#Eddie Munson x singlemom!reader

[dumbslxtclub]

you're on your own, kid | e.m - part twelve

eddie munson x singlemom!reader

summary: set after the events of season four, Steve has disappeared and is presumed dead in the upside down. broken and now left to deal with your pregnancy alone, Eddie takes it upon himself to support you to the best of his abilities in Steve’s absence.

chapter summary: as your relationship with eddie blossoms, the weight of truth reaches it's breaking point.

content warnings: fem!reader, adult language, adult themes, unplanned pregnancy, angst, hurt/comfort, some canon divergence/au, mentions of death, reader is 20, anxiety, heavy angst, fluff, no use of y/n, slow burn, brief mention of vomiting

word count: 10.8k+

a/n: some of this was inspired was inspired by the poem ‘i wish i were two dogs then i could play with me’ by anne carson. I apologise for the long absence, life has been crazy but I’m very proud of this chapter and I hope you enjoy! sorry in advance for the angst it’s about to get real. as always, shoutout to @dickfics69 for helping me xx

taglist: @lezzy-bennet @harrypotteranna23-blog  @reidstea @sashaphantomhive  @bexreadstoomuch @audhd-dragonaut @littlepotatobeansworld @ches-86  @tlclick73 @fckyeahlames @gnocchey @astrolockley @sidthedollface2 @micheledawn1975  @3rd-conchord @eddiesbabe95 @taintedcigs @harry-bowie-mercury @micheledawn1975​

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Part Twelve: Lovely To Sit Between Comfort and Chaos

Who knew scanning video tape barcodes could be so fun? An inherently arduous task made tolerable thanks to the warming weather, every monotonous motion laced with sun-soaked dopamine. The stale interior of Family Video is washed in a stream of sunlight, the clear sky leaving no interruption for the desired warmth.

The chill of winter has all but dissolved, the new season budding in blossoms dancing in lush trees and children without jackets in the park. But, beneath the surface, something more has begun mingling in your blood. Your veins are laced with the giddy joy of a new beginning, something fresh and exciting. Like the first pages of a good book, popping open a fresh bottle of wine. As with all beginnings, they have their own tonality, an addictive vibrancy that makes them so elusively special. Ebbing with firsts, ‘what ifs’ and unadulterated hope. Leaving you behind the store counter with a schoolgirl grin, completing the most mundane of tasks with enthusiasm. With every video returned into the system, another mountain forms as Robin returns to the front desk. She picks up the two latest additions from the pile, examining them with scrutiny.

“Woof. 9 ½ Weeks AND Body Heat? Someone had a big weekend.” She places them onto the steel rolling shelves, beginning to categorize the sections. Monotonous doesn’t even begin to describe the store’s activities, Robin falling especially victim to their dullness today. “Speaking of, did you get up to anything interesting?”

“Well, Audrey’s learnt how to chuck her bottles across the room. So I guess you could say things were pretty wild around my neck of the woods.”

“Guess I’ll cancel her pee-wee baseball lessons then.” She quips back, busying herself with the tapes. 

It’s a funny thing, dishonesty. How it sits on the roof of your stomach, digging its heels into your gut whenever it sees fit. You’ve elected not to tell Robin about your date with Eddie, nor your second kiss, for a myriad of reasons. As your closest friend, you understand that she is just looking out for you, protecting your vulnerable heartspace. With your connection to Eddie growing, complication is bound to follow. And in such a budding stage, it just doesn’t make sense to make a mountain out of a molehill. 

When you’d first approached her about your potential date with Andy, she’d responded in a similar manner, driven by protectiveness. But you knew, she could see an innate craving for something more than she could provide. It was only natural. Your new identity was tied to being a mother, full stop. It had been a long time since you felt wanted, attractive, desired. A longing to be wined and dined, treated like so much more than milk-providing breasts on legs. And she wanted you to get back out there, into the real world and away from your comfortable nest of motherhood. You are strong, Robin is well aware of this, fighting the urge to protect you and Audrey from the big bad world. Of course, hindsight is a funny thing, and she should have ripped Andy a new one before he had the chance to do anything stupid. To assume he was capable of being a decent human being for an evening was clearly expecting too much.

But with Eddie, it’s so different. Comfortable in ways you couldn’t articulate, you felt a sense of consistent safety you hadn’t experienced in a long time. Life has just become easier with him around, day to day tasks much more enjoyable in his company. And so, you’ve resolved to just dip your toes into the idea of it evolving into something more. It’s not so much lying as it is withholding the truth. 

With the final tape scanned in, you toss it onto the shelf, nearly bowling over Robin’s efforts in the process. She shoots you a warning glare before sighing, glancing melancholically at the clock.

“Ah, all that stands between me and a turkey sandwich is…” She picks up a video at random and glances down at it. “... Xanadu?! Oh my god-”

She drives the cart around the corner, cussing out the poor customer's choice in film. Smiling at her antics, you busy yourself tidying the cluttered desk. Taped to the monitor is a curated collection of film pictures Robin had Jonathan develop. The ultrasound photo still sits in prime position, with a copy of the hospital image below it. Another picture is tacked to the corner of the screen showing you and Robin cuddled up in bed with Audrey sandwiched between you, all in accidentally coordinating shades of blue. You remember that night, Eddie had dropped by after work and lost it laughing at the three of you perched in bed like the grandparents in Willy Wonka, quickly racing to the kitchen to retrieve Jonathan’s camera. Moments immortalized in stillness, energetic happiness radiating out of them.

So lost in the memory, you barely register the sound of the bell above the front door ringing.

“Late return charges got you grinning like that, sweetheart?” Averting your gaze, you watch as your babysitter of choice enters the store. Eddie shoots you a warm smile, one hand gently supporting the black carrier strapped to his chest. Audrey, pacifier in mouth, faces outwards with limbs dangling aimlessly in the confines of the holder. It’s hard to miss the small purple bow clipped to the crown of her head, something that was not part of her ensemble when you dressed her this morning. Like maneuvering his own personal puppet, Eddie picks up her limp wrist to wave it in your direction. The docile baby glances up at the metalhead with curiosity, seeking out the phantom manipulating her arm.

“I can’t rent you R-rated films with a minor present, I’m afraid.” You quip with a smile, pressing your palms into the counter.

“Shit.” Eddie points to the door, backtracking a step and glancing down at Audrey. “Let me just go and tie her up out front real quick, alright?”

“Please don’t tie my daughter up on the street like a dog.”

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about her.” Eddie grins. “But maybe we should lock in that date before we break out the ropes and collars, hm?”

His comment immediately causes your cheeks to flush, suddenly feeling stifled in your sickly green vest. Images of compromising positions flood your mind, notably featuring the handcuffs strung up in Eddie’s bedroom. An awkward chuckle escapes your throat, Eddie’s smile faltering at the sight.

“I- I mean… fuck, oh-” His hands quickly fly to Audrey’s ears, protecting her from his cursing. “- just, pretend I never said that, okay?”

“Not a chance. You’re never living that one down, Munson.” Your melodious laughter sets Eddie free. “Where’ve you two been today?”

“Y’know, just all of her favorite places. Had to head into the shop to pick up my paycheck, the guys couldn’t get enough of her. ‘Specially Bob, or Ed, I forget- he’s been going on about her for weeks so I thought if she visited he might shut up about it.”

“Using my daughter as bait? Classy.”

“You know me all too well, sweetheart.” He’s quick to catch the pacifier as it tumbles out of Audrey’s mouth, her face screwing up in disgust while he tries to feed it back to her. “Oh, and she met a dog today. It was a beast of a thing, a Rottweiler or something. Don’t think I’ve ever seen her so excited, she grabbed its ears and everything. Thought it might bite her head off. It did lick her on the face though, but I suppose that’s good for her immune system.”

“Sounds like you two have been on quite an adventure.” With Audrey now within arms reach, you lean over the counter to give her a kiss on the forehead. Her eyes light up at the sight of you, giving Eddie enough time to quickly shove the pacifier back into her mouth.

“Speaking of which… what are the chances of you getting work off this Friday afternoon?” His voice is hushed, and laced with an edge of the cheekiness you’ve come to adore. With a quick survey around the shop, you inspect to make sure Robin is out of earshot.

“I think I could pull some strings.”

“Good, good. I might have something fun planned for us.” Eddie smiles sheepishly, readjusting the weight of the carrier. “And, as much as I hate to admit it, I think Henderson might finally be ready to go solo with Squid.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah, I mean- I didn’t see anyone chewing on the electrical cords so that’s an A in my books.”

“Glad to see you’ve got high standards.” You tease, the grin on Eddie’s face only growing..

“I sure do.” 

-

Quick question, what the hell does one wear on a date? For your outing with Andy, Robin took charge of your wardrobe and crafted an outfit with complete ease. The stakes were lower, you suppose, not overly concerned with your appearance. But for today’s mystery date with Eddie, you’re finding yourself digging into the deepest crevices of your wardrobe for something that screams I’m trying, but not too hard. And, as fate would have it, nothing is jumping out at you. That shirt? Too old. These pants? Don’t fit anymore. Those socks? They’re Audrey’s, not sure how they got in here…

Huffing, you plant yourself on the floor in a nest of unacceptable garments. Your daughter sits peacefully in her bouncing recliner, gaze contently following your every move while she gums at her caterpillars antennae. Grabbing two half decent short-sleeve tops, you hold them up in the baby’s direction.

“What do you think, little miss?” Audrey continues her chomping assault, not at all interested in your predicament. You sigh, tossing the shirts into the pile of mediocrity. “God, it’s easy for you. You look cute in everything.”

Articulating your last word with a tickle, you drink in the way her mouth spreads into a toothless smile. She’s really beginning to grow into her own looks, her features forming beyond the universal blob baby look. Her hair is getting a slight wave to it, still comedically thick on her head. Pouty lips combined with her chubby cheeks give her maximum squishability factor. And as you look down at the mess of clothes covering the floor, you can’t help but cast your mind 16 years into the future. Rummaging through your daughter’s wardrobe in search of the perfect first date outfit, taking her to the mall just outside of town hunting down the dreamiest of prom dresses. It’s all racing by before your eyes. A spiral begins to form if you think about it for too long, so you quickly dedicate yourself to the task at hand.

In the end, you decide to keep it simple. A boxy button-up paired with some acid-wash mom jeans and a leather belt. Your hair is on its last legs before wash-day, so you elect to tame it with a bandana wrapped at the nape of your neck to hide the greasy mess. And Converse to complete the ensemble, because, you know, you don’t have all day. Your babysitter will be here any minute.

Dustin is smilier than usual, if that’s even possible. Grinning from ear to ear, watching you dart across the room with his hands on his hips. Making no effort to help you find your keys, but rather engaged watching your one-man Monty Python sketch.

“All ready for your big date?” The teenager articulates the last word with a suggestive raise of his eyebrows. It stops you in your tracks, shooting daggers his way and doing little to wipe his smile away. 

“For the last time, it’s not a date!” You lie through your teeth back to him. “I told you, we’re just going to hang out as friends. Adult friends. You know, without the presence of a baby.”

“Sure, sure. So, you got all glammed up for nothing?”

“Oh my god, I am not glammed up!” Glancing down at your outfit, you subtly worry that you may come off as trying too hard.

“I’m just saying…” Dustin throws his hands up defensively, the traces of a smile still playing on the corner of his mouth. “... you do look really nice, though.”

A humble grin makes itself known, abandoning your fruitless search to cross over to the younger boy. With figures like Steve and Eddie in his life, it’s easy to see where Dustin gets his chivalrous manners from. 

“Aw, thanks, Dusty.” Flinging your arms around his shoulders, you pull him in for a tight squeeze with the explicit purpose of embarrassing him. The teenager relents quickly, giving your back a firm pat as you hold him to you in a vice grip. Giggling at the way he squirms in your arms, you take a few wobbly steps to keep him locked into place.

Burrowing your face into his mess of curls, you allow yourself to indulge in the comfort of his embrace. He’s always been a cuddly kid, and perhaps you weren’t aware of how much you needed this until now. The pair of you stand there for a beat, allowing the moment to morph from playful teasing into genuine support. Two kids, sharing a history of pain, guilt and loss. Finding solace in one another, the older enveloping the younger and soothing whatever lingering ache burns beneath their collective sorrow. He misses Steve. God, how he misses him. 

It seeps through the pores of his fingertips, gently caressing your spine in small circles. As if, if you were to listen closely, beyond the dull hum of the refrigerator and the scattered bird calls outside, you could hear it. The tiniest voice, buried beneath unkempt curls, asking will it ever go away? And you both know the answer. It won’t, but you’ll learn to live with it. Together.

Biting back the swell of tears wetting your tongue, threatening to make themselves known, you refuse to crumble before him. Not today. Not on a day as happy as this. 

If it’s true that Eddie has little experience with dating, he sure as hell masks it well. With a handful of daisies clutched in his fist, he’s the epitome of confidence as he raps on your door three times. Claiming the flowers were for Audrey (and definitely not for you), he quickly shuts down Dustin’s insinuations before shuttling you out the front door to his chariot. He always opens the door for you, but the small gesture makes you giddy with girlish excitement. And as soon as he joins you in the dingy interior, positive the pair of you are out of Dustin’s prying eyeline, he leans over the center console to press a chaste kiss to your cheek. The brief contact causes your heart to skip, chapped lips meeting soft skin so casually it’s disarming. A calloused thumb brushing your chin, edging your face in the direction of him, drinking in every imperfection dancing across your skin in the fading afternoon light. Noses lingering inches from one another, wrinkles forming at the edges of his eyes preceding a Cheshire-cat grin.

“Ready for our next adventure?”

With a nod, clicking the gears into drive, the van rolls out of the sun-bathed trailer park and onto the winding roads out of town. It’s easy, the silence that exists between you while you tune out to the sound of whatever metal cassette is shoved into the car’s stereo. Pulling further and further out of the small town, away from the noise. The bustle of life, the judgemental whispers. To some unknown destination, where the two of you will be free to just be.

It comes into view around half an hour into the drive, sticking out like a sore thumb against the lush forest surrounding you. A kitschy, neglected sign with what appears to be a beaver toothily smiling down at you, waving its unoiled, mechanical arm at passers-by. Silly Putter Mini Golf. Pulling into the tiny parking lot, you study the loud canary yellow clubhouse building while Eddie clambours out of the driver’s side. It’s totally cheesy, down to the pathetically flickering lightbulb on the welcome sign. And you couldn’t love it more.

Swinging the passenger side door open, your date extends his ringed hand outward.

“Ready to get your putt on?”

With utmost ease, Eddie sinks the ball on his second shot. You could be mad at his seemingly god-given talent, but it’s hard to stay upset watching his hips sway like that in those dark jeans. Even at a children’s putt-putt course, he’s shown no interest in dressing more family friendly. Under your breath, you mutter praise to the inventor of muscle tank tops, now privy to the way his sinewy muscles flex with each stroke of the golf club. Occasionally, the handle of the club would clink against his wallet chain draped out of his pocket, drawing your attention back to his narrow hips. As far as you were concerned, you were a winner tonight, regardless of the scores.

“Yes! Gotta catch up, sweetheart. I’m beating you by…” He pulls the small scorecard out of his back pocket and grins. “... five points.”

Shooting a distrusting look in his direction, you pace to meet him on the prickly astroturf. 

“What?! I thought you said it was three?” 

Snatching the page away, Eddie holds it tauntingly above your head. He swings it around like a kite, mocking your stature while the only other family here passes by you with milkshakes in hand.

“That was before you hit the windmill twice on the last hole. Bit embarrassing, if you ask me.” He pokes, a shit-eating grin still plastered on his face. “Tell you what. You make this in less than two shots, I’ll call it even. Even throw in some fries afterwards, as a sign of good showmanship.”

A competitive energy charges through your body, a daring smirk playing on your face. Through your lashes, you challenge the metalhead’s smug demeanor, flirting with the notion of friendly competition.

“Deal.”

With a newly confident stride, you make your way to the fluorescent pink tee you’d picked out for yourself, placing the equally obnoxious green ball atop it. It’s a fairly easy set up, two small hills creating a valley that would lead you straight to the hole. A mechanical crocodile snaps out of the wall sporadically, directly in line to your goal, hinges chomping at nothing. You assume the stance, needing to bend over slightly to accommodate the child-sized putter you were gripping. The crocodile seems to be popping out every five seconds, and so you brace yourself until it begins its certain retreat. Drawing your putter back, you hear it click against the ball, knowing immediately you overshot it. The ball rolls over one of the bumps in the turf, into a direct line with the crocodiles elongated snout, sending it back in your direction with a pathetic tumble. 

“Shit.” You groan, attempting to tune out the smug laughter behind you. A tattooed arm comes into view over your left shoulder, pointing to the red flag sticking out of the ground.

“The holes over there, sweetheart.” Eddie quips matter-of-factly.

“Gee, thanks. What would I do without you?” Shooting daggers at your entirely too-smug date, you elbow him in the ribs before setting off in the direction of the ball. It seems your jab did little to quell Eddie’s laughter, who quickly catches up to you.

“Think you need to work on your form.”

“There’s a form needed for mini-golf?”

“Mhm, form I possess by the bucketful.” God, he’s a smug little shit sometimes.

Incredulous, you welcome his challenge with wide-open arms. “Alright then, genius. Enlighten me. Show me how it's done.”

Eyebrows disappearing into his messy bangs, Eddie’s doe eyes twinkle with boyish mischief, a prominent dimple playing deep into his cheek.

“Here.” Placing his hands on your shoulders, he maneuvers you in the direction of your goal, now partially obstructed by the protruding crocodile snout. “Line ‘er up.”

He angles himself around you, back pressed to abdomen, warmth emanating from the thin cotton of his shirt against yours. His feet shuffle to either side of yours, boxing you into his cradling hold. Snaking his bare arms along yours, starting at your elbow, each finger wrapping gently around the girth of your forearm. He lingers a moment too long, you don’t complain. Slowly working his way down to your wrists, locking his digits around the boney flesh. Breath on the nape of your neck, adrenaline pumping too fast for you to look anywhere but the lime-green golf ball at your feet. 

“That’s it…” His chest rumbles against your ribcage, coaxing vibrations of praise causing your fingertips to go numb. “Nice and gentle, okay?”

One slow nod is all you manage, feeling his gaze burning into your profile. You watch as the rusting reptile makes itself known against the fake grass, gaping jaws ready to foil your next putt. As it begins its retreat, you take a deep inhale, feeling your ribs expand against the comfort of Eddie’s sternum.

“Go.” Barely a whisper is required, his lips so close to your ear you can practically feel their plush sanctuary. In tandem, Eddie gently pulls your wrists sideways before encouraging you forward with perfect momentum. Metal meets plastic with a firm thud, propelling the ball forward. It rolls, and a collective breath is held. As if the future of the world hinges on this single stroke. Picking up sand and debris along the way, the bright sphere travels across the turf towards its goal. It hits the lip of the hole before tumbling in with a clatter, sending your arms skyward in celebration as you discard the putter.

“Yes!” Gleaming with joy, you spin on your heels to press a firm finger into Eddie’s chest. “In your smug, stupid face, Muns-”

Victory is swiftly cut short as an arm wraps around your hip, grip settling in the groove of your waist. You slot perfectly into the crook of his lean body, softness meeting strength entirely channeled into closing the gap between you. The sheer momentum of it knocks a sigh loose from your chest, clinging to the anchor of his chest with bunched fists entangled in his shirt. His free hand nestles beneath your chin, a firm thumb pressing and guiding your eyeline up to his. Eddie shines with pride. Smiling from ear to ear, shaking his head at your antics with pure amusement, feeling the contagion of your joy. 

Angling your chin slightly higher, Eddie presses his lips down onto yours with fervor. A blend of your two previous encounters, it’s passionate yet careful, a marriage of wanton desire and delicate care. You lean into it, drawing him closer by the cloth adorning his torso, chasing the taste of his kiss. As if to commit it to memory, to learn how it sits in your mouth and if the needy aftertaste ever dissipates. Muscles not just for decoration, but with the greater use of keeping you pressed intimately to his body. His thumb brushes against the groove of your jawline, dancing across the expanse of skin he is yet to be acquainted with. But there will be time for that later. Eddie is the one to pull away, a proud grin still plastered on his face.

“Good job, sweetheart. Ready for your prize?”

Food always tastes better when someone else is paying for it. The fries have the perfect crunch to them, the outer a golden brown against the fluffy white potato now filling your mouth rapidly. Eddie claims that they only came in a package deal with two cans of soda, but you have an inkling he may be lying about that. Your date watches as you shove the greasy food into your mouth, taking a long sip of his Coke.

“Looks like you’re enjoying your winnings over there.”

“Mmm-“ You mumble through a mouthful of starch. “Feels like there’s a birthday party in my mouth.”

Eddie’s brows furrow with amusement at your choice of words, shaking his mane of curls.

“Shit, actually, there’s something I don’t know about you. When is your birthday?”

Swallowing the thick mass of carbs, you slyly redirect your gaze to the quickly-emptying plastic basket before you, picking at a few deep-fried crumbs.

“Next week…” You pray to the heavens your admission was mumbled low enough for Eddie to catch it as some ambiguous month in the distant future. But it seems the years of heavy metal assaulting his ear drums has done little to subdue his sense of hearing.

“Next week?!” Theatrically, Eddie slams his soda down on the picnic table, likely taking off some of the tragic peeling paint in the process. He looks positively incredulous, brows raised to maximum height behind his bangs. “And you’ve been keeping this a secret, why?”

“I wasn’t keeping it a secret! I just didn’t think it was that big of a deal-“

“Not that big of a-“ Fingers splayed on the periwinkle blue wood, he braces himself forward with a deep inhale. “Sweetheart, now I’m gonna have to plan a big bash in less than a week. How could you do this to me?”

As if it’s the biggest inconvenience he’s ever encountered. Chuckling nervously, you wave your hands in a flurry before his deadpan expression.

“Oh no, absolutely not. Uh-uh, not happening.”

“But-”

“Eddie.” Your tone is firm, gaze boring into his. “I’m turning twenty, it’s not even an exciting number. Plus, I have a baby, in case you forgot. Not sure how many nightclubs would let the pair of us in. If it means that much to you, I’ll have you and some of the kids over for a movie. That’s my limit, though.”

Eddie huffs, resolving himself to defeat. “Fine. No strippers, then.”

“Oh, now that you mention strippers…” A grin takes over your face as you waggle a fry in his face, likely sending salt fragments onto Eddie’s shirt. Before you can bring it to your awaiting mouth, he swats the perfectly good fast food out of your hand, sending it catapulting to the ground for some poor, underpaid teenager to clean up later.

“Party in your mouth, huh?” He quips, stealing the larger of the two potato sticks stuck to the paper lining the basket. He pops it into his mouth with a grin, shooting you a suggestive look.

“You’re the worst.”

“I know.”

The energy between the two of you is so, so easy. You sip your cool soda, indulging in the sugary carbonation clinging to your teeth. Eddie does the same, studying a terribly constructed pyramid situated on one of the holes. No pressure to speak, or not speak, just basking in the glow of one another’s company. The air is cool under the downlights, a mild spring evening setting the scene for what a true date night should look like.

“I’ve gotta ask-” You begin through a mouthful of food, somewhat unceremoniously. “- how’d you get so good at mini golf? I just wouldn’t expect you to be the kind of guy to spend his free time at a place like this.”

“Ooft, judging a book by its cover, are we?” Eddie places his drink back on the picnic table, grinning beneath the fluorescent snack bar sign. 

“Oh, never. Heavy metal and putt-putt go hand in hand, as far as I’m concerned.”

Eddie shakes his head, grinning while he peers down at the condensation accumulating on the metal can.

“I, uh- I used to bring Dustin out here.”

“Dustin? Really?”

“Yep.” There’s a loaded silence between the pair of you, something that isn’t uncommon as you exchange stories of your past. “After, um- y’know, everything happened. He kind of… shut down. A bit like you did, for a while. Didn’t want to play DnD, or see anybody, really. So this one day, I just drove over to his place and dragged him out of bed saying ‘C’mon, butthead. I’m taking you outta town’. He kicked up a bit of a fuss, but I just sort of army-marched him out the front door. We drove around for a while, not really talking and stumbled on this place. He shot me that stupid grin of his for the first time in forever, so we came in. It sort of became a weekly thing after that, and I hate to admit that I actually enjoyed it after a while.”

Swirling a fry around in too much ketchup, your meal is all but forgotten as you find yourself enthralled by Eddie’s recollection. That all too familiar pang of sadness returns, regret manifesting quickly in your body. You wish you were there for Dustin. You should have been. You wish you were stronger earlier, able to provide him with the care he so desperately needed. In the past few months, you’ve watched the teenager really step up, busying himself with baby books in order to be the best ‘uncle’ he could be. He’s a close second behind Eddie when it comes to making Audrey smile, lapping up every second he gets with her. God, Steve would be so proud of him.

“He’s a good kid, even if he’s an annoying little shit sometimes. And Steve…” His thought trails off, running his finger around the edge of the soda can. “... Steve was good for him. Gave him someone to look up to, a role model sort-of. Almost like a big brother, I guess. So I didn’t mind running around a shitty mini-golf course with a creepy beaver sign if it made him happy.”

Abandoning your meal, you reach across the table to take Eddie’s hand in yours. The tips of his fingers are cold from the refrigerated beverage, and you wrap your palm around the icy skin with warm reassurance. 

“You’re a good man, Eddie.”

Eddie’s lips curve into the most imperceptible smile, humble and felt almost entirely inward. For a fleeting second, he wonders if that could be true. 

Eddie was meant to drive you straight home. The roads were quiet at this time of night, no traffic bar the occasional truck making its way in the opposite direction of the small town he unfortunately called home. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this full. Not literally, of course, given you guzzled down the majority of hot food before he had a chance to get to it. But it didn’t matter, not the slightest. 

He felt proud. 

Proud while he watched you dig through the bucket of tees, looking for the perfect Barbie pink one that wasn’t chipped or dirty. Proud of his excellent golfing form, thankful for all the practice he’d gotten through restless evenings with Henderson. Proud of the way you jumped up and down, hands raised to the heavens as you sank your shot in half the time it had taken you on every other hole. Proud of how he scooped you into his arms, like every cheesy rom-com he’d had the displeasure of watching. Proud of the part he had to play in your happiness. Proud to be seen with you.

He was meant to drive you straight home.

He had every intention of doing so. 

Satiated with pride, he could resolve to spend the remainder of his evening grinning stupidly to himself in the isolation of his room. The humble home across the trailer park suddenly feels closer, anyway. Until, your hand snaked its way across the center console onto his thigh, your touch feather light but the weight heavy. For a brief moment, he wonders if you reached for something but overshot, a simple mistake. And then, you linger. Fingernails scratching the course denim clinging to his legs, shockwaves sent down his skin with every delicate stroke. Absent-minded. Loaded.

He knew the stakes had just been raised.

The two of you had been close like this dozens of times before, particularly in your pregnancy. Eddie never saw the need for one of those pregnancy pillows advertised on late-night infomercials, when you apparently saw him as the perfect substitute. Back then, those exchanges meant almost nothing. A tiny back scratch here and there, drawing small circles on your forearm while you dozed off with your entire body weight pressed to his shoulder. Thoughtless interactions, designed purely to comfort and set you at ease. The familiarity that has perhaps always existed between the pair of you, now morphing into something new.

Thumb smoothing the faded-black material, tiny rotations etched over and over.

Hypnotic.

The bravery that overtook him was phantom, ghostly desire edging his knee ever so slightly further in your direction. As if to say please, don’t stop. I’m right here. His eyes remain firmly locked onto the dark road, using only the occasional streetlight to guide his path. Besides, he doesn’t need to look at you to feel your gaze on his cheek. Not that he could bring himself to, if he tried. He wonders if he blacked out earlier. Got hit in the head with a rogue club and passed out, ascending to a heaven in which he would be fortunate enough to experience such a sensation. Heart pounding in his chest, he lets out an unsteady exhale as your fingers snake deeper into the groove, caressing at more sensitive flesh. Inward, where the skin is far more sensitive. 

Eddie isn’t a greedy man.

Until he is.

“Baby…” The foreign pet name slips out as a moan, barely perceivable beneath the soft hum of the cassette’s tune filling the car at a low volume. Somehow, in those two syllables alone, he crosses a line. Bares his soul to the wolves, knowing well the potential ramifications, the bloodshed that follows vulnerability.

The digging of your fingernails into the meaty flesh at his utterance is his breaking point. The green light he sought out. With cautious fervourency, he pulls off the road quickly, wheels clattering along the asphalt excuse for a truck stop. The car is quickly clicked into park before the metalhead can cognise it, tearing the constricting seatbelt off his body. Your hand never leaves its spot.

Turning to you, wide-eyed with want, he pauses. Gives himself whiplash from the flurry of activity leading to the sudden stillness. It’s intrinsic, no need for words anymore. Redundant wastes of breath.

His lungs hitch, adrenaline pulsing in the tips of his fingers. 

Can we?

Lips parted ever so slightly, a rise of your chest and dazed fluttering of eyelids answers.

Yes.

It’s not clear who lunges first. What is clear is how your bodies instinctively shape around one another, quick to absolve the space between you. Lips collide with lips, desperately seeking respite. Wanton moans are pulled effortlessly, fistfuls of hair tangled in clammy fingers drawing the two of you impossibly close. Imperfect fumblings as shirts are clutched desperately, fueling the fire burning in the pits of Eddie’s stomach. The pace is entirely unsteady, soft brushes bleeding into firm tugs of teeth piercing tender flesh with just the right amount of force. Embarrassing, unadulterated need at the forefront of every motion, and neither of you cared. God, it’s almost perverse. How Eddie corrupts something so soft, so sweet, with every fevered kiss. Like he’s tainting you with his taste, as if he could lap enough of you up and absolve his unworthiness. The likelihood of that working is slim, but god damn Eddie is willing to try. 

It’s still not enough. 

The plastic console separating you is driving him mad. He needs to be able to grab, clutch, caress every square inch of you with no obstructions. You make him bold. 

Bold enough to slip his wandering hand beneath your far thigh, the smallest hithering motion enough to feel the weight shift above his palm. Unceremoniously, you clamber over the glove box after unclipping your seatbelt, haphazardly swinging your foot into the horn. The beep echoes through the isolated rest stop, a mumbled apology being quickly swallowed by Eddie’s lips. Blindly guided, he directs your knees to either side of his hips, showing no qualms with the limited driver’s side legroom. His hands find your hips, tentatively hovering above his lap, shaky thighs taking the brunt of your weight. With small, caressing circles of your hip bone, he soothes you as he always has. Encourages you to share the pressure, begging to be the bearer of it. No wrong answer, only whatever you’re comfortable with. Perfect the way you are. 

Ringed fingers press gently into the small of your waist, drawing you closer still to his body. This seems to encourage you to relent to your tiring muscles, finding solace on Eddie’s tense thighs. A safe distance, but so close to danger. To unbridled want. Neither of you care.

Eddie’s eyes flutter shut as you speckle kisses along his cheek, dancing down his jawline and finding sanctuary on his neck. Nipping slightly at his pulse point, he can’t help but squeeze a bit tighter. Relishing in your exploration, mentally mumbling Hail Mary’s for his good deeds from past lives that lead him to this euphoria. A gasp escapes his throat as you latch onto a particularly sensitive spot, causing his hands to seek refuge on the meat of your hips. He squeezes, eliciting a similar wanton moan that vibrates against his stubbled skin.

“Is- is this good?” A sentence loaded with various meanings tumbles out, his grip loosening slightly. 

“Mmm.” You murmur, tracing the familiar trail back along his jaw and to his aching lips. “So good. So good to me, always.”

A knot forms in the pit of Eddie’s stomach. So good. So good. For you. That’s all he’s ever wanted to be. It fucking underscores every day, trying to do right by you. Constantly trying. He lives for it. For the smiles, the exhales of safety, the reassurance, the comfort…

It’s gotten him more hooked than a drug ever could.

So why. 

Why can’t he accept it?

The praise, the love, everything you dish out effortlessly. But to want and to deserve are very different things, the latter being something that Eddie factually knows he is not entitled to. 

It returns, a tidal wave of despair crashing over his heart, encasing it in a riptide of emotional debris and darkness. The taunting ticking of the second hand that haunts him constantly, the grip on his happiness slipping…

“Hey.” He gasps out, ringed fingers grazing your cheek as he pulls away. So close still he can see the flushed-red outline of your lips, the blissed out expression in your eyes quickly morphing to concern.

“Shit, you okay?” You pull back, brushing a loose curl out of the frame of his face.

“Yeah, ‘m fine.” A stabilizing breath does little to quell the erratic beating of his heart. “Just- maybe we should, like, take things a bit slower? I- I just don’t want all this to be too much, too fast.”

Brows furrowing slightly, it’s hard to miss the minute disappointment reflected across your face.

“Oh. No, yeah, of course.” Letting out an awkward chuckle, your unoccupied hands take to fidgeting with your now-loose blouse. “Sorry, didn’t mean to get carried away…”

“No, no-” Eddie reassures, a smile growing on his sore lips despite the gnawing ache in his chest. “Fuck, you were- it was perfect.”

A bashful grin cuts through the nerves etched into your skin. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” God, you make him too bold. Cradling your chin between his thumb and forefinger, he dips forward to steal another miss from you. “Just want to do things right. Be a gentleman and all that.”

“You? A gentleman? Since when?” You poke.

“Since always.” The tone returns to easy as always, if not charged with a certain afterglow of electricity.

“So, what’s the next step in the courting ritual then?”

“Dunno. Guess I’ll have to pull off a grand gesture of some kind.”

Thursday afternoon, counting down the minutes until the clock strikes 5pm and frees you from this grind. Happy fucking birthday to you. 

Robin has been fussing over you non-stop for the past 24 hours. Apparently, a little birdie told her about your upcoming birthday (something you’d diligently kept private), sending her into a frenzy. She insisted on at least taking you out for dinner to celebrate your birthday at Benny’s, and practically stuffed her version of appropriate birthday attire into a duffle bag this morning for you to change into post-shift. In all her festive glory, she returned from her lunch break with a pink-frosting covered cupcake and tried to involve no less than three customers in a group rendition of Happy Birthday that was less than successful. And despite the unwarranted theatrics, you can’t deny your gratitude. Seeing how she dotes on you, dedicating her every movement that day to your happiness. And frankly, it’s not dissimilar to every other day. The love, the care that the two of you feel for eachother simply heightened for your first day of your twenties. Luck has never been a word you’d use to describe your life, but today, it feels fitting.

Keith has been goaded into closing the shop up solo tonight, Robin sparing no detail of the utmost importance to this diner dinner. She’d also arranged for Eddie to bring Audrey along, clocking in around 12 total hours of unpaid babysitting and a bushel of brownie points. Then, once the grown-ups have hung out, some of the younger kids will bike to the trailer park for a late-night movie. Spending the remaining hours of your birthday with everyone you love.

The small bathroom cubicle adjoining the workroom is cluttered with makeup and clothes, the two of you primping yourself in privacy. Tonight’s outfit of choice appears to be a band tee, tied at the waist with a flowing maxi-skirt, clashing in your mind but makes sense to Robin, apparently. To level the playing field, she dug out some of your nicer boots for the occasion. Internally, you worry for Audrey, and how it’ll be once Robin realizes she has two life-sized Barbie dolls to dress up. But secretly, you like it. It feels very you, whatever that means now. Comfort meets expression, an identity crafted beyond Mom.

Smiling at yourself through the rusty bathroom mirror, Robin swipes on her mascara.

“How do you feel? Older and wiser yet?” Robin asks, eyes bugged out in concentration.

“More of the former, I’d say.” You chuckle.

“What about the outfit? I felt pretty proud of it, very rocker-chic meets fairy princess.”

“It’s great, Rob. All of it.” Lips pursing together in an emotional smile, you drink in the image before you. You look your age. No dark circles or fine lines present, concealed under just the right amount of makeup. Hair just the way you like it, not confined to a three-day-old ponytail. You recognise her, from another life. The girl you used to be. And she’s so happy to see you.

Robin shoves the mascara tube into her tote bag, throwing it over her shoulder. “Ready to hit the road?”

With a nod, you hold the door open for her, the imposing fluorescents of the video store coming back into view. 

“Oh, nearly forgot. We’ve gotta make a pit stop along the way, if that’s alright with you?” Following her trail, the two of you burst out the front doors and into the brisk evening towards your Pinto.

“Sure.” You reply. “Just lead the way.”

“Robin, where the hell are we?” Glancing around one of the seedier streets of Hawkins, you shrug your handbag a little closer under your armpit and remind yourself that you did, in fact, lock your car. It’s fairly innocuous, an assortment of goods shops and a vintage record store, but you’ve never ventured this far into the heartland. Robin is a few paces before you, studying the signs of various closed businesses along the road. Her face lights up as you approach one particular building. 

“Bada-boom.” She announces with a proud grin, stopping in front of a large, black building. The paint is sun-faded, lined with scratched-off band posters graffitied with lewd scribbles. Against the dark sky, your only indication of the name etched into the doorway awning comes in the form of a passing car blaring its lights.

“The Hideout?” It rang a bell, yet you could not work out for the life of you what the two of you were doing here. “Dude, is this a nightclub? It’s a Thursday!”

“Not exactly…” Her brazen smile makes you slightly nervous. “More of a live music venue. I’ve just gotta pick something up from here, then we’ll be off to dinner. ‘Kay?”

“Alright, maybe I’ll just wait outside-” “No!” Robin quickly clears her throat. “I mean- I’m not leaving you out here on these mean street all alone without me to protect you.”

Shooting you a bright smile, you have to take at face value that she’s being entirely serious right now. Locking her arm through yours, she urges your unwilling feet further to the entrance.

“Is it even-” Answering your half-finished question, Robin pushes open the door to the venue, the interior pitch-black. “Are we even allowed to be here?”

“Yes, dingus! Just c’mon…” Once again, you’re placing literal blind faith into your closest friend. She might as well have tied Eddie’s bandana over your eyes as she did at Christmas, nothing but the slightly sticky floor beneath you to guide you forwards into oblivion. Her arm is your liferaft, swimming through pitch-black waters towards god knows what. In the distance, you hear a strange scuffling of feet, not belonging to either you or your co-worker. It sends chills down your spine, suddenly feeling very out of your depth. It’s disorienting, and totally alien.

“Seriously, Robin. Can we-” Your hushed tone is directed to the girl beside you, who stops in her tracks. You plant yourself beside her, the strangest feeling of being able to make a figure out through the void before you. A fleeting moment of movement, another shuffle of shoes on tacky wood ground. 

And in the flash of an eye, brightness burns your retinas, momentarily blinding you. It forces you to squint, a desperate attempt to identify these unfamiliar surroundings. A spotlight of sorts bears down on you before Robin quickly releases you from her vice grip and jumps to the side. But as one sense is returned, another is quickly abused, a raucous sound brutalizing your eardrums.

“Surprise!” Numerous voices call out at the top of their voices, unable to be individually dissected amongst the barrage of confetti poppers bursting into the sky. As your eyes grow accustomed to the warm spotlights around the venue, you make out familiar shapes. A mess of scruffy curls buried beneath a baseball cap. Two young boys with arms slung around one another jumping up and down, perfectly manicured bangs flinging haphazardly. The flash of a camera you’d borrowed months ago. There’s only a few of them, but their energy fills the space tenfold. 

And, at the center, you see a lean figure with a Kirk Hamlett haircut raise a squirming lump high above his head, not unlike a certain Disney movie that wouldn’t come out for another good eight or so years. Eddie, in what can only be described as his best cut-off band tee, proudly holds Audrey high above the group, her chunky legs bunched up to her body as she looks around entirely confused. As the last syllable of their celebration dies off, as if on cue, Audrey’s face screws up in a dramatic pout, a loud cry echoing through the venue at a volume the others only could hope to have achieved. Eddie’s face quickly transforms to worry, eyes squinting with embarrassment.

“Oh, fu-” Eddie quickly lowers her, cradling her head towards his collarbone. “Shit, didn’t mean to scare you, Squid.” 

Shushing her and pacing a step towards you, he bounces your baby from side to side. Her cries begin to lull, her fist tucked tightly at his clavicle for emotional support. Likely giving his neck a few scratches from her razor-sharp fingernails, she clings to the neckline of his shirt like a spider monkey, pulling it down with a subdued whimper and revealing one of his tattoos.

“Eddie? What-” You’re stunned. Shell-shocked from the sudden onslaught of sensation and attention, closing the space between you and the metalhead.

“How’s this for a grand gesture?” Spinning on his heel, Dustin rushes over to present a frosting-covered monstrosity on the bar. The icing is baby pink, with large globs that could be letters on top, with a handful of mismatched candles shoved into the floury concoction.

“Ta-da!” The younger boy grins, fixing one of the especially lop-sided candles. “Sorry it’s nothing special, I didn’t have much time to work on it…”

“You- you threw me a birthday party?” You ask, wide-eyed to Eddie.

“Ah-” He raises a finger, readjusting the subdued baby in his arms. “A surprise birthday party. In case you missed the keyword over the little hellraiser's scene-stealing cry.”

That familiar feeling returns. Overwhelmed by love and eyes solely on you. A small pile of presents sits on one of the bar tables, along with a few cards. Far more modest than the endowment you received from the group months earlier. Smiling faces, slightly tentative as they attempt to interpret your expression. But that thumping in your chest is not from anxiety this time. It’s from an overflowing sense of gratitude. 

A teary smile takes over your face, rushing to embrace Eddie and Audrey in a tight bear hug. The baby nestled between you burbles and squirms, and you raise your lips to the shell of Eddie’s ear to whisper a heartfelt “thank-you”.

The party is in full swing. Of the faces huddled in groups around the intimate venue, you initially only recognise half of them. Mike, Lucas and Will order root beer from the bar under Eddie’s strict supervision, not wanting any wasted minors on his track record. Dustin and Erica are engaged in a heated conversation with a few older boys, each of them wearing shirts printed with the name Corroded Coffin. You’d only crossed paths with them a handful of times at campaign nights, but they shared Eddie’s welcoming nature, trying to involve you in their conversation about elves or something. Nancy and Robin were trying to liven up the dance floor, which mostly involved Nancy swaying to the beat and Robin putting on a full-scale musical number around her. With Audrey not in the arms of any of her allocated babysitter’s arms, there was only one place left to search. Jonathan was taking a picture of the group in the adjacent booth, El and Max grinning either side of an unfamiliar face. His long, dark hair proved most entertaining for the infant on his lap, a glazed-over expression dancing in his red-rimmed eyes. 

“Woah, woah! That’s not for playing with, little dudette. Try this instead, I know it keeps me entertained.” From his Hawaiian shirt pocket, he pulls out a small set of keys, passing them to Audrey’s greedy fingers. She squeals, flinging the keys up and down in delight.

“God, she’s so cute.” El gushes, smoothing her pint-sized overalls over her legs.

“I know, right. She looks so much like Steve, it’s insane.” Max affirms. “Alright, Argyle. Quit hogging her.”

The redhead scoops her hands around Audrey’s waist, bringing her up to eye level with a cooing expression. 

“You know they’re born without kneecaps? How gnarly is that?” Argyle states, turning to El with complete sincerity.

“No way that’s true.” Max shoots the older boy a signature dead-pan look, readjusting Audrey in her arms, who is now getting a good amount of drool on the keychain.

“Swear on my life! I read it somewhere, they’re born without propellers.”

“You mean patellas?” El corrects.

“Yeah, that’s the one! Or maybe it’s dogs I’m thinking of…”

It’s beautiful, watching over your own party as a voyeur. An event that has brought together all of the closest people in your life, the common thread being you. It makes you sick with love.

“How’re you enjoying the event, sweetheart?” Eddie’s voice reaches you before he does, a glass of tan-colored liquid in hand.

“It’s perfect, really.” You reply with a grin. “All that’s missing are the Jell-o shots.”

“Gonna treat us to another Flashdance number?” Cheeks flushing over his statement, you stammer a response.

“How- how did you…”

“Don’t think I’d forget a spectacle like that.” He winks, a devilish grin spread across his lips. “Livened up that night’s dealings, that’s for sure.”

It’s strange, remembering a time before this. A time when Eddie was just a face in the crowd, Steve the undisputed King of Hawkins, and you with no clue what the coming years held in store. It feels like a lifetime ago, and simultaneously feels like an eternity you’ve spent with this eclectic family by your side.

“Getting on the beers tonight, Munson?” You tap a nail against the edge of his glass teasingly.

“Nah, confiscated Henderson’s root beer for my own selfish purposes.”

“You’re not gonna have a celebratory drink with me tonight?” Eddie shakes his head.

“Don’t think so, sweetheart. Sounds a bit cliche, but I feel weird drinking around Squid. Just don’t want to be the kind of guy who does that around a baby, makes me feel like my dad or something.”

You swear your heart swells to three times its normal size. He might be the most considerate man you’ve ever met.

“Besides…” Eddie continues, pointing to the Hellfire boys. “... don’t want to be a mess on stage for the grand finale of the night.”

You gasp, mock excitement written all over your expression. “Strippers?!”

Eddie shakes his head with a laugh, wrapping his arm around your shoulder.

“Maybe later, if you ask nicely.”

He did it.

Eddie pulled it off. From the house-shaking rendition of Happy Birthday, to the (in his humble opinion) absolutely killer set courtesy of Corroded Coffin, to shuttling the younger kids home before the bar opened to the public. He fucking did it. He did good.

The dingy bar is now filled with the usual patrons, the bouncers not bothering to check the ID’s of the occupants inside who could pass for being over 21. Last he saw you, you were dancing arm in arm with Robin and Nancy, screaming Everybody Wants to Rule The World at the top of your lungs. He’d never seen you so free, so vibrant. Moving like no one was watching, twirling and laughing and holding your friends. Just as you deserved to be. A twenty-year-old for one night, before another 364 days devoted to being a mom.

The cool breeze is welcoming, soothing his warm skin under the clear night sky. Stars swimming in the endless expanse of night, delicate kisses of light kissing the pitch-black veil. He can breathe. It used to be suffocating, looking up at the infinite nothing. It would clog Eddie’s throat, choking him in bleak nothingness. Wrap him in a coat of terror, a black mirror designed to play back every fateful mistake of his miserable life. Now, it welcomes him. And he isn’t afraid to embrace it. Baby steps, learning to love the dark parts of his being.

In his arms, he rocks Squid back and forth gently. She’s long since dozed off, the burden of being the life of the party clearly hung too heavy on her tiny shoulders. On her ears sit the smallest fluffy earmuffs, an investment courtesy of Dustin just for tonight. She was the best little groupie he could have asked for. At one point, Robin brought her onstage and placed her feet on the ground, bopping her up and down to the music. The crowd roared, and she giggled and squealed like she was the headliner act. Might have shown the band up, honestly. Eddie didn’t mind.

He’s getting better at stealing moments with her. Giving into his need to dote on her unabashedly. He could stare at her for a lifetime, and that wouldn’t be enough. He needs to imprint in his mind the way her eyelids flutter when she sleeps, commit to memory the O-shape of her mouth when she lets out a sleepy yawn. He wants to record her laugh, keep it forever. He wants every waking second to be dedicated to her.

“Have a good night, Squid?” He mumbles, lightly stroking the bridge of her nose. “Not bad for your first party, eh? Just you wait until your birthday. All of this will look like child’s play.”

Squid wriggles restlessly, burrowing into Eddie’s chest. Against his sternum, he can feel the rhythmic rise and fall of her breath, the tiny grunts of sleep deep in her lungs. It makes him grin like a mad-man.

“Y’know, I’m gonna let you in on a secret.” He readjusts her carefully in his arms, hushing his tone slightly. “I think- I think you and your mom are the best things that have ever happened to me.”

His words hang heavy in the still air, the empty alleyway the only recipient to his confession.

“Can you believe I was scared of you? Of these tiny hands-” He tickles her palm with his pointer finger, the baby clasping around it instinctually with unbridled strength. “- and these little feet. God, I’m pretty stupid, aren’t I? You can tell me, I won’t be offended. But, I’ll tell you something, just between you and me. There are much scarier things out there. And I’m not talking about monsters or alternate dimensions, although I do promise to protect you from that, cross my heart.” He raises his free hand to his heart, as if the sleeping infant would know any different.

“In this big, bad world, I think the scariest thing is to be alone. And I’m gonna make sure you never feel that way, if I can help it.”

Eddie is rambling, word vomit spilling past his lips faster than he can contain it. No scapegoat of weed or alcohol to blame his honesty on. He gently rocks Squid back and forth, the motion soothing both of them. 

“Y’know, I know you’re not mine. But-” Teeth bite down on the inside of his cheek, fingers pulling down her overalls. “- I dunno, it kinda feels like you’re mine in my heart.”

With a deep exhale, Eddie allows his honesty to wash over him in all its brutal glory. Knee-buckingly raw, and he leans into it, for once. Allows the love to pump through his veins with every beat of his cynical heart, waking up parts of him he thought were gone for good. But the moment of solitude doesn’t last long before Robin comes barreling out of the back door, almost crashing into the nearby trash cans.

“Shit, sorry. Did I wake her?” She apologizes, sloshing her half-finished gin and tonic onto the pavement.

“Nah, you’re in luck. Squid’s out like a light.” He pulls out another milk crate, beckoning the tipsy liability over. “Having fun in there?”

“Yeah, yeah- I am.” It’s a half thought, words dancing on the tip of her tongue not ready to be spoken yet. “The kids get home alright?”

“Eventually, had to drag most of them out by the end. Henderson wanted to hide in the bathroom and then ‘blend in with the older crowd’.”

“Wonder where he learnt that one from.” Robin smiles, nudging the metalhead.

“Hey, don’t look at me. Wasn’t my doing, for once…”

“Mmm…” She replies, taking a swig of her mixed spirit. Staring down at the lime slice, she swishes the glass around as if deep in thought. Glazed eyes laced with melancholy, radiating off her being.

“Something on your mind?” Eddie asks, angling his body more in her direction.

Robin’s mouth screws up as if she’s tasted something bitter, unable to bring her gaze to meet the man before her. But he doesn’t need to look her in the eyes to see the tears swelling on her waterline, quivering with her next sentence. 

“We have to tell her…” Her voice is barely louder than a whisper, suppressed anxiety trickling in with every syllable. 

Eddie feels his blood run cold, the familiar pang of dread hanging low in his stomach. He shakes his head defiantly.

“Not tonight, Rob. Please…” The plea is firm, fraying at the edges. Not ready to face the inevitable.

“No, no. Not tonight, but it needs to be soon.”

“Can we please not do this right now?” Eddie doesn’t mean to be so forceful with his words, but fear is a powerful thing. It poisons his blood, pushed further through his system with every erratic beat of his heart.

Robin’s eyes continue to well up with stinging tears, her grip on the glass tightening. “The guilt is eating me alive, Eddie. I just… I don’t know how to do it.”

Eddie sighs, desperate to keep what little control he possesses. 

“We need to do it the right way, got it? You, me, Henderson and her. We can all sit down and…” Robin runs her hand through her hair with exasperation at Eddie’s suggestion. Even the gentlest of options sounds like a monumental task. “Just give it a bit more time…”

“There is no more time!” She retorts, her volume loud enough for her to quickly glance down at the sleeping baby to make sure she didn’t wake her.

Eddie stands up, readjusting Squid in his arms. He’s doing his best to stay calm, and not let the inevitable spiral begin, a fruitless battle. “I’m not doing this right now, okay?”

The liquid courage is working wonders on Robin right now, standing up to face the metalhead eye-to-eye. “Don’t act like you don’t feel the same way, Eddie. You know as well as I do that she has a right to know.”

Eddie’s mouth is open and ready to voice another stern reply, when it’s interrupted by a meek voice behind him. The soft tone does little to soothe the ache growing in his abdomen, not daring to look over his shoulder at the source. 

“I have a right to know what?”

Haze. 

Disorder. 

Stumbling your way through the overbearing smog flooding your consciousness. Gripping to the worn sofa in your living room like it’s a buoy, the only thing grounding you in painful reality.

It’s fragmented, the onslaught of new information cluttering your mind, unable to be sifted through logically.

Owens.

Lowering yourself to the ground, you’ve lost all faith in your legs to keep you upright. Sea legs giving out beneath you, collapsing under the weight of a burdened mind. You quickly put Audrey in her bassinet the second you arrived home, stepping back from her small body like she was made of fire. Delicate, precious, amidst the crumbling ruins of life.

Found.

No. 

No, you need someone to cling onto. Polyester beneath your fingernails can never compare to flesh and blood, pumping with life and hope and comfort. Oh god. Craving arms, muscle and sinew engulfing your body, soothing and shushing like you’ve done with your baby countless times. Desperate for the luxury of kindness.

No one to dote. 

No one to care. 

No one to witness the mortifying pain of existence. 

No one to observe the torment they cursed you with in the first place.

Steve.

Crawling up your throat like bile, burning your esophagus as hot lava. You’d welcome the respite of vomit, the substance of it, the satisfaction of exorcism. But no, the painful tar claws its way through your tract, bringing biting tears to your eyes. Hell manifesting in your being. Truth collapsing with a heavy hearted I’m so sorry, bouncing off the walls of the narrow alleyway while you retreated. Words spilling out helplessly from your loose tongue, rage of betrayal driving every consonant and syllable. To never see you again, let alone speak to you. 

The loss of everyone, everyone. Robin, Dustin, Nancy, fuck- Eddie. They all knew. They coaxed you through the loss, never allowing for hope to breed. Lies built on mountains of lies, a shamble foundation of friendship. Arms that held your daughter with gentleness and altruism, seemingly all fabricated. Tainting her with every touch, every smile, tongues bleeding as they bit back the truth. Too numb to cry, to even indulge in the agony of feeling.

Beginnings are special, because most of them are fake. Artificial and man-made, entirely composed of brain chemistry and justifications. The person you become after your first glass of wine was already there, fretting below the surface of your facade, chipping away at the mask you present to the world. They never left.

You are at the end of beginning.

[bangaveragewhitewine]

hello lovelies ✨

I have been totally overwhelmed by how many of you loved Meet The Parents 🩷

As if I could leave you hanging! I am working on a second part (and thinking further ahead too!) But slowly.

My job has changed and will change again soon (boo, hiss, I’m tired of this grandpa) and I’m finally doing some big girl things for me and my future. The few sentences of this I can squeeze in each day are a silver lining to it all!

Part 2 is coming. I promise. I just need to take my time!

[bloodibambiidoll]

Being Weird Is Cool

(SingleDad!Eddie Munson x SingleMom!Reader)

Summary: You and your son are new to Hawkins and meet Eddie and his daughter at the park. WK: 1.7K

Warnings: None really, this is just a fluffy sweet little self indulgent meet cute. Eddie and Reader are in their mid 20s and their kids are around 5 going into Kindergarten. Modern AU. Reader is implied to be alternative but it doesn’t have to be read that way.🩵 But as always, my blog is still 18+

A/N: So this is just a cute little blurb that came to me. I always see single dad Eddie but I hardly ever see single mom reader so I thought this would be cuteee. My son has a speech condition and I never see kids with special needs in fics so this is just something small n cute n close to my heart. Maybe I’ll turn it into a series of blurbs about these four, we will see. If anyone has any ideas/requests for these four I’d totally be open to writing them. 🤭🖤Part 2 - My Masterlist - Series Masterlist

“Excuse me, is that your child?”

You looked up from your phone, hearing the voice of an irritated sounding woman, ready to defend your son at a moment's notice. But when you looked up she wasn’t talking to you, she was standing in front of the man who was sitting on the bench next to yours. A scowl on her face, her hands on her hips, and a pudgy little boy with tears in his eyes and chocolate smudged all over him by her side. She tilted her head towards the little girl across the playground that had been playing with your son since you got here. She was very clearly this man’s daughter by the way the unruly brown curls on their heads matched. She was sitting on the ground next to your son with her hand on his shoulder, seemingly comforting him.

“Yeah, she’s mine. What’s up?” The man sounded annoyed, rightfully so.

“Well, she just made my son cry.” The woman scoffed.

He raised an eyebrow at her, looking at your kids then back at her.

“What happened?”

“Apparently she yelled in his face and pushed him over, you really need to teach your daughter how to behave.” The woman’s dirty blonde ponytail that was so tight it looked like it was going to make her eyes bulge he out of her head waved from side to side as she spoke.

“Charlotte! Can you come over here please?” The man called to his daughter, waving her over.

You watched as she stood, dusting wood chips off her black white colored dress before reaching her hand out to your son. She pulled him behind her as she walked over with a determined look on her face.

“Daddy! That little boy was mean to my friend! He told him he was weird and was mocking fun of his voice!” She stomped a little black booted foot and pointed her finger towards the boy in question.

“Charlotte… honey, did you push him over?” He asked her as he stood to his feet, crouching down so he was eye level with her.

At this point you had fully turned your body in their direction, ready to intervene.

“Oli, are you okay baby?” You asked him gently.

“Mommy!!!” He ran over to you and wrapped his arms around your legs, burying his face into your knees.

“What happened honey?” You ran your fingers through his hair and he buried his face further into you. You look over at the man beside you, who looks at you apologetically before turning back to his daughter.

“Char… did you push that boy over there?”

“Yes! But-“

“Hey, no buts, okay? We don’t push people no matter what they do, it's not okay to push.” He told her and he gently rested a large ringed hand on her little shoulder.

“Okay daddy…” she looked down at her little feet with her hands behind her back, bashful.

“Now, do you want to tell me what happened? Calmly.” He titled his head so she was looking him in the eyes again and she pouted. “Come on baby, we can’t fix it if we don’t know.”

“Her PUSHED me! I was just trying play with them and she yelled and pushed!” The little boy spoke up, pointing at her from behind his moms legs.

“No! No! Mean!” Your son, Oliver, who was normally very soft spoken and shy raised his head from your knees to yell at the other boy.

“Okay whoa whoa whoa, let’s everybody calm down.” You looked down at Oli and smiled, rubbing soft circles on his back to try and keep him calm.

“Hey sweetie, your name is Charlotte, right?” You asked her.

“Mhm” She stuck her bottom lip out and nodded.

“Can you tell us what happened please?”

“Yes! That kid!” She pointed and glared at the chocolate covered boy “was being mean to MY new friend! He was mocking fun of his voice and calling him weird! But that’s just not nice!”

It didn’t take you long to figure out what she meant, Oliver was a late talker and very shy. He didn’t talk much and when he did it was only to people he was comfortable with. This wasn’t the first and probably wouldn’t be the last time this happened. Most parents didn’t take the time to teach their kids that everyone is different so you’ve had to take it upon yourself to explain it to them on more than one occasion.

“So that other little boy was being mean to Oli about his voice and you stood up for him, right?”

“Yes! I didn’t want him to play with us and he wouldn’t go away and kept mocking fun of him! so I told him my dad said being weird is cool and I MADE him go away!” She was still stomping her little foot and pointing her little finger at the kid and you had to hold in a laugh at how cute she was.

“Well thank you for standing up for him honey, that’s very sweet of you. But I don’t think your daddy wants you to push people even if they’re mean, right?” You look over to her dad and make eye contact, silently asking for backup.

“Yeah baby, it’s very nice of you to stand up for your friend but I want you to apologize to that little boy for pushing him over, okay?” He put his hand on her back and tilted his head toward the boy and his mother.

“Well is him gonna say sorry? To my friend?” She narrowed her eyes at her father and looked between him and the other child.

“He has nothing to say sorry for! You pushed him! And maybe his mother needs to teach him how to communicate better!” She definitely should not have fucking said that.

“Fucking excuse me???” You stood up and walked past Oliver and straight up to the woman’s pinched face. “We were trying to do the right thing and teach our kids that hitting is never okay but if you want to play it like that?? Okay. How about you teach your son how to treat people? That everyone’s different and it’s not okay to just talk down to people because you don’t understand them? How about you wipe his fucking face and get the fuck out of mine before I show them that maybe hitting isn’t so bad after all.” You practically growled, your eyes boring into hers.

“You people are fucking insane, who let people like you even have children??” She gasped before turning on her heel and leaving the park, dragging her son behind her.

“Fucking bitch.” You scoffed, turning to Oliver and crouching down in front of him. “You okay baby?”

“Yeah mama, okay.” He smiled at you and gave you a thumbs up.

“That was fucking awesome.” The man next to you chuckled and slapped his thigh. “Her face!! She couldn’t even believe you were talking to her like that!!” He laughed.

You looked over at him and smiled, this was the first time you were really looking at him and wow. He was beautiful. You had already noticed his hair but now that you’re looking directly at him you can see his pretty brown eyes, and plush pink lips. When he smiles you see two cute little dimples appear on each side of his mouth and he’s dressed really cute too. Ripped jeans, old band tee, beat up sneakers and a leather jacket. Damn.

“I promise you that is not the first time I’ve dealt with a woman like that and I’m positive it will not be the last.” You chuckled.

“Well you handled it like a goddess, if I was a woman I might’ve punched her.”

“Well I absolutely wanted to.” You both started busting up laughing.

“I’m Eddie, by the way, and you already met Charlotte.” He smiled at you and extended his hand, you took it and told him your name in return.

“And this is Oliver, who you already kinda sorta not really met.” You gestured to your son and Charlotte came bounding over.

“Oli! You want play with me still?” She smiled big at him.

“Yep! Mhm!” He clapped.

“Gotta catch meeeee then!!!!” She ran off towards the playground and he went chasing after her.

“You’re a good dad, not a lot of kids take the time to understand that other kids are different, just because they aren’t taught that at home. You clearly teach her well.” You said with a smile.

“Yeah, I try to teach her that everyone’s different. I mean look at me, it’s not like I had the easiest time growing up, or even now other parents judge me and look down on me for being a single dad and well, just being me. I never want her to feel like that.” He watched his daughter run after your son with a fond smile.

“Yeah” You looked down at your own ripped jean shorts and tights and smiled. “Yeah, I think I get that.”

“Are you guys new in town? I haven’t seen you around and I think I’ve seen everyone in this town at least once”

“Oh, yeah, me and him just moved here last week so we don’t really know anyone yet. I’m hoping once the kids start school next month he will have a bit of an easier time making friends.” You sighed. “He’s just really shy, he has a hard time talking and he gets really nervous.”

“Well, it looks like he already has one friend.” He smiled at you and pointed towards the playground where Oli was pushing Charlotte on the swing.

“Looks like it.” You looked over at Eddie and smiled.

“And that goes for you too, you know? You have one friend now too, if you want.” He smiled at you hopefully, those cute dimples showing.

“Yeah? I think I’d like that.” You felt your face warm when you smiled back at him.

“We were going to get ice cream after this, do you guys want to come? It’s just down the street we usually walk from here.”

“That actually sounds really nice Eddie, thank you.”

“KIDS!!! Ice cream!!?!!” He yelled the magic words and huge grins spread across both their faces as they came running full speed towards you.

Maybe Hawkins wouldn’t be so bad.

[louloulemons-posts]

Cinderella and Warm Milk

Eddie Munson x SingleMom!Reader

Part One : Margot

Part Three : Cuddles and Stew

Summary : Eddies first night looking after Margot.

Word Count : 1.8k

Warnings : FLUFF. Pure family fluff. Girl dad Eddie. Minor mention of Chrissys death. Little bit of sad baby Margot. A whole lot of cuteness.

Authors note : I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of the support on my recent fics, it’s so kind of you all. I hope you enjoy this addition to Margot, Eddie and the reader 🤍

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Hello?” A familiar voice spoke.

“Hey Wayne, is Eddie there?” you asked.

“Uh yeah he is, let me just get him for you Sweetheart.” You heard a muffled shout, “Eddie.” Wayne clearly covering the phone with his hand to save your ear.

“Hey gorgeous,��� he spoke, you could hear his grin. “Hiya Eds. I’m really sorry to ask, but could you do me a huge favour?”

“Sure baby, what’s up?”

“Me and Maeve have accidentally double booked something. She’s going on a date with Annie that I refuse to let her cancel,” he hummed understanding why.

“But I can’t get out of my shift. Would you be okay to watch Margot?” Eddie went quiet on the other end. “You know what I know it’s a big ask, I’ll figure it all out-” he cut you off.

“You trust me to do that?” You laughed at that.

“Of course I do. And she loves you so much, so do I. So could you?”

“Sure I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

There was a knock on the door. “Eddie Eddie Eddie!” Margot squealed running towards it.

Chuckling, you picked up the girl, sliding the latch and pulling the door open. There he was. “Eddie!” Margot leaned forward holding out her arms to him.

“Hey Sweetheart,” he smiled, taking her from you and hugging her close. “And hello you,” he said before pecking your lips. “I can’t say thank you enough for this.”

“It’s no big deal, we’re gonna have fun right?” he asked Margot, who nuzzled into his neck and smiled.

“Well she’s had dinner, and her jammies are on the couch for her. You know where her nappies and everything are right?” you asked, to which he nodded. “Great, her bedtime is 7:30. If she doesn’t settle, warm milk and Cinderella. Her bottles are in the cupboard by the glasses. And if you need me just call-”

“Baby breath. We’ve got this. Don’t worry we will be perfectly fine. We’re gonna get into our jammies and play for a while and then, get tucked into bed. Go to work,” he pecked your lips.

“Okay okay. Margot baby, you be good for Eddie, I’ll see you in the morning,” you took her back from Eddie, cuddling her. It was the first time you’d left her with someone who wasn’t Maeve and you had to be honest you were nervous. But it was Eddie. Your Eddie. The Eddie who loved you and Margot.

“Mm’kay Mama,” she smiled, giving you a slobbery kiss to the cheek. “Okay I’ve got to run,” you gave Margot and Eddie final kisses and were on your way. “Bye Mama,” Margot waved. “Bye My Love.”

“Okay kid, jammies?” he asked, holding his hand out to the small girl. She nodded and took it. It was almost 6:30 so she must have been getting tired. He smiled seeing that you’d left her a pair of pink pyjamas with small white bunnies on, a fresh diaper, wipes and baby powder.

“You want to use the potty before we get you dressed?” She made an affirmative noise, so the pair headed to the bathroom. “You need help?” Eddie asked her.

“Pick up.” He lifted her on to her toilet seat and turned around, giving her some privacy.

“Done!” she said a few moments later. After the pair cleaned their hands they went back to the couch. Once her diaper was in place and she was comfy, he helped her step into her pyjamas pants, and slid her shirt over her head.

“There you go, nice and snug.”

“Eddie jammies?” she tilted her head slightly.

“Okay I’ll get mine on.” He paused, did he just leave her here? Did he take her with him? Was that weird? Should he stress over this? Probably not, but here he was.

She looked at him with her big eyes. “Drink pwease,” she said. Okay there’s a plan, he lifted her up and placed her into her high chair making sure she was secure. “What do you want to drink kid?”

“Juice!”

Moments later she had juice in hand, wiggling in her seat happily. “Okay Eddies just gonna get changed, you sit tight okay?”

“‘kay!” she copied.

“Okay,” he huffed, running to the bathroom, changing as fast as he could to sprint back to her.

“Jammies Eddie!” she squealed.

“Yeah kiddo,” he smiled, picking her up out of her seat. He wore a simple black tee with a pair of grey flannel pants, tying his hair back in a low ponytail. He read 7:00 on the clock. “So kid what do you want to do for the next half an hour?”

“Story!”

“Okay let’s go pick a story.”

They went over to the bookshelf in the living room, the lowest shelf full of her books. “Which one do you want?” Eddie asked, placing her on the floor. “Not these! Eddie story!” she exclaimed, as if it’s something he should have known.

“Eddies story?” she hummed and smiled up at him. “Eddie story book!” Oh! He knew what she meant now, she’d seen him reading the Hobbit in bed the last time he stayed over.

He grabbed his bag and pulled out his worn copy that Wayne had brought him not long after he moved in with him. “Come on then Kid, let me educate you on Hobbits.” She laughed at that. “What’s so funny?” he asked, unable to keep a straight face as she cackled. “Hobbits’ what’s a hobbits’?” she laughed.

“Well I’ll tell you all about them, but we have to get nice and comfy. So let’s get bunny and your dummy and have a cuddle okay?”

“‘kay,” she said still giggling a bit.

Sat comfy by Eddies side, he opened the book and began to read. “In a hole in the ground lived a hobbit.” Margot let out another laugh.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Half an hour later, Eddie closed the book and looked down at the small snoring girl next to him. Gently moving himself, he picked her up, placing her head on his shoulder, and grabbing her bunny.

Climbing the stairs, his heart melted as she snuggled into him. Laying her down carefully he clicked on her nightlight and place her bunny in her arms. “Goodnight kid, I love you.”

“Wove you Da,” she mumbled back. That had become a common thing when she was tired, she’d called him Da, or Daddy. But he was mostly still Eddie. He didn’t mind, he’d love her no matter what.

He kissed her head and left the room, heading back downstairs to see what needed to be done for you. The house was mainly clean, just some washing up that needed putting away, which he did with ease.

He closed the blinds and curtains, turning on a few lamps here and there. Settling down to continue his magical adventure.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Mama! Mommy!” Eddie jumped awake to the sound of a familiar shout. Margot. Running up the stairs he saw the small girl walking out of her mothers room. “Mama,” she cried, extremely upset.

“Hey kiddo,” he said gently, not wanting to scare her. “Daddy!” she cried, running to him. She wrapped her little arms around his neck and cried harder. “Hey kiddo, it’s okay.” She sobbed. “It’s okay baby, Daddy’s got you,” he rocked her gently in his arms, shushing her.

He did take your advice and took her downstairs, placing her on the sofa and turning on Cinderella. Once he was sure she would be alright he headed to the kitchen to warm some milk for the pair.

Checking it wasn’t too hot, he handed her bottle over, which seemed to comfort her straight away. Watching the beautiful princess on the screen and giggling at Gus Gus she seemed more like herself.

“You feeling better baby?” he asked brushing her curls. “Mhm. Cuddle?” she titled her head.

He nodded, taking her bottle and placing it by his empty glass. He lifted the girl and lay down, putting her on his chest. Her head rested in his neck and she snuggled in, placing her dummy back in and grabbing her bunny tightly.

Eddie pulled a blanket over the pair of them and rubbed her back, gently playing with her curls every now and again. 10:56 the clock read.

The movie finished. Margot had been asleep for a while, since Cinderella went to the ball actually, but he didn’t want to risk moving her. He sat up carefully, placing her on the couch, making sure she was snuggled up.

Placing the glass and bottle in the sink, he began to turn off the lamps, minus the one in the front hall so you got in safe. He walked back to see Margot still snoozing and couldn’t help but smile.

He never thought he’d get this, he knew he wasn’t her biological dad, but his heart melted that she saw him as that. That she loved him as that. That you loved him. He thought after what happened with Chrissy he’d be alone forever.

He shook his head to remove the thought, he had you and Margot, Wayne and Maeve. He had his friends too, who also adored Margot, thinking she was the cutest thing.

Carefully picking her up, he draped the blanket over the back of the couch. Grabbing his book and her bunny in one hand, holding her with the other.

When he placed Margot down on her bed she whined, pulling his back down to her. “Stay,” she mumbled, half asleep still. Bringing her too him again, he turned off her nightlight and carried her to your room.

Placing the book on the bedside table, he tucked both of them in. Margot snoozed up against his chest, he kissed her head. “Goodnight baby, Daddy loves you.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

3:30am. Walking into the house, you slipped off your shoes and sighed. That had been a hell of a shift, but the tips were great. Your home was silent, the lamp in the hall left on which you smiled at, knowing it was a gesture of Eddies love.

Hanging your bag on the hook, you headed up the stairs. Popping your head into Margots room you became confused. She wasn’t there.

Trying not to panic, you almost jogged to your own room. Heart melting at the sight that greeted you. Eddie and Margot cuddled up together.

Changing into your own pyjamas, you climbed in next to them, cuddling in. Eddie kissed your forehead, still very much asleep, pulling you closer, but leaving enough room for Margot not to be squished.

This was the most loved you’d felt in so long. You, Eddie and your girl, Margot. Your little family.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave any requests 🤍

[superblysubpar]

🥺 so um for your dad blurbs, what about like a lil ‘meet cute’ sitch with singledad!eddie x singlemom!reader. maybe their lil toddlers become friends on the playground or somethin’?? idk idk feel free to ignore me!! 💗

cece um what? why why why would I ignore you or this?! Sorry this one too got away from me, I can't seem to write teeny tiny blurbs guys. Thank you so much for requesting and I hope you like it! 💛dad blurbs

summary: see above Eddie deals with his daughter throwing a tantrum but - this is fluff warnings: single mom reader, descriptions of wiggling worms and reader touching them so if you ain't into bugs sorry | even if a fic is not marked 18+, my blog is - please respect this

1.5k words

Why Do Worms Exist?

singledad!eddie munson x singlemom!reader

Hands tugging at his curls in impatience as he juggles the backpack, the keys, the twelve leaves left in his custody and the angry toddler in his arms. 

“Down!” she tugs harsher and he huffs. 

Haircuts and baths seemed to be the only time his kid felt like reminding him that she was in fact his kid. Squirming and wrestling and shrieking loud enough the glass on the apartment windows could pop. He was grateful for his daughter, don’t get him wrong. Reminding himself whenever the demon possessed her during those moments that she’d be his quiet and wonderful kid again soon. 

But no one could have predicted that walking and exploring and learning would hit around the same time as Autumn in Hawkins - well okay, maybe someone else could have other than him. But no one, including Eddie could have foreseen that his unique and already quirky baby girl would be fascinated by any and everything that season had to offer her. And, really, how could he have predicted the meltdowns about these things when he told her she couldn’t take them all home with her?

Fucking leaves. 

And worms. Why’d his kid have to like worms? 

Maybe that was his own fault for calling her Bug. Were worms bugs? Were they their own…species? Jesus Christ he barely got his diploma and now here he is with a kid having a level thirteen meltdown about leaves. What happened when she got older and had questions about these things she found fascinating and he had nothing to offer her? Maybe Dustin would have a book on it. Or Robin. She’s into weird stuff and random facts. 

Eddie sucks in his breath as Sam yanks one curl particularly hard and realizes that if it’s bad now, the very near future of Spring would be even worse. And oh god, the rain and the mud and even more worms and his heart starts racing faster as he thinks about how much bigger she’d be come then. She’d put up even more of a fight. 

He finally gets the pack over his shoulder, the keys tucked safely in a pocket. Sammy’s butt supported under his arm and his hand with the leaves wrapped around her back. Twelve leaves - they’d barely made it down the sidewalk. 

She pushes against his chest, cheeks red and flushed to match her bright red rain boots dangling and kicking dangerously close to unwanted territory and he winces, “Hey, hey, watch it Bug. Getting too close for comfort there.”

Eddie knows she didn’t catch any of that and her tiny hands wind fists into his hair and her chin wobbles as he prepares for the wail to come and he squeezes his eyes shut. Only to be met with fiercer squirming and a head butt to his jaw that makes his ears ring, “Ouch! Sammy, come on, you can get down soon!”

He didn’t yell, but he definitely raised his voice more than he meant to. Sam cries and cries like he’d seen other kids do when heading in the opposite direction of the park. As they round the corner he can see the bright reds, yellows, and blues of the slides and jungle gym.

“Look, Bug, swings,” trying and failing to calm her down with a favorite word and activity. He sighs as other parents look his way as he gets closer. Sure, his kids shrieking was disturbing the peace but theirs screaming on the playground was fine. Gossiping and judging girls from high school who grew up into moms but didn’t outgrow anything else.

He sits on the bench as Sammy pulls and yanks more, closing his eyes again. Eddie presses his forehead to hers, wincing every time she hits against it. He speaks quietly, “Bug, come on, listen to daddy. Calm down.” 

He sets the leaves on the bench and the crying stops almost instantly. He opens his eyes, Sam’s temple to his nose, crocodile tears trailing down her cheeks and tiny chubby hands reaching towards the pile. 

“Leeb,” she hiccups and grabs at the pile. 

Eddie holds her in a firm lock, hand rubbing soothing circles up and down her back, “Leaf?”

She grunts, trying to squirm away again and she whines, “Pwease!”

Heart aching because she’s trying to say please, and she knows that’s the nice way to ask as she calms down. But god, he can’t have her bringing home every leaf from the park.

“Bug,” he taps the pile, “Leaves stay here. Not coming home with us. Leaves stay outside.” 

She huffs and he watches in wonder and awe as she nods and whispers, “Owside leebs.”

He grins. He did it. He dealt with a tantrum while judgey moms watched and his daughter is smart. She understood so much and she was probably gonna be a scientist or some crazy awesome shit he couldn’t even come up with. 

Eddie kisses her nose and wipes her cheeks with his thumbs, body relaxing, “Right. Outside leaves. Ready to go play?”

She shimmies out of his grasp, legs dangling until her boots hit the ground and she wanders toward the playground only to pick up a stick. Poking at the dirt and he covers his smile when she sits. Her plaid jumper and tights dragging and collecting all the dirt and leaves they can manage. 

A little boy sits next to her and she smiles at him, a dimple popping out and extending a stick to him like Eddie had taught her to share. He swallows harshly when she grabs his hand and they waddle to a particularly muddy puddle. 

Oh fuck. She’s gonna get even older and the meltdowns aren’t gonna be about fucking worms they’re gonna be about boys or drinking or-

“You look like you’re dealing with some extreme and sudden realizations right now.”

Eddie glances up to see you standing near his bench, smiling kindly and a cup of coffee in your hands. He’s taken aback one because an adult is talking to him instead of standing off to the side and judging and two because holy shit were you pretty. 

He gulps audibly, “I-uh,” he glances back at his daughter who’s fully laying in the dirt on her stomach now and he smiles, “Yeah, uh I guess you could say that.”

Gesturing to his kid and the little boy, “I see yours is corrupting mine. Believe it or not we’d managed to stay away from dirt until today.”

Eddie grins widely, “Well wait till he finds all the things crawling around in the dirt and wants to take them home.”

Your gloved hand presses to your cheek, dragging it down as you groan loudly, “Why do worms exist?”

He watches you watch the kids, your face melting into warmth and that sappy wow that’s mine look he knows he gets with Sammy all the time. He’s a goner if you’re single. 

Gesturing to the bench and scooting over he sighs, “Pretty sure only to torture parents.”

“Great. Can’t wait,” you deadpan and sit, removing your gloves and extending a hand to him and introducing yourself.

Just because there isn’t a ring doesn’t mean anything. He shakes it back, “Eddie.” 

Nodding your head to the little boy who’s flinging dirt around wildly with his stick, “That’s Parker. My right hand guy.”

Eddie straightens and sees the webs across the backpack you’re stuffing the gloves in and smirks, “As in Peter?”

Clearing your throat and taking a sip of your coffee before continuing, “Yeah, I’m shameless. I named my kid after my favorite superhero, okay? I was alone and drugged up on all the painkillers they could legally give me.”

Alone. 

He waves his hand, “It’s okay, mine's after a Lord of the Rings character.”

You smile at him, shy and sweet. He should just ask right? Or offer up his own information. Is it like just sharing your phone number with a girl? Hey, I’m Eddie, I’m a single parent are you? Not sure what’s about to come out of his mouth, but he’s stopped as his daughter decides she wants to be the worst wingwoman on planet earth right at that moment. 

“Hole pwease,” her tiny voice brings his attention down, extending her dirt smothered hands out to you.

Your mom instincts kick in, holding out your hands like it’s nothing but Eddie knows exactly what Sammy is about to drop in your hands. He’s not quick enough when he leans forward though, 

“No, Bug, don’t-”

Several squirming worms drop down into your palms and he watches your eyes go wide. You don’t freak out or grimace though, instead you smile and extend your hands out further when your son drops more into the pile. 

Your smile is bright, cheeks popping and eyes shimmering and your laugh swirls around his heart as you speak to them in a way that makes his stomach flutter, “Woah you guys! Look at all these awesome worms!”

He watches in awe as you ask their names and sit patiently with wiggling worms in your hands as they point and poke at them and his daughter holds one up closer to your face and your eyes go wide and she giggles.

He’s a total and absolute goner. 

[whoahoney]

Not the Babysitter Pt 2

Steve Harrington x SingleMom!Reader

A/N: Part 2 of my abandoned Steve Harrington fic! This is actually the fic that got me back into writing last year before I tripped and fell down the massive rabbit hole that is Eddie Munson! Still love me some Stevie boy. 😩🤍

part 1 can be found here

Summary: Reader and Sara are back to rent another video from Steve, will he shoot his shot?

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Steve waited for the following week to come; her rental expiring Monday evening. When Monday morning came, he made sure he had nothing to do in case she came the same time as last week.

And he was right.

Around 9:30, the bell jingled and Steve could hear the hushed conversation between the toddler and mama, who looked just as breathtaking as the first time he saw her.

“Nana’s house??” Y/n asked the child holding her hand. “Yeah!” Sara smiled devilishly.

“We’re gonna have to call Nana first but I imagine we can make it happen.” Y/n said as she picked Sara up to put her on hip. That was when she met Steve’s eyes, and it almost knocked his socks off.

He felt absolutely ridiculous. His heart thudded in his chest and he worried she could see his chest throb with adoration.

“So, how was it?” He asked expectantly.

“The Care Bears never disappoint, what can I say?” She grinned and placed Sara on the counter like last time. “Hello, Sara.” He greeted with a smile, which Sara matched bashfully.

“Hello.” She responded softly before turning back to her mothers shoulder, the action tugging at his heartstrings. “How was your week?” Steve asked, now looking to Y/n who couldn’t help but feel all warm inside that he acknowledged her daughter.

“It’s been busy, but I can’t complain.“ She shrugged.

“—Mommy, down.” Sara kicked her feet. Y/n bit her lip and looked around the store for customers and then how far she would wander and what she would grab—

“She can’t hurt anything in here, really. Nothing customers don’t already.” He assured her.

“Okay, don’t go far, okay?” She helped her off the counter and watched her wander to the kids section.

“Okay.” Sara called without turning back.

Steve smiled, “And how was Sara’s week?” He nodded towards the curly haired girl, his eyes showing genuine interest in the way he looked into her mothers eyes.

Y/n about melted on the spot. “She had a good week! Watched Care Bears about 37 times.” They giggled. “Went to the park, painted some rocks—“ his smiled widened in wonder, “—Added tons to our collection, actually.” She chuckled, looking at her fingers nervously.

“Do you have a lot?” He asked.

Y/n nodded, “Mhm. Some of them are raw cuts we’ve picked up on our travels, or some polished ones you can get at the store.” He nodded, again, waiting for her to keep talking, waiting to ask her about ‘their travels’

“And you?”

“Me? Oh, I don’t have any rocks.”

“No, silly, your week! How was your week?” She giggled at his blushing cheeks.

He tsked at himself, averting his eyes to regain his composure. “Oh, I’m just living the dream, you know? Renting movies and sorting tapes is kinda my passion.” He said leaning forward and propping his elbows on the counter. Y/n chuckled at his joke, his heart soaring at the sound. He couldn’t wait to tell Robin he made her laugh.

“Whatever pays the rent, right?” She shrugged. He nodded, for once setting down the embarrassment he felt surrounding his occupation, and wondered when he could ask what hers was.

Y/n dug around in her purse for the video case and then handed it over to Steve. As he accepted it, he realized again why they were here in the first place. He thanked her and marked it on time in the system. “Is there anything I can help you find today?” He asked, returning to his position at the counter in front of her.

Y/n pursed her lips and sighed, “I could use Dirty Dancing if you have it.”

Steve smiled, “Lemme see if it’s here.” He strolled over to the romance section, leaving her at the desk to watch him walk away in his favorite jeans, which were now her favorite too. He ducked behind a display to scan the shelves and saw the empty place Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey belonged.

“Not there.” He sighed, coming back around the counter and typing away before letting the monitor load. Y/n flashed a patient smile that reminded him of the nagging guilt tucked away in his chest.

An elephant in the room he wasn’t sure if she saw too.

“By the way, I’m sorry… for assuming the other day, I really should’ve known she was yours,” Steve shrugged and ran a nervous hand through his hair, meeting her eyes again with a half hearted smile.

“It was dumb of me, and—“

“It wasn’t dumb, Steve. Everyone does it. I’m either her sister or babysitter, don’t sweat it.” Y/n shrugged, which made Steve feel a lot better. She craned her neck to spy her daughter in a near aisle, sitting down with three movies in front of her. Before Y/n took a step to get her, Steve spoke, “Oh, c’mon, I should’ve thought sister before babysitter, I mean, she looks just like you, she’s gorgeous.” He said without hesitation, glancing over at Sara with a chuckle as she began haphazardly stacking the videos from the bottom shelf as high as she could.

Y/n’s blush burned brightly at the compliment, her incredulous smile making his heart pound in his chest, “But uh, I’d still really like to take you out sometime, if you’re free of any other kind of, uh, committed relationship…” Steve stammered, which Y/n thought was adorable.

“Is that your way of asking if I’m single?” She asked with a sweet smile, cradling her chin in her hands. Steve’s face flushed pink at her direct approach. He nodded, wiping a hand over his face to ground himself. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“I am very single, yes..” she smiled, his heart soaring at the sight.

Finally, things are going his way.

“but..” Steve’s heart stopped beating for a second before she spoke again. She noticed how his smile faltered, quick to explain herself, “No, no, no, I’d love to go out with you, really, I just don’t have a sitter too often, and I wouldn’t be able to… go out like other girls can.. I wouldn’t want to disappoint either of us, you know?” She said, placing a hand on top of his on the counter reassuringly.

Steve’s heart jump-started at the touch, immediately finding a solution to her problem, “I wouldn’t ever expect you to be able to go out with me like ‘other girls can’, and I love that.” He shrugged, Y/n shooting him a look of confusion in response.

“I want something bigger than what the girls around here want from me.” He sighed, sharing a knowing look with her, “I know you’re not gonna bullshit me, you know?” He could feel the oncoming rambles about to bubble out of him but he didn’t care, “Not to mention you obviously have your priorities in order, you’re caring, and responsible—and-and straightforward! That’s exactly what I want. And another thing—“ He leaned slightly closer for emphasis, “I’d be more than happy to take the both of you out to dinner, any time.” His eye contact unwavering from hers.

“Really?” She whispered. Steve wasted no time before he nodded just as gently, “Yes! There’s so many fun things we could take her to do around here, y’know? The parks beautiful, we could have a lunch there sometime! Or to the pumpkin patch in the… fall.” He cringed at his forward thinking.

Regardless, she smiled, her eyes shiny with speckled stars inside that he placed there with his sweet words and wishes. She nodded in response, placing her hand over his.

“There’s a really good ice cream store opening soon, too.” He shrugged and covered her hand with his other. “But for now, we could grab milkshakes at the diner. Maybe watch a movie some evening? Soon.”

Y/n all but melted at his words that dripped with sincerity. She sighed with a smile and nodded after a moment, a soft “Okay.” shocking Steve to his core. “Really?” He asked as if he’d imagined it.

“Yes, really.” Y/n blushed as the computer screen finished loading the inventory. Steve scrolled down, searching the list until he found Dirty Dancing, which was due back today.

“Just say when.” She said with quiet eagerness watching her daughter saunter over with a movie while Steve looked to her mother with adoration hidden behind his eyes. “I have good news and bad news,” He informed her with pursed lips as he came to lean on the counter again. Y/n sat the tape on the counter with a quirk of the brow.

“The good news, is that I am free for you guys any night this week after 6, but the bad news—” He leaned forward on the counter, “is that Dirty Dancing will not be back until tonight. If they show up on time.”

Y/n nodded slightly disappointed, but understanding until Steve came up with yet another solution. “But! I’d be happy to grab it for you as soon as it comes in.” He offered.

Her smile returned to her face at his words. “You really don’t have to do that, Steve, I can always come back.” She countered.

“I want to, really. It also gives me another excuse to see you outside of work.”

Y/n playfully rolled her eyes and dug through her purse for a pen and paper, Steve’s heart racing. She settled on a grocery receipt, ripping off a few inches to write on.

“This is my number,” She jotted down, “—give me a call later? After 7:30 should be good, and, uh, maybe we can figure out when we can watch that movie.” She slid the paper over to him, his index finger pulling it the rest of the way to him. He held it tightly, absolutely stoked at his accomplishment.

“I—I would love that.” He said sincerely, stifling his disbelieving chuckles, remembering he needed to check out Sara’s next movie, the Labyrinth.

“Ooh, I like this one.” Steve said to Sara, who grinned until he could hardly see her eyes and hid behind her moms legs. He rang up the purchase and fought the urge to pay for it himself as she handed him the $3.25.

He bagged it up and slid it over to her with a smile. “Have a good day, ladies.”

“I do it!” Sara insisted, grabbing for the bag. Y/n obliged her and looped her arm through the handles, dangling like a shoulder bag on the small child.

“You too, Steve.” She smiled and shook her head in sheer disbelief as she collected her daughters hand and made her way to the door.

“You’ll be hearing from me later.” He called after her.

She giggled and looked over her shoulder as Sara pulled her hand towards the door. “I’m looking forward to it.” She said.

“7:30!” He reminded after her as she pulled open the door to leave. “7:30.” She nodded and confirmed before the bell jingled behind her.

Steve’s eyes followed them to their car until they were safely inside and out of the parking lot. After that, Steve sank down to the floor behind the counter, holding the paper to his chest; feeling like a love struck fool in high school again.

The feeling worried him, made him uneasy, yet so excited and warm and dizzy. His chest heaved as he checked his watch to calculate the hours between now and 7:30 tonight.

9:45.

“Fuck!” His head fell back with a disappointed thud.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Steve’s day went by remarkably slow until Robin showed up for her shift after school. As soon as she opened the door, ready to inform him of a fight that broke out at lunch, Steve leapt over the counter to meet her at the door.

“ROBIN!” He shouted as he grabbed her shoulders. “What?! What??” She asked, looking for the fire.

“Look what I got today.” He said smugly, a proud smile hung on his face. Robin moved to the counter, Steve following intently.

When she looked up to see the paper resting between Steve’s fingers, her jaw dropped. “Is that—?” Steve couldn’t help but explain before she was able to finish, “Her phone number, that’s right, I have it. She gave it to me, I didn’t even have to ask, technically. She asked me to call her! Tonight!” He said anxiously pacing in front of her as she shrugged on her vest.

“I can’t believe she actually gave you her number.” Robin shook her head at the sliver of paper, fully convinced he’d blown it from the way he’d explained the first encounter.

“Yeah, me either. She’s incredible.” He shook his head at the thought of her.

“You don’t even know her yet!” Robin chided with a laugh. “I don’t have to know all about her to know she’s incredible. You’ll understand when you meet her someday.” He waved her off.

“I hope you make it that far.” Robin patted him on the back affectionately.

And for once, Steve really thought he would.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When 6:00 came, Steve dropped everything to strip off his vest as fast as he possibly could and tossed it to Robin, who stood behind the counter checking out customers.

“Good luck!” Robin called to him as he pushed through the door and waving his thanks behind him.

Steve treated himself to some KFC because today felt like his day. Every song that played on the drive home made him think of her and Sara.

He buried the worry. The fear of attachment, of rejection. He didn’t wanna feel that kinda pain again, but he was willing to risk it because the girl made him feel different—wonderfully different.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It was 7:25.

Steve was showered, fed, and waiting on his bed. He sat with his back against the headboard and his legs stretched out in front of him, next to the phone; his arms crossed over his bare chest.

Steve sighed deeply, deciding the quiet was too much. He crossed his room to the stereo, pressing play on his Cars tape and adjusting the volume.

He shook his shoulders out the way he would loosen them before a basketball game, and grabbed his small orange basketball to flop down with on top of his bed.

He threw the ball into the small hoop hanging from his closet with ease, realizing now that he didn’t want to get back up to retrieve it.

He groaned at the agony of trying to pass more time, then checked his watch again.

7:28

“Holy shit!” Steve panicked. His eyes searched for the slip of paper, realizing he didn’t have it with him the entire time he was home.

Steve dashed to the bathroom, searching for his pants before realizing he’d been responsible and put them down in the laundry room.

Finally he spotted the familiar Levi’s label and shoved his hands in the pockets. “Aha!!” He proclaimed as he unfolded the beautiful slip of paper.

Steve ran back upstairs and down the hall to dive onto his bed and dial her number.

He checked his watch as he pressed the phone to his ear; waiting for the call to go through, when he realized it was now 7:35.

His eyes shot open as her voice answered on the other end. “Hello?” She sounded as sweet as she did in person. “Hey! It’s Steve,” He said into the mouth piece, holding the phone with two hands like it’d slip away if he didn’t pay attention.

“Oh, hi, Steve! I was hoping it was you.” An audible smile in her voice.

He chuckled and tried to contain himself, “I’m uh, sorry I’m a little late, I was looking for my pants.” He said before smacking his palm against his forehead as she laughed.

“Your pants? Well, did you find them?” She asked amusedly. Steve relaxed and let himself laugh with her. “Yeah, I did, I-I was actually trying to find your phone number in them so I could call you on time.” He confessed.

“Well, I think you’re plenty on time. Don’t worry, you didn’t keep me waiting long, I just now got sat down with my dinner. It’s… been an evening, you could say.” She said with a bitter chuckle at the end.

“Oh? How so?” He asked, curious to hear about her day. “You don’t wanna hear about all that mess, really. Just toddler things. Screaming, potty training, vegetables, you know, the works.” She joked.

Steve smiled, his cheeks hurting at this point but not caring. “I’d be happy to hear about anything you wanna tell me. Besides, you mean to tell me my girl Sara has a mean-streak? I don’t buy it.” He said with a smirk.

Y/n scoffed, “Oh, boy, you have no idea. They’re little monsters, I tell you. The girl refuses to eat anything that isn’t macaroni or chicken. Broccoli? Forget about it.” She leaned against the wall of her kitchen, sat up on the end of her kitchen counter and twirling the phone cord in her fingers.

Steve loved listening to her, he could for hours and actually find everything interesting. So he did.

She told him about their daily routine; what it takes to get Sara ready to go of a morning, what it’s like when it’s just the two of them and what it’s like when she has to work. He found it all fascinating.

The tiny bowls of breakfast, the hair braids, the pink backpacks filled with emergency clothes in case of an accident at daycare, tantrums over forgotten sippy cups sounded more endearing than he knew they were supposed to.

It just was.

All of it.

“So, she does a preschool program at the daycare? What all can she do?” He asked.

“I mean, they do a lot of arts and crafts, but that does a lot more for their development than most would think. And she can tell you every color and almost count to 10 on her own.” She mentioned. Steve smiled at her pride for her daughter.

“Even if she’s a monster sometimes, it sounds like you’re raising a pretty great girl there.” He complimented which made Y/n swoon against the wall.

“You’re real sweet, Steve.” She said again.

“So I’ve heard,” He joked. “So I have to ask,” he started. Y/n’s ears perked at the change in topic. “Have you given my dinner invitation any thought?” He hoped.

Y/n smiled at his persistence. “I have, actually. And we were wondering if tomorrow evening was good for you?”

As if he’d have to think. “Tomorrow sounds fantastic.”

Part 3

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Taglist lovelies 💖

@weasleylovers @cutiecusp @frostandflamesfanfic @realsuper-dark @hermadroyalhiney @flowersownme @imagineme2you @moonys-star @daydreaming-mood @just-a-lost-princess @the-fairy-anon @loving-and-dreaming

[daydreamingfuel]

Hiya! Welcome to my blog!

This post is going to act as my main big post that has all the info and links you could need to navigate my blog, along with a few of my personal favourite fic recs!

This blog is LGBTQIA+ run (I'm bi and a femme enby) and friendly, and terfs or homophobes will be blocked :)

18+ content, minors you have been warned, read at your own discretion

Pretty much everything I write is a reader insert so if that's not your thing, that's perfectly fine but this blog is not for you

Trigger warnings are in the chapter tags, if I miss any please let me know

I'm a sporadic writer so it's best to check back in every so often, if you think I should start a tag list for a specific story I'm writing I'd be happy to do so - I would be checking ages before adding to the tag list just fyi

Also, this is a side blog so I cannot reply to comments from this blog but I can answer asks, which are always welcome!

LEAF WRITES

Freak Like Me - Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader (33.8k, ongoing)

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7

Belong - George Weasley x Female Slytherin!Reader (4.9k, oneshot)

LEAF RECOMMENDS

June Baby - @luveline (Eddie Munson x SingleMom!Reader)

The Yes Policy - @pinkrelish (SingleDad!Mechanic!Eddie x Fem!Reader)

Lawful Balance - @ambergoddess444 (Dean Winchester x Fem!Reader // Sam Winchester x Fem!Reader)

Bruises - @penfullofwordsaheadfullofstories / @im-a-wonderling (Older!GoldenAge!PeterPevensie x Fem!Maid!Reader)

[imthebadguyyy]

I : The First Meeting.

pairing | steve harrington x reader

synopsis | steve meets Eddie's best friend...and her little baby love.

warnings | some talk about abandonment, single mom struggles, and some sugary sweet fluff

a/n • it's been a while, but im back!

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

steve wasnt a 100% sure when he and eddie 'the freak' munson had become such good friends. and yet, here he was, sitting in eddie's trailer, a cold beer in hand as they watched the rerun of some show eddie had taped, while metallica played in the background.

he would never admit it, but he had begun to enjoy the bass of cliff burton's guitar more than he'd ever thought he would. and what he'd never admit even more was that eddie was a much better person than he'd ever thought, and had quickly taken up a spot next to robin on his list of closest friends.

the knock on the door of the trailer snapped him out of his train of thought, and he reached for his wallet before eddie could protest, assuming it to be the pizzas he had ordered for the two of them to share.

but as he opened the door, wallet in hand, he caught sight of a little girl, hair in loose curls that fell way past her shoulders, with the prettiest hazel eyes he'd ever seen gazing up at him, lower lip wobbling.

she was scrunching the material of her denim dress in her tiny first, and he noticed the tears forming in her eyes.

"uh, eddie? there's a kid here" he stated, and the man in question stick his curly head of hair out the door. "oh well, well, well,if it isn't little miss princess!" Eddie exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face, before it slid right off, noticing her watery eyes and wobbly lips.

"whats wrong princess?" he asked, worry filling every bone in his body as he scooped the little girl up in his arms, eyes widening in alarm as she began to sob again.

"i fell" she cried, little sobs breaking her voice and breaking steve's heart into a thousand little pieces.

"oh baby, you fell? how'd you fall? are you hurt?" Eddie questioned, closing the door of the trailer and setting the little girl down on his lap.

"was playing with mr tibbles, and he fell, i try to pick him up but i fell down on the floor" she exclaimed, a sharp wail leaving her mouth and steve flinched. "it's okay baby, we're gonna fix you right up" Eddie said, pressing a little kiss to her cheek.

"so whose the crying baby?" steve asked, rummaging around eddie's bathroom for the first aid kit.

"ah, you know y/n l/n? she's her daughter"

"wait wait y/n? as in smartest girl in the school, y/n? wasn't she supposed to move new york to pursue law?" steve asked, remembering the girl he had crushed on since he was a little boy.

"yeah, she dated some jerk who got her pregnant, then ran the moment she told him. so her uni plans were cancelled, parents kicked her out, and she's been raising aurelia on her own" eddie muttered, cutting out a length of gauze.

"what a jerk" steve said, feeling his heart go out to the girl he had once known so well.

"yeah, she lives a few trailers down and so uncle wayne and i help her out whenever we can. lucky for all of us, little aurelia has the sweetest temper and she's rarely upset. she's a sweetheart" he cooed, gently pouring antiseptic cleanser onto a piece of cotton, before gently cleaning the scrape on her knee.

aurelia hissed, but was quickly distracted by steve, who took the opportunity to grab the stuffed bunny she was carrying, bringing him up to his face before putting on a funny voice.

"wellll if it isn't my favouriteeee little baby! hello aurelia! i hear you have a boo boo, and im sooo sorry to have given you a boo boo. how about a biggg hug" he continued, in a high pitched voice that sounded nothing like his own, ignoring Eddie's snort.

"you know she's 3 dude. you can just talk to her" he said, putting a little blue bandage on the scrape. "there we go m'lady, all done and ready to go" he said, bowing to aurelia.

she giggled, and to steve's surprise, grasped onto his fingers. "whats your name?" she asked, bubbly voice reaching his ears in an oddly wholesome way.

"uh, steve" he said, still holding mr tibbles in his hands.

"hello uh steve, im aurelia. this is mr tibbles" she said, earning a louder chuckle from Eddie.

"no no, im just steve" he said, blushing a little.

"then hello just steve" she said, beaming brightly at him. eddie snorted again, unable to contain his mirth at what a mess the babysitter of the group was with an actual baby.

"angel, his names steve. thats it. now can you tell me where mommy is?" he asked, saving steve from his predicament.

"mama's at work. i stay with miss cooper but she left me to go get a bubbly" she said innocently, too young to comprehend that a bubbly meant a beer.

steve understood though. and he felt a surge of anger at this miss cooper for abandoning the sweet girl before him to get a beer.

"mama should be home soon, you hungry angel?" eddie asked, pulling out a box of cookies he kept specially for aurelia.

"yes! m so hungry. miss cooper forgot to feed me my apple" she stated, reaching for a cookie and offering eddie a large hug.

then, with her mouth half full of cookie, and half a cookie left in her other hand, she turned to steve, offering her hand out to him, with a smile, "we share cookie?" she asked, and steve swore his heart melted then and there.

"sure baby, we share" he agreed, reaching for the crumbly cookie and making a great show about eating it.

"mmm how delicious. do you love these cookies?" he asked, gently rubbing away the crumbs from her mouth.

"yes! eddie always brings. i love eddie" she stated, squeezing eddie around his knees.

"well gosh lady aurelia, consider your good ol' eddie honoured" the metalhead grinned, hopping out the door to grab the pizza that has just showed up.

"you want some pizza?" steve asked, pulling out three plates.

"i love pizza. but mummy says we shouldn't eat it too much. tummy ache" she said seriously, raising her arms up.

"oh, you want to be carried?" steve asked, gently scooping her up.

before aurelia could reply, she was interrupted by a flurry of frantic knocking.

"eddie! eddie! is lia with you?!" a frantic voice asked, and Eddie rushed to open the door.

"yeah yeah she's with me, calm down, here come in" he made quick work of reassuring the frantic woman at the doorstep.

when you stepped in, steve felt sure his heart had stopped.

"y/n, babe, you remember steve? steve harrington? high school? king steve? the whole pizazz?" he smirked, and as much as he loved eddie, he wanted to sock him in the face.

"uh, hey y/n, how've you been?" he asked, offering you a warm smile.

when you saw steve harrington, those butterflies you used to feel around him came rushing back, and you suddenly felt conscious about your outfit. you'd been dressed in a loose shirt and a skirt, and the jacket you were supposed to wear to cover your shift at melvald's with joyce byers.

"oh, hey! i've been alright, how've you been?" you asked, taking note of how calm aurelia was in his arms.

speaking of whom, the little girl in his arms let out a squeal, kicking her little legs against him, reaching out for you.

"mommy! mommy! you're back!" she squealed, and you instantly felt the days frustrations melt off.

"hi baby, I've missed you so much! how'd you end up here!" you asked, pressing a flurry of kisses to her chubby cheeks. even as aurelia had grown older, she'd retained her cute chubby baby cheeks. and you loved kissing them.

*she scraped her knee a lil, but uncle eds fixed it right up, so don't worry. also, y/n, just leave her with me next time. cooper sucks balls" Eddie said and you shushed him.

"language eds. cant have her repeating that all around the trailer park" you mumbled, pressing a kiss to her knee.

"mumma's sorry she left you and you got hurt baby, do you forgive her?" you asked, gently brushing her hair behind her ears.

"yes mommy, i love you! issok, uncle Eddie fixed my boo boo and Stevie helped too!" she exclaimed and you giggled.

"well, thank you, the both of you" you smiled.

steve felt his heart melt a little more, watching the interaction between the two of you.

he watched as you bounced little aurelia on your hip, and as she fiddled with the loose strands of your hair, which is noticed were considerably shorter than they had been a few years ago.

it was then that he noticed how much thinner you looked, how your eyes, albeit smiling at your daughter, held the traces of many a night spent crying or worrying over the future, the soft worry lines in between your eyebrows, and finally the slight slump of your shoulders, signifying how tired you were after what he could only assume numerous extra shifts.

"we were just about to sit down and share some pizza with our little lady" eddie chimed in making you giggle. "that sounds lovely" you smiled, trying to ignore the tug of hunger in your stomach.

and that's when realisation hit you.

fuck. you had forgotten to get the groceries from the store. joyce was always kind enough to keep some spares for you to take home, knowing how hard it was for a single mom to make ends meet.

you wanted to cry. but you couldn't. all you had at home was some baby food and some snacks for her and peanut butter. that was not going to cut it.

a frustrated exhale left your nose, and steve noticed.

"wanna join us for some pizza?" he asked nonchalantly, hoping you'd say yes.

"uh.. it's okay i have food at home" you lied through your teeth, ignoring the rumbling in your stomach as the smell of the pizza wafted towards you.

"doesn't matter, we have way too much pizza here so we'd probably not finish anyway. c'mon, my treat" he smiled, and sweet, sweet relief washed over you. you did not want to scoop peanut butter out the jar on wheat crackers for the third night of the week.

so you smiled, and nodded shyly, "thats sweet of you, but only if you're sure" you said, slight guilt bubbling at not being able to contribute. but you'd promised aurelia to rent a cassette of duck tales for her birthday later that week, maybe even buy it if you could afford it after the groceries and a new skirt since yours had torn.

"yes of course we're sure, c'mon grab a plate" he smiled at you, putting a slice of pizza on your plate.

you broke off a tiny piece, holding it tip to lia's mouth when steve tutted. "wait, here's her slice, and there's more if she'd like" he said, handing you a smaller plate with a slice of pizza for aurelia.

"oh no, its enough that you're sharing, besides the two of us have shared before, we don't mind" you were quick to cut him off with a soft smile, but he shook his head.

"that may be so, but we have more than enough so you can both have as many slices as you want. isn't that right eds?" he asked, scoffing at the metalhead who was shoving pizza into his mouth.

"wha-? oh yeah y/n, go full on stuff mode, we have so much. want a cold beer?" he asked, and you giggled. "sure, i don't mind one" you replied, catching the can he tossed at you.

you watched as aurelia chewed her slice slowly, giggling with eddie as they watched the kermit tape he'd bought just for her.

steve watched you take a slow bite of your food, savouring every morsel, and he saw how happy it made you. he wondered how long it had been since you'd had pizza.

you were wondering the same. prices had shot up recently and it had been more than six months. the taste of the cheese was warming and it made you feel happy.

the moment your slice was over, you got up to wash your plate, only to be stopped by steve stopping you and firmly sliding another slice into your plate.

"c'mon, have another one. I'm done and so is eddie. we filled up on chips. please, just one more slice?" he pleaded, and you felt your heart melt.

how long had it been since someone had checked to see if you had eaten properly? or asked you to take more? it made you wanna cry.

so you smiled, said a soft thank you and took another slice.

aurelia finished her slice, and began to fuss. you looked at the click and swore under your breath. it was way past her bedtime.

"oh i gotta go, it's time for lia's bath and then i have to put her to bed" you mumbled, grabbing your keys and your purse.

"just hold on to her eds, I'll do the dishes real quick" you continued, picking up the plates.

"woah woah y/n, its okay, we can do the dishes ourselves" steve interrupted, grabbing your hand, a slight frown appearing on his face. "you just concentrate on getting lia to bed" he said, brushing his thumb over the soft skin of your hand.

you blushed. he noticed.

"are you sure? i can do that much, i didn't even pay for dinner" you said, guilt rising in your chest.

"dinner was my treat, and Eddie and i can handle four plates. trust me y/n, we got this. go home" he said, still running his thumb over your hand.

"thank you so much. for dinner, and for taking care of aurelia, and for helping her knee. lia, say thank you steve!" you told the toddler.

"tank you stevie!" she exclaimed and he grinned.

picking up your stuff and Mr tibbles, you scooped aurelia up into your arms.

"lia, say bye bye to uncle eds and stevie" you said, and the life girl obliged, leaning forward to kiss eddie's cheek.

"bye bye stevie" she giggled, looping her arms around his neck and tugging him in.

"bye bye princess" he smiled, gently patting her back.

"wait, let me walk you two ladies to your trailer" he said, and you shook your head. "no it's quite alright, you've already done so much" you said, offering him your sweetest smile.

"it's alright, i don't mind" he smiled back, and so you let him.

it felt good to have someone walk next to you in the dark trailer park, to listen to him chatted with lia and keep an eye out for the both of you.

you felt safe. you felt cared for. and you craved that feeling more than you'd ever admit.

the yellow lights of your trailer came into sight and you suddenly became conscious of the fact that the steve harrington was standing in front of your trailer.

as if sensing your insecurities, steve said, right on cue, "youve done it up so nicely, it looks stunning" as he watched you walk up the steps.

"thank you. it's not much, but...it's home" you murmured, feeling tears rise in your eyes.

steve noticed too.

"i think you're very brave, to be providing for your beautiful baby and managing to manage a pretty home. Eddie told me about what happened...it's brave of you to start over" he murmured back, running a comforting hand down your back.

you let yourself lean in for a moment. it felt so good to be commended and praised for what was a tiring job and you wanted to squeeze him in the tightest hug. you resorted to squeezing his hand.

"well, this is me" you smiled, and he laughed.

"you can come over to sometime" you continued, "i think lia would like it" you rushed to cover up, hoping you didn't sound over hyper to see him again.

"of course, I'd love to see lia again, and you of course" he smiled, and you felt your cheeks heat up again.

"good night steve, thank you for everything today" you smiled, opening your trailer door slightly.

"no problem, good night y/n. ill see you soon. good night lia!" he said, and she waved to him, head resting sleeping on your shoulder.

with a final smile in his direction, you closed the door, biting your lip with a smile as you rested against the trailer door.

outside, steve stood in front of your door, smiling like an idiot in love.

oh shit, he thought.

he was an idiot in love.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･

TAGS *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

and here it is! this will have multiple parts, this is just the beginning of steve, lia and y/n's story ❤️ 🥺

as always, likes, reblogs, comments and feedback is appreciated! feel free to send an ask or drop by the dms!

i'm always open to making new friends!

everything - @roslastyles420

stranger things -

to be added to the taglist, send me an ask or a dm or reply to the post, specifying which fandom ❤️

[themisfitqueens-blog]

TWINS OF EDDIE MUNSON

Hey loves this will be an ongoing fanfic for a bit ! So I’ll make this post my pin so you can get to each chapter easily!

If there is anything you would like me to put into future chapters I’d be happy to hear them ! 🖤 (ask is always open!)

I can even write short fanfics if you’d like. I love smut but I wanted to write more of a fluff fanfic for others you would rather read fluff🖤

I’m a single mama of my own so I’ll try to do my best to update chapters fast for everyone

I hope you enjoy the story! 🖤

request to be put on taglist

•Chapter One

•Chapter Two

•Chapter Three

•Chapter Four (coming soon)

[icannotbetrustedalone]

I cried litteral tears of joy

This fic touched the softest spot of my heart, I want the best for this little family ♥♥

The little details here and there of June's mom struggles, you encapture that perfectly. She seems like the best mom

And Eddie an amazing futur dad, I love how he decided to take care/help these two and how they help each other ♥

.

That's right Wayne, go tell him

𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 | 𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 

summary you're a single mom living three trailers down. eddie thinks you're the prettiest girl he's ever seen. queue smiley face oatmeal, grossly misused power tools, desserts on the living room floor, a haircut, and an abundance of nerd metaphors [15k]

warnings teen mom!reader, fem!reader, r is junie's birth mother, fluff, hurt/comfort, eddie ends up being a total girl dad (<3), mutual pining, yearning etc, tw for not having much money, general loneliness, mentions of a shitty/traumatic pregnancy, general mom struggles :(, slowburn friends to lovers, you wash eddie's hair!!!! this was low-key requested by anon

𓆩❤︎𓆪

Eddie opens the door and finds a little girl on the steps of his house. Little girl feels generous – she's barely more than a baby. In a set of tiny matching pajamas and white socks stained green from the morning grass, she looks up at him with wide, sad eyes. 

"Hey," he says carefully. "Hey, sweetheart." 

"Good morning," she says, though it comes out blurry.

"Good morning," he repeats with a breathless laugh, instantly endeared.

He curls his hand around the railing and squats down. She really is very cute and obviously well looked after, although he realises upon closer inspection that she's been crying. 

"Where's your mommy?" Eddie feels silly as he asks, but what else do you say when you find kids by themselves? 

He's not really expecting her to know the answer. She pouts her small mouth and Eddie freezes up. 

"Mommy.” Her breath quivers. 

"Don't cry," he says very gently.

It doesn't work, obviously, and she starts whimpering in a way that turns Eddie's heart entirely. 

"Let's find mommy, okay? Do you wanna do that? Wanna come and find mommy with me?" 

"Yes," she says, though it quickly draws up into a sharp cry. 

Eddie treks down the stairs and turns back, waiting. The little girl looks down at the steps and her eyebrows furrow as she places one foot after the other, looking like her socks are stuck to a fly trap. 

He holds his hand out. "You got it," he says encouragingly, wiggling his fingers. 

Her relief is palpable. Her brows smooth as she takes his hand, so small he can cover her entire palm with the meat of his thumb. She wobbles down the steps and then hesitates at the damp ground awaiting. 

Eddie drops his gaze to her wet feet.

She looks up at him. Eddie doesn't think she means to but her eyes are pleading,and he's already moving to pick her up when she lifts her arms into the air.

She's heavier than he anticipates. He quickly gets used to the weight, shifting her against his side with his arm under her butt, her damp foot digging into his abdomen. She rests one hand on his shoulder and the other reaches for his hair. He can't help smiling at her as she pets the dark mess, hand clumsy but well-intentioned. 

He walks down past the van and onto dark asphalt, looking up and down the road to see if anyone's around. He figures she has to be a trailer park kid – she can't have walked very far, and she'd been waiting outside. She must've gotten mixed up and thought his trailer was her own, which hopefully means her mom lives close. 

The steps up into his trailer are on the right side. Eddie guesses she's come from the right. It's not a great assumption — he's grasping at straws. 

"What's your name?" he asks. 

She's taken a lock of his hair into her hands. Eddie worries for a second that she's going to try eating it but she only waves it around, looking pleased. 

"I'm Eddie." 

"Dee," she says. 

"Almost. Eh-dee," he spells out, again not actually expecting her to understand what he's saying. He's unsure about kids her age – he's unsure what age she even is. 

She babbles something unintelligible and Eddie hikes her higher up his chest. He strides out of the cool shadow and blinks, shielding his eyes against the yellow-white glare of sunshine. The little girl hides her face in his hair. 

He hasn't walked very far when he sees you behind the trailer three doors down, pinning clothes that look the same size as the girl's pajamas to a clothesline with unhurried hands. The front door is wide open. 

"Your poor mommy," he murmurs as he approaches, "out here doing the laundry by herself and you're halfway to Indianapolis. Musta got turned around, huh?"

You drop a small light blue dress on the floor and cuss just loud enough for Eddie to hear it. You pick it up fast and brush it down, looking over the fabric worriedly. 

Eddie cuts over soft grass, giving the baby's waist a pat and holding her ears away from his mouth as he raises his voice. "Hey, is this your kid?" he asks. 

You flinch toward him and your eyes go wide – wide, your lips parting and your brows jumping down like you might start yelling. 

You're really fucking pretty. 

Eddie’s quick to placate you. "She was sitting on my front steps." 

You still don't look very happy though your suspicion melds to confusion and then a stab of too-late worry. You rush towards them and Eddie turns his body to encourage the girl's gaze to you. His chest warms when she perks up. 

She wriggles in his arms impatiently and Eddie's surprised by how quickly she starts to cry, reaching out for you with insistent grabbing hands as he passes her over.

"It's okay," you say softly, tucking her into your chest. 

The difference in body language is unmissable. Where she'd been restless (though more than pleasant) in Eddie's arms, she completely melts into yours. Her little face presses into your neck and her legs curl up. You pat her butt soothingly. "It's okay, baby. Where have you been?" You look up at him for an answer with concern lining your pretty features. 

"I'm only three down," he says. 

 "Oh… Thank you," you say roughly.

Your gratitude is unnecessary. "That's okay. She's real sweet. I opened the door and the first thing she said was, 'good morning,'" he recalls with an easy smile. 

Joy lightens your entire face. He feels his breath catch in his throat. 

"She did? She said that?" 

"Yeah, she did.” He tries not to sound as confused as he feels.

Your eyes close with the force of your smile. You encourages your toddler’s face back and drop your chin to plant kisses all over her tiny cheeks. Eddie feels something foreign yawning in his chest as she starts to laugh, a tinkling sound that's sugar sweet. 

He scratches his neck and pretends to look over his shoulder, tamping his smile back into a neutral expression. 

"She's having trouble talking," you say, lifting your head as the baby's giggles taper off. "She can talk, she says 'mommy' all the time, but she's s'posed to be saying more 'cos she's almost two and I know she can do it, she's so smart, but-" You cut yourself off and laugh all breathless and sheepish. "Sugar, I'm sorry. I mean- Sorry. Thank you," it almost bursts from you, "for bringing her back. I don't know…" 

"You just moved in, right?" You nod. "The lock on the front door- they're all exactly the same, you just gotta shake it and it unlocks. Even someone small as her can could get it open with enough determination." 

"She can be very determined," you say ruefully, voice hushed. You're still patting her butt, swaying her from side to side. Eddie's in awe at how quickly she's settled, her button features crumpled by a big yawn. "Always gets what she wants."

"I bet she does, she's a total heartbreaker." 

You take a step towards him, your beat up sneakers half a foot from his converse. "She can't help it, she was born this pretty," you say. He loves how braggy you sound. 

"I can see where she gets it." 

As soon as he says it he wishes he could take it back. Not because he doesn't think it's true – you're really something else – but because he doesn't want to creep you out. 

Luckily, he's rewarded for his bravery by another beaming smile, your words warm as you tell him, "They said she was the prettiest baby they'd seen in twenty years up in Eskenazi general." 

The name pricks his ears. "You're from Indianapolis?" 

"Kind of." You tilt your head to the side. "I'm sorry, I don't know your name." 

"Eddie." He could applaud himself on how normal he sounds and how not normal he feels. 

"Eddie, I'm Y/N. D'you wanna come in for coffee? Or I can make you some breakfast? To say thank you for taking care of my Junie."

"Junie," he repeats, surprised. 

You shift from foot to foot. "She's a June baby. And she's getting kind of heavy these days, so. Breakfast?" 

He follows you up the steps and through the back door. 

"You can leave it open," you say over your shoulder. 

He catches an eyeful of your bathroom, an organised chaos that smells intoxicating, the rich scent of jasmine heavy in the humidity chased by something softer. Talcum powder, he thinks. 

You murmur something to Junie too quiet to hear and she rouses from her dozing, grizzling weakly. 

"It's breakfast time! Is that what you tried to come and find me for, some breakfast? So impatient," you scold her lightly, smiling all the while as you set her into a bright blue high chair with a big yellow duck with orange flippers printed on the cushioning.

You squeeze one of her feet and frown. "Your socks are wet. Did you go swimming in the grass?" 

Eddie leans against the doorway leading into the kitchen. He doesn't have any experience with kids. You make it look easy, pulling off her stained socks while she wiggles her protest and tickling the soles of her feet with the tip of your finger until she's happy again. 

You turn back to him, socks clutched in your hand. "I'm gonna make oatmeal. Is that something you…" 

"I'm an oatmeal fiend." 

You grin and do a lap to close the front door. "Sit down. I'll get you some coffee? I got milk and brown sugar." 

He throws himself into the seat next to the high chair with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Brown sugar? Sweetness, you're spoiling me." 

Junie laughs. Eddie pulls himself up into a proper sitting position and gawps at her exaggeratedly. "What's funny, little lady?" 

She giggles some more. Eddie leans his elbow on the tray of the high chair and pretends to glare at her. "I can already tell you're trouble." 

"She likes you." 

"Yeah?" he asks, looking at you over his shoulder. 

You're half obscured by cabinets as you poke your head out, an open sack of rolled oats in one hand and a small pan in the other. You nod happily and move to the sink. He can hear the sound of the faucet and the burner clicking on, the saucepan sliding over the stovetop. 

"I like you," he says to Junie quietly, rapping his knuckles on the tray. "But don't tell anyone, okay? I have a reputation." 

"So, uh, how long have you lived here?" you call, almost smothered by the rushing sound of oats tipping into hot water. 

Junie makes a funny face like she might sneeze. Eddie watches. "Since I was a kid." He's smiling as he talks, amazed when Junie starts to smile back. He nods his head gently up and down to encourage her. "Too long. Not that it's not nice here."

Junie looks like she agrees. 

"For sure, but..  not always where you picture yourself," you say tentatively. 

He hums his agreement. "Whatever though, right? A roof is a roof. Even when the roof is made of cardboard and corrugated metal. I mean, all things considered, this is a well kept vessel." 

He's not just trying to make you feel better – you really are making a go of it. There's not nearly as much clutter or decoration as his own home but it's twice as clean and every surface brags a clear affection – you fucking love your daughter. There's a framed photo of her as she looks now at the mantle without a single fingerprint on the glass, baby photos in smaller frames hang on the wall. 

Smallest of all, a photo of the two of you together. Your hands on her shoulders, your lips and nose pressed to her forehead. You're not looking at the camera, but Junie is, and she's exuberant. 

Toys, though few, are arranged neatly under the TV. It's really the type of clean that takes hours. He wonders how you'd ever make time for it. 

"You got a job?"  

"Yeah, I'm waitressing at Benny's?" You say it like a question. "The burger place?"

"Yeah, I know the one. Randolph Lane, near the laundromat. Does Junie go with you?" he asks. He cooes Junie's name and feels very happy when the girl in question smiles some more, reaching out with her hands. Eddie offers up the same palm she'd taken before and lets her squeeze his fingers in a surprisingly tight grip. "She looks like a working girl." 

"Benny said I could bring her with me until she starts daycare next week, so she really is a working girl." You giggle madly and Junie loves the sound, her chubby cheeks rounding as she smiles. 

"I knew it," Eddie whispers conspiringly. "You have the face for it." 

Junie laughs like something is truly hysterical and Eddie can't believe it, squeezing the small girl's smaller fingers in his and waving their joined hands together.

"She really likes you," you say, closer now. 

You set a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. He pulls his hand from Junie's and moves the hot mug away from the high chair though she'd never be able to reach it as you set your own mug and a pint of milk half-full across from him, the brown sugar you'd promised in a pink and orange ceramic dish with a lid that clinks as he pulls it off. 

You double back into the kitchen. This time you bring a baby bottle full of what he guesses is diluted juice and two teaspoons, handing him one with a quiet, "For you." 

"Why thank you," he drawls. 

He spoons a generous hill of crumbly brown sugar into his cup and swirls. 

"The oatmeal needs to soften. Is there anything you want with it? I've got lots of options," you tell him, pouring milk into your own mug. When you're done you and Eddie swap.

He thinks maybe you sound a little nervous and wonders if he's the first neighbour you've met. Or maybe you're still freaked out about Junie. 

He raises his eyebrows but doesn't look at you as he splashes milk into the dark recesses of his coffee, watching as it bursts back up to the surface and turns the drink a more acceptable brown. "What do you usually have?" 

"Junie gets peanut butter and blueberries." 

He tilts his head toward his shoulder just slightly and plants his elbows on the table, the rim of his mug held in tenuous fingertips. 

"What do you get?" he asks, thinking that if the baby gets such a sweet treat you must get something equally impressive. He thinks of raspberries and chia seeds, flakey sea salt and bitter dark chocolate. 

You blink. "What?" 

"What do you have, on your oatmeal?" He punctuates his question with a sip. 

"Salt. Sometimes raisins." 

You make a nice cup of coffee. Eddie holds it in both hands and leans into the table. "That's it?" 

You shrug. Junie starts to whimper about something Eddie doesn't understand. You reach out to hold her hand. "She loves blueberries. Don't you, Junie?"

"Blue," Junie says. 

You're smiling as you take another small spoonful of brown sugar. You lick the tip of your finger and dip it into the well of the spoon until a few grains are sticking to you and hold it up to Junie's lips. "She loves sugar, too, but toddlers aren't s'posed to have it. Or so they say." You smile as she sucks the sugar off before wiping your spit wet finger in your pants. 

Daughter appeased for a moment, you hold your chin in your palm and turn your attention to him. "Where do you work?" 

He imagines this is how a plant feels when the sun comes out. "The Hideout, for now. I'm a very essential and irreplaceable bus boy." He nods very seriously.

"What's after?" 

"Music." 

Your lips curl into an interested smile. "Music? You a singer?" 

"I have a great set of windpipes," he says agreeably, grinning. "But I'm a guitarist." 

"And you're in a band?" 

"I- I was. Yeah, we were good, too, but everybody graduated and our drummer skipped town. I just sub rhythm guitar for whoever wants me to." 

"At the Hideout?" 

"At the Hideout." He decides on his next words carefully. You could come see me play. Weak. You're welcome to come see it for yourself. Too strong? You're welcome to come by one night. Bring Junie. 

He's not asking you on a date; he's a new acquaintance extending an invitation for you to get out and see a new place. That's all it is. 

He opens his mouth to try and suddenly there's a loud clattering. Eddie flinches, blinks, finds that Junie has thrown her bottle of juice across the room. 

Eddie waits for you to maybe tell her off like some of the mom's he's seen at Bradley's. A glare, a hissing remark to be good. 

You reach over and your shirt rides up your back. Eddie averts his gaze guiltily.

You put the bottle back on the tray, giving him an apologetic grimace. "Sorry, Junie has recently discovered that every time she drops something I'll pick it up for her." 

"Smart Junie." 

The bottle falls to the floor again. "She's a genius." You don’t sound entirely pleased, picking the bottle up again and holding it just out of Junie's reach. You shake it up and down. "S'juice. You like juice," you try to reason with her.

Junie reaches for it. You purse your lips. "Be good," you say softly. 

Junie takes the bottle and shakes it. 

It's a small victory and still softens every feature. Your eyes squint, your bottom lip juts out a touch, your nostrils flare with a pleased inhale. 

"Thanks, junebug."

"Tanks," Junie says. 

"Thanks," you repeat, bubbly baby talk. "Thanks. Say thanks, Junie." 

Eddie watches you encourage her over his coffee. It's quiet, peaceful here in a way nowhere else in his life has ever been besides quiet Sunday mornings with his Uncle. There's only the sound of the gas stovetop burning and your happy, patient voice. 

Junie says "Tanks," a couple more times. You don't give up. When she finally says something that sounds almost like a "Thanks," you whip your gaze to his. 

"Did you hear that?" you ask. Your pride is evident. 

He puts down his half empty mug. "She said it." 

"She said it," you repeat, your shoulders moving in the tiniest happy dance he's ever seen. You stand up and take her face into delicate hands. "She's my smarty pants. Aren't you, baby?" 

You dot a kiss over her head and head back into the kitchenette. 

"Tanks," Junie says animatedly, running on an affection high. She accidentally knocks her bottle over.

"Thanks, Junie," Eddie corrects, righting it. 

He finds it easier to baby talk than he imagined. Being nice to little kids – that's easy. Especially as he gets older. When they hit the pre-teen mark is when he starts to steer clear, but even then he can't help doting on them sometimes. Like his club – idiots, annoying idiots, but his annoying idiots. He doesn't hold back with them. He doesn't feel like he's holding back now, either, it's just different. 

Baby's want love. Care and affection. 

And to pull Eddie's hair, apparently. 

Junie's reaching over the gap with a fierce look on her face. Eddie pulls his chair closer and decides to let her try it out. She hadn't given him any reason to worry before, and she doesn't now as she takes a chunk of his hair into her hand. She pulls very gently, likely more that her fingers have gotten caught in his messy curls than any maliciousness. 

"What's your fascination with my hair?" he asks her. 

In her own home Junie's very noisy. When he'd found her outside she hadn't done much besides whimper weakly. Now, she's a riot of gurgling and humming. 

"Are you a singer, Junie?" he asks. 

"She sings all the time! She loves the Muppet Babies on TV, but I- uh, I haven't been able to actually get cable, yet. But when I get paid next week…" You come back into view with two bowls in hand. "She'll be in her oils." 

Eddie says thanks as you put a bowl down in front of him. There's a smiley face there made up of berries with banana slices for eyes. He feels something crawling up his throat and has no idea what it is, and then something completely different when he sees your own bowl, a stretch of plain oatmeal with no delicious adornment. 

You leave and quickly return with a smaller bowl, a baby spoon and a jar of peanut butter.

"Do you want some?" you ask, opening the jar to push the baby spoon inside. "I would've just put it in anyway but then I worried you were allergic." 

You hand it off to Junie and she licks at it happily. 

"Sure, I'll have some. Where's your smiley face?" he asks. 

Your eyes widen slightly. Eddie's not academically inclined but he's never been stupid, and he sees it for what it is, something he's seen in himself and in every other poor kid who didn't bring lunch to school.

"I don't really like bananas," you say. 

Whether you're lying or not isn't something he needs to know.

"Well, you're gonna have to share the blueberries with me, I can't eat this much fruit. I got a hearty diet of chips and microwave oven dinners to uphold." 

Eddie shovels half of the smile into your bowl. You clutch your spoon in your hand like you want to protest, but no way is he gonna watch you miss out on nice things in your own home. 

You smile and don't say anything for a while, rubbing the edge of the bowl with your spoon, your thoughts somewhere else. 

Junie's food sits billowing steam in the middle of the table, which annoys the poor girl endlessly. She wiggles and murmurs and sucks at her empty spoon with a growing line between her brows. 

Eddie eats and feels much better when you finally start to eat your own meal, leaning back in his chair heavily to loll his head towards Junie. "Your mom makes amazing oatmeal. You're really missing out." 

You choke on a laugh and grab her spoon to load up with another small heap of peanut butter. "That is so cruel to lord over her,” you say. “I can't give it to her yet! It's scorching. She has a fragile mouth." 

"I'm sure." 

He picks one of his blueberries out of the bowl and offers it to Junie, who takes it slowly despite her previously rabid hunger 

More oatmeal eating. Eddie ends up giving the rest of his fruit to Junie, your generous dollops of peanut butter more than enough to enjoy the oatmeal. He might argue it doesn't need any adornment at all.

You stir peanut butter into Junie's bowl and wrestle the baby spoon out of her tight grip.

It's a process to watch. You scoop up oatmeal, blow on it until you're sure it's cool, and push it into Junie's mouth efficiently. There's a method to it, the way you lift the handle of the spoon so oatmeal doesn't drip straight back out of her mouth. When it does you scrape the lip gently against her chin to catch it before it ruins her shirt. 

It starts to rain. Hard not to notice, a light drizzle opens and sprays down against the windows and for a moment there's no reaction. Then, gasping, you drop Junie's bowl back onto the table in stress. 

"Shit, the laundry. Are you okay to watch her please? Sorry. I'll be five seconds," you say, already heading for the back door. 

"Sure.” He sounds about as startled as he feels. 

The back door shushes open and your feet dip down the steps. Junie is not very pleased with her breakfast getting put on pause, her face growing as unpleasant as the weather outside.

"Mommy," she says, unhappy and loud.

Eddie doesn't think about it as he picks up her bowl. It's more a pulse of feeling than a thought. Feed her and she won't cry. 

He blows on a spoonful of oatmeal with likely too much vigour. 

Junie's still complaining as he holds it in front of her face. If she's surprised to be fed by somebody who isn't her mom she doesn't show it, her sticky face growing suddenly slack as she realises her oatmeal is back in play. Her lips part.

He feeds her oatmeal, does a very bad job, and tries to gather what's escaped with the spoon as Junie waves her hands around and pokes at spilled food on the white tray in front of her. By the time you come back damp and breathless with the cold chasing your heels he's successfully managed to feed her what was left of her breakfast. He's embarrassed to be caught but tries not to show it. 

"You okay?" he asks, looking you up and down amicably.

"S'only a little rain." You push the laundry basket onto the sofa and smile sheepishly. "You didn't have to do that." 

"And have the precious little lady starve?" 

"Starve!" you repeat, a feigned incredulousness to your tone. 

"She was giving me the puppy dog's," he says, shrugging as he takes the spoon out of Junie's wet fingers. 

She whines for a second at his robbery but seems to realise she's full, picking her juice back up to shake some more. 

You exhale through an open-mouthed smile.

"Thank you. She's gonna love you now, she loves anyone who gives her food. She's a real cadge at the diner. Never seen so much free cherry pie in my life," you remark, turning to what looks like your diaper station. You wade through a mess of things he doesn't recognise and pull out a packet of baby wipes. 

"And her mom? Is her affection so easily garnered?" 

"Takes more than a cherry pie to win me over," you joke, sitting down in your chair in front of the high chair with a soft sigh. You pull out one of the wipes and take Junie's wrists into your hand, wiping her fingers clean methodically. "I need at least a squirt of whipped cream on top before I consider any fondness." 

He chuckles and you laugh too. It's short-lived, your lips pursed as you wipe Junie's face clean. She hates every second of it, writhing in her chair like she's being tortured as you clean a mess of brown and blue from her round chin. 

"Sorry, I'm sorry. Done, done," you say, holding your hands up in surrender. 

She pouts. 

"Don't be like that," you scold her mildly. "Look how lovely and clean you are now! Eddie can see how pretty you look again." 

You slide your hands under her armpits and pull her out of the highchair, groaning. 

"Oh, there you go. Where's Mr. Bear gone, baby? You can play sticky bricks with him so I can get ready for work." 

Work. Work. Where Eddie was going. Where Eddie is very likely supposed to be. He checks the time and his eyes flare, standing up abruptly. You turn  toward him with Junie anchored on your hip, both wearing matching expressions of curiosity.

"Sh-“ Don’t swear around babies. “I'm sorry, I got somewhere to be that I totally spaced on."

You blink. "That's okay." 

"It was sick to meet you," he says. 

You blink some more and walk to the front door, pulling it open as an understanding smile curls your lips. "Super 'sick,'" you say, bemused. "Thank you so much for bringing Junie back. Really, I mean, if anything ever happened to her." You don't finish because it's obvious, your bright tone underlain with a burning fear.

He walks sideways out of the door and down one step, knowing he's super fucking late but not caring too much as he says, "Listen, I can bring you a deadbolt." 

"You could?" 

"Sure thing. Make sure this little lady," and he says it chidingly, directing his gaze at Junie who goes all shy and smiley from the attention, "doesn't go on anymore morning adventures. Especially without her shoes." 

"That would be… that would be awesome, Eddie. Thank you." 

He waves his hand and descends the last of the steps. "I'll come around tomorrow?" 

It's a Saturday today. He's not surprised that you're both working the weekend, but he is surprised that you're working Sunday too when you say, "Would after five be okay?" 

"That's more than okay. Bye, trouble," he says to Junie, bringing a hand up to shield his hair from the drizzling rain. 

You look lovely on the stoop, fresh-faced and in your lounge clothes. You tug Junie up your chest and take her hand into yours. "Say 'bye', Junie," you tell her, waving her hand. "Bye! Bye-bye, Eddie." 

"Bye Junie!" he calls, waving at the little girl with great fervour.

"Bye!" Junie calls back. 

You both grin. 

-

You're super tired from work and exhausted from an upset daughter. Even now Junie fusses. She hasn't been getting her naps because you can't set her down anywhere that isn't the wooden high chair in Benny's restaurant, which is months of a routine disrupted. 

You're not mad at her – the opposite, you feel awful to mess her up like this, awful that she's so upset. Trying your very best to calm her down, you're swaying her from side to side in the middle of your messy living room with your hand patting a steady rhythm into the narrow breadth of her back. 

"I know, baby, I know. I'm sorry. You'll get your nap tomorrow, I promise," you say, trying for softness and missing, desperation eating at your tone.

You try not to have a heart attack at the thought of her first day at the new daycare. I can't think about it, you tell yourself, moving your thoughts onto the Sunday checklist. 

Junie's been fed. Unfortunately, she's the kind of wound up where the only solution you can think of is to get her in bed. If you can get her down soon she'll sleep until maybe 4AM. Not ideal; you'd prefer she slept later tonight and woke up at a healthier 6AM with you. When she does wake, no matter the time, you'll have her eat something substantial for breakfast and take a much needed bath. 

Laundry, bills, cleaning, it all runs through your head. Junie's hair, her snacks for daycare, her clothes. Does she have clean socks for the week? Does she have a vest top for tomorrow? 

Her crying grows loud and you can't think of anything except how overwhelmed you feel. 

"It's okay, baby, just go to sleep." You shush her softly.

Somebody knocks the door. 

You and Junie are similarly nonplussed. Her crying ceases for a second and her head turns in tandem with yours. 

"Oh. Oh, you know who that is, huh?" you ask her, making for the door while her cries are still on pause. "That's our new friend Eddie. You remember Eddie?" 

You pull open the door. There he is on the porch with a bag and a plastic case, wearing a shirt with short sleeves. You realise for the first time that he has tattoos. 

"Hi," you say. 

"Hi. Hi, Junie," he adds, looking at her tear-stained face. "Have I come at a bad time?" 

"No, you're good. You're great, thank you for doing this." You lean back against the door and Eddie skirts past you. That close, you can smell the heavy sage and sandalwood of his cologne and see the beauty mark under his ear, dark hair tucked behind the shell. 

He stops in the middle of the room and puts down the plastic case. "I'm gonna try to do it. Try being the essential word, and I make absolutely no promises." He makes a small cross with his hands leading out and the bag falls from the crook of his elbow to his wrist. 

It sounds like more than a deadbolt. Eddie sees your gaze and jumps into theatrics that hook Junie's attention straight away, ruffling through the bag. He pulls out a VHS tape and then a second, one old and one newer. 

"For your consideration." He presents them grandly against his check, his eyes flitting from your daughter to the tapes in wait of her reaction. 

Junie has no clue what a VHS is. She thinks the TV is magic. 

You swoop in and gasp loudly for Junie's sake, having identified his proffered tapes immediately. 

"You know what that is?" you ask her, pointing at the slipcover. "Muppet Babies! There's Kermit and Fozzy and Rowlf and Gonzo." You touch your finger to each puppet in turn as you reel off their names. 

Junie looks up at you like maybe she remembers, so you start to sing the theme tune for her. "Muppet Babies, they make their dreams come true. Muppet Babies, they'll do the same for you!"

The song jogs her memory. She starts her nonsense singing in a valiant but juvenile effort to recreate the music, dancing in your arms. 

You sing it again for her as you lower her to the floor. She doesn't whine to be picked back up, a great sign that her mood has turned, instead walking to the TV, a small silver combi with a bubble screen. She raises her arms up high and starts hitting the TV stand with her palms flat. 

Eddie looks to you as if he's checking that it's alright before crossing the small space and turning on the TV, your relieved smile more than enough encouragement. He's careful not to step on Junie's feet, surprised when she walks into his leg. She grabs onto his jeans and looks up at him with wide eyes. 

Eddie visibly softens. 

It's kind of crazy to see him, this metalhead dude covered in dark tattoos and wearing safety pinned jeans looking down at a toddler with nothing but patience in his eyes.

He drops his hand very lightly to her tiny back and pushes in the tape. "Hi, sweetheart."

"Hi," Junie says. 

She doesn't let him touch her for very long, falling to her knees to pull out the bin of stickle bricks hiding underneath as Eddie fast forwards through the adverts and then turns up the volume until the Muppet Babies theme is echoing against the wood panelled walls.. 

Junie's eyes dart up the screen, two bricks held in her hands and a great smile on her face. 

"Where did you find that?" you ask, in awe. 

He steps over her and comes back to your side, crossing his arms over his stomach with a smug smile. "Not telling. Ruins the magic. Got The Bugs Bunny Show for when she gets bored of Miss Piggy." 

You smooth down your rumpled black work skirt and smile shyly. "I can pay you back… Next week." 

He looks lost for words for a split-second. It clears fast, and he says, "Tell you a secret. I have a friend down at good old Family Video that let me have 'em for nothing." 

"Yeah?" you ask, unsure. You worry he's lying to make you feel better. 

"Uh-huh. Friends in high places," he brags sarcastically. 

You turn to watch Junie smile for the first time in hours and have to scrub your face to hide how shattered you feel. It's been a really long week. Your relief is a physical thing, a hand on your shoulder. You feel yourself deflate. 

"You okay?" Eddie asks. 

You press the backs of your hands to your cheeks. "Thank you. Really. You saved me." 

"Yeah?" he asks, dialling up the drama. He lifts his chin high. "Would you say, oh, I don't know, that I'm your hero?" 

It's his clear joking tone that saves him. If you'd detected even a smidge of genuine expectancy from him you likely would've shoved him out the door. 

"Mm-hm. My hero," you croon, both of you grinning. 

He turns back to the grocery bag and pulls out a bottle of juice. "I was gonna bring coke but I didn't want Junie to feel left out." 

You move to the cabinets and can't believe how nice he is. You get a little warning stab, that feeling of if it's too good to be true… and shake it off. Maybe it'll turn out that way and you're not gonna do anything stupid to chance it, but he seems like a normal guy. A good neighbour who wants to be your friend.

You're in dire need of one of those. 

"What was wrong with the little lady?" 

You pour juice into a glass for him, less into a glass for you, and a half-inch into a clean baby bottle. "I can't get her down for a nap when she's with me at work and it really caught up to her today. She-" You yawn so wide it hurts your cheeks, covering your face with your arm. 

Eddie looks up from where he's kneeling in front of the open plastic case he'd brought with him. "Caught up to you too, I think." 

"A little." You smile ruefully. 

He holds something red and black in the air. "This'll wake you up," he says. 

It's a small hand drill. He presses down on the trigger twice in quick succession and Junie lies down on the floor to look backwards at him. 

“Woah,” you say.

Junie rolls onto her knees and then stands. She's in that stage of walking where she can mostly do it but has a great tendency to trip over anything that might be in her way, and she stumbles as she approaches. Eddie moves the drill away from her and opens the case wide to show her his array of drill bits. 

"How'd you like them, Junie?" he asks. "Pretty cool, huh?" 

"What do they all do?" you ask. 

"I don't have the foggiest," he says, grinning up at you. "And I really wanted to be cool and pretend that I did. I was going to, but you asked me that and now we're sunk." 

Junie pokes at all the silver metal and turns away, bored, to return to her cartoons. 

"I'm sorry," you say, not sorry at all. 

"You should be." He shakes his hair out. "Can't say woodshop was something I ever paid much attention to in school." 

You squat down beside him where he's counting the screws out for the deadbolt he'd acquired for you, your small cup of juice in hand. The deadbolt isn't new but it's clean of rust and that's all you care about. It doesn't need to do anything besides work. 

"It can't be too hard though, right?" you ask quietly. There isn't any need to talk loudly this close to him and your head is starting to hurt from a long day. 

"I hope not." He passes you the drill. "Hold onto that?" 

He stands and you follow, the deadbolt frame in hand. He turns to your front door and holds it up to the frame, far from the door knob. "Where'd you want this thing?" 

"Wherever you think is best," you say quickly. 

"Got a pencil?" 

You don't. You're ashamed to offer him a cyan blue crayon from Junie's arts and crafts. He takes it with a gleeful smile and uses it to draw a line under the deadbolt's two parts to make sure they fit together once they've been drilled in. 

Junie starts fussing and you squint at her, trying to guess what's wrong. You leave the drill on the small table by the door.

"Junie, you want some dinner?" you ask, walking up behind her where she's stood watching TV. You rub her shoulder and lean over her, your face upside down in front of the TV. "I don't think you're hungry. Let's change that diaper." 

She certainly doesn't want you to. You turn to Eddie where he's making clumsy crosses on the door in place of the screws, his brows furrowed. 

"I'm gonna go get her some jammies," you say, and then wince. "Pajamas." 

"Jammies," he repeats. You hate how happy he looks. 

A hot flush washes over you. "She's the only one I talk to." 

Again, that awful softening of his features. He's got the biggest, brownest eyes you've ever seen. "Why don't you get changed, too? I'm gonna start drilling." He waves the drill and you don't like how loosely he holds it. 

"Please don't ruin the door." 

A wolfish smile. "No promises." 

You leave all the doors open. Eddie's nice but you're not stupid – if he plans on kidnapping her or something evil this is the perfect time. Though, you suppose, he could’ve abducted her when he found her outside.

You shed your uniform and pull on a pair of loose fitting pants. You can't find a clean t-shirt, probably because you own a grand total of three, and you get distracted when the drill starts whirring and Junie screams. 

You know in your heart that it's just a baby scream rather than a sign that she's in pain and you still can't let it lie, rushing down the hall. You can see her, see that she's uninjured, only looking at the drill.

She's excited. 

"You like that?" Eddie asks her. "Is that funny?" 

Junie claps her hands together and reaches for the drill. 

Eddie frowns. "Sorry, you can't have it. I gotta finish the door for your mommy. Why don't you build me something with your bricks, yeah? Something big." 

Junie reaches up for the drill again. 

"I can't, Junie, it's too dangerous. Don't want you to get all mutilated." You wrinkle your nose at what he's saying. He turns the drill towards his chest and touches the drill bit to his collar. "Look, see this? It's not for little hands." 

Junie steps over the case of things on the ground and leans against Eddie's legs, insistent. 

Your mouth drops open as he starts the drill and puts on some fake anguished screams. "Ah! Oh my god, it's eating me!" 

Junie starts laughing at his fake screaming. Her eyes widen, her hands clinging to a rip in his jeans. 

"Think that's funny, do you? Heartless girl. Where's your juice gone, hmm?" He holds the drill behind his back and points to her bottle on the side of the couch where you'd left it. "You want that?" 

He goes over her head to grab it and encourage it into her hands. "Yummy," he says, his eyes moving to where you stand in the door past the kitchen, eyebrows jumping up. "Everything okay?" 

"Screaming," you say, awkward in your breathlessness. 

Eddie's eyes stay resolutely on your face. "She's okay. The drill is exciting. You're shirtless, you know." 

You spin on your heel and back into your room. Your heart a jack hammer, you sieve through clothes until a rumpled t-shirt that smells of deodorant but not sweat appears and shrug into it. 

Junie has a much better selection of clothes. You pick out some matching pajamas for her and a thick pair of socks and tuck them under your arm with her changing matt.

When you return this time, Eddie's drilling a third and fourth hole into the wall next to the door and Junie's watching with the teat of her bottle in her mouth, chewing but not drinking. You lay her mat down on the floor and grab her with a big sigh. 

"Alright, Junie, let's get you all fresh for bed." 

You change her diaper and she doesn't misbehave too much, Eddie's general presence a distraction. Soon she's sitting in your lap, dressed in new pajamas and smelling of talcum powder and baby creams, her wool socks soft as you rub your thumbs into the instep of her feet. 

You sit on the floor watching Eddie drill the screws into the deadbolt frame. Junie slouches against you, her head digging into your chest and her tired arms struggling to hold up her bottle. You hold it up for her, watching Eddie's hands and his arms, how they move. Muscle and ligament tense under the skin, tattoos warping, his bats propelled into flight. 

"I like your tattoos," you say. 

Eddie stops drilling to look over his shoulder. "What?" 

"I- I like your tattoos." 

He lights up. His back straightens out and he turns back to the lock, giving the last screw a final good twist. The door makes a groaning protest and then it's quiet. Just Muppet Babies, Junie's soft suckling and the compliment you'd given adrift in the room. 

"They're pretty sweet," he allows. You can hear how pleased he is though he won't look at you. 

"They're cool. Have you had them long?" 

Eddie starts to tell you all about them, fiddling with something you can't see on the door. 

Junie decides that she doesn't want to be sitting anymore and turns in your arms, hands coveting your neck. You lift her into your chest and rub circles in her back, the weight of her emptying bottle on your shoulder. Soon, her small arms go lax. There's a rush of air as her lips open from the teat and the bottle tumbles to the rug with a dull thud. 

He pulls open the door.  Cool air rushes in. He closes it, slides the deadlock into place, and then pulls hard to make sure it won’t come free. 

It’s solid. 

He laughs triumphantly and Junie stirs. You pat her back and make some quiet shushing sounds and Eddie turns around, a slip of his teeth on show as he grimaces. 

"Sorry," he whispers. 

You shake your head. "You're amazing. Thank you." 

If his cheeks weren't pink they are now. He leans into it, hiding one cheek behind his hair. "Stop," he says, exaggerated. 

"I'll make it good, I swear," you whisper, covering Junie's ear with your hand. "I'll make you the best dinner ever. I'm the best at Kraft's mac and cheese, or-" You flush hot, realising that mac and cheese might not be the treat you think it is to him. "Or we can order in," you say, doing the maths in your head. You can't afford it, but maybe Benny-

"Kraft's mac and cheese? You're spoiling me." 

You beam. 

Eddie cleans up the small mess he's made. You're afraid to move quite yet in case Junie's not really sleeping, though she's a dead weight in your arms, and you watch Eddie walk through the room with both caution and ease. 

"Oh, you don't have to do that,” you say. 

He folds the baby blanket in his hands and puts it back on the armrest of the couch before moving on to the stickle bricks, not looking at you as he says, "Just earning my wage, doll." 

You can't watch him clean your home. You wrap a tight arm around Junie and rise to your feet. Eddie sees your approach and his movements grow faster, rushing to clean up the mess before you can stop him. You don't know who starts first but you're both laughing as you grab his wrist. 

"Stop!" you whisper, mock-furious. "Stop cleaning." 

"Sh, you'll wake the baby." 

You shake your head in bemusement. "I'm gonna go set her down. Then mac and cheese." 

"Take your time. Lots of things for me to clean up out here," he says with a mock sincerity. 

You drift down the hall and turn back to sneak a glance at him. He's pulled Muppet Babies out of the TV and is rewinding it around his thumb, a small smile on his lips as he hums the theme tune to himself. 

With Junie finally in bed for the night you take a quick peek at yourself in the mirror on your nightstand and cringe. You look tired. You give yourself a big smile and feel better; a smile makes even your most exhausted features look pretty. 

You slap on some chapstick. You know, to counter your dry lips. It shines. 

Slipping out of the bedroom, you close the door as quietly as you can manage. 

Eddie's standing at the end of the hallway. You expect to feel scared. Instead, you’re perplexed.

"Hi?" you whisper.

"Can I use the bathroom?" 

You laugh. "Yeah. Course you can." 

You have to pass each other in the hallway. His hip bumps your hip, a short rub of fabric. 

You're still thinking about it when he finds you behind the stove, half asleep with your face in your hand. It's the kind of tired where your eyes keep slipping shut, not aching so much as blurry with a heavy head. 

"You okay?" he asks quietly, sitting down at your cramped table. 

You hum. "Hm. Just tired." You give him a guilty smile as you tip the bigger portion into his bowl.  "Sorry. Mac and cheese with bacon bits for you, my hero." 

"Thanks, sweetheart." 

The fatigue ebbs a little. 

Eddie’s easy to talk to. He makes you laugh. When you say goodnight, he looks back over his shoulder twice.

-

It's a funny coincidence that Eddie sees you Friday night. He never grocery shops on a Friday but he knowd when his uncle gets home in the morning there won’t be anything for him to eat after his shift. He takes a sharp turn towards the TV dinners and there you are at the bottom of the aisle with Junie in the seat of the cart. You're talking to her like you'd talk to anyone, though you didn't sound so saccharine sweet over mac and cheese. Close, but not quite. 

"What do you want?" you're asking. "Ham and pineapple or mini pepperoni?" 

Junie holds her hands out for both boxes. You let her take them and the two of you puzzle over the pizzas, heads bent together. 

"Pepperoni, right?" you ask her, quietly enough that he almost misses it. 

"Peroni," Junie agrees. You let her keep the box and put the other one back in the freezer. 

"Pepperoni," you correct, absentminded. 

"Peroni." 

"Pepper-roni." You sound it out slow, looking at a scrap of paper in your hand. 

"Pepper."

"You'll get there. Do you think we need shampoo this week?" You start jovial, but quickly lose your sprightliness. "Maybe I can put some water in the bottle and just… shake it up. No, we definitely need it." 

Eddie watches you look over the cart. He knows exactly what you're thinking, What can I put back?

"Hey!" he calls, walking a little faster to try and hide how he'd been listening. 

You turn on the spot and smile as soon as you see him. Junie, to his delight, is even more excited. 

"Hi," she says, hands thudding along the cart's handlebar. 

"Hi, Junie. How's my favourite neighbour?" 

She babbles. 

"I'm psyched to hear it. How about you, sweetheart?" he asks, parking his cart next to yours. 

You're looking very tired. Still in your work uniform with a hoodie thrown over the top and your smart flats swapped for a pair of converse with the laces undone. You pinch your cheeks up into a big smile. He guesses that with a baby you've gotten very used to hiding how you feel.

You don't hesitate to lay it down thickly. "I'm really good." 

"Yeah? How's Junie liking daycare?" 

You cover your hands with your sleeves. "She loves it. Loves napping again. She-" You frown. "She doesn't like the mornings. Dropping her off. But after." You nod with a tentative smile "Yeah, it's nice to pick her up." 

"Uh-huh. How's work?" 

"What?" 

"How's work for you? How's Benny's?" he prods. 

"You're asking me about work?" 

"Why wouldn't I be?" 

"Nobody ever asks about work," you say. 

You can't look at him as soon as you've said it, your eyes moving back to the grocery list in hand. It's an old envelope, and it crinkles under your squeezing fingers. 

"Sorry," you mutter. 

Eddie bites back a frown. "Well, I'm asking." 

He holds out his hand for the list and you give it without thinking. He adores your handwriting the second he sees it, scanning the list for anything in this aisle.

"Hey, tell me about it," he prompts at your silence, pushing his cart. It takes you a millisecond to catch up, but when you do you're near frenetic. 

"Well, I messed up like, five different orders today. And when I had Junie it was like they didn't care 'cos she's cute, but now she's not there they get pretty angry pretty quickly." 

"She's like a magic item." 

"Right," you say, sounding like you have no idea what he's talking about. "She was my lucky charm. 'N now when I mess up I gotta practically beg some of those guys to leave Benny alone. He's too nice to me already."

"Are they all terrible?"

"No, the regulars, guys in there everyday, they're all great. They're too generous. Benny's too generous. I know he's fluffing up my tip jar. I hate that. I don't want him-" You flinch. It's strange. Eddie takes a small step closer to you and waits for you to continue, but you've lost all steam. "Sorry, I don't mean to weigh you down with all of this." 

"I asked. And I get it." 

"I don't want him to feel sorry for me." 

"Hey," he says, reaching out for a box of cereal on your list. He presents it to Junie and shakes it around, "who said anything about all that?" 

"No, I know, I just-" 

Junie smiles her approval and he chucks the cereal in your cart with a rattle of metal. "I'm not trying to make you feel worse, I swear. I get it. I- You said he's a nice guy, right? So maybe he doesn't feel sorry for you at all. Maybe he just likes you. He owns that place. I don't think it hurts him to put an extra twenty in your tips." 

Junie reaches up. You turn to her and lean down until your face is a few inches from hers. "I wish I didn't need it," you say quietly. 

"I know." 

Junie puts her hand on your cheek. 

You sniff, not crying or anything like that, only breathing. "Thanks, Junie," you murmur. 

"Mommy," she says. She sounds a little concerned. 

"Let's go get something yummy, baby." You stroke her face lightly. "I'm thinking canned peaches. Or pears, um. Fruit cocktail. And condensed milk," you add, sounding unsure.

"I got a can or two of that laying around," Eddie says, because he knows that shit is expensive. "Wayne hates sweet stuff." 

"I couldn't-" 

"You let me come over for one of those mini pizzas and I'll bring the dessert," he says, like he knows you'll say yes. He doesn't know. Eddie Munson’s an expert in pushing his luck. 

Junie starts clapping her hands together. 

"I think she's decided," you say. 

-

You're terrible with a can opener. You whine to yourself as you struggle to get open the second can. Eddie had insisted on peaches and pears and fruit cocktail, because he wanted to try them all apparently. And then some dramatic speech about little kids getting spoiled.

You can hear him now in the living room with Junie. They're laughing in a way that you're worried about, that guilty, hushed giggling that raises your hackles. 

"Shush," Eddie says, faux-angry, "your mom's gonna hear." 

"Shush," she repeats with much more enthusiasm. 

"You shush! Look, don't do that, Junie, you're gonna get it tangled in your hair," he says. 

You carry the can and can opener with you into the living room. Something about tangled hair gets your heart racing. 

"Eddie, please don't let her get stickies in her hair," you say quickly. 

"They're called stickles," he says, dropping back onto his hands, head over his shoulder to give you a bright-eyed smile. 

"I know what they're called. Junie can't say stickles." 

"Stickles," she says. 

"She couldn't when I got them," you amend. 

He's up quicker than you can really take in, hands extended. "Let me do it," he says. 

He works the can out of your fingers. It's more contact than you've had with somebody who wasn't your daughter in a very long time and it leaves you shell-shocked. Eyes on his nice hands, bigger than yours with thicker fingers and his riot of rings. He presses the can to his chest and hooks the opener, peeking between it and you intermittently. 

"Go see what we made for you," he encourages. "I'll do it." 

His arm brushes yours as he moves to the kitchen and that's worse than his fingers. You rub where he'd touched and drop down on your knees next to Junie, looking over the stickle bricks with a smile. It's a heart, poorly construed and of tens of colours. It falls apart when she tries to pick it up so you help her remake it, cooing. 

"Thanks, baby. This is for me, huh? You're so sweet." Your voice drops to a murmur. "My sweet girl. Wanna cuddle?" 

You open your arms out and she doesn't seem very interested. "Please?" you ask, vying for her waist. 

She lets you pull her into your lap. When you actually start to hug her she does her lovely melting thing that she always does, a floppy fish in your arms but with tiny squeezing hands. You giggle at her antics and lift her up so her face falls into your neck. 

"Thanks for my heart, Junebug." She snuggles her head into your neck, hair squished to your skin. "I love you," you whisper, rubbing her back. 

"The works," Eddie announces grandly as he appears, two bowls in hand.

"Eddie, that's too much for her." 

"She's a growing girl." 

"A growing girl with a tiny tummy," you say turning her around in your arms. "Tell you what, you have that one," you point to the biggest one, "and we'll share that one." 

"How about you share the big one?" he asks, though it hardly sounds like a question. He sits down and places the bowl in her lap. 

You grab the spoon before she can and stir up some of the fruits. "Wow, look at this! You gonna say thanks? Thanks Eddie.”

She doesn’t say thanks — her mouth is too far open to form words. You make quick work of shovelling fruit and condensed milk inside, chilled enough that she shivers in your arms. 

“Yeah, that’s good,” you say agreeably.

She gets enthusiastic enough to take the spoon and you let her, even when she totally mauls the food, eating so loudly that Muppet Babies becomes inaudible. 

Eddie eats slowly. You can feel his gaze. “You’re not gonna have any?” he asks. 

You’d felt it coming. Your answer is clumsy anyways. “No, I will. I just… I always have her leftovers,” you say, sheepish. 

He stands up. 

You’re gonna ask why when Junie tips fruit down your legs, cold on the naked skin of your ankle. You dab at your pajamas with a small sigh. There’s no point in getting upset. She’s a messy eater but they all are at this age. Honestly, it’s nice to see her attempting to use a spoon rather than her hands. 

“You’re doing a good job,” you say. You’re not totally sure who you’re talking to. 

“Tada!” Eddie cheers, wielding a third bowl of fruit. “Swap with me?”

“What?”

“You think Junie’ll come sit in my lap?” he asks. He doesn’t wait, really. He holds out the bowl and you take it on impulse as he sits down heavily. 

He takes her into his lap with a cheerful groan. “Oh, c’mere, sweetheart. There’s enough milk on your chin to bake a cake.” He wipes it with his hand. He doesn’t so much as wince at the mess. 

You stare. He eases the spoon out of her grip and scrapes up a half-spoonful of what looks like pear and feeds it to her with the same kind of deftness of hand that’d taken you months to learn. 

He can feel your gaze, evidently, because he looks up. There, you catch it, that slither of insecurity he hides well. 

You pick up your bowl and start eating. It’s the nicest thing you’ve eaten in almost two years. You’d die for Junie. You’d do worse. But to eat, to know she’s fed — gorged — to know you can sit here and eat this whole bowl of fruit all to yourself and you won’t have to put it down, that’s heaven. It’s better, because you never let yourself have anything nice if you can help it. 

The fruit turns to a lump in your throat and you swallow it, sniffling. Your lashes grow heavy with unshed tears and you keep your gaze resolutely on your dessert. When was the last time you had something this nice all to yourself? When was the last time somebody ever went out of their way to be this nice?

It’s a small gesture and a huge one. A tear dribbles down your cheek. You lick it away and keep on eating. 

-

Eddie starts to come around every Friday. It’s a good deal; you make dinner and he makes dessert. After that first time he makes it his mission to give you heaping bowls too much to eat most of the time. Soon, he’s coming a few days a week, not always long, sometimes until the late hours, though you tell him desserts are a Friday only occasion. He complies grudgingly. 

You make your first friend in years, and it’s so sweet you don’t know what to do with yourself. 

Or what possesses you to offer to cut his hair. 

Eddie's sitting on the couch with Junie, his big thigh to her little one and a picture book spread between them whilst you clean the kitchen. He's not reading to her – she's trying to read to him. She can't read, of course, but she can remember some of the words in relation to the pictures. She pokes at the blue cat and says blue. She pokes at the blue dog and says blue. She also points at the red cat and says blue. It's a learning curve. 

Eddie gives corrections and encouragements just as you would. You smile at him from behind your cup of water. 

"He's red, sweetheart," he murmurs, arm around her shoulder to hold the book's edges. "Red cat." 

"Red cat," she repeats with enough accuracy to make you choke on your water. 

Eddie gasps almost as loud as you do. "Right! Red cat! You're so smart, junebug, I can't believe it," he praises, squeezing her shoulder. His gaze meets yours and he smiles. 

You send him back your sweetest smile. If he wasn't always so nice to you you'd like him anyway because of how he treats Junie, like she's the fucking sun. 

She gets so excited when other people are happy that she starts laughing, standing up and trampling all over his legs to give him a hug. She's given him half hugs, she's fallen asleep by his side and loves to pet his hair, but this is a proper, tactile hug. Her arms wind around his neck with purpose and as soon as his surprise has faded he brings his arms up to hug her in turn, laughing delightedly. 

"You're such a smarty-pants," he praises, rubbing her back with a boyish brashness. 

She squeals as he squeezes her, his fingers digging into her ribs. Never cruel, only tickling her. She eats up every second of it and buries her face in his neck, laughing her wound up baby laugh that always brings a smile to your face. 

"Ooh, she's so smart. First blue, then red. Next you'll be saying indigo, and vermillion, and-" 

He cuts off when Junie gets one of her nails caught in his hair. She jolts and whines like it hurts and he goes rigid. You move forward to play mediator but he's already pulling her away gently and making small shushing sounds. "Chill out," he chides lightly, "I got it. Here." He pulls the hair from under her fingernail and rubs the pad of his thumb over her hand. "Sorry, I'm sorry," he apologises, pouting at her scowl. He envelops her hand in his and waves it around. "Forgive me?" 

She doesn't learn her lesson, pushing her hands back into his hair, probably less kind than what’s ideal. Eddie doesn't flinch. 

You sit on the armrest gingerly. "Can I ask you something?"

Eddie looks over Junie’s head. "What's that?" 

"Have you always had long hair?" 

He doesn't balk. "No, of course not. I fu-" He clears his throat. "My mom was the best, and I fit in just like everybody else growing up. When I ended up with Wayne I was-" He smiles. It's the kind of rueful grimace that says, You didn't ask for this.

You smile encouragingly.

He drops his gaze to Junie, worming his arms around her in a loose hug as she continues to play with his hair. "I was mad about everything, and I remember him asking when I wanted to get my hair trimmed and I said ‘never’. Took a few years for it to grow past the awkward stage," he bares his teeth and nods toward his shoulder, as if allowing his past misdemeanour. "But now I'd say it looks pretty sweet." 

"I love your hair," you say. 

Eddie beams. "You don't think it's too long?" 

Emboldened by his reaction, you slip off of the armrest to sit next to him, turning in until your knees touch. Junie, loyal as she is, climbs straight into your lap with a babble. 

You pat her back with one hand and raise the other cautiously for permission. Eddie flares his eyes wide, as if to say, You want to? Go on. 

You take a lock of his hair between your fingers like Junie had moments before. "I like it like this." 

"But?" 

You look at the ends, an inch of limpness where the rest curls. "You haven't had it cut since you were a kid?" 

"Maybe not that long, but it's been a while. I do it myself sometimes." He gestures to his bangs. He speaks quietly. A rarity though not unknown for him to be so hushed. 

You tuck the curl you'd been examining behind his ear carefully. 

"Do you think my hair looks good?" you ask. 

"Sh- Sorry, of course I do. I swear I was gonna-"

You shake your head, laughing. "Not like that. What I mean is, I cut my own hair. I cut Junie's, too, and I could do yours if you wanted me to." 

He goes quiet. 

"Only if you wanted. I know it's a lot of trust, so-" 

"Would you do it now?" 

You hold Junie's head away from yours to prevent a loving headbut. "Right now?" 

"I'm in dire need." 

He throws his big brown puppy dog eyes your way and you couldn't say no if you wanted to. 

You explain how he needs to get it wet first and how the shower head in the bathroom doesn't detach. "It's, like, built into the wall." 

"I could go home, come back?" he suggests. 

"I can do it over the sink?" 

-

Eddie can't remember the last time somebody washed his hair for him. He knows there must've been a time, some place in his life where his mom or dad had done it for him. He thinks that, if he'd asked, Wayne would've tried it once or twice growing up, but now Eddie's most definitely at the age where having his hair washed is a foreign luxury. 

And it does feel luxurious.

It shouldn't; the sink basin is very small as they tend to be in the trailer kitchenettes – small sink, small stove, small small small – and Eddie has to crane his neck. Already the space between his shoulder blades aches from being bent over, and he can't breathe well, smothered by steam. 

But your hands. One shields his eyes from run off, a gesture unnecessary and far from lost on him, while the other massages shampoo into his scalp. He'd been surprised when you started because you hadn't mentioned washing his hair, and he'd said, "You don't have to do that." 

You'd hummed. "Well, it's kind of a waste not to." 

That was that. 

Your nails scratch lightly against his scalp and if his eyes weren't already closed they would've fluttered shut. He nibbles his lip and tries very hard not to show outwardly how nice it feels. Your left upper arm rubs against his back as you scrub at his roots, your right soaking wet beside his face, covering his eyes uselessly. He doesn't mention it. All this touching, he doesn't want it to end.

Your proximity honest-to-God sets him on fire. Your body pressed to his is a flame over his ribs. 

"Maybe we shouldn't cut it at all," you say, stroking wet bangs away from his forehead. "It's soooo long." 

"Can’t do it?" he teases.

"Keep your eyes closed, okay? I'm gonna rinse." 

It's a comforting process. You dip your cup into the water. It fills with a wet glug, the rim shushing against the basin's bottom. You hold it over his head and pour carefully, heat caressing his scalp as the soap is washed away. 

It's over too soon. You grab the towel you'd procured and tuck it around his shoulders, wringing all the excess water from his curls back into the sink. You encourage his head up wordlessly and he stands there, arms useless against the countertops edge, water sloughing down his face as you press the ends flat between your hands. 

You lift his head and push his hair back with your hands, raking your fingers through it and laughing as soon as his face appears. "Eddie! I'm sorry, you're totally drowning." 

He chuckles. They fade away as you pinch the corner of the towel and start to dab his face dry, dragging the rough material over his cheeks with an expression he can't read on your pretty features. Almost pensive, not quite. 

"There," you say under your breath. "Saved you." 

"My hero." 

You smile at him softly before spinning on your heel. "I gotta find the hairbrush. And the good scissors." You look into the living room quickly and then turn to the hall leading to your bedroom. 

Eddie looks into the living room too. Junie's not upto much, only watching TV, unusually subdued. He doesn't disturb her despite the itch to go over and play.

One of the muppets starts laughing about something and she laughs too. 

"What are you smiling about?" you whisper from behind him. 

"Nothing," he says quickly.

You raise your eyebrows. "She has a nice laugh, right? Doesn't matter how bad I feel, she laughs and everything's okay for a little while." 

He feels a fond stab in his chest. "Her laugh's like yours." 

"I guess we do sound the same." 

You do, but it's not really what he'd meant. 

The metal sound of scissors snapping. You wield them at him faux-threateningly and shepherd him into a chair you've dragged to the middle of the kitchen. 

Eddie fights goosebumps as you pull a brush through his hair, loses when you take a lock at the front between two fingers and stop about an inch and a half from the end. 

"I'm gonna do that much, okay?" 

You're a quiet hairdresser. Eddie doesn't care, he can talk for Indiana, but there's something so sweetly simple about the quietude, just your hands in his hair, the snipping of your scissors and Junie's occasional excited chattering. You start to hum a song Eddie doesn't recognise about halfway through. It's melancholy. He doubts you realise what you're doing. 

You draw silent as you round to the front. Eddie watches your hands work for what feels like hours. You have really pretty hands, not perfect, burnt fingertips and neat little nails. They smell like honey hand soap.

You pull two locks from the front together to make sure they're the same length. His curls will hide any discrepancy, he knows from experience, but he doesn't want to tell you that. Selfishly, he wants that extra time with you this close. 

You work your way between his legs to comb his half-dried bangs. Eddie looks up at you with wide eyes.

"You want me to trim these, too?" you ask quietly. 

"If you please." 

You huff a laugh through your nose and start to trim his bangs carefully. He closes his eyes, and maybe it's the fact that he can't see you that gives him the confidence to reach out for your hip, a touch that can't be defined as amicable. He curls his fingers into the soft material of your shirt and feels the heat of your skin underneath. 

You draw closer, as close as you can be. 

"What made you decide on bangs?" you ask. 

"Zits, mostly." 

He can feel your laugh under his hand. 

"I used to… I used to powder my face," you confide, a murmur, "like, an inch thick to try and hide everything. Being pregnant makes you so-" You pause to snip some hair, comb it away. It tickles his face. "Well, it makes you spotty. Or it made me spotty. It actually made me really sick." 

"That's must've sucked," he says earnestly. 

"It- Yeah. I guess it did. I don't know." 

He hadn't meant to bring up something unhappy, but he's hungry to know. "Were you on your own?" 

"Mostly." 

"What was the worst part?" 

"Being scared all the time."

He'd been expecting morning sickness or aching feet. "You were scared?" 

"I honestly thought I was gonna die, Eddie." 

He opens his eyes and leans back in his chair, hand flexing over your hip, as he tries to tamp down his surprise. 

"It was," you mess with his bangs with the tip of your ring finger, "hard. I felt sick all the time, and when I didn't I would make myself sick worrying about her. What if I eat something or I catch something and it hurts her? What if- what if it all works out perfectly and then I can't look after her?" 

"Did it work out perfect?" 

You rub your lips together. "Uh, I guess so. It took a long time, and it hurt," you sound especially unhappy with that part. 

He strokes up your waist, wanting to soothe the small crease between your eyebrows. "By yourself?" 

"Yeah, by myself." 

"I'm sorry." 

You tuck his hair behind his ear and grin at him. "Now what are you sorry for?" Your hand lingers near his cheek. Slowly, you turn it, pressing the knuckle of your index finger into the skin under his eye and rubbing a small line. He worries he’s in love with you right then and there. "Not like you're the one who knocked me up." 

You drop your hand and Eddie really doesn't want you to go anywhere, his grip kind but steadfast, bringing the other arm behind your back in a loose hug. "Who was it?" 

"Just some guy. Nobody. Nobody worth thinking about." 

"How old were you?" he asks. 

"Why are you asking me all this stuff?"

"I wanna know about you." 

You bring your hands to the towel around his neck and pull on it mildly. "I was sixteen. Seventeen when I had her." 

He drags his fingertips up and down the small of your back lightly, almost like he's playing guitar. "I'm sorry you were all by yourself. That young. When I was sixteen I was still watching The Bugs Bunny Show."

You giggle and your hands move up to the side of his neck. He can hardly breathe, afraid to dispel whatever enchantment it is that he's under. 

"Could be worse, huh? I'm nineteen and I still watch Muppet Babies," you joke. 

"Why wouldn't you? It's the pinnacle of modern television." 

"Yeah?" 

Your beaming smile hits him straight in the chest. He thinks about how beautiful you look and can't stop, hiding his face in your stomach to stop from saying something stupid, laughing loud. You laugh in tandem, hugging the back of his head until your giggles peter out. 

A small hand on his arm. You both turn at the same time and find a very unhappy Junie.

"What?" you ask her. Then, teasing, "Are you jealous?" 

You lean down to pick her up. Eddie's gutted to lose your touch and then quickly exuberant when Junie ducks out of your arms to grab at his legs. 

"Oh my god, yes," he says, holding out his hands. 

Junie tries to take them and he slips them under his arm, pulling her onto his thigh with a big sigh. The sigh is half the fun, a theatrical reluctance when really he's always happy to have her climbing on him. 

As soon as she's in his lap she's pleased, turning her head so she can watch the TV across the room. 

You roll your eyes at his smug smile. "Shut up. She just wants what other people have." 

"And you had me?" 

"Shut up, Munson, seriously," you say. You don't sound half as mad as you're trying to. 

Eddie takes a drying curl between his fingers and pokes at the side of Junie's face. "Whatever you want, sweetheart," he says, grinning when your daughter starts to squirm on his thigh. 

He grins at her and tickles her until she's curling in with her chin dropped to her chest, smiling despite herself. 

His fondness colours every word as he croons, "I got you." 

Junie sounds about as outraged as a toddler can be when he tickles her nose and then drags the tip of the freshly trimmed curl under her eye. He draws a big circle around one of her cheeks until it's kissing her chin. She dissolves into giggles while squirming to get away from him and so he stops, only for her to blink and tug at his wrist. 

He tickles her until she's screaming. 

You pause on your knees where you'd been sweeping up his trimmed hair to look up at her and he's struck with guilt. "Y/N, you don't have to do that. I'll do it." 

"No, you're okay." 

Eddie finds his gaze drawn to your thighs, spread out as they are in your kneeling position, and then stolen by Junie as she almost topples off of his lap. 

"I think…" he begins quietly, speaking to Junie though it's just as much for you, "that your mom deserves something nice for my haircut. What do you think?" 

"I don't think that," you say. 

"Wasn't asking you," he says seriously. Back in baby mode he continues,  "What's mommy like, huh? What's her favourite thing in the whole world, besides you?" 

"Sleep," you say. 

"Well, I can't help you there." 

"You help me there all the time. Junie sleeps like a log every Friday." 

"Food coma," he says knowledgeably. 

"You really don't have to get me anything, Eddie. My services were administered charitably." 

He pushes his hands behind Junie's back and pulls her to his chest before standing. When he has her secure in one arm he pulls the chair back to your small table and tucks it in.

"Get up," he says to you. "I'll do it, alright? Swap with me." 

You ignore him until he starts kicking you in the leg. "You're ridiculous!"

"You're ridiculous. Seriously, get up. You're not a serf." He returns your glare. "I'm a big boy, I can clean up after myself." 

"It's my house." 

"If you don't let me-" 

"Christ! Okay." You drop the dustpan and brush sullenly, wiping your hands together as you stand before taking Junie out of his arms. "I'll make dinner." 

"No you won't! I'm gonna order takeout," he says factually, already on his knees and sweeping. 

"No you're not." 

"I am. Me and June already talked about it. She's craving Marino's pizza." 

"I'm not gonna let you use the phone." 

"I'll walk to my place and order the pizza to here." 

"Eddie-" 

"Why are you being a hardass?" he asks. 

"Fine! God, clean up your gross hair and order your stupid pizza. You're making me crazy," you say, collapsing onto the sofa with a little oomf, Junie's weight hitting you hard in the chest. She moves into a sitting position and pulls your shirt up, hands moving across the space under your chest. 

Eddie throws himself into cleaning all the mess you'd made for him, the hair and the towel and the sopping wet draining board. He washes the dirty baby bowl on the side and fills up one of Junie's bottles with water, then a glass for you. He hasn't seen either of you drinking a thing since he's been here, likely his fault for distracting you. 

He's about to call for pizza when he peers past the cabinets and sees you dozing on the couch. He decides pizza can wait until tomorrow; it's later than he realised. 

Junie's halfway across the room with Mr. Bear playing make believe. She talks and talks and talks, gibberish to him but what's likely an unending, complicated storyline, no doubt. 

Eddie approaches with the bottle already outstretched. "Junie," he says, and when she doesn't answer, "Junebug. Junie. Junie." Each iteration of her name softer and sweeter than the first, hoping to entice her in. 

He holds the bottle in front of her face.

She finally looks up with a pout. 

"For you," he says, offering the water. 

She seems mildly interested as she takes it, turning back to her teddy and talking around the teat like it's not there. 

You're struggling to keep your eyes open. Eddie gives the room a quick once over before kneeling down in front of you, tugging your shirt down to cover your exposed tummy as he says, "I should head home." 

You blink at him and turn onto your side, cheek squishing into the couch cushion. 

"Okay? Why don't you and Junebug head to bed?" he asks, using a tone not far from what he'd use with your daughter. 

"You know, her full name's Juniper," you whisper. 

He didn't know. "Really? I love that." 

You wrinkle your nose, sounding very tired as you continue, "But someone told me it sounded like a name for a cat. So I've called her Junie ever since."

"It doesn't sound like a cat's name," he placates. "It's beautiful. You chose well." 

"Yeah?" 

Eddie smiles at you fondly, eyes tracing down your nose to your lips, shiny with balm. He tilts his head to the side to mimic yours. He could kiss you. 

"Sounds like the name of an elf. Juniper Lightfoot, or… Goldwind. She could even be a mage. Juniper the Brave." 

"Juniper the Loveliest," you say, and then grin. "Juniper the Hungriest." 

"Juniper the All Great and Hungriest," Eddie says decidedly. 

"Would you make her a hero, in your game?" you ask. 

"Of course I would. She wouldn't even need to divide, she'd just conquer." 

"What about me?" 

"What, would you be a hero?" 

You nod. He doesn't know why, but he thinks his answer is going to hold a lot of weight with you. 

"You would be," he starts quietly, words painted slowly as he raises a hand to rest on your wrist, pinky finger spread over the hill of your thumb, "a fighter. With insight and survival." 

"I don't know what that means," you say. 

He leans in. "It means yes, you'd be a hero. You'd save kingdoms. Slay dragons." He squeezes your wrist. 

"I think I better leave all that stuff for Junie. I'll just cheer you guys on from the sidelines." 

"You're her mom, she can't do it without you. And even if she could I bet she wouldn't want to. Where's all the fun in guts and glory if you can't share it?" he asks, rubbing his thumb over your skin.

Your eyes shut. Eddie doesn't know if it's from fatigue or a want to end this conversation. He feels marginally embarrassed for descending into nerd metaphor with you, but he thinks it's the kind of thing you needed to hear. He thinks if Junie could understand how often her mom prioritises her and misses out for her she'd want to fix that. Eddie doesn't know you half as well as she does and it breaks his heart sometimes to watch you insist on a smaller portion, to watch you put things back at the grocery store because she wants a box of milk duds, even to watch you wear yourself out ironing baby clothes in the only pair of pajamas you own. 

"Make sure you lock the deadbolt behind me," he says carefully. You hum. He gives your wrist one last squeeze. 

Junie looks tired in that she's getting agitated, whimpering under her breath. Eddie ducks down to give her upper arm a good rub. "Why don't you go cuddle with your mom?" he asks her, turning her by the shoulder so that you're in her eye-line. "Go have a lie down." 

He doesn't know whether what he says makes any difference but you extend your arms out and Junie walks towards you, big staggered steps that make him laugh to himself as he pushes into his unlaced converse. 

"Don't forget to lock up," he says in place of a farewell. 

"Goodnight, Eddie," you say. 

He waves. You're both too tired to wave back. 

He's surprised to find his Uncle Wayne still home when he gets in, shoving into his work boots with a grunted hello.

"Hey." 

"Did you cut your hair?" Wayne asks, perplexed, a little gruff. 

"Junie's mom did it for me." 

"'Junie's mom,'" Wayne quotes dryly, slugging his bag over his shoulder. He's heard all about Junie's mom.

Eddie scratches the back of his neck and splutters when a big hand claps his back, a demonstration of Wayne's pity as he passes through the open door. 

Eddie spins to watch him jog down the steps. "We're friends," Eddie calls. 

"Don't be dumb," his uncle says without turning back. 

"I'm not exactly known for being smart," Eddie says to himself, cheeks heated by a furious blush. 

𓆩❤︎𓆪

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you’re on your own, kid | e.m - part eight

eddie munson x singlemom!reader

summary: set after the events of season four, Steve has disappeared and is presumed dead in the upside down. broken and now left to deal with your pregnancy alone, Eddie takes it upon himself to support you to the best of his abilities in Steve’s absence.

chapter summary: a new baby in the house, a friday night date and your best friend playing babysitter. what could go wrong?

content warnings: fem!reader, adult language, adult themes, unplanned pregnancy, angst, hurt/comfort, some canon divergence/au, mentions of death, reader is 19, anxiety, angst, fluff, no use of y/n, slow burn, not beta’d

word count: 9.3K+

a/n: did I get a bit too caught up in writing this chapter? absolutely. time for eddie to enter his dad era. would love to commit to a regular upload schedule but knowing me as a person that will be hard. love you all sm though xx

taglist: @lezzy-bennet @harrypotteranna23-blog  @reidstea @sashaphantomhive  @bexreadstoomuch​ @audhd-dragonaut​ @littlepotatobeansworld @ches-86​

↳  one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight  / nine / ten / eleven

Part Eight: Mother’s Daughter

The first few weeks with a new baby in the house are bliss. Crying-filled, sleep-deprived bliss, and any feelings of readiness are slowly dissipating. The routine is clear. Feeding, changing diapers, laying her to sleep for a bit, and repeat. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Dead wrong.

Despite having read What to Expect When You’re Expecting, it seems that Audrey doesn’t particularly enjoy playing by the book. Take tonight, for example. You’ve tried everything to get her to stop crying, you can’t believe her small lungs haven’t gone hoarse from the hours she’s spent exhausting them. Wandering around the dimly-lit living room like a horse stuck on an infinite carousel loop, you’re quietly beginning to stress all the while rocking and shushing Audrey in your arms. The ringing in your ears is relentless, and you’re just doing your best not to join her crying as you mentally curse your parenting skills in frustration.  As the clock reads 9:37pm, you know your neighbors will be preparing for bed, laying out their clothes for their early morning shifts and expecting a quiet night. Something they won’t be granted if you can’t get your baby under control.

“C’mon, what do you need?” You whisper in her ear, knowing perfectly well she won’t be able to hear you over the piercing noise she’s emitting. Her diaper is freshly changed, she’s just had a feed and you’re beginning to worry something might be wrong with her. Oh god, what if something’s wrong with her? She’s like a smoke alarm, but you can’t tell if you burnt the toast or if the whole house is on fire. Lips pressed to her head, you try to decipher if she’s got a fever, bouncing her up and down as she continues wailing. “It’s okay, honey, it’s-“

A sharp knock rings out on the wooden front door, causing your heart to race. The chances of the person on the other side being a disgruntled neighbor ready to lecture your parenting skills were high, but what other choice did you have? Sighing, you bounce your way to the door, swinging it open to reveal Eddie, still in his work clothes and holding a plastic bag, steam clinging to the sides. A wash of relief crashes over you, his expression warm as he sees the two of you.

“Oh thank god, I thought someone was here to bite my head off.” Supporting Audrey on your shoulder with one arm, you use your free one to wrap around Eddie’s waist, leaving him to pull you in the rest of the way.

“Nah, I’m not here to go full-Ozzy on you.” He keeps you tucked in a cozy embrace, evidently not bothered by the screaming alarm right next to his ear. “How’s the little hellraiser?”

“Raising hell.” Closing the door behind him, you continue to pace around the room as Eddie pulls off his jacket and sets the bag down on the bench. “She’s been like this for hours, I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything.” 

Gently cupping her back, you continue patting it lightly the same way you’ve been doing all evening. What do they say about the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results…

“Well, how about-” Hands diving into the plastic bag, he pulls out two noodle boxes, the smell of teriyaki sauce filling your senses and reminding you how long it’s been since you’ve eaten something substantial. “-I take over for a bit, and you have something to eat?”

Arms outstretched and looking at you expectantly, it doesn’t take much convincing before you pass your screaming bundle of joy his way. His eyes light up as he takes her in, feet scrunched to her torso as she’s passed to him. Eddie, as it turns out, is a natural at holding babies. Once he got over his own self doubt and fear of dropping her, he’s now very comfortable with Audrey in his arms. He mirrors the position you previously had her in, tucking her head into his shoulder, facing inwards so he can keep an eye on her. Broad hands support her tiny shrieking body, gently patting her back while you busy yourself ripping into one of the boxes.

“Hey, Squid, long day, hey?” You shoot him a disapproving look, shoveling sauce-covered noodles and vegetables into your mouth at the kitchen counter. 

“She’s got a real name now.” You point your chopsticks at him like a weapon, and he grins proudly at the mere fact he’s gotten a rise out of you so early into his arrival.

“Yeah, but Squid is so original!” 

As he continues to pace, a soft stream of ‘shhh’s’ leave his lips, close to Audrey’s ear. His thumb finds the back of her head, rubbing the peach fuzz gently all the while keeping his eyes on her for any noticeable reaction. And, as luck would have it, the room becomes quieter, sporadic cries now weaning off. You feel a mixture of relief and frustration, how does he do it so easily? He looks around the room, ears perked up. 

“Do you hear that?”

“What?”

“Silence.” He proclaims smugly, having used his magic touch to turn cries into coos, Audrey now happily squirming in Eddie’s arms.

“Show off.” Picking up the box, which you’ve half polished off already, you cross the room to plant yourself on the couch for the first time in hours. The sagging cushions embrace your tired limbs, forfeiting your weight to the support beneath you while you poke around looking for a piece of chicken amongst the sea of noodles. “You wanna know a secret?”

“What’s that?”

“I think it’s your smell.” He looks at you, utterly perplexed by your insinuation. Not wanting to offend him, you’re quick to clarify. “No, not in a bad way! It’s just- when she was in my belly she would go crazy every time you were around. It’s like she could sense you, in a weird way I think she’s always recognised you.”

“Stop, you’ll give me a big head.” He glances down at your daughter, whose eyelids are now growing heavy, clearly exhausted from all the crying, haven’t we all been there before? “And that’s your job, isn’t it Squid?”

If he wasn’t holding an infant, you’d give him a good whack right about now for yet another unwarranted comment about your daughter’s very normal head size. But he’s not above using Audrey as a human shield, the absolute savage. As you dig into your meal, you can’t help but take in the sight illuminated by your dim lighting. There must be something in our biology that causes our hearts to swell at the sight of a man holding a baby. The sheer juxtaposition of their appearances is comical, Audrey in her purple flower-covered onesie, her small feet tucked into the footie pajamas, and Eddie, all hard-exterior in his work overalls and combat boots, pacing the room holding her. They’re chalk and cheese, and somehow, the best of friends already. And it’s, dare you say, kind of attractive? A small smile creeps over your face at the thought, and Eddie is quick to notice your not so subtle gawking.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, really. Did she spit up on me?” He peers down at his shirt, looking for any milky traces of drool. You shake your head, looking back down at your meal, loosening some broccoli stuck to the bottom..

“No-no, it’s not that. It’s just- you look cute like this.” You feel yourself blushing at your own compliment, immediately cringing over the words that came out of your mouth. What a weird thing to say. Eddie struggles to suppress his happiness over your comment, contorting his lips into a grateful smile while carefully treading over to the bassinet to lay down a yawning Audrey.

“Well, I’ve heard cuteness is contagious. Like herpes.” He readjusts Audrey’s onesie once she’s comfortable, before turning back to you.

“Gross.” Way to kill the moment, Eddie. He grabs his own box from the bench along with his chopsticks, planting himself down on the plush couch beside you. He’s sitting about as close as he usually is, knees almost touching yours but the air between you feels thicker. He’s always throwing thoughtless compliments your way, but rarely is he on the receiving end. Did you just make things super awkward? Time to change the subject.  “Appreciate you bringing dinner over, the fridge is tragically bare at the moment and I was just going to settle for some tinned Spaghetti-O’s.”

“Very gourmet. Back to the old junk now you’re not eating for two?” He says through a mouthful of noodles. “If you want, I could take you into town tomorrow? Get you stocked up, show Squid all the exciting sights Hawkins has to offer. The post office, the big maple tree in the park, maybe even a dog or two. Y’know, the works.”

Biting down on a snow pea, you contemplate his offer, nerves brewing in your belly. You’re fully aware that the whole town knows about your pregnancy, undoubtedly sharing whispers about whose baby it is behind your back. But the thought of actually venturing out into the world with her? That scares the shit out of you. But, you know it’s only a matter of time before that Band-Aid has to be ripped off.

“Yeah, alright.” Fuck.

“Put those down.” Robin snatches the store-brand Cheerios out of your hands, placing them back on the shelf in favor of the name brand. “We’re getting you the good stuff.”

Strapped to her chest in a newborn baby carrier, Audrey sleeps blissfully tucked against Robin’s plaid shirt. The stroller seemed like too much of a hassle for a quick trip, and Robin proclaimed she needed some “skin-to-skin bonding time” with her. You trudge along behind her, pushing a shopping cart that is being stuffed with all sorts of fresh fruit, vegetables and pantry items. As she compares two bottles of long-life milk, Eddie returns around the corner with a large bundle of diapers, dumping them into the rapidly-filling cart. 

“God, how many of these things does she go through a day?” He furrows his brows together, studying the packet of soft tissue.

“Usually between 10-12.” Robin replies without missing a beat, glancing down at her shopping list made after a thorough inventory of your pantry. Eddie’s eyes widen at her response, clearly thinking he was stocking up with the bulk packet. He turns to Audrey, and places a hand gently on her back as he leans in to her.

“How does someone so small cause so much mess?” He whispers in her ear, loud enough for you to hear, Robin is quick to swat his arm and shield the infant from his words before turning his attention to the diapers.

“Eddie! These aren't newborn sizes.” She pulls the packet back out and throws it at Eddie’s chest, who looks down befuddled.

“Is there a difference?”

“Uh, yeah. Unless you were buying these for yourself?” Her remark causes you to snort, Eddie scrunching up his nose in your direction. 

“Ha ha, very funny. Show me which ones I was supposed to get, your highness.” He flourishes his hand down the aisle in an ‘after you’ motion, Robin rolling her eyes as she marches down with Eddie trailing behind. Looking back to you, he brings his pointer finger up to his temple, thumb facing skyward with his other three digits tucked to his fist. He pulls the trigger on his hand gun, and mimics brains blowing out on the other side with a dramatic stumble into the adjacent Coco-Puffs. Ever the showman.

As your friends disappear around the corner, you glance around the brightly coloured logos decorating tinned goods, perfectly stacked up on the metal shelves. Wheels clicking along the tiled floor, the tragic supermarket music playing over dying speakers throughout the store. Leaning on the cart with your forearms resting on the handle, you meander through the aisle to the freezer section at the end. As your cart passes the threshold of the shelves, a figure emerges and bumps straight into your cart. Oh good, first day out and you’re already making a scene and accidentally assaulting a stranger. 

“Oh shit, I’m so sorry!” You apologize, looking at the person standing in front of you who just bore the brunt of your cart crashing into his thigh. Studying his face, you can’t help but think he looks familiar. A thin layer of stubble now growing across his jawline, light brown curls sitting underneath a baseball cap. He returns a similar look of recognition, uttering your name to clarify that you were, in fact, you.

“Oh hey! ‘Ts Andy? We had Chemistry together junior year?” The penny drops in your brain, your mouth contorting into a well-mannered, pleasant smile as you begin to place him. “I nearly set your hair on fire with a Bunsen burner?”

“Oh yeah, hi!” You reply, shaking your head. “Sorry, it’s been a while.” 

“Yeah, it sure has.” He readjusts the small basket in his hand, filled with some sort of jerky and a six-pack. He gives you a once-over, studying you from head to toe in your old jeans and tank top. “How’ve you been? You look well.”

You silently thank yourself for putting in a bit of effort today, patting on enough concealer to hide the fact that you were up feeding Audrey for most of the night and brushing your hair for the first time in a week.

“Yeah fine. Y’know, just busy.” Busy pushing out a human. “What about you?”

“Back in town visiting the folks, killing time before heading back to college. Got into Purdue on a basketball scholarship, actually.”

“Wow, congratulations!” You shoot him a genuine smile, it’s always nice to hear when someone gets out of Hawkins to pursue bigger and better things.

“Yeah, it’s been great. Haven’t seen the boys in a while, so we’re getting together at Benny’s tonight for a catch-up.” He holds his basket up to punctuate, the cans of Bud Light bouncing light from the flickering fluorescent above.

“Benny’s. Shit, I haven’t been there since-“ You bite your tongue at the evocation, cheeks flushing as you recall your high school antics. Too embarrassed to speak the words into existence, Andy has no problem verbalizing the memory.

“Since you got up on the bar after homecoming and did a full Flashdance number for everyone?” He says with a laugh, your eyes squeezing shut as you cringe.

“Yep, that sounds about right.” The two of you walk parallel past tubs of ice cream sitting in freezer cases, a self-deprecating laugh leaving your lips. “But, in my defense, no one told me that the jello shots were alcoholic!”

Andy shakes his head and chuckles, setting off a few paces in front of you. “You had some killer moves, though.”

“Yeah, well it’s been a while since I busted them out.”

“Haven’t had any jello shots recently, I’m guessing?”

“Exactly.”

There’s a beat as he swings open one of the freezer doors, grabbing a bag of ice out, holding it in his free hand before facing you directly.

“Well, uh- maybe if you’ve got time this weekend we could hit up The Hideout or something? Defrost those Jennifer Beal dance moves, grab a few drinks if you want?”

You feel your breath hitch in your throat, surely he’s not asking you what you think he’s asking? Averting your gaze to the tiled white flooring, you’re suddenly interested in the dirt and dried spills sitting in the ancient grout.

“You mean, like, on a date?”

“Well, yeah. Unless you-“ The sentence is only partially formed in his mouth before a deep, familiar voice calls out behind you. 

“Right, hopefully these will last her until tomorrow-“ Spinning around, you clock Eddie, who is now holding the mega-sized pack of newborn diapers under his arm. His band tee logo is now obscured by the black sling across his chest, a ringed hand cradling the back of it. As it appears, Robin has been relieved of baby duties and passed them onto Eddie, Audrey still dead asleep tucked up to his chest, rosy cheeks flushed, pressed to his torso. A small patch of drool is forming on his white shirt, and to complete the look, he’s attached a spare pacifier to his wallet chain hanging off his jeans.

Andy is quick to give him a one-over, not dissimilar to the one he gave you, but this time clearly charged with an air of disdain.

“Munson.” Words like venom leaving his lips. 

Eddie, an expert in navigating his own reputation, pokes his tongue against the sinew of his cheek expectantly. Let them get their hits in, and fuck off. Recognising he’s not about to get a rise out of the metalhead, Andy simply scoffs before turning his attention back to you, rummaging for something in his pocket. He hands you a business card of sorts, something he had made to palm off to scouts at games, complete with his contact details on it.

“See you around.” His words are hushed between the two of you, excluding the third man from the interaction. Heat rises in your cheeks as he shoots you a smirk before heading off, not returning another glance at Eddie. You discreetly pocket the card before returning to the unlikely duo back from their diaper quest.

“What was that about?” Eddie half-chuckles, gaze following the aisle in which Andy disappeared down. You shake your head.

“Nothing. Where’s Robin?” Extending a hand to the peach fuzz growing atop your daughter’s head, smoothing it down and relishing in the sensation of her soft skin against your clammy hands. 

“Oh, uh- she saw an old friend out the front.” White lies being exchanged with the clearing of his throat, each of you oblivious to one another’s predicament. “C’mon, she’s starting to stink and I don’t want people thinking it’s me.”

“A dirty diaper could only help your stench at this point, honestly.” The banter flows effortlessly from your lips.

“I hate you.”

Eddie didn’t get the memo that this Friday wouldn’t be a regularly-scheduled movie night, his arrival somewhat jarring as Robin prepped and preened you within an inch of your life. Plucking stray hairs from your brow, hot rollers stinging your scalp while she used you as her own life-sized Barbie, ready for her date with Ken. The knock at the door occurred just as you swiped on a layer of lip gloss, Robin rushing out of the bathroom to welcome your visitor. Their conversation is cut short as you exit your tiny bathroom, giving them a flourishing twirl relishing in your final form.

“How do I look?” Almost imperceptible and unnoticed by you, the tendon in Eddie’s jaw clenches under the weight of his emotions. The physical manifestation of the ugliest feeling, a jealousy he couldn’t admit to himself yet. Here you were, standing in a black Stevie Nicks-esque dress complete with platform boots, like the perfect woman in every music video flashed across the late-night MTV runs. Dark circles now perfectly concealed below your eyes, accentuated by a smokey-brown eyeshadow. Lips previously chewed raw from stress now glossy and plump. Hair in bouncy curls, Farrah-Fawcett style, a far cry from the matted bun you typically sport. You looked beautiful. But then again, you always did. Whether it was stained tracksuit pants or Robin’s curated outfit designed just for tonight, it was all you to Eddie. Not necessarily better, just different.

“You going somewhere?” He asks, taking in the image of you before him in the glow of your living room lamp. Not the glowing endorsement you were hoping for, but Robin’s elated grin gives you the confidence boost you crave.

“She’s got herself a hot date tonight.” Robin squeals in Eddie’s ear, giving his shoulders a tight squeeze as she drinks you in. The pair stand there like two parents sending their daughter off to prom, complete with a quietly disapproving father beside the front door. And you, giddy like a lovelorn teenager with a fresh corsage around your wrist, swipe up your purse and head for the crib. Audrey, who is freshly fed, bathed and changed, looks up at her mom as you give her a sticky kiss on her forehead, immediately swiping away the glossy residue left on her supple skin.

“I won’t be out long, I’m just going for one drink.” 

“Heard that one before.” Eddie mumbles under his breath, heard only by Robin who shoots him a warning glare while you find your keys.

You give your handbag a once over. Keys? Check. Lipgloss? Check. Spare diaper? Che- nope, don’t need that one tonight. Pull it out and chuck it on the crowded excuse for a dining table. Check your watch. Time to go.

“See you guys soon! Eddie, you’re welcome to stay and keep Robin company.” You give the pair of them a hug. Something firm is pressed against your torso, seemingly located in Eddie’s pocket. “Dude, do you have a horror film in your pocket or are you just excited to see me?”

Eddie’s cheeks flush as his lips purse together in a smile, reaching into his jacket pocket to pull out a VHS copy of The Fly. Flashing it between his thumb and forefinger, you can’t help but roll your eyes at how predictable he is. 

“You’re not putting that on until Audrey is asleep. I don’t want her scarred for life before she can even crawl.”

“Yeah, yeah. No flies for Squid tonight.”

Hand on the door, Eddie shoots you his most ‘butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth’ smile. Son of a bitch.

“Robin, keep them out of trouble.” Door swinging closed behind you, the three musketeers bask in the glow of your freshly sprayed perfume, the kind you only put on for special occasions. Eddie dropped his facade as soon as he sees you climbing into your car, shooting daggers in Robin’s direction for whatever part she had to play in this whole situation. It was going to be a long night.

Look, Andy was fine. I mean, he opened the door for you, and he showed up. What more could a fresh young mother on her first date in nearly a year ask for? Safe to say, the bar is low. But if Andy is as good at basketball as he is at rambling on about himself, he’d give Magic Johnson a run for his money. In any other case, this would bother you, your last previous romantic experience was much more evenly distributed conversationally. Armed with only the topic of your baby daddy’s death and recently relieved case of mastitis to disclose, you allow his drabble to flow freely. The Hideout plan ended up being a bust, something about the music “not being to Andy’s taste”, resulting in plan B; the pair of you sitting on sticky laminated booth seats in a small diner just outside of town. He ordered a well-done steak with all the fixings, and, before you could decide between the double cheeseburger with bacon or the chicken burger, a salad was ordered on your behalf. Slightly soggy lettuce pieces are pushed around with your fork, digging for any croutons that have absorbed the light dressing at the bottom of the plate. He seamlessly transitions from stories about college, to his basketball team, to the parties at his frat and then, as a special treat, a story about how his buddies on the basketball team got too wasted at a frat party and ran naked through the college campus. As you wipe your mouth clean with your napkin, having polished off your salad and trying your best to avoid your hungry gaze landing on the dessert cabinet, it strikes him that he hasn’t asked you a question the whole evening. And boy, what a question he chooses to ask.

“So, ‘ve gotta ask. What were you doing with Munson at the supermarket? Never pegged you two to be the type to run in the same circle.” 

Swallowing your food like a dry pill, it claws down your throat while you feel the sudden heat of judgment. Eddie’s reputation was no secret to you, yet you were one of the few to see past the bullshit propaganda spun about him. But with not much else to talk about, you decide to engage, hoping to shut down the conversation quickly.

“Oh, Eddie? He’s a friend, he lives across from me, actually.” Your words are meek and Andy scoffs, the two brain cells floating around in his skull colliding and recognizing that, you too, must also live in the trailer park. 

“Right. So you guys hang out then?”

“Uh, yeah. Sometimes. Y’know, he helps me out…”

“... and you do the same for him, I’m guessing?” He reaches for his nearly empty beer and knocks back a mouthful. “Can imagine he needs all the help he can get now, what with an extra mouth to feed and all. Hope you’re not throwing a single dollar his way.”

Oh fuck. Fuckfuckfuck. He thinks Audrey is Eddie’s kid. Clearly, with him being out of town, gossip around your pregnancy hadn’t spread to the Purdue fraternities.

You’re suddenly incredibly interested in a sliver of cherry tomato slipping around the plate. “No, no. I mean, he's got a job and all, so-”

“Selling drugs isn’t a real job, doll.”

“No, he works-” It crosses your mind that it’s best not to reveal Eddie’s actual workplace location to this man, god knows a fair few of the townsfolk still have it out for him. “-he’s just not selling shit anymore.”

“Yeah? Well shit, ‘ve gotta say, I didn’t think he had it in him. ‘Course a guy like him, going and stupidly knocking some girl up doesn’t surprise me. But Munson? The fact he convinced someone to fuck him is unbelievable.” His words are callous and subconsciously cruel all the while uttered with a laugh, the kind of locker room talk that he’s grown so accustomed to that he doesn’t recognise how jarring it can be to hear spoken so casually.

The sheer notion incensed you, nails digging into your palm beneath the table, the only outlet for your growing rage. Baffled by how he looked down continuously on ‘The Freak’, upholding high-school preconceptions and refusing to accept the real world evolving around him. Completely delusional to the fact that people grow and change. The sneer in his voice as he simultaneously belittled and ridiculed Eddie, not knowing that he was far more of a man than he could ever hope to be, infuriated you. 

The man who, for the first week after the birth, would wait diligently through the early mornings for your bedside lamp to go on, simply so he could race over to assist you on your short trip to the bathroom as your stitches healed, waddling helplessly in your port-partum underwear. Who would volunteer to take your spit-up covered laundry to the laundromat, purely so you wouldn’t have to wake a resting Audrey and grant you another hour of peace and quiet. Who looked at your daughter with such love and softness, despite no biological obligations to her, going through the motions of learning how to change a diaper just in case he needs to. It boils your blood. How fucking dare he pass such unfair judgement on Eddie? Your rage feels primal in nature, coursing through your veins like a hit of morphine. An overwhelming sense of protectiveness takes over, and you allow the words you’d like to say tip-toe across your tongue before returning to the deepest recesses of your mind. But, as with everything in womanhood, you know not to react with anger. Oh no. You need to make this easier for him to hear than it is for you to experience. 

“It’s not his.” Your voice comes out as barely a whisper, attempting to suppress the bubble threatening to burst.

“What?” Andy obnoxiously chews his well-done steak, on full display and half-masticated in his mouth. Your eyes meet his, taking in a short breath as if the added oxygen will dissolve your nerves.

“I said it’s not his.” You celebrate your words coming out a bit clearer this time, more firm.

“Then whose is it?”

“She’s mine.” The words tumble out of your mouth before you can stop them. Andy quirks his brow at you, never ceasing his chomping on the char-grilled hunk of meat.

“What?”

“Her name’s Audrey, and she’s- she’s my daughter.” Any remnants of confidence you’d built up were slowly disintegrating under his judgemental watch. The tip of his tongue meets one of his canines, mouth contorting into a wicked smile. His eyes trace over you, much like in the supermarket, yet you sense that any traces of affection have all but vanished.

“Right.” He runs a hand over his jawline, the nail on his thumb digging into the crevice between two of his teeth to retrieve some steak lodges between. “And who’s the dad?”

“It doesn’t matter.” You reply plainly, very much not wanting to go into the details of Steve.

“Oh, so you don’t know?” His eyes widen slightly, tone growing increasingly more mocking.

“No! Of course I know, it’s just-”

“What? Let me guess, he did the smart thing and left? Didn’t want to be tied down pouring all his salary into child support to some trailer trash? Shit, it’s girls like you who ruin guys' lives.”

Mouth agape, you couldn’t throw an insult back if you tried. You feel yourself shutting down, growing small under his harsh gaze and demeaning words. Tiny and worthless in that moment. A rush of adrenaline hits you, fight or flight triggered. You have nothing more to say to this person from your past, feeling stupid for even bringing him into your life now. Tossing your napkin to the table, metal utensils clanging as you swing your legs out from the booth and grab your handbag. Without looking back, you make a beeline for the door, teeth grinding together as you hear his voice ring out behind you.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll grab the bill! Not like you could afford it, anyway.”

The door slams so hard you swear you heard the bell fall off its hinges.

The drive home is silent. Something you would normally welcome under any other circumstances. The road is devoid of cars besides the occasional late-night commuter, the radio switched off completely with not even the static-y crackle to drown out your thoughts. Tears pricked the corners of your eyes, stinging with the anger still coursing through your blood vessels. God, how could you have been so fucking stupid? 

The living room light peeks through the slit of the curtains of the trailer you call home. Insecurity lingers in the pit of your stomach, you wonder if you could fit the whole place into Andy’s pool house (you probably could, knowing the neighborhood he lives in). The keys click and jingle as you turn the rickety doorknob, crossing the threshold into your kitchen/living/dining room. A studio audience laughs through the speakers of your second-hand TV, the figure on the couch reaching for the remote to lower the volume at your arrival.

“Hey.” In the light of the sole lamp, you make out Eddie fully reclined on the couch, placing the remote beside his head as his free hand caresses the lump on his chest. Audrey, heavy-lidded and limbs sprawled out, lays atop his torso as careful fingers trace up and down her exposed back. Her chunky legs were now on display, all creases and rolls like the cutest little Michelin man. You feel a sense of relief wash over you, taking in the sight of the thing you loved most in this world while you throw your handbag somewhere to the side.

“Hi.” You reach out to relieve him of the human weight from his body, lifting her up and tucking her into the crook of your shoulder. You just need to hold her right now. Feel the weight of her tiny body in your arms. Tilting the bridge of your nose to her unkempt crown of hair, you are shameless in your deep inhale of her scent. It washes over you with the force of a tidal wave, engulfing you in the sense of security you so desperately craved right now. Her bare skin pressed to yours. This is it. This is your home.

Eddie hoists himself up, flattening out his mess of hair from laying down for who knows how long. The only indicator of time being the cut to commercial breaks on the TV in the distance as he watched Squid’s eyes grow heavy with each passing jingle. He reaches for his boots at the base of the couch, undoing the laces to slip them on.

“Sorry, she, uh- had a little accident in her onesie and so I changed her. Then she got all fussy about putting on a new one, kept trying to kick me away. No tears or tantrums though, so I just brought her in here to hang out for a bit and we lost track of time-” His rambling words trail off, taking notice of the steady stream of tears cascading silently down your cheeks leaving a black streak of eyeshadow behind. “Woah, hey…”

His mode of comforting was beyond words these days, now deciphering your body language while you tucked your head to your daughters in an attempt to conceal yourself. Wordlessly, he discarded his boots and stood up, embracing the pair of you tight to his chest. He knows that you’ll talk about it if you want to, and if not, he’s there to hold you while you let it all out. The tears continue to flow, ringed fingers running through your hair and caressing your scalp. Tucking your head into the crook of his shoulder, effectively creating an Audrey sandwich, you allow yourself to be held. You will for the tears to stop, for the lingering frustration to evaporate. But you know you need to lean into it, release it from your subconscious through the bile burning in your throat and hiccuping sobs resonating throughout your chest. You’re sick of running from the pain, it’s time to embrace it and fuck it right off. Eventually, your tears run dry. All the while Eddie continues to hold you, waiting patiently. As your breathing steadily returns to normal, he pulls away to study your face.

“Feel better?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

He takes Audrey, all squish and skin in just her fresh diaper, from your arms.

“You go take a shower, I’ll get her ready for bed. Okay?”

You simply nod, grateful for the help, before wiping your wet cheeks and turning in the direction of the bathroom.

Hours of wasted effort are washed away in a matter of minutes under the low water pressure of your shitty shower. Black mascara and eyeshadow streaks down your flushed cheeks, the stream of water from the shower head soaking your fried hair. Nothing but the sound of water splashing against the grimy tiled floor, the soft thrum of liquid streaming through the pipes in the wall. Peace and quiet. Solitude.

“So stupid.”

Wrapping yourself up in an old towel, you see a familiar reflection in the mirror. Stretch marks fading across the small swell of your stomach, purple hues in your tear troughs against your skin, complexion dull and sullen. Back to your old self. The bedside lamp is already illuminated when you enter your bedroom. Clothes scattered across the floor, some clean, but most dirty. The door has been closed for your privacy, so you pull on some sweatpants and an oversized shirt that likely belonged to Steve. It’s been so long, you can’t remember whose it was now. If it was his, any traces of his scent have long since vanished. Once a treasured possession given as an act of love, now another cotton shirt in a sea of insignificance. Droplets from your damp hair create patches on the canary yellow shirt on your shoulders. 

Swinging open the door, you see Eddie swaddling Audrey, freshly dressed in her pajamas having decided not to put up a fight while mom’s around. He’s laying her down in the crib carefully, sucking away on a pacifier. This is the longest she’s gone without fussing or crying in a week, and so you simply stand at the doorway and watch him. He takes no notice of you watching him while leaning against the frame silently. He readjusts her swaddle, making sure she’s comfortable. Smoothing down her crown of soft hair on her head, a smile grows, dimples on full display as her eyes grow heavy and she settles. And, in a quiet moment between the pair, you watch as he leans down into the crib, placing his lips to the space between her eyebrows to give her a goodnight kiss. Your heart swells at the sight, warmth radiating through your body as you bear witness to this moment of affection. You must have let out an exhaling chuckle an iota too loud, Eddie quickly glancing in your direction sheepishly.

“Sorry. Couldn’t help it. She’s so cute when she’s not screaming or shitting everywhere.”

“Well, she’s only human.” You retort, earning a smile from him. He taps the side of her crib, stealing one last look at her. “Where did Robin pop off to?”

“Oh, she uh- had to head into the store. Something about Keith being locked out of the computer. She probably did it on purpose to fuck with him.”

You chuckle, shaking your head. “Yep, sounds about right.”

There’s a slightly awkward beat as Eddie retreats from the crib, picking his keys up off the coffee table. “You need anything else before I go?”

“Maybe some ketamine?” Eddie’s eyes widen at your joke, delivered too deadpan for him to catch your sarcasm. “That helps you sleep, right?”

“Or I could just give you some acid and watch you stare at Squid for a few hours? Turning into an actual octopus and then back to a baby, I’ll even try to get her crying as a real treat for you.”

The two of you are now full-blown laughing now, the air light between you. 

“We’ll save that for another night, I reckon.”

“Good call.”

Strolling over to you, he wraps his leather-clad arms around you, tucking you tight to his chest. You’re consumed by his musky scent, familiar and warm to the two girls in the room. Extending your arms, you lock your hands around his waist, scratching your nails absent-mindedly along the cotton shirt.

“Thank you for everything.” You mumble into the thrum of his heartbeat.

“It’s nothing.” He pulls away to get a glimpse of your face, gently taking your chin between his thumb and forefinger to tilt your gaze up to meet his. “You’re doing so well. Don’t forget that.”

Despite being all cried out, you feel the telltale prickle of tears stinging the inner corners of your eyes as you nod. And, just like he did with Audrey, he leans down to press his plump lips to your forehead, leaving a quick peck on your skin. 

“See you tomorrow.” He gives your shoulder a firm squeeze before turning on his heel towards the front door. You shiver at the loss of contact, wrapping your arms around yourself to simulate the experience of being held. Chewing on your bottom lip, you fight a mental battle with yourself in a nanosecond, glancing down at the crib where Audrey has succumbed to sleep. “Eddie?” You call out, resulting in him stopping in his tracks, hand still on the door handle.

“Mmm?”

“Um, this is a bit weird to ask. But, uh- if you, would you mind maybe staying here tonight? You don’t have to, but um- you’re good with Audrey and I might get an extra hour's sleep if you were here to check on her through the night. Like, I’ll get up to feed her, but she can just get fussy and maybe if you were here she-”

Eddie had heard enough, silencing your ramble with a nod of his head, eyes closed as he smiles humbly.

“‘Course.” Relief hits you, picking at your nails to disperse any remaining nervous energy. “I’ll just run home and grab some pillows and a blanket for the couch, alright?”

“Oh, the couch sucks. I’ve crashed on it many nights and you’ll wake up feeling like shit. If you’re okay with it-” Oh my god, are you really about to say this? “-You’re welcome to just share my bed?”

Eddie freezes, contemplating the offer. “And you’d be okay with that?”

“Yeah, I mean, I share the bed with Robin all the time. And I’m sure you snore quieter than she does.”

Gaze down at his shoes scuffing the floor, his tongue pokes into the corner of his mouth. “What about pajamas? I mean, I’ve got stuff at mine I can get…”

“Eddie, in case you forgot I was pregnant with a whole-ass human for nine months. I’m sure I’ve got clothes that will fit you.”

He simply hums in agreement, releasing the door knob from his grasp and meandering to the center of the room.

“Yeah, okay.” He shoots you a warm smile. “Mind if I grab a shower first? Someone’s in a fresh diaper and it’s not me.”

You roll your eyes while he chuckles, making his way past you with a scruff of your hair. “Dude, so gross…”

You should have washed your sheets. You should have tidied up the mountain of clothes sitting in the corner, or at the very least picked up the straggling items strewn across the stained carpet. You should have decluttered your bedside table, decorated with balms, half-empty plastic bottles and the odd candy wrapper. But then again, you weren’t expecting a guest in your bedroom tonight.

The window above your bed is cracked open, allowing a fresh breeze to enter, eliminating any potential stuffiness. The cotton sheets are soft against your skin, two pillows now absorbing the remnants of water seeping from your damp hair. The rattling of pipes above your head ceases as the water supply is cut off, the sliding door of the shower opens in the ensuite. Moments later, the door swings open, and Eddie re-enters your room. His scraggly hair now roughly towel dried, ringlets forming at the ends while a crown of frizz haloed. Towel in hand, the bats adorning his forearm take flight as he scruffs his hair once more, peeks of pale skin now coming into your view. The waistband of his borrowed sweatpants hang low on his waist, hip bones barely peeking out over the black material. From the dark fabric, lines of ink bloom and flow across the expanse of skin, an indication of tattoos you did not know about. 

“You got a shirt for me? Or is pants all I’m getting tonight?” His words snap you out of your daydream, before you can wonder where the tattoo ends below his waistband.

As you glance up, the towel is lowered to hip-height. At this moment, you realize that you forgot to give him a shirt to change into. Pale expanses of skin decorated with tattoos, scar tissue of wounds long since healed across his torso. You indicate to your oversized Bowie shirt at the base of the bed, a thrifted find you failed to try on before purchase, rendering it an awkward length dress on your frame. Taking the cover in his hand, he meanders back to the bathroom to hang up the towel. You can’t help but study the grooves across his broad back, the odd scar scattered across the smooth skin like a brushstroke of some obscure painting. 

Precise, yet unintentional. Beautiful.

He emerges moments later, fully dressed, giving you a small twirl. “How do I look?”

“Better than I ever did in those.” You reply as he sits on the edge of the bed.

“Not sure about Bowie, a bit different to my usual taste but we can rectify that later.”

“Yeah, yeah.” 

Snuggling into the sheets, Eddie smiles as he pulls back the covers. “I’ll take the first shift, alright?”

“Sure.” And with that, you reach over and switch off the bedside lamp. “Night, Eddie.”

“Night.”

Despite the seductive call of rest, sleep does not come easily for the first hour. You’re acutely aware of the body beside you, occupying the same close space once reserved for Steve. It’s alien. Unfamiliar and yet simultaneously comforting. With the constant shuffling of bedsheets beside you, you roll the dice on the odds that Eddie is in the same situation.

Andy’s words continue to ring out through the quiet room, reverberating like an echo. Hitting you like a bullet to the chest over and over again, picking away at the scabs you’ve spent months trying to heal.

“Eddie?” You mumble, still facing away from the metalhead.

“Mmm?” A gravelly voice replies through the darkness.

“You awake?”

“No.” Letting out a huff, you can practically hear his grin as he rolls over to face you. “What’s up?”

Chewing on your bottom lip, you think about your little girl in the next room. Peacefully sleeping, tucked up, unaware of the impact she’s had on the world in her short time here.

“Do you, um- do you think I would have ruined Steve’s life?” You allow the gravity of your question to hang in the air, unable to bring yourself to face him. “Like, if he was still here, do you think he would have been able to have the future he wanted even with Audrey and I in the picture?”

“Why would you-“ He shifts, figure towering over you as he cranes to glimpse your face through the light streaming in through the curtains above. “Did Andy say something to you?”

You don’t reply, the lump in your throat a threatening harbinger of tears dancing precariously on the edge of release. That familiar ache of inadequacy returns to the pit of your stomach, causing you to sink under the weight. Picking at a loose thread on the pillow case, you fail to formulate a response. But you don’t need to. Unbeknownst to you, Eddie is seething beside you, heart pumping adrenaline through his veins. He’s contemplating how long it would take to find Andy’s house if he left right now, and what sound his bones would make as they crush into fragments beneath the blow of his knuckles. Your silence is a response in itself, edging his body closer to yours. 

“Hey…” Fingers delicately brush hair off your cheek, and you fight against the urge to retreat from the contact. It’s not that you don’t enjoy the sensation, you do. But in a vulnerable moment like this, your modus operandi is to shrink away and cope with it solo. Instead, you tilt your head to catch a glimpse of Eddie, faintly lit but his reassuring manner is clear as day.

“Sometimes I- I’m glad he’s gone.” Guilt burns in your chest at your admission. “I miss him a lot but fuck, what kind of a life would he have come back to? A kid tying him down, fucking up his future. It’s better this way, y’know?”

“Don’t say that.”

“I just- I wanted so much more for him. He deserved so much more than this-”

“Stop.” His command is clear, firm yet gentle. “Why do you always do that to yourself?”

“Do what?”

“Make out like you’re a burden, because you’re not. You might be the best thing that’s happened to m- all of us, in a long time.”

“‘m sorry.” Tears are now steadily cascading from the corners of your eyes, ticking the edges of your ears. Eddie shifts closer beside you, the warmth of his chest to your side immensely comforting. 

“Listen. Harrington cared about you, a lot more than he led on. And I can tell you for a fact he would have loved Squid more than anything in this world.”

Teeth grinding together, you will the heartache to vanish. It doesn’t. All the whole Eddie continues lightly stroking the loose strands of hair framing your face.

“Yeah?”

“Are you kidding me? You saw him with the kids, he was a natural at wrangling them, loved the idea of having a big brood. If he was here, he’d probably be asking you to pop out another one and the two of you would be in a motorhome heading out west somewhere.” You ache at the thought of a life that will never be. “And with you of all people? Fuck, there’s worse ways for a guy to end up in this world. Some of us would be so lucky.”

“I just- I know how this past year has been for you, and I don’t want you to feel like you need to take all of our shit on top of that. Plus, you being seen in public with me-”

“What, worried people will start making assumptions about us?”

“No! God, I just don’t want to give the people of this town another reason to talk about you behind your back. What with my reputation and all.”

“You’re worried about me?” He chuckles lightly. “Sweetheart, I’m not sure if you’ve heard the rumors about me, but this is better than I could have ever expected after all the shit that went down last year. I mean look at me, getting to spend my night with the cutest girl in town. And you, of course.”

He grins ear to ear at the genuine smile he’s earned from you, however short-lived it may be. With his forefinger, he swipes away the recently shed tear before it can reach your hairline. 

“And Andy? Fuck, a guy like him doesn’t know the first thing about life. Having such an easy ride, he couldn’t do half the shit you have in the last year.”

Mind numb, you simply nod in response. Your tears are now running dry, finding solace in his genuine reassurance. Eyes sore, your gaze lands on the worn neckline of his shirt, shadows casted onto the skin beneath creating valleys out of his collarbones. Without thinking, you reach for the guitar-pick necklace dangling from his neck and rub your finger across the smooth ornament. Back and forth for a moment or two, sniffling as you take the first steps towards composure.

“Thank you, Eddie.” You mumble, peering up at the man before you. Watching the steady motion of his hand running through your hair, his eyes catch yours with pure kindness, patience you’re not accustomed to. 

“You’re the strongest person I know. Please don’t forget that.” His hand traces around the frame of your face, his palm finding solace in the crook of your jawline just below your ear. Subconsciously, you can’t help but lean into the sensation, relishing in the comfort of your face being cupped. Grounding yourself in the heat of his palm against your skin. Understanding that this is what safety feels like. 

Slowly, Eddie lowers his plump lips to your forehead, much like he did earlier. But this time, it isn’t a hasty goodbye. 

It’s measured. Calculated. And, unbeknownst to you, very brave. 

Lips meet skin, soft and supple. Hand still caressing your cheek with subconscious strokes of his thumb. You can’t resist closing your eyes to lean into the sensation. 

It’s nice. Comfortable. And something he definitely hasn’t done before. 

Almost as if you’re afraid of losing this moment too soon, your hand wraps around his wrist, keeping it in place despite Eddie having no intention of moving it. 

Eddie swears he feels his heart skip a beat as your fingers curl around his arm, mentally praying you can’t feel his heart about to pump out of his chest with your bodies pressed together. The scent of your shampoo lingers on your scalp where the bridge of his nose rests, filling his senses. He, too, closes his eyes. He wages an internal war, knowing he should pull back but can’t help but fall victim to the comfort of this moment. Grasp tightening slightly on your skin, he remains selfish for a beat longer. And you let him. 

When he does pull away, you’re placed under an intimate microscope of study. Big brown eyes inches away from your face, studying for any sign of discomfort. Nothing to be found. His hand continues to cradle, nose remaining close enough to feel the soft breath fanning your face. 

In the faint light peeking through the fluttering curtains, shadows are cast across the hollows of his face, painting an intimate portrait of the man you’d not taken the time to inspect closely. The creases scattered across his forehead, indicators of a life filled with pain and regret. Faint stubble littered across his strong jawline, further emphasizing the severity of his bone structure.

How his full bottom lip curls inward slightly, lost in thought. A perfectly shaped cupids-bow, the soft flush of pink tinging his skin, the way the corners of his mouth turn up slightly. The suggestion of minty toothpaste ghosting across your face, as if you could taste it.

Eddie’s breath hitches as he watches your gaze flicker from his lips back up to his eyes, ceasing the smoothing motion of his thumb on your cheek. He feels as if he’s been caught doing something he shouldn’t, like a young child caught red-handed reaching into the cookie jar. Yet, he doesn’t retreat. He’s done with running. His hand remains, a heavy-lidded gaze locked onto yours. And he can’t help but drink in the vision of you lying before him. Unapologetically and shamelessly. 

It’s blurry, how the inches begin to lessen between your faces, the distance edging closed as breaths intermingle. It’s entirely possible you leant forward, recalling the vague sensation of cool air hitting the back of your neck from the partially dried hair clinging to it. Equally as likely, the adrenaline coursing through Eddie’s system rendered his actions perfunctory. Nights spent thinking, wondering, pining, culminating in this moment of sheer bravery. 

Not driven by the outcome. Just the desire for closeness. For more. For you.

Your eyes flutter half-closed as you feel the tip of his nose brush against yours, the contact sending shivers down your spine. An unspoken game of chicken, waiting for the other to back down while mouths edge closer still. Your hand creeps up, laid flat across the top of his against your cheek, the inches between you charged with electricity. No one backs down. Neither of you want to. 

Anticipation crescendos as you feel his lips ghosting above, unable to distinguish if they are meeting yours or the charged tension in the air existing between you has manifested on your skin. A suggestion of skin on skin, holding back the tidal wave of desperation simmering beneath the surface. 

Close enough to taste-

The two of you jolt apart as a fierce wail echoes through the living room, finding your respective sides of the bed. Heart pounding, you steady your breath as Eddie struggles to look at you, shooting from under the covers.

“I’ll get her.” He mumbles awkwardly, staggering to his feet like he’s lost faith in his limbs to keep himself upright. “You um- try to get some sleep, okay? Night.”

And without a second glance in your direction, he swings the bedroom door closed behind him. The sudden distance between you hits you like a gut punch. Of all the stupid things you did tonight, this may have been the stupidest. You should feel glad for Audrey’s perfectly-timed interruption, grateful to know you won’t be getting up every few hours to attend to her. You can sleep freely. But fuck, with the rate your heart is pounding right now, you wonder if you’ll get any rest at all tonight. As you lay your head back on the pillow, you let out an exasperated sigh, trying to return your heart rate to a steady pace. 

The bed suddenly feels entirely too empty.

[bloodibambiidoll]

Masterlist

All works are 18+ minors and blank blogs will be blocked!!

Steddie:

The Pull - Steddie x Succubus!Reader masterlist (complete)

You’ve been alone for as long as you can remember, floating around for decades and moving from place to place, never letting anyone close. But that all changes when you decide to move to Hawkins Indiana. You were expecting a quiet life in a small town, but that all changed when you arrived and immediately sensed them.

All You Have To Do Is Ask - Steddie x Reader

Ever since your boyfriend Steve found out that you lost your virginity to your friend Eddie he can’t stop thinking about the two of you together, the fantasies of you and Eddie tangled together running through his mind on repeat. It starts off with just the two of you but when the fantasies start to evolve and Eddie is touching him too, he doesn’t know how much longer he can take it.

Steve Harrington:

American Idiot - King!Steve x GothFem!Reader

Steve Harrington had it all. Money, popularity, the perfect girlfriend. He had his whole life planned and laid out for him, and he accepted that. Working for his dad and marrying his collage sweetheart wouldn’t be so bad, right? That’s what he thought at least, until he got paired to do a project with you and you turned his world upside down.

Jones and Leia - Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

You agree to match Steve’s Indiana Jones costume, but it’s definitely not what he was expecting.

Opposites Attract Masterlist - y2k!Steve Harrington x MallGoth!Reader (ongoing)

This is a series of one shots/blurbs about Steve and his goth girlfriend in the early 00s. This AU is a collaboration with @reidsbtch you can find the masterlist for her y2k!Eddie x Girli!Reader Here.

Spider Lilly (part 1) - Steve Harrington x Goth!Fem!Reader

You can’t stand Steve Harrington, you didn’t like him in highschool during his “King Steve” days and you don’t like him now. But even though you deny it, even to yourself, there’s always been something about him that made your heart beat speed up. When you’re stuck closing with him one night at Family Video… things finally boil over. (Soulmate AU)

Eddie Munson:

See You Again - Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader x Fem!OC

Your girlfriend surprises you with tickets to see your favorite band, Corroded Coffin for your birthday. You and her spent one magical night with the lead singer over a year ago before they made it big. Will he remember you? (He definitely will.)

Beer and Bunny’s - Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Eddie can’t seem to get himself to make a move on the new bartender at the hideout he has a crush on, but one night you decide to take matters into your own hands and he sees something that he just can’t resist.

Being Weird Is Cool Masterlist - SingleDad!Eddie x SingleMom!Reader (Ongoing)

When your late aunt leaves you her house in Hawkins you see it as a chance at fresh start and move there with your son. You didn’t expect to meet a caring metal head with kind eyes and his spitfire daughter. You didn’t expect to fall in love. You didn’t expect to find a family.

Cat and Mouse - Perv!Eddie x Perv!FemReader

Eddie thinks you are innocent and oblivious to all the pervy things he does behind your back, but what he doesn’t know is that you’re fully aware. Not only that, but you like it, and you just might be a bit of a perv yourself.

You’ll Never Be A Burden - Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

When you can’t get out of bed, answer your phone, or shake the feeling of hopelessness your boyfriend is there to reassure you that he will always be there for you no matter what.

Best Mates - FuckBoy!Alpha!Eddie Munson x Bestfriend!Omega!Reader

You’ve always been in love with your bestfriend, you never thought anything would ever come of it until you present as an omega and he spends your heat with you.

Licking his boots (blurb)

Halloween moodboard masterlist

[louloulemons-posts]

Margot

Eddie Munson X SingleMom!Reader

Summary: You and Eddie had been dating for months now, the only thing was, he didn’t know about your daughter, Margot.

Word Count : 4.5k

Warnings : Petnames, mean reader family, a couple swears, no real discussion of physical features of reader, teen pregnancy, there may be spelling mistakes, pure fluff, girl dad eddie.

Y/E/C - Your eye colour

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Being a mom at 18 wasn’t your plan at all, but now with your 2 year old beautiful baby girl you couldn’t have been happier.

After finding out you were pregnant, you were kicked out immediately, few things in a bag and gone. The baby daddy had been useless too, claiming it couldn’t have been his, even-though he was the one and only guy you’d slept with.

You had bounced between friends homes and a crumbling apartment, but then had regained

contact with your Aunt Maeve who lived in the town of Hawkins. That had been your home from almost 8 months now.

You had a job as a job that paid okay, and gave you time to study too. Along with being there for your little one, Margo and Aunt Maeve was a great help too.

“Goodnight Mar, Mama loves you,” you said kissing her head gently, closing the door behind you. “Hey Maeve, she’s down now. I left the number of the restaurant on the kitchen counter for you, so please call if you need me.”

Maeve pushed herself up from her worn armchair, “Sweetheart go have fun, you know you deserve it. He’s a nice kid, Uncle raised him right,” she smiled, kissing your cheek and pushing you towards the door.

Walking down the path, a smile appeared on your face as you saw a familiar van show up.

Climbing inside, “Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” The famous Eddie Munson.

A metal head who you had met through your Aunts friend Wayne. And had fallen for quite soon after … only one thing, he had no clue about Margo.

Listen, it wasn’t that you were embarrassed, not at all. Your baby was the light of your life. She was everything. You just wanted to make sure Eddie was a keeper before they met.

Now 5 months of dates, hand holding and stolen kisses, you were sure he wouldn’t turn screaming when he found out.

Leaning over he pressed his lips to your cheek, “You look great too Eds.”

“You ready?” he asked, sliding his fingers through yours. “Let’s go!”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Okay that food was incredible!” You beamed at Eddie, who nodded. “It really was. Company was even better.” You pushed his arm lightly, “You, Eddie Munson, are a sweet talker.”

“Sweet enough to get you to stay the night?” he asked, pulling you close. “You’re something else,” pushing a curl behind his ear you kissed him gently.

“Is that a yes?”

“Eds I-” You were cut off by a woman walking over, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have a call for you.” You stood, eyebrows furrowed, it could only be one person.

Following her to the phone, you quickly picked it up. “Maeve?”

“Mommy?” a small voice spoke from the other end. “Mar? What are you doing up my love it’s late?”

“Mama come home.”

“Baby can you give the phone to Auntie Maeve.”

“I’m so sorry I had to call,” Maeve spoke, her voice full of regret. “It’s okay, what’s going on?”

“Bad dream. She’s won’t settle, only stopped crying when she heard your voice.”

“I’ll be home as soon as I can okay?”

“Okay, say bye Mama.” You heard a faint ‘buh-bye’ from the girl.

Hanging up the phone you walked over to Eddie. “I’m so sorry, I can’t do tonight. Issues at home,” you explained.

“Don’t worry Sweetheart. Some other time?”

“Yes.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“I’ll call you okay?” you said to Eddie kissing him square on the lips. “Thank you for tonight it was amazing. I’m paying next time.”

“You’ve said that the last 3 times,” he laughed.

“Well someone keeps taking the bill!” Kissing him again you slid out of the van. “Night Eds.”

“Night Sweetheart.”

You waved goodbye and Eddie drove away, entering the house you heard a faint, “Mamas home!”

“MAMA MAMA MAMA!” Margot came flying through the hall and to you. “Hello my love,” you smiled, taking her in your arms, rubbing your hand through her ringlets. “miss-ed you Mommy,” she spoke, her dummy in her mouth and voice laced with sleep.

“Shall we go back to bed my love?” you asked her. Nodding into your neck, she mimicked your actions playing with your hair. “Okay let’s say goodnight to Auntie Maeve.”

The woman walked into the hall, “I’m just getting my tea and I’ll be up. Goodnight my darlings.”

“Night Maeve.”

“Nuh-nih.” Chuckling softly at the sleepy girl in your arms, you went on your way to bed.

Laying Mar down in your double bed, she whined slightly. “It’s okay, I’m just getting my pyjamas.”

“Mama, you wook pwetty,” she said.

“Thank you, you look so pretty too.” Margot smiled at that. She was the most beautiful thing you’d ever seen, but maybe you were biased.

As you were about to climb into bed next to her you paused, “Where’s bun?” you asked. She let out a huge gasp. “Still in bed!”

“Still in your bed?” She nodded. “Okay I’ll go get him okay?”

Wondering into her room you grabbed her small rabbit teddy who she loved so much. You were surprised she hadn’t noticed his absence sooner. “Here his is my Lo-” hearing soft snores you smiled.

Climbing in next to Margot, you placed her bunny in her arms, kissing her head softly. “Goodnight my Sweet Girl.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“We’ll be back in a little while Maeve,” you shouted walking out the door. “Mama, where we go?”

“We have to go to the store, get some things for dinner.” Margot nodded at that, pulling herself up into her car seat.

You buckled her in, making sure she was secure and placed a kiss on her head. The drive went smoothly, Margot was singing along to a couple of the songs on the radio, and chatting away to you the rest of the time.

“Mommy, we have pastas for din-ner?” The small girl spoke from the back of the car. “Sure babe, if that’s what you want.” You saw how she nodded happily through your mirror, making you smile. That’s all you wanted to do, make her happy.

Parking the car, you walked round to Margots seat, unbuckling her and holding her on your hip. Walking past the door, Margot exclaimed, “Mama we gotta go store!” Chuckling at the small girl,”We need a cart baby. We need to put our shopping somewhere.”

You slid her into the cart, she kicked her legs slightly in excitement. “Okay let’s go,” you smiled. “Let’s go!” she mimicked.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Pushing the cart and holding the shopping list in your other hand you stopped. “What flavour do you want babe? Strawberry or Blueberry?”

“Blue-bewwy.”

“Blueberry okay.” Picking up the pop tarts you passed them to Mar so she could put them in the cart.

You noticed then that something was missing. “Mar, where’s bunny?” you asked.

“He’s- oh,” she looked at you with her big eyes, “Mama he’s gone!” tears started forming in her eyes. “Hey it’s okay. We’re gonna find him, come on let’s walk back this way and have a look.”

You wiped away some stray tears running down her face. You walked back down past the diary, the fruit and veggies. No sign of him. “Maybe we left him in the car,” you said to Mar.

“No Mama, I had him!”

“Okay that’s fine then. He must be in here somewhere, why don’t we ask that lady over there.” Pushing the cart over to one of the workers at the store you smiled at her, “Hi I was just wondering if you could see if someone’s handed in a toy rabbit?” Looking at you she nodded, seeing Margots upset face.

Waiting for her to return you lifted your baby from her place in the cart. Cuddling her to your body, as you rocked hushed her gently. The store assistant walked back over to you, “I’m really sorry but nothings been handed in, if you leave your number I could call you if it shows up.”

“Thank you,” you smiled at her. Putting Margot down on the floor, you took the small pad of paper and pen off the woman, writing your name and number down. “Mama! Mama! Bunny!” Margot squealed.

The small girl ran down the aisle to a familiar looking man. Shit. Eddie.

“Is this yours?” he asked, crouching down to Margots height, handing over the plush toy. “I found him out in the parking lot.”

“Mommy wook!” she turned to you, walking over quickly, you saw Eddies eyes widen slightly.

“Mama! Bunny!” Taking her in to your arms you smiled, “Yeah babe, what do you say?”

“Twank you.”

“No problem sweetheart.” Margot was so happy she got her bunny back, her focus was solely focused on him. “Mama?”he asked.

“I’m so sorry. I was going to tell you. I just, Eddie I wanted to make sure you were a good guy, she’s my everything.” He hummed and nodded. “Let’s be honest most people run screaming at the thought of teen pregnancy.”

“I understand. So uh, where does this leave us?”

“I don’t know Eds. I think that’s up to you. I wanted you to meet her, not like this, but I was - I am ready for that. I really hope you’d understand.”

“I do. Maybe we could go to the park one of the days?”

“Yeah I’d like that.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Walking hand in hand with Margot you waved towards Eddie who was waiting by a bench. “Mama, who dat?” she asked, bunny in her other hand. “That’s my friend Eddie, the man who found Bun at the store. He’s gonna hang out with us today. Shall we go say hi?”

She nodded, and you finally made it to the metalhead. “Hey,” you smiled.

“Hey you two. Hi little lady, I’m Eddie,” he said, getting down to her height, similarly to what had occurred in the store. “I’m Maw-go.”

“Margot?” She hummed.

“Mama, we go swing?” she asked, tugging you. “Course baby, let’s go.” Lifting her into the the small swing, you pushed gently letting her get used to it. “So I’m sure you have some questions. Please feel free to ask any,” you said to Eddie.

“I mean I understand why you didn’t mention her, seems like a great kid though,” he nodded to the giggling girl. “Mama higher!” she squealed, kicking her legs. You laughed at her, “She’s amazing.”

“So um … her dad?”

“Not in the picture. Never has been, never will be.”

“Is that why you live with your Aunt?”

“Yeah, sofa surfed for a while. Got a crummy apartment. Then Maeve got in touch, we hadn’t spoken for a while, I assumed she hated me like the rest of my family.

“But she offered me a home. Us a home. Margot loves her, loves it here.”

“I’m sorry the rest of your family aren’t like that. I’m sorry her d- that guy was like that too.”

“It’s fine, we’re were 17 when I got pregnant. It was scary, I get that. It’s his loss anyways, he doesn’t get her in his life, and anyone who has that is lucky.”

“Mommy! Can we slide?”

“You wanna go on the slide?”

“Yeah!” she shouted.

Gently stopping the swing, you picked her up and let her run over to the steps to get up to the slide. “Oh Mama, you have bunny so I cliwb up.” She said, running back and handing him over. Eddie smiled at her. “She’s like you.”

“You think?”

“Mhm, for sure. It’s how I imagine baby you.”

“Well speaking of, Maeve wanted me to invite you and Wayne over for dinner. You could confirm your theory, if you wanted.”

“Yeah I’d really like that.”

He slipped his fingers through yours and stepped closer, pressing his lips to your head. “Thank you for letting me into this part of your life.”

“Thank you for accepting it.”

“Mama watch!” Margot screamed from the top of the slide. She slid down quickly, feet landing in the sand below.

“Wow babe! That was quick!” She laughed running over to you two, “Hey mistwer Eddie?” she said, looking up with her big Y/E/C eyes.

“Yeah Sweetheart?”

“Can you pwush me on the spinner?” she asked.

He looked over at you, asking for your thoughts. You nodded your head, smiling slightly. “Sure Kid, let’s go.”

She sat down on the merry go round, “You ready?” he asked.

“Yeah!”

“Hold on tight.”

He didn’t push her too fast, but fast enough for her to squeal whilst giggling loudly. This went on for a few minutes until she heard a familiar tune. “Ice cweam!” Eddie slowly stopped the merry go round and helped her up.

Wobbly slightly, she shook her head, holding on to Eddies hands. Her own were tiny in his, he looked at her in awe, she really was a sweet kid. Like her mom clearly. He understood why you’d ‘hidden’ her, because who would want to break that little heart. She was your priority. Your everything.

“Mama, we get ice cweam?” she asked.

“I think we can do that, Eds you want one?”

“Sure, let’s go.” He expected Margot to run off again, but she walked in between you. Keeping her grip on Eddies hand and taking your own.

Grabbing three ice cream cones you sat down on the grass, and not even a few moments into it, it had coated the majority of the Margots lower face. “You’re meant to eat it,” Eddie chuckled, which Margot copied.

Once she was done she showed you her small hands, “They sticky Mommy.” Pulling open your small bag, which you had carried almost everywhere for the last 3 years of your life, you got some wipes and began cleaning the girl.

“All better?” you asked.

“Mhm. Twanks.” She rested her head on your shoulder, cuddling into you. “Tired my love?” you asked. “Mhm.” Checking your watch, it was the time when she would take a nap.

“You need to take her home?” he asked.

“I’ve got her stroller in the car, so we can walk whilst she naps?”

“Yeah I’d like that.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Buckling her in and laying back the seat, you placed her blanket over her. Handing her, her dummy and bunny. She was quickly soothed and fell to sleep. “How are you feeling?” you asked Eddie. “Well her asking me to play with her and the hand holding, it took me by surprise honestly.”

“She’s always been a good judge of character,” you smiled, as you two walked through the park. “I’m just having some doubts,”he sighed.

“I understand. Can I ask what about?” He heard the upset in your voice. “Oh babe not about you. You two are perfect.”

“Then what?”

“You know how I told you a few years back, those rumours about me. Satanist, killer, all of that.” You hummed a yes. “Well some people still think that, and I would never want you or Margot to be judged for that. For me.”

“Eds, you don’t have to worry about that. I know you will no matter what I say. I adore you, Im falling for you more and more everyday, and well Mar has clearly taken a liking to you.”

“I just don’t want you to suffer cause of me.”

“We’ll deal with that together Sweetheart. Don’t worry. Now I must ask, what would you and Wayne like for dinner when you come over?”

“Now you’re asking babe.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

It was now 4 months later, and the day before Margot third birthday. There was a knock at the door. “Eddie Eddie Eddie!” The small girl squealed, running towards it. “Mar slow down,” you laughed.

“Hurry Mama it’s Eddie!”

“I know I know,” you said, sliding the latch off, twisting the handle. “Hey you two,” he smiled.

“Eddie!” Margot screamed throwing her arms around his legs.

“Hey you!” he grinned, picking her up, hanging her upside down and over her shoulder, making her laugh loudly. “I cannot believe you’re 3 tomorrow!” he said.

“I’m big gwurl.”

“Nope! Always my baby,” you said taking her back into your arms, hugging her close.

“Nooo, big gwurl.”

“Fine, big girl. Go find Auntie Maeve, she needs you to test the pasta for dinner.” She ran off straight away, feet slamming down as she went. Looking back at Eddie you smiled, “Hey,” he said. “Hi.” He pulled you close by the waist, kissing you.

“I have gifts in the van, and my overnight bag.”

“Great, do you want any help?”

“Nah babe, I’ve got it, I’ll meet you in the kitchen,” he pressed his lips to your again.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Eddie!” Margot smiled, as he walked into the kitchen. “Hey Kid,” he said, brushing her curls. “How are you Maeve?” he asked, kissing her cheek. “Good thank you sweetheart, you keeping out of trouble?”

“Always, and I’ve got these two ladies to help me.” She nodded, smiling at the three.

“Well dinner is almost ready, you go get washed up,” she said.

“Mar let’s go to the bathroom before dinner.” Holding your hand out to the little girl you walked to the bathroom with her. Hearing Eddie offering to set the table. This made a smile make its way on your face.

“Hey Mar I have a question.”

“Yeah Mama?”

“How would you feel about Eddie sleeping over tonight?” you asked.

“Sweepover?”

“Yeah. Is that okay with you?”

“Mhm! But where he sweep?”

“Well he’d sleep in my bed, is that alright?”

“Yeah, cause he can’t fit in my bwed Mama,” she laughed. “No he can’t baby.”

Helping her clean up, she climbed on her stool to wash her hands, you doing the same.

“Ready?” you asked.

“Wedy!” You went hand in hand to the dining room, helping Margot into her seat next to your own. “Yummy!” she smiled at her pasta filled bowl. “Hang on Mar,” you said, grabbing a bib and placing it round her neck. “There you go, eat up.”

Mouth full of pasta, Margot spoke. “Eddie?”

“Yeah sweetheart?”

“Sweepover?”

“If that’s okay with you, I’d like to have a sleepover. I’d like to spend your birthday here too, if that’s okay?”

“Pwease.”

“Of course. And hey Wayne is gonna come and see you too.”

“Wayne!” she kicked her legs in excitement.

“Yeah, babe. Now come on, eat up, need to be big and strong when you turn 3,” he smiled, brushing her cheek.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Come on then baby, bed time. Say night night.” She went and hugged Maeve, and then headed over to Eddie. “Nuh-nih Eddie,” she smiled, he lifted her up and hugged her. “Night sweetheart,” he said, kissing her head.

He handed her over to you and you went up the stairs. “You excited for your birthday?” you asked her. “So so ex-exwited mommy.”

“Well you’re gonna need so much energy tomorrow, so try and get some sleep my love.”

“Okay.” Kissing her head and tucking her in, her bunny in her arms and dummy in her mouth the girls eyes shut.

You turned on her small nightlight and headed out the room. “I love you.”

“Wove you Mama.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Sighing as you dropped into bed, Eddie chuckled, “Come here,” he spoke. You snuggled up in his arms, head resting on his chest. “I can’t believe she’s gonna be 3. My little baby, I’m going to have to start looking at preschool soon.”

“I can help if you want?”

“Would you?” you asked, looking up at him.

“Course babe, I’d do anything for you guys.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, and I love that little madam.” Laughing you pecked his lips.

Listening to his heartbeat and feeling his chest move with each breath Eddie spoke once more. “Wayne asked that woman on a date.”

“No shit!” you said, sitting up.

“Yeah, next weekend.”

“Oh my god, he’s liked her for ages. I’m so happy for him. What’s her name again?”

“Delores, or Dee. She’s nice.”

“Looks like both Munson boys are getting lucky in love.”

“Don’t think Wayne and Dee have anything on us,” he grinned. “Only person left is Maeve.”

“Trust me Mae has her hidden life,” you smiled.

“Tell me more.”

“You know her friend, Annie?”

“No shit!”

“Yes shit.”

“Damn, we’re all lucky.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Mama! Eddie! Wake up wake up wake up!” A small voice screamed. “Woah where’s the fire?” Eddie laughed.

“Wake up!”

“We’re up babe,” you said, pulling the little girl up into your arms. Her curls messy from sleep, one trouser leg up, eyes sleepy. “Happy Birthday my love.” Smiling you kissed her head.

“Happy Birthday Kid,” Eddie spoke, voice groggy. “Pwesents.”

“You wanna open your presents?”

“Mhm.”

“Okay but we’ve gotta go and get Maeve first baby.”

Almost leaping off the bed she ran towards Maeves room. “Awntie Mae!” she squealed.

“I think she’s excited,” Eddie laughed.

“Come on pretty boy, let’s go.” Kissing his lips the pair of them headed down the stairs.

Mae came down the stairs with a wriggling Margot on her hip. “Good morning you two, I’m going to go start some coffee, you get the presents opened. Eddie, cameras on the shelf, pictures please.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Margot squealed loudly seeing presents covering the sofa. “Mommy look!”

“I see baby, you go ahead and open them.”

Grinning, she sat on the floor pulling a present into her lap.

20 minutes later there was paper all over the floor, and a very happy little girl. “Mama, I wear it?” she asked, handing you her cinderella dress. “Let’s have breakfast first, we don’t want to dirty it,” you said.

Maeve smiled, “Pancakes for the birthday girl.”

“Pancakes! Sywup?” she asked Maeve.

“Of course Honey.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Margot hadn’t stopped all day, running around at a million miles an hour. Her princess dress never leaving her body. Full of sugar and syrup. “Think she’s had a good birthday?” Eddie asked, arms around your waist and head on your shoulder.

“Mhm, you’ve helped that happen too.”

“Nah babe it’s all you.” There was a knock on the door. “Hey Kid that must be Uncle Wayne.”

“Uncle Wayne!” she shouted, running towards the door.

“I’ll go get the latch,” Eddie said kissing your cheek. “Thanks Eds.” You walked to the kitchen to find Maeve, “Candles are all ready.”

“Thank you for this Maeve. For everything.”

“You never have to thank me honey, you and Margot have given me everything I’ve ever wanted, but never got to have.”

Wrapping your arms around Maeve you squeezed her tightly. “Mommy, come see what Uncle Wayne got me!”

“How that child has so much energy I do not know,” you laughed.

“She’s just like you when you were that small.”

Wondering into the living room you saw Wayne on the couch and Margot jumping up and down with a cabbage patch baby in her hand. “Look Mama!”

“I see, did you say thank you to Wayne?”

“Twank you Wayne!”

“You’re very welcome little lady.”

The light clicked off and Maeve walked in with a birthday cake, soon the four of you were singing to Margot. She blew out the candles and Eddie snapped a photo. “Cake!”

“Hang on babe, let’s get the candles out first,” you laughed.

“Mae will take it and cut it up,” Maeve spoke, wandering to the kitchen. “Wayne cake?” she asked. “Yeah kiddo I’ll stay for cake.”

“Yay!”

“Come on baby, let’s take off your pretty dress for cake. Then after that we need your jammies, and we’ll watch a movie okay?” She nodded, letting you help her take off her dress.

She had a t-shirt and shorts on underneath so she walked to Eddie so he could help her into her seat. “You had a good day?” he asked her.

“Yes, you sweepover?”

“Again?” he asked.

“Mhm, wike you here.”

“I like being here too Sweetheart. I’ll have to ask your Mom and Maeve okay?”

“‘kay,” she smiled, kissing his cheek.

He took the seat next to her, smiling at her little face. You couldn’t help but grin yourself, stomach fluttering at the sight. “Thank you,” Wayne spoke from beside you. “For?”

“This. I’ve not seen him so happy for years.”

“I love him so much Wayne, he’s made my life so much better. And Margot loves him too. Always asks when Eddie and you are next coming over.” He chuckled at that.

“You know you’re always welcome to my home too.”

“Thank you Wayne, I really do appreciate that.”

“Mama, Wayne, cake!”

“We’re being summoned,” he smiled, taking a seat across from Eddie. “Twank you Mae,”Margot said as she tucked into her cake.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

The credits of Cinderella began rolling, and soft snores were heard form Margot. Eddie smiled at the little girl, sleeping on his chest. “I can’t believe she’s asleep.”

“I can you’re comfy babe. But I think her bed is a better place for her to sleep tonight.”

You stood up ready to take her, “You relax, I’ll take her up,” Eddie spoke.

“You sure?”

“Course,” he said, standing up and kissing your lips.

Eddie gently lay the girl in her bed, putting her bunny in her arms. Leaving her dummy next to the night light he kissed her head. “Goodnight sweetheart.”

“nuh-nih daddy.”

Sucking in his breath, his eyes became glassy. He heard the door creaked open slightly. “You okay?” you asked him.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m coming,” he said, getting up, walking over to you.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, drying his eyes.

“She called me dad.” Your face dropped.

“Oh Eds I’m so sorry, I’ll speak to her tomorrow.”

“No! Sorry, I just, if it’s okay with you. I really don’t mind. I know it hasn’t been long, but I love you and her.”

“You’re really okay with it?”

“Baby I would be so proud to be her dad. We obviously need to sit down and talk, but I’d be fine if she swapped between Eddie and you know … dad.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Wove you too.”

You both turned to Margots bed, “What you doing awake Little Lady?” Eddie ask.

“Stay with you.”

“Stay in our bed?” you asked.

“Mhm. Pwease.”

“Come on then baby.”

She grabbed her bunny and dummy and wandered over to you, Eddie clicked off her nightlight and the three of you headed down the hall.

Lifting her up on the bed Eddie smiled, watching as she cuddled into your side. “You comfy?”

“Mhm. Eddie come,” she said, doing a grabby hand towards him. He laughed and climbed in next to her. The three of you cuddle up and got comfy.

“Nuh-nih Mama,” she said.

“Night Baby.”

“Nuh-nih Da.”

“Goodnight Sweet Girl.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Part Two is here : Cinderella and Warm Milk

Part Three is here : Cuddles and Stew

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave any requests 🤍

[toomanyacorns]

Big Brown Eyes - Eddie Munson x Reader

Summary: You’re a single mom and when you drop your son off at Dustin’s while you go to work, you meet his new friend Eddie. 

Note: So, this really just came about because I wanted cute interactions between both Eddie and Steve with a little boy. I might write more in this verse if people like this?

Warnings: single mom, reader x ex steve, stancy is together, mechanic!eddie, i think that’s it?

Words: 5.6k

[Part 2]

[All stories in this verse]

“Hello, you’ve reached the Hendersons. Sorry we missed your call-.”

“Shit,” you mutter. You sigh and rub a hand over your face. You purse your lips in thought and tilt your head from side to side before picking up the phone again. Thankfully, this time there’s a response.

“Hello?”

“Max, hey! Do you know where the goonies are hanging out today? I’m trying to find Dustin,” you say.

“They’re all at his house. None of them would shut up about the campaign at school yesterday. Why? Everything okay?” Max asks.

“Yeah, fine. I just have to head to work and need someone to watch Ev. I know you have the evening shift at the diner tonight or I would’ve asked you.”

“Where’s Steve?” Max asks.

“Out of town for the day with the Wheelers. Holly had a dance recital somewhere near Indianapolis,” you tell her.

“Mike didn’t go,” she says with a snort. “He’s at Dustin’s with the rest of them.”

“What a loving brother,” you deadpan.

“One of the guys can watch Ev. I know for a fact Lucas has no plans tonight so don’t let him try to make any excuses.”

Keep reading

[superblysubpar]

*this series has been discontinued

A firefly blinks and her eyes widen, small hands reaching out towards the dancing glow in a desperate want. He smiles and sets her down, watching as she runs through the tall grass. The wind whips her curls, makes the grass sway, carrying her giggle all the way back to him as she chases and marvels at the small creatures and sounds around her. It’s a big world for her to explore, and he gets to be her dad through it all. 

single dad eddie munson x you | a collection of stories in a universe where Eddie is a single dad to Samantha (aka Samwise and/or Bug).

"Why Do Worms Exist?"

Eddie's kiddo loves leaves & worms and apparently so does yours | meet cute with singledad!eddie munson x singlemom! reader

*return to all the Dad Blurbs*

[whoahoney]

An Attempt at a One Night Stand

Eddie Munson x SingleMom!Reader

Part 2

Summary: Reader is a single mother spending an evening at the Hideout with her friends when she meets the lead singer of a band called Corroded Coffin. He buys her a drink and makes her feel ways she hasn’t felt in a very very long time…

Content Warnings: AFAB/Fem!Reader, NSFW(Minors, DNI), Smut, use of alcohol & cigarettes, descriptions of depression, angst, descriptions of a romantic partner’s passing, fluff, female masturbation, nipple play, light choking, p in v sex, protected sex (WRAP IT), more plot than porn

A/N: My first published smut, don’t look at me. 😂🥲

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Eddie Munson had it bad.

He met the prettiest girl in the world at a gig at the Hideout, the only person in the crowd that sang along with him the whole time. He knew he wanted to buy her a drink when she sang Ozzy into her empty bottle, pulling laughs from her friends while he eyes continued to flicker back to his.

Eddie loved her carefree nature about her, her energy magnetic. ‘I have to know this girl.’ He thought—her every movement fascinating him.

After some encouragement from his friends, he worked up the nerve to saunter up to her table, applying his own confident and easygoing facade the best he could. She was surrounded by an entourage of friends, all sets of eyes suddenly trained on him, halting all conversation.

Eddie glanced at each girl briefly before nodding to them, “Ladies,” then he looked at her again. Her eyes were glossed in wonder and inebriation at the boy who looked at her so intently.

“I, uh, I’m Eddie, and I couldn’t help but notice your show stopping performance tonight, and, uh, wanted to buy you a drink.” He smiled softly, his heart hammering away in his chest and sweat trickling down his temple.

She looked at each one of her friends, widening her eyes in excitement and nodding at the one on her left, a silent agreement. “I’d love that.” She stood, walking over to the bar ahead of him.

“I’m, Y/n, by the way.” She said as they settled into two seats. Eddie nodded, repeating her name inside, trying it on and getting used to the feeling it gave him. “Well, Y/n, what do you drink?” He asked, gesturing to the shelves of liquor behind the bar. Y/n’s eyes darted over the labels ahead of her, trying to focus on one at a time when she decided against whiskey.

“I’ll just have another beer.” She shrugged, thankful for the red lighting of the neon light she was seated next to. “No problem. Hey, Sal,” He called the bartender from across the room for service, ordering two bud lights and turning his attention back to her, leaning his chin on a ringed hand.

“You ever been here before?” He asked, raising his eyebrows. Y/n shook her head as their drinks were served. “What gave me away?” She shrugged, taking a sip.

“It’s rare a group of girls is sat up in here for a few hours.” He smiled, taking a drink himself.

“Are you implying that you’re here all the time?” She quirked an eyebrow inquisitively, her mouth gaping in sarcasm. Eddie looked like a fish out of water for a moment before she started giggling. “I’m just messing with you,” She pushed his shoulder playfully.

Eddie let out a relieved laugh, “Oh, god, sweetheart. I didn’t know what to do there. I swear I’m not here all the time, but I’m here a lot! As you can see I play music here, which I do pretty often...” He said with a shrug and tight smile.

“Well, I may have to come back if the talent is this nice every time, I really enjoyed the show—we all did.” She shrugged, looking to her lap to bite back a smile. “Thanks, y’know next time if you perform like you did in the crowd, I’ll have to pull you up on stage with me.” He chuckled, earning another blush from the girl across from him. “I bet you’re fun on car rides, huh?” He asked and nodded at her in understanding.

Y/n scoffed, “I mean, you could say that, I’ve had a lot of practice with car karaoke and all.” She giggled. “You had me smiling the whole time, I know performances like that take practice! It was perfect.” He said, like it was the simplest thing. Y/n sunk her teeth further into her lip to suppress another pathetic giggle.

“So what do you like, huh? What’s your story?” Eddie asked. Y/n took a swig and searched for the best way to share without sharing. “I.. work two jobs, during the day I'm a clerk at a book shop and most nights during the week I waitress at a grill.”

“I mean your hopes and dreams, babe, but also nice to know you’re a hardworkin’ woman, I respect that.” He said, raising his bottle to her before taking another drink. Y/n rolled her eyes and unsuccessfully repressed a smile. “I don’t really have any.”

“Dreams? C’mon, I know you can think big. If you could do anything in the world, what would you do?” He asked as if it were that simple.

“Uh, pfft... Damn. Hold on.” She nervously laughed as her mind blanked, no possibilities coming to the surface no matter how hard she tried. “Take your time, you got it.” He encouraged, nodding gently. Y/n looked ahead instead of at his distracting puppy dog eyes. “I don’t think my passion is gonna lie in a career, you know? I just wanna be able to find something that allows me to make enough money in order to get by and live a happy life and have good experiences with the people I love.”

Eddie wore a warm smile on his face as he scratched the bottom corner of his mouth, “You’re real cute, you know that?” He smiled, leaning forward to brush her hair away from her face.

Y/n avoided his eyes on her as they trailed down her profile; her lips, chin, neck and chest as she tilted the bottle back. When she finished she shrugged, “I’ve been told a time or two, what about you, huh? Did you know you’re real cute?” She flashed him a look and a smile, her words sending him into flattered laughter as he shook his head and drank again.

“I had a feeling I was real cute, but no one really tells me, sweetheart, so, thanks.” He winked and leaned in to get closer to her, reaching for her hand that rested on the bar beside them. “So, what’s your game, here, huh?” She asked as he played with her fingers, his eyes darting up to hers questioningly, “What do you mean?” He asked, unsure of the context of the question.

“I mean, are you trying to play the long game and take your time before you try to get in my pants or are you trying to take me out of here to fuck me in the back ally as soon as possible?” She asked bluntly with big sparkling doe eyes and then took a sip of her drink.

Eddie’s eyes widened, not in embarrassment, but because he didn’t know he came off that way, “Babe if I’m being honest, I didn’t even get this far in my head when I decided I needed to talk to you,” he said earnestly, leaning closer to her to talk over the other band now playing in the bar. “So, I guess to answer your question, I wanna play whatever game you’re playing, if that’s cool.” He shrugged easily, as though hiding his feelings wasn’t on his agenda.

Y/n sat back with her mouth gaping, running her eyes over his frame again like she’s just seeing him for the first time. “Ohh…” is all she could manage, shyness taking over briefly.

She was used to getting hit on in bars, the nights she made it out of the house during the month when she was able to leave Danny without problems. Love had been different since Adam passed. Y/n didn’t think love like that happened twice in the same lifetime—the most beautiful, head spinning love that embraced you and never wavered.

Adam and Y/n had been childhood friends, who soon grew into high school lovers. Adam and Y/n did everything together, truly two halves of a whole.

And when they got pregnant with Danny at the end of their junior year, they thought the curveball thrown their way would be the hardest it got, knowing they’d have each other for the rest of time.

Or until death.

When Adam was 18, he was involved in a car accident near the end of the pregnancy, passing at the scene. Y/n—17, pregnant, and practically widowed—swore off love, feeling as though letting another man into her life in Adam’s place was betrayal.

But that didn’t mean she wasn’t lonely. Sure, parenting alone isn’t for the weak, but she had her friends for emotional support, she didn’t need a man for that, and any fun thing she could think of doing either involved her son or her best friend. The more time went by, the more she convinced herself she could do it all alone.

So, over the last couple years, she settled for one night stands, sloppy goodnight kisses, handing out fake names and phone numbers like Halloween candy. But tonight was different.

Emotional intimacy of any kind was uncomfortable, the only man she was able to stay honest and open about her feelings with was one she’d known for a decade before she let him in her pants. Eddie had known her for two seconds and was upfront about his thoughts with so much ease it made her start setting up bricks.

“I-I, wasn’t expecting that answer.” She laughed awkwardly and took another sip, the bottle now over half gone. Eddie smirked and shook his head, his eyes never leaving her being for more than two seconds at a time.

“What was the answer you were expecting?” He asked. Y/n scanned around the room, landing on her friends who looked like they were having a wonderful time with Eddie’s friends who now occupied seats at their table. “I dunno, but no one’s ever been upfront about it, let alone put the ball in my court.” She said it like it was no big deal, but Eddie knew. He knew he got through to her. “Ugh, I hate basketball.” He smiled, trying to get her to relax again, he likes when she’s in control of the conversation. She mirrored his smile and rolled her eyes, the buzz of the current beer working over her head.

“So, uh, how’d you get into music?” She asked, steering the conversation another direction, which Eddie smiled at, knowing he was getting his shot. “I love that you asked that,” He blushed, a proud smile working its way onto his face, “When I moved in with my uncle around eleven or so years ago, he played a lot of Woody Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, you know? The originals—the good stuff!” He emphasized; the passion evident by the gleam in his eyes and his movements, which she loved, “I got really into them, like, wore out the needle on the record player. I had that thing going all the time. Well, one day, I got home from a particularly shitty day at school, and there was an acoustic guitar on my bed.” He smiled nostalgically at the memory. “Wayne got me started and I’ve been in love with music ever since.” He shrugged.

Y/n nodded, her heart smiling at his ability to be soft, “That's such a sweet story, you and your uncle must be really close! That was so thoughtful of him.” She awed, Eddie blushed a deeper shade of red as he took a swig of his drink, nodding in agreement, “He’s great, honestly the best man I’ve ever known.” He chuckled nervously, looking at his hands and hating himself for the conversation turning this way so quickly. ‘Too much, dude, c’mon..’ he scolded himself.

“So do you still listen to Willie and Waylon or did you kick the old boys to the curb when you adopted Metallica and Ozzy into your repertoire?” She asked, which soothed his worries immediately. He chuckled and shook his head, “Oh, of course I still listen to them, I couldn’t abandon my roots like that!” He nudged her arm with his, his heart leaping when she joined in his laughter. “You listen to any old cowboy country?” He asked.

Y/n nodded, “I’m familiar with those old cowboys of yours. Except I’m more of a Johnny Cash fan.” She shrugged, taking him for a Willie Nelson enthusiast. “Let me guess, Folsom Prison Blues just really has a hold over you?” He teased, though he was right. “I can casually enjoy songs about prison and crime, alright?” She played into it.

Y/n liked Eddie, that was never a question, but was she afraid? No, but kind of intimidated? Yeah, that’s more like it. She shrugged off her denim jacket, leaving her in her tank top and showing off her tattoos.

“Nice ink, care to give me a tour?” He asked, nodding to her body, most definitely not looking at her tattoos but rather her chest and abdomen, wondering if there were more under the clothes.

She smiled, no guy ever taking the time to notice and ask, the most attention they ever got were ‘Ugh, tatted girls are my favorite’ or ‘do you have any tattoos in other places?’ Eddie may be the first guy to refer to her artwork respectfully. It made her want to show him more than she should.

She pointed to the art on her forearms, the sun on one side, the moon on the other, “These were my first and second,” she nodded, turned to show him the back of her bicep, where a bundle of flowers sat in a broken vase, “this is the third,” she pulled up the side of her shirt to show the bottom of an expansive art piece on her ribs, “fourth,”

Eddie watched on intently, trying to commit them all to memory. She turned to the wall, gathering her hair up in a ponytail to show the fifth tattoo on the back of her neck, “Number five may have hurt the most,” she mentioned as he took in the detail of the moth, slightly bummed when she turned back around. “And six through ten are unable to be shown at this time,” she giggled, picking her beer back up and tilting it back til it was empty.

Before Eddie answered, he turned to order her another, a smile rising to her cheeks at the gesture until she scolded herself, ‘Oh, two beers, what a dreamboat.’

Expecting some sleazy question about when he’d get to see the rest, she was surprised when all he asked was, “So how old were you when you got your first two?” Her eyebrows shot up. A real question?

“I was 16.” she nodded, his eyes widening, “Damn, who was your artist?? I couldn’t get anyone to tattoo me till I was 17, and even then it didn’t turn out right, I was so bummed.” He said strongly, his inflection making her laugh.

“He was my friend's brother,” she shrugged, “So does this mean you’re gonna give me a tattoo tour?” She couldn't resist through giggles. Eddie raised his eyebrows at her, “Oh, I thought you’d never ask, angel.” He said with a smile that could’ve been mistaken for devious, but really that was just Eddie.

He quickly shrugged off his vest and jacket like she had, holding out his arm and turning it slowly to point out his bats. Y/n felt heat rising in her stomach at the sound of him explaining the backstory behind them all, some of which he drew himself, others he found in fantasy novels or had them drawn up by his friend at the shop he frequents now that he isn’t a minor.

“And I love this little demon dude right here,” he said to the area by his collarbone, his hand holding his neckline open more than needed, the fleshy expanse of his chest looking delicious with cinnamon colored freckles sprinkled across it.

Y/n leaned forward to look at the detail of the crazy face it made, laughing easily and looking back up to Eddie; it definitely felt like him. “This one is my most recent, after my favorite Metallica song—“ he rolled up his sleeve to show the puppet master on his forearm,

“Master of Puppets?” She asked before he could say it, his head snapped up to her with a surprise grin, “Yeah, exactly! March of ‘86 I holed up in my room and just listened to it over and over again until I could work out the chords, then it felt like I worked my fingers to the bone trying to get it down. It was a challenge, but it was definitely a defining moment in my music journey, you know?” He nodded, sharing that sliver of himself without trouble. It made Y/n intrigued, yet jealous. She wanted to be able to do that without locking up.

“Wait, you learned it by ear? Amazing! You must be some sort of musical genius.” She said, fully meaning the sentiment, when Eddie scoffed and shook his head humorlessly. “That’s really sweet, thanks, but I’m far from a genius.” He averted his gaze, shyness creeping in.

Y/n cocked her head, sensing she struck a nerve of his, one she would be sure not to touch on again. “You think I’ll get to hear you play it sometime?” She said, brushing his sitting hand with her fingers, gathering some courage.

Eddie’s eyes lit up, “I’d love to play some Metallica for you.” He nodded eagerly. Y/n giggled and took another drink, the liquid courage catching up to her. “Are you gonna give me a private performance? Or should I come back when Corroded Coffin is playing next?” She said suggestively.

Eddie perked up at this, not sure if he’s hearing the implied meaning behind her words correctly. “Why not both? I mean, if the private performance goes well.” He chuckled nervously and sipped his new beer. Y/n looked at his hands, noticing his rings and how each one was different.

The chatter of the crowd around them and the music from the stage was a good excuse to keep leaning forward, thanking herself for wearing a low cut top. She held out her hand, Eddie cocked his head and eased his hand into hers tentatively. She immediately took to his rings, ogling them.

“Oh, I’m sure it’s gonna be great. I saw these fingered working up there earlier and couldn’t keep my eyes off them. These are pretty metal, I must say.” She looked the jewlery over with a quiet and heavy lidded smile. Eddie’s cheeks heated up at their closeness, noticing how she stroked his palm and wrist and stopped paying attention to his jewelry, holding her gaze on his lips.

“Uhm,” he swallowed hard, “W-Would you wanna maybe have that private performance.. now?”

Y/n’s eyes flickered with hope, “Where at, rockstar?” She bit her lip, looking him over and interlacing their fingers. “I—Depends on how long you’re willing to wait, Princess, you think you wanna come back to my place? Or are you more of a ‘right here right now’ kinda girl?” He said in her ear slowly, taking hold of her forearm and stroking it lovingly; mapping out every scar and freckle that lay there.

“Where do you prefer?” She said, shamelessly stroking the column of his neck with her thumb, which sent shivers down his spine. “Baby, I’ll take you anywhere I can get you.” He whispered, his breath fanning over her ear and cheek. Her chest began to heave in want while her eyes roamed his body beneath his clothing, wondering where else he had tattooed.

“Y’know, I have a very spacious van parked in the alley out back, if that’s your kinda thing, but I simply can’t wait another second to touch you.” He whispered nervously, hoping he wasn't ruining everything by crossing the unspoken line between them. Y/n’s eyes turned hungry as she nodded, “Can we do a shot first?” She asked, buzzed and still giddy enough she needed to calm down.

Eddie bit his lip, “I like the way you think, sweetheart, what do you want?” He turned to call Sal the bartender.

“Tequila!” She nudged his arm, looking at the jug on the shelf. “I didn’t take you for a tequila girl.” He smiled, grabbing a shaker from behind the bar and sprinkling himself some salt on the back of his hand as Sal poured them up, setting out limes before leaving.

“I’m not, usually,” she said while sprinkling the salt onto her hand, “Figured it’d be good for tonight—makes my clothes fall off.” She shrugged before licking up the strip of beer salt and throwing back the shot, picking up the lime wedge and sucking.

A moan of relief slipped out as the fresh citrus flooded her mouth. Eddie sat unmoving with his mouth gaping, hand still at the ready to take his shot. “Oh my god.” He breathed, taking the shot and matching her speed for courage.

Y/n hopped up as he set down his glass, sauntering through the door as he paid their tab and looked across the room to his buddies who sported amused and knowing looks as their friend stuck his tongue between his teeth in a victorious grin, slapping down a $10 tip on top of the total because he was feeling especially generous.

“Don’t get your hopes up, lover boy, we’ll still be here when you get back.” Her friend said pointedly, the rest of them sniggering along with Eddie’s friends. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He said incredulously, leaning his weight back on the door to meet his dream girl outside.

She stood under the lamppost smoking a cigarette, her jacket back around her shoulders, which made Eddie eager to take it off later. “Hey, there.” He smiled, shrugging on his own jacket, the leather cold before melting into warmth at the touch of his skin. “Hiya.” She giggled behind the cigarette.

Eddie allowed himself to act on his impulses and stepped closer to her until he had to look down, the end of her cigarette a few inches away from him before she removed it and turned away to blow the smoke— ‘What a sweetheart.’ He thought.

“Think I could have a hit off that?” He smiled, his eyes looking over her pretty face in the new lighting, her features so much clearer now. He couldn’t get over the shape of her lips, watching them stretch as she revealed the sweetest smile he’d ever seen.

Instead of answering, she stuck her cigarette between his smiling lips, holding onto his shoulder to steady herself. He hummed contently at her promptness and wrapped an arm around her waist, finding the sliver of flesh that rested above the top of her jeans until he grasped her wrist and moved her hand away to exhale to the side and then interlace her other hand in his.

Y/n watched on thoughtlessly as he brought the new hand up to his lips to kiss her finger tips one at a time, then her knuckles and wrist, before flipping her hand over and pressing a kiss to her palm, nipping at it with his teeth and wrapping the arm around his neck— bringing her giggling lips to his and pulling her into a tight embrace, lips working against one another eagerly while his hands cradled her neck and upper back tenderly. Y/n didn’t realize it until she felt the shift of gravity, but she figured out Eddie was leaning her backward, trying to dip her romantically in his almost drunken state after the shot. Her hair fell back, the world slowly turning upside down at his hands, his kiss melting any sense of care away.

‘So what the moon is on the bottom and the cars are on top? I could hold onto him forever.’

‘You’re saying that because you’re drunk and horny, get on with it.’

They pulled away when they were almost falling, both of them laughing breathlessly. Eddie pressed one more kiss to her forehead before taking her hand and gently tugging on her to follow, “C’mon, pretty girl, lemme show you what else I got.” He teased, admiring how deeply pink her neck and chest were burning.

They ran like giggly school children together around the building, as if they’d get caught and have their parents called. Eddie relished in the warmth her hand gave him— wondering how warm they were about to be pressed up against each other in the van.

He unlocked the doors, swinging one open and gesturing inside, “After you.” He bit his lip, worried that at any point she’d turn back. Instead, Y/n raised her eyebrows at him briefly, shooting him a coy smile before taking his hand and stepping up and in. Eddie licked his lips and swung the door shut behind him.

From the moment he turned around, she was on him, her arm snaking around his neck, her other pulling his waist to hers by his belt loop and bringing him in for another hungry kiss.

The quiet of the van amplified the sounds they made together, every moan, gasp, smack, and groan audible, though neither of them minded, if anything they loved it. His hands found her hair, gently stroking it like he’d been dying to since he saw her flipping it around during his set.

He trailed his hand down the side of her neck, his thumb tracing her jaw sent shivers down her spine. She broke the kiss, pausing in the space between them before they went further. His eyes opened to see her looking at his lips, only looking into his eyes when he smiled softly, “You still good? We don’t have to, you know. I’ve had a lot of fun with you tonight.” He said easily, no hint of pettiness in his tone.

Y/n smiled at his words, leaning into his hand more, “I’m having a great time too,” he exhaled slowly, relief evident on his face. “I was just wondering if I needed to climb you like a tree or lay you down, big boy.” She winked with a smile on her lips, laughing when he flopped down to the floor immediately.

“You really just had to open your mouth, didn’t you?” He looked at her with wide eyes in amusement. “I swear everything you say does something to me, baby.” He mumbled, too busy watching her settle her body on top of his lap and strip off her shirt, revealing her lace bra. “Holy shit.” He gasped, wrapping his hands around her revealed bodice to get a better look at her while she leaned forward onto his chest to stroke him with her fingernails through his shirt.

Eddie sat all the way up to pull her body closer to his, “Holy fucking shit, you’re beautiful.” He struggled to look her in the eye as he bounced back and forth between her soft torso and beautiful face. She looked down at him patiently, not used to the compliments, soaking it all up while she could.

“Eddie?” She whispered, stroking his hair and pulling him from his thoughts. “Yes?” He asked earnestly, gazing into her eyes as if he were ready to do anything she asked of him, which he was. She leaned over by his ear, balling his shirt up in her fists, “Can we take this off?” She snickered, pressing a kiss to his cheek, followed by his jaw and neck.

His heart began hammering again as she mouthed at the crook of his neck, thoughts evaporating from his head—including his ability to speak. He remembered he needed to answer only when she slid her hands up underneath the hem at his side, a jolt of electricity sent straight to his dick at the contact.

“Oh, yeah,” he said through her kisses, allowing her to raise it above his head and discard it to the side with hers, her reaction to the rest of his tattoos stroking his ego as she bit her lip and ran her hands across him. “I want you to do whatever you want, sweetheart.” He whispered against her before diving back in for more.

He fixed his hands to the meat at her hips, grinding her on his cock that strained against his jeans. He smirked at the pretty little sound she made when she started moving her hips on her own, rolling them in a way that drove Eddie wild. His hands flew to her chest, massaging the plush of her breasts that begged to be let out of their confines.

“Baby, can I get rid of this?” He asked helplessly, stroking the skin above the clasp at her back. Y/n smiled, her nose bumping his as she nodded and said, “I want you to do whatever you want, sweetheart.” She bit her lip as he smiled like a child on Christmas morning. He went about popping the hooks from the small hoops and sliding the straps off her arms at a nice pace, consciously trying to make sure he wasn’t going too fast to freak her out or make her think he was too eager.

Eddie had his fair share of one night stands, fond memories for his spank bank until the next came along, but none of them compared to this. This was something he’d think of forever.

“Jesus Christ.” He said softly, his eyes taking in the ethereal sight—the bounce of her freed breasts as they fell and soft skin just begging to be marked up and grabbed.

But the best part was the tattoo that sat underneath them. “It’s beautiful.” He breathed, taking her waist in his hands and examining her body like art, trying to find the rest of her tattoos and not bust his load at her perky nipples looking so excited to see him.

“You’re divine, really, baby, I’ve never seen anyone like you before…” He trailed off in wonder, grazing his fingers softly over the ink. She looked at him looking at her, dazed and confused by this stranger’s courtesy and gentleness that could only match—

She tilted his chin up towards hers to stop the thoughts from rolling in, never thinking about Adam during times like these— let alone comparing him, and pressed a soft and hungry kiss to his lips, licking into his mouth. Eddie bucked his hips and groaned at the feeling of both her bare tits against his chest and her tongue in his mouth.

He went to work rubbing her breasts, easing her into a heated pile of mush on top of him, trying to get her to relax further into his touch. “You gonna let me make you feel good, baby?” He asked, nipping at her bottom lip to make her cry out.

“Yes, please fuck me, Eddie.” She whined breathlessly, their thrusts becoming more intense along with their breathing. Eddie laid her down backwards, her legs still around his hips as he kneeled above her, admiring the way her tits bobbed when she fell against the plush blanket pallet he kept.

Her eyes gleamed as they bore into his. He smiled down at her, brushing his fingers around her hairline and stopping at her cheekbone to unbutton her pants, her heart feeling content like a purring cat. “You’ve got me so wet, Eddie.” She whispered, palming her left tit and grazing her fingers down her stomach as he worked at sliding her pants off.

Eddie couldn’t tear his eyes away from her touching herself the way she was, only ever seeing girls do it in magazines, he never thought he’d see one do it in real life. “I wanna watch you touch yourself,” He whispered, dropping her jeans next to her shirt and opening her legs slowly to encourage her.

Y/n didn’t answer, instead, she gave him a little smile and slid her hand into the front of her panties, sighing at the contact and writhing a little as she found exactly where she needed to touch. Eddie looked on in amazement, stroking himself over his jeans as he looked down at the angel laying in front of him. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you?” He mumbled and licked his lips at the wetness pooling in her panties and the bits of flesh he could make out around the straining fabric of the lavender cotton.

He sat there mesmerized at the way her fingers disappeared inside of her, the way she tweaked her clit in time with the thrusts of her wrist and the way she kept her eyes on him the whole time she did so, reminding him that even if he wasn’t touching her, he was the one making her feel good.

Eddie slowly stroked her hips where the elastic sat, tugging lightly at the band until she raised her ass off the floor so he could slip them off her legs and toss them to the growing pile. A thin sheen started to coat her skin, glittering in the dim light of the van. Eddie ran a light and tender hand up her leg and then rubbed encouraging circles on the inside of her thighs, aching to bury his face in her wetness and send her further into the abyss of pleasure.

Y/n rubbed herself gently, opening her eyes as Eddie’s hands came closer to her throbbing core. “Touch me, please…” she whined, looking at him as if she’s waited for his touch for years and then letting them fall shut. Eddie’s eyes widened, his cock desperately needing relief, her eye contact and plea just made it worse.

“I’m gonna take care of you, baby,” Eddie took off his boxers quickly, moaning in relief and stroking his dick as he eased on top of her, caging her in with his arms. She gasped when she opened her eyes again to see him naked and godly before her. “Is that okay?” He asked, pressing a soft kiss to her neck, sending her eyes rolling to the back of her head, “Yes, please… Oh, fuck…” she groaned, feeling his weight on top of her as he adjusted her thighs around him, stroking her hips and lower back lovingly. “God damn, you’re so fucking soft, baby, I can’t get enough of you.” He breathed into her, reaching for her breast and meeting her for a warm and wet kiss, complete with teeth tugging lips, tongues licking skin, and quiet and satisfied giggles slipping out every now and then.

They reveled in each other’s nakedness, the feeling of skin on skin lighting them on fire—their hands and lips roaming everywhere.

Eddie took care to latch his mouth onto her nipple as he worked the other one with his tender touch. Her hands stayed in his hair, the mess of it scattered around him as he moved, though she didn’t mind.

Y/n thought she was going to lose her mind before he touched her pussy, swollen and dripping for him when he ran a tentative finger through her folds, “You want me as bad as I want you, don’t you, baby?” He set a slow yet satisfying pace, bumping her clit with every movement as her hand slipped further into his curls, tightening her grip to Eddie’s delight.

With every pant that left her came an adorable little noise, only audible in the space between them as they moved against one another. Eddie smiled to himself, his ego loving all of the praise this girl gave him.

“If you want something you need to ask for it—wanna make you feel good.” He said in between messy kisses along her shoulder. “Eddie, I need you to fuck me.” She whispered to him urgently, pulling his face up to hers with desperation.

“Uh, y-you don’t want me to eat you? C’mon baby, don’t get shy on me now.” He stammered, having been so close to the honey pot he desperately thirsted for. “Uh-uh..” She said, gently shaking her head ‘no’ and taking his cock in her hand.

Her hand traced the length of his shaft, pulling an inhuman grunt from him, a smirk of satisfaction crossing her face as he thrust his hips involuntarily. “Just, uh, lemme..fuck, lemme—lemme get a condom,” he managed through her firm strokes.

Eddie grabbed the chain on his pants, yanking his wallet out of his pocket to retrieve a gold foil package inside. Y/n admired his waist, tracing the dragon that wrapped around the side of his torso as he worked the condom on, stroking himself a couple times before moving back over her, who took no hesitation in wrapping her legs back around him, a giddy smile on her face that matched his. “C’mere, you pretty little thing.” He growled in her ear playfully while descending upon her, pressing his fingers into the plush of her thighs that enveloped him perfectly and kissing her giggling lips like they already belonged to him.

The laughter subsided as the kisses grew deeper and longer, when they pulled back and opened their eyes, they looked at each other like more than a couple strangers fucking in the back of a van for the first time— more like lovers who’d cross space and time to be together just for one night.

“You, uh, wanna put it in?” He asked, a blush dusting his cheeks as he hovered over her, stroking her bum and thigh as he waited. Y/n gently guided his member to her entrance while Eddie placed his other hand around her breast—poised to antagonize her nipple.

After the tip pressed against her, Eddie groaned as he sunk into her, his chest flattening onto hers until they could catch their breath. “You take me so well, baby, oh fuck,” He gasped next to her head, pushing some hair away from her ear and neck to dive down and nuzzle his face there.

“You fill me up so good, Eddie, oh my god.” She gasped as he propped himself up on his hands, gazing into her eyes as he started moving, her pussy gripping him so tight it’s hard for him to pull out and push back in. “Holy shit, do—is that good? Is that good for you?” He asked in quiet awe at the sensation they created together, in and out, in and out.

“Yeah— yeah, it is.” She said, fighting against the ecstasy she was slipping into to keep her eyes open. As Eddie worked his first few thrusts, he took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together like they had many times that night, though Y/n was expecting him to hold her wrists above her head like she’s used to, but no. Eddie rested their joined hands next to her head and smoothed her hair affectionately.

“You’re such a pretty girl, y’feel so good on my cock...” He said in awe as he picked up the pace and sent a jolt to her throbbing core when he pinched and rolled her nipple in his other hand. Y/n let out a groan at the feeling, the sound only encouraging Eddie to do what he’d been dreaming of since the moment she took off her jacket in the bar.

Eddie smirked at her anguish, the sparkle in his eye only confirming the mischief he emanated. “You want me to take my time with you?” He panted, slipping his hand in between them and finding her clit, spreading their wetness over it before slowly circling it, knowing exactly how desperate she was to cum.

“No-No, no…please, no. I n-need you to go faster Eddie, I don’t want you to stop til you cum—“ without hesitation, Eddie adjusted his grip on her leg and pressed down on her clit, enough to scratch that unbearable itch that antagonized her deep in her nerves. “Holy shit, Eddie! Oh my god, keep going, yes!” Her back arched off the floor, her chin jutted upwards exposing her neck, which Eddie took advantage of and served up heated kisses all around her throat as she cried out.

“ ‘m close, Eddie, you’re so good, so fucking good!” She mumbled her eyes heavy and eyebrows scrunched in distress, her hand roamed his body with reckless abandon, giving feather light touches across his neck and shoulders then sinking her nails down his back and grabbing his hip as he slammed into her hot cunt.

“Oh, baby,” he groaned, moving a hand from her chest to her throat while still holding her other hand tenderly next to them. “ ‘s this okay?” He whispered, keeping a light hold on her neck until she answered.

“Yeah..” She whispered pathetically, bringing her free hand on top of his and closing his grip around it the way she liked, just enough to get a little dizzy on top of the beer buzz, then moaning into his touch as she rocked against him the best she could while the sounds of skin slapping skin resounded between them. Eddie looked down at where they connected, unable to get enough of the sight of his cock burrowing inside of her.

“I want you to cum, baby, I wanna feel it—wanna feel you cum on my cock.”

“Lemme ride!” She insisted quietly like a secret. Eddie's eyes lit up at her enthusiasm and nodded before promptly rolling off of her, eager for her to be back in charge. He scooted himself against the back of the seat, “You want me here?” He asked as she crawled over to him. Eddie barely noticed his hands reaching out for her, but when he did she was already settling on his lap, his member standing between them as she laid a hand against his soft chest and used her other to stroke him. Eddie sighed as he circled his arms around her waist to pull her impossibly closer. “Yeah, baby, you’re perfect.” She whispered, though she didn’t mean to let it slip—the pet name or the word perfect. Eddie preened at the praise, desperate for her validation and affection.

She wasn’t usually one for pet names, or for praising her sexual partners. Up until now, sex felt transactional, and those things weren’t apart of the deal. But with Eddie the praises dropped from her lips effortlessly, and most times involuntarily.

Her hands found his hair, lightly raking her nails on his scalp which made him lean into her. Eddie felt like he hadn’t kissed her lips in years when she pressed hers to his in a thirsting kiss, chasing after his tongue with hers. They moaned into each other as she sat back down on his dick, not wasting any time in setting her quick pace.

Eddie's jaw dropped at the feeling, the warm, wet, silky tunnel that squeezed him so unmercifully he could hardly catch his breath, though he didn’t care because he was too busy bathing in her ecstasy. “Ohh, fuck me..” he groaned against her lips as she exclaimed in delight.

She pulled back from him, her hands holding his cheeks tenderly before dropping to his shoulders for more leverage. Eddie’s hands slithered down to her hips, focusing on the softness of her skin under his hands as he squeezed and squished. “Ohh, my god, angel.. I-I don’t know how much more I can take, I need you to cum, baby, can you? Can you come for me?” He pleaded softly and felt her tighten at his words, “Oh, you like it? You like it when I talk to you?” He tested, feeling her squeeze again and watching her bite her lip as she nodded, slowing her bounces to a roll, not wanting to leave this bubble of pure pleasure just yet.

Eddie moved his hands from her hips to her breasts, pinching both of her nipples in his fingers while he bucked his hips up against her. “Your body is so fun to play with, sweetheart.” He gazed into her sparkling eyes and then her mouth while waiting desperately for his kiss, moaned at the comment. “You think I’ll make you cum?” He asked, his low and gravelly tone masking his insecurity. Should she have finished by now? Maybe made more noises?

“Yeah, yeah—you’re doing so good!” She whispered eagerly before picking up her pace and kissing him passionately. They kissed until the sensation was too much, the electricity brewing within them lighting their cores on fire as they chased their orgasms together. Their noises were involuntary at this point, though listening to one another grunt and moan drove them further to the edge at a blinding speed.

“Eddie! Eddie, are you gonna cum with me?” She asked his lips desperately, now holding back from her climax til he could answer her. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, cum! Cum, baby, cum! Cum on my dick and I’ll cum for you.” He rambled like a madman, like an addict without a fix. He had no idea that this was just the first taste, that this was only the beginning.

His words wrapped her in a wonderful haze, everything was only Eddie. “Please, baby, let me make you cum. Let me take care of you.” He panted into her ear as he kissed and nibbled her neck just under it. “Oh, fuck!” She cried out, her core tensed before the white hot pleasure melted over her body, head to toe. “Eddie, I’m cumming! Cum with me, cum with me!” She pleaded, too busy basking in euphoria to feel pathetic. She grabbed at the back of his neck with both hands, engulfing his lips with hers.

Her sounds, her kiss, the walls of her pussy clenching around him—it was all too much. He cried out as his cock spasmed inside of her, rutting up into her roughly as he lived in her warmth and and rode out the rush that eventually faded right before she went limp on top of him.

They both fought to catch their breath, settling into one another in a new way. Y/n blinked hard, noticing how her arms and legs wrapped around him to keep close, and how he wrapped his arms around her waist for the same. The embrace was comforting, like a warm hug from someone you love after a long day—it felt like home.

She typically knew where to go from here, opting to throw her clothes back on and send the guy a ‘see you later!’ before going home and forgetting their name within a couple days. But with Eddie, she found herself reluctant to leave. Instead, she stayed in this little space for now; her lips grazing the soft pale skin of his shoulder, his heavy pants against hers. Her fingers buried in the back of his curls frizzy from the humidity they produced and tickling the side of her face, though it wasn’t unbearable. She felt like she could breathe deeper with his arms squeezing around her middle as if she were his teddy bear.

“God, you were amazing, angel.” He whispered to her with a smile, stroking the length of her back lovingly and curling his other fingers in her hair, trying to learn her body the way he craved. He wanted to remember exactly how it all felt—how she felt and made him feel.

She turned her head to look at him, lightly stroking the side of his face with her fingers and smiling softly, saddened at the prospect of leaving without any intention of seeing him again—though she wanted to deeply.

Y/n pulled him in for another kiss, this one much slower as she tried to memorize him. Her mind went warm and fuzzy as they set the passionate pace, each movement she made followed by ‘Last one… another one, just one more..’ until she felt Eddie adjust them to lay backwards and begin to roll on top of her, his cock hardening again already.

“Eddie,” She panted into him as he fixed his grip on her legs, pushing her knees back and pulling a sigh from her as he continued to kiss her swollen lips. “Eddie,” she groaned as he kissed her neck again, lightly tilting her chin back with his hand and making her melt into his touch.

“I’m not afraid to stay here with you all night, baby, just tell me what you want…” He whispered, stroking the side of her neck with his thumb as he spoke into her ear.

“I-I have to go, Eddie, I’m sorry.” She managed, pushing some hair away from his face. His eyes widened at her words, caught off guard. “Oh, I’m sorry! Was I keeping you?” He sat upright, grabbing her clothes for her and handing them over before picking up his own and stripping off the condom and tying it off to be dealt with later.

“No, no, you’re fine—great, even!” She scrambled to yank on her pants, ignoring the amused smirk that sat on Eddie’s face as he tugged his own black denim over his boxers and admired her as if he’d never had her before.

She threw on her bra and leaned over to adjust her breasts in the cups, pulling a soft gasp from Eddie—he had no idea watching a girl get dressed was just as fun as watching her get undressed. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she made eye contact with him, sending him a sly smile and wink as she prepared to tug her shirt over her head.

Eddie grabbed her shoes and set them in front of her, spotting his pack of cigarettes by the rest of his clothes and grabbing one out to light as she tied her laces. He noticed the windows were fogged and he smiled around the filter while he puffed.

Though he’d watched her dress, he turned one more time to make sure she was decent before opening up the back doors to the van, the cool night air drifting in and tickling the moisture that collected at their hairlines during the fun.

“So, uh, I-I had a really good time with you tonight.” He fumbled, quickly placing his cigarette back in his mouth after he’d spoken. Y/n smiled at his nervousness and nodded in agreement. “Me too, it’s uh, it’s been a while since it’s been that good for me—with another person, you know?” She said candidly, inwardly shocked she was able to muster up the confidence to share that.

Eddies eyes widened at the information, a hopeful leap in his chest told him that sex made her open up—made her feel close. He nodded in response, removing the cigarette and exhaling. “Y-Yeah, yeah, for sure. I, uh, don’t have many one night stands, but, uh, I can say for sure that it hasn’t been like that before.” He nodded, then realized he said one night stand. His face turned to hers quickly, the alarm apparent in his eyes.

She must’ve noticed his panic, leaning in to place a quick peck on his lips before nicking his cigarette and taking a drag. He chuckled softly as she hopped out of the back and stood in front of him between his legs, retrieving her jacket and shrugging it over her shoulders, fixing her hair in the process. He placed patient hands on her waist, letting her smoke as much as she wanted to if it meant she stayed with him longer.

“When can I see you again?” He asked hopefully.

Y/n giggled, handing him the cigarette back, which he accepted reluctantly. “That’s not very ‘one night stand’ of you, is it, Eddie?” She teased, testing if his big brown eyes deflated in hope a little, though really it looked like it took the air from him.

“How about…” she trailed off and averted her eyes to the ground, searching for a reason to see him again that isn’t more than what it can be. She shouldn’t even be entertaining the idea of seeing him again, let alone wishing she could stay the night. He felt so familiar.

Eddie searched for her gaze with his, successfully pulling her eyes back on him. “How about, I come see Corroded Coffin again? You said you play here often— how often?” She asked, putting her arms on his shoulders and grinning when his hands found her arms and rubbed them softly as he nodded. “We play again next friday.” He smiled.

She nodded at him thoughtfully, not fully present but stuck in the corner of her mind that told her she was being indulgent, that leaving Danny once a month to go out with her friends was selfish as it is, not to mention sleeping with strangers just to feel something, to feel reckless as safely as possible, to feel her age— was too much. She wasn’t supposed to do things people her age did, she was a mother, and she sure as hell wasn’t supposed to feel this with someone else, the way it only felt with—

“I’ll see you next Friday.” She nodded decidedly, turning on her heel and beginning her walk to the front of the building, though Eddie caught up quickly to catch her arm before she could get any further. “Wait, wait, wait, one more?” He asked, taking a hopeful lip waiting between his teeth as he held her close.

Y/n couldn’t help but giggle at him before taking his face in her hands and laying a deep kiss to his lips, relishing the butterflies that fluttered relentlessly in her stomach when his hands slipped around her body one last time, pulling back slowly and hesitating before disconnecting their bodies. Eddie quickly took her face in his, sprinkling kisses all over her face, “Thank you, sweet girl.” He said as she giggled.

“Lemme walk you inside?” He asked like a sweet freshman boy at the end of his first date. Y/n sighed, self hatred spreading through her mind like a disease as she nodded with a smile. Eddie grinned and darted back to the van to retrieve his shirt and pull it over his head on his way back, holding out an expectant hand for her that made her heart both flutter and sink, somehow.

The only noise between them on their walk was the crunch of gravel beneath their shoes and the sounds of the night in summertime. Eddie swung their hands between them, a smile tugging at his lips as he tried to stay forward facing.

He opened the door of the bar, looking her over once more and halting her to fix her jacket collar with a focused tongue between his lips before allowing her to continue and opening the door again.

Their groups were a little drunker than they left them, talking amongst themselves and producing boisterous laughter as they walked in. “Ohh ho, look who it is!” Gareth bellowed, pointing a finger at his friend who looked so proud under his blush.

Y/n’s friends looked at her hand intertwined with Eddie’s, sending her taunting looks that said ‘we are definitely talking about this later’ and bit back chuckles unsuccessfully. She looked at her best friend Stella, who took a nonchalant sip to cover her smirk while obviously averting eye contact.

“W-We gotta go, friends!” Y/n tapped her always watchless wrist, not wanting to keep her sitter waiting forever. The girls nodded in silent understanding, always aware of the curfew she kept for herself, and stood to collect their things and pay their tabs.

The members of Corroded Coffin looked at Eddie with sparkling and expectant eyes, ready to hear about the details as soon as the ladies left the premises. Eddie had recounted his sexcapades to his friends in the past, the storyteller in him going off on all the details—both educating them and giving them material for the spank bank.

But this time he wanted to hold onto it for himself—this girl was special and she made him feel special. Something about her essence was addicting, not to mention her face was the best one he’d ever seen.

“I’ll, uh, see you later, Eddie.” She mumbled to him, easing her hand out of his. “Looking forward to it.” He smiled softly, watching her go until the others were leaving out the doors. Sabrina hung behind and looked him over as if she were sizing him up, followed with a curt nod before disappearing out the doors.

Eddie let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding as the boys applauded. “I must say, I am very impressed, my friend. I can’t believe you got her back to your van so fast, wow.” Gareth speculated drunkenly to Eddie’s annoyance.

“Don’t talk about her that way. That doesn’t mean anything, girls can do whatever they want, especially if it benefits me. I would’ve taken her back to my place if she hadn’t had some curfew to beat or something. Besides, she’s coming back next week.” He said, turning a chair around backwards and straddling it while picking up a beer from the table and taking a sip. “Whoa, you have another date?” Jeff gaped. “A curfew?” Gareth asked with disbelief.

Eddie rolled his eyes, “This wasn’t a date, we just met—and I don’t know if you’d even call it a date, it’ll probably just be a repeat of tonight, and so what Emerson, like your mom isn’t on your ass about being home by 2am even if you’re a big boy now.” Eddie jeered, Gareth rolling his eyes. “Alright, say she does come back and you guys go round two, then what?” Grant asked.

Eddie paused, pursing his lips for a moment as the boys leaned forward in anticipation. “I’m following her lead so… guess I’ll know next week.” He shrugged.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

On an excruciating car ride home, while receiving the third degree from her friends as they howled out mocking cries of ‘Eddie! Oh god, give it to me’ and ‘And you were holding HANDS! What was that all about??’ Y/n did her best to defend her time with Eddie without showing she liked it too much.

“H-He’s really sweet, alright?” Y/n shrugged their taunts off, turning her attention to the radio and puffing on her last cigarette of the night—cause she was trying to cut back. “Did you see the way he looked at her though??” Mollie shrieked from the back seat, her eyes wide in amazement. Stella laughed from the steering wheel, “Like a lovesick puppy!” She agreed. Y/n blushed and rolled her eyes, “Yeah, well, dudes do that sometimes.” She countered, mostly to convince herself.

“Okay, but— the way he didn’t wanna let go of your hand? C’mon. You’ve gotta give the poor guy a chance.” Mollie nudged her shoulder, earning a weak push back from Y/n who scoffed, “Well you’re about to be so pleased.” She smirked behind her cigarette as the whole car hushed, “Wait a damn minute, are you going out? Did he ask? Did you say yes?” Mollie freaked.

“Hey, hey, hey, slow down, Molls, I only told him we’d come back next Friday to listen to the band again.” She shrugged again, the silence already annoying.

“Oh, my GOD.” Stella exclaimed, “You do like him.” Stella argued, “Do not! Not like that.” Y/n shot back.

Everyone in the car collectively eyerolled and groaned, “How do you not? You don’t go to bars more than once a month and suddenly you wanna come back to this one next week just cause he’s, what, fun? You have plenty of fun, we all know it! And you should! But what’s so wrong with liking him? You’re allowed to love people, Y/n/n.” Stella urged while keeping her eyes on the road.

Y/n couldn’t look at any of her friends, either, unable to come up with another reason to see Eddie— one that didn’t involve her budding feelings for him, or at least the way he made her feel.

“C’mon, play pretend for a minute and tell me all the things about Eddie that made you fluttery inside.” Stella suggested, Kathy and Mollie nonchalantly leaning in to listen. Y/n sighed to the stars out the open car window, pausing before she chose to respond.

“…if I did like Eddie… it’d be because he talked to me, like actually talked to me.. It’d be because he didn’t make me feel like a piece of meat when he bought me the drink—it never felt like he expected anything in return…He never made me feel like sex was something I had to do, up until the last moment he was always asking as if I’d change my mind..

And when I told him I wanted to he told me he’d take me anywhere, to his house, to his car—if I asked him to get a motel room I bet he would. That guy makes me feel like he’d do anything I asked and it’s weird. No, not weird—scary. I can’t tell if it’s real or not, and if it is, isn’t that scarier? I’m not ready for that kind of commitment, and what if I hurt a good guy? Not to mention Danny. No 20 something year old dude is going to want someone else’s three year old boy hanging around—making me flake on dates, pitching fits when he is around, it’s just the facts. I’m not ready.” She cased.

Silence fell over the car as they pulled into Y/n’s driveway. “Y’know, you made some really good points, Y/n.” Stella said, putting the car in park. Mollie and Kathy looked at Stella in disbelief, “She did?”

“I mean, yeah, it’s every reason anyone ever decided against taking their chance on love. I just thought she’d have better reasons, or better yet; I thought she’d be braver than all of those things.” Stella shrugged, her words catching Y/n’s attention like rubbing alcohol on a scrape.

“I mean, c’mon, man, you did the whole ‘against-the-odds-teen-parent’ thing, and you’re rocking that shit, I might add.” She pointed at the young mother from across the console who blushed at the compliment and rolled her eyes trying to feign annoyance, though the girls knew how awful she was at handling praise.

“I never thought you’d be so afraid of love, man. Adam would want you to be happy, he’d want Danny to grow up with a good guy in his life!”

“Well, Adam’s not here.” Y/n bit back, the annoying prickly stinging at her eyes clouding her pride as she regretted her words. Stella hesitated before she reached out for her friend's shoulder. “I know. I know he isn’t,” Stella sighed, “But tell me I’m wrong, Y/n/n.”

Y/n looked at Stella and then Mollie and Kathy who sat patiently in the back and sighed, their eyes engaged on the conversation with quiet care. “I can’t.” She mumbled, unbuckling her seatbelt.

“Just think about it! You don’t have to have it all figured out yet.” She nodded encouragingly.

Y/n glanced at the front door and the porch light buzzed as moths darted all around it, mesmerized and unsatisfied. She stepped out of the vehicle and shut the door, leaning down to the open window. “Are we good to go for next Friday or am I going alone?” She asked, hoping she didn’t sound desperate.

The friends looked between each other and giggled, “We wouldn’t miss it. But you’re talking him into buying us a round before you ditch us, again!” Mollie jeered and stuck her tongue out. Y/n rolled her eyes playfully and tapped the window sill twice, “I gotta get in there. I love you guys. Drive safe! Gimme a call when you’re home.” She looked at all of them pointedly and jogged up the steps to her house.

She slipped through the door quietly, hanging her keys on the hook and stepping through to the living room.

“Hey! How was it?” Robin Buckley chirped softly from the recliner, setting down the remote as she stood. “It was.. needed!” She smiled. “How’d Danny boy do?” She asked, nodding towards the toddler’s room. “Great, as usual. You gotta stop worrying,we have a whole routine now! We watched the ninja turtles, played some pirates, skipped out on bath time, cause—you know,” she rolled her eyes and shrugged, referring to Danny’s problems with the water, “We ordered pizza for dinner; when I asked him what kind he looked me dead in the eyes and said ‘I eat all the pizza.” She laughed, giving her best impression of Danny’s small voice.

Y/n grinned softly, “How was he with bedtime?” She scanned the living room and through the kitchen door, looking for any stray toys or food that needed to be picked up.

“We read Green Eggs and Ham-“

“Again?” Y/n asked exasperatedly, a smile of disbelief hung on her face. Robin chuckled as she moved to the door to grab her jacket. “Three times, actually, that boy needs all the proper voices, apparently.” Robin rolled her eyes and shrugged at the boy's antics.

“Ahh, of course the voices, how could I forget?” Y/n joked, recalling all the nights Danny insists on turning back to the pages that weren’t properly read. “Someday I’ll get them right, you watch!” Robin insisted as she quietly unhooked her keys from beside the door, opening the large black door slowly.

“Wait, Robin!” She called fumbling for her purse to hand the sitter a few bills.

“Uh-uh. Nope. Nice try though! I don’t want money to watch my nephew, I’m just glad you guys finally moved closer so I can spend more time with you guys!” She said, with a genuine smile. Y/n sighed and looked at her with her head cocked, knowing that Robin shared Adam’s stubbornness, always doing for others without wanting anything in return—both a best friend to everyone around them.

“You’re too much alike.” Y/n scoffed, shoving the bills in her purse, making a mental note to slip it in her backpack or jacket sometime when she wasn't looking. Robin smiled bitterly, thinking of her late cousin—who was more like a brother. Adam spent a lot of time growing up staying at his Aunt Ginger’s house, growing close with Robin as the years passed.

When Y/n and Adam hit high school and made their love official, Robin quickly became one of Y/n’s closest friends. From the moment Danny was placed in Robin’s arms, she made a promise to herself and to her cousin that she would help his little boy live the happiest life as much as she could contribute.

“I’m happy to help! Really, don’t ever hesitate to call. He’s my best friend! Except for maybe Steve, but Danny’s way better to talk to,” Robin jokes, stepping out onto the porch when an idea hits her, “Maybe next time you can drop Danny at mine and moms for a sleepover and you can bring someone home for once.” She nodded encouragingly, yet another person in Y/n’s life vying for her to give love another chance.

Y/n scoffed and went to close the door with an eye roll when Robin stuck her boot in the door. “Y/n, I’m serious. Think about it, that’s all I’m saying.” She shrugged one shoulder and looked at the ground briefly. Y/n sighed, “Why would I wanna bring some rando home with me—Where my kid lives?”

Robin’s eyes grew heavy with good intentions, “I don’t mean a rando, Y/n! Would it be so bad to try? I know you said you will when you’re ready but—“

“And I will let you know when that day comes, Robs, I promise. And I’ll keep your offer in mind. I know Danny would love to see Gigi and eat monkey bread all evening.” She chuckled and rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance, sending Robin a smile.

Robin nodded, a content smile on her lips as she turned to leave but abruptly stopped and turned back,“I have to ask.. any luck tonight?” She asked mischievously. Y/n gaped and turned red, embarrassed at the amount of people involved in the details of her sex life.

“Wh-Robin! I-Why—how?”

“Oh my god, you so did. I thought you looked slightly disheveled when you walked in! Anyone I’d know?” She asked eagerly, as Y/n turned her by the shoulders out the door. “I hope not, see you later Robin, let me know when you get home, loveyoubyee!” She flipped on the porch light and shut and locked the door as Robin howled with laughter from the porch. “I’ll remember this, Y/n/n!”

Y/n kicked off her shoes, taking in the quietness of the house at night—her sanctuary. She walked to her bedroom, pausing to stick her head inside her son's room, his sleeping head just visible over the mound of blankets he insisted on having with him at night. She moved inside stealthily and moved the blankets further away from his face, her mom heart still cautious after two years of peaceful nights.

She continued to her room at the end of the hall, unbuttoning her pants and kicking them off by the door on her way to her bathroom at the other side of the closet. Carefully rubbing the ruined mascara around her eye, she turned on the water to shower.

As she sat down against the tub and stripped her shirt off, her time with Eddie flashed through her mind—remembering how his hands felt around her waist when she last took off her clothes; warm and rough.

The way his voice sounded when his breath panted against hers; warm and rough.

The way his kiss felt working against hers; warm and rough. She could almost feel their tongues in tandem; sometimes visible between them, others tucked away inside each other’s mouths like a home. She missed the way he tasted.

The way his eyes bore into hers like she was all he ever wished for, so intently. So warm and rough.

She shook the thoughts from her head, guilt shrouding her like the world's heaviest quilt. Crying often occurred after sex, though it was typically short lived because she was able to talk herself through it, assuring herself that she wasn’t betraying him, or trying to replace what they had. But this time felt different.

It started off as a sigh, though another deep breath was needed, which turned into quiet sobs. ‘Breathe deeply, don’t hyperventilate.’ She reminded herself, trying to switch off her brain for a minute and let herself cry.

‘He made me feel like he used to.’

‘He made me feel like I was doing everything right while I felt I was doing something so wrong.’

‘I am a single woman doing single woman things, it shouldn’t be this hard.’

‘Even if I gave him a chance he wouldn’t want someone else’s kid.’

‘No one gets serious with a single mom.’

‘He looked at me like I was everything to him.’

‘It all came so easily; the conversation, the sex, it was like magic.’

‘It’s too good to be true is what it is.’

As the thoughts rolled deeper and deeper, she wiped her face and picked herself up off the floor and into the shower. As soon as the steam cleared her senses, she could properly smell her hair; the smokey scent of the bar along with.. Eddie’s cologne.

Her tears halted, picking up a large chunk of her hair and bringing it to her nose to revel in him one more time before she had to wash him away. She tried to focus on the sounds around her and the feeling of the cold soap hitting her hands before working it in her palms and scrubbing her hair, but the safe warm feelings Eddie brought her lingered.

After accepting the calls from Stella and Robin, confirming their safety, Y/n peeled back the covers of her too big bed and slipped inside, positioning her pillows around herself to throw a leg and arm over.

She wondered what it would’ve been like for him to throw a blanket over the two of them, settle into his chest, plant kisses there and trace his beautiful face, holding him exactly like this, kissing him some more, asking him more questions about his life..

But of course, those weren’t possibilities because toddlers come before boys, always. But it didn’t mean she couldn’t think about it.

And think about it she did, until she couldn’t hold her eyes open anymore, drifting off to dream about his curly hair fanned out around him on her pillow, his hands intertwined with hers, and his smiling cheeks accepting her doting kisses.

Part 2?

@took-me-hours-to-steal-those

@samlealea