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There are certain things Steve has learned are certain; cinnamon gum is gross, his parents don’t particularly like him, apple cider is way better than hot chocolate, the Muppets are awesome, and break-ups suck. They suck when it’s mutual, they suck when it’s the right thing to do, they suck no matter how long the relationship lasted, and now he knows they suck extra bad when they happen two weeks before Christmas.
If Hannah doesn't want to be with him anymore, Steve isn’t going to make her stay. That’s worse than just breaking up. But, yeah, it still sucks. Real bad. Makes the two and a half years feel like a waste of time, makes the ring stuffed in the back of his desk drawer feel premature and stupid.
“Steve? Are you okay?”
Right, they have to talk about this. The hockey game is still playing on the TV, muted. The Blues are losing, too, because this evening isn’t already bad enough. Hannah and Steve are on the couch, leaned awkwardly against the armrests, facing at each other. Hannah has her knees pulled up to her chest, her face half-hidden by the navy sleeve of her sweater. She’s looking at him expectantly. What she’s expecting, Steve doesn’t know. Screaming? A fight? A breakdown? Part of Steve wants to do it, just start sobbing in their living room, to cry and beg, and who knows what else. But that’s not gonna get him anywhere, so he doesn’t.
“Yeah, uh, I mean, not really. Like, this sucks.” Steve presses the heels of his palms into his eyes. Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. He looks back at Hannah. “But it's not the end of the world.”
She nods. “I am sorry, Steve. I do care about you. But I think it's just time for this to be over.
“I know. I care about you, too.” He pushes up from the couch. “I’m gonna stay at Robin’s tonight. Can we figure, like, the logistical stuff out tomorrow?” Because that's something you have to do when you share an apartment with somebody.
Hannah nods. “Yeah, of course. Take your time, space, whatever. We can talk when you’re ready.”
***
It takes all of two minutes for Steve to grab a bag and head out the door. He texts Robin to tell her he’s coming over, though she doesn’t read the message before he’s at her door, which makes sense given she lives in the apartments one block over. Robin, as always, lets Steve in the moment he knocks and also clocks his mood in half a second.
She drags him through the kitchen, grabbing ice cream, before leading them to the couch.
“What's wrong? And don’t say nothing, because you’re totally off, so just tell me.”
Steve rushes out “Hannah and I broke up.” before yanking the top of the Tillamook Mudslide and shoving a spoonful into his mouth.
“Shit. I thought you two were, I dunno, set on forever. What happened?”
Steve shakes his head and eats more ice cream. “Nothing happened, she just– I mean. It just wasn't working anymore. Can we not talk about it right now?”
“Sure thing.” Robin snatches the remote from the coffee table. “Wanna see what's on Hallmark? She turns the TV on and the screen fills with a couple kissing in the snow, complete with twinkling lights and a sappy Christmas instrumental. “Or– maybe not. Mushy Christmas romance might not be great right now. We could watch something else. Literally whatever you want. Like, uh, I don’t actually know what sports are in season right now, but we can totally watch whatever ball game it is. Or we can watch whatever insane shit TLC is showing. Or…oh! Say Yes to the Dress! Seriously anything is–”
“It’s fine, Robs.” Steve blinks at the TV and tries not to think about his plan to propose on Christmas. It's fine. It's fine. “How far are we into this one?”
“Uhhh…” Robin pauses so the time bar pops up on the bottom of the screen. “Six minutes remain for Christmas Snowed Inn. God, who names these things?”
“I don’t know, but they’ve got the best job in the world. We’re gonna need more snacks.”
The two of them stay up until three AM watching formulaic holiday romcoms and eating every snack food Robin has in her cabinets. Also getting a little drunk.
When Steve finally clicks off the TV, his eyes take what feels like an eternity to adjust. The rainbow Christmas lights around the room don’t provide much. Neither of them move from the couch.
“Maybe I should visit a small town for Christmas,” Steve mutters into the sparkly blue pillow he’s holding. It has let it snow embroidered on it in white, surrounded by snowflakes and it's stupid soft. “Meet some hot guy whose wife died mysteriously, leaving him with a cookie business, two kids, and a hole in his heart.”
Robin cackles. “Yeah, and you’re gonna teach him the real meaning of Christmas, dingus?”
“Maybe.” Steve snaps his head up. “I love Christmas, I could totally do it.”
“Oh please, you’re definitely the business woman who has to learn the meaning of Christmas.” Steve sputters. “I mean, you work all the time and you’ve barely been back home since you graduated three years ago. And you haven’t been back for Christmas since sophomore year.”
“I’ve been busy.” It's a total lie, the whole company he works for, the one he started interning at in the summer before his junior year, has a more than generous vacation day policy and shuts down for practically the entire month of December. “No time for holiday-centric DILF shopping. Plus, you know, Hannah.”
“Okay, never say that again. But now you have no excuse. Come with me back to Hawkins. I leave this Saturday. That gives you a full four days to plan.”
“Flights are gonna be crazy expensive, Robs. And I’m still supposed to work until next Tuesday.”
Robin rolls her eyes. “So work until next Tuesday. Or ask Lucy to leave two days early, she adores you. And I guarantee if you tell Hopper and Joyce you wanna come home they’ll pay for at least some of your ticket if you really can’t swing it. Please Steve, please, please, please. It’d be so cool to be back in Hawkins together for Christmas. Steve! Think of the children!”
Damn Robin for knowing exactly how to get to Steve. As much as he used to complain about babysitting and chauffeuring his gaggle of dorks, they were still his gaggle of dorks. Dustin’s smile would probably outshine the Rockefeller Center tree if Steve went back for Christmas. And Hopper and Joyce would probably love to see him, Nance and Jon, too. And spending Christmas alone after getting dumped sounded terrible.
“Fine. I’ll go with you.”
“Yes!” Robin tackles him with a hug. “This is gonna be the best Christmas ever!”
***
Lucy approves his time off, so on Friday at five pm, Steve waves goodbye to his coworkers, and on Saturday at ten am, he and Robin are pushing their way though absolutely insane holiday crowds to fly to Indiana. The flight is short and smooth, and Steve spends most of it watching The Santa Clause, which he loves despite its decidedly weird plot and its ability to make him spell Santa Claus wrong for eleven years. By the time they land, Steve is in a distinctly Christmas-y mood, a mood only helped by the Christmas oldies that Robin’s parents play on the drive and the snow on the ground. New York had snow when they left, but it was–as New York City snow tends to be–slushy and gross. This was real snow, I’m-dreaming-of-a-white-Christmas snow. It makes Steve wonder how he’d gone five years without it.
Steve and Robin are staying with Robin’s parents while they’re back because one: Hawkins has exactly one hotel and it's already at capacity and two: save money, live better.
Saturdays always were, and continue to be, family dinners at the Hopper-Byers household. All the kids are back for break; they're heading over there at six. While they wait Steve listens to Robin fill her mom and dad in on every event in her life like she doesn't call every other day. It's sweet, if a little painful. Most things that involve Robin’s family are. Before he can wallow in his emotions too long, Robin drags Steve into the kitchen to make sugar cookies that have way too much frosting on them. They package half of them up as an offering to Joyce.
Steve loved the Hopper-Byers house. It was a home in every sense of the word; slightly worn down, cozy, and had that sort of constant low-level mess that showed just how lived-in the place was. He was practically shaking with energy as Robin knocked on the door. Even from outside, the shouting of half a dozen young adults was audible. Steve had called ahead to ensure neither Joyce or Hopper told anyone that he would be back with Robin, he really wanted the whole thing to be a surprise.
When Robin offers out the tupperware of cookies, Joyce gives her an exasperated “Oh, Robin. You didn’t have to do this.”
Which was followed by “Hi Robin!” being yelled in various forms from the living room, blocked from view by a half wall. Once the door is shut, and Robin is greeted, the distinct sound of dice rolling and arguing re-filled the space. Steve makes no effort to move past the entryway, opting to call after Robin as she walks toward the kitchen.
Steve puts on what the kids deemed ‘underpaid babysitter voice’ and gets as loud as he can without actually yelling. “Aw, Jesus, Robs. They’re playing Dungeons and Dipshits again. I’ve gotta go back, I can’t possibly take a whole three whole weeks of this.”
All noise from the living room stops instantly. For a moment it's so quiet one may think there wasn’t a soul inside. The spell is broken by the clattering of dice and a board and all the other what-not required for D&D falling to the ground and a very loud “Seriously, Dustin?” that certainly came from Mike. None of mini-Wheeler’s bitching matters, though, because Dustin Henderson is bolting towards Steve and crash-landing in his arms.
He’s followed by the rest of the party, as well as the older portion of the group, who come at a more reasonable pace. There’s a whole lot of talking over each other after that, accompanied by more hugs than Steve thinks he’s gotten in the past five months. Over Max’s head, Steve catches sight of Robin rolling her eyes. He can’t really bring himself to care, or even stick his tongue out at her like he normally would. He’s too caught up in the warmth and comfortability of it. For the second time that day, Steve wonders how he went five years without Christmas in Hawkins. All his favorite people are here, wrapped in sweaters, glowing in multicolored LED light, looking like home personified.
Once everyone has released Steve, Dustin gives him a punch on the arm.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” He demands.
Steve puts his hands on his hips, leaning fully into his underpaid babysitter persona. “Well, Henderson, it's called a surprise. Ever heard of it?”
“Yeah, Dustin,” Max cuts in. “I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.”
Dustin sputters as the kids start to laugh and disappear back through the hall to the living room. After a final hug, Dustin follows, shouting something Steve isn't listening to. Before he can go anywhere, Joyce appears at his side.
“Suppose I can bother you for some help in the kitchen?”
“Sure thing.” Then he’s following her, joining everyone over the age of 21, all leaning on counter tops, chatting.
Nancy is on him the second he clears the entry. “Okay, so why are you here, Steve?”
“I can’t just want to spend the holidays with my dearest friends?”
Robin snorts, earning an eyeroll. “Come on Harrington, just tell her. It’s drama, it’s tea, it’s news. So spill.”
After letting out the most long-suffering, Hopper-esque sigh he can manage, Steve says “Hannah and I broke up and Robin bullied me into coming to Hawkins with her.”
Robin yells “I did not bully you!” at the same time Nancy and Jonathan gasp out “You got dumped?” in eerie unison.
“First of all, you totally bullied me. And yes, I got dumped.” Nancy, at least looks semi-sympathetic and Steve can practically feel Joyce giving her mom-look behind him. “And I’m totally fine about it. So no one needs to be extra nice to me or whatever.”
Even as he says it, Steve can feel Joyce getting that pitying look in her eyes, fortunately before anyone can give him their condolences, Steve spins around “What can I do to help, Mrs. Byers?” He ends up on vegetable slicing duty because the lord knows none of the dickheads in the living room eat enough food from the earth. As he cuts cucumbers, he and Robin trade stories with Nancy and Jonathan, including Robin almost leaving her trumpet on the subway three times in two weeks and the wonderful news that Will and Mike finally quit their pining and got together in September.
By the time everyone is gathering around the table, Steve feels like he’s floating, the familiar chatter falling over him. He’s on such a high that he barely cares when the kids all laugh when they find out he’s single again. He also doesn’t really properly process that he agrees to help out at the town’s holiday festival until he wakes up to a text from Hopper the next morning.
As is the way with Hop, the text is brief and direct; Be at the park by noon. Bring Robin. There’s another text, this one from Robin; I’m at the Wheeler’s :) Make good choices, see you later
The time on his screen reads 11:15, which gives him just enough time to get himself a coffee on the way to grab Robin, assuming he can get dressed in under ten minutes and the Buckleys are okay with Steve borrowing a car.
***
Miraculously, the creeping shadow of capitalistic overlords has not managed to invade downtown Hawkins. Sure, the Starcourt mall sits just miles away, in all its chain-filled glory, but people still come downtown to shop at stores that have existed since the 20s, 50s, and 80s. New ones pop up and fade out sometimes, but a lot of them are still there. Front Street Cafe, for example, opened in 1926 and has been in the same family ever since. It’s an institution, hell, half the employees have been the same since Steve’s been alive, and the rest tend to be high schoolers and college kids back for breaks. So Steve is a bit taken aback to see someone working the front that he’s positive he has never seen in his life. The cafe is completely empty, seeing as most people are at work or school at 10:45 on a Wednesday, which means the guy at front turns and looks right as Steve when the bell rings.
Steve plasters on the most confident smile he can manage and walks up to the counter. Mystery man is really attractive and grins as Steve when he reaches the counter. “Hi there! What can I get for you today?”
God, his voice is attractive too.
“A peppermint mocha, please. And a blueberry muffin.”
“God, you and every other person in this town. Don’t think I’ve seen you before, though.”
Steve shakes his head. “I’m just back for Christmas. I grew up in Hawkins, but I live in New York now.”
Mystery man– Eddie, if his name tag is to be believed– blows his bangs from his face. “Fancy.” He moves to make the drink, but keeps talking. “I lived in LA for a bit. Didn't really like the big city thing. So… Here I am. Moved to Hawkins about six months ago.”
“On purpose?” Steve asks, with only a little bit faking his disbelief. “I didn’t know people came here intentionally.”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
“Touché. But really? Hawkins? There’s, like, nothing to do here.”
Eddie shrugs. “There’s plenty to do here. For example, the holiday fest.”
“God, don’t remind me.” Steve groans.
Eddie spins back around and places Steve’s drink on the counter, then ducks behind the pastry display, popping back up and saying “Jeez, someone isn’t filled with the spirit of Christmas. Bah humbug.”
“I like Christmas, I just– Hopper roped me into helping when I was intending to spend my time off having Hallmark movie marathons until my brain rotted.”
“Well this is way better,” Eddie cries. “Now instead of watching shitty Christmas movies, you can live out the plot of one. You don’t happen to be a secret prince or something? Son of Santa, maybe?”
“No,” Steve laughs, “no, I just do plain old office work.”
“Ah. So you’re the moody businesswoman in this hypothetical then.”
“That’s what Robin said too.”
“Well, this Robin character sounds smart.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll meet her. She’s a total caffeine addict.” With mentioning her, Steve remembers that he’s actually supposed to be meeting Robin at the Wheelers’ in five minutes. “I gotta go. Thank you.” Steve reaches his wallet, but Eddie waves his hand.
“It’s on the house.”
Steve shakes his head. “You really don’t have to–”
Eddie laughs. And his laugh is, unsurprisingly, just as attractive as the rest of him. “Relax, pretty boy. We can lose six dollars.” His eyes cut down to where Steve is holding the cash he grabbed out. “Seriously. Put that away.” With a smile he adds “If you really feel that bad about taking the freebies, we also accept payment in the form of hot guys’ phone numbers.”
Even though Steve can’t see himself, he’s absolutely positive he’s bright red. He’s also pretty sure that he shouldn’t be giving Eddie his number, seeing as he only broke up with Hannah a week ago, but he would really like to talk to Eddie more so…
“You got a pen? And paper?”
Eddie’s smile gets impossibly bigger and brighter as he passes Steve a ballpoint and a sticky note. Before his logic can get the better of him, Steve jots down his number, along with his name and a little smiley face, sticks it to the counter, drops a five into the tip jar and practically runs out the door, barely remembering to grab his breakfast.
***
Robin catches Steve’s mood the second she enters the car. She always does shit like that; it’s a skill that he is usually grateful for. Luckily for him, she manages to wait until they’re halfway to the park before asking about it.
“You’re all happy. Did you already meet a hot widow with two kids?”
“I don’t think he’s a widow.” Steve says, eyes trained on the road. “And I don’t think he’s got any kids either.”
Robin shrieks beside him. “But there is a him?”
“I– sorta, yeah. I went to get coffee before I came here and the barista was like, crazy hot and I gave him my number.”
“Aww, Stevie! You really are going gonna live out a romcom. Do I know him? The population of this town is pretty stagnant.”
Steve shakes his head as he turns into the parking lot. “He only moved here a few months ago. From LA.”
Robin blinks at him, clearly in disbelief. “Somebody moved from LA to Hawkins on purpose?”
“That’s what I said. But, yeah. I guess. Hawkins does have some charm, ya know.”
Robin hums as she opens the door. Both their boots crunch in the snow as they walk up to the little gazebo that graces the Hawkins Community Park. Joyce gives a briefing on what they need done and jobs are quickly given out. Steve ends up with Hopper, putting lights on the leafless trees around the park. It takes forty-five minutes just to get the strands on LEDs untangled and Steve’s hands are freezing by the end of it. By the time they break for lunch, he might as well just be an icicle.
Half the trees are covered as the sun sets a few hours later, and Steve is balanced on the top of the ladder, leaning dangerously when he hears a voice behind him that is definitely not Hopper. “Ya know, for someone who was bemoaning the mere existence of the holiday fest this morning, you seem to be awfully involved.”
Steve twists as much as he’s willing to risk and looks down to find Eddie holding the ladder’s base and grinning up at him. He zip ties the end of the light strand to a branch and begins to descend. “Yeah, well.” Eddie offers his hand as Steve hops off the final rung. He takes it, even though he doesn’t need the support. “Just trying to learn the true meaning of Christmas. Via festive activities.”
Eddie nods sagely. “Good. Decorating can be crossed off the list. Next up ice skating? Wrapping presents? Shopping spree? No, no. I’ve got it. Baking Christmas cookies.”
“I’ve actually already baked cookies.”
“Wow, Steve,” Eddie gasps, “You’re ahead of the game!”
“Thank you. I try my best. What are you doing here, anyway?”
Eddie blinks. “I was recruited to play some music for…” He gestures vaguely around the park. “Came to get my song list approved. Gotta make sure I’m not corrupting the sanctity of Hawkins families with evil holiday music.”
Steve laughs. “What would that even be?”
“I don’t know. I think they just have to do it to say they did, ya know?” There’s a pause. “You almost done here?”
Steve looks around. Hop is with Joyce under the gazebo, talking idly with Robin. All of them casting very unsubtle looks in Steve's direction. Other than that, plus Will chasing Dustin around with a massive ball of snow in his arms, the volunteers have cleared out.
“I think so.”
“Cool. Would you like to grab some dinner, maybe? If you aren’t doing something, I mean.”
Steve feels his face flush and really hopes the red from just being out so long covers it. “Oh! Yeah, I’d like that. Just one sec.”
Steve walks over to the gazebo, Eddie following behind. Robin doesn’t even try to hide her stare as they approach. Once Steve is within earshot, she grins smugly and asks “Is this the crazy hot barista?”
Steve resists the urge to push her off the bench she’s on. He opts to ignore the comment entirely, even though he can hear Eddie quietly repeat crazy hot in a disbelieving tone. “I was just wondering if you could figure out a ride. Eddie and I are getting dinner.”
Robin’s increases in smugness, somehow. Thankfully, Joyce interrupts before Robin can say anything. To Robin, she says “I can take you home.” Then, turning to Steve and accompanied by a small wave of her hand. “You two go have fun.”
Steve smiles. “Thanks, Mrs. Byers.”
***
Dinner is really nice, even if it is just burgers at Benny’s. Despite it being just them, it doesn’t feel heavy, only lightly date-ish.
Steve asks Eddie about LA and his music and every other aspect of his life that pops into Steve’s mind. Eddie indulges his curiosity, giving long, passionate answers. His old band broke up on good terms, they just weren’t built for the big leagues. Eddie still plays, every Friday at the Hideout, and any open mic night he can find. Along with being a killer barista and a musician, Eddie works as a mechanic. He says he likes to stay busy, hates being still.
Eddie insists on learning everything about Steve, too, though in comparison his life is boring as all hell. He has a boring corporate nine to five, until recently had a girlfriend who took up most of his free time, and when he wasn’t with her or at work, he went to the gym and hung out with Robin and her girlfriend, Vickie. Still, Eddie leans in, hangs on every word like Steve isn't describing the most average life in existence. The attention makes him feel special. He gets a little lost in Eddie’s eyes as they talk and time flies by.
The sun has long set when Eddie drops Steve back at his (Mr. Buckley’s) car, still in the parking lot of the park. Eddie leaves with a dramatic bow and a promise to text. Steve grins the whole drive back.
There’s over a week until the holiday fest happens, but, as it’s one of few major events in Hawkins, the prep is extensive. Steve puts up a lot of lights; strands wrapped around trees, threaded carefully through bushes, circling the posts of the gazebo. Once the park is near hazardous to look at, he’s helping with setting up temporary structures for food, game, and gift booths. The snow has rendered the ground near solid and, despite the thirty-degree temperatures, he’s sweaty at the end of every day.
It’s all fun though, and maybe Robin was right about his lack of holiday spirit. Lucas and Max tend to be ones helping Steve, though Max mostly ‘manages’ which just involves her playing music and telling them to ‘do better’. They tell Steve so much about school; Max is loving her psych major and Lucas had made the dean’s list for the semester, which he informs Steve with far too much humility. Steve also becomes privy to a whole lot of drama involving a bunch of 20-year-olds he’ll never meet. Everyday it's “Oh! And this girl Angela in El’s media studies class, got caught using ChatGPT on her final and has to retake the class next quarter” or “Will’s friend Cal broke up with their partner, but they live in the same apartment and now it's super tense” or some other college nonsense. Steve really has missed these dorks. He’s got friends in New York, but there’s something special about these kids.
Eddie is around a lot, too. Sometimes he’s practicing, sometimes helping Joyce or some Parks and Rec people organize work, sometimes helping carry loads from cars. He and Steve end up hanging out at the end of almost every day, after stealing looks for the duration of their work on the event. Steve is very aware of how quickly he’s falling, but can’t be bothered with even trying to stop himself. Mike is helping Steve weigh down a table when Eddie passes by, giving Steve a wave and a smile that Steve returns. Mini Wheeler gags and Steve has to fight the urge to drop a sand bag on the kid’s foot. Dustin is just as snotty as is expected when he catches Steve staring while Eddie plucks out Jingle Bells. Henderson rolls his eyes and comments that Steve “lacks subtlety in every conceivable sense” before helping him down the ladder.
The holiday fest is two days from its opening when Eddie invites Steve to his place after dinner, an offer Steve quickly accepts. Eddie’s apartment is small but absolutely brimming with personality; band and movie posters on the walls, an entire two shelves of novelty mugs (the collection of which is a habit picked up from his uncle), a stack of DVDs by the TV, a CD player on the window sill and a record player on the kitchen table.
Steve peruses the DVD stack, not surprised in the slightest to find the extended cuts of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Steve has seen all the movies, once, the summer before Dustin had left for college. Eddie is absolutely delighted when Steve shares this fact, but doesn’t make him watch them again. (“Someday, Stevie. You’ll have to come back and watch ‘em with me.” It’s not a horrible prospect, being stuck on the couch with Eddie for 20 hours). In the end, Steve and Eddie end up watching Cool Runnings, which Eddie owns a DVD of despite having never even seen. (“It was two dollars. Just haven’t gotten around to it.”) When the movie ends, neither of them get up, and they spend another two hours talking before Steve starts nodding off. By then, it’s past midnight and he doesn’t really want to drive back to Robin’s. He’s saved from the fate when Eddie asks if he’d want to stay, with the promise of cinnamon rolls in the morning. Like Steve needs a reason other than Eddie to stay over.
After borrowing some clothes, Steve sits on the edge of Eddie’s bed to text Robin that he won’t be back that night. He’s still there, rolling his eyes at the string of suggestive emojis Robin sent when Eddie walks in. He looks different out of his usual black jeans, chains, and heavy sweaters. Softer in plaid pajama pants and a worn Little Shop of Horrors t-shirt. He smiles at Steve. “You stealing my bed there, Steve?”
“Oh! Sorry. I was texting Robin, I didn’t mean to– Sorry.” Steve stands, starts heading to the door. “ I’ll get out of your room.”
Before he can make his escape, Eddie catches Steve’s wrist. “You–” Steve turns to look. Eddie has his head tilted down, but Steve can see that his face is pink. “You could stay if you’d like. You don’t have to, if that’d be too weird.” He drops Steve’s hand, looks up, pulls a strand of hair across his face. “But I don’t mind sharing, if you…”
“Okay.” The word is out of Steve’s mouth before he can really consider it. It’ll be fine. He and Robin share a bed when they hang out all the time, this isn’t all that different. Except that it's Eddie, so it is very different, but Steve isn't backing out now.
“Cool. That– yeah, cool.” If Eddie was pink before, he’s red now, gesturing to the bed. “You can pick whichever side you want. I don’t care.” It's only a bit awkward as they settle in, Steve on the left, Eddie on the right.
In the end, it doesn’t matter. When Steve wakes the next morning, sun casting the room in a soft glow, he and Eddie are both in the bed’s center, wrapped in each other’s arms. It should be weird, but mostly Steve just feels warm, warm on the inside, like his chest has a little fire burning within it. Eddie’s chin is hooked on Steve’s shoulder, and he has an arm loosely thrown over Steve’s waist. Knowing he shouldn’t, Steve lets his eyes close again, not going fully back to sleep, but allowing himself to remain in the hazy just awoken state a little longer. A few minutes pass before Eddie wakes too. Steve only knows he wakes up because he can feel the body against his shift slightly, then rapidly still. Then Eddie starts to extricate himself from where he lays and Steve lets out an involuntary groan.
Eddie freezes again, then moves away. “Sorry,” he whispers and his voice is rough with sleep. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“Was already awake.” Steve forces his eyes back open and sits up when he sees that Eddie has.
“Oh. I didn’t mean to like–” Eddie waves his hands out in front of himself. “Attatch to you. My friends used to get pissed when I did that. Probably shoulda warned you.”
“I don’t mind. I do the same thing to Robin. She complains about it all the time, says I’m like an octopus.”
Eddie laughs. Steve kinda wants to stay in bed and make Eddie laugh all day. But, “I believe I promised you cinnamon rolls.” Then Eddie properly climbs out of bed, stretching so his shirt rises, giving Steve an eyeful of his stomach and the inky designs there. Eddie catches him looking. “See something you like?” Steve sputters, embarrassed to have been staring in the first place, but Eddie just smiles and holds out a hand. “Come on, princess. Breakfast.”
Steve takes Eddie’s hand, lets himself be dragged into the kitchen, mind preoccupied with Eddie’s voice, scratchy and low with sleep, calling him princess. Steve leans on the counter, chatting idling about the last couple tasks before the holiday fest opens and his plans for Christmas, watching Eddie move around the kitchen making breakfast. Steve thinks he could stay forever, supported by off-white laminate, telling Eddie about his days, warmed by the heat of a kitchen in use.
Alas, Steve does have other things to do, so after breakfast he forces himself out the door. For a moment, tugging his boots on, Steve is tempted to kiss Eddie. He doesn't, but he wants to, just a bit. Or maybe a lot. But in the end, he just waves and drives back to Robin’s place.
***
Robin, mercifully, doesn’t mention Steve’s night away all day. Which he should have known was too good to be true. The final prep for the holiday fest is completed without so much as smirk. It all crumbles about ten minutes into dinner at the Hopper-Byers that night. It’s just as nice as it was a week ago, being cramped at a table with everyone he loves. Dustin has just finished a very compelling story about visiting Suzie’s family over summer when Robin grins, malice in her eyes, and asks “You got any stories about special someones, Stevie?”
All eyes are on him in a second, then everyone is yelling, pressing for details, theorizing, guessing. It feels so very reminiscent of back when he was in high school, when the kids would vie for details about his many, many failed relationships. And just like he used to, Steve folds and answers all their (appropriate) questions. They’d caught on to the dinner every night thing, of course, little geniuses they all were. Mike protests multiple times that Eddie seems too cool for Steve, Max and Robin tag-team the whole Hallmark aspect of it all, but everyone else seems pretty on board with the whole thing.
Once the talk has run its course, the college talk takes over again, this time with a focus of spring break plans. It’s all well and good until Will and Dustin start asking about New York, staying with Steve and/or Robin and seeing some shows on Broadway. The reminder that Steve has to go back hits like a ton of bricks. His life in the city had felt so far away the last week, made up almost, a distant and vague past, not his reality. Hawkins was real, the kids and Eddie, family dinners and community work was real. New York was… not. Steve forces the thought from his mind, smiles and puts up the obligatory protests.
Robin must catch it, she always does, with stuff like that. They’ve barely made it into the car when, point blank, she says “You wanna move back to Hawkins.” It's not a question, just a declaration, like Robin has reached into Steve’s mind and pulled out his greatest desires.
Steve grips the steering wheel. “I don’t know.” It’s snowing, the white powder sparkling under streetlights along the roads Steve grew up driving. It’s dark, too, so dark he can hardly see the street signs. Not that he needs them, he could probably drive Hawkins blindfolded if he was only told where he started. “Maybe.”
Neither of them say anything the rest of the drive, they just sit in the quiet, with Home for the Holidays pouring from the radio. They’re lying on the floor of Robin’s room, wrapping gifts when she finally breaks the silence that fell over them. “You should do it.” Steve looks up. “Move back.”
Steve shakes his head. “I can’t, Rob. I have a job, an apartment, a life. And you. I can’t leave you alone.”
“You wouldn’t be leaving me alone. I have friends that aren’t you. And Vickie.” It’s true, Steve was the one struggling for friends in the city. And Robin and Vickie have been dating for two years now, with talk of moving in together. “And you don’t even like your job.”
“My job is fine.”
“Steve, dingus.” Robin squishes Steve’s face in her hands. “You have to make the choices that make you happiest. I love New York. You followed me because we were co-dependent teenagers. If New York isn’t what you want, leave. Come back to Hawkins. Find a job that actually makes you feel fulfilled.”
“I can’t leave you,” Steve insists again. It comes out more earnest, more pathetic than Steve would have liked.
Robin rolls her eyes, hands shifting slightly so she’s gently holding Steve’s jaw. “It's not the eighteen hundreds, Steven. We’ll call all the time, and text everyday, and we’ll visit. And, sure, I’ll miss you like a limb, but it’ll be okay. You don’t have to decide right now. Just think about it.”
Then Robin returns to wrapping the box set of The Hunger Games she got for Erica like she hadn’t just encouraged Steve to flip his entire life upside down.
***
Steve resolves to not think about moving back to Hawkins until after the Holiday Fest, because he knows he’ll make himself miserable if he’s in his head the whole time, instead of doing corny holiday activities. In the end, it's pretty easy to stay distracted; the lights have the entire park glowing, every drink and snack Steve gets is the greatest thing he’s ever eaten, the kids don’t stop chattering the entire time, bugging Steve for money, making them play the little games. Robin FaceTimes Vickie for a few minutes to show the place off, and Steve gets an enthusiastic wave through the screen. It’s hard to even feel cold with all the people out and round, enjoying themselves at something Steve had a part in. Every time he notices people pointing out the lights, his heart soars a bit.
And, of course, there’s Eddie in the center of it all, playing Christmas songs in the gazebo, decade old sound system sending music through the park. He’s got a Santa hat pulled over his curls, and a dark green sweater, which really makes him look like the slightly cooler version of the guy on every Hallmark Christmas poster. Steve will admit that he does a not insignificant amount of staring.
Steve doesn’t wander around too long. After an hour or so, he gets recruited to help with one of the games scattered around in the snow. He’s more than happy to do it, running fake snowballs back and forth, digging for them in the snow when people miss. It's sorta fun, even if his hands are numb, watching people of every age attempt what is essentially bigger, winter-themed beer pong, all for the sake of one of those little candy canes. People recognize him, neighbors, old classmates, teachers. Steve had forgotten about that part of Hawkins, everyone knowing each other, caring.
Mrs. Click, who insists Steve call her Martha because “I’m not your teacher anymore, Steven, there’s no need for all that” asks after his relationships. When he tells her about his recent break up she says “You’ll be alright, Steve. If all that gossip I used to hear is to be believed, you won’t have any trouble sweeping someone else off their feet.” She’s right, he supposes. About how he was in high school and now, if Eddie is to be considered.
Steve isn’t sure how long he stays at the game, but eventually, Coach Parker, Benjamin, tells him to take a break and “Go bother the boy with the guitar.” With the added insistence that he bring hot cider upon his return. Eddie is already putting his guitar away when Steve makes his way over, so they wander through together. Eddie loses terribly at the tossing game, but Benjamin gives Steve two candy canes when he wins, so he winds up with a prize anyway. Steve hands over the cider he’d gotten and Benjamin waves the two of them off again.
Steve has already looped the festival twice, so he drags Eddie out to the parking lot, half for privacy, half for a break from the noise. They pass the kids on the way out, and are met with kissing faces from every single one of them. Steve sticks his tongue out at them in retaliation.They wind up sitting in the back Eddie's van, doors open, looking at the lights and festivities from a distance. Laughter and conversation carry over the snowy space, but it's mostly quiet. Eddie is talking, hands waving, about Christmas parties in LA, he’s complaining mostly, bemoaning the crowds and fakeness of it all.
His tirade comes to a close with a soft “There’s just something genuine about this sorta thing. Call me cheesy, but the small town charm is real.”
Steve nods. “Yeah. It is.” He takes a second to breathe, forcing air into his lungs, then speaks again. “I’m thinking about moving back.”
Eddie turns to stare at him, wide-eyed. “To Hawkins?”
“Yeah.” Steve shrugs. “I went to New York for my friends, really. Nance and Jon and Rob had these big dreams, I followed. But Nance and Jon came back to take over the Hawkins Post a few years back. Don’t get me wrong, I love Robs, and I like New York well enough, but being here, now, with everyone I care about in one place. And it’s so comfortable, familiar. Ya’ know? I just– I miss this. Then when I was talking to Robin about it, she just… told me to come back. Like it was totally obvious. And I’ve been thinking about it and I think I do want to move back.”
“So you’re decided, then.”
It's so plain, the way Eddie says it. Indisputable like it was when Robin had suggested it in the first place. “Yeah, I guess. Jesus, I’m going to move back to my hometown like some sort of peaked-in-high-school stereotype. That’s so embarrassing.”
“Nah.” Eddie grins. “I think it’s pretty cute.” His eyes are sparkling, lit up bright under the colored lights from the festival. The clock tower breaks the spell those lights, reflected in chocolate eyes, were casting. Nine o clock. The festival is set to shut down at half past, but actual tear down isn’t happening until tomorrow morning. Steve is suddenly hit with a flash of inspiration.
“Hey. You wanna cut early and do something stupid?”
The smile on Eddie’s face gets impossibly wider. “Absolutely.”
“Great. You cool to drive to a non-disclosed location while I give directions?”
“Promise you won’t murder me?” Eddie asks, holding out his pinky.
Steve links his pinky with Eddie’s. “Swear it.”
“Off we go then.”
***
Despite the years that have passed since Steve has been there, directing Eddie to his parents’ place is easy. It's eerily familiar, really, to be on the roads that used to hold his whole life. When Eddie makes the last turn and the dumb, white McMansion pops into view, Steve has to hold back a laugh. There’s no lights up, no decorations in the yard, just the bland path lights Steve’s mom had picked out years ago, casting the stone path in white light. His parents’ car is gone, as Steve expected (they’d spent every Christmas since Steve could be left home alone in Florida).
Eddie looks beyond confused as he pulls into the driveway. “Ya know, when you said ‘something stupid’ I was not picturing breaking and entering.”
“We’re not breaking and entering.” Steve opens his door and gets out of the van, half-running to the front porch, purposefully leaving footprints in the snow in the yard instead of staying on the cleared path. Eddie follows him. “This is my parents’ house and–” Steve lifts the potted (fake) flowers with his shoe, leans down to grab the key. “I have a key. Totally legal.”
Steve unlocks the door, pushes it open. The place looks the same, his folks probably didn’t bother updating, seeing as they never stayed in Hawkins longer than a week. Still, it's weird, like being shoved back through time.
“Holy shit.” Eddie says. “Your parents are loaded.”
Steve shrugs. “Yeah.” Then he grabs Eddie’s hand and drags him upstairs and to his room. That, too, remains unchanged. Entirely empty, save a desk and the bed, walls bare, closet half open and cleared out. Steve doesn’t let himself stop moving, pulling Eddie over to his window. Steve is grinning like a little kid and he knows it, but he can’t stop as he slides the pane over and pops out the screen. “Will you grab the blanket on the bed, Eds?”
“Uh. Sure.” Not for the first time, Eddie looks totally lost. The confusion switches to delight, though, when Steve pops out the screen and swings his leg over the windowsill, sliding easily onto the roof. “Oh, holy shit!”
Once Steve is out, Eddie follows eagerly, passing the fleece blanket off to Steve before practically jumping out onto the roof. Steve’s room happened to exit to a part of the roof situated perfectly below an overhang, which left a perfectly snow-free rectangle for sitting. Steve had spent hours and hours there as a kid and teenager, looking out into the trees, thinking, avoiding his problems. He used to climb out when the parties got too loud. It was his secret spot, the place no one looked for him. He’d only brought three people out before. The first was Tommy, back when they’d done everything together, Tommy had kissed him for the first time in that little space on the roof, on a rainy March day sophomore year. Then it had been Max, after Billy had died in an accident, and the two of them had sat in near silence out there on many occasions. Most recently, though six years ago now, was Robin, after every awful work shift they’d listen to music and tell each other every secret they could think of.
Now there was Eddie, smiling like he'd won the lottery, propped up against the siding, leaning into Steve, blanket over both of them. It’s snowing, soft white flakes drifting down. Before he can forget, Steve grabs out his phone, texts Robin so she doesn’t worry. He doesn’t say where he is, exactly, just that he’s with Eddie and may or may not be back before morning. While he has it out, Steve also puts on music, low, then places his phone just inside, safely off the roof, but still close enough the Christmas oldies can be heard.
It’s cold, but Steve doesn’t mind, it just gives him an excuse to pull Eddie as close as he can. Eddie doesn’t seem to mind, either, his hand finding Steve’s, lacing their fingers together. “It’s really pretty out here, Stevie.”
“Yeah. I– uh, I’m glad you like it. You’re the fourth person I’ve let out here.”
Eddie gasps dramatically, fake offended. “Fourth? And here I thought I was special. Little did I know, this is merely a reused dating move that you’re putting on.”
“Nuh-uh,” Steve laughs. “Only one of the other three was someone I dated.”
“Oh, sure.” It’s still teasing, but Steve defends anyway.
“I’m serious. It was my first boyfriend, Tommy, right before we got together. We were fifteen and a little drunk and I told him I had something cool to show him.” Steve smiles at the memory. He and Tommy aren’t super close anymore, but they still talk. And he’ll always have a special place in Steve’s heart. “I was so excited when he kissed me, I almost jumped off the roof.”
In the light of the moon, Steve can see Eddie smile. “Who else?”
“Robin, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
“And Max. She’s one of the kids I used to babysit when I was younger. She’s like a little sister to me.”
“That’s sweet.”
Steve nods, looks out into the dark. “I’m an only child, sorta. My dad’s got tons of kids, but I’m my mom’s only kid, and my parent’s only shared kid. But I always wanted siblings, ones that didn’t either hate or pity me or both. Then, my senior year, I got roped into helping one of my ex’s girlfriend's brother’s friends look for his lost cat. That was Dustin. He’s an only kid, too, and we bonded super fast. It started as a joke, him calling me his brother, but it stuck. Then the rest of ‘em came along.”
Eddie’s hand dips below the blanket and finds Steve’s. “But only Max got the honor of the roof?”
“Yeah. Uh, she had this total dickhead for a step-brother. Billy. He died in a bad car accident the year we graduated. A few days before the Fourth of July, just… lost control of his car, hit a tree. Dead on impact.” Steve takes a shaky breath. Eddie stays quiet, but gives Steve’s hand a squeeze. “They didn’t really get along, Max and Billy, but his death still hit her hard. She pushed everyone away and the kids were starting high school, and she just got lost in it all. Then one day, she called me, two in the morning, full on sobbing, didn’t want to be at home. I went and got her, brought her out here. And she kept coming. Sometimes I’d come home from work to find her, just sitting, watching the trees.”
“Jesus, Steve. That's— heavy.”
“Yeah,” Steve pulls a hand out from the blanket, rubs at the tear tracks. “Sorry for just dropping that on you. Probably not supposed to trauma dump on a date.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I– still. I didn’t mean to get all intense and ruin the vibe.”
Eddie presses a hand to Steve’s face, cupping his jaw. Steve turns to look at him. He is very pretty, even if Steve can hardly see him in the moonlight, his curls are lit like a halo, and his eyes, his eyes glitter and shine. “You didn’t ruin anything. Talking about things like that just shows how much you care about people, your people. It’s charming.”
Steve’s voice is hardly above a whisper. “Yeah?” Eddie nods. Steve can't stop staring. And also can’t stop the words that tumble out next, even if it’s a total left turn. “You look beautiful.”
“Oh. I–” Eddie’s eyes go wide. “Thank you. You, um–”
“Can I kiss you?”
“Please.”
Eddie’s lips are cold, but Steve can’t find it in himself to care, not with Eddie holding his face gently, not with their hands intertwined under the blanket. Steve’s free hand finds its way into Eddie’s hair and Eddie lets out the sweetest gasp when he pulls lightly. Steve leans back, face hot with blush, feeling giddy and light.
Eddie looks downright awe-struck. “You wanna come over?”
***
When Steve wakes up the next morning, he and Eddie are curled against each other just as they had been the last time. Steve feels warm and safe and carefree in the arms of the other man. He could honestly stay there forever, but he has an idea, so he very carefully extracts himself and sneaks into the kitchen. The stove clock reads 8:43 and last time Eddie woke a little after nine, so there’s a slight time crunch, but Steve remains undeterred, quietly opening and closing cabinets, humming carols as he moves.
Steve gets caught up in what he’s doing, and is completely oblivious that Eddie woke until he’s at Steve's side. “You’re making breakfast?”
Steve grins and turns. “Yeah. Is that weird?” His cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Oh god, this is totally weird. You’re probably mad that I just raided your cabinets without permission. And I’m making a mess of your kitchen–”
Eddie cuts off Steve's panic with a kiss. “Stevie, baby. Do I look mad?”
“Well,” Steve scans Eddie’s face. “No. I guess not.”
“That’s because I’m not. The prettiest boy in the world is making me pancakes. Why the hell would I be mad?” Eddie peeks over Steve’s shoulder into the pan. “Are those chocolate chips?”
“Yeah, I know it's sorta childish, but I figure if you’re already having what is basically dessert for breakfast, may as well go all the way, ya know.”
Eddie hums in what Steve hopes is approval and moves to sit on the countertop, eyes glued to Steve as he finishes making their breakfast. As they work their way though the stack of pancakes, Eddie asks, “You got big plans for Christmas? It’s only five days away.”
“I’ll spend the morning with Robin and her family. Then the whole not-actually-related family is gathering at the Wheeler house around four.What about you?”
“Dunno.” Eddie shrugs. “I spent Christmas with my Uncle Wayne when I was a kid, then with the band or at stupid parties in LA. But Wayne’s visiting his friends in Florida this year, and the band is out, obviously. So I’m not really sure what this year is going to look like.”
“Oh, well. You could spend it with me. Maybe not for the morning, but the big party. I’d have to ask Nancy, ‘cause it’s her parents’ house, but she’ll probably won’t care. But we’re kind of a lot, so if you don’t want to come I totally get that.”
“I wouldn’t want to intrude, really. I can–”
“You wouldn’t be, promise. I want you to be there.”
“Oh.” Eddie blinks at Steve, eyes wide with disbelief. His face is red. “Okay. Yeah. I’ll go then. If, uh, if you’re sure no one will mind.”
Steve texts Nancy immediately, ignoring table manners completely. As expected, Nancy approves the plus one. She also asks if she’s allowed to tell everyone about it, which Steve debates on for a moment. “Eds?”
Eddie glances up. “Hmm?”
“First of all, Nance says you’re totally invited to Christmas. Second, uh, would you be okay with everyone knowing you’re coming. Like, that I’m bringing you with me as a… date?”
Eddie’s face splits into a familiar grin. Steve’s stomach flips a little at the sight of it. A week and a half, and he’s already so beyond gone for Eddie. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’d love to announce from the top of city hall that I've got a date with you for Christmas.”
“Okay. Cool. That–uh. Cool.” Steve sends one last text to Nancy, giving blanket permission to tell the group about Eddie, and the amount of smiley emojis he gets in return makes him suspect that Robin was visiting the Wheelers and had commandeered Nancy’s phone.
Steve is reluctant to leave Eddie’s apartment, but everyone had been busy with the holiday festival, and there were a great many protests that there had not been enough hanging out, so he’s booked and busy. The disappointment at having to leave is softened when Eddie pulls Steve into a kiss as when he’s halfway out the door.
Steve is so warm from it, that he doesn’t even register the cold as he makes the ten minute trek back to the park for Mr. Buckley’s car. The Britney Spears Christmas song is playing when Steve turns the car on. Fitting.
***
Steve is with a different amalgamation of the group everyday, doing some sort of winter festivity.
Five days before Christmas, he and Robin scream along to Christmas songs as they attempt to put together enough gingerbread houses for the whole group to decorate that night. It’s tedious and delicate work, so it's exactly the opposite of Robin’s skillset, which means Steve does most of the work. He can’t find it in himself to be upset about it, though, when all of his favorite people gather at the Buckley’s that night, fighting over bowls of candy and bags of icing. Henderson goes so far as to compliment Steve’s engineering skills, before taking his house apart entirely and building a mini TIE fighter. El, unsurprisingly, wins the best decorated house, every square centimeter covered in candy or icing to the point it’s unclear if the cookie remains beneath.
Four days before Christmas, Steve lays on the floor, texting Eddie, until Robin drags him out. She brings him to the park, where the Hawkins High Environmental Science Club is hosting an event; making bird feeders out of pinecones. Something about helping local populations survive winter. Admittedly, it's pretty fun. Plus they run into Chrissy and Heather at dinner after.
Three days before Christmas, Steve is with Max, Lucas, and El, out skating on Lover’s Lake. The rest of the kids had claimed to be ‘too uncoordinated’ to participate. Ironic, considering Steve manages to fall on his ass five times in two hours. Lucas only falls once, and the girls manage to stay upright the whole time. Steve was unaware that skateboarding translated well to ice skates, but he can’t deny the evidence. On the way back, Steve treats them all to hot chocolate. Eddie is working when they go in and laughs when Max informs him of Steve’s lackluster performance on the ice, asking Are you really sure you want to date him? Eddie retaliates with a simple Positive. Steve blushes all the way back to the Buckleys after that comment.
Two days before Christmas, everyone is at the Wheelers’, sledding down the street. At one point, all the kids try to get on the same sled and crack it straight through the center. The sledding devolves into a snowball fight and snow angel making. By the time everyone heads inside, they’re cold, with hair wet from melted snow. After drying to the best of their ability, pizza is ordered and the night slips away with chatter and some very intense games of MarioKart.
On Christmas Eve, Steve and Robin barely leave the couch. Mr. and Mrs. Buckley go on their annual Christmas Eve dinner date. Steve makes more cookies for the get-together the next day, along with Christmas Crack, and Puppy Chow. Robin protests that he’s making too much, but Steve waves her off. He likes being helpful, and Joyce, as much as Steve adores her, could use all the help she can get in the cooking/baking department.
***
Steve wakes early on Christmas morning, like a little kid. He’s up before anyone else is, making coffee in the silent house. As snow drifts down outside, Steve curls up on the couch watching reruns of I Love Lucy and sipping at his drink. The Buckleys join him after a little over an hour, unsurprised by his early rising. Once everyone is properly caffeinated, Mr. Buckley makes breakfast, which gets eaten in the living room, lit by the multicolored lights of the tree and A Christmas Story playing on the TV. Robin and Steve decided to save their real gifts for each other for the party that night, but had gotten gag gifts for the morning.
Robin rips at the shiny red paper like a wild animal, save using her teeth. She holds up the plastic trophy Steve had gotten her above her head like it's the Stanley cup and not a hunk of plastic. It’s filled with candy and bears World's Greatest Sister on the little plaque on the base.
Both of Robin’s parents gush about how sweet it is, and Steve can see a sheen of tears in Robin’s eyes, even if she doesn't actually cry. “This is too genuine and nice. Now I feel bad about mine.”
Steve rolls his eyes and holds out both hands. “No feeling bad. Gimme.”
Robin hides her face as she places a blue bag adorned with little snowflakes in his hands. Slowly, Steve pulls away the sparkly pink tissue paper. One look at the contents of the box, sends Steve cackling. He lifts the box of condoms and bottle of lube with mock acclaim. With all the sincerity he can muster, Steve cries “Aw, Rob! You’re so thoughtful! Keeping me safe!”, which sends Robin into hysterics. Mrs. Buckley shakes her head, but Steve can see a hint of a smile pulling at her lips.
While Steve and Robin giggle on the floor, Mr. and Mrs. Buckely grab out board games from a cabinet. Board games on Christmas is a Buckley family tradition, alongside matching pajamas. Steve manages to lose three rounds of Uno and two rounds of Clue, before claiming a victory in Pay Day. Robin bests all of them in Scrabble. Robin calls Vickie to wish her a Merry Christmas and Steve joyfully displays Robin’s gift, which sends all three of them into a fit of giggles.
When the clock hits three, the games conclude so Steve and Robin can get ready for the party. Steve pulls on a red sweater and secretly hopes Eddie will wear the green one he’d had on at the festival.
Steve shoots Eddie as text to inform him that he and Robin are on their way, and he’s waiting outside the apartment building when Steve pulls up. Eddie climbs into the backseat without protest, leaning between the seats to converse with Robin as Steve drives them over to the Wheeler’s. It’s an easy ride, the three of them prattling on like they’ve known each other for years.
They’re the last to arrive, which means Steve and Robin are nearly knocked over by the force of seven young adults throwing themselves at them. After tackling Steve and Robin, the kids offer polite waves to Eddie before disappearing into the basement. With all dishes still intact in Steve’s arms, and presents piled high in Robin’s, the trio makes their way to the other adults. Joyce is in the kitchen with Murray, arguing about who knows what.
“Those two are like siblings,” Steve whispers to Eddie. “Always in some cat-fight about something.”
Eddie laughs. Then Robin leans in. “That’s going to be me and Steve in the future.”
That breaks Eddie, sending him into near hysterics that turn the two adults’ heads. Joyce smiled. “Oh! You’re here.” She abandons the pot she was stirring, which sets Murray off yelling, rushing over to claim her spot. Then Joyce wraps her arms around all three of them. Her hand lingers on Eddie’s arm. “It’s really nice to have you with us, Eddie. It’s been so long since we’ve had one of Steve’s partners join us for Christmas.”
Steve flushes. It’s not untrue. The last time Steve was with someone for the annual get-together was his junior year of high school, when he was first invited to the Not-Family Christmas, brought along by Nancy. Once they broke up, Steve didn’t date until college and even then he didn’t bring anyone home. And then, after sophomore year when he’d pissed off his parents by changing his major from pre-law to business admin, he stopped going back to Hawkins for Christmas altogether.
Steve shakes himself out of his thoughts and pulls Eddie to the living room so they can help Robin with the gifts. She’s knelt by the tree, sorting the boxes and bags under the tree into some order that, in all likelihood, only makes sense to her. Hopper is leaned back on the couch, watching with an amused look on his face. Hop looks up and stands when Steve and Eddie appear in the doorway. He makes his way over to them with his ‘bad-cop’ look plastered on. Steve is pretty sure they’ve already met, if not at the Festival then at the coffee shop, but Hop still sticks a hand out. Eddie takes it carefully, and from the looks of it the handshake that ensues in bone-crushing.
Hopper’s dad-voice is in full effect as he asks. “You the new boyfriend?”
“Uh– Yes?”
Hopper raises a brow. “You sure about that, son?”
Eddie nods frantically, hand still caught in Hop’s. “Yes, sir. I’m sure. Steve’s new boyfriend. That’s me.”
“Hmm.” Hopper finally releases Eddie’s hand. Then he slips past the two of them, likely to the kitchen to gossip with Joyce and Murray about his thoughts on Eddie and Steve.
Carefully, Steve leads Eddie over to the tree, pulling them both down so they can talk to Robin. “Sorry about Hopper. He’s–”
Robin beats Steve to the punch. “Overly protective of children that aren’t actually his.”
Eddie laughs and wraps an arm around Steve’s shoulders. “No worries, sweetheart. I don’t scare that easily.”
Robin gags. “Don’t you two start.”
As Steve and Eddie help with the gifts, under strict supervision by Robin, Nancy and Jonathan appear from upstairs, dropping onto the floor beside the three of them. Together, the five of them manage to get all the gifts sorted into piles by recipient, much to Robin’s protests that it ‘messes with the vibe’. They’ve just finished when Joyce calls everyone in to eat.
At dinner, Jonathan and Eddie get into a heated debate about the British Invasion that doesn't seem to have a winner. The kids thoroughly interrogate Eddie, which ends with a declaration that he is “approved by the council”, which has both of them grinning. When Steve brings out his desserts the whole table erupts with joy, and the plates of treats get brought into the living room so gifting can commence.
Despite being juniors in college (or in high school, in the case of Erica) the kids go at the presents like they’re still actually kids. All of them have piles of dorky stuff, too; comics, Legos, books, board games, and kits of what look like robotics-call-Hell to Steve, personally. Steve got all of them new sets of dice for D&D, which has Eddie shaking his arm, demanding to know why Steve hadn’t told him that he knew what D&D was earlier, which then leads to the kids demanding that Eddie play with them sometime.
When all the gifts are unwrapped, Hopper has cleaned up all the paper, and the kids are sticking bows to each other’s faces, Steve clears his throat. All eyes flick over to him. “I, um, I’ve got one more thing for… all of you, I guess. It’s not a thing, but I think you’ll like it anyway.” Steve can feel Eddie tighten the grip he’s got on his hand. The room is silent as everyone awaits Steve’s announcement. “I’m moving back to Hawkins.”
The delicate silence hangs for a second longer. Then Dustin screams and launches himself directly into Steve’s chest. Eddie barely releases Steve’s hand in time to avoid getting crushed too. Dustin is followed rapidly by the rest of the party, tackling Steve to the floor and drowning him in their dog-pile of a hug. They’re all chattering over each other, but repeated and clear is Max asking, “You’re serious?”
Steve pushes himself up until he’s sitting. Dustin and Max remain attached, each clutching one of Steve’s arms. “I’m serious. New York is cool and all, but I miss my home. And my family.”
Max stays beside Steve the whole night, like he might change his mind if she strays from his line of vision. Steve spends a while answering questions (yes, he’s already submitted his resignation, Hannah is keeping the apartment) and avoiding ones he doesn’t want to deal with yet. After a bit, conversation returns to normal and the kids break out their new stuff, taking over the Wheeler’s house with noise and wiring.
As everyone is leaving, Max pulls Steve aside. “What’s up, Max?”
She looks up at him with shining eyes, tears gathering. “You’re really coming back?”
“I’m really coming back.”
Max nods and pulls Steve into a tight hug. “Good. I missed you.” Then she releases him and punches his arm. “No telling anyone I said that.”
Steve laughs. “I wouldn't dream of it.”
Then Max runs after Lucas. Eddie appears just a moment later. “You’ve got one hell of a not-family, Steve.” His arms wrap around Steve. “I like ‘em a lot. Very loud, nerdy. My kind of people.”
“Good. ‘Cause I have a feeling you’ll be seeing a whole lot of them.” With a smile, Steve closes the distance, pressing a soft kiss to Eddie’s lips. “Merry Christmas, Eddie.”
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
***
When he was younger, Steve had sworn he wouldn’t rush into marriage. His parents had only dated for six months before they had tied the knot, and they were two of the most miserable people Steve knew. But now he’s thinking that may just be an issue with them in particular.
Because Steve, just a year (and twelve days) after meeting Eddie, is gazing up at his beautiful boyfriend on Christmas morning, lit by the multicolored lights of their Christmas tree, on one knee, proposing. And Eddie is crying, saying yes, and pulling Steve off the floor to kiss him senseless.
There are certain things Steve has learned are certain; cinnamon gum is gross, his parents don’t particularly like him, apple cider is way better than hot chocolate, the Muppets are awesome, break-ups suck, and coming back to Hawkins with Robin for Christmas last year was a great idea. And he cannot wait to spend the rest of his life with Eddie.