figure so badly that year, so Bill worked all fall to get up the money to get him one. The hug that Georgie gave him after unwrapping his gift was one that Bill would never forget.

"I'm sorry, Georgie," Bill whispered as he touched the photo. "I'm so sorry I didn't save you. Please forgive me."

"Bill?" Eddie asked as he knocked on the door. "I'm sorry, the door was unlocked and-"

"It's okay," Bill said as Eddie saw the tears running down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry about Georgie," Eddie said as he sat down next to Bill. "I never meant those things that I said that day in the sewer. He was my friend, too."

"Is everything okay?" Bill asked, seeing the fresh cuts on Eddie's face from their fight with IT. He could still smell the gunk that IT had vomited up on him in the sewer. The Losers had done their best to hose him down after emerging from the Wellhouse, but the stink was still there.

"No, I can't go home like this," Eddie said. "I don't know if I can go home at all."

"You can stay the night here," Bill told him. "You can use our shower, I'll get you some clean clothes."

"Thanks," Eddie said, giving him a smile. He didn't dare hug Bill, or he'd get the stench on him, too.

Eddie scrubbed his skin until he was red, trying desperately to to clean off every last ounce of grime that he'd gotten in the fight. After a long shower, he still wasn't sure he'd gotten it all. As he stepped out of the shower, he found a pair of Bill's pajama pants and a t-shirt waiting for him on the toilet seat.

"What are you going to tell your mom?" Bill asked as the two sat in Bill's bedroom, eating leftover chicken as they sat on the floor. "She's going to freak when she sees those cuts."

"I don't know, I just know I'm tired of her making me feel helpless," Eddie told him. "I don't want to be afraid anymore, Bill. What if being afraid brings... IT back?"

"You have to believe that IT's dead," Bill told him. "IT can't hurt you anymore. IT can't hurt any of us anymore."

Bill stared at Georgie's rainslicker sitting on the chair in the corner, just as he started breaking down. Eddie pulled him into a hug, patting him on the back.

"It's okay, Bill, you can let it out," Eddie said.

"It was my fault," Bill said through the tears. "I shouldn't have sent him outside that day! I should have made him stay here, where it was safe!"

Eddie stared him in the eyes. "This is not your fault, Bill. You did everything you could. You're the reason the rest of us are still alive. We couldn't have killed IT without you. You were the one who was strong enough to hold us together. Dammit, Bill, I- I-"

Before he could say another word, Bill's lips were pressed against his, gently kissing him. Not sure how to react, Eddie put his hands on Bill's shoulders, returning the kiss in kind before it started growing more passionate between the two. Soon, both of their shirts were off as Eddie fell on top of Bill, with Bill running his hands through Eddie's hair.

"We can't do this," Bill whispered, even though he knew how badly he needed this.

"Bill, we really fucking need this," Eddie told him as he stared into Bill's eyes before he went back in for another kiss. Before they knew it, they were down to their underwear as Bill locked his bedroom door as Eddie climbed onto the bed. Bill jumped on top of him, and soon their tightie whities were tossed across the room, with Eddie's hanging off of the doorknob as they began making passionate love for as long as they were able, until all of their energy was gone, falling asleep in each other's arms.

It was the next morning when Bill woke up, seeing Eddie sleeping soundly on Bill's bare chest, listening to the soothing sound of Bill's heartbeat. He nuzzled closer to Eddie, for once feeling unstressed and somewhat... happier.

"What do we tell the others?" Eddie whispered as he opened his eyes.

"We don't have to tell them, this can be our secret," Bill said as he stared into Eddie's eyes. "Did you... like it?"

"Yeah, I did," Eddie told him. "This doesn't make us gay, does it? I mean, I've never even thought about guy like this before and I've always liked girls and-"

Bill put his hand over Eddie's mouth.

"Maybe what happened was just us trying to ... deal with what we went through down there," Bill told him. "We're not kids anymore, Eddie. Maybe what we did last night means that we're never going to be kids again."

Eddie started crying a little as Bill pulled him close, letting him cry on Bill's shoulder.

"No matter what happens, Eddie, we're always going to be there for each other. I promise. I swear, as long as I'm around, you never have to be afraid again. I'll always be here for you."

After getting cleaned up and lending Eddie some clothes to wear home, Bill just stood at the doorway, holding his friend's hand.

"Want me to walk you home?" Bill asked.

"No, I think I can manage," Eddie said as he hugged him. "I have to be strong and start standing up for myself more. I can't keep letting people keep me down."

"I'll call you later, maybe we can meet up at the quarry this weekend," Bill said. "Eddie, I- I mean, last night, it's not going to change things between us, is it?"

"Only if we let it," Eddie smiled. "You're still one of my best friends, Bill. If I had to do that with anyone... I'm glad it was you. I'll see you later."

After watching Eddie leave, Bill stared a picture of Georgie on the wall.

"Thanks for everything, little brother," Bill said. "I love you, Georgie."

As Bill walked upstairs, Georgie's face seemed to follow him before letting out a small giggle, while deep below Derry, Pennywise expelled the last of IT's energy before drifting off to sleep for 27 years...

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