#single dad!Eddie

[eddiesghxst]

single dad!eddie who has to take his daughter to the hair salon bc his daughter wants a “pretty princess hairstyle” and refuses to let eddie do it himself. he goes to a random salon which ends up being where you work and you do his daughters hair and she absolutely loves it and begs eddie to take her back all the time so u become her hairdresser

you always offer to do eddie’s hair as well but he always just politely declines, he’s pretty content with cutting his own hair, he’s grown to be pretty good at it over the years, he thinks.

and then one day he comes in by himself and you’re like “where’s my little customer today?” and he surprises you and tells you that he’s actually here for his own haircut. you ask him what the occasion is and he says he’s going on a date. you try not to let that bother you too much because the two of you have been rather flirty with each interaction over the past few months and you’ve developed a little crush on him.

when you finish you show him and you’re like “think ur date will like it?” and eddie’s like “well idk… would you like to go on a date with me?” and y’all get where i’m going SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES

[pinkrelish]

𝙼-𝙾-𝚄-𝚂-𝙴

“Yeah, yeah, I know I don’t owe you, but” –Eddie moved his hand around in his pocket– “I’m gonna figure out a way to repay you. Do something nice for you. Something big. Until then, your favorite almost-five-year-old made you this.” He presented his palm to you. Cradled in it was a bracelet made of plastic beads in an assortment of colors, some shaped as stars, some with glitter, and at the middle was a name arranged in white blocks with black lettering. M-O-U-S-E. “I had to help her spell it,” he said, tugging up his sleeve, “but it matches mine.” D-A-D-D-Y.

✰ top made by maybeNVR ✰ bottom made by marieleerose ✰

[deceptive-daydreams]

Rhiannon - E.M.

Girl Dad!Eddie x Step Mom!Reader Blurb

2K Words

Eddie being a girl dad and he names his daughter Rhiannon. She's five years old and is his entire world, she's got him wrapped around her little finger.

A/N - I will probably most definitely be posting more detailed parts of this cause this concept has a chokehold on me now. Also I picture Eddie in this to look like this. Obviously you don’t have to but that was the vibe when I was writing it, I can’t stop picturing him like that courtesy of @lesservillain so thanks 🫠

Masterlist

She's an absolute rugrat and plays in the dirt, looking for worms and making homes for them with sticks and leaves. Loves to get smothered in mud right after it rains, her clothes just barely peeking out from underneath the mess while she rolls around in it, making snow angels except with mud. Refuses to get a bath afterwards and makes Eddie chase her around the yard before he ultimately catches her, scooping her up and getting the mud all over himself now. She protests in his arms, claims she won't be done playing for hours even though the sun is starting to set and she had been outside from the moment she finished breakfast after Eddie sternly told her she had to eat first and then could play after. Eddie blows a raspberry into her dirt smudged cheek, unbothered.

"The worms will be there tomorrow, I promise." She continues squirming in his arms and he just puts on a huge pout, his dramatics coming out.

"What about daddy and Rhin movie time? You gonna stand me up for the worms?" His fingers go to tickle her sides, eliciting a scream of laughter.

"You are so mean to me, you know that? I should just use the hose to wash you off!" He jokes, tossing her in the air, she continues to howl with laughter.

"No!!" She screeches, eyes crinkled. Eddie catches her once again and holds her to his side, much like a football as he starts racing through the yard, the overgrown grass tickling his ankles.

"Rhin is a meanie! Rhin is a meanie!" He mocks, bouncing her on his hip.

"Am not!! You're the meanie!" She yells. A gasp leaves her dad's lungs as he brings a hand to his chest. He flips her upside down, giggles erupting from her as she dangles from his arms.

"Take it back." He says, swaying her back and forth, her mess of brown curls inherited from him hanging around her face. They were for sure knotted from being outside all day, no doubt having traces of dirt scattered within them.

Her screams are cheerful and echo throughout the yard, neighbors glancing over as they join together with their families for their own summer activities, though they have scowls embedded into their features. The Munsons were never popular among the people of Hawkins but Eddie didn't care, too busy giving his little girl the best life possible. And if she was too occupied with giggling and playfully arguing with her dad to notice the looks of hatred on their neighbor's faces, who was he to give a shit about them?

After several seconds of dangling her upside down, she shouts "Daddy, I took it back, I take back!" Immediately, he flips her right side up, his cheeks hurting from smiling, dirt smearing his once clean clothes and his arms.

Before he can launch into another round of banter with his daughter, a voice interrupts. "Daddy bullying you again?!" You're stood with your hands on your hips, shouting to them from the porch, the sticky summer evening lingering on your skin.

They answer simultaneously, her a "yes" and your husband a "no". They look at you wide eyed, matching molasses colored irises staring at you. The sight is captivating, your little family standing among the long grass, cotton candy skies painted behind them, the two of them covered in dirt.

Eddie pipes up, raising a brow at his daughter. "Well this one, didn't wanna get a bath. So the hose it is." He teases, throwing her over his shoulder as he marches to the coiled up hose on the ground. She's cackling with laughter again, a sound you could never get tired of.

"I think I can make you an offer, Rhin." You chime in. "I have a tray of fresh baked cookies with your name on it. They're all gooey how you like. Not hockey pucks like last time." You bargain. "All you gotta do is get your butt in the bathtub."

She huffs but you know you've got her as she hangs over her dad's shoulder. "Fine!" She whines. "Can I have six?" The random demand has you softly chuckling, Eddie repeating "six!" in disbelief. "We'll see how you feel after one." You tell her with a playful glare. She sighs while throwing her head back, curls wiggling with her movements. "I'll take that as a yes, I'm gonna get the water started." You say walking back into your small home.

"Mama runs a real tight ship around here, doesn't she?" Eddie mumbles to Rhin. She chirps out a "yep!". You can still hear their little conversation through the open windows of the kitchen as you make your way to the bathroom.

"But we love 'er. Right, stink?" The smack of a kiss, most likely against her cheek is heard before you retreat into the bathroom to start a bath. You can't fight the grin on your face.

—

A ruthless bubble bath later, Eddie's clothes splashed with water and the floor covered in puddles from their rubber ducky fight, you're pulling another tray of cookies out of the oven, the chocolatey aroma engulfing the house. As you baked, screams of joy came from the bathroom followed by the sound of sloshing water which you cursed at under your breath since you warned Eddie to keep it to a minimum. Anymore water damage to the already peeling floor and you would have an expensive renovation on your hands. You couldn't stay too mad though, it was only the result of him bonding with his daughter.

The last cookie was placed using a spatula on the plate you had set out. You used this opportunity to peek into the bathroom, finding Eddie sitting against the wall next to the bathtub, jeans soaked where his ass sat in a prominent puddle, a rubber duck held in his ring clad hand.

"I lost the great war." He mutters in disappointment as he looks up at you. Rhin is focusing on smearing bubbles on his tattooed arm that rests along the edge of the tub.

You frown at him as you lean against the doorway. "Always hate to see it, baby." You say apologetically. "But you knew what you were getting yourself into." A finger points at him with a raised brow.

"Yeah, and you keep letting me go off to war." His pout makes you want to melt like the chocolate chips in the fresh baked cookies you just baked. The most adorable sight you could ever imagine.

"Well, when will my husband return from war, then?" You banter.

"Real soon, I hope. You gotta talk to this one." His thumb gestures to Rhin. Her bath toys are scatted throughout the tub and bubbles are stuck to her chin. Her attention shifts from rubbing the bubbles on his arm and her little hands make their way to her dad's cheeks.

"Daddy, pay attention!" Her hands deliver small smacks and in return, Eddie blows a raspberry into her tiny arm.

"We don't hit, remember?" He scolds her gently, his hands gripping her little wrists delicately. She pouts at him but nods. "If we want something, we ask nicely. No hitting." She turns to putty at her dad's serious tone. "Okayyy." She softly draws out, then returning to what she was going to show him.

You beam at them, your little family. Eddie was always terrified to bring anyone around his little girl, the fear that they'd try to get close only to reject his lifestyle and cause confusion for Rhin when they would decide to leave. They'd get a glimpse of the not so glorious life of a parent and run the other way, leaving him heartbroken. But not you.

When he met you over a year ago, you were working at the local supermarket, stocking shelves when a rowdy little girl happened to crash into your legs while what appeared to be her dad chased her frantically. Telling her "Rhiannon, you better get over here. I'm not joking." He was hot, you weren't going to lie, his brunette curls were wild and he had tattoos littering his skin, wearing a band t shirt and some ripped up black jeans adorned with a chain. You wouldn't take him for a dad if you'd seen him without his little twin. You let out an "oof" before addressing the tiny girl at your feet. "Hello!" You greet her cheerfully. She offers a shy smile as she says "Hi." Her dad glances at you apologetically. "Sorry about that." He grabs her hand in his large one. You insist that its no problem, even going as far as to compliment her. "You're gorgeous! I love your shoes." You refer to her pale purple sneakers decorated with flowers. Eddie swears his heart swells in the moment then remembers you must must not be from around here at your kind treatment toward them.

From then on he's making unnecessary trips to the store just to see if you're working, not even having the courage to talk to you. One day Rhin is putting him through it when he genuinely just needs to pick up some milk. She's grabbing everything, hanging off of his leg as he attempts to walk toward the back of the store, knocking things over. She ends up getting too wound up and excited, bumping into a display of greeting cards, sending them flying around the aisle. You happen to be stocking a shelf at the end of the aisle when you see the mysterious guy you'd been crushing on with his adorable daughter, kneeling in front of her with a vein practically popping out of his neck as he tries to keep cool.

"Rhiannon, what did I tell you?" His voice is low and he sounds like he's doing his best to hide his frustration. Her lip wobbles, as her eyes brim with tears. He continues lecturing her as you approach carefully, his gaze moving from her to you. "I-I um—I'm sorry, we'll clean this up." He stutters as he begins collecting the cards from the ground. What he doesn't expect it for you to join him, kneeling on the ground doing the same. "That's okay, we all make mistakes." You assure them both. "No big deal, right?" You nod to her sad little face. He can't get over how kind you are, how much compassion you offer him as a stranger, he's so used to the rude comments and hateful stares. You end up introducing yourself to the little girl, you didn't get the chance the first time when she ran into you.

"And what's your name?" You ask, still gathering cards in your hands, Eddie doing the same as he watches the interaction. "Rhiannon." She says bashfully. "Rhiannon." You say gently, as if you're in awe, exaggerating your excitement for the little human in front of you. "Like the song. That's beautiful, I'm so jealous." This allows her to open up a little more. "Well, I like your name too." She says, sporting a missing tooth at the bottom of her smile. "M' wearing the shoes you like." She puts her foot in front of her, showing it off. "You are! Those are so in style, I've been meaning to get myself a pair."

Eddie is shocked at how well you go back and forth with his daughter, his eyes wide and his mouth hung open in wonder. And then you’re looking to him expectingly and he realizes you’ve asked for his name as well. Suddenly his day isn't going so bad.

—

After several run ins with you at the grocery store he gets the courage to ask you out. He knows its risky, he never wants to put his family in a compromising position but he can't help it when every time he goes to the store, you're there to talk his daughter down from sprinting down the aisles. Telling her "Y'know, your dad is pretty old, I don't think he should be running around after you or else his knees are gonna give out." Eddie would drop his jaw at this, a playful glint in his eyes. "Daddy, you're old?" She would question. He would go to protest until Rhin would say "I don’t wanna make you run anymore if you’re like Grampa Wayne." And while he hated it, he couldn't say anything since it got her to stop racing through the store. When he goes to continue his shopping he'd just mutter to you "If I'm old then that means you're old, assuming we're about the same age." He would smirk as if he gave you the best comeback. You'd roll your eyes. "Whatever, Grandpa, better finish your shopping. Don't forget denture glue." Mean. In the most endearing way. He would get you back one day.

Then he makes his move, a stuttering mess that has no game whatsoever. Saying “S-so, bowling?” You can’t help but burst out laughing, the statement in itself is just so odd in the context of the grocery store, halfway through your shift as his daughter skips around, her attention on the sprinkles of the baking aisle. He shakes his head in misery, knowing that his attempt at being the slightest bit flirty went down the drain the second his mouth opened. Of course you tease him for it but agree to go out with him because you’ve had a little crush on him ever since you first saw him.

Fast forward to your first date when he’s finally able to get Wayne to watch Rhin, his work schedule taking priority until he finally has a night off and even gives Eddie a pep talk, letting him know that it’s okay that he’s nervous and to take things slowly, let it flow. “She already knows you got Rhin, the hard parts over.” And he’s right, there’s no pressure. You already know about the biggest part of his life and that makes things feel a little less tense for him. He’s attempted to date before but it never felt right and he always got too overwhelmed to continue anything.

Later that night you both learn that you suck at bowling and barely have any points but it doesn’t matter because you are having the time of your life and Eddie can’t stop smiling. The music is loud and he finds himself doing little dances on his way back to to the seats after he finishes his turn. You giggle at him every time, he has no rhythm but his moves are still cute. Sometimes he chucks the ball into the lane and it bounces and it only makes you laugh harder, the whole time is spent laughing. Especially when you decide to do a shot or two together. There is no containing that stomach clenching, kicking your feet, face hurting laughter. People were probably looking at you like you’re maniacs but as far as you knew, you and Eddie were the only ones in the room.

There are moments where you pass each other while swapping turns, you going up to grab a bowling ball but first you’d both pause and do a little dance together. Everything just clicked like it never had before and there was no way you were going to let him go after that night. And he felt the same way.

—

That’s how you came to be tonight, your loving husband, just recently married, with one arm around Rhin and the other around you on the couch for a movie, picked out by Rhin of course. She’s long gone, fast asleep since her day of playing outside wore her out, her little head resting against Eddie’s side as he pulls a blanket over her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

He’d turn to you and give you the most dopey smile, so in love with both his girls. “I have never seen a little girl as nuts as her.” He tilts his head toward Rhin. “She’s got me doing full on work outs just to keep up with her before it even reaches 10AM.” You stare at him fondly, his eyes so full of passion for his daughter. “She is like the actual spawn of the Tasmanian devil.” You laugh at this, giving his bicep a squeeze as you’re curled up into him, movie forgotten about in the background. “You love her.” You say confidently, a kiss pressed to his arm. He sighs contently. “God, I do, I love her so much. I was so scared when she was a baby but now I can’t imagine my life going any other way.” He smoothes her hair down gently so he doesn’t stir her awake. “And when you came in, oh god. I was fucked.” Your hand that had rested on his stomach gave it a little smack as a warning for his language around her even though she was in a deep sleep, a grunt escaping Eddie. “Baby, it’s true.” He defends. “Don’t swear in front of her. You know that she’ll pick it up super quickly and we won’t be able to get her to stop.” We. Eddie loved when you used we. He finally had a we. A family. Something he longed for for so long in his younger years, something he feared he never deserved or would ever come close to, it all rested in the palm of his hand. And he would treasure it forever.

~end~

Masterlist

[boogiewrites]

Hindsight's Always 19/84 - Pt 1

Single Dad Eddie / Reader AU

You left Hawkins in 1984. You had no intentions of ever coming back. But life had other plans. You grew sick of the fake people and conversations, the classism and nauseating academic personalities of your past life. You craved life with its highs and lows, its triumphs and heartbreak over the beige monotony of white-collar progress. Now divorced and happy to be, you move back home. You run into an old friend, Eddie Munson. He was a memory that had haunted you for years. You haven't been the only one whose life has changed drastically. He's working two jobs and taking care of his son alone. You came back to Hawkins to find a new path, but you're faced with your younger self instead. Will you finally give her the answers she's always needed? Are you brave enough to say the things you couldn't before you left? With the growing connection between two broken adults, it looks like you never should've left.

You know what they say, Hindsight's always 20/20.

You walked down the stairs from your apartment onto the street. The sunset painted the town in nostalgia. Muted colors like looking back into your memories surrounded you. It all felt different and somehow exactly the same. You’d been back for about a month now. But with the exception of holidays, you haven't spent any time in Hawkins for over a decade. You didn’t even go to your 10-year high school reunion. You’d had no expectations of coming back here. Certainly not without an exit date firmly scheduled prior. But life is funny that way. You never expect to get divorced when you get married. You never expect to quit what once was your dream job. You never expect to move back to your hometown in some potentially pathetic, you hadn't decided yet, attempt to find yourself. Along with a lot of other lessons you were finally learning, expecting the unexpected was one being driven into your life hard.

So when you wandered the towns Main Street and saw the old record store you hadn't expected, but maybe you should have, the man standing behind the counter to be the boy who helped form most of those happy memories you’d come back home to revisit.

“We close in like 5 minutes. I can check you out if you know what you want but at 9 you’re getting kicked out.” He didn’t look up from the book of numbers he was staring at on the checkout desk.

“Oh shit. I didn’t look at your hours on the door. Sorry. I’ll leave.” You rush out, not even looking at the guy, his hair hiding his face as he leaned on the counter. You’d barely taken in the familiar space before feeling like a burden.

But then you hear your name called to your back as your hand sits on the door handle. That voice. You hadn’t heard your name said like that in so long. Not just from him but in a way that made it sound like someone was genuinely happy to see you.

“Eddie?” It leaves your slightly parted lips before you even verify the owner of the now much deeper, voice. It’s still cracked and popped when you heard it last. A young man with his training wheels freshly off was now grown before you. He looked so different. And just like the town… somehow exactly the same.

“Holy shit it is you!” his face lit up, it was a wonderful sight. Eddie was always a big emoter, being absolute shit at hiding how he felt on his face. And right now he was happy to see you. Your face was a bit more hesitant, only for the heavy smack of memories you were drowning in as you shared a silent smile, eyes very boldly meeting one another's.

“It’s me.” you held out your hands in a jazzy presentation of yourself that made him laugh.

“What are you doing here? Oh shit, is everyone okay?” His face went from curious to concerned in a flash.

“Oh yeah, the family’s fine.” you finally stepped forward and dismissed his concern with a wave of your hand. “I moved back.” he could see the way your jaw tensed when you said it. Last he’d heard you were married and working some white-collar job and doing just fine. He certainly hadn’t expected you to walk into his shop on a random Tuesday. He wanted to ask a hundred questions that had all poured into his brain but withheld.

“How long have you been back?” he got away with looking at your hands, checking for a wedding band as they ran through your hair nervously. There wasn’t one. That gave him plenty of answers to sate his intrusive tendencies. Little did he know you’d already looked at his ring finger to see the same.

“A few weeks. Not long. Just got settled into the apartment on 3rd street. Pure luck it opened up when I was looking.”

“An apartment?” he had a playful smile as he quirked his brow. “Would’ve pinned you for a house sorta girl.”

“Needed a change.” you wrinkled your nose, vague answers meant you weren’t ready to talk about it. Which he understood.

“I heard they re-did those recently.”

“Yeah, it’s way nicer than I expected. Overlooks the park which is very cute. And is a hell of a lot cheaper than my mortgage was.” a genuine smile graced your face, and the sense of relief wasn’t missed by him in your voice.

“Tell me about it.” he groaned and slapped the open book in front of him.

“Oh, doing the books?” you leaned forward curiously, intimately familiar with the layout of the paper before him. “Wait. Why are you doing the accounting?” you didn’t hide the confusion on your face as you looked back up at a smirking Eddie. His hair was the same save for the lack of bangs, a change with the times. He had a past 5 o clock shadow and light circles under his eyes. You knew you also had signs of wear and age on your face.

“Because I own the place?” he tilted his head to the side and chuckled. “You don’t have to look SO surprised.” he then broke into a laugh.

“Sorry! I just. Wow.” you shook your head.

“Give me a little credit. I’ve grown up since you last knew me.” a playful defensiveness was apparent in his shaking curls as he challenged your slack jaw at the news.

“I’m sure you have. Sorry. I didn’t mean to -”

“Shut up. I’m fucking with you.” the deepness of his voice bloomed out of a laughing chest. “I do own it but I agree I didn’t scream responsible business owner at 18.” he grinned. “I started working here shortly after you left and ten years later Mr. Orison wanted to retire and well…” he motioned to the room then let his arms slap to his sides.

“Good for you. Seriously. Running a business is fucking hard. People don’t realize it.”

“Yeah neither did I when I bought it.” he bent over and ran his hand through his hair, elbows to the countertop.

“I used to crunch numbers all day for a living so I get it. I’ll leave you to it. It’s past 9 anyway, I think you’re supposed to kick me out.” you smiled brightly, and you felt the strain in your cheeks. It’d been a long, long time since you’d smiled so big.

“You get to be an exception to the rule. You can wander around if you want. I don’t care.”

“No, no. I know you need to focus. I’ll get out of your hair.” you take a few steps back. “I could come back when you aren’t busy?” you offered, a raise of one shoulder to your chin.

“Yeah! Yes.” he cleared his throat and nodded enthusiastically, spooling out some blank receipt paper. “Since you’re back-back we should catch up.” he dabbed the pen to his tongue to get it to work, and a few shakes and grunts later he was writing his number down. “And I don’t mean in that fake reunion - oh my god let’s get coffee sometime kinda way.” he looked up, hang dancing over his papers as a fuller face than you recalled smiled at you.

“Glad we’re on the same page. I need some friends. Not gonna lie.” you chuckle nervously and give a purposely strained smile.

“Lucky for you, we are built-in friends.” he holds out the paper as you step back toward him.

“Good,” you say softly, ripping part of the paper and writing down your own information. “You’re busier than me right now so feel free to call me whenever and we can go not get coffee.” you joke and he accepts it heartily.

“You drink?”

“Not as well as I used to.” you laugh.

“That’sthefuckintruth.” he grumbled. “I’ll hit you up and we’ll go to the old Hideout. We’ll be two old schmo’s reminiscing just like the people we used to make fun of.”

“Sounds perfect.” the relief of something casual and easy flooded you. There was no pretentious pretext, no formalwear to buy, or people to schmooze. Beers, a dive bar, and an old friend sounded close to heaven after the way you’d spent the last decade. “See ya soon.” you wiggle your fingers in a wave before Eddie watches you walk down the street and out of sight, locking the door behind you.

“Well, shit.” he didn’t have to hide his smile now, chuckling to himself, rubbing his face as he walked back to the counter. “She’s back.” he talked to himself, no one else was around, and being alone was a rarity for him these days. He gathered up his books and looked at the mirror in the hall on the way to the back office. “And single,” he said to his reflection before looking over it and frowning at the sight. He looked fucking tired. In all fairness he was. “And you’re a struggling single dad with two jobs.” he sighed and looked away from the mirror. A reality check he needed was cashed to himself. He wasn’t exactly relationship material at the moment with barely any time for himself let alone dating someone. You were used to money and the city and some fancy-pants professor was your ex-husband. What’s a small-town mechanic with a sob story, a kid, and a treading water business going to offer you? He groaned, his annoyance clear on his face as he plopped into the old creaky leather chair. Little did he know, that craving a slice of real life, something raw and passionate, full of imperfections was exactly why you’d left your husband and old life behind. He had more to offer than old romantic nostalgia. He just didn’t know it yet.

Eddie arrived at the trailer he was pleased to call home. A double wide with a room for him and his son and for Wayne when he wanted to stay over. He didn’t live far from his uncle and he didn’t want to be away from him, truth be told. He’d landscaped the place, out in the field away from the clusters of other trailers, a little fence, and a bricked-in foundation. He was proud of what he’d been able to create for his little family.

Eddie was happy to admit now that the calling from his kid as soon as he noticed him walking into the door made every bit of worry fade away for a few minutes.

“Daddy!” a very active toddler ran and stumbled toward him, falling and ignoring the failure to get swept up in his dad's arms.

“Hey little man!” he tossed him into the air, a favorite pastime of his since he was tiny. “I see we had spaghetti for dinner.” Eddie laughed, grabbing a noddle from his shirt and eating it noisily to make him laugh.

“He’s as stubborn as you.” Wayne chuckled, a grunt as he raised from the couch. “Refused anything else. Remember when you’d only eat pickles and ranch with butter noodles for dinner for a while?”

“It’s still good.” Eddie grinned, shifting the kid to his hip.

“Your taste has always been questionable.” Wayne teased. It was always with love.

“It’s a point of pride.” Eddie smiled and shoved a fork into the pot of noodles left on the stove.

“We were about to get settled for bed. Someone had a long nap today and messed up his routine.”

“Did not!” a very adamant and incorrect claim came from the small version of Eddie.

“Terrible two’s.” Wayne glared and wagged his finger as he hunched toward the kid before grabbing his side to tickle him and make him scream.

“How about we go play sea monster?” Eddie suggested, the kid's eyes lighting up.

“YEAH!” his little fists clenched.

“You handle the bath I’ll clean up.” Wayne pats his adopted son’s arm.

Eddie was elbow-deep in bubbles, soap in his mouth, and water in his eyes as his boy thrashed in the water. A rouge rubber dinosaur bonked Eddie in the head.

“Asteroid!” he shouted, slapping Eddie with a wet ball in the face before slapping his hands into the water full of floating dinosaurs.

“I thought we were playing sea monsters?” Eddie asked, a washcloth rubbing behind his son's ears.

“Monster rock! Gahhh!” the little gremlin growled and slapped the ball down again.

“Ya know what? Fair.” Eddie nodded, a resigned purse of his lips as he scrubbed away at his slippery like an eel, arms. “You remember this one’s name?” he picked up a plastic dinosaur.

“Robert!” Eddie bent his head down and laughed, soaping the boy's hair into a little mohawk.

“He’s called a T Rex. Remember their science names?”

“Robert! Ahhh!” he slapped the toy out of Edie’s hand as he kept laughing. He was a bit biased but he thought his kid could be the funniest person to ever exist. He was aware that him having his DNA did make the chances of them having a similar sense of humor high but… he could make Eddie laugh harder than anyone else.

“So we’re choosing chaos over learning tonight.” Eddie nodded, accepting that his attempts to be a good dad who taught his kid things at every available opportunity were going to fall onto bubble covered ears tonight.

“Chay ossssss” he made a grumpy face, doing his attempts at a metal scream, having heard the word growled many times in Eddie’s music choices.

“Oh, it’s gonna be that kinda night, huh?” Eddie perked up. “You wanna sing Metallica?” He asked, soaked hands slapping out a beat on the side of the tub.

“BUM BUM BUM!” he banged his little head, mimicking his father.

“Sanitarium!” Eddie had never held back with his music and his little man. He seemed to love it.

“Leave me be!” he clapped.

“Sanitarium!”

“LEAVE ME ‘LONE!” his little chin jutted up as he declared it to the ceiling with the rage only a small child could deliver.

Sure Eddie’s parenting wasn’t exactly orthodox. But then again who in their right mind would’ve expected it to be?

After a very messy round of monsters in the tub, rubber toys are everywhere, and towels and washcloths are strewn and slapped to the plastic walls of the shower tub. Bubbles floated and faded, clumps in Eddie’s hair. He wrangled his son into his pajamas, reading him to sleep with Lord of the Rings, doing the voices, and living his DM memories in his performance. Soon he was sound asleep, worn out and content. Eddie dimmed the light, ruffling the dark soft curls that resembled his own before a kiss on his baby lotion-smelling cheek.

He came into the kitchen with a loud yawn, stretching before hitting the fridge for a beer.

“He had a good day today.” Wayne nodded, sitting at the kitchen table.

“Good.” Eddie sighed with a sip.

“How about my other baby? What day did he have?” Wayne smirked, sipping his mug of coffee.

“You’ll never guess who’s back in town.” Eddie shoved a fork full of leftover spaghetti in his mouth that Wayne had set out for him.

“Rude to leave me hangin’.”

“Remember that girl I used to run around with back in high school?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Seriously? You didn’t need any other information?” Eddie laughed, mouth full of spaghetti.

“No offense son, but you weren’t exactly surrounded by girls back then.”

“Harsh.” Eddie grinned. “But true.” he nodded. “She’s back in town.” he muffled out in bites.

“Her folks okay? I always liked ‘em I’d hate to hear something bad happened to ‘em.”

“That’s what I asked her.” Eddie smiled, being made more aware of Wayne’s influence on him every day since his son was born. “She said her family’s fine.”

“Oh, you talked to her?” Wayne said impressed.

“Walked right into the shop.” Eddie held out a hand in a surprised shrug.

“She married who? A teacher?”

“Professor of English.” Eddie rolled his eyes. “But!” Eddie’s eyes lit up in a way Wayne hadn’t seen in a long while. “She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.”

“So you looked, huh?”

“I’m no homewrecker.” Wayne’s shoulder shook with a laugh at Eddie’s defensiveness.

“Since when?” he smirked.

“She didn’t say anything. Just said she moved back. But we swapped numbers and she wants to catch up.”

“Well, that couldn’t have gone any better for you could it?” Wayne said supportively. He’d always liked you. You were a bit wild, sure, but so was Edddie and he knew he was still a good kid.

“I mean it could have.” Eddie gave a little snicker and his cheeks turned a bit pink as Wayne snorted and threw a napkin at him.

“What’d she think of you? Business owner, two jobs, a kid. Big difference from when she knew you last.”

“She was surprised by the business. But that’s all I shared.”

“Ed…” Wayne chastised him.

“I know. I’ll tell her, obviously, I just didn’t wanna do that thing I do where I start talking and don’t stop. And next thing I know I’ve told her too much and she’s backing away.”

“Did she have any kids?”

“Don’t know. She didn’t say anything either. I don’t remember hearing that she did.” Eddie shrugged, shoveling the rest of the food into his mouth, bowl tilted up.

“Odd for a woman her age to not have a kid.” Wayne’s brow creased.

“C’mon Wayne. You’re more progressive than that.” Eddie grumbled.

“You know I’m all for people making their own choices, but she was married for a long time. Call me curious.”

“I’ll tell you everything when I talk to her.”

“When’s that gonna be?”

“When can you babysit again?” He smirked.

You were surprised but pleasantly that it took Eddie only two days to call you. You suppose he wasn’t lying about wanting to be friends again. Why wouldn’t he? You were thick as thieves in your teens. You got on like a house fire when you were together. You were hoping that you hadn’t changed so much that he’d find you boring now. You were still in the midst of figuring out who you actually were and how much beige you had unwillingly absorbed from your previous life path. Eddie was still spunky and lively with his alternative clothes and hair, free flow of swears as sentence enhancers without care behind it, and a heart that seemed to still be pinned to his sleeve. You envied that. You hoped it rubbed off on you.

You wore an outfit your ex-husband would hate out to the bar that evening. You’d been making a habit of doing things he hated. It was your new favorite pastime.

So it meant that much more when Edie greeted you with his full attention, pulling out a chair and giving you a charming smile that people took classes to learn how to do in the city. While he was naturally gifted and wholesome and genuine.

“Hopefully it’s okay for me to say this. If not- feel free to twist my ear- but you look really pretty tonight.” It was the wholesome version of what he was thinking. The maxi skirt was made out of some flimsy material that his fingertips itched to touch. It had some Asian-inspired dragons on the bottom, and a tank top matching the color of the trim of the skirt was paired with it. Some chunky sandals that made you almost as tall as him were hidden under the skirt. Little maroon-painted toes peeped out as you sat. He noticed they match your nails and lipstick. You hadn’t been so put together when you were younger. Jeans, the same beat-up sneakers, and a t-shirt were the rotation of choice. You never presented as particularly feminine, not like this anyway. He thought you looked great, but it made him wonder what else had changed.

“Thanks. I really liked this outfit.” Your smile was soft and sweet as you accepted his chivalry of pushing your chair in.

“The dragons are badass.” He gave an approving nod as he sat across from you.

“They’re really trendy right now.”

“Trendy?” He smirked.

“There’s currently an uptick of Asian-inspired ornamental detail right in teen fashion design. related to the rise in popularity of Japanese influence in youth counter-culture.” Eddie blinked a bit befuddled at the sentence that came out of your mouth. You could see it in his very readable face. You’d lost him. You wore the same look around your ex’s colleagues as they discussed the literature of old white men like it was written by God. you’d always been lost and you hated that you’d just done the same to Eddie. “Sorry.” You wrinkle your nose, frowning and Eddie leans in to give you an apologetic look. “We’re gonna be friends right?” Not the smoothest starting point but it’s what came out.

“Uhm. Yeah? I hoped so.” His eyes squinted, uncertain.

“Then I’ll start with being as transparent as possible with you.” You splayed your hands out on the tabletop. “I’m used to talking to people that demand that you constantly impress them with intelligence. It’s awful and I fucking hated it.” Eddie cracked a smile as he watched your face start to give over to emotion. “It’s a habit to say things in a way that’s unnecessary and academic sounding instead of talking like a normal person. I’m trying to break the habit. So sorry if I sound like I have my head up my ass when I talk sometimes.” Eddie was still for a moment, meeting your tired eyes before laughing.

“You did sound very smart.” He consoled you.

“Thank you. I hate sounding elitist. you don’t need to know how to cite references to be smart.”

“I don’t even know what that means.” He gave you a cheesy grin.

“Perfect. You’re exactly who I wanna talk to then.” You reached out to touch his hand before withdrawing it. “I should’ve said yes, dragons are badass. Having them on a skirt makes me feel cool.” You chuckled and tucked your hair behind your ear nervously.

“You still into that stuff? Fantasy? Dragons and Knights and Damsels?”

“I’ve always liked the aesthetic. I haven’t read much since I left here.”

“That’s a shame. You used to read all the time. I still do.”

“I started to hate it after I married someone who did nothing but read. And base their entire existence on it. Sucks all the fun out of it. He was very good at doing that with anything.”

“So… ex… husband then?” He boldly asked, motioning a finger to your naked ring finger.

“Very much ex. Excommunicated I wish.” You smiled. “Exterminated. Expelled. Ex…plodded.” You laughed.

“That what brought you back here?”

“Is it that obvious? I’m just some cliche of a woman now. Coming back home to find herself after leaving a bad man.” You put the back of your hand to your forehead playfully.

“Nothing wrong with leaving a bad relationship.”

“Thanks.” You say quietly. “So now you know I left my old life and moved back here. What’s your story?”

“I’ve been up to plenty.” He turned to laugh nervously. “You started with the biggest thing so-“ he grunted and shifted to pull his wallet out of his back pocket. “Here’s my biggest thing.” He pulled out a photo and handed it to you. It was a photo of Eddie holding a baby. “That’s my little Teddy bear.” He smiled proudly. Your hand shot out to grab his forearm.

“Ohmygod… you have a baby??” Your face lit up and relief washed over him in a chill. “Look at him! Babies usually look like little potatoes but he’s so fucking cute Eddie.” You whined, holding the photo in both hands as if you were cradling it.

“I know I’m biased but I think he’s the cutest baby to ever exist.” he took great pleasure in the fact that Teddy was part him. His sweet dimpled smile made that obvious.

“He could be. A front-runner for sure. He looks like he fell right out of your ass.” You laughed and touched the photo lightly. “I bet mom hates that, huh? All that work and he comes out looking just like you.”

You saw his demeanor shift, the brightness fading ever so slightly. You’d said something wrong.

“She’s not really uh-around.” His eyes wandered the tabletop for a moment.

“Oh sorry. My big mouth.” You wince and hand him back the photo.

“No, no. It’s just… I don’t ever talk about it since it’s a small town and everyone knows already. It’s a real fuckin buzzkill but it’s just facts and you shared with me so I’ll share with you.”

“You don’t have to if-“

“No, it’s fine. Me and Teddy are doing great now. She just uh- she had a heart defect that no one knew about and having Teddy well… it gave out on her.”

“Holy shit.” You let slip out on accident. “Sorry I don’t mean to be so crude about it I’m just surprised. I mean that’s… the worst.”

“We were together but not like-“ his nose twitched and he got the feeling he was about to overshare.

“I’ll answer any question you have if you want. But you don’t have to share with me unless you want to.” It was a heartfelt offer he appreciated.

“I do. We wanted to catch up so this is getting you up to speed.” He shrugged. “It’s been years ago now. Teddy wasn’t planned, we weren’t together when she got pregnant. But she wanted a baby and you know me, I wasn’t going to not be there for the kid after the upbringing I had so I did the right thing and proposed but she didn’t want to get married until after the baby but… yeah. So it could be a lot worse I guess? Is that bad to say? Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve talked about it. “He shook his head and laughed awkwardly. “Teddy’s none the wiser. I named him Theodore because that’s what she wanted to name him. So Theodore is his middle name and I went with what I wanted, which was Ronald. Well, I wanted Ronnie but Wayne wouldn’t have me naming the kid a nickname. So his official name is Ronald Theodore Munson. But Teddy ended up being what stuck. He’s an affectionate little guy. Also a lot of hair like his parents.” he added with a sad chuckle.”He’ll probably get tired of it when he grows up and go by Ronnie, I figure.” You were gazing at him with a soft smile, seeing him talk about his kid.

“Eddie and Teddy. It’s too cute.” You sighed out, a short-lived giggle making Eddie’s cheeks flush for some reason. “Please tell me you named him Ronnie after THE Ronnie James Dio.”

“Yeah.” He admitted and looked away before you burst out laughing and reaching out again for his arm. He really liked that you touched him so much. It made him feel a weird hopefulness that didn’t exactly have a target goal he was willing to admit yet.

“God that’s perfect. I love that. No sarcasm. It’s fantastic. A+ name choice. Highly approve.” You gave him a small clap. “I think you should name your kids something fun and interesting. I love that you did that.”

“You have any kids?”

“Nope.” You shook your head. “I never tried. Never wanted to with Chris.”

“So that’s the wet blankets name.” He smirked.

“Yes, it is. And a perfect description.” You commended him. “He’d be a terrible dad. I didn’t want a kid that looked like or acted like him.”

“If you don’t mind me asking. If you hated this guy so much why’d you marry him in the first place?” You gave him an out-of-place smile, grateful for real questions.

“Honestly? He was safe.” You shrug and sigh. “He had a plan and was smart and good with money. Well connected, good family, all that horse shit.” Your eyes shot to Eddie as he let out a chuckle. “I partied my first year and almost flunked out, realized I had to actually try to do well in college. I was having your standard identity crisis and met him. He seemed like he had his shit together. So I hitched myself to that wagon and rode it all the way to a degree and a life I didn’t really want.”

“So that’s why you never came back.”

“Yeah. I was being indoctrinated by WASP’s.” You grumbled. “Made me hate this place and look down on it. Which isn’t right at all. This place is more real than anything they have in their gated communities.”

“So money really can’t buy you happiness?” He lightened the conversation.

“Turns out it’s true. But man it helps.” You laughed. “I was able to deny how unhappy I was for years because of money. But it only lasted so long.”

“What made you finally leave?”

“It wasn’t really one thing that did it. It’s whatever the last straw happened to be. And… it’s stupid.” You looked down and huffed out a laugh.

“It’s you, I know it’s not stupid.” The earnestness in his words made you look away for a moment before a nervous smile appeared.

“He made fun of a book I bought.” you admitted with a monotone delivery.

“Not normally grounds for divorce but a dick move.” A playful judgment was in his nod as he side eyed you. “So he made fun of it but what was the actual reason?”

“You’re still perceptive.” You give him the same smirk.

“A blessing and a curse.” He put a hand to his chest.

“It was one of those cheesy romance novels. A bodice ripper. The guy with the long hair in the wind on the cover and his shirts half open and the woman has fainted in his arms and they’re on a mountain top or some shit.” Eddie laughed and nodded. “I wanted something to enjoy. Have a good time reading it and maybe get a little thrill or something in the meantime. And so we’re in bed and he’s got his notebook and whatever he’s reading and he notices I have a book, which was different and he asks me what it is and I tell him and he does this little face I hate where he’s pretending to be interested like he’s in a fucking infomercial all ‘hmmm interesting yes’” You rub your chin and nod exaggeratedly and it makes Eddie laugh. “Who’s the author? He asked, I tell him. What else have they written? I don’t know. ‘You picked up a random book and bought it?’ Yeah, it looked fun. And he LAUGHS. And this man doesn’t laugh. He asks if any of their work would’ve had articles written about it by his peers and I just snapped.”

“He was doing that shit on purpose.” Eddie poked a finger at the worn tabletop.

“Thank you!” You slapped the table.“He’s got all these stupid questions and I just wanted to hit him over the head with the book. The next morning I went to my lawyer.”

“You work fast.” Eddie sputtered out, surprised.

“I realized that was going to be every interaction for the rest of my life with him when I showed interest in something that wasn’t up to his standard. And I fucking had it. I was done.”

“Good for you.” He says back and raised a hand to the bartender. “I’m buying you a drink on behalf of real readers everywhere.”

“Thanks.” You smile and settle into your seat, calming yourself back down. The wound was still very fresh.

“The fact that you said you went to your lawyer has thrown me for a fuckin loop though.” He grinned. “Never thought I’d hear something like that coming from you. Unless it was for a DUI or something.” He teased.

“When you make money you realize the work that goes into keeping it and turning it into more money and that means lawyers and banks and reps and accountants and specialists and brokers and-“ you groan.

“What the hell kind of work did you do?”

“White collar business. Numbers. Money.” You nod. “The only good thing that came from that relationship was I learned how rich people use their money and I protected myself. Everything was kept separate and since he only had a part-time professor gig since he was on a never-ending quest for more degrees his folks paid some of the bills.”

“Oh god, a trust fund baby? Really?” He cringed. “You knew better than that.”

“I know I know.” You roll your eyes. “But you also understand how scary the world is when you don’t have money. And just a taste was enough to make me sell out. I’m not proud of it. But I’m proud of where I am now.” You sat up straighter. “In a small studio apartment in my hometown. Unemployed, single, and totally fucking winging it.”

Two long necks appear at the table and he raises a toast.

“Here’s to totally fucking winging it.” You happily clinked your bottles together. “Ever since Teddy came earth side and my tentative plans went all to hell with becoming a dad I feel like totally winging it is an understatement.” He sighs. “I worked at the record store forever then suddenly I owned it. I’ve got a loan and very little business knowledge and a new baby and I’m a future spouse short on support and income. And now I’m working days at the body shop in town and holding my breath.”

“I’m not gonna lie that’s a lot.” you gave him a sympathetic pout. “For anyone. Do you need like- help or anything? I mean I did help people run businesses in a past life.”

“Honey, you do not deserve to be dragged into my bullshit circus of a life.” the way he spoke reminded you so much of Wayne.

“Maybe I wanna be?” You shrugged and let the offer hang in the air. “I mean I don’t have a job, you’d be doing me a favor. I can look over your stuff and give you some advice and if you like it you can put me on retainer.”

“I don’t think I could afford you.” He smirked at the underlying double meaning to which your snorted at.

“Friends and family discount.” You nodded. “Or I can just… I don’t know… you need someone to watch Teddy?”

“You’d do that?” He seemed genuinely surprised and it shocked you.

“Yeah. Childcare is ridiculously expensive. I could cut a day or two off a week for you. Use him for ransom so you have to hang with me again?”

His face lit up and he wiped his smiling mouth with the back of his hand after taking another drink.

“Or just ask like a normal person.” He snorted.

“Sounds boring.” You muttered before taking a sip and sending him into another laugh.

“You sure you wanna get mixed up with me? You just got back, you’re dealing with your own stuff I don’t wanna add to it.” He offered you a chance to withdraw. You weren’t interested.

“I’ll come clean, Eddie.” You began and took a deep breath after a deeper swig of beer. “Coming back here, I had a few hopes. And being able to reconnect with you was one of those to be perfectly honest. It’s this new thing I’m trying.” He gave you a crooked smile, a dimple deepening in his cheek that lured your gaze to it. “And the fact that you’re willing and want anything to do with me after I left is more than I could hope for. I came back here to be around real people with real lives. I would love to help you with your business too. I’ll do it for free, I don’t give a shit. Because you’re a real person with consequences for your actions. Not some numbered entity of an LLC bought off a drunk golf game bet.” You took a deep breath and saw his face warm and open, shoulders a little slouched. “So short version- yes. I want to be involved in your bullshit.“

“Good.” A simple answer with a complicated proposition. “I want to be involved with your bullshit too.”

You’d been to six different businesses today. Your feet were tired, having not been accustomed to being in heels all day for months. Your suit felt stiff despite how much you knew the fabric cost. You’d found a few leads but mostly the role of bookkeeper was locked down by someone who should’ve already retired. Change was vital to business survival and these people didn’t seem to care if their taxes had been done the same way for the last 20 years. Small towns, man.

A whistle breaks your grumpy demeanor you weren’t trying to hide anymore since exiting the back office of the noisy Chuck E. Cheese. You blinked, head snapping to the sound of sucking teeth before seeing the playful lit up face of Eddie as the source.

“Sorry sugar, thought you were someone else. You’re clearly a business lady, my mistake.” he wheezed and coughed with his laugh, splayed out in a red vinyl chair among the scattered groupings of parents and kids.

“Fuck off.” you laughed, hissing it at him quietly to not become the witch in a witch hunt the barking of the word fuck in a place like Chuck E. Cheese would surely start. He pulls out the empty chair next to him and slaps the cushion.

“Take a load off fancy business pants.” he grinned deep, smile lines siking farther into his face than they used to. “Your feet have got to be killing you in those shoes. Christ, woman. What are you wearing those torture devices for?”

“Old habit.” you groan, wrinkling your nose as you plop down, crossing your leg over your knee toward him.

“Why are you in a kid’s pizza place in a suit?”

“Been going around cold calling about work today.”

“Old school.” he nodded in approval. “Any luck?”

“Some bites. Nothing concrete. Franchises like this have to get everything approved by corporate before they can even move around where the napkin holders are let alone hire someone.”

“Sounds like a ring of hell to me.” he muttered, leaning in toward you, his face facing the play area.

“Are you here with Teddy or out hunting for single moms?” you snort.

“I can do both.” he laughed, your chests moving the jabs at each other. “I was actually out hoping to bag a lady who can make me look even more like a deadbeat dad than I already do by simply sitting next to me.” he looked you up and down to sell the joke before you understood he was talking about you. “You look like you’re here to supervise a custody visit, man. What is this?” he tugged at the collar of your suit jacket.

“It’s call professionalism.” you sat up and wobbled your head. “But it is overkill in Hawkins.” you sighed and took off the suit jacket, hanging it and your purse on the back of the chair. “I look like I gather “protection” money.” you go ahead and roast yourself. “Do I look less like a narc?” you ask, fluffing your hair and in a button-up shirt with no stuffy jacket with a single button undone. “That better?” you slouched back into the chair, hands crossed on your stomach.

“Depends on the connotations of what you’re applying the word better to.” He didn’t look at you when he said it but the smirk was audible in his voice. Your head is noticeably tilted as you lean in toward him, shifting in the seat.

“You’re gonna give me war flashbacks to fundraising dinners talking like that.” you chuckled, looking out to the smattering of kids, seeing if you could pick out which was his. There wasn’t one screaming or chewing through the ropes so that theory was out. “Although they weren’t nearly as flirty as you, you scamp.” you snorted and watch his grin beam across his stubbled face.

“My main outlet for flirting is with women at the shop,” he admitted, turning his head back toward you. “And don’t get me wrong, it’s fun. A bit awkward with how heavy they’re willing to lay it on, man. You’d be shocked at the people that have offered to pay in other ways.” he wiggled his brows.

“You get rid of me and suddenly you’re swimming in p-” you stop yourself and look around with wide eyes, remembering where you are as Eddie cackles loudly and slaps your leg. “I’m not used to being around family-friendly environments.” you purposely wince and watch his laugh take over his entire demeanor. People turned to look at him but he still didn’t care. It was comforting to know that hadn’t changed.

“I’m no pro at it myself. Don’t worry. When we’re not in public you won’t have to hold your tongue so much. The first time Teddy swore I almost hyperventilated I laughed so hard.”

“Speaking of, where is he? Can I meet him?” Eddie turned to find your eyes bright, brows high and hopeful. “Or maybe not. Is that too soon? I should ask permission first, right? I don’t know how kids work, sorry.” Again, that now deep, gravelly laugh gritted out, the years of cigarettes still in his throat as he pat and rubbed your shoulder.

“You remind me of me when I first got him home. What do I do with this thing?” he mimicked fear and holding a baby awkwardly. “He needs to take a break and get a drink anyway.” he sat up, cracking his back and groaning. “Teddy Monster?” He shouted hands clasped to his mouth, startling the other restaurantgoers.

A small screechy roar is heard, a section of ball pit busting up into the air and a curly mop-haired little cherub-faced cutie pie flopped over the barrier with a cackle much like his dad’s. He rolled out onto the foam playmat-covered floor and stumbled a bit before finding his footing and booking it toward Eddie who was running at him full speed, hunched over, hands clawed both growling at each other. He yanked him up as he lept at him fearlessly, tossing him in the air, before pretending to eat his stomach, holding him sideways, raspberrying his tummy before so easily tossing him into one arm and plopping him down on his knee at the table.

You took in the funniest little gasp of air when you realized you hadn’t breathed the entire time you’d watched him. Gulping and regaining your senses, shocked at yourself. Your eyes dilated at the sight of Eddie with his kid. Oh god, your inner voice groaned. Was the biological clock thing actually real? Was this what that was? Did you just ovulate at the sight of your high school crush simply playing with his kid? Should you be ashamed? Because you sure didn’t feel ashamed.

“Get a drink, bud.” Eddie brought the plastic cup to Teddys grabbing hands. “You having fun?” he kissed his impossibly soft curls, slightly damp from sweat.

“Mnfg- yuh- mmffpptt” he spluttered trying to answer and gulp at the same time, he gained a chuckle from you and both the dark-eyed boys turned to look at you in unison.

“Hi!” he said with a wet face and a smile that looked so much like his father's it made your chest hurt.

“This is Daddy’s friend.” Eddie put his hand on your shoulder as he introduced you.

“Hi Miss.” he nodded and waved with one hand, the other still grasping the cup Eddie was balancing for him.

“He calls all the ladies at the daycare Miss.” Eddie explained.

“So polite.” You couldn’t help how you cooed at him. Eddie noticed. “I’m excited to meet you Teddy. Maybe me and you can be friends like me and your daddy are?” With wide eyes, he nodded in agreement.

“He’s super friendly. Never met a stranger. Didn’t get it from me.”

“Dad.” He gasped, raising his t-shirt to wipe his face. A habit he surely picked up from Eddie. “Can she play?”

“Ask her.” He chuckled, smoothing down his waves.

“Wanna play?” He perked up, leaning to put his hands on your knee.

“I absolutely do!” You couldn’t figure out how Eddie ever said no to that face. You reached down to slip off your shoes and a smile Eddie purposely held back on started to grow. “You like the ball pit? It’s my favorite.”

“Me too!” He clapped his hand together and started wriggling out of Eddie’s hold. You pulled your hair back again and gave Eddie a nod. “I’m gonna hurt myself so don’t make fun of me.” You said quietly before standing.

“I’d never.” He put his hand to his chest defensively.

“Come ON!” Teddy’s squatted form growls like a professional metal frontman as he stood waiting for you to catch up.

Eddie sat back, leg bent over his other, hands laced together to fit behind his head. He watched you get tugged mercilessly by his son into the ball pit in a suit that probably cost so much Teddy couldn’t even fathom a number that high yet. You looked expensive but it was clear you were priceless. You slid headfirst into the concerningly sticky ball pit. You were caught up in the cutest kid you’d ever seems energy and found yourself forgetting you hadn’t played in 20-something years and you’d be feeling the ache tomorrow. Eddie couldn’t take his eyes off you, getting jumped on by Teddy, mashed into the pit, and pelted and screamed at. Other kids joined in, happy an adult was getting on their level. Eddie was known to crawl around the tubes on the play area from time to time but got dirty looks from the other parents. Aware that his own reputation now affected someone besides himself he’d pulled back on the public displays of feral behavior.

As he watched he let himself hope for a moment. Seeing a best-case scenario play out in front of him, his worries that you’d be averted in some way from him because he had a kid we’re floating away, replaced with a shameful optimism it could be a pro instead of a con. He’d be a blatant liar to himself if he tried to say as soon as he saw you walk into his shop the thought of being with you again hasn’t popped into his head. However, sex at 17 is a lot less complicated than sex in your 30s, at least for him. Eddie had big feelings. Especially when It came to you. He had a kid and jobs and a life he’d worked so hard to create that bringing someone in without immense forethought wasn’t something he was willing to do. Sure he’d banged his way through some women in Hawkins to pass the time but he had no intentions of being with you physically unless that also came with the emotions attached. There was no you for him without emotion attached. And watching you with the most important piece of his life, slotting into their dynamic with ease made him let out a deep sigh. With the worry of you approving of being in his life in any capacity in relation to Teddy aside. It let the gates open for many other far deeper running concerns.

You had a good run, laughing as you hopped out of the ball pit and stumbled falling flat on your ass, the kids all pointing and laughing. A very sweet little girl came over to help you up but you were also too busy laughing at the situation. Your cheeks hurt from smiling, your knees ached from crawling along the bottom of the pit after a very rambunctious Teddy who really seemed to like hiding and popping out at you as you stalked him through the large rectangle space. Your muscle was awake with freshly pumped blood, cheeks rosy, and hair a mess, half out of its scrunchie as you tugged the rest out before dramatically collapsing into the chair next to Eddie.

“How?” You panted out, still smiling.

“How what?”

“Two things.” You hold up your fingers and steal a drink from his cup. “One, you must be in incredible shape to play with him like that. That’s crazy. And two-“ you took another drink, finishing it off and meeting Eddie’s brightly amused face. “We need to isolate what gives them that level of energy and sell it.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” Eddie chuckled, half muttered and reminding you of his uncle. “A real answer, I don’t keep up.” He admitted willingly. “A true but more boastful answer is work keeps me in better shape than I’d be in otherwise. So that helps. And he slowly got bigger so it’s not like I could throw him around overnight. I’m figuring out what that dad strength people talk about is.”

“Man I’d like some of that if it made my arms look like that.” You blurted out the specific compliment without much thought, happy on endorphins from exercise. You and Eddie were always playful and flirty but you didn’t know where the line was between you now. Or where the line even was within yourself. Did you want to flirt with him? I mean really purposely flirt with bitten lips and side eyes and hushed tones? Because there were levels to this now. It wasn’t heh I like your Metallica shirt let’s make out in the back of your van about it anymore. You kinda wish it was though. Man, you had some good times in the back of his van.

“Oh you bought a ticket I see.” He said with no notion he was joking, rolling up one of his sleeves.

“What?” You blurted out with no flirt to be found in your scrunched face.

“To the gun show?” He asked as if you were stupid as he flexed and you groaned and threw your head back. You were split between two moments in time for a second. You were two obnoxious teens in the diner being loud and completely oblivious that anyone else was around again. He cackled and you slugged his defined arm. More tattoos than you left him with covered the planes that shifted as he ran his hand through his still unruly waves. You felt young again. There were more seen and unseen scars now, permanent tiredness under your eyes, more wrinkles, and less graceful bodies but something felt youthful about being around him. And Teddy now. There was some addictive spark they lit in you. They were the sort of people your ex and his lot would’ve mercilessly insulted and looked down on. And they were exactly the sort of people who seemed to be able to remind you that yes, you could feel happy and have fun. You weren’t broken. There was nothing wrong with you. You simply hadn’t been in the right place with the right people. And now- somehow in Hawkins- a place you’d been so dead set on leaving forever turned out to be that place. Maybe it wasn’t so much the where but the who.

“I can’t even insult you now by saying you tell dad jokes. Any joke you tell is a dad joke now!”

“Oh no she’s figured out my superpower!” He laughed and raised his hands like a cartoon villain.

“Oh no! He’s too powerful!” You coward back in your chair with raised hands as if to block a magic spell cast. He shoved your thigh and almost made you fall out of the chair which only made you laugh harder together. it felt right. You both knew it. It was almost malleable in the air between you as you sighed and wheezed coming down from the interaction. You were so caught up in the moment, cheeks flush and boldly gazing at each other, wondering which questionable thing to say aloud next you didn’t even see Teddy also noticing the chemistry.

“Is she your best friend?” Teddy asked with a tilted head, as calm as you’d ever seen him gazing up at your dad in a similar way that you were. “Cause me ‘n Wes. We do that.” Such an astute observation for the little man. He was observant and clever just like his dad.

“I’m not your best friend?” Eddie pouted and reached down to bring him into his lap.

“Duh.” His little eyes rolled and you held in a snort at the display of attitude. “At daycare dad!”

“Oh of course.” Eddie relented to his miniatures putting him in his place. “You’re my best friend, Ted, you know that.” He kissed his cheek and the kid pushed him away, making you grin.

“More than one bes friend.” He held his dad's stubble-covered cheeks and spoke to him as if explaining something to well… a child.

“You can have more than one best friend?” Eddie raised his brows.

“Yes!” Teddy said annoyed. “Tell dad.” he looked over at you with his demands and you wanted to do whatever he asked.

“You can have more than one best friend.” You gave him the same attitude his son was and he chuckled, his cheeks mushed by tiny hands.

“No!” A slap to his thighs. “Tell dad you’re bes friends!”

“Oh sh-nap.” You muttered in surprise. “You’re my best friend Eddie.” You said with no hesitation. And honestly… it was the truth.

“You’re my best friend too.” You held eye contact for a moment before Teddy moved his dad's face back to face him.

“Good job!” He pat his cheek and you wanted to puke it was so cute. “Love you!” He chirped and planted a kiss on his face.

“Love you too.” You knew I’d you could feel the truth in his words that Teddy could too. “Are you about ready to go?”

“Aw, man.” He slouched and pouted and you swear it sounded just like Eddie used to.

“We don’t have to go yet. Do you need to go potty or want more pizza?”

“No.” He shook his head hard. “Gonna play.” He stuck his little Tongue out in concentration as he dismounted Eddie’s long legs and went back at it.

“Have fun.” Eddie shrugged as he was left without so much as a second glance. “He’s getting so good at talking now it blows my mind. He’s so smart.”

“Of course he is.” Your tone clearly told him to not say what he was about to. “I’ve heard reading to them helps a lot. And I’d bet you do plenty of that.”

“Yeah.” A closed-mouth smile grew from his pride. “Almost every night.”

“He’s yours of course he’s going to be the smartest little gremlin. He looks just like you, he might as well act that way too.”

“He acts like Wayne sometimes and it’s hilarious. Old man stuck in a baby’s body.”

“You act like Wayne sometimes too.”

“Shit, don’t I know it. More now than ever.”

“I’d you’re gonna act like someone he is definitely one of the better choices.” Eddie nodded in agreement. “How is he by the way?”

“Still kickin’. He retired. He’s still in the park, not far from us. He watches him a lot. Too much. He’s taking away all his retirement but he insists it’s better he watch him than leave him at daycare.”

“Grandpa Wayne.” You smiled contently and watched the kids for a moment. “He’s always had papaw energy.”

“He oozes papaw energy.” Eddie chuckled.

“The offers still open to watch your hellspawn by the way.” You smirked. “Give Wayne a much-deserved day off from time to time. I could pick him up if driving him over is out of the way. I’d like to see Wayne actually.”

“He’d love to see you.” Eddie gave you a soft smile.

“Really?”

“He asked me 50 questions when I told him you were back.” He paused and glanced away for a moment. “He always liked you, you know.”

“I always liked him.” You added supportively. “I got you out of your room and out of his hair of course he liked me.”

“We spent plenty of time in my room when he wasn’t home.” It almost came out as a murmur, he didn’t dedicate himself to letting the small reminder of your past put into the current timeline. He’d toed past the line of friendly Flirting and had brought a slice of nostalgia into the conversation that hadn’t been breached yet. It had to happen eventually. You couldn’t act like you hadn’t spent a chunk of your time inside each other in the past. But saying hey remember how we used to fuck had seemed a bit heavy-handed.

He watched you huff out a laugh, almost embarrassed as you looked down and smiled, mouth opening and closing to figure out your response. Weighing what was appropriate and what would be best for two old friends with heavy lore.

“Yeah.” Your lips twitch and you let out a giggle he’s never heard before. You missed how soft his face got when he watched you hide your face. “Yes, we did.” A slight blush filled your cheeks as you smiled.

“Do you remember… back then?” His voice was quiet, soft as if tip towing around it might make it feel less in your chest. He held his arms crossed over his front like it might shield him from the consequences of his question.

“I do.” Your voice also fell to an almost whisper, unlike you both to be subtle or timid with one another. A smile that tightened your lips, almost a purse appeared, eyes still not meeting his that was far too forward for you to meet just yet. “Do you?” you asked with a jutted-out chin. You weren’t really trying to hide the way his stare made you uncomfortable. You were too busy trying to analyze why it was. His soft laugh answered you before he did with his words. Oh yeah. He remembered.

“Oh! Hey!” you heard feet head your way and were startled. Eddie cleared his throat and shifted in his chair, the tension of the moment broken. “What was your last name again? They couldn’t find you in the database?”

“Oh right.” You said to the person you’d spoken with in the office. “Recently divorced. Might not be updated yet.” You explained and handed them two business cards. “Here’s both versions.” Eddie side eyed the worker, unnoticed a bit miffed she’d brought up your ex. Way to totally kill the mood.

“Thanks! You’ll hear from me soon.” They said rather convincingly.

“Let me see one of those.” He asked with a nod and a wiggle of his fingers.

“You want one?” You gave him a kind smile and handed him a lovely embossed rectangle. He smiled softly, crow's feet deepening at the edges of his eyes, just visible past the fluff of waves.

“It’s got your name on it.”

“No shit. It’s a business card.” You whispered and he snorted out a laugh.

“I mean your real name.” He said with conviction. “You changed it fast.”

“Not legally yet but I wanted to separate myself from his name as fast as possible.”

“I like this version better.” He said with a nod, flicking the card. “I’d hire this lady, I wouldn’t hire the other.”

“Does that mean I’m gonna get all up in your books?” You grin and nudge his foot with yours, still bare.

“Do you have to put it that way?” He snorted out a laugh.

“Yes! I get unrestricted access to Eddie Munson.” You pinched his knee and he kicked you in response. “I’ll need bank statements and your monthly, and yearly records as far back as you’ve got them and your tax returns.” He could see the excitement in your eyes.

“I take it back you’re way too into this.” He pushed your chair away with his boot and you scoot it back again with a playful back and forth.

“I’m in my element, man. And I’m dealing with you, not some rich asshole!” You both giggled as you quickly lowered your voice and hunched over from the looks thrown your way.

“We aren’t meeting here next time you’re gonna get me banned from Charles Pizzaria. Fine Italian Dining.” He pinched his fingers together and did a horrifying attempt at an Italian accent.

“God you still suck at that.”

“You suck.” He bit back and kicked your chair. Another flicker of a time jump, both snorting and laughing in his van, high as hell, shoving each other with insults thrown that never had any malicious intention.

“You wish.” Your 17-year-old self came out of the woodwork. You’d said it so many times in response to his poorly thought-out jab. It’s always ended in more shoves, which led to rolling around and wrestling which led to Eddie on top of you which led to a cocky remark which led to… you could guess. Your ears ran hot at the memory. “I guess I shouldn’t say that to someone I’m working for.” You let yourself snort and shake with a laugh.

“Extremely unprofessional.” He tsked.

“You gonna leave me a bad review?”

“Horrible.” he smirked.

“Can I earn a good review or have I ruined my chances?”

“Make me a millionaire and I’ll consider it.”

“I mean I know a guy. Recently divorced. Millionaire family. He would suck Hemmingway’s dick for SURE so I mean you might stand a chance.” you both sputter out a laugh.

“Oh, tell me more.” Eddie crossed his legs and put his hand to his chin.

“He only has three topics of conversation, you know, like a pull-string doll. He’s only had sex in two positions so you know - consistency right? And he does whatever his parents tell him to!”

“Who would leave a catch like that?” Eddie wiped the beginnings of a tear from his eye.

“Some dumb bitch.” you leaned in and whispered, sending you into another shared laugh.

“I don’t know I think she’s really smart. Whoever she is. Especially for leaving him.” his eyes were sincere, but the smile still weighed heavily on the spectrum of giving you shit about marrying such a douche.

“She’s made a handful of good decisions in her life.” you nodded, a more thoughtful smile falling into place. “More as of late. Maybe she’s getting less dumb.” you shrugged.

“I don’t know.” he shared the same subtle shoulder movement. “I think she made a few good decisions in the past.” A lump in your throat grew and you quickly swallowed it down.

“Yeah?” you tucked your hair behind your ear and felt so hopelessly obvious. “Maybe…one… or two.” Your words sunk to nearly a mumble. You looked the same to him in these fleeting moments he got under your skin, in your head. He knew it was selfish to want to hear it from you that you remembered who you two used to be. Especially so soon. But the memories were still so strongly imprinted on him that he had to know if you’d thought of him as often as he’d thought of you over the years.

“That’s a short list. Must’ve been something really important.” he leaned in so subtly, slowly, smoothly. His elbows to his knees, long fingers, still in rings just like he was still 17, laced together. You stuttered like a fool under his gaze. His eyes were even prettier than you’d recalled. Molten chocolate, honey, and caramel. Just as sinfully tempting and potentially bad for you as the sweets. Your lashes felt heavy and obvious as you slowly blinked, licking your lips, finding yourself as short on words now as you ever had been when he directed his attention solely on you.

As children always have, Teddy decides that now is the best time to get his foot caught in a rope net, interrupting the precious moment. A squawk and scream, unsure if it was pain or amusement carried across the brightly colored space.

“Oh, Jesus Christ.” Eddie muttered as you both bolted toward the little monkey hanging upside down.

The brief scare had triggered his neediness, refusing to be looked at or held by anyone but his dad after he slipped his ankle out of the soft braided thread. Eddie prayed no one cared that Teddy was attached to his front as he drove home. A little snore and blub from time to time as Eddie kept his large hand on the child’s back, rubbing it soothingly as he drove.

“C’mon Teddy Bear.” a name he used when he was feeling particularly soft for the wild little creature he’d helped create. A small grunt of disapproval was released as he was lifted and brought into the dark house. Eddie didn’t bother turning on the overhead light, a lamp would suffice. “You wanna wake up? Get ready for bed? We could do a bubble bath? You want a story?” he offered things to the smushed face with barely open eyes adamantly shaking his head, refusing to lift his head from Eddie’s chest. “You want daddy to hold you and you sleep on me?”

“Yeah.” the first nod of the nap. With a resigned sigh Eddie managed to kick his boots off and get his jeans on the floor, left in unevenly slouched socks, boxers, and a t-shirt. He switched on the radio, a quit afterthought as he took Teddy’s ensemble off piece by piece, having purposely chosen every piece. With a new set of matching jammies, a dinosaur print that he’d nearly had a meltdown over when he saw them in the store. Eddie set his notebook and the book he was currently reading on the nightstand. He sank into the small bed, propping himself up with the pillows, setting an alarm on the clock radio just in case. Teddy still clutched to his chest, already back asleep. A lazy hand pat to the beat of a fading song on his butt, the other with Eddie’s fingers in his mop of curls, mouth, and nose nestled into the nest and taking a deep inhale. His eyes looked out the window, the sky was navy, a calm sky, and a slight sway to his shoulders, not purposely, as he rocked Teddy back and forth.

“And next we have a hit from the year 1984. She just came out with another album but this one from her 1983 release of She’s So Unusual is still one of her biggest hits. This one brings back some great memories for me, maybe it will to other listeners out there tonight. Here’s Cyndi Lauper with, Time and Time.” the typical radio announcer's voice echoed in the small room with the slightly crooked wallpaper Eddie had hung himself. He let out a sigh, not needing to hide it from anyone, the back of his head against the headboard covered in stickers and markers. The year 1984 haunted him for plenty of reasons. The first time he failed senior year. The main one on his mind tonight was that it was the year you’d left Hawkins. You’d said you’d hated the school dance fodder songs as much as he did. Which couldn’t have been true because neither of you actually did. He thought Cyndi Lauper was weird and hot. Much like you were. The song was catchy, heartfelt, and now a nostalgia bomb of memories. You in a second-hand prom dress, dancing with him. You both swore you hated it. Again. Not true. The way you’d looked at each other was proof of that. The way you’d scrapped together enough money for a dress was even more proof. You were just as soft and terrified as he was. A smile crosses his face, feeling a warmth in his chest at the thought of the full-cheeked and big-haired you in your youth. Flashes of smiles, of fights, and long nights running away from your lives together. The memories had kept him company often through the years. He’d thought about you a lot. Wondering if you were okay. If you’d felt the same way he had. He’d go back and kick his own ass for not telling you how he felt before you left if he could. But those thoughts, that anger was pointless now. Learning to live with the choices you make when you didn’t know any better was something Eddie had to quickly learn to accept. His smile deepened at the prospect of knowing you now. Of getting that second chance of closure. It was a messy can of worms to want to open. Sometimes memories were viewed with rose-colored glasses and weren’t as they truly were at the time. But bless Eddie’s soft heart he couldn’t help himself. He’d never been one for making smart decisions.

PART 2

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[ferra-to-my-faberge]

single dad!eddie not being ready for his kid julie to grow up. luckily mr harringtons gonna take care of them both <3

might be doing more of lil julie in futre perhaps

[seidenbros]

Christmas Lights

Requests are open | prompt lists for inspiration | Stranger Things Masterlist

Pairing: Single Dad!Eddie x Female!Reader Word count: 3206 Summary: When James meets the neighbours grand daughter, he offers her to help put up the Christmas lights, and of course his Dad has to help. New friends are made and maybe it's the Christmas lights that make our hearts beat a little faster. Warning/Tags: pure fluff, domestic shit, Christmas topics, petnames (sweetheart), Single Dad Eddie, Co-parenting with Steve, just adorable Eddie mini me A/N: The blurb that turned into 3 k words at some point... this really is just fluff with Single Dad Eddie that's been in my head like this for... I don't know how long. And of course I named his son James after two wonderful musical influences.

The small house was decked out in decorations and Christmas lights that were reflected in the big brown eyes of the little boy who looked so much like his father. Even the brown curls were his father’s, just not as long as Eddie’s. In the end, it was good that he looked nothing like his mother who left them right after James had been born, not ready to be a mother yet, and Eddie could deal with all of it alone.

Well, thankfully, he wasn’t completely alone. He had his friends, he had uncle Wanye, and Steve was the one person who probably helped him out the most. The trailer was too small for the three of them, but Steve had wanted to find a place as well, so they looked at apartments, which weren’t the right ones for them, but then Steve found this little house. It was perfect, the right place to raise a child and with helping their elder neighbours here and there, living here was actually wonderful. Sure, they’d been sceptical when they’d seen Eddie with his long hair and alternative way of dressing up, but once they’d seen him interact with his son, all of them had been over the moon and happy to call them their neighbours - especially after it was clear, that Steve and him were just friends who happened to kind of raise a child together because the mother (oh, the neighbours had cursed her name) had abandoned her little boy.

Most of the decorations and lights had been Steve’s idea. He’d brought them home and James' eyes had lit up. With a smile on his lips, Eddie had helped them decorate, though, happy that he could give his son something he hadn’t had when he’d been younger. Wayne had done his best, and Eddie would always be grateful for that, but he was still happy that he could live here with James and make his face light up like the Christmas lights.

It had started snowing early in the morning, so when Eddie came down the stairs and looked out of the window, he was greeted by a white front yard.

“Dad!” he yelled through the house, hopping up and down with excitement. Steve had left to meet with Robin for the day, while Eddie was home with his son. He’d just finished making pancakes when he heard the call for him and followed his boy’s voice, already knowing what it was about.

“What is it, nugget?” He dried his hands on the towel before he flung it over his shoulder.

“Snow! The first snow!” James turned to him with a big toothy grin - alright, one of them was missing, because he’d lost that already - but then he walked right past Eddie.

“Where are you going? I thought we were gonna have breakfast?” Eddie slowly followed his son, crossing his arms over his chest, leaning in the doorframe to watch James put on his boots, struggling with them and nearly falling over, but he caught himself.

“Just wanna…” he mumbled, finally pulling on the second boot completely, before he tumbled and landed on his butt. Eddie had to bite his lip to not start laughing. “Just wanna feel the snow! I wasn’t out to smell it!”

It sounded weird for anyone but Eddie. Because he’d done the same and he still did. He loved when he went out at night to get some fresh air or maybe have a smoke - he was down to two cigarettes a day and working on quitting it completely - and look at the sky that was so light, because snow was about to fall. There was always that distinct smell in the air, and James always said the same thing.

“But don’t forget to put on your hat and scarf as well!” Eddie already reached for both those things and handed them to James, his brown curls hanging out of the hat, which looked adorable. “Five minutes, then it’s time for breakfast. I made pancakes after all!”

“Five minutes!” James repeated, pushing his arms through the sleeves of his jacket before he was out the door, leaving Eddie behind, who was shaking his head. There was no denying that that was his son.

______________

You heard the giggles before you even saw anyone, but when you turned around, you could see the little boy running through the front yard of the house next door. Your new neighbours. Your Grandma had told you that there were two men living with a little boy - but they were not in a relationship! She’d made that very clear to you, even though it wouldn’t have been a problem for her at all, she was very accepting, and she loved her neighbours. And that little boy especially because he was always so nice to her.

When he saw you, though he stopped and walked up to the fence, big brown eyes looking up at you.

“Whatcha doing there?” he asked, getting on his tiptoes to get a better look. From your Grandma, you knew that he was eight and rather curious, and that moment right now was proof.

“I’m putting up some lights to illuminate the tree out here. My Grandma asked me to do that, because she wants you to have something nice to look at in her garden as well.” Oh yes, she’d talked about it nonstop, because James had always admired her Christmas decorations, though their own were pretty great as well. So, this year, she didn’t want to disappoint him, just because she couldn’t put up the lights herself due to breaking her thigh neck and getting it replaced. That was why you were here, to help her out.

“Me?” The squeak that left his lips was too adorable and made you giggle.

“Yeah! She can’t do it herself, so I’m doing that for her.” You bent down to reach for the extension cord to plug the lights on the tree in. “I’m her y/n and you must be James!”

“Yes! Alice is your Grandma? That’s so cool!”

“Yes, it is. She’s the best!” She really was. You’d spent a lot of time with her when you’d been younger, but with University and everything else, you hadn’t had that much time. Right now, you were between jobs, so it was the perfect timing to spend some time with her and watch out for her. She really was something special.

“Yes!” James agreed with a nod of his head, giving you another bright smile, that widened even more when you plugged the lights in and they danced around the tree.

“One down, a couple more to go.”

“I can help!” James offered, but winced, when he heard his name being called from the house.

“I appreciate the offer, you’re a real gentleman, James!”

“Maybe later? Breakfast first!”

“Oh yes, breakfast is really important. Enjoy it!” You watched him leave, a smile on your lips. Oh, you already knew why your Grandma had given him a place in her heart, because he was just too adorable.

______

“James, slow down, please, you’re not on the run, are you?” Eddie’s eyes widened slightly, when he watched his son pretty much swallow the pancakes whole.

“No, but…” he started to say, mouth still full, but one look into his father’s eyes, and he stopped talking, swallowed what he’d been chewing and washed it down with some orange juice.

“But what?”

“I promised to help y/n!” James put another piece of the pancake in his mouth, before he reached up his hand to push most of his hair beneath the hat he was still wearing, his nose pink from the cold outside.

“Who is y/n?” Eddie’s alarm bells were going off. He trusted James and he knew that the neighbours watched out for him as well, but as soon as he mentioned talking to a stranger, Eddie got anxious. There were too many terrible people out there, and not only men, so he was rather wary of the situation at hand.

“Our new neighbour!” James said it so matter of factly and scowled at Eddie, that he was sure he must have missed something. But he hadn’t. He’d know if someone had sold their house.

“But we don’t have a new neighbour.” Eddie reached for his Corroded Coffin coffee mug - one that James had hand painted for his birthday - and took a big sip.

“Yes we do, Dad! I just met her!” James hopped off his chair. “Alice is her Grandma!”

“Ahh that makes a little more sense.” He knew that his neighbour hadn’t been at her best, knew about her surgery, and Steve and him had gone grocery shopping for her as well. But she hadn’t mentioned her granddaughter coming to visit. Sure, Eddie had heard about you, had seen pictures of you, but he’d never met you. Steve on the other hand had met you years ago, when you’d still visited regularly, but before they’d moved in here.

“You should help, too!” James yelled from the bathroom, where he was washing his hands.

“What do you even want to help her with?” Eddie put the dishes away, cleaned the table and met his son at the front door again, where he was already putting his boots back on.

“Christmas lights! Alice can’t put them up. She needs help, Dad!”

Goddamn, James really knew just how he had to look at Eddie to make him melt and do anything he wanted him to do. But even without those puppy dog eyes, Eddie would have put on his boots and coat to go out with him and help you. He’d always helped Alice as well ever since moving in here, usually with Steve together.

Eddie put on a matching hat to the one James was wearing and left the house with him. He could already see you balancing on the ladder to put the lights on the front of the house up.

“She’s gonna fall,” Eddie mumbled to himself, speeding up a little bit, leaving James trailing behind him, because he could see how much the ladder was wobbling, because you were standing right on the top rung but couldn’t reach where you needed to put the lights. Eddie knew because Steve and him had put in the nails to hang the lights years ago.

“Dad! Not so fast!” James called after him, and when you heard the little boy’s voice, you turned your head to look at him and that was when you lost your balance. You didn’t even manage to grab the gutter or anything, you just fell, closing your eyes to brace yourself for the impact… but you didn’t hit the floor. Instead, strong arms wrapped around you, pulling you close.

“Hey, hey, I got you!” A voice more or less mumbled in your ear, making you slowly open your eyes, only to look into deep brown eyes, so much like James’ that you immediately knew who that was - James’ father.

“I… thank you! That was close!” you managed to say, flustered by being so close to him, his breath fanning your cheek, and that smile on his lips? Yeah, you needed to put some distance between you two, so you slowly took a step back from him, his hands falling to his sides again.

“No problem at all. I’m Eddie by the way. You’ve already met James, and of course, I know who you are!” The lopsided grin on his face made heat rise to your cheeks, because you had no idea what you Grandma had told him about you. Because when she talked to you, she always asked when you’d find a nice man and settle down, become a Mum and all that. Not because she wanted to control you, but because she knew that you ultimately wanted that, wanted your own little family.

“I’ve heard a lot about you as well,” you admitted. “My Grandma loves both of you!” And Steve, but you didn’t have to mention that right now.

“I promised to help!” James said, drawing your attention to him again, and your face lit up immediately. He really had that effect on you.

“I know you did, and I’m really thankful for that. Could use a strong guy to help me here.” You smiled down at him, feeling Eddie’s eyes on you. Oh he loved the way you talked to James, the way you made him the centre of attention. It was so good for James, and for Eddie as well.

“How about I put the lights up and you take the role of quality controller and tell me if I do that right, if it looks good? Can you do that, nugget?”

“Daaaaad!” James rolled his eyes, and Eddie couldn’t help but chuckle. In private, he loved being called nugget, but not with others around. It was so embarrassing! But you just smiled, enjoying that little banter between father and son, because it showed just what a close bond these two had.

“Let’s do it together, hm?” You reached out your hand for James to take, and he immediately did that, slipped his small hand into yours and walked back a little, so that you had a good view at the house while Eddie got to work.

“Not like that!” James yelled over, not letting go of your hand.

“Better like this?” Eddie looked over his shoulder towards the both of you, smiling to himself. James looked so happy and confident next to you, it was kind of mesmerising.

“Yes! Good!” James gave him a thumbs up, and that way the three of you put up the rest of the Christmas lights. Fine, Eddie did most of the work, but you definitely enjoyed spending the time with James and listening to him tell you all about school, and that he was the best at reading out loud in his class. He loved books, and his Dad had read to him every night. Eddie still did that, and he’d probably never stop.

“So, I think we’re all set. We just need to turn them on to see if they’re working.”

“Can I?” James looked up at you, the sparkle in his eyes was hard to miss, so of course you nodded.

“You know where the switch is. Do us the honours!” You watched him nearly run away, giggling all the time.

“You’re really good with him, you know that?” Eddie stepped up next to you, pushing his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.

“It’s easy with a kid as wonderful as him. He’s just so full of life and so… outgoing! It’s amazon. You really got a great kid there, Eddie.”

“Oh, I know… He can be a handful, but most of the time, he’s really great.”

You wanted to say something more when the lights turned on and James came running back, nearly tripping over his own two feet, drawing your attention towards him.

“It looks… so good!” he said panting from running over.

“You really did a great job!” You smoothed your hand over his head, looking from him back to the lights.

“We did!” James corrected you, grinning up again, before he walked over to his father and held up his hand to get a high five from him. Their relationship was really something special, you could see and sense that. But it made you wonder where his mother was. Your Grandma hadn’t told you anything about her, but it wasn’t your place to ask about it. At least not yet.

“Thank you both for your help, I really appreciate it. And thanks for saving my-” You stopped yourself from saying ass in front of a kid. “Behind there when I fell.”

“It was my pleasure, sweetheart!”

You didn’t know that one word could have that kind of effect on you, but your heart jumped at the word, your knees suddenly feeling a little weak, but that could also be due to the cold weather. Who knew?

“I’ll properly thank you with some cupcakes, is that a deal?”

“We always take cupcakes as a thank you, don’t we, James?”

“YES!” That managed to draw his attention back to you, big eyes staring up at you, already excited to taste the cupcakes, but he knew that he had to wait a little bit for them.

“Alright, we’re gonna leave you alone for now. Got some cleaning up to do before Steve comes home, don’t we?” Eddie looked at his son, raising an eyebrow, and the little one blushed immediately, making him look even more adorable. They’d spent the night in the living room sleeping in a pillow fort with snack and drinks, and they’d promised to clean everything up before Steve came back home.

“Thank you again for all this,” you said as you waved them goodbye, James turning towards you at the doorstep once more to wave back at you, leaving you with a grin that could last for days.

_________

“UNCLE STEVE!” James immediately called out when he heard the door open, running towards his uncle and pretty much flinging himself into Steve’s arms.

“Ouf!” he managed, catching the little boy, because he was so used to it by now. “That’s what I call a proper welcome.” He placed a kiss on the top of James’ head, before he looked up at Eddie. “And you’re not gonna give me a hug, Munson? How disappointing!”

“Yeah, can it, Harrington,” Eddie said, an affectionate smile on his lips.

“We met Alice’s daughter!” James started babbling, because he always did that, had to fill Steve in on everything he’d missed.

“Granddaughter,” Eddie corrected him and that caught Steve’s attention.

“Y/n? She’s here?”

“Yeah, I think she’d staying with Alice to take care of her… watch out for her a little.”

“I want to a date!” James exclaimed, drawing their attention back to him.

“Come again?” Eddie blinked, staring down at his son, while Steve tried his hardest not to burst out laughing.

“A date!” James repeated, giving an exasperated sigh. Oh he could overdramatic just like his Dad, so Eddie couldn’t even call him out on that. “You go on dates, too!”

“He has a point,” Steve had to admit, looking over at Eddie.

Yes, he did. Eddie hadn’t been on that many dates, at least not lately, because as soon as he talked about being a single Dad, everything changed. They didn’t want to meet his son or didn’t want to have children… and James was his number one priority. So he’d stopped dating about two years ago. Yes, he did flirt, yes he enjoyed flirting, but it never led anywhere. In the end, he was completely content with the situation at hand. Of course, he missed someone to share his life with, but he was sure that he would meet that person someday, and didn’t have to force anything. Steve on the other hand, just having been single again for half a year, had been enjoying the dating market.

“Can I, Dad? Please?”

“Well… I guess?” What else was he supposed to say? “You can ask her.” And Eddie had a distinct feeling that you would say yes to James’ proposition.

Tag-list: @violetpenguinkris @tellhound @ghosttownwherenoonegoes @spideyanakin-interacts @bellamy-barnes @beepisbeep @snapefiction @hardysbitch @give-em-hellfire @sadbitchfangirl @kimmi-kat @lacrymosa-24 @ruinedbythehobbit @samlealea @hacker-ghost @kirsteng42 @princesseddie @anaisweird @harringtonfan4 @ethereal27cereal @theywitchsblog @luteandsword @goldylions @lightvixxen

Let me know (send me a message) if you want to be on one of my tag-lists. I have one for the Promises Series, Eddie x Reader, Steddie and Steve x Reader 💚

[dylanmunson]

gremlin | em

One | next part

series masterlist

Tw : death, neglect?

She had died shortly after the birth, and her parents weren't about to raise the towns freak offspring, regardless if it was their daughters or not. Grandchild or not. They'd lost her and wanted nothing to do with it, so they did the only thing that they could think of and left the little girl wrapped in a couple of blankets in a woven picnic basket on the freaks door steps. The little girl in blankets was  the freaks double even though she had just been born a week prior, mousy brown hair under the little hat the hospital had put on her as she left the hospital just less than an hour ago. Big doe like eyes that sparkled liked honey.

It was the redhead that lived opposite that noticed her first, she had come over to give them a bowl back, from dinner last night. Her mother often worked late so the redhead would often eat with the munsons, she wasn't feeling great last night however so the elder of the men had dropped off some food for the younger girl.

Crouching down to the little one in the woven basket, there's a note and a bag. She bangs on the trailer door hoping to get someone's attention, it's not cold out but she knows a little baby shouldn't be in this position.

"Jesus red" the younger munson says rubbing his eyes "what's wrong?"

Red looks at him then down and that's when he notices the little baby girl sucking on her dummy wrapped in blankets in the woven picnic basket.

[hellcheerficdatabase]

Piece of Your Heart

Author: Biochemiist, tardisthetrain

Rating/Warning: Teen and up audience, referenced ED, child ab*se

Chapter Count: 37/37

Description:

Eddie called Wayne from the waiting room of the pediatric floor of a hospital in Chicago, just past three in the morning. “We’re coming home,” he said, as soon as his uncle answered.

“We?” Wayne asked, half asleep.

“I have a daughter.”

---

Life after Hawkins High School hasn't gone exactly as Eddie Munson planned. He never expected to be running Benny's Diner, never expected to be a father, and he certainly never expected that Chrissy Cunningham would be the one answering his Help Wanted sign.

Tags: Alternate universe- no vecna, future fic, waitress au, single dad!Eddie, angst, fluff, found family, we love Wayne, Chrissy is a sweetie, Eddie is a sweetie, alternating POV, multiple chapters, status: completed

[mythtakens]

"You were there for him when I couldn't be. That's what matters."

[eddiesxangel]

The Nanny | E.M x f!reader

Anon requested :I have an idea for a smut for Eddie. Okay, so the reader is like a babysitter for Eddie, so the reader takes a video of playing with Eddie’s kid and sends it to him. When Eddie watches the video, however, Eventually, his eyes are only on the reader; he becomes attracted to the reader and gets stiff. But the reader did this on purpose for that reason, and so when Eddie gets home, his kid is asleep, and it’s just him and the reader, and they start to get intimate, and one thing leads to another …

Wc: 2.9k

Cw: smut, oral (f&m receving), p in v, unprotected sex, pull and pray

When you got the job about a year ago, you were out of school and desperate for a full-time job to pay the bills. You saw his ad for a live-in Nanny in the paper and jumped at the opportunity.

When you started this nannying business, you never thought you would fall for the handsome dad who hired you.

The family you learned was a father and daughter. Eddie was a widower. His wife had died five years previously, and he had a seven-year-old little girl.

Eddie was a dedicated manager and owner of a construction company in town. His hours were unpredictable, so he asked for your help getting his daughter, Charlotte, ready for school in the early mornings and picking her up. To accommodate your assistance, Eddie has constructed a small house in his backyard for you to stay in, providing you with your own space.

During the year you spent with Charlotte, you formed a deep bond with her, and she became your favourite person. You both shared numerous activities, such as shopping, getting your nails done, having sleepovers, and attending her dance classes.

You supported her at every recital and never missed her soccer games, even when Eddie couldn't attend. Your time with Charlotte became an irreplaceable part of your life.

Your relationship with Eddie grew as the year went on. You became more attracted to him. He was so charming, funny, and handsome. He made you feel welcomed like you were part of the family—the family you wished was real.

Eddie has been away for the last few days; he will be home this evening, but you still wanted to send him some updates about Charlotte. You sent him a video of you guys at the community pool. She loved swimming, and you couldn’t help but want to flirt. Did you wear this specific bathing suit so he would see it? Yes. You can’t help but want to get his attention, to have him look at you the way you look at him.

You were on the splash pad, and thought it would be cute to show a video of you and Charlotte running through the sprinkler. You set up your phone against the wall for balance and click record. You and her squealed as the water was cold on your bare skin. You were smiling and laughing together the whole time. You hoped Eddie found it cute…

Eddie was in the airport lounge when he received a notification on his phone. He smiled when he saw that your contact had disrupted his podcast.

He paused his show and swiped to see what you had sent him. The video began with a scene of Charlotte, soaked and jumping up and down, with her two missing front teeth visible. Eddie smirked at the sight. He loved his baby; he missed her so much. The video continues, and when you come into the shot, his eyes widen as he watches you run toward Charlotte. His eyes can't help but stare. Your ass bounced as you ran back towards his daughter; your tight bathing suit clung to your every curve. The sight of your body so exposed, your wet skin glistening in the sun, Eddie couldn’t help but feel his excitement start to grow.

You giggled and laughed as you picked her up and ran with her through the water. Your smile was so genuine, and Eddie hated that he had developed an attraction to you other than liking your personality.

When the video finished, you sent another text, but this time, it was not what Eddie had expected. When he clicked back to the chat, he almost dropped his phone because he was so shocked. Right under the wholesome video of you and Charlotte was a picture of you lying on your bed, hand draped across your naked chest.

He was looking around. To make sure nobody else saw what he was looking at, he opened the photo, and he could see more of your bare skin than he ever thought possible.

Flustered and confused, Eddie didn’t know what to make of this. Did you mean to send it by accident? Was this meant for someone else? The thought of it supposed to be for someone else sent a pang of jealousy through Eddie’s chest.

The overhead speaker saying the fight Eddie was supposed to be boarding was what snapped him out of his thoughts. The whole flight would feel extra long now that this would be all Eddie would think about. He couldn’t get home fast enough.

Eddie never replied to your video and didn’t respond to the picture you decided to take for him. You’re unsure what came over you, but you wanted a clear message. You didn’t think the video would do anything, so you got bold.

You started to regret your decision about the picture. Maybe you will lose your job. Perhaps you could play it off as an accident, pretending you didn’t know you had sent it to him.

It didn’t matter because it had been hours, and Eddie would be home any minute.

Trying to ignore the feeling of panic by distracting yourself by cooking dinner, you hear the front door click open.

“Honey, I’m home,” Eddie’s deep voice rings through the front hallway. Your stomach turns upside down at the sound of his voice.

“In here,” you try to keep your voice calm. Maybe he hasn’t seen it yet.

“Daddy!” Charlotte leaps off the kitchen chair and charges her way to her father. He’s been gone three days, the longest he has ever been away.

“Hi, handsome.” You smile as Eddie makes an appearance with Charlotte in his arms.

“H-hi,” he stutters, and his cheeks are a rose pink. He totally saw the photos.

“Dinner is almost ready,” you say, turning back to the stove, trying to hide your awkwardness about what you’ve done.

Eddie cleared his throat and took a seat as though nothing had happened. However, his mind was racing. He wanted to discuss it with you but didn’t know how to approach the situation.

Dinner was okay. You both tried to ignore the elephant in the room for Charlotte’s sake. You asked him questions about the trip, and he asked what you guys got up to. You let Charlotte do most of the talking. She eventually got bored and asked to watch a movie with both of you.

The tension could be cut with a knife as you and Eddie stole glances at one another while Charlotte was obviously enthralled by the princess singing about love in the big flatscreen.

After another hour and a half of torture, Charlotte passed out on her father’s shoulder. He smirks and says he’s putting her to bed and you stand to clean up the mess that was left in the kitchen after dinner.

A few minutes after watching the dishes, Eddie returns to the kitchen.

“You don’t have to clean; you’ve been on the clock for three days straight; I can take over. You sit and have a drink, relax.” He approaches you from behind.

“I don’t mind; youve been travelling all day; it’s my job to take care of you.” You look over your shoulder to see Eddie much closer than you thought.

“No, it’s your job to take care of Charlotte.” He raises a brow.

“What if I like taking care of you?” you drop the clean fork into the right side of the sink with all the other clean dishes.

“Sweetheart, about that…”

“Yes?” You turn excitedly.

“I um-you- I saw something.” Eddie didn’t know how to approach this. He sees you looking at him with hopeful eyes as you bite your lip. His heart fluttered in his chest when he saw the look on your face.

“I wanted you to see it.” You boldly admit.

“You- uh? What sweetheart?.” He asked, dumbfounded.

“Did you like it?” You take a small step forward, testing the waters.

Eddie visibly tenses. He knows this is wrong, he knows he shouldn’t be attracted to his kids’ nanny, but he’s also only a man—a man who has been crushing on you like he was back in high school.

“This is wrong”

“Why? It didn’t have to be?” You trail a flirtatious finger down his chest.

Eddie inhales sharply, and he can’t help his attraction to you take over.

“Because you’re you, and I’m your boss-“

“Charlotte is my boss,” you giggle and bat your eyes.

“Sweetheart,” he sighs.

“Eddie, I don’t want to keep pretending that there isn’t something between us. I can’t pretend any longer.”

“Sweetheart…”

“Please tell me it’s not just all in my head. All those late nights after we put Charlotte to bed, how we seek one another out even if Charlotte is not around, I see the way you look at me.”

Your face and Eddie’s were mere inches apart. Your lips were so close that Eddie was leaning in against his better judgment, but he wanted you so badly. You were right; there was an undeniable connection between the two of you, and Eddie didn’t want to ignore it either.

“Please, tell me I’m not crazy,” you whispered.

“You’re anything but sweetheart,” Eddie whispered back before closing the gap between you.

His soft lips formed with yours like they were made to be together.

You wrapped your hands around Eddie’s neck, pulling him in closer.

The sensation of his mouth on you went straight to your core. You needed him so badly.

Naturally, you slid your hands down his torso, up under his shirt, signalling for him to take it off; you needed to feel his skin; you kissed him like it was the last time you ever would kiss him.

You slid your hands down to his belt buckle, undoing it at a speed that wasn’t fast enough.

“Please, Eddie, I need you; let me make you feel good.”

“Sweetheart, you can’t just say things like that to me.” Eddie groans.

“Please, I need this; I’ve wanted this for so long, I can’t-” You both were so desperate, his pants couldn’t come off fast enough.

With a soft thwap, his jeans hit the kitchen floor, and you sink down to your knees.

“Fuck sweetheart, you look so beautiful like this.” he grips your chin before slipping his thumb in your mouth for you to suck on.

You slide your tongue along his rough, working hands, and he watches with lust burning in his eyes. You pop his thumb out of your mouth and replace it with the head of his cock. His thick shaft was heavy in your grip as you took more of him while not breaking eye contact. The weight of his cock resting in your mouth made you drool.

“Fuuuuuck, good girl.” Eddie’s breath became erratic.

Your eyes started watering as you tried taking him all the way down your throat, but Eddie was big.

Your breathing became shallow, but you were in heaven.

“You ok, sweetheart?” He’s looking down at you, a hand cupped on the back of your head, trying to resist the urge to thrust into your mouth as he hits the back of your throat.

You bob your head back slowly as you nod yes. You were finally able to catch your breath, drool coming out of your mouth as you pumped his cock in and out of your slick mouth.

Eddie couldn’t believe this was happening; not twelve hours ago, he was in a different state, jacking off to this fantasy of you on your knees.

He pulled you back up to kiss him, your pussy was throbbing, and the pulse that went directly to your clit was screaming for attention.

Moaning your name Eddie pushed you back so your ass was against the kitchen island, and you saw the hunger in his eyes.

He helps you jump onto the white marble countertop with quick hands.

“Baby, please.” An involuntary whimper came from your mouth, and he went in for another kiss, hands roaming from your inner thigh up until it reached your pussy.

“Oh baby,” he said the second he truly felt how wet you were for him.

Kissing down your neck, leaving purple bruises in his wake, not giving a care in the world right now about visible hickeys, he crept lower and lower until he was kneeling between your legs, forcing your knees open.

He stared into your heat.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” He spoke, not breaking eye contact with your wet pussy.

He leaned in; he started with soft kitten licks to your clit with the tip of his tongue, gentle and delicate, before he took long deep strokes off his tongue, tasting every inch of you. Eddie moaned at your tase; he wanted to consume you, to make you feel so good you forget about every man before him.

The tickle of his beard was grounding you. This was actually happening.

“Oh!” You cry but quickly cup your hand over your mouth, remembering Char was upstairs.

With Eddie’s face pressed into your cunt your orgasm was quickly approaching. You couldn’t resist it anymore; your hips started gyrating into his face, and you needed more.

“Eddie, please,” you whimpered.

“You want more, sweetheart?” he pulls away and replaced his mouth with his index finger, slowly stroking up and down your weeping slit.

“Yes, Eddie, please.”

“That’s my good girl, asking so nicely,” he said, grinning up at you before standing.

With his hard cock in hand, he rubbed his tip up and down your slit gathering your juices so he could split into you nice and easy.

At this point, you were so turned on you couldn’t think, moaning out as he slowly stretched you open, eyes rolling to the back of your head. Inch by inch, the pleasure mixed with the burn of the stretch was so good, too good.

“That’s it, sweetheart, fuckin’ taking me so well.” He slipped inside of you until you felt the tickle of his pubes against your clit.

You hadn’t even realized he was talking to you, cock drunk off the feeling you were so close, and he hardly started.

Incoherent muffled moans filled the empty kitchen as Eddie's cock quickly started to pump in and out of you, hitting your sweet spot on each thrust.

You didn’t stand a chance, as he had your legs over your shoulders, ankles rolling. He gripped the backs of your calves to hold your legs as wide as they could go.

With each thrust, the pleasure became more and more, your back arching up into the feeling of him filling you up.

The feeling in your belly started to build until he unexpectedly pulled you off the counter, walked you over to the couch, and flipped you so you were on all fours.

Once you were spread open for him, he started thrusting harder.

“Oh god! There! Please don’t stop!” You screamed into the couch cushions.

It was so good your hands gave out, your cheek pressing into the brown leather, only making your ass stick out more for him.

He spreads your cheeks to watch how your greedy pussy swollen his cock each time.

A slap comes down hard on your ass as he pounds into you; you moan out with pleasure. Another smack on the other cheek to even things out.

He’s going at a pace that makes your head spin; his fingers gripped into your hips so rough you’re sure there will be bruising tomorrow.

The noises that are coming out of you are inhuman; you don’t even recognize yourself; he was so big, you were so full, it was too good. 

“shhhhhh, sweetheart, we need to be quiet.” He wraps a hand around your face to cup your mouth to muffle the moans, but that only makes it hotter, so you cry about again. You couldn’t talk; each thrust was getting deeper and deeper at the angle he was holding you in.

Each thrust was building up the coil in your stomach. You were so close when he started rubbing your clit, and you couldn’t take it anymore.

“I’m close,” you seethe through gritted teeth.

“Come, sweetheart, come on my cock.” You were already seeing stars before he finished talking; your body shook, clenching down so tight on his cock while your orgasm filled your body.

“Oh god, yes, baby, milk this cock so good” Your pussy gripped down so hard on his cock that he almost wasn’t able to pull out in time.

You feel his warm seed on your back as his orgasm shoots through him.

Dazed and all fucked out, you roll over to see Eddie beaming down at you after he cleaned you up a little bit.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Eyes glazed over, you manage a

“Hi,” you giggle.

You curled into his neck, leaving soft kisses and kitten licks; you couldn’t help yourself; your boyfriend was just so hot. 

“I think we have a lot of catching up to do,” he throws you over his shoulder. “Eddie, put me down,” you giggle, getting a full view of his bare ass in front of your face. He runs you to his bedroom; you know it is going to be a long night. 

[eddiestightywhities]

[dindjarism]

#what a rollercoaster this entire scene was 9-1-1 | 7.07 Ghost of a Second Chance

[seidenbros]

How to ask someone out

Requests are open | prompt lists for inspiration | Stranger Things Masterlist

Pairing: Single Dad!Eddie x Female!Reader Word count: 1221 Summary: James asks his Dad and Steve how to ask you out, and then he puts this advice to the test. Warning/Tags: pure fluff, domestic shit, Single Dad Eddie, Co-parenting with Steve, just adorable Eddie mini me Christmas Lights

“Daaaad!” James had been standing at the window, watching you in the neighbouring garden for ten minutes now, but he still hadn’t found out how to do this, how to ask you on a date. After talking about this with his Dad and Steve the day before, James had been thinking about this nonstop, because he didn’t want to screw this up. He liked you after all!

“What is it, nugget?” Eddie walked over to the living room, hair still damp from the shower he’d taken earlier. He took a seat on the sofa, patted the spot next to him and James immediately followed, sitting down next to his Dad.

“Morning,” Steve said with a yawn as he walked into the living room, flopping down on the armchair opposite the sofa. He’d been working on his next book till late last night, but it was coming along nicely. James was always his test object, the one to decide whether his story was good or not. Who would have thought that Steve Harrington would end up writing children’s literature? The guy who hadn’t read a lot, but who’d been forced to read a couple of books when Eddie and him had moved in together.

“Uncle Steve.” James looked at him, then back at his father, and he looked so serious, that it was a mix of adorable and terrifying. “How… How do I ask y/n out?”

“Um…” Eddie started, his eyes widening. Honestly, he wasn’t the date expert and definitely not someone who’d asked a lot of people out. That was really more Steve’s thing or at least it had been, because even Steve had slowed down in that department, still looking for the one woman that would keep his heart safe forever.

“Well, first you gotta compliment her. Make her smile! What do you like about her?” Steve leaned forward, his forearms resting on his thighs, his focus on James. Oh, he was in his element, no question about that, even though they had both thought that this day would come a lot later, and especially not with someone who could be James’ mother. But it was probably great practice, and they knew nothing would come of it.

“She’s really nice!” James’ whole face lit up when he said that and Eddie had to smile as well. “And she’s pretty.”

“Hmm that’s good. Anything particular?” Steve cast a glance at Eddie, who was listening in to that conversation.

“Hmm…” James thought for a moment, poking out his tongue a little, because he was so concentrated, something that made him look even more like his father. “Her eyes!”

“Well, then start with that. Tell her that she has really pretty eyes and then just go for it.” In James' case, they were both pretty sure that you would say yes, so he could probably say whatever he wanted. “But what do you want to do for a date with her?” Eddie asked and looked down at his boy. Because just asking you out without a plan might not be such a good idea. James had to come up with something at least.

“Can I ask her to come here? And we can make pizza?” James looked up at Eddie, the grin on his face making Eddie say yes to whatever he wanted, because it filled his heart with so much joy to see James like this. They could do pizza, and that way, Eddie would have something to eat as well.

“If that’s what you want, we can do that,” Eddie said, ruffling James’ locks, before he looked over at Steve again. “You gonna be with Robin tonight, right?”

“Yeah, she asked me to come over for movie night. So you’re free to invite her over.” Steve winked at James, a grin on his face. “You should ask her straight away.”

“Alright!” Excitement shining in his eyes, James hopped off the sofa and sprinted to the hallway.

“How you feelin’? Your little boy’s gonna have his first date!” Steve’s grin was wider than Eddie had seen it in a long time.

“They grow up so fast!” he said, choking back a fake sob while he cupped his own cheeks. It only lasted a second before Eddie started chuckling. “She’s sweet, so he’ll have a great time.”

“U-hu…” Steve commented, eyeing Eddie a moment longer.

“What?”

“She’s sweet?”

“Oh shut up!”

“Hahaha got you!”

“I said shut up Harrington!” Eddie took the pillow next to him and threw it at Steve before he got up and followed his son. He didn’t want him to go alone, so he put on some boots and his coat before he left the house with James. They only needed to go to the fence, because you were still busy in the garden, shovelling snow so you were still able to walk around the house.

“Hey y/n!” James called out as soon as he was at the fence, looking over at you, Eddie staying a few steps behind, because he was just here as moral support.

“Oh hey James! Eddie!” you said with a smile when you turned around, put the shovel down and walked over to them. Seeing them made your whole face light up, especially because James was just a joy to be around. You’d been outside for quite some time now, so you didn’t feel the tip of your nose anymore, but you loved it. Winter was your favourite season with all the lights, and the snow you had at the moment.

Eddie raised his hand to wave at you, a smile playing on his lips, but he didn’t say anything. It was up to James to lead the conversation.

“You have really pretty eyes!” Talk about straight forward! Eddie held back a chuckle at his son’s words, but it was just adorable to watch him like this. He was so confident, that he sometimes wondered, where James had gotten that from.

“Oh… thank you, that’s really sweet of you!” A surprised chuckle came over your lips, before you smiled down at him. You couldn’t remember the last time someone had told you something like this, and even though it was an eight year old boy, the words still made you happy.

“I was wondering,” he started, taking another step towards the fence, looking up at you. “You wanna go on a date with me?”

“A date?” you asked, taken aback, because you had certainly not expected anything like this. Your eyes met with Eddie’s, who just shrugged his shoulders with an apologetic, yet adorable smile, and you knew that he was in on this whole situation. Honestly, it was just too cute and so forward, that you didn’t find it in your heart to say no. After all, you’d probably been on worse dates anyway. “Yeah… Yeah I’d love to!”

“Really?” James squeaked, getting on his tiptoes, before he looked back at Eddie for a moment, giving his father his biggest gin. “Awesome!” Slowly, he looked back at you again. “We wanna make pizza. Is six okay?”

“Six sounds perfect. I’ll be there!”

“Great!”

And while James walked back to his father, Eddie mouthed a thank you in your direction, but you could only smile. This little boy had already won your heart, so you could never have said no to him.

Tag-list: @violetpenguinkris @tellhound @ghosttownwherenoonegoes @spideyanakin-interacts @bellamy-barnes @beepisbeep @snapefiction @hardysbitch @give-em-hellfire @sadbitchfangirl @kimmi-kat @lacrymosa-24 @ruinedbythehobbit @samlealea @hacker-ghost @kirsteng42 @princesseddie @anaisweird @harringtonfan4 @ethereal27cereal @theywitchsblog @luteandsword 

Let me know (send me a message) if you want to be on one of my tag-lists. I have one for the Promises Series, Eddie x Reader, Steddie and Steve x Reader 💚

[dylanmunson]

gremlin | Eddie Munson

pervious | next

series masterlist

the younger Munson, looked at red before looking down at the baby again.

"Grab the bag" he sighs grabbing the little girl from the woven picnic basket, carefully bringing her to his chest as he walks inside, red close behind him.

"Eddie what the fuck" he just looks at the girl standing in front of him and closes his eyes, before taking a breath "she was buying, and we got close and I said I'd be there when she told me but..."

"Nobody wants to be associated with the town freak" red finishes, he sighs nodding sitting down on the worn down couch. "I'm sorry" she sighs sitting next to the older boy putting the bag down beside their feet.

"What am I gonna do red" he sigh, pushing the little hat back off his daughters face. "Where's Wayne?" "He'll be back soon" he sighs, "well you talk to him, he'll know what to do, or or maybe ring Nancy? Steve?" Red suggests.

He opens his mouth to say something but soon closes it again, "hey honey" he sighs softly as the little girl opens her eyes, moving a little against his arms. "Hi sweetheart" she yawns lightly and looks up at the younger Munson, taking in her new surroundings.

A car engine can be heard coming down the road before it's quickly shut off. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 seconds later and there's keys jingling in the lock of the trailer. The door opens and the elder Munson walks in, looking straight at the younger two.

"What you doing up boy" "wayne" he sighs, the elder of the two men kicks off his boots and walks into the small kitchen to grab a beer, flicking the cap off as he takes a sip. "Whose god damn baby is that?!" "Mine wayne" he sighs "a girl, she, she told me and I tried" he says, wayne sighs softly, seeing his nephew getting overwhelmed. "Alright" he says "where's this girl?" Eddie shrugs "oh there was a bag! She was just left on the door step in the basket! Can you believe it?!" Red says picking up the baby bag and going through it.

Pulling out some formula and another baby blanket. Three nappies and some wipes.

The babies birth certificate also tucked into the front.

[fuctacles]

Dress to impress (the kindergarteners)

I couldn't sleep so here's more Stevie for @steddiemicrofic | "dress" | G | 350 | no cw | transfem Steve (tho interpret how u want), teacher Steve, single dad Eddie, child OC | more microfics

As soon as the classroom doors open, Steph starts receiving compliments on her dress for the day. She finally got a new one, just in time for fall and a new student's arrival; nothing makes a special day more special than an eye-catching garment.

When she hears a particularly loud gasp, she turns around to meet two unfamiliar faces. 

"Dad, look at this dress! Is this my new teacher? Tell me she's my new teacher!" 

The man coughs to hide his amusement. 

"Miss Harrington?" 

Steph nods and comes up to properly greet them.

"You must be Drake and his dad, right?" 

"Yep!" The kid smiles wide. "You look like an elf."

"Thank you!" she laughs. "That's a big compliment."

"Yeah! Dad says elves are the prettiest race in the Middle Earth!"

"Yeah? Your dad sounds like a big reader," she says, glancing at the man who, despite his dark, cool-dad clothes, smiles somehow bashfully. 

"He is! He reads me aaaaall kinds of books!"

"That's awesome," she nods, not faking her approval. "What's your dad's name?"

"Oh!" The boy startles when he's suddenly reminded about his manners. "This is my dad, Eddie Munson," he points to the man. "And I'm Drake Munson," he points to himself. 

"It's so nice to meet you guys. I'm Stephanie Harrington, but you can call me Miss H. or Miss Stephanie." She shakes both their hands. "Ready for your first day?"

The boy hums thoughtfully before turning to his father. 

"Hey, Dad?"

"Yes, kid?"

"Remember you owe me a first-day gift?"

The man sighs in that exasperated yet fond way, making Stephanie smile.

"I do."

"Can I get a dress like Miss H. has?"

The eyes of both adults snap up to stare at each other, gauging a reaction. Slowly, Eddie turns back to his son.

"We can get you a different one, copying someone's dress is a bad etiquette. But we can ask her where she got it, so we know where to look."

Steph smiles again, breathing with relief. How she loves a supportive parent like that. 

Especially with such beautiful eyes to match.

[warpedpuppeteer]

Y'all ever cry when you think about how everyone in Eddie's life assumed he'll make a terrible parent without even offering him the help he needed to prove himself except for Buck?? He hears about Eddie's struggles with parenting and doesn't think 'you're a bad dad' he just thinks 'you need a bit of help' and then proceeds to make that happen for Eddie.

Calling Bobby to get permission to have Chris with them because Eddie doesn't get the time to, introducing Carla to go through the shitty red tapes he's been struggling to figure out, driving him to pick-up Chris after the earthquake, throwing a surprise Christmas party so that Eddie can be with Chris, and being the person Chris can turn to when he doesn't feel like talking to Eddie.

I don't think Buck realizes how much Eddie probably values all the things Buck has done for him to allow him to be the parent that he's always been capable of being. Buck downplays the things he does and probably thinks it's not much but for Eddie it's everything. It's everything Eddie didn't get from his partner or his parents. Buck just... does it for him, as easy as breathing.

This is why it was so, so easy for Eddie to choose Buck as the legal guardian for his Will but it was a shock for Buck. Buck doesn't know how integral he's been to Eddie being a good dad. For Eddie, it's easy because be knows Buck is already capable of stepping up. For Buck, it's surprising because doesn't think all the things he does matters.