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corroded-hellfire · 2 years ago

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Where The Heart Is, Part 3 - Eddie Munson x Reader

Summary: Christmas is getting closer, and your and Eddie’s relationship only grows stronger as you prepare for and enjoy the festivities together. You can read part two here!

Note: Merry Christmas! I would just like to apologize for any more errors than normal because I tried to rush this to be done by Christmas lol.

Warnings: underage drinking, smut, oral m!receiving

Words: 17.4k

[Where the Heart Is masterlist]

Wayne has to know what’s going on. There’s no way he could not know, with the way the two of you are constantly touching one another, giggling at whispered words, and the ever-present grins that have never come off your faces. He’s not a dumb man, and he knows what’s going on in that small back bedroom in his trailer. He also knows that Eddie’s a smart kid and that there’s a box of condoms in the bedside table right where Wayne told him to keep it.

And though Wayne hasn’t known you long, he can tell you’re a smart kid, too. The way you make Eddie smile is all he ever wished for his nephew. Wayne’s a proud uncle and knows he brought the boy up right when he sees him open doors for you, compliment you until you’re red in the face, or makes sure that you know you’re welcome in their home and to help yourself to anything. Wayne likes you. And he can see that Eddie clearly more than likes you.

One evening before Wayne has to head out to work, you and Eddie come in the front door, shopping bags in hand - Eddie being the gentleman and carrying most of them, of course - both with rosy cheeks from the winter air, laughing as you have some silly debate.

Wayne swears he’s never seen so many Christmas decorations before as you and Eddie unload them from the bags. There’s candy cane striped garland, snowman salt and pepper shakers, nutcrackers dressed in toy soldier attire, angel candle holders, snowflakes hanging from strings to be hung in the window, and even a small porcelain nativity set that sits perfectly on the counter. Wayne’s sure he’s never seen a more beautiful decoration in his life as he admires the mini baby Jesus asleep on the fragile yellow painted hay. He knows that when he comes home from work, the trailer will be a winter wonderland.

But Wayne hadn’t even seen the ornaments that the two of you had purchased. There were baubles in bright reds, purples, and pinks. Little golden bells, smiling elves, even an adorable tiny kitten wearing a Santa hat that you just needed to buy. The ornaments would stay in the bag for now though, since you hadn’t gotten the tree yet.

Since the dark of night came so early in the winter, putting lights up outside would have to wait until tomorrow, so you two would actually be able to see what you’re doing.

It was the end of a fun, cold day that you’d spent with Eddie.

“Hot chocolate?” Eddie asks.

“Mm, yes please,” you hum. As Eddie prepares the drinks, you walk over to the window and look out at the dark evening. If the orange streetlights weren’t so bright, you’d be able to see the stars since there wasn’t a single cloud above.

The hot chocolate is hot and comforting as you sip it while in Eddie’s arms on the couch. He sips on his own, coming away with a chocolate mustache each time. There’s no television, no music, just the two of you sitting in a cozy bubble, enjoying your drinks and each other’s company. Once the drinks are finished however, you two enjoy each other's company in a different, more naked way.

In the morning, once you’d thoroughly wrecked each other once again, you take a shower - together, to save water Eddie claims. But you can’t fault him for his idea while the hot water streams down your back and Eddie leaves scorching kisses on your lips and neck.

Finally putting clothes on that you intend to keep on for a while, you bundle up to face the bitter air outside. There’s a light dusting of snow on the ground as you and Eddie head outside, arms full of light strands. You untangle the mess of extension cords while Eddie drags out the ladder from behind the trailer. It’s tall enough to get Eddie on the roof, which was the goal. Carefully holding the handle of the staple gun in his mouth, Eddie climbs up, a string of lights hoisted on his shoulder.

Eddie’s been on the roof of the trailer many times in his life. Once even resulting in a broken arm. So he knows the perfect spot to start hanging the lights. You watch him work as your fingers move through the tangled wires. Bundled up in his leather jacket, boots, black jeans, the red scarf you insisted on buying him, and his adorable black beanie, he’s just about the most precious thing you’ve ever seen. As he gets down on his knees, ready to staple the strand of lights into place, his tongue pokes out of his mouth in concentration. It makes you giggle softly to yourself.

Eddie continues with the strands along the roof and you start connecting the plugs to everything once the cord situation is handled. By the time you’re both done, lights are hanging off the top of the trailer, framing the front door, and wrapping around the railings on the porch steps. A triumphant smile comes to your lips as you look at the cozy trailer all festive. Eddie wraps his arm around your shoulders as he takes in the view, too.

“Can't tell ya the last time this place had Christmas lights on it,” Eddie says, eyes still roaming around.

“Why?” you ask.

Eddie shrugs.

“Never seemed to matter. Christmas was never a big thing for us. Wayne and I get each other a present, exchange them, then the rest of the day goes about the same as any other day.”

“No Christmas dinner?” you ask.

“Sometimes,” he says. “It depended on Wayne’s schedule. We’d eat fish if he was home.”

“Fish?” you ask, nose wrinkling.

“Mhmm,” he affirms. “My grandmother - my dad and Wayne’s mom - was very Italian. It’s an Italian tradition to have the Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. But it became mine and Wayne’s tradition to take one of his catches from the lake and cook it up for Christmas dinner.”

“That’s sweet,” you tell him, snaking your arms around his middle.

“What about you?” he asks. “How do you decorate your apartment?”

“Can’t put up lights outside, unfortunately, but I always get a nice wreath for our door.”

“Like that one.” Eddie nods to the pine wreath woven with red ribbon that’s hanging on the front door of the trailer. Another one of your purchases yesterday.

“Yeah, usually something like that. Then we’d have the tree in the living room, but that’s about it. I’d put up lights in my room, though. I’d hang them all around, watching them blink and twinkle as I fell asleep.”

“What about your Christmas dinners?” he asks.

“When I was little, they were pretty perfect. Four of us around the table in our house in the cutest suburb. There’d be chicken and mashed potatoes, and I always insisted on biscuits. But after Dad died, sis left, it was just me and mom in the tiny apartment. Christmas dinners became meatloaf if I could scrounge up enough ingredients around the kitchen. If I couldn’t? Maybe canned soup if there was any.”

Eddie presses kisses to the top of your head and opens his mouth to speak, when he’s cut off by a shout from behind you.

“Looking to connect with someone, Munson?”

Over your shoulder, you see Max bundled up in a hoodie, coming your way.

“What?” Eddie asks her as she comes to stand behind you.

“The lights,” she says, nodding her head at them. “Gonna talk with someone?”

Your brow is pinched in confusion until you remember what Nancy told you about Will communicating through the lights when he was in the Upside Down.

“No, just being festive, brat,” Eddie says.

“Hey,” Max says to you, a small smile on her face.

“Nice to see you again,” you tell her.

“You too. You here for Christmas?”

“I’m here until school starts back up again in January.”

“Really? That’s awesome.” Max looks genuinely happy that you’ll be around, and it warms your heart. “I can always hang out with you when Van Halen over here has to work.”

Eddie rolls his eyes and drops his arm from your shoulders.

“That sounds great to me,” you say and Eddie scoffs.

“She’s a horrible influence,” Eddie says, gesturing to Max. The redhead doesn’t deny it, just shrugs her shoulders.

“I think I’ll be okay,” you tell your boyfriend, patting him on the shoulder.

Late that afternoon, Eddie drives the two of you up to the tree farm, where families stroll through the rows of pines, trying to find the one that’s just right for their home. Hand in hand with Eddie, the two of you take your time walking around the small space. The scent of pine is overloading your senses and you think you’ll be able to smell it for a month after you leave this place.

The perfect tree for the Munson home is found in the back corner. It’s tucked away, two bigger pines trying to hide it from view. But Eddie catches sight of it first. He tugs you in the direction and reluctantly drops your hand so he can move offending brushes out of the way. The tree is the perfect size for the trailer. It’s full, needles dark and green. An employee helps you both load the tree onto the top of Eddie’s van and tie it down for the drive. You give the rope one more tug for good measure before you slip into the passenger seat.

The first mini argument you and Eddie have starts when you’re trying to set the tree up in the living room.

“No, the water goes there.”

“Babe, can you hold this or what? It’s going to fall on me.”

“I already said that! Twice!”

“It goes like this. Yes, I’m positive.”

There’s a part of you that likes squabbling back and forth with Eddie like this. It makes it feel like a real relationship, where you feel comfortable enough to express your thoughts and opinions without fear the other person will just leave you high and dry. You know you can have these silly little arguments with Eddie, but at the end of the day, he’s still yours. It’s a beautiful feeling, you’re just not used to experiencing it.

It’s decided that no decorations will go on the tree until tomorrow. That would give Wayne the chance to see it in all its natural glory, plus it’s getting late and Eddie wants to get you in his room. Now.

When you wake in Eddie’s arms the next morning, you can hear Wayne is already home, moving around out in the living room. One look at Eddie’s adorable sleeping face you can’t bring yourself to wake him. Doing your best not to move him too much, you carefully lift Eddie’s arm and place it down on his chest. You slip off the bed and tug on a pair of your boyfriend’s sweatpants and a Black Sabbath sweatshirt. The bedroom door hinges squeak as you open it, so you carefully close it behind you so you don’t wake the sleepy boy.

Wayne greets you with a smile as he sees you come into the living room.

“Mornin’ doll,” he says. “What’s got you up so early?”

You shrug as you pad into the kitchen to pour yourself a glass of water.

“Dunno,” you say. “You hungry? I could make pancakes.”

“Nah, you don’t have to do that,” Wayne says, waving a hand.

“I don’t mind,” you tell him with a smile. “I like to cook.”

Eddie opens his eyes to a cold, empty bed and frowns to himself. He thinks maybe you’ve gotten up to use the bathroom so he closes his eyes to wait for you. But when he hears your familiar giggle coming from out in the living room, he opens his eyes again and smiles to himself. He gets out of bed and is about to open the door to the hall when he remembers the only thing he’s wearing is his boxers. When he sees his Black Sabbath sweatshirt is no longer laying over his stereo, he rolls his eyes to himself, but there’s a fond smile on his lips as he thinks about you wearing it. Pulling on an old Hellfire shirt and a pair of sweatpants from his many piles of clothes around the room, he heads out into the hall and can tell by the buttery scent in the air that you’re in the kitchen.

“No, it’s true!” you’re saying as Eddie steps into the kitchen. You let out a squeal in surprise as Eddie swoops in, wrapping his arms around you from behind and hugging you close to his body. He places a big kiss on your cheek with a loud mwah!

“What’s true?” he asks you, sliding his hands down to your hips.

“Wayne doesn’t believe that you picked out the tree,” you say, gesturing to the Christmas tree in the corner with your batter-covered spatula.

“You usually come back with a sad looking thing,” Wayne says in his defense.

Eddie turns to his uncle who’s leaning against the other side of the counter. Even as he turns, your boyfriend manages to keep one hand on your hip.

“I have impeccable taste, thank you very much,” Eddie says.

“Before, I woulda said that was questionable,” Wayne says. “But you picked a winner as your girlfriend, so maybe you’re right.”

You beam in pride as Eddie turns back to you, resting his chin on your shoulder.

“What’s the best girlfriend making, hmm?” he asks.

“Pancakes.” You reach up and wipe a bit of flour on the tip of Eddie’s nose. His tongue comes out of his mouth and tries to lick it off, but as talented as his tongue is, it’s just not long enough.

“You really are the best.” Eddie’s tempted to give your ass a playful smack, but he remembers his uncle is standing right behind him so he only kisses your shoulder before stepping back. He uses the sleeve of his sweatshirt to wipe his nose clean and walks around the corner to stand next to Wayne, giving you space in the kitchen.

“You kids got any plans today?” Wayne asks.

Nothing you need to know about, Eddie thinks to himself.

“Don’t think so,” is what Eddie says aloud. He looks at you to double check and you shake your head to say you don’t think so either.

“What’s up?” Eddie asks.

“Well, this lady at work, Abigail, has this booth at a Christmas fair. Was thinking it might be fun.”

“Aw, that sounds nice,” you say, using the spatula to stack the pancakes on a plate.

“A lady at work?” Eddie asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Yep,” Wayne says, not looking at Eddie as he accepts a plateful of pancakes from you. “Thanks, darlin’.”

You slide a plate over the counter to Eddie, who blows you a kiss as he accepts them. Picking up the bottle of syrup and your own plate, you walk around and perch yourself on Eddie’s lap. He wraps an arm around your waist as he eats with one hand. It takes him a bit longer, but it’s worth it to hold on to you.

“These are delicious,” Wayne says between bites.

Eddie hums in agreement as she shoves half a pancake in his mouth at once.

The Christmas fair is in downtown Hawkins, and the entirety of Main Street is set up with booths, stalls, and tables selling an assortment of goodies. There are baked goods for sale, making the air smell sweet and delicious as you walk, fingers laced, with Eddie. Wayne walks on the other side of Eddie, his eyes scanning the owners of the booths as you pass, making you think Eddie might’ve been on the right track with his teasing before.

Wayne buys the three of you hot chocolate when the wind picks up and starts to whip around the street. Eddie’s bundled up in his leather jacket and you smile at seeing the red scarf you bought him around his neck again. You’d slipped your own jacket over Eddie’s Black Sabbath sweatshirt, having refused to take it off. Why would you want to when it kept you warm and smelled so strongly of your boyfriend?

You tug Eddie over to a few stalls, one selling handmade jewelry, one selling miniature figurines of animals, and another selling hand woven blankets and quilts. The talent showcased at each stop amazed you, unable to fathom how people could make such beautiful things with their bare hands.

The three of you are more than halfway down the street when Wayne says he’s spied the woman from work and you and Eddie follow him over to a booth where a friendly looking older woman with graying blonde hair looks over the table she’s behind, a beautiful assortment of ornaments spread out before her. Wayne clears his throat as you all approach and the woman looks up, a smile lighting her face when she sees Wayne. You and Eddie share a knowing look, sensing this crush isn’t one sided.

“Wayne, what are you doing here? I didn’t think this was your scene.”

Eddie’s uncle slips his hands into his pockets and gives a charming smile.

“Thought I’d come on by, bring the kids out for some Christmas fun,” he says. He’s silent for a moment, before apparently remembering you and Eddie are standing behind him. “Oh, this is my nephew and his girlfriend.”

She introduces herself as Abigail as you and Eddie shake her hand, introducing yourselves in return. As you look over the trinkets on the table, Eddie tugs on Wayne’s denim jacket and pulls him to the side.

“You’re not subtle,” Eddie whispers.

“What?” Wayne asks and Eddie rolls his eyes.

“Just ask her on a date.”

“Eddie, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wayne says, shaking his head.

“Oh, come on,” Eddie whines, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’ve known you as long as you’ve known me, old man. You like her. Admit it.”

Wayne rolls his neck and Eddie smirks at the obvious nerves.

“Eddie…” Wayne trails off, not really knowing what to say. “Eddie, the more I get to spend time with Abigail, the more I can leave you two alone.”

Eddie’s face lights up and he nods.

“Come on,” Eddie says, hitting Wayne lightly on the chest. “I’ll be your wingman.”

“Good Lord,” Wayne mutters as they both step back up to the table.

“These are beautiful, Abigail,” Eddie says. He wraps an arm around your shoulders as he joins you in looking over the ornaments.

“Thank you, dear.”

“Oh, hey Wayne,” Eddie says, looking over his shoulder at his uncle. “Didn’t you say you wanted a new ornament to put on the tree?”

Wayne huffs out a sigh and you bite your lip to keep from laughing. You slip out from under Eddie’s arm and back up to where Wayne is standing. Abigail picks up an ornament to show Eddie and you let out a quiet giggle as he feigns interest.

“Tell me,” Wayne whispers to you. “How did Eddie manage to pick you up if this is how he is with women?”

This time you giggle louder and have to cover your mouth with your hand.

“I have no idea,” you whisper back.

Wayne steps up to the table, asking about the ornament Abigail is showing. Eddie politely backs away and comes over to you. He sends you a wink as he wraps his arm around your hips.

“See how I work my magic?” Eddie asks.

“Oh yes, Casanova,” you answer, leading him away from the booth. “Now come on, leave them alone.”

A few more stalls down, you come to a booth that’s selling custom painted clothing and accessories.

“Oh, look at these shoes,” you say, walking over to a pair of high top converse painted with symbols of New York City. There’s the Empire State Building, taxi cabs, the Statue of Liberty, and Broadway marquees. “They’re amazing.”

“Yeah,” Eddie agrees. “They remind me of the sneakers Robin wears.”

“Well, that’s perfect,” you say, nudging his arm. “What custom painting would she like on a pair? You can give them to her as her secret Santa.”

“Shit, you’re right.” Eddie’s brow furrows as he looks at the shoes, thinking of what he should have painted on them. His face quickly turns into a smirk and you don’t know if you should be worried or happy that he’s thought of something.

“Can I help you?” The woman who runs the stall comes up to you and Eddie. He inquires about getting a pair of the shoes painted, and when the woman tells him that she’s the artist and asks what he has in mind, he asks her for some paper and pencil. You stand over Eddie’s shoulder as he sketches. Quickly, you realize what the images are and you roll your eyes, in a loving manner, at your boyfriend. You hadn’t known Eddie was so good at drawing, though. You tell him as much when you’re done at that booth, the woman saying the shoes should be ready any day and Eddie would get a call.

“I didn’t know I was dating such an artist,” you say.

“Eh, I can doodle,” Eddie says as you walk farther down the street together.

“More than doodle, babe,” you say. “That was really good.”

Eddie’s cheeks are already flushed from the cold, but you think they get even redder at your words. The two of you come to the end of the fair, so you turn back around and head in the direction of where Wayne’s truck is parked. When you walk by Abigail’s table, Eddie’s uncle is no longer there, but he’s waiting for the two of you at his truck with a small package in his hands.

“Oh boy,” Eddie says as the two of you get closer. “What did she swindle you into buying?”

Wayne frowns and gives Eddie a huff.

“I don’t get swindled, boy. But I did see this and thought y’all might like it. If not, if I overstepped, just tell me and I’ll take it back.”

Both you and Eddie share a face of confusion as Wayne offers forward the package. Eddie takes it and starts to unwrap the layer and layers of tissue paper it’s rolled in. He pulls the ornament out by its red ribbon and holds it up for you both to see. It’s a wooden disc with a Christmas tree carved into it. The details are beautiful, from the star on the very top, down to the lights and ornaments adoring the branches, to the wrapped presents underneath. At the very bottom is the year 1986 carved in. To the left of the tree is your name, painted on in a delicate hand in red paint. Eddie’s painted name sits on the right of the tree, written in the same lovely handwriting.

“S’your first Christmas,” Wayne says with a shrug. “Something to remember it by.”

“Oh Wayne, this is beautiful!” You rush forward to throw your arms around his neck, pulling him in for a hug. He’s a little stiff at it at first, but eventually returns the affection. “Thank you so much. I love it.”

“Me too,” Eddie says, still staring at the ornament. He packs it back up in the tissue paper and pats Wayne on the shoulder as he walks by him to get in the van. It might’ve seemed cold to other people, but you were learning it’s just how these two were with one another. No flowery words or long embraces. There was teasing, small acts of kindness, and the occasional pat on the back or arm between this uncle and nephew.

You climb into the truck next to Eddie, and he immediately takes your hand in his own.

Once you get home, Wayne has to get some sleep before his night shift, so you and Eddie stay out of the house. Eddie makes sure your new ornament is safely in his room before the two of you get in Eddie’s van and drive.

It’s dark when the two of you get back, and Wayne’s already headed to work. The heat inside the trailer warms your bones and you let out a content sigh as you toe off your boots. You’re hanging up your jacket when Eddie comes back down the hall, your new Christmas ornament in his hands.

“What do you say?” he asks. “First one up on the tree?” When you nod with an excited grin, Eddie offers the decoration up to you. “You may do the honors.”

The tree is taller than you, but not so much that you’re unable to reach the top branches on your tiptoes. There’s a sturdy branch high up, protruding out a bit farther than all the rest. It’s the perfect spot, you decide, so you stretch your body up as high as you can reach and hang the red ribbon on it. Stepping back towards Eddie, you lean into his side to admire your handiwork. With the dark green background of the tree, the light brown wood and bright red paint stand out vibrantly.

“I love it,” you say.

Eddie wraps his arm around your neck and presses a kiss to the top of your head.

“It means a lot, actually.” You sense that he isn’t don’t talking yet, so you look up at him as you wait for him to continue. “Wayne’s not a very sentimental guy, if you haven’t noticed. Bet he’s not mentioned my Aunt Laura to you since you’ve been here, right?”

“His wife you told me about? The one who died when you were little?”

“That’s her,” Eddie says with a nod. “He never talks about her. Or any of our family, really. He doesn’t buy souvenirs, he doesn’t save birthday cards, he doesn’t even have photos on the walls at all. So that,” Eddie says, nodding to the ornament, “says a lot. About you. About us.”

“He likes me?” you ask, though you were already kind of getting that feeling anyway.

Eddie turns to face you and takes both of your hands in his.

“More than he likes me, I think,” he tells you with a smirk. “But really. This is him basically saying you’re family so you’re stuck with us now. That he sees you sticking around for a long time.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning on going anywhere, so that’s good,” you say. Eddie leans in and presses a kiss to your cheek.

“Maybe he just wants you to keep cooking for us.”

You snort and swat Eddie on the chest.

“Come on, sweet talker,” you say. “Let’s get the rest of these ornaments up.”

Eddie has a mixtape of metal covers of Christmas songs - because of course he does - so he blares that as you break out the ornaments you bought at the store the other day. Eddie says he’ll take the higher branches, even though you can clearly reach most of them, and that you can take care of the shorter ones. Halfway through decorating, you realize you don’t know the last time you decorated a tree with someone. It’s usually you all on your own, putting the few ornaments you had on your small tree. But now, you look up as Eddie hangs a golden bauble on a high branch, tongue poking out in concentration, and you can’t help the well of emotion you feel. This tiny trailer you just stepped foot in for the first time the other day feels more welcoming and more like home than your own home of the last ten years or so.

Eddie takes notice of your misty eyes and comes over to cup your face in his hands.

“What’s wrong, beautiful?”

“Nothing,” you say with a watery smile. “This is just really nice.”

He leans in and presses a slow, soft kiss to your lips.

“Having fun?” he asks.

“I am. Just emotional.”

“Well,” Eddie says, pausing to peck a kiss to the tip of your nose. “Then it’s probably as good a time as any to bring out these.”

Eddie goes over to the hall closet and reaches for something on the top shelf. Brow pinched as you watch him, you wipe away a stray tear that decided to go rogue and slide down your cheek.

“Aha,” Eddie says, pulling an old shoe box out of the closet. He closes the door with his foot and makes his way back over to you. “Wayne may not be a sentimental guy, but I am. Enough to keep these, anyway.” He lifts the lid of the shoebox and there are a little over a dozen ornaments inside, most of them looking as old as Eddie.

“Who’s are they?” you ask quietly.

“Mine now, I guess,” Eddie says. “They’ve all got some kind of meaning.” He sits down on the floor and gestures for you to join him. Once you’re sitting next to him, he pulls out the first ornament. It’s a little toy soldier, plastic, with fading colors of red, blue, and green. “This was my mom’s. I don’t have a whole lot of good memories with her, but I remember her lifting me up so I could put this one on the highest branch of the tree. And this one.” Eddie takes out an Elvis ornament that makes both of you laugh. “This was Aunt Laura’s. She was in love with Elvis. Sometimes she’d sing me Elvis songs as a lullaby.”

“Which was your favorite?” you ask.

“I always liked Jailhouse Rock,” he says.

“That’s a good one. I think I like Can’t Help Falling In Love best.”

“Pretty sure that was her and Wayne’s wedding song.” He sets that ornament down and picks up one that’s got Santa Clause riding a motorcycle. “This was my dad’s. Don’t know why I still have it, but I don’t want to throw it away either.” He sets that one aside quickly and lets out a sigh. “I think this one here is my favorite, though.” Eddie holds up an ornament that shows two polar bears in a boat, fishing. “Wayne bought me this for my first Christmas with him.”

“Beautiful,” you say, and Eddie knows you don’t just mean the polar bears. He puts the ornaments back in the box and stands up with it, offering his hand to help you up.

Eddie balances the shoebox on his arm as he scopes out places to put these new additions. His dad’s goes towards the back of the tree, while his Aunt Laura’s gets a place of honor in the front. The two polar bears go near the ornament Wayne had just given you today. For hanging up his mom’s toy soldier, Eddie sits the box down and opens his arms for you. You look at him in confusion as you step into them. He places the ormanament in your hand and leans down to wrap his arms around your legs, just under your ass. You’re hoisted up and let out a squeak, balancing yourself by putting a hand on Eddie’s shoulder.

“Go ahead,” Eddie says, smiling up at you. “Put it on the highest branch.”

His eyes are watching you with so much adoration that you can hardly take it. You reach down and cup his cheek, your thumb stroking over his cheekbone. Turning back to face the tree, you spot the highest branch and lean towards it while trying to stay steady in Eddie’s grip. The hook slips easily over the branch and the little toy soldier looks ready to defend the tree from any incoming enemies.

Eddie sets you down and admires your handy work.

“Perfect,” he says.

Taking a few steps back so you can take in the tree as a whole, you nod to yourself in approval.

“Perfect,” you agree.

Eddie has to work the next day, so after your morning shower session, he heads out and you call up Nancy. She says she’ll be by in fifteen minutes to pick you up. Part of you wanted to take Max up on her offer to hang out while Eddie is working, but you and Nancy had already scheduled your plans for the day, and Eddie was working tomorrow as well. Hopefully, Max is available then.

Nancy takes you to a cute little sandwich shop and you’re glad it’s mostly empty because once you and Nancy are seated with your food, she gets into the questions she’s been dying to ask.

“So,” she says with a smirk. “How long after Steve and I left the other day did you two do it?”

Sprite almost comes out of your nose and you have a small coughing fit, which amuses your friend greatly.

“Who says we did it at all?” you finally respond, voice still raspy from the burn in your throat.

But she’s not dumb, she can see all the signs. Eddie wanting to explain his scars to you, sleeping in the same bed every night, alluding to the fact that you had phone sex the other day, and you have a pep in your step that you didn’t have the last time she saw you. Nancy rolls her eyes and leans in towards you across the table.

“Spill. I want to know everything,” she says.

“Everything?” You raise your eyebrows.

“Yep.” It’s so casual, as if she’s asking to hear about a test you took in class.

“I’ve never talked about it before because I’d never done it before,” you say with a giggle. “I’m not sure what to say.”

“Hey, I told you about my first time,” Nancy says.

“I know! And I’ll tell you about mine, I just don’t really know what to say.”

“Was it good?” She takes a bite of her chicken salad sandwich, but her eyes never leave you, eager for an answer.

“It was really good,” you tell her.

Nancy looks around and sees there’s a mom with her two kids sitting not far from you and she frowns. It seems she’ll have to talk in code.

“Did you…get there?” she asks.

You clocked the small family the minute you sat down, so you know Nancy’s trying to be conscientious for their sake.

“I did,” you say, a smile pulling at the corner of your lips.

“During?” Nancy sounds astounded. Not only did most girls not reach orgasm from penetration during sex the first time, but Nancy didn’t either.

“Before. When he, um…” You can’t think of a way to phrase it without it being crass, so you just tap your finger against your lips.

Nancy’s brain processes it quickly and her mouth drops open.

“Lucky you!” she says with a smirk. “I don’t know how many times Steve and I did it until he finally got to that.”

“Eddie said he liked it,” you tell her.

“Steve does too, I think. He’s never said it, but the longer we’ve been together, the more he wants to do that.”

“We’ve got generous boyfriends,” you tell her with a teasing wink.

“So, it’s official? You’re his girlfriend?” she asks.

“Officially, I am. Which actually changes the rules of the game for me.”

“What rules?” Nancy asks. “What game?”

“Secret Santa,” you tell her. “Rules were couples can’t have their boyfriend or girlfriend since they’ll already get them a gift. I didn’t pick Eddie, but now that I’m his girlfriend I guess I have to find a pretty damn good gift for him, huh?”

“That doesn’t change the rules then,” Nancy says with a laugh. “As long as he didn’t pick you, nothing changes. Except that you’re buying Eddie something.”

“I would’ve done that anyway,” you admit with a sheepish smile. “And no, he did not pick me for secret Santa. I did help him find the present he is giving, though.”

“There are some cute stores just a few blocks over. We could go there once we’re done eating?” Nancy offers.

“Perfect.”

The grilled cheese on your plate finally gets your attention as Nancy’s questions have slowed. But they still came.

“Did it hurt? Or just, like, uncomfortable?”

“Have you been on top yet?”

“So…how big?”

That last question got a potato chip thrown her way. But truthfully, it was nice to have a friend to talk to about all of this. Nancy understood. She knows Eddie, she’s the reason you met to begin with so she’s been invested from the start.

Once you’ve finished lunch, Nancy takes you to the stores she mentioned, and the two of you stroll around, seeing if anything catches your eye. Nancy already has her gifts for her secret Santa, Steve, and her family, so she’s just here to help you now. You browse for a few hours, neither of you having anywhere else you need to be. It’s nice to have a girl’s shopping trip with Nancy, though. Sure, you hung out constantly at school, but this was different. You weren’t talking about tests or papers. You weren’t bitching about professors or roommates. You were in Nancy’s hometown - where you feel just as at home - shopping for Christmas presents with your best friend.

The stores you went to turned out to be successful, and you clutched the bag holding Eddie’s gifts in your lap the entire drive back to Forest Hills. When you hug Nancy goodbye, she says she’ll see you in two days at the party. You tell her you can’t wait and wave as she drives off.

No one’s home when you walk inside, which feels a little odd. Wayne had already left for work, and Eddie hadn’t come home from work yet. You wander around the trailer, looking at the different hats hung on the walls, counting how many different metal bands are featured on t-shirts scattered around Eddie’s room, but then decide to do something useful.

Rummaging in the kitchen leaves you with limited options, but you can work with what they’ve got. By the time Eddie is walking through the door, the trailer smells like a starving man’s dream - which Eddie is currently considering himself.

“Holy shit,” he says as he sees you working in the kitchen. “Come home from a long day at work, just wanting my girl, and here she is making me dinner? Jesus Christ, what did I do right in a past life to deserve this?”

You chuckle and shake your head at his dramatics.

“It’s nothing fancy, Eddie.”

He goes to strip himself of his oily t-shirt, a habit that he usually does after coming home from work, but he sees oil in a pan and senses there’s a chance of splatter. The last thing he needs is another type of oil to be his enemy.

“What is it?” Eddie comes up behind you and runs his hands up and down your sides.

“Chicken.”

“Why’s it look all crispy and good and shit?”

You turn in his arms so you can give him a proper kiss hello.

“I covered the chicken in butter and ritz crackers. Super easy. Super tasty.”

“My woman’s a genius,” Eddie says, going in for another kiss.

“How was your day?” you ask.

“Long,” he says with a sigh. “I’m usually fine at work, it never seems too boring. But today all I could think about was the fact that you’re here, in Hawkins, and I wasn’t with you.”

“You’re with me now,” you tell him. “And you helped fix cars that people need for their jobs and to take their families places. So you did good.”

Eddie’s smile is bashful and he presses a kiss to your forehead before walking out of the kitchen.

“M’gonna go change,” he tells you as he starts down the hall.

Eddie would never admit it - maybe to you one day, but not yet - but he always wanted this kind of domestic life. It always seemed so foreign to him, never having it, but always seeing it in friend’s families and in television and movies. When he walked in the door and saw you cooking, it hit him that this is what he wants. He wants to come home to you everyday, or have you come home to him. Whoever gets home first would make dinner, then you’d eat it together and talk about your days, just like you’re doing now. It’s pure domestic bliss and he’s mentally kicking himself because that does not go with the metal head persona he’s got going on.

When you go to bed, you’re both already taking your clothes off before you’ve even crossed the threshold to the bedroom. This is also part of what Eddie wants. To hold you in his arms every night, to make you moan and whimper and call out his name in pleasure. He wants to take care of you, in every sense of the word.

Once you’ve gone three rounds, you're both thoroughly exhausted. But as he pulls you to his chest afterward and you press your nose against his shoulder, placing soft kisses along his skin, the word smacks him in the face.

Love.

This overwhelming feeling of needing you, wanting you, but wanting you to live the wonderful life you’ve built before you even met, too. Eddie wants the world for you and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t help you get it.

“I’ve got a question,” Eddie says.

You hum against his skin in acknowledgment.

“I’m not asking for, like, now, okay? I don’t want you to freak you.”

Frown pinching your face, you look up at him and melt under the large doe eyes he’s giving you. You’re pretty sure he doesn’t even know he’s doing it.

“Okay…” you start. “What is it?”

“Do you want kids? You know, someday.” His fingers trail up and down your bare back in a soothing manner as he speaks.

“I do,” you tell him with a smile. “What about you?”

“Yeah,” he admits. “Used to think I never wanted them. But, I don’t know, it doesn’t seem as scary anymore.”

“You can take a test run with my niece one day. She’s seven and a total firecracker,” you say.

“I’d love to meet your other favorite person,” Eddie says.

In the morning, you whine when Eddie starts to get out of bed to get ready for work. All you want is him snuggled up next to you, keeping each other warm in the cozy space.

“I’ll see you tonight, baby,” Eddie promises with a kiss on the forehead.

When you finally force yourself out of bed, you dress in warm clothes and tug on your boots. You’re pretty sure you remember which trailer Max came out of the other day, so you roll the dice and knock on the door. The redhead herself answers, and smiles when she sees you standing there.

“Hey,” she says. “What’s up?”

“Well, you said we could hang out when Eddie’s at work. And…well, he’s at work,” you say with a nervous chuckle.

“Totally,” Max says. Then she realizes how cold you must be so she steps aside so you can come in. You rub your hands together and blow some hot breath on them. It helps a little.

Growing up, being the little sister sucked. You got less time with your dad before he passed, you got abandoned when your sister left you with your then-alcoholic mom the moment she turned eighteen, and you had no choice but to raise yourself because the older people weren’t there for you. You’d always imagined you had a little sister to play with in those moments when it just became too much. You’d imagine a girl a few years younger than you who made you laugh when you needed it. You see every single quality you gave to your imaginary sister in Max.

She tells you about Lucas, and hanging out with the guys, and once she realizes you know about the Upside Down, it’s like a weight has been lifted off her chest. She can talk about it to someone who will believe her and actually listen. So, Max tells you her story. From the moment she moved to Hawkins with her asshole ex step-father and her step-brother, to when she finally woke up in the hospital, barely remembering anything that had happened to land her in there. As she’s finishing up, you realize that she needed this. She needed to tell someone about everything she went through. Someone who wasn’t there, who didn’t already know. It was probably itching her to tell her mom, and though you’re nowhere close to that, you think maybe this helped ease the burden she felt a little bit.

For lunch, Max encourages you to try a peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich, which you have to admit tasted pretty damn good. You’re glad to see there’s still some kid left in her, even after all the awful shit she’s been through in her life.

“So, who’d you get for secret Santa?” Max asks as you two wash the dishes together.

You almost spill, having already told Eddie and Nancy. But you catch yourself at the last moment and shrug your shoulders, hoping it seems nonchalant.

“You’ll see tomorrow, I guess,” you say.

“Come on,” Max says. She takes a plate from you and dries it off with the towel. “What if I tell you who I got?”

“Still not telling.”

“You’re telling me you don’t want to know who I’ve got?” Max asks.

“I didn’t say that.” You can’t help the smile from forming on your lips. Of course you want to know. “You’re more than welcome to tell me, but I’m not telling you.”

“Ugh, fine.” She’s silent as she dries the next plate so you assume she’s not going to tell you. But it seems like she can’t hold it in. “I got Steve.”

“Oh, really?” You chuckle as you turn the faucet off. “What’s Steve got to look forward to getting tomorrow?”

Max laughs, and it sounds slightly diabolical.

“I got him the ugliest sweater I found at the store.”

“Why?” The thought of Steve in an ugly Christmas sweater is pretty hilarious though.

“Watch,” she says as she walks back over to the couch. “When he opens it he’s going to say he loves it. I’d put money on it.”

“And why’s that?” you say, sitting down next to her.

“Because he loves me so much. I don’t think he’d ever say it out loud, but he totally does. He’s taken on the role of being my big brother, and that was even before I was in the hospital. After? He’s like a damn mother hen.”

“So, you bought the ugliest sweater on purpose? To test his love for you?” you ask.

“I don’t need to test it,” she says with a scoff. “This is purely for a good laugh.”

“I knew I liked you,” you tell her.

Max tells you that she’s not sure when her mom will be home from work, and you relate to that too much, so you invite her over to the Munson trailer for dinner. She helps you make spaghetti that’ll be ready by the time Eddie comes home, and you tell her more about your home life as you get everything together.

“So, your sister just…left you? Even though she knows what your mom is like?”

“Pretty much,” you say with a sigh. “She was only eighteen, so I get that she couldn’t support me. But I’d hoped she’d come back for me. Two years later she was pregnant though, so I knew she’d never come take me away.”

“Jesus. How old were you?” Max asks.

“Eight when she left. Ten when Chloe was born.”

“Chloe’s your niece?”

“She is.” You just can’t help the fond smile on your face whenever you talk about her. Max takes notice.

“You’re the cool aunt, huh?”

A laugh comes out and you nod your head.

“I am. Her dad’s sister is a total bitch, so I’d win anyway, but I’m still her favorite.”

The loud engine and blaring music from Eddie’s van reaches your ears and you roll your eyes in a fond way. You know the minute it starts to get warmer outside he’s going to want to have sex in the back of it. He needs to make it smell better in there, then.

“I hate that stupid thing,” Max says as Eddie’s brakes squeal.

“Honey, I’m home! Oh. Hi, Max.” He ruffles her hair as he passes her, leaving her huffing and reaching up to fix it. He gives you a soft kiss as he tosses his keys down on the counter, adjusting a package under his arm. “Smells good.”

“Thanks,” you say. “What’s that you’ve got?”

“Robin’s gift,” he says. “Just gotta wrap it. But later. Now, I’m starving.”

“It’s almost done. Go change.”

Max’s eyes dart back and forth between the two of you, amusement lighting her features. You give her a questioning look as Eddie goes down the hall to the bedroom.

“You’re like a couple in a 50’s sitcom,” she says.

“Calling me a housewife?” you ask with a smirk. You drain the water out of the pasta and Max takes the sauce off the burner.

“That’s not a bad thing!” Max says.

“I agree,” you tell her. “It’s hard work.”

“Is that what you want?” Max asks. She pours the sauce over the pasta and you begin to mix it together.

“I don’t know,” you say. “Not right away. Maybe eventually, though. I’d like to have a career. But when the day comes that I have kids? I think I’d like it.”

“Aww, you wanna be a mom?” Max teases.

“What?” Eddie asks as he comes back into the kitchen.

“Your girlfriend wants babies,” Max tells him.

“I know,” he says, opening the fridge and pulling a beer out. “We literally had that discussion last night.”

“You what?” Max asks. “Are you guys crazy? You’ve barely been a couple!”

Eddie rolls his eyes and you let out a laugh.

“Not like, tomorrow, Max!” you say. “One day. Far in the future.”

“Yeah, why do you seem the most freaked out about us having kids?” Eddie asks, giving her a playful shove as he walks by you. “You’d only be the babysitter.”

“I’m the Steve here?” Max asks.

“Eh, you’re right,” Eddie says as he plops down on a barstool. “I don’t think we’d trust you enough for that.”

“Here,” Max says, dropping a plate of spaghetti in front of Eddie. “I poisoned it. Enjoy.”

There’s not much to do the next day before the party at Steve’s. So once you’ve officially worn Eddie out enough that he lets you out of bed, you take a look around the kitchen and talk Eddie into taking you to the store so you can buy ingredients for cookies. As you make them, he keeps trying to steal dough, so you’re forced to threaten him with no sex tonight if he doesn’t stop. It’s an empty threat and you both know it, but it works.

While the cookies are in the oven, Eddie breaks out the wrapping paper and you wrap your gift for Max while he wraps his for Robin. Once they’re all nice and fancy looking, Eddie asks you to help him pick out an outfit for the party. He’d look drop dead gorgeous in anything, but you can’t say no to him when he turns those doe eyes on you. He sits on his bed while you dig around in his closet. Towards the back you find a long sleeved green t-shirt and you pull it out.

“This!”

Eddie catches the shirt when you toss it at him and he looks it over.

“Yeah?” he asks.

“Green is a Christmas color, plus it looks really good with your eyes,” you tell him.

Eddie smirks and whips off the Metallica tee he’s wearing, eyes never leaving yours. You don’t back down from the stare, raising an eyebrow at him as he sits there shirtless.

“You’re going to get cold,” you tell him. He shakes his head but you know he’s full of shit because his nipples are so pebbled. After holding out for a minute, he groans and slips the green shirt on over his head.

“Black jeans and your leather jacket will work with it.” You walk over to perch yourself on Eddie’s leg. “I’d ask you to pick my outfit but I’d be a little scared.”

“Oh no, I’ll do it.” Eddie smirks and tosses you back on his bed so he can walk over to your suitcase. He sits down in front of it and thoughtfully goes through your articles of clothing.

“See anything you like?” you ask.

“Besides your bras and panties?” he asks, and you don’t have to see his face to know he’s smirking.

“I think I’d be cold if that’s all I wore.”

“You’ll just have to wear them, and only them, when we get back to my nice warm room,” Eddie says.

“Wow, you want me wearing that much clothing?”

“Good point.” Eddie tosses a piece of clothing over his head and you have to dart to the left to catch it.

“This is a cute cardigan,” you say, holding the purple material in your lap. “Kind of need something under it.”

“Is there a dress in here?” Eddie asks.

“A few,” you say. “Uh, black one, blue one, and green one that I’m wearing tomorrow.”

“Black works with purple, right?” Eddie asks and you hum in confirmation. “Aha!” Eddie stands up, brandishing the dress above his head.

He stands there and watches you change, of course, a dopey smile on his face the whole time. While you add a touch of makeup, Eddie changes into his black jeans and puts the cookies in a bowl to take with you. If one or two don’t make it in the bowl, he’s sure no one will notice.

Eddie helps you into your coat, then you’re out and on your way to Steve’s.

When you get there, the house is already loud and crowded, not that you expected anything different. Eddie drops your gifts on the pile and you join the rest of the gang in the living room.

“Hey!” Robin calls when she sees you. She makes her way over to you, almost tripping on her feet as she does. “Ooh, you made cookies!”

“Cookies?” Mike’s head snaps up and he looks in your direction. You shake the bowl at him like you’d shake treats at a dog, and he’s by your side in the blink of an eye. “How are you?” he asks, but doesn’t stick around to hear the answer before he’s walking away with the baked goods.

Nancy walks out of the kitchen, bottle of wine in her hand and a smile lights her face when she sees you.

“Hey! Want some wine?” she asks.

“Always,” you say. She tugs you over to a couch with her and pours both of you a glass. You sit shoulder to shoulder, leaning back on the couch as you enjoy your glasses of merlot, and you breathe a contented sigh. You didn’t realize how much you’d missed being around this gang.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Nancy says, as if she was reading your mind.

“Me too,” you say. “Makes me not want to go back to Boston. Again.”

“You may be the only person who prefers Hawkins to Boston,” she says.

“Boston has you,” you say. “Hawkins has you and Eddie.”

Nancy chuckles and nods her head.

“Fair enough.”

Max walks over and sits down on the other side of you. She raises an eyebrow as she looks over the rim of your glass.

“Can I have some?” she asks.

“No,” you and Nancy say at the same time.

“You guys aren’t 21!” Max argues.

“Closer than you,” you tell her.

The redhead huffs and crosses her arms over her chest.

At dinner, you sit between Eddie and Will, who you notice are more alike than you thought. They talk about D&D, art, books, over you during the meal, with you piping in here and there. Will starts to ask you about Boston and school, and he tells you he’s probably going to major in art, but he might minor in psychology. You tell him about your classes, which ones you like, which ones you find boring.

Dustin sits on the other side of Eddie and keeps trying to say kind things to him to make up for hitting the back of his van a few days ago. Eddie insists on acting like he’s still pissed at the boy, but the truth is that Eddie is secretly finding it all hilarious.

Looking over, you see Nancy sitting between Steve and Lucas, and the two guys are arguing about a basketball game. She widens her eyes when she meets your gaze, mouthing the words “help me” to you. You chuckle and give her a helpless shrug.

Eddie takes your hand under the table and gives it a squeeze. Lacing your fingers with his, you give a squeeze in return. Across the table from Eddie, El is giving the two of you a smile. As you return the gesture, you realize this is the first time you’re seeing her since finding out she basically has super powers. Then you get in your head and tell yourself not to stare, but of course once that’s in your head, it’s all you can think about. Like Eddie can sense where your mind has gone, he leans in towards you and whispers in your ear.

“Doing okay, baby?”

“Mhmm,” you say. “You full yet?”

“Never,” he says with a smirk.

“Really? Even after sneaking those cookies?”

“You saw me?”

“No, but I know how many I made,” you say with a laugh. “It was not the number that was in the bowl when we got here.”

Once everyone has finished eating, Jonathan offers to help Steve clear the table while the kids start clamoring to open presents. Nancy, stepping in as the deputy mom of the group, tells them that we can all get to presents quicker if they help clean up. It doesn’t work, but it was a valiant try.

They finally get their way, though, and Mike and Eddie carry in all of the gifts, piling them up on the Harrington’s coffee table.

“Who goes first?” El asks.

“I think there should be a fight to the death to decide,” Robin says.

“What’s the prize?” Dustin asks. “Dying?”

“As someone who almost died this year, maybe it should be me,” Max says.

“I’m sorry, who came closer?” Eddie asks her, raising his eyebrows.

“Oh my God,” Steve says, running his hands through his hair in exasperation. “El, you go first.”

With a smile on her face, El leans forward to find the present with her name on it. She picks it from the pile and sets the box on her lap. Everyone’s quiet as she rips into the paper, waiting to see what she’s got.

“Remember,” Dustin says. “You’ve got to guess who gave it to you.”

El nods as she pulls the top off the box. She pulls out a pair of overalls that have different colorful patches all over them. All eyes turn to Robin, who has a smirk on her face because she’s wearing the exact same outfit.

“Robin?” El asks with a laugh.

“I thought you might like to have matching outfits!”

“It’s great,” El says, looking back down at the outfit. She doesn’t look like she’s patronizing either, you notice, it seems to mean a lot that El received a matching outfit with her friend. “Thank you.”

“You are very welcome,” Robin says. “Do I pick mine now?”

“Yeah,” Lucas says.

Robin wiggles her fingers as she leans forward to inspect the pile of presents.

“Aha!” she snatches hers up and shakes the box next to her ear. You try not to laugh, Eddie rolling his eyes next to you.

She’s not careful about ripping through the paper, and you can basically hear Eddie’s jaw clenching as he remembers how long it took him to wrap it. Robin lifts the lid of the shoebox and pulls out one of the painted converse.

“Whoa,” Robin says. She turns the shoe in front of her face. The Hellfire logo looks amazing painted on the outside of the shoe, while the instep is decorated with different types of dice that are used in D&D. “This is sick.” She sets the shoe back in the box and pulls out the other one, painted with “Corroded Coffin” on the outside, musical notes on the instep. “These are so cool. But I wonder who gave them to me…”

She whips her head to the side and gives Eddie a smirk.

“They’re hand painted,” Eddie tells her.

“Shit, really?” She takes another look at the shoes, jaw dropping in awe. “I’m afraid to wear these now.”

“I was told they’re fine even out in the rain. Snow? I’m not so sure,” Eddie says.

“Thank you!” Robin drops the shoe back in the box and lunges over Max’s lap to hug Eddie. He’s startled at first, but pats her back when he recovers.

“You’re turn,” Dustin tells Eddie. Eddie’s gift is in a flat, square box and you instantly have an idea of what could be inside. You’re proven right when he opens it to find four new vinyl records.

“Hey!” he calls out happily. “Metallica, Ozzy, all the good shit. This is the best.” He narrows his eyes as he looks around the circle of friends, trying to find out who gave them to him. His tongue pokes out of his lips as he thinks, and that’s quickly become one of your favorite habits of his. Eddie and his damn tongue.

“Take a guess,” Mike says and Eddie waves him off.

“I’m thinking,” he says. “Uh, Lucas?”

“Nope,” Lucas says, shaking his head.

“Shit,” Eddie says, resting the albums in his lap. “I’m the first one to get it wrong.”

“To be fair,” Robin says, “yours is the hardest one so far.”

“Yeah, only you would give Corroded Coffin and Hellfire shoes,” Max says. “And Robin’s literally wearing a replica of her gift.”

“So who was it?” Eddie asks.

Nancy raises her hand, a shy smile on her lips.

“Wheeler! Thank you. Really, I love them,” Eddie tells her.

“You’re welcome,” Nancy says.

“Who goes now since Eddie guessed wrong?” Will asks.

“Since this isn’t even officially a game, I don’t think,” Steve says with a shrug. “Nancy can pick.”

“Mike looks impatient,” Nancy muses. “So not him. Um, Lucas. You can go.”

Lucas grins as he digs his present out of the pile. The box is kind of large, but when he opens it to see an official Boston Celtics basketball, he stands up so quickly the box gets knocked to the floor.

“Holy shit!” he yells. “This is the coolest thing ever!”

“Whoa,” Steve says, getting up to look at the ball as well.

“It’s a ball,” Eddie whispers in your ear and you pinch his thigh, making him snort.

“There’s two people here who spend their time in Boston. And one was already outed as giving a gift, so…” His gaze falls on you but you shrug your shoulders.

“Sorry, wasn’t me.”

“Who?”

El giggles and waves her hand at him.

“I had Nancy get it for me,” she says. Lucas wraps her up in a hug that almost suffocates the small girl.

“Another wrong guess. El can pick,” Nancy says.

El picks Jonathan, whose gift is a set of film and developing solution. He guesses it’s from Max, which is wrong. Lucas takes credit for the gift, then picks Will to go next. His present, to no one’s real surprise, is art supplies. He would’ve guessed Eddie since they have that hobby in common, but Eddie had already been called. Will’s not sure but guesses Max, which was incorrect. Steve stands up and takes a bow, glad that he wasn’t guessed correctly for the present. Max picks Nancy to go next, and she opens her small box to see a beautiful silver tennis bracelet. It’s gorgeous and dainty, and just exactly what Nancy would wear. Nancy guesses Will and she’s right. There’s a cheer from the group, because she’s the first one to guess correctly in a while. Will chooses Mike to go next, whose gift is a new outfit, consisting of a t-shirt, button up shirt, and pants. He looks stumped on who gave it to him before he notices the clothing label and something seems to click in his mind.

“Jonathan! These are the clothes Argyle was saying he’d get me when we were in California,” Mike says and Jonathan shrugs sheepishly.

“You didn’t get them then, so you get them now.”

Since Jonathan already opened his, he declares it your turn to open your gift. You’re not expecting a particularly thought out gift, just because no one here knew you particularly well, and you knew neither Nancy nor Eddie had pulled your name. But when you spy your present inside the box you know exactly who gave it to you. With a laugh, you pull a stuffed Ewok out of the box, and upon closer inspection, you notice he’s wearing a pick necklace just like your boyfriend’s. You hug the toy to your chest and smile at the only person in the room you remember talking about Ewoks with.

“Dustin!”

The boy grins and shrugs his shoulders.

“What can I say? I couldn’t resist.”

“It’s perfect,” you tell him. “My little metal Ewok.”

“I thought that was me,” Eddie says with a smirk.

“You’re the metal teddy bear,” you remind him. “Get it right.”

“Dustin’s turn,” Robin says.

Dustin unwraps a package stuffed with new books. His face lights up as he goes through them, rambling off title after title and author after author as he looks them over. He correctly guesses that Mike gave them to him, and Mike chooses Max to be the next one to open her present. Now that most of the gifts have been revealed, Max only has two options to guess from. It’s either you or herself, so that makes it an easy choice.

“Hmm, I wonder who,” Max says, sending you a smirk as she tears into the wrapping paper. When she pulls out her new skateboard her jaw drops open. She runs her hand along it before flipping it over and seeing the artwork on the deck.

“No way.” There’s a painted picture of Wonder Woman on the bottom and Max’s eyes are wide in astonishment. It makes you feel proud that you found that for her. You’d already liked Max from the first time you met her, but you’d come to know her even more on this trip and become her friend.

“This is…wow,” Max says. She’s shaking her head, like she can’t believe what she’s holding. “Thank you so much.” She turns to you and gives you a smile that’s pure joy. For a moment it reminds you of Chloe’s smile when she gets very excited.

“You’re welcome,” you tell her. “I saw it and had to get it. Eddie did give me some clues about what you like, though.”

“This damn snow needs to melt so I can ride it,” Max says, still staring at the board.

There’s only one gift left and it’s for Steve. But he knows Max is the only one who hasn’t claimed a gift given yet, so this is obviously from her. It’s good it worked out this way though, because it further tests Max’s theory that Steve’s going to say he likes the sweater just because Max gave it to him. The redhead’s grin would look excited to anyone else, but you could see it for the maniacal smile it was.

Steve opens the box and stares down at the sweater inside. His mouth is hanging open and his eyebrows raise up.

“Oh,” he says. “Wow.”

“What is it?” Mike asks.

Steve picks up the sweater and holds it up against his chest. Max wasn’t lying. It’s one of the ugliest things you’ve ever seen. It’s blue and white, dotted in snowflakes and candy canes, and right in the middle of the chest there’s a gray cat wearing a Santa hat. Steve nods his head as he looks down at it.

“It’s…great,” he says, and you have to turn your head away to keep from laughing. Max is still grinning at him when Steve meets her eyes. “Thank you, Max. I love it.”

“I’m so glad,” Max says with fake cheeriness. “I saw it and immediately thought of you.”

“Yeah?” Steve asks, though his voice sounds strained.

Max nods enthusiastically and you have no idea how she's managing not to laugh. You volunteer to help with the clean up, and as you pass Max she smirks and whispers, “Told you.”

Steve heads into the kitchen to toss some of the wrapping paper away, but Eddie stops you as you go to follow behind him.

“Sit, princess,” he says, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I’ve got it.” He takes the garbage from you and heads towards the kitchen.

Giving him a grateful smile, you sit down next to Max on the couch and look at her new skateboard with her. Eddie tosses the garbage out in the big bag Steve got out, but he stops his friend from going back out into the living room.

“Dude, I need to talk to you,” Eddie says.

Steve shrugs and puts his hands on his hips.

“What’s up?”

Eddie chews over his bottom lip and slips his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He wasn’t sure how to start this conversation without sounding like a complete idiot.

“Spit it out, man,” Steve says.

“It’s just…fuck, it’s going to sound crazy,” Eddie says.

“A lot of the things you say do.”

Eddie throws a glare his way before he begins to pace back and forth in front of the sink.

“I know I’ve only known her a month,” Eddie says. “And I don’t know, I don’t have any sort of reference for this. But, like…shit.”

Steve tilts his head to the side, waiting for Eddie to get to the point.

“I think I love her,” Eddie says, halting his motions and coming to stand in front of Steve. “Is that crazy?”

Steve shrugs his shoulders and leans against the counter.

“I wouldn’t say it’s crazy. A little fast, yeah? But since when do you do things like everyone else anyway?”

Eddie rubs his hands over his face and Steve lets out a sigh.

“Look,” Steve says. “No one else can tell you when you’re in love or not. It’s just something you know.”

“I do,” Eddie says, nodding his head. “I do know. God, I love her so much.”

“Then you love her,” Steve says. “What’s the problem?”

“I just feel like if this was anyone else I would be saying that they’re crazy. Saying it’s not possible to fall in love so fast. Especially with someone they’ve only communicated with by phone the majority of the time they’ve known them.”

“But it’s not someone else, it’s you. And who gives a shit what anyone else thinks? You of all people have never cared about that,” Steve says.

“I care what she thinks,” Eddie says, gesturing towards the living room. “I don’t want to scare her.”

“Then don’t tell her yet,” Steve says.

“I’ve already almost let it slip. It’s just a matter of time.”

“Dude, you’re too much in your own head about all of this. You guys are great together. Like, it sounds straight out of a fairytale type of great. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s obviously working.”

Eddie nods and comes to lean on the counter next to Steve.

“How quick until you loved Nancy?” Eddie asks.

Steve scratches at his neck, eyes looking up as he searches his memories.

“Maybe between two and three months,” he says. “But I never stopped. Does that make me crazy? That even though she and I were broken up for years, she had a serious boyfriend, and I went on countless dates, I still loved her the whole time? Everyone’s love story is different, Munson. None of them are supposed to be the same or they wouldn’t be special and yours.”

Eddie lets out a deep breath and nods his head.

“Thanks, Harrington.”

“You’re not going to pop the question, are you?” Steve asks.

“No!” Eddie rolls his eyes. “I’m dumb, but I’m not that dumb. We have talked about kids, though. Not like, for now. But talked about if we both want kids in the future.”

“That’s good,” Steve says. “Nance and I have those conversations too. Even if something is years off, it’s still good to know where you both stand.”

“When’d you become the guy to go to for dating advice?” Eddie asks with a smirk.

“Some of it I’ve just absorbed from Robin talking so much,” Steve says. “But Nance and I are really good now. I was bound to learn some things at some point.”

Dustin walks into the kitchen and stops short when he sees the two guys standing there.

“Is everything okay?” he asks.

Eddie walks over and slings his arm over Dustin’s shoulders.

“You’re forgiven,” Eddie says. “You’ve made it up to me.”

��Really?” Dustin asks excitedly.

“Made up for what?” Steve asks.

“When he hit my van,” Eddie says.

“With a car?” Steve’s eyes look like they’re going to pop out of his head.

“Drivers Ed class,” Dustin mumbles.

“Jesus Christ,” Steve says, running a hand over his face. “You’re never driving my car. Not even when you’re thirty.”

“What did I do to make it up to you?” Dustin asks Eddie, ignoring Steve’s remark.

“The Ewok with the pick necklace. She loves it. Like, she really fucking loves it. And you put that smile on her face, so we’re all good.”

“Sweet,” Dustin says.

“He’s forgiven for hitting your car because he got a teddy bear?” Steve asks.

“It’s not a teddy bear,” Eddie and Dustin say at the same time.

Christmas mornings had become less magical since you’d grown up. That thrill of excitement that shoots through you when you see what Santa’s put beneath the tree for you. As you got older, you didn’t care about getting up early to open any gifts. You’d rather get the extra sleep. But this year, waking up in Eddie’s arms, there’s a whole new type of magic surrounding you. He’s still asleep when you open your eyes, and you smile at the sight of him, lips slightly parted, chest steadily rising up and down, his eyelashes fluttering. Your mind cannot comprehend that at one point the whole town hated this sweet boy.

You can tell Eddie’s waking by the way he squirms a little, muscles stretching as life is breathed back into them. He lets out a sigh as he lifts one arm above his head to loosen it up. His eyes blink open and a sleepy smile comes to his lips when he sees you’re already up.

“Merry Christmas,” you say.

“Merry Christmas, gorgeous.”

“How’d you sleep?” he asks, voice still a little hoarse.

“Good. I was exhausted last night,” you say.

“From the party or our after party?” Eddie asks with a smirk.

“Both!”

Eddie chuckles and there’s a soft knock on the door.

“Everyone decent?” Wayne calls.

“Jesus Christ,” Eddie mumbles. He rubs one of his eyes with the palm of his hand and peeks under the covers to make sure he’s still got his boxers on. You, of course, had slipped into one of Eddie’s shirts, so you were presentable from the waist up.

“Come in.”

“Merry Christmas,” Wayne says with a smile, eyes crinkled in the corners. “I ran out and got us some doughnuts for breakfast.”

That’s got Eddie sliding out from under the blankets and rummaging around for pants to put on.

“We’ll be right there,” you say. You’ve got to stay put in the bed since you only have your panties on your bottom.

Wayne nods and closes the door behind him.

Both of you and Eddie dressed in warm and comfortable clothes you’d found scattered around the room. The box of donuts is on the coffee table, so Eddie sits on the couch and pulls you down beside him.

“I suppose you want Boston cream,” Eddie says with a smirk.

“You’re so cheesy,” you say, laughing.

He hands you the donut anyway, and practically inhales a glazed donut whole. While you’re still working on your first one, he eats a jelly filled one in two bites.

“Alright,” Eddie says when you’re done. He rubs his hands together in anticipation. “Presents.” He slips off the couch and sits in front of the tree. You come down to join him and he taps his hand against your knee as he looks over the handful of packages laying in wait.

“Wayne first.” Eddie picks up a present with his uncle’s name on it and tosses it over his head to the man. “That’s from the lovely lady sitting on my right.”

Inside there’s a green and gray flannel buried in a mountain of tissue paper, and Wayne smiles as he appraises it.

“Thanks, doll,” he says. “Don’t think I’ve got a green one.”

“Thought it might make you blend in a bit more when you’re fishing,” you say.

“You think the fish can see him up on land?” Eddie asks but Wayne throws a ball of tissue paper at his head before you can respond.

“I’ll save the best for last,” Eddie says. “So I’ll open next.” He picks up Wayne’s gift to him, a small box, and he shakes it near his ear. Since no sound provides him with any clues, he rips the paper off and opens the box. “Oh, thank God! Or well - Wayne. Thank you!” Eddie pulls out new guitar strings and a small baggie stuffed to the brim with picks. “Gonna be playing with my sweetheart later.”

Eddie’s looking down at the gift in his lap as he says it, but you can still see the smirk. You feel the tips of your ears turn red and reach forward to grab a present labeled to you from Wayne.

It’s a larger, flat box that you lay in your lap. Eddie sets the accessories for his guitar down to watch as you strip the box of its paper. Lifting the lid, you gasp when you see the neatly folded kitchen apron. It’s a turquoise material, soft under your fingertips as you touch it. But the best part is your name stitched on the apron in big, purple letters. You lift it from the box and hold the material tight to your chest.

“I love it! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Wayne chuckles and nods his head.

“Knew after you’ve been cooking for us so well that I should repay the favor. And I figured since you like to be in the kitchen it’ll come in handy.”

“It’s perfect,” you say. “I’m constantly getting flour all over myself, so this will save me from doing a lot of extra laundry.”

Eddie leans forward and scoops up a small box from under the tree.

“Here,” he says, tossing it to Wayne. Once Wayne’s ripped the paper off, he starts laughing, dropping his head forward as his shoulders shake. Eddie’s smirking and you’re looking back and forth between them in confusion.

Wayne holds up the small box and you see it’s a box of condoms.

“Eddie!” But you’re laughing too, not able to actually scold him.

“Ribbed, for your lady friend’s pleasure,” Eddie says and you fall forward in laughter, your head resting on Eddie’s knee.

“You think you’re so funny, boy,” Wayne says, laughter still in his voice as well.

“Well, here.” Wayne tosses a small box to Eddie. When he catches it you see it’s a different box of condoms, this one with a nice red bow taped to it. “We don’t want no little Munsons around here anytime soon.”

Both you and Eddie blush - but definitely more you - despite the fact that you’re both laughing.

There are two more boxes under the tree and one of them is for you.

“I really hope those aren’t condoms,” you say.

“You’ll have to wait and see!” Eddie says as he scoops up his gift from you. It’s a small box, and yet again, he shakes it. There’s a light rattling coming from inside and his brow pinches together.

“Will you stop shaking it?” you ask with a laugh.

“That’s no fun,” Eddie says, but he stops. He rips open the paper and almost rips the small box as he tries to open it. His face splits into a grin when he looks inside. There’s a silver ring with a pair of skeletons hands making a heart. He picks it up out of the box and inspects it in the light. “I love it.”

As you watch his eyes trail over the details, you see him pause when he sees there’s an inscription inside.

“The date we met,” Eddie says. November 28, 1986 is engraved on the inside of the silver ring, and Eddie’s sure he’s never come closer to crying when he’s gotten a gift. “Best day of my life.”

You’re pretty sure he’s only saying that because Wayne is in the room. He’d definitely say it was the other day when you had sex for the first time if it was just the two of you alone.

“Mine too,” you tell him.

He leans over and presses a soft kiss to your lips.

“Thank you. I love it.”

“You’re welcome,” you say.

“Your turn.” Eddie hands you a small box, a little bigger than the one his ring was in.

“Should I shake it?” you ask and he pinches your knee playfully. As impressed as you are with the care Eddie took when wrapping it, you still just tear through the paper. There’s a velvet box inside and you’re already afraid Eddie spent too much on you. Lifting the lid, a silver charm bracelet sits inside. It’s shiny and delicate, and there are three charms attached. You carefully pick it up and bring it closer to your face. The first charm is a music note, which makes you smile. It’s very Eddie. The second charm is a small phone and you blush, knowing what it represents. Eddie chuckles softly at your expression, too lowly for Wayne to hear. The last charm is a beautiful silver “E” with a little jewel dotted in the top corner. This one is automatically your favorite. Whenever you’re sitting in a boring class or just missing your boyfriend, you can look at your wrist and see the pretty reminder of him.

“Eddie, this is so beautiful,” you say. Eddie’s noticed you haven’t taken your eyes off of it yet and it fills him with pride. He’s glad he got something you truly like.

“I figured I could just add a charm every year or something. Maybe like a tradition?”

Hearing him already talk about your next Christmas and starting a tradition with you fills your eyes with tears. You refuse to let them spill over as you launch yourself at Eddie, wrapping your arms around his neck. Traditions weren’t something you had in your life. The thought of having one with Eddie makes your stomach all tingly in the best possible way.

“That sounds perfect,” you tell him. And you mean it.

He hugs you back tightly and you’re sure he can sense how much you need the embrace in that moment.

“Can I put it on you?” Eddie asks.

You nod as you pull back from him, unable to trust your own voice. He takes the bracelet from you and you hold your wrist out. Once he successfully opens the small clasp, he hooks the gift around your wrist. You turn your wrist to inspect it from all angles, heart thrumming in your chest. The silver of his new ring catches your eye and you pick it up.

“Can I put this on you then?” you ask.

“You proposing?” he asks with a smirk, and another wad of tissue paper hits his head. Eddie ignores his uncle though and slips the skull ring he has on his left ring finger and puts it on the middle finger of his right hand.

“Why don’t we wait until we’ve known each other for at least a month before we talk about marriage?” you say, raising your eyebrows at him.

“Sounds fair,” Eddie says with a shrug.

He holds his hand out and you slip the silver skeleton hands down his finger.

“I accept,” Eddie gushes playfully, holding his ringed finger up. You roll your eyes but lean forward to hug him anyway. His harms instantly encircle you and he hugs you close to him.

“Thank you, beautiful,” he mumbles against your head.

“And thank you, handsome.” You look up at him and he presses a quick but sweet kiss to your lips.

“Okay, lovebirds,” Wayne says from behind you. Red creeps on your cheeks as you pull away from Eddie and move to stand up. Eddie follows your lead and stands, bending down to pick up all the discarded wrapping paper.

“Thank you, Wayne,” you say, going over to hug him. “I’m going to use the apron when I make dinner.”

“I’m glad you like it, darlin’,” he says, patting your back.

“And thanks for these,” Eddie says, swiping up the box of condoms. “I’ll make sure and put them to good use.”

“Eddie!” You cover your face and Eddie chuckles, coming over and wrapping his arms around your waist.

“Aw, baby,” he coos. “You’re so cute.”

“I’m traumatized, is what I am,” you say.

The dinner you make is simple, but you want to honor the tradition Wayne and Eddie have of having fish for Christmas. The salmon, potatoes, biscuits, and asparagus are served earlier than you’d typically eat dinner, but unfortunately Wayne had to work even though it was Christmas. He said he didn’t mind because he got to spend the morning and most of the day with you two. You manage to keep your apron clean except for one spot of potato on your chest, which Eddie offers to lick off.

After Wayne leaves for work, you and Eddie curl up on the couch, a blanket cocooning the two of you, and watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. When it’s over, you start to feel butterflies in your stomach as you think about the other present you bought for Eddie.

He stands up from the couch and turns the television off. The room is cloaked in darkness as he spins around and wiggles his eyebrows at you.

“Ready for bed?”

“Mhmm,” you hum, standing up. You follow him into his room and snatch up the shopping back that you’d hidden in your suitcase. “I’ll be right back.”

Eddie acknowledges you with a hum as you slip down the hall and into the bathroom. When you’d gone shopping the other day with Nancy, you’d bought Eddie’s ring. As you passed a lingerie store later, Nancy joked that you should buy something as a second present for him. You’d surprised her by walking into the store, leaving her outside. Her surprised face as she followed in behind you amused you more than you’d let her know.

In the mirror over the sink in the Munson bathroom, you turn to try and see yourself from all angles. It’s the first time you’ve ever worn anything like this and you feel self conscious. The black lace bustier held your boobs up and together, which even you had to admit, looked damn good. The matching panties and garters holding up the sheer black stockings made you feel sexy. It’s a weird mixture feeling self conscious and sexy at the same time. But you have no doubt Eddie will make you feel beautiful, like he always does.

You step out of the bathroom and your heart races as you make your way back to Eddie’s room. The mattress creaks, which lets you know he’s already on the bed. With a deep breath, you summon the courage and step into his doorway. He’s leaning over to his nightstand, putting the new condom box in next to the current one you’ve been going through.

“Ready to unwrap another present?” you ask. Eddie turns to answer but does a double take when he sees you, his eyes growing wide as saucers. The way he’s staring at you makes heat pool between your legs. It feels like his eyes are burning you as he rakes them up and down your body.

“Holy shit.”

You giggle as you step inside the room, making your way over to the bed. Eddie hurries off the bed, needing to touch you or he’ll combust. His hands find the strip of bare skin between the bustier and the panties, and he settles them there.

“Baby, you look so fucking sexy,” he says. “I mean, you always do, but this outfit? Fuck. You’re going to kill me.”

“Mm,” you hum, resting your hands on his chest. “No dying until I’ve had my fun with you.” You give him a gentle push and he falls back on the bed. When you sink to your knees in front of him he feels like he must be dreaming. You haven't even reached for his belt yet and he already knew he wouldn’t last long. You rub your hand over the growing bulge in his jeans and Eddie throws his head back. The way he reacts to your touch makes you smirk. The handcuff belt that used to give you trouble getting off, now you’re an expert at it as you work your hands at the waistband of his pants. Originally, you were just going to reach into his boxers and pull his cock out, but you decide you want him fully naked. He gets the hint when you start to pull his jeans and boxers down his legs and he lifts his hips to help you. Next you go for his shirt, yanking it over his head and tossing it behind you. You’ll never get over how beautiful he is. His dark hair and dark eyes framing his face, dotted with freckles and highlighted by his pink lips, already parted as his breathing increases. The pale skin of his torso, covered in both tattoos and scars, and his pretty cock, already hard and leaking precum, waiting for your attention. You run your hands up his thighs and dig your fingers in up close to his hips.

“Never done this before,” you tell him, even though he already knows. “Gonna have to tell me what you like.”

“Shit, babe,” he says, voice straining. “Pretty sure your mouth won’t be on me for a minute before I blow my load.”

“I’m doing the blowing,” you say with a pout. Eddie chuckles and reaches out to caress your face.

“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he says.

“Eddie?” you ask, looking up at him through your eyelashes.

“Yeah, baby?”

“I want you to cum in my mouth.”

His dick twitches and he grabs a fistful of the blankets on his bed. You can’t help but smile in satisfaction at how he reacts to your words.

“A-Are you sure?” he asks.

“Mhmm,” you hum as you wrap your hand around the base of him. He nods his head and you start to stroke him a few times. You lean in and give the head a few kitten licks, making a whine escape his throat. When you run your tongue along the vein on the underside of his cock, from base to tip, he shudders and squeezes his eyes shut.

“Jesus Christ,” he pants out.

You can’t help the smile on your face, loving seeing him in so much pleasure. And the fact that you’re the one causing it is making you even wetter. You lower your mouth onto him and his hand instantly grips your hair. It’s not too tight, just enough so he grounds himself. And even though his dick is literally in your mouth, he still feels the need to touch some part of you with his hands.

Trying to remember everything you’ve heard or pieces of advice friends gave about giving head, you take more of Eddie into your mouth, not sure when or if a gag reflex will kick in. The noises he’s making above you encourage you to take him deeper, trying to relax your jaw as you go. You pull back until you’re just sucking on the tip, which has a guttural moan escaping him.

“M’close,” he says.

Your drool is leaking down his cock and you spread it with your hand as you start to pump down at the base. Eddie’s thigh muscles tense on either side of your head and you hollow out your cheeks.

“Fuck! I’m cumming.” One more bob of your head and Eddie is filling your mouth with his sticky release. You take as much of it as you can, some dribbling out the corners of your mouth. Swallowing all that he gives you, you pull back and lick over your lips, trying to get every last drop.

Eddie’s breathing hard as he looks down at you. The way you’re looking up at him through your eyelashes as you clean his cum off your face might be the prettiest sight he’s ever seen.

“How was that?” you ask.

He has no words to respond with, so instead he reaches down and pulls you up from the floor. He lays back on the bed, pulling you on top of him. You place your hand on his chest and his heart is beating so fast that you’re afraid it’s going to jump out of his skin. Hand coming up to tangle in your hair, Eddie brings you down for a messy kiss full of tongue and teeth. His hands slide down to your ass and squeeze.

“I’m not done with you and these yet,” he says, snapping the elastic of the panties against your skin.

“It’s a good thing we’ve got all night then.”

The week after Christmas is full of laughter, friends, sex, snow, and feeling more at home than you should in a place that’s never been your home. The few days Eddie has to work you either spend with Nancy or Max, once even going with Nancy to spend time at Family Video when Steve and Robin were working. The days Eddie had off all started and ended the same - naked - but each day you have a new adventure. One of the most interesting included going on a double date with Wayne and Abigail to a nice restaurant. Both Munson boys dressed in nice shirts and slacks was a rare sight and you were indeed enjoying it. Even if you did have to help both of them pick out what to wear. You’re so focused on what a good time you’re having in Hawkins, and dreading going back to school, you forget all about New Year’s Eve until Eddie brings it up.

“So,” he says once he’s finished giving you your second orgasm of the night. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“And what’s that?” you ask, trying to catch your breath.

“How would you like to go to a concert?”

“A concert?” you ask and Eddie nods. “Who’s playing?”

“Corroded Coffin.”

You sit up straight, jaw dropping open as you look at him.

“You are? I’m going to get to see your band?”

“Talked to them all today,” Eddie says. He smiles and tugs you back down so you’re laying against his chest. “Gareth got us a gig on New Year’s Eve at the place we used to play.”

“I forgot all about New Years,” you say.

“Well, this is the first year I’ll have a New Year’s kiss, so I wasn’t about to forget.”

Your thumb strokes over his skin as you press a few kisses to his bare chest.

“I’m excited!”

“Nancy, Steve, and Robin are coming too,” he tells you.

“Are they going to be embarrassed to be seen with a girl who is clearly trying to get into the lead singer’s pants?”

“Well,” Eddie says, running his fingers up and down your arm. “I hate to disappoint you, but I hear he has a girlfriend.”

“That’s a shame,” you say.

“Heard she’s gorgeous, too. Like, the most beautiful girl ever.”

“Well, he’s so sexy, he definitely deserves a girl like that.”

Eddie chuckles and leans down to press his lips against yours.

Even though it’s so cold out, you insist on wearing a Corroded Coffin t-shirt to The Hideout. You layer a cardigan over it and your coat on top as you help Eddie load his guitar and amp into the van. He stares at your ass as he helps you into the van, eyes taking in your tights and skirt.

“Being a perv?” you ask once you’re in your seat.

“For you? Always.” He presses a kiss to the back of your hand before heading around to the driver’s side.

The Hideout is pleasantly full when you arrive, and Eddie takes you backstage to introduce you to the other guys.

“This is Gareth, Jeff, and Andy,” Eddie introduces, pointing to each man in turn.

“Holy shit, she is real,” Gareth says.

Eddie rolls his eyes and rests his arm over your shoulders.

“It’s nice to meet you,” you tell them. “I’m excited to hear you perform.”

“I heard it was your idea,” Jeff says, but you shake your head.

“All I did was ask if I could hear Eddie’s band play. He took it from there.”

“You’re sticking around after the set, right?” Andy asks.

“Of course,” you say.

“Oh good, we have a hundred stories to tell you about Eddie,” Gareth says.

“Alright,” Eddie says with a sigh. “I’m going to walk you to your seat now.”

You giggle as Eddie leads you away from the guys, but you can hear one of them whispering loudly to the others as you leave.

“Damn, Eddie got a hot girlfriend.”

Your friends are already there and at a table near the stage when Eddie walks you back out to the front. Robin waves you over and you give Eddie a kiss and tell him to break a leg before you go over to them.

“Looks like we’ve got a groupie here,” Robin says, gesturing to your shirt.

“I think she’s hoping to score one of the band members,” Nancy adds with a smirk.

“Maybe,” you say with a shrug as you take your seat.

The lights dim and you squirm in your seat, excited nerves taking over your body. Steve smiles to himself as he watches you, knowing you’re just as deep in it for Eddie as he is for you.

When Eddie walks out on stage with his guitar, you squeeze your thighs together in your seat. He looks insanely sexy all the time, but seeing him strut out like a rockstar has you even more feral for him. With a smirk, he throws a wink your way as he adjusts the microphone.

“Well, hello, Hideout,” Eddie says and there are a few scattered cheers across the bar. “It’s been a minute since we’ve played together, but we’re back for a special reunion this New Year’s Eve.”

Robin subtly nudges Nancy in her ribs and nods her head towards you, where you’re looking at Eddie with almost literal heart eyes. When he begins to strum his guitar, Nancy thinks you just might pass out. By the second song you’re standing, dancing around to the band’s songs. The way you’re moving and swaying your hips has Eddie glad his guitar is held in front of his crotch.

It’s not long before your friends join you in your dancing, and eventually all people at the tables closest to the stage are on their feet. Sweat pours down Eddie’s face and you’re surprised when you have the urge to lick it off. Wouldn’t be the first time you’d licked something off of him.

During the last song, Eddie kneels down on one knee in front of you and tilts your chin up to press a possessive kiss to your lips. Your knees go weak and your tummy flip flops. When he pulls back he gives you another wink before finishing the song. It wouldn’t surprise you if your voice was gone tomorrow after shouting and screaming so loud for the band. And then maybe some more when you guys got home.

It’s 11:30 pm when the guys come out from backstage and join you at the table with the others. The bar has some music playing over the speakers now that isn’t nearly as good as Corroded Coffin’s music was, but no one’s paying any attention to it anyway. Your table is full and everyone’s shouting over one another and laughing so hard they’re practically crying. Jeff tells you about the time Eddie got detention for smoking weed in the gym, but Gareth tells you that was nothing compared to the time he got caught trying to break into a teacher’s car to try and steal the answer guide to a test. Eddie’s groaning and rolling his eyes, but you can tell he’s happy to be surrounded by his old friends. You smile to yourself how they all keep teasing him. How Wayne tries to embarrass him. It’s because they care so deeply about him.

At five minutes to midnight the bar announces the time and everyone starts to get ready for the big countdown. Somehow Steve found some party hats and everyone at the table was wearing one now. Eddie has you practically in his lap, ready for your midnight kiss. Steve has his arm around Nancy’s chair and she’s leaning into him. A girl who wandered from her own friend group over to yours is cuddled up with Jeff, so you’re pretty sure he’s set for a kiss as well. Gareth tries to talk Robin into giving him a midnight kiss but she shudders and physically pushes his face away from her when he tries to get too close.

“One minute, everyone!” a waitress calls out.

There are murmurs around the bar, then everyone begins to count down from sixty.

“To a happy New Year!” Steve says, raising his glass.

“To an amazing 1987!” Andy echoes.

All of you clink glasses in cheers before Eddie pulls you fully into his lap.

“I was going to say I don’t know how 1987 could possibly be better than 1986,” Eddie starts.

You raise an eyebrow and lean in so only he can hear you.

“You mean the year that you discovered there’s a secret dimension under your town and you almost died?”

“Let me finish,” Eddie says, tickling your sides. “I was gonna say that because 1986 is the year I met you. But I only got to know you for about five weeks this year. Next year it’ll get to be a whole fifty-two.”

It may have only been about five weeks but you already know you’ll never get used to him saying such sweet things to you. You lean in to kiss him, but he holds up a finger to your lips to stop you.

“Ah-ah-ah,” he tuts. “You still have to wait another fourteen seconds.”

The bar gets louder.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Eddie cups your jaw in his hand and presses his lips firmly against yours. One hand makes its way to his hair as you kiss him, smiling into it the whole time. When you pull apart, he’s smiling as well. He rests his forehead against yours and you tangle your fingers with his in your lap.

“Happy New Year, baby.”

“Happy New Year, Eddie.”

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