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fandoms-in-law · 11 months ago

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Around Their Lake

Summary: When Steve broke up with Eddie he split a lake property he'd brought for them so Eddie could own half of it. Now they run competing camps and have to deal with a camper mix-up

Authors Note: I had this idea near the start of the month, and decided today and tomorrow I'm rewriting Rock 'n' Royals for Steddie, first as the camp owners and tomorrow as Erika / Courtney. I deny wholeheartedly this being an excuse to rewatch the film multiple times.

/\/\

This wasn't what Steve wanted for his life, was never what he'd dreamed of and part of him just wanted to stop enforcing the entire argument. Eddie was constantly saying he wanted the entire lake, wanted to extend Camp Rock and Steve, well, he didn't care.

The only reason he argued was that it was easier, far far easier than admitting that he didn't want to lose this connection with Eddie but if asked he'd probably all too willingly give up his camp for Eddie to share his passions with more kids. Robin sometimes called him out on it but often just agreed they wouldn't have worked out back when the lake property was brought.

She'd been the one to help him split the property deed before his parents ever learnt he'd brought it, and ensured that Eddie knew he had it, ownership of half the lake they'd dreamt of running away to and living peacefully with their family and kids coming to visit. Robin had been the one he'd questioned his parents re-entry to his life and doting after Hawkins was rebuilt and the one who helped him figure out.

The break up had been to protect both of them from what his parents could do and Steve hated it. He hated it even more when Eddie decided he was reverting back to his King Steve days and thought he was above him when all Steve was thinking about was how easily his parents could block Eddie and all of Corroded Coffin from ever achieving anything with their music.

/\/\

“Either you're in the wrong camp or I needed parents like yours twenty years ago.” Steve stated, seeing Erika Juno enter his office. He recognised her, easily recognised her as one of the popsters Max, El and Erica Sinclair were raving about being amazing currently, and knew that she wasn't meant for his camp, jokingly called camp royalty since Steve had focused on his favourite things when setting it up.

“Nope. I'm meant to be at Camp Rock. I was running late and went where I could hear my name being called.” Erika agreed, leaning back and putting her feet on the desk.

Steve smirked at her, doing nothing to discourage it. “Then you get two choices; I can call Camp Rock and try to sort out the mix-up while you stay here for a few days until your transfer is sorted, or you can stay here for the entire time and see whether you like horse riding, baking and ballroom dancing compared to the dance styles you're more used to.”

“As fascinating as that sounds, I'd prefer to go through the transfer. Nothing against you though. This place is flashy.” Erika decided, glancing around as she complimented his camp.

“Robin will direct you to where your room is and I'll try to catch up with you about how the transfer will work tomorrow.” Steve stood, holding his hand out to shake and gesturing to Robin.

/\/\

Camp Rock needed the space.

That was basically the entirety of Eddie's claims that he'd buy out Camp Royalty. He was sure both of them knew there was plenty of space to grow their camps closer together and both of them were avoiding doing so for all their arguments and claims of expansion, but his camp was growing more each year and he needed to extend sooner rather than later.

Except he couldn't subject his students to noise limitations here when all of them faced that at home too and Harrington's had been a family as likely to log a noise complaint as they were to get one when Steve's parents were out of town. It seemed unavoidable that after years in their pockets Steve would be just the same now.

/\/\

“And this is Miss Courtney.” Eddie said, looking at the computer screen rather than looking up at the camper now sat in his office. “Gareth, why is Miss Courtney here? I could swear it usually takes at least a day before anyone is asking for help.”

Gareth scratched his neck, before deciding to just redirect Eddie's gaze. “Well, there's been a mix-up, with Camp Royalty I think.”

“Daughter of a wealthy businessman wanting you to follow in his steps or fulfil traditional gender roles?” Eddie summarised his views of the campers across the lake.

“Something like that, but this was meant to be a fun week away from that.” She offered.

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “Not sure how that camp is getting away from it, but fine. Do you want me to call and sort out a transfer or to rebel a little, stick around here and find out how much fun you can really have?”

Courtney paused, watching him. “I don't think I'd really be much good here, so if it isn't a hassle, please can you arrange for me to transfer to the camp they meant to send me to?” She uncertainly requested.

“Your choice. Gareth will point you to the right note your staying in while I sort that out.” Eddie agreed easily with a wave.

/\/\

Steve was already pinching his nose by the time the phone was answered. “You're through to Camp Rock, if this is family news for the students please only call if it's urgent they know. How can I help?”

“Hey Gareth, it's Steve from Camp Royalty. I need to speak to Eddie. We've got one of your campers here.” He explained, already aware that Eddie rarely was the first to answer the phone.

“And we've got one of yours. I'll find him, but are we really not just letting them swap and skipping the paperwork?” Gareth asked, the sound of a door opening and closing audible through the phone.

Steve groaned, “I wish. It's the insurance paperwork though. We're already paying extra because there's no fence or separation between the borders of our camps. If we swapped campers between them without paperwork to say who is staying where the premiums would inflate exponentially.”

“Oh Stevie, you sure know how to solve a problem.” Eddie replied, chipper and confusing him before he realised the phone had been handed over without him being told. “But seriously? Are they actually charging us extra for that? Because that is idiotic.”

“The joys of things my parents forced me to learn, right? Insurance companies like to be precise over what they protect us from and things that make them more at risk.” Steve muttered, “Anyway, I've got a camper called Erika who should be over at your camp.”

Eddie laughed, “You're not sending the Sinclairs over to me just because baby Sinclair can walk rings around you.”

“Erika Juno.”

“Point to Steve.” Eddie stated, “Okay, well we do have a Miss Courtney who should be over with the snobs too. What forms do we need to processing to transfer them to each other?”

He sighed again, chuckling a little. “Just because I was forced to use computers before you found the need to doesn't mean I'm in charge of telling you how they work.” He said before explaining what the forms should be for, as well as what information would need to be included and agreeing to send copies of them over.

Robin was stood leaning against the door when he got off the phone. “You are still so gone on Eddie, it's almost sickening.”

“Not my fault that I'm a romantic.” He countered, leaning back in his seat.

“This isn't being a romantic, this is pining hopelessly without daring to ask for more than your half confrontational, half weirdly dependant neighbours thing you two have.” She stated, deadpan, “And that's coming from your entirely co-dependant, no borders allowed platonic soulmate.”

/\/\

“Robin, this is how I manage it.” Steve stated the moment he heard Erika Juno actually sing. “This is how we get Eddie to take the rest of the lake without trying to push money on me.”

Robin frowned at him, glancing around in confusion. “By walking through our camp listening to the singing classes masquerading as an acapella choir?”

“No, by making a bet on a singing competition between our camps, making Eddie think we're that confident in the Camp Rock kid we've got being able to win it for us. Winner gets the full lake.” Steve explained, grinning, “She's amazing but with the Camp Royalty campers making cliques just as much as Hawkins High did, she'll be fighting a losing battle to make the song win the contest.”

“Steve Harrington wants to set up a competition to deliberately lose? Did I die in the upside down and this is a very long hallucination.” Robin exclaimed playfully, after a quick glance around to confirm none of their campers was close enough to hear.

Steve shook his head, laughing too. “You know I've not been that focused on winning for years, practically since before we ever worked together.”

/\/\

Gareth and Eddie both stared at the phone in confusion. “That was on loudspeaker. I didn't just imagine that entire conversation, right?” Eddie mumbled after a while.

“Nope. Steve Harrington just suggested a song contest between our camps. Either he's going to fix the judges, or he's literally trying to give the rest of the lake to you for some reason.” Gareth agreed.

“Now come up with something believable for a suggestion.” He glared.

Holding up his hands and stepping back he repeated a comment the entire band had directed to Eddie a million times over the years, “Both are believable and quite possibly he'd fix it in order for us to win. Harrington has been gone on you for-literally-ever at this point. Why else would he have given you this property in your break up as if it was a divorce instead? That and I'm 100% certain his parents never knew that he'd brought the entire thing and then given half of it away.”

“It was the easiest way to get my name off the deed without getting me to agree to him buying it out.” Eddie mumbled back. “Besides he's definitely not now since he wants to get away from me and the lake.”

Gareth rolled his eyes. “Remind me how long you've been asking how much to buy him out? This could easily be just trying to fulfil what you want for the hundredth time. Someone wanting to get away from you would not, I repeat Would Not spend ages teaching you what paperwork or computer filing needs doing to run your camp effectively.”

“So he's still a good guy. He still dumped me so he could play happy families with mum and dad Harrington.” Eddie pouted.

/\/\

With the bet confirmed, Steve had wanted to just let the campers enjoy preparing for it, decide who forms the acapella group and which songs they do. The issue was that the campers didn't seem all that willing to just enjoy the process themselves.

“Is everything alright?” He asked, stepping between Olivia and Erika calmly.

“Just an artistic difference of opinion.” Olivia said, sounding stressed and overly polite compared to the ferocity that had been in her voice moments before.

Erika held out the pages he'd thought they were arguing over. “I was just asking if we could try a song I've been playing around with for the contest.”

“Friendship is a more relatable subject to sing about than being royalty, which, I might add, none of us should claim to be. Being rich because of parents successful in business does not guarantee our own success without putting the work in and learning to get along with those around us.” Steve reasoned, repeating some advice he knew Robin must have told him at some point early on in the career his parents pulled and pushed him into. She'd followed along, of course, but neither of them had enjoyed their work until they decided to build and open this camp.

“We've already chosen our performance piece.” Olivia attempted to argue but was clearly now uncertain on how important that was.

Steve nodded, “But you still have a few days left to practice. Plenty of time to learn a new song should the rest of the group want to do so. This shouldn't be a decision made by just the two of you.”

The girls glared at each other for a moment more before turning back to the group. “Okay guys, let's try practising both for today and voting on which we like more at the start of tomorrow session.” Olivia called out, clearly unhappy but accepting his point.

/\/\

He just wanted to rock out with the band, perhaps give a few hints and tips to the future chart toppers.

He did not want to walk into the studio to Sloane screaming corrections at the rest of the group and Marcus claiming no-one was feeling the song they were using for the competition.

“What if we played one of Courtney's songs?” Zia suggested.

Sloane was immediately scoffing, none of them noticing Eddie there still. “A princess can't write songs.”

“A good song can come from anywhere and anyone.” He interrupted. “Looks like you found your skills for Camp Rock. Let's hear whichever song Zia thinks would fit the competition.”

Eddie beamed as he listened to the song and got to rock out to it a bit. This was what music was meant to be about, sharing a story and having some fun together. He couldn't help but declare it able to win the competition, even if he thought he should have tried getting his campers to find a compromise themselves.

/\/\

Steve had headed back to his office, already drafting up the paperwork to sign everything over to Eddie and thought he'd heard something. If it was one of the party surprising him during a camp week he knew he'd have to wait until they decided to jump out, given both Dustin and Mike had kicked up a fuss the times he didn't. Except if it was a camper then he should probably check on them in case there's an issue he needs to help resolve.

Or he could monologue about the bet and see whether the campers react to learning about it at all. “Eddie better have the paperwork ready for when I win that bet. Camp Royalty has this in the bag and Camp Rock should be preparing to close its doors.” He tried to make his words believable while meaning none of them. He never wanted to make his campers doubt themselves or their abilities even when he was hoping they'd lose the competition.

A gasp and the sound of his table scraping slightly along the floor showed whoever was there heard and was trying to hide even more than before. “I better start getting the expansion plans finalised.” He decided, turning around to head out of the room.

Whatever was going to happen could come now, and hopefully that wouldn't backfire on him.

/\/\

The stage and binding lights had never been Steve's place. He'd never wanted the spotlight and had barely dated Eddie long enough to dream about helping them on tour, doing something backstage so he could just watch Eddie perform every night.

It had always been a 'what if' daydream since then, but now he had to co-host, at Eddie's insistence, this entire event.

“Can you believe he's single? I hear opposites attract, maybe you should find someone funny.” The words felt foreign to him, and he begged in his mind that Robin wouldn't be quoting that at him later. She already was mouthing opposites attract at his back, he was sure of it, even more so when Eddie's expression momentarily twisted.

“Let's introduce the judges.” Eddie announced, thankfully ending the stilted commentary they'd attempted making to begin the show.

/\/\

Robin and Steve were jumping around and cheering like mad.

On the other side of the audience Eddie was screaming and whistling, leaping around while Gareth hollered and encourage the rest of their campers to applaud louder.

“Never in my life did I expect this to be the outcome of this competition! I want to commend whichever campers managed to orchestrate this amalgamation, this blending, this meeting of worlds, if only for how much they must have been racing around the lake constantly to organise it.” Steve ran out onto the stage, realising that the applause was slowing down and as hosts he and Eddie were meant to be there. A glance back to the Camp Royalty section of the audience showed Robin laughing at his praise.

Eddie was soon to follow, clearly prepared to argue but pausing just as he was beside Steve, “I entirely agree, but also entirely expected you to be arguing with this. Whatever happened to competition is healthy for our campers?” He asked, clearly attempting to question whether the bet they'd made still stood.

Steve laughed, gesturing behind them, “I think it's pretty clear that even our campers don't agree with that. They've decided that rock and royalty can work together and I long since learnt better than to argue with a large group of teens. Perhaps we should even merge our camps together to see what else they'll create.”

“Hey Steve? You wanted to congratulate us for storming away from camp and befriending each other instead?” Erika called, arm around Courtney and pulling her forward from the rest of the performers.

Eddie burst out laughing then, “Oh I am so glad not to have gotten involved in whatever camp drama caused that reaction. Let me guess, you both struggled to get along with everyone in the camps you ended up in and stood out enough to have confrontations.”

“Just a few.” Courtney admitted.

/\/\

Both camps were saved, and the band had somehow launched into a completely different song Eddie was sure couldn't have been rehearsed half as much as should've been necessary to perform it so well. Except instead of being allowed to just enjoy it, he found himself being pushed away, and lowered into the backstage area by Gareth, with Robin doing the same thing to Steve, on the same lowering platform.

“I get the feeling they want us to talk.” Steve muttered, glancing around to see where the platform control was instead of heading for the way out into the audience.

“Gareth is probably expecting me to ask if this was your attempt to give me the rest of the lake or if we could date again.” Eddie sighed, hoping if he just brought up those talking points they could get back to their celebrating scheming campers quickly. “But I want to know why the campers would have made themselves a supergroup at all.”

For a moment he was just blinked at. “To Gareth's questions, the answer is yes. And to yours, I was pretty sure one was hiding in my office a few days back so spoke aloud about the bet. Not sure who or why they were hiding, but you said it yourself, I'm happy not to get involved in the camper's drama.”

“When the hell did you start wanting this again? You told me we couldn't be together and you had to spend time with your parents if they were going to so much effort for you.” Eddie ranted.

That was the thing that made Steve snap, that brought out the fierce glare Eddie had seen a few times when Hawkins was still treating him like a murderer after the Upside Down was dealt with. “I Never Stopped! I'm still utterly insulted you believed half of the nonsense I said when breaking up with you and infitely hurt you just immediately decided I was reverting back to being King Steve. The Harrington's could have destroyed any chance you had to get this far! Those albums on your walls could have been gone before you dreamt them up if my parents found out we dated! Who cares that I'd have been immediately either disowned with everything they could take from me taken, or trapped in the lowest role of their business with no chance to progress until they decided I was straight and following their orders, you would have lost your dreams! Business owners don't let their kids have room in rockstars worlds.”

“There was always room for you in my life, Stevie. You never asked for it back.” Eddie's voice had softened, sounded comforting now in the face of anger now being thrown at him.

“You immediately called me King Steve when first opening your camp beside mine. Even when Gareth was pretty chill to talk with, you left the wall there. How was I meant to know I could ask for anything?” The energy was gone from his words and his head came to rest on Eddie's shoulder. “So I just took what I could helping and arguing as you wanted.”

Eddie nudged him back from his hiding place in his neck, one hand coming up to tilt Steve's face to his own. “Well what I want now is to date and run one big camp with you. Is that something you think you could stand?”

Steve smiled, nodding, “On 2 conditions. 1. I'm in charge of the filing and paperwork with Gareth's help for the numbers side of it all.”

“And the other?”

“You kiss me already.”

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #robin buckley #steddie #gareth stranger things #barbie rock 'n' royals #erika juno #princess courtney

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