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Steve sat on a park bench, staring off at the scene in front of him, not really paying attention. In his arms was a baby boy, 4 days old, with light curly hair and eyes of his now ex. He was only given the bare essentials the hospital gave them, the car seat held a little bit of formula and blanket. He tried not to cry but being kicked out of the house and dumped within three days was taking its toll mentally. He didn’t have a plan of where he was going to go and only had $6.13 to his name.
Suddenly a pickup pulls up to the park, Jim Hopper stepping out. “You alright kid? Someone called and said you might need help.” Jim finally stands in front of Steve and sees the infant in his arms. His tough man act dies down quickly, “Oh… Kid, let’s get you and that child somewhere warm.”
Steve nods and slowly stands up, he was starting to think about how Hopper was going to take his child away, but it would be better for him than with Steve. He started to think about Hopper taking him home, a place that kicked him out the moment he walked through the door with a baby, not even letting him pack. He thought about returning to school after everything, how Nancy would yell at him for giving the baby, he wanted to keep, away anyways. He thought about how he would drag through school as a guy who got girls pregnant just to leave them, even though Nancy was the one who left him standing alone at the hospital as Jonathan picked her up and took her home. “You… You’re not taking my baby away from me, sir.”
Hopper shakes his head and grabs the car seat, “No I am not, I will not take your child away,” as if reading his mind, Hopper raises a finger and shakes his head, “And I will not be taking you home, your parents actually made a report to make sure you don’t go back.”
“Then… Then where are we going?” Steve follows Hopper back to his pickup, trusting that the stuff won’t fly out when the sheriff places it all in the backseat.
“Well, first we’re going to the store to get you more baby supplies then I’m taking you to my friend’s place, Joyce Byers. She has two little 14 month olds and has leftover clothes and supplies you can have. and a spare room, I don’t have that… Plus it would be safer for you to be in town.”
“The Byers? No, I can't go there… Jonathan hates me… He’s with my ex now…” Steve finally feels the tears fall as he holds his baby closer. “I don’t want him growing up around someone who hates him.”
Hopper sighs and starts up his pickup, shifting into gear and heading to the one store in town that would sell everything Steve needs. “If the Byers kid gives you trouble, just call me, if he’s with that ex of yours, he probably won’t be home very often, busy with her and school.”
Steve stares at him and sniffs, “Really? isn’t Joyce busy with her own kids?”
Hopper chuckles and shakes his head, “You are hard to convince, aren’t you? Listen, Joyce is a sweet woman, if you need help she’ll help. She doesn’t listen to anyone, not even her own son. You ask her and she’ll do it.” The older man drives Steve and his child to the store, though he only left them in the pickup, running in to pick everything up, he didn’t want Steve to be walking around in a store he didn’t need to be in at this time, not to walk around like a sad zombie holding a child at least. On the way to the Byers' house, Steve couldn’t stop crying, thanking Jim for his help.
As they pull into the Byers drive way, Joyce comes walking out, holding her arms out, both twins, the boy and the girl, following behind her. When Steve got out he barely had time to process arriving at a new place before Joyce had her arms around him, being mindful of the child in his arms. “Welcome, sweetheart. You just go sit on the couch and Hopper and I will bring in your things.”
Hopper grabs a couple bags from the back of the truck then the car seat and looks at her, still holding Steve dearly. “He doesn't have much Joyce. This is all he's got. He said he was kicked out as soon as he entered the door with his baby.”
“Oh that's a shame… That's alright! You can lend some of Jonathan's clothes and if those don't fit, just wear Lonnie’s. He's never coming back.” Joyce ushers Steve into the house. Steve catches her front door mat, a red scratchy rug with the words, "Welcome Home" in curvy cursive. She was guiding him to her couch in front of the small box TV she has playing He-Man. “Oh you must be exhausted too… Do you want me to watch him as you get some sleep?” She had good intentions for him and his child but Steve just held his baby closer and shook his head. “That's perfectly fine dear! What's his name, if I may ask?”
Steve stares at her and nods his head a little. “Dustin… Dustin Harrington… Though now I'm not sure I even want that as my last name… How does Henderson sound?”
Joyce sits next to him and nods “Steve and Dustin Henderson! It's fitting and really will pull you away from that family name of yours.” She cups his less supporting hand and pats it. “We can raise money for you to change it. I'm sure Jonathan would be willing to help ou-”
Steve shakes his head and looks down at Dustin. “No… his uhm… his current girlfriend is actually Dustin's mother. He won't like me.” Steve sighs before leaning back, readjusting Dustin to lay better, he closes his eyes. “I’m just lost… I'm so very lost Joyce… I don't know what's going to happen… Hooper said he wouldn't turn us in to services.”
“And I tend to keep that promise.” Hopper walks in through the door, the male twin in the car seat, the girl in Hopper's arm. “You're staying here. That's final… Well until you can get your own place.” He puts the twins down and sets the bags on the coffee table. “And when he's old enough, don't compare Dustin to these two. They're smarter than the Wheeler's young one. Mike is stupid for a 13 month old.”
Three years in and Steve had a stable job, one where he can be home before Dustin is in bed. Steve's hoping to save enough money to get him and Dustin a small apartment. His three year old with Joyce's two four year olds is a handful in their house. He scoops ice cream and deals with kids all day, though the kids at home have made these ones seem like nothing. Some days Dustin has to come in and sit in the corner because they couldn't get someone to watch the kids. Robin doesn't mind, she says it's like having a nephew to entertain and leave wound up in sugar for Steve to deal with. She'd always get a sarcastic “Gee, thanks Robin.” Followed with a “Now I'll have a hard time getting him to bed when we get home.” That red rug became his favorite spot to sit and tell stories to Dustin, relaxing from his day at work.
Dustin, around the age of four and a half to five, started kindergarten. The twins had seemed to already have Mike Wheeler as a friend, though Steve had to guess it was from those times Jonathan would watch them and refuse to take Dustin. It was fine now, they lived on their own, in the trailer park outside of Hawkins, but it was home. Lucas was a new addition to the group, one that was dragged in by Mike in kindergarten. Dustin had felt like an outcast, Steve knows he did, Mike would always find a way to exclude him. Steve saw it once himself “Sorry Harrington. This is a four player game. And since you're the youngest you can sit out.” Steve was sure the real reason was because of Nancy. Lucas and El (who's real name was Jane, everyone just calls her El because her favorite word was “eleven” so she was nicknamed Eleven, El for short) would try and pull him into games. Sometimes even Will would tell Mike off.
There were times Steve couldn't actually watch the kids because he was working at Family Video. A job Robin was able to get them both after Starcourt Mall burned down. Dustin would come home crying those days, the only way he was able to get Dustin to calm down enough to get him to talk was to tell him stories of far off lands, bards and knights working together to capture the evil. Those times they'd sit in the scratchy red rug they have outside the door, running their hand along it, a comfort for both of them now.
By seven years old Dustin was into Dudgeon and Dragons. It was the only way Steve was able to get him to do homework now even. And sometimes he hosts small sessions for the group, leading them through small easy quests they could fight through. This was a game everyone enjoyed and got along with. Steve had no idea the impact he'd have made on the group.
By nine years old, Steve was struggling. Dustin was biking around town on his own and Robin had moved out of Hawkins to live in Indianapolis with her girlfriend, Chrissy. Today was a day he had off work, Dustin was at Joyce’s and the chores were done. He had a quiet day. Though he didn't find it very quiet. His mind was racing with thoughts and memories. Like the time Dustin and he would sit on the rug outside. He was sitting in it now but it was a green softer rug. Steve was working on a new campaign when a van drove past, windows down blasting metal. Steve had a second where he thought it was too loud and annoying, but then the van stopped at Wayne's trailer, a neighbor he got to know after Dustin had turned eight, and let the music just play. Steve found himself closing his eyes and bobbing his head a little.
The music stopped and Steve opened his eyes, watching the driver get out of the van. A tall guy, combat boots with black ripped jeans leading up to a battle vest and, even though it's like 100 degrees outside, a black leather jacket, covered in pins. Hiding half of the vest was long brown curly hair. The hand that had moved the hair to his back was covered in rings. Steve swore someone like that lived when he and Dustin moved in but he couldn't really recall six years ago.
Steve shakes his head and turns back to his notebook, writing something down before looking at his D&D book. “Pfft. They would have fun killing a dragon. I'm pretty sure they're ready too.”
“A dragon? That's pretty easy to kill, especially if your party is skilled.” Steve heard a voice say above him.
“No no. An ancient dragon. They've killed a few dragons already. This one is harder. We've had this campaign going for years now.” He responds before jumping and looking to see who spoke to him, the handsome man who just pulled up to Wayne's place.
“Oh.” The guy stares at him, slightly shocked. “Well. If it isn't Steve Harrington, highschool drop out… look who's become a nerd after bullying everyone for even mentioning fantasy.” Steve stares at him longer, trying to register who is talking to him. He hasn't been calling Harrington in years. Even though his ID still says it, Keith even respects his wish to be called Henderson. Mike and the rest of the Wheelers came around to it too, even Jonathan did.
“I go by Henderson now… I haven't used Harrington in years…” He says “Harrington” with a small scoff under his breath.
“Oh- my apologies… I uhm… I didn't know.” The guy drops his sarcasm and jester tones. “Steve Henderson. I take it you've actually grown up from that wealthy snob kid then. Did you actually get sent to a boot camp then?”
What? “What? A boot camp? No! I dropped out of highschool to-” Steve sees Dustin riding down the road to their trailer and his face lights up. “Dustin! You're back!” He turns to pack up the books and notebook, just so Dustin wouldn't see his plans for the future campaign.
“Dad! Dad Dad Dad you would not believe it!” Dustin dropped his bike, running past the stranger and to his dad, hugging him. “Everyone brought their new dice sets and Lucas has this glowing set!”
Steve glares at him. “Did you roll the luck out of them?”
Dustin shakes his head quickly , darker curls, now the shade of Steve's hair, bounced under his cap. “Nope! Lucas did though! So we had a small game and he maxed out on HP points. He died in 3 fights.” Dustin was waving his hands everywhere, finally seeing the guy standing there, watching them. “Oh! Hello! Sorry mister I didn't see you! Dad tells me to interrupt important conversations but I didn't see you, honestly sir.”
The taller guy stood there shocked, watching Steve and Dustin. Steve stood up, picking Dustin up, holding him in his arms. “This is why I dropped out of school, and it's the best decision I have ever made. Not if you'll take your rude mouth and match away-”
“I'm sorry!” The curly hair guy says, rushed. “I'm sorry we all made up theories and stories- we- we didn't realize you're a father- no one said anything-” He holds a hand out. “Eddie Munson m I live in Indianapolis but I've just come to finish my Uncle Wayne.”
Steve shakes his hand and nods slightly, still holding Dustin. “Steve Henderson and this is my son, I dropped out at 17 for him. To raise him.”
Dustin was now 13, Eddie had moved back the year they met, though he wasn't sure why, Hawkins wasn't Eddie's place by the sounds of it. Steve was now 30, he felt like time was moving fast and Dustin and Eddie were moving faster. They had become attached, and if Steve had to admit, he had grown attached to Eddie pretty quickly too. Her knee this last year it had become a romantic attachment, he even knew he's bi, 11 years now, since he worked at Scoops Ahoy with Robin, she helped. Eddie has also come out to him as gay a while back. Steve had told Eddie over and over he didn't want someone wild and crazy like Eddie was, though he didn't really think that.
One day Eddie had busting through their door; Steve keeps it unlocked for him and the kids, maybe the adults also if they came by. It was so quick Steve couldn't keep track of what was happening before he was dragged into a kiss, dirty dish water and soap all over him, and then a “And you may be right. I might be crazy but let's be honest Stevie! You need a bit of adult madness in your life.”
Steve blinks, figuring out when and where he is before looking at Eddie and smiles. “Fine… I'll go out with you Ed.”
“Finally!” A group of preteens say, watching from around the corner of the hall.