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There were a lot of weird things that happened in the life of Gareth Emerson.
Many of those things always had the fingerprints of one Hawkins Indiana, even if he had moved far away from that hell hole. Even if that place had been long since deemed inhabitable, it always found a way to make itself back into the man’s life now at fifty-four years old. Maybe it was because he still was with the same people since eighty-six, maybe it was because he was married to someone from there, who knows. Whatever it was, it was safe to say that no matter the event, if it was weird, he figured it had something to do with that place that hell itself took over.
So, when he saw the teenage version of his husband standing in his living room looking scared out of his mind? He knew it had something to do with whatever bullshit the Upside Down decided to spit out this time. He sighed heavily and rubbed his hand down his face, sure he smudged the eyeliner in the motion. He knew he was going to be late to Will’s gallery opening, he just knew it. He just didn’t expect it to be because of the sixteen-year-old version of him.
Gareth gently cleared his throat, putting his hair up into a bun and sighing heavily when the teenager jumped at the noise. He smiled softly to himself, the kid adorable and reminding him of his and Will’s son who looked just like him. Xavier had the same wide blue eyes that Will has as well as the same angular features, god he loved his family.
“Hey kid, I have a feeling you know you’re not supposed to be here right now? Don’t worry, I’m not gonna hurt ya, I don’t think I have it in me to ever hurt anyone let alone Will Byers.” He said and chuckled softly. “Though, Will might want to strangle me for being late…” he muttered to himself and shook his head. “Besides the point, do you remember what was going on before you landed in my living room?” He said and crossed his arms, showing off the Lord of the Rings sleeve tattoo he had on his left forearm.
He saw the teen version of his husband blink, his eyes wide as he took in his surroundings, as if trying to figure out in his mind what he should say, and if he was safe. Gareth himself stood patiently, letting the other take it all in, letting him find his words and figure out exactly what was going on. He knew the other was feeling a bit better when his big eyes landed back on him, and he nodded a little to himself. “I… I’m not in California anymore, am I? But… I’m not in Hawkins either I don’t….” he saw Will rub the back of his neck, knowing that he was making sure that the younger boy didn’t feel the presence of one Henry Creel anymore.
Gareth stepped further into the room and shook his head, sitting on the couch. He motioned for the teen to sit down with him and he sighed softly. “Nope, but you’re closer to California than Hawkins, you’re in Portland. You and the rest of your party got the fuck out of dodge once you all knew that all the Upside Down shit was done. That, and the government deemed the town inhabitable so we were all forced to leave. But… all of you guys refused to leave separately so kinda all moved to the same state and same city even. All came here.” Gareth said and then he noticed that Will caught onto something. Will was always the more observant one out of everyone, and it was no surprise that he caught onto some of Gareth’s wording.
Will sat down on the other side of the couch from Gareth, looking at the other curiously. “We… you said we, and you also know about the Upside Down, you’re from Hawkins too? Are you... you’re one of Mike’s new friends he talks to El about aren’t you.” Will said, with a frown and it broke Gareth’s heart, knowing that at this point Will felt he was being replaced. With that being said, Gareth couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out and he shook his head.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help but laugh at you thinking Mike and I were friends, at least at that point in time. No, not quite his friend, but I’m part of the Hellfire Club yeah, Eddie is my best friend and my bandmate, I’m sure you heard that name being thrown around?” He knew that the guys at the time loved Eddie, well, all of them except Will who thought they replaced him. He remembered the hostility Will had for the older guy for the first few minutes of meeting him until Eddie took Will under his wing, as he did to all of them and make the young guy feel welcome. He loved his best friend for doing that, and because of that he was able to meet Will and be the one to officially invite him to join Hellfire when said best friend saw that he was developing a crush on the young Byers. Now… here they were, years later and it was all thanks to Eddie Munson and Steve Harrington. Now, that was a story for another day.
He saw Will nod at the question and his suspicions about how the other felt about his best friend were confirmed when he saw the dark look pass over his features at the mention of Eddie’s name. “So I’m in Portland… and the rest of the Party is here… but… no offence I still don’t know you so why am I here with you? Why not El, or Dustin, or Lucas or… or Mike…” He said, the last part sounding so defeated. He knew at this point his husband still was in love with Mike, or at least he thought he was in love with him. Knowing this still hurt, and if he hadn’t already worked through his insecurities about Mike Wheeler with the man himself, then he knew they would probably start creeping up again after hearing the dejected tone in Will’s voice. But this Will, here wasn’t the same person who he was married to. Hell, this was a different Will than he met all those years ago.
His phone vibrating in his pocket brought him out of his thoughts on the past and that’s when he did remember the reason he stopped home. He apologized to the boy in front of him and saw that it was Xavier and then Sam who wrote the group chat asking where the hell he was since all the other members of Corroded Coffin were already there. He was now lost in thought about what to do with teenage Will that he didn’t notice the kid get up and start looking around. It seemed that the boy was now more comfortable with the environment he was in, seeing that this man wasn’t going to hurt him. So, while Gareth was distracted trying to figure out if teen Will would fit his son Xavier’s clothing he didn’t notice Will come back with a photo until the boy cleared his throat making him jump a little. Will blushed a bit in embarrassment but was much more curious of the device in the man’s hands.
“Wait what is that? Is it like some communication thing? Anyways I have a question…” Will sat down right next to Gareth and held out a photo of a more recent picture the family at Disney as well as a picture of him and Will on their wedding day where… well it was definitely them in their 20s which was next to another at their legal wedding when they were a bit older. In other words, Will found the reason as to why he showed up here and not with someone else when he arrived. Gareth took the pictures in hand and smiled a bit to himself at the happy memories. He looked at the boy next to him and nodded.
“Yeah it’s a phone, they make them hand held now days… I was replying to a message to this guy…” he pointed to a Xavier in the family picture, who looked like a carbon copy of Will as a teen just with long hair, “… and this guy,” he pointed to an older teen who looked like a bit more like Gareth but there were some obvious features that tie back to Will. “They’re my kids… both have a lot of sass which isn’t shocking being who their parents are and being raised around Steve and Eddie.” He said and chuckled softly. “But if you’re asking if that’s you and I? I mean, I can’t lie so yes… oh god Jeff is going to kill me, I’m breaking every rule in time travel.” He chuckled and shook his head.
Will on the other hand was engrossed in the pictures, as if he couldn’t believe he would get his happy ending… that he couldn’t believe that someone would love him. He looked up at Gareth again, tears in his eyes. “I… I finally get a happy ending? I… someone loves me for who I am? I’m someone’s first choice?” He said and wiped away his tears. He let out a shaky breath and looked down at his pictures. “I thought… I thought I would forever be pining after my best friend you know? The worst part is that I knew he would never feel the same way and I just… I’m realizing now that maybe I’m in love with the idea of him… of being in love with someone who is my best friend but… but it’s not him and I always knew. But I find my best friend don’t I? I find someone who puts me first and just… someone who I have a family with… someone who just… you put me first I can see that.” He said and gave him a watery smile. Gareth pulled Will into a hug, gently rubbing his back in a comforting way, the same way he comforts his kids when they’re upset.
“You were always my first choice. You will always be my first choice. I know how hard it is for you right now with Mike, you told me everything a year into us dating, but besides that… you are so special Will, and people see it. Your friends see it and they love you, they will always love you. You are never going to be replaced and you deserve so much love, ok?” Gareth’s voice was soft and comforting, making Will relax in his arms, and just cry in relief. He felt the younger boy cling to him, pull him closer for comfort which Gareth gave. “I know life is hard, especially being who you are, but believe me, you get everything you want and more. You are seen… you are loved. You are everything to so many people… including this family here.” He said and held the photo of Gareth, Will and their four kids in front of them. “I know the future isn’t certain, but know that there is a good one for you, ok? So, keep fighting, I know it’s tiring and it’s hard but it's worth it in the end. You are never alone, you have so many who love you.”
Gareth noticed that this Will was starting to fade away. He smiled to him and gently squeezed his hands. “It looks like you’re time in the future is done… you seemed to have found what you wanted or what you needed. Take care Will, We’ll see each other again, and if I’m right it will probably be very soon.” He smiled and the other laughed wetly. He held the other’s hands until he disappeared back to his time. He sat there for a few moments just taking in what had just happened. He then looked at his watch and swore, realizing that yup, he was going to be late and his husband was going to kill him. But, he had a good excuse, after all, he was helping his and his husband’s love story come to pass. So with that thought he slipped on a fresh shirt, his dressier shoes, and walked out the door, to spend the night celebrating the man who was the love of his life, and sharing that with his beautiful family by his side.