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Dolly Parton’s Hard Candy Christmas is softly playing on the radio as Wayne takes his mother’s famous bumbleberry pie out of the oven. A pie so famous Miss Elaine Munson had won a Christmas pie competition during Wayne’s childhood. She used the prize money to give Little Al his acoustic guitar that year, the very same one Eddie learned to play on. It was the year his daddy died, and Wayne had been busting his ass just to keep the family fed but all that mattered was Al. Al was still just a sweet little boy before the world changed him. Chewed him up and spit him out.
Wayne had hoped, prayed that when Eddie was born his brother would clean up his act, take responsibility for his actions for himself and more importantly for this baby. But there must’ve been too much of their daddy in Little Al, too much of the selfishness, and regret over their own decisions that simmered under their skin, and exploded with violence. It was almost a relief their mom went before she could see her little boy turn into the man she was so scared of.
When Eddie first came to live with him Wayne was frightened Eddie had inherited that same anger. As the weeks went by it became clear that Eddie was indeed angry but beneath the anger was a more intense sadness and sense of worthlessness that Wayne was sure as shit going to show that boy how much love he had, from his mother before her passing, and mostly from Wayne himself.
Their first Christmas spent together, Wayne had asked his boy what he wanted most for dinner, and of course Eddie’s unconventional tastes made him answer breakfast for dinner. So that night Wayne had made french toast, sausage, and runny scrambled eggs just the way his Eddie liked ‘em, finishing with a slice of pie before bed. And that’s how the pair had spent every Christmas Eve since.
This would be the first Christmas for the Munson men living apart in ten years. Eddie and Steve were making the drive down from Indy this morning to spend the next few days together. It’s been a big adjustment not having Eddie around and the loud that seems to follow him wherever he goes. Of course it’s nice to have a bit of quiet but it feels like there’s so much life missing within his walls now. If there was one thing Eddie did it was fill space, even in the more subtle ways in the comfort of their home and their own company. There’s two sides to Eddie, the big, loud, scary version he uses to protect his “little sheep”. That’s the side that parades on lunch tables yelling about conformity. Then there’s the side that’s still loud, but certainly more vulnerable. Loud in the music he plays, or in the excitement for a campaign. The details always went over Wayne’s head, but Eddie’s excitement was always infectious, so Wayne found himself smiling while listening to his kid ramble on about the grand adventures for which Eddie was the guide.
The ringing phone pulls Wayne out of his thoughts, he sets the pie on the counter to cool, and makes his way over. “Hello this is Wayne.”
“Wayne! Oh my god I’m so glad to hear your voice. Listen we got some bad news, Stevie and I got stuck in Evansville. There’s no way we are going to be able to drive any farther today.” Eddie rushes out.
“Stuck how, you boys need me to come get ya?”
“We’re okay, I promise. But there’s a big snow storm up this way and all the roads are closed. We tried to talk our way out of it, but even Steve flirting with the traffic cop didn’t help.”
Wayne chuckles as he hears Steve’s squawk of protest, “I wasn’t flirting I was–”
Eddie interrupts his boyfriend and Wayne can almost hear his smug smirk after flustering Steve. “One more thing Wayne?” Wayne hums, inviting him to continue. “Could you please make sure Maxand her mom have a hot meal tonight, preferably one made by an adult?”
“Of course son, now you and Steve stay safe, bunker down, and stay warm okay?”
“Oh don’t you worry Wayne I’ve got plenty of ideas to keep us warm.” The sound of a thud and a hiss of Eddie’s name and Wayne knows Steve is going to chastise Eddie for that comment meaning Wayne won’t have to.
“Alright Eds leave that poor boy alone before his hair deflates. Love you both, get home safe tomorrow.”
“Love you Wayne!” The two voices say in unison, full of warmth.
The phone gets hung up, and Wayne’s surprised to find tears springing up in eyes. He chuckles wetly and blames it on his old man sensibilities. It was going to be his first Christmas Eve without his boy. The boy that saved him, and didn’t even know it.
Before Eddie came to be a permanent fixture in Wayne’s life, Wayne was on a path of self destruction. If he wasn’t killing himself at the plant, he was sleeping with any woman who looked his way. He wasn’t even a gentleman about it, leaving in the middle of the night as if he was never there at all. His only meal of the day being whatever can of bullshit was in the cabinets, and an entire pack of smokes for dessert. All it took for him to clean himself up was one look from Eddie’s big deer eyes begging for help, love, safety, and a hot meal. From that day on Wayne Munson was a changed man.
🎄
Not one to idle about, especially with his own company Wayne gathers his winter gear, and sets out to clear a path outside. The wind is bitingly cold, his melancholy mood deepening his chill. A loud crash followed by an equally loud curse has caused Wayne to step out of his self pitying thoughts and turn his attention to the Mayfield trailer just a couple yards in front of him.
Instead of throwing himself a pity party the rest of the night, Wayne thought he might be able to spread cheer instead, by inviting Susan and Max over to at least share dinner. It was in the spirit of the holiday after all, not only that but it was the neighborly thing to do. He adjusted his worn hat, and marched himself up to the front door. A frizzy haired and frantic Max opens the door.
The smell of burnt hits Wayne’s nose, he coughs to hide the way his nose twitches at the sulfuric smell. Max, seemingly annoyed at his silence, huffs out a “Yes?” With an eye roll to end all eyerolls.
“Merry Christmas Miss Max, I hate to impose on you and your ma, but I was wondering if you would be interested in joining me for dinner? It ain’t much but I’d be a much less lonely old man with your company.” Wayne gently asks her.
He catches Max’s shoulders square, and Christ does this kid remind him of when Eddie came round in the beginning. Closed off, self defensive, looking like she’s carrying the whole world on those small shoulders.
Max is giving him the most calculated look, sizing him up, looking for something. She must find it because she sighs and her shoulders slump. She crosses her arms tight against herself. “It’s just me actually.”
That shocks Wayne, it's Christmas Eve where else would her mother be? “Do ya reckon when she’ll be back?”
The fire alarm starts going off, Max’s eyes go wide, she rushes inside muttering swear words that would make even men he served with cringe. She leaves the door open and Wayne takes that as an invitation to step inside.
What he sees upon entering is not a home in the slightest. There are bags of cans piled up next to the couch. It very clearly was a mess that has been attempted to be picked up, but by someone with none of the resources to do it.
The look in his eyes must be obvious because Max takes a defensive stand once more, while she’s also trying to rid the house of smoke. “It’s fine, I’m working on it, it looks a little worse than normal right now. Okay?”
“Okay.” Wayne agrees immediately, but there is a question in the back of his mind. “How long has your mom been gone Max?”
Another sigh, a more tired one, her back is turned towards Wayne, her head is hung, hands gripping to the counter now that she isn’t busy putting out a fire. She furiously scrubs her face before answering, “A while, couple months I think.”
A couple of months. This kid is barely sixteen, fending for herself after one of the most disastrous few years of her young life, from what Steve, Eddie, and sometimes Dustin let slip to him. “Why dontcha grab a bag and you can come wait with me for the boys to get here tomorrow?”
He hears a sniff, “I thought they were supposed to be here tonight. Eddie will be pissed if I take his bedroom.”
“They got caught in a snowstorm, and it aint his bed anymore he can cope with it the big drama queen.” She laughs a quiet laugh at that. Turning around they make eye contact now and gosh all he sees is a little kid who has been dealt a shitty hand in this life. If there’s something Wayne knows about is how to help lost and angry kids. “Does anyone else know about your ma?”
“No. I think maybe Lucas and El have figured it out, probably Nancy too, but they won’t say anything unless I come to them. And I know I’m supposed to tell them, but when I see them with all their own families…” She trails off but Wayne knows what she means. Being all on your own when your parents just up and leave you while all your friends have their own families to be with, it’s not fair for anyone.
He nods, gives the place another once over and makes a decision. “Alright kid, I’m gonna step out for a smoke, why don’t you get your stuff and we’ll have a nice little dinner together. Hope ya like breakfast.” He figures she does with the way a small smile is threatening to spread across her face, with just a little quirk of her mouth she tires to school before he sees. But he does see, he’s made it a habit to see all those little reactions. First in Eddie, then in Steve when he and Eddie became involved. Now he’s on a mission to learn all of Max’s intricacies.
🎄
If Wayne could go back and fix the spring break that haunts not only his boy, but for all of the kids that went through it with them he would. No doubt about, but not for the first time he is grateful for the upgrade to his home. A two bedroom compared to the last one room one, has been a blessing for his back now no longer sleeping on the roll away bed, all while keeping Eddie’s room intact.
Max is setting her bag on Eddie’s old bed. And thank god Eddie has since learned to pick up after him damn self, only after moving out of course. So Wayne knows the bedroom itself is tidy but still full of all of Ed's personality, a fact he is grateful for and can let Max get herself comfortable.
“Make sure you put your jammas on it’s tradition!” He calls from his place at the stove whipping up a batch of french toast.
He hears her mumble, “I can’t even imagine Eddie wearing pajamas.” Which makes him smile brightly in amusement.
Max makes her way to the counter separating the kitchen from the living room, her movements are still unsure of course, being in a home not her own, with an adult she only really knows in passing and from whatever Eddie and Steve have ever mentioned.
“I’ve got hot chocolate going on the stove if ya wanna ladle yourself a cup. Cool Whip in the fridge cause the ain't a whipped cream household. Any mug of your choosin. How do you take your eggs?”
She walks over to the shelf of mugs, inspecting the expansive collection, “Over easy or however you take them I don’t mind.”
“Actually that’s how I prefer em too.” He shoots a little smile her way, she hesitantly returns it.
The mug collection is extensive , years of all gift giving holidays being a new thrifted mug as ridiculous as possible. It still feels weird to look over at the shelf and not see Eddie’s Garfield mug sitting in its place. Max is looking over all her options and goes for the big white mug picturing the Kool-Aid Man and two kids sliding down a rainbow promoting one of the once new flavors. Wayne smiles at the memory of Eddie gifting it to him.
Eddie had been on edge for a few days, Wayne tried to give him space to sort out his feelings, knowing his kid would come to him when he was ready. And when Eddie was, he sat Wayne down and presented the mug to him. Which had confused Wayne seeing how it wasn't a special occasion. He quirked an eyebrow at Eddie in silent question.
“Wayne, I’m queer. I like men, boys, exclusively. And- and if that’s going to be a problem for you, you’ve got to tell me now and I swear I won’t ever bother you again…”
Eddie kept talking but Wayne couldn’t listen to another word. He just looked at this boy, his boy and saw all the love he had in him, the gentleness he reserved for only Wayne and the four walls of safety they’ve created together. Without a second thought he’s pulling Eddie in from his nervous rambling and is enveloping him in what he hopes to be a hug that conveys all of his support.
Wiping a tear from his eye, his voice wet with emotion, “I love ya Ed, and I’ll love anyone who you happen to love, but I will not be putting you in the ground. You have to promise me Edward Lane Munson you’re going to be safe, from this disease, and also from the people who want to hurt you. I ain't losing you, ya hear me?”
“I promise. I promise.”
He shakes his head smiling fondly at the memory just in time to notice dinner is done finally. “Eds and I never been real formal, you good to eat on the sofa and watch A Christmas Story ?”
They sit in comfortable silence eating their breakfast sharing a few chuckles through the movie’s runtime. It’s nice, really nice, almost familiar. Max and Eddie share a lot of traits, but as they spend more time together tonight he notices the little differences. Eddie was the type a kid to take up space when he was feeling vulnerable, whereas Max seems the type to make herself as small as possible, in a similar way Steve did at first actually. Of course with time, Wayne will hopefully be able to see more of their differences in the future, because now that he knows of her situation he’s going to try and make sure she’s at the very least safe and taken care of.
For now, all he can offer is a warm decent meal, and a delicious slice of pie. Which he offers and revels in the way her face lights up at the prospect of his mom’s dessert.
She takes the plate from him, her eyes shoot up at Wayne, “Is this bumbleberry?” She asks in almost a whisper.
“Um yeah, you allergic? I’m sure I got a package of cookies around here.”
“No no, my dad. My dad used to make it for Christmas Eve too. I haven’t had it since he married Dorthy,” A quiet confession.
Wayne could decipher the untold story there, and instead of having her flesh out her trauma, he offered some of his own vulnerability. “It’s my mama’s recipe actually, it ain’t Christmas without Elaine’s and now your dad’s bumbleberry pie. Hope it’s as good as you remember.
Max laughs fully for the first time since Wayne’s been around her today, “It’s going to be better since the crust isn’t scorched.”
“Oh so that’s where you get your culinary skills from.”
“Hey I was trying!”
“What were you even attempting?”
“Mac and cheese.”
“Christ Almighty.” They both dissolve in carefree laughter. Max puts on a record, they finish their pie, discussing even more of their culinary disasters.
It’s only when Max starts yawning, that she excuses herself to go to bed. “I’ve got to run a last minute errand. I shouldn't be too long. You going to be alright here if I head out?”
“Yeah of course, and thanks for tonight, and sharing your holiday with me.”
“Of course kid, and you’re always welcome here even after the holidays.” Max just nods with a shy smile, and heads into Eddie’s room.
Wayne grabs the only plain white mug from the collection, and slips out the front door.
🎄
Groggily pouring his cup of coffee, Wayne’s trying to rub the sleep from his eyes after getting home so late. After retiring his body hasn’t been used to staying up that way in at least a year.
A loud bang coming from the front door, startles the rest of the sleep out of the man. He rushes to grab the nearest weapon, a rolling pin from when he baked the pie, getting ready to bludgeon the intruder.
It takes a second for him to register his menace of a kid and his bashful boyfriend, “How in the hell are you here so early?”
“Merry Christmas to you too, Ebeneezer.” Eddie scoffs dramatically. “They opened up the roads in the middle of the night, figured we’d just drive through and get here before you got up. Which begs the question why you’re up right now?”
Wayne ignores Eddie leveling him with a look that Eddie just pouts at. “You drive the whole way Steve?”
“I mean we are here alive and without a ticket.”
Eddie squaks, “How dare you besmirch my driving on the day we honor the birth of Christ.”
“You need a coffee son?” Wayne continues to ignore Eddie, and Steve follows his cue to do the same.
“Desperately. Thanks Wayne.” Steve smiles, accepting his mug, made exactly the way he likes it.
“Are you always so goddamn loud this early in the morning?” Max emerges, she’s wearing one of Steve’s sweatshirts that must've got left behind packing for their move.
The boys turn around in surprise and in unison ask, “Max?”
Steve goes silent looking between all three of the other people in the room, while Eddie just blurts out, “The fuck are you doing here?”
She shrugs, “Wayne invited me.”
Wayne pours her a glass of juice knowing she’s about to get the third degree from the two idiots standing in disbelief in his living room.
She tells them the full story. Susan hasn't been home in almost six months, she’s been dipping into her government hush money to keep up with everything, which is also her college fund.
In the comfort of two of the closest people in her life, she finally breaks down. Instead of tired sobs, she was angrily willing the tears away, scrubbing at her face causing angry red blotches to spread across her cheeks. “I know– I know I’m not supposed to bottle everything in after what happened last spring, and I’m sorry. Okay? I’m sorry, I just didn’t want them all to look at me like they did after Billy. And then Hopper and Joyce would’ve gotten involved and they already have so much going on all the time.”
“You could’ve come to us–” Steve started gently, only to be cut off.
“No. No you can’t say that. You and Eddie just got out of here, after literally everyone had to convince you to go in the first. I wasn’t going to put all my bullshit on you.”
“Hey man I totally get it, but Max, kid, you can’t do this by yourself. No one should have to, especially you. We can figure something out, yeah? We’ve got the second bedroom ready, which will piss Dustin off much to my delight. But we aren’t letting you throw away your future before it even starts,” Eddie adds with an intentionally relaxed tone.
Max’s voice cracks, “Eddie I can’t just leave, not the party, and not if my mom comes back she’ll need me. I can’t leave.”
The boys scoff and roll their eyes, both about to point out the hypocrisy in that statement. But Max shuts their argument down with a well pointed glare.
Before he knew it Wayne found himself breaking the silence, “You can always stay with me.” Three heads simultaneously snap over towards him. “We can clean up your house for when your ma comes home, and until then you can always go over there every now and then just to have a space of your own. The suits paid for it right? Ain’t no reason you can’t also be there and here. I know it's not much but if you want it’s here. No more fire risks at least.” He ends his proposal with a wink and a sip of his coffee.
Max is smiling fondly and then schools her face into one of indifference. “Can I change around the room?”
“Uh over my dead body.”
“Not funny Eds,” Steve mumbles.
“Of course you can, bout time we get someone with taste around here.”
“Awe come one Wayne, Steve has taste sometimes.” Max laughs, and Eddie shoves Steve while he gloats about his almost compliment.
With the basics settled on Max’s situation and the specifics for a later discussion, the now expanded family grabs a slice of pie for breakfast. As per tradition. Wayne looks up from his slice to see Eddie staring at him, he raises his eyebrow as subtle as he can manage. Eddie just smiles and shakes his head returning to his own plate, and jumping into conversation with the others.
Wayne happily sips his coffee, enjoys his pie, and listens contently to his kids arguing about one thing or another. He can feel Max slipping in with them easily and comfortably, like it was always meant to be. Wayne isn’t a religious man but he considers for a moment maybe his mama sending family his way when he needs em most.
🎄
The evening finds them full and happy, from Steve’s fantastic pot roast. Eddie and Steve are curled up half on top of each other dozing. Gifts were exchanged, four mugs of equal stupidity were passed around and admired, Steve and Eddie surprised Max with a new skateboard. Before she could protest, they explained one of Steve’s coworkers’ grandson broke his arm, so she offered it to Steve rather than just throwing it away.
Now that it’s just the two of them, Wayne felt a little more comfortable giving Max what he had been all over Hell’s creation for last night. He had gone to the Wheeler’s house first seeing as they still got a little one and didn’t want to get here too late. All three of the kids, even little Holly were happy to participate in signing the, for now, plain mug. He could tell Nancy was figuring out the story without him having to say anything, not that he would air Max’s business like that anyways.
The Sinclair’s were next since they were just a few houses down. Lucas, had the fondest smile writing his message turning a touch more bashful as Erica teased him before writing her own. Before Wayne could turn to head back to his truck, a firm hand lands on his shoulder. Lucas squeezes the shoulder in his hand and goes to say something but decides against it, and wishes Wayne a Merry Christmas instead.
Henderson gave Wayne a gummy smile, talking a mile a minute about something, Wayne couldn’t really pay attention. He bid Dustin a farewell and an invitation to annoy Eddie and Steve back at Wayne’s for the day after Christmas. Dustin eagerly accepted with mischief in his eyes. Claudia came out to wish Wayne a Happy Holidays and fill his arms of tupperware with at least twelve different kinds of cookies.
He was thankful for the calm atmosphere at Robin’s house, who made light conversation with him, as she wrote a near paragraph on the cup. She makes a self-deprecating joke about her inability to be brief, and pulls Wayne into a quick hug which he gladly reciprocates.
The last stop being the Byers-Hopper family, who built their house on the outskirts of town, far enough away to be able to breathe, yet close enough to be needed, by any of these kids. Every family member sighed, even Hopper after being begged by El and eventually Joyce. Will even sketched a skateboard with the word Zoomer on it. Joyce gratefully gives him a tumblr full of coffee for his way home.
Max is tracing the words, with shiny eyes. Wayne, trying to be casual just says, “Figured the boys could sign it after their cat nap, they’re gonna be pissed as hell I didn’t let em do it before giving it to you.”
“They’ll get over it,” She chuckles wetly. She brings her socked foot over and taps Wayne’s slipper, just a little show of affection and thankfulness.
In all of the Christmases Wayne’s had, and there’s been a lot of them at this point, this one probably takes first in terms of favorites. And if he thanks his mama while eating a piece of her pie and listening to Eddie play that damned guitar, that’s his business.