Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Loving Chrissy

The worst moment in anyone’s life is when you get a phone call asking if you are someone’s next of kin. Rushing to the hospital and hoping for the best while preparing yourself for the worst is all you can do. 

The first time this happened to Eddie, he ran through the doors of the ER begging for someone to tell him where his uncle Wayne was. A fall at the plan left him with a concussion and a broken leg. Eddie stayed with Wayne all night as he was moved to a room in the hospital and continued to stay after multiple surgeries and the placement of a few pins. Wayne kept trying to send Eddie home saying he'd be back soon and ready for work. Eddie had to break the news that Wayne wasn’t able to go back to work. The damage was too much and this led to Wayne receiving a very hefty settlement.

Because Wayne is who he is, he felt that Eddie had spent too much time babysitting him. Wayne used part of his settlement to help Eddie buy a building for his dream tattoo shop. This came with a huge apartment above it that Eddie could now move into. Hellfire Tattoo became Eddie’s baby and with the help of Garreth manning the shop and Jeff taking over piercings, Eddie was able to make his dream a reality.  

Wayne also got a little house nearby that gave him more space than the trailer and an easier entryway. By the time Wayne got home, Eddie, the Hellfire crew, and a few of Wayne’s plant buddies had moved Wayne’s entire life into the new place. Wayne still wasn’t able to drive himself so Eddie having him close, while maintaining his own space for the first time in his adult life, was a huge benefit. Gareth was able to block off Eddie’s schedule every week for Eddie to drive him over. Because of that Gareth likes to think of himself as a little cupid, because Eddie never expected the first love of his life to be the key to Wayne’s recovery.

“Alright Waynie. I got a little surprise for you. I know this physical therapy is not going to be your favorite. So I bought you a little something to make it easier.”

Eddie hands Wayne a gift bag and he looks at him suspiciously. “Boy it’s not my birthday. What did you do?”

Wayne reaches into the bag and pulls out a water bottle, but not just any water bottle .

“It’s Garfield! I had to get your favorite.” Wayne starts laughing immediately. 

“You little idiot.”

Eddie hugs Wayne tightly. “Promise me you’ll take this seriously. I know you think you don’t need it, but humor me. Do what the therapist says?”

Wayne nods and Eddie helps him into the office. Eddie heads to work while Wayne’s session is completed. Wayne is looking through a magazine when his name is called. A strawberry blonde girl with Garfield scrubs comes to collect him. 

“Hey I like your water bottle! Garfield is my favorite if you can’t tell. I’m Chrissy, your therapist.”

Wayne laughs and introduces himself, “Wayne. My nephew thinks he’s funny.”

“Is that the guy I saw dropping you off?” They start the physical therapy session while talking.

“Yes ma’am. He thinks I’m not going to take this seriously so he gave me a very not serious water bottle. I don’t know how his mind works.”

“Sounds like it works just fine to me. Are you a fan?”

“I used to watch the show with Eddie when he was little. We’ve got a few mugs around the house.”

Chrissy smiles, “So a little piece of home while you’re doing something hard. He sounds pretty sweet.”

After the session Chrissy helps Wayne into the waiting room. “You’re going to do just fine with this Wayne. I think after a few weeks we should be able to get you almost back to normal.”

Eddie stands up, “Almost back to normal?”

Chrissy looks over at him and smiles. “Hi! Eddie, right? When I say almost normal, he won’t be running or bodybuilding, but once we are done he should be able to lead a normal life.”

Eddie looks over at Wayne confused, “Bodybuilding? What the hell did you tell her you got up to?”

Before Wayne can say anything Chrissy cuts in. “We say that to everyone. Some people think after an injury like Wayne’s, that they can just jump right back into their old life. There’s nothing wrong with taking it easy and catching a few episodes of Garfield and Friends. I hear you’re a fan.”

Eddie’s cheeks turn pink and he looks over at Wayne. “Wayne. How could you? I’m supposed to be a scary tattoo artist. How scary is a fan of Garfield?”

“Oh I bet you’re just terrifying.”, Chrissy says with a laugh.

Wayne looks between both of them with a smile on his face.

By week 3 Eddie had started staying so he could talk to Chrissy more. 

“Eddie! How are you? Keeping Wayne in line?”

He smiled with a slight blush to his cheeks. “I think you’re the only one who can keep him in line, Chris. How’s your day been?” 

“Not too bad. Just folding grown men into pretzels and making them cry. It’s just any other Tuesday.”

After therapy Wayne and Eddie drive back to Wayne’s apartment. “That Chrissy is something isn’t she?”

Eddie glances over at Wayne, “Yeah. She’s a great physical therapist.”

“Mhmm. Pretty girl too.”

“I think she’s a little young for you, Waynie.” Wayne smacks his arm. “Hey I’m driving here. Let’s keep our hands to ourselves. Yes, she’s a very pretty girl.”

Week 5 found Eddie driving past the therapy office after dropping Wayne off. He sees Chrissy looking under the hood of her car and pulls into the parking lot.

“Car trouble?” 

Chrissy raises up and looks over at Eddie, “Are you my knight in shining armor?”

Eddie looks down at his clothes, “Umm, knight in shining leather maybe. Before I started tattooing I worked at a body shop. I might be able to help.”

Chrissy smiles and gestures to the car. “Were you headed back to the shop? Wayne said that you own your own place now.”

“Wayne helped. He used part of his settlement to buy the building that I’m in. He’s basically a silent partner against his will. He wants no part of it.”

“That’s sweet of him. Is it just you guys?”

Eddie stops and looks over at her, “Is that your way of asking if I’m single?”

Chrissy raises an eyebrow, “Maybe I’m asking if Wayne’s single.”

Eddie laughs loudly. “We are both single. Wayne is pretty much a lifelong bachelor, just to warn you.”

“And you?”

“Never really found a person to settle down with. People say my personality and looks are a little too much.” Eddie stands up and goes to check Chrissy’s gas cap. “This is cracked. I’m willing to bet that’s why your light came on. I can drive you over to the auto store to get a new one if you want.”

“Is that your way of asking me on a date?”

“Depends. Do you think going to Autozone is romantic?”

Turns out Chrissy and Eddie were both enamored with each other, shocking honestly everyone, but Wayne. Chrissy was the bubblegum princess to Eddie’s prince of darkness. Chrissy had moved into Eddie’s apartment about a year ago after dating for 6 months. He wanted to give her the world and his name if she’d take it. Eddie was ready. Maybe it was a little fast, but Eddie was losing all sense of chill and knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Chrissy was his future. 

Eddie had bought the ring and hid it in Wayne’s apartment. With the help of the Hellfire crew and Chrissy’s coworkers everything was in place. Eddie took her to dinner at her favorite restaurant. After dinner he took Chrissy home and she found her favorite flowers and candles everywhere. 

Chrissy walks into the room with her mouth covered and happy tears sliding down her cheeks. “Eddie?”

On the coffee table is a Garfield jewelry box . Eddie opens it and pulls out a ring. He drops to one knee and grabs Chrissy’s hand. 

“Chrissy, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. If you’ll have me, I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Chrissy, will you marry me?”

Chrissy nods and drops down kissing Eddie. “Of course I’ll marry you. I love you so much.”

Eddie slides the ring on her finger and kisses her again.

Wedding planning was not an easy time. Eddie had learned early on in their relationship that Chrissy had no relationship with her parents. Once she turned 18 she left home and sought out treatment for her eating disorder. After lots of therapy Chrissy found that her parents, specifically her mother, were the route cause of a lot of her trauma and never looked back. They’d debated on even having a wedding, but Chrissy was convinced they needed to have one. It took a lunch conversation with Wayne to change her mind.

“Don’t you want to see Eddie get married?”

“I want to see you and Eddie happy. If a wedding doesn’t make you happy, then I don’t want it. Is that what you’re worried about? That you’ll disappoint me?”

Chrissy looks over at Wayne with a sheepish look on her face. “No.”

“Mhmm. I think you’re worried about what everyone else thinks. I’m sure your friends will be fine. Eddie’s friends won’t care. I want what you guys want. You’re out of excuses kid.”

“So if we say forget this and go to the courthouse, you’d say?”

“Do you need a witness?”

Chrissy wraps her arms around Wayne. “I wish I had a Wayne growing up.”

“You’ve got one now, little miss.”

Eddie walks into Wayne's apartment and sees them hugging. “Waynie, are you trying to make a move on my fiance?”

Wayne absolutely deadpanned, “Oh yes. I couldn’t wait another second.”

“I knew it.”

Chrissy kisses his cheek and offers him a chip from her plate. “What do you think about the courthouse?”

“I mean, I’m hoping I don’t have a reason to go to court. Do you know something I don’t know?”

Wayne just shakes his head. “Are you sure you want to be stuck with this one?”

Chrissy giggles and Eddie smiles at her. “You mean like getting married at the courthouse? Baby, I’d follow you anywhere to get married. You say the word and we’ll stop all of this planning and just get hitched.”

“It’s not too late to cancel?”

“No Chris. Let’s cancel everything and go to the courthouse tomorrow.”

The next morning they were married. Wayne and Gareth signed as witnesses and everything was perfect. Chrissy wore a cute little white dress and Eddie wore his leather jacket. There was no pretense or expectations. Both were there just for the love of each other. 

Chrissy had been sick off and on for a few days. Eddie had been at work for a few hours doing a back piece and was finally headed home. He walked in the house to find a stuffed Garfield on the coffee table. This one had a diaper on and looked like a baby . Eddie picked it up and underneath it was a positive pregnancy test. Eddie grabbed it and looked up. Chrissy was standing in the doorway of their bedroom smiling. 

“You’re going to be a daddy.”

He hugged her, lifting her off the ground. “You’re going to be a mommy. We are going to be parents.” 

10 weeks later they were at the doctor’s office finally finding out about their baby’s gender. 

“Ok mommy and daddy, any final guesses?” Eddie wanted whatever Chrissy wanted and Chrissy just wanted a healthy baby. “And baby Munson is going to be…a girl! Congratulations!”

Chrissy and Eddie both started crying as they held each other. A little girl, they couldn't believe it. They’d discussed names previously and decided if their baby was a girl they were going to name her Maxine. Wayne’s middle name was Maxwell and they felt it was a perfect tribute. 

6 and a half months later, it’s baby time. Chrissy had her baby bag ready at month 7 just to be on the safe side. Eddie had fought tooth and nail to stay home the last few weeks with Chrissy. She’d been having contractions off and on and it was too much for Eddie. Gareth had even told her that the shop would be fine without Eddie, but she told Gareth that they’d be down a shop owner if Eddie didn’t stop hovering over her. She may have been 9 months pregnant, but she was fully capable of getting her own food. Eddie took offense to the fact that she felt like she needed to do anything on her own and pouted every day as he left for work, much to Chrissy’s amusement. Everytime the shop phone rang Eddie’s heart would jump in his throat.

All of his panic was for nothing, because Chrissy’s water broke in the middle of the night. Both were sound asleep when Chrissy suddenly felt a gush of water. She raises up throwing off the blanket and just watches the bed get soaked. Half a sleep and upset, she shakes Eddie awake.

“Eddie. I peed.”

“Mmm what? Peed where?”

“The bed! I’m soaked!” 

Eddie sits up and turns the light on when a strong contraction hits Chrissy. “Chris baby? Are you ok?” She pants through her contraction. “I don’t think you peed. I think your water broke!” 

He helps her out of bed and into a new outfit. They get their bag and rush to the hospital. Eventually everyone is notified and the waiting room is full. Chrissy’s friends, Hellfire, and Wayne are all there when Eddie walks out with Maxine 14 hours later. With her bright blue eyes and flaming red hair, Eddie and Chrissy are absolute goners. 

Eddie came home to see Chrissy’s car already in the driveway. 

“Chris baby? You home early?”

“Yeah baby! I got off early today. Joyce is on her way with Max. I’ll be out soon.”

Eddie went into the kitchen to get a little snack prepared for Max when he heard her come in the front door. 

“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!”

“In here Mad Max!”

Max took off giggling towards Chrissy. Joyce came into the kitchen and gave Eddie the bag. “Hello dear, how’s the tattoo business?” 

“Pretty good Joyce. How was Max?”

“Precious as ever. I’m going to head home and get dinner ready for Hop. Same time tomorrow?”

Eddie agrees and walks Joyce out the front door. Max comes out of the bathroom holding something. 

“Stick Daddy. Stick!”

Eddie squats down to Max and takes the stick out of her hand. “What have you got there Mad Max?”

He tickles her belly and she squeals, “Baby!”

Eddie looks down and realizes he’s looking at a pregnancy test. “Chrissy!”

She comes out of the bathroom with a huge smile on her face. “Surprise daddy! We’ve got another baby on the way.”

Eddie picks her up and spins her with Max squealing for ups. Another baby to love. Their hearts are so full. 

Everything was so different this time around that Chrissy was convinced they were having a boy. That all changed when baby Ellen made her debut almost on her sister’s birthday 2 months early. After a brief stay in the NICU, Eddie and Chrissy made the tough decision to have Chrissy swap to part time so she could spend more time with the girls. 

Life was beautiful. Eddie and Chrissy had their two girls and wanted nothing more in life. Eddie’s business was thriving, Wayne was happy and healthy, and Chrissy had found her own Wayne in Joyce. They both had everything they’d ever need. Unfortunately Chrissy’s story isn’t a happily ever after kind of story.