Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I’m not getting your uncle a case of Coors Light for Christmas, Eddie!” Steve argued for the fifth time that day. Eddie was sitting on the couch watching TV as Steve frantically scrolled through his phone, trying to decide on what he could bring Eddie’s uncle for Christmas.

“I’m telling you, Stevie,” Eddie said, turning toward Steve. “I know the man better than anyone, and he would truly appreciate a case of Coors Light for Christmas.”

Steve groaned and buried his face in his hands. “I’m not showing up to meet the man who raised you with a case of Coors Light as my only offering.” 

Eddie shrugged. “Then get him two.”

Steve threw a pillow at him. Eddie laughed, but quickly sobered at Steve’s stormy look.

“Are you really worried about this, baby?” Eddie asked. 

Steve nodded miserably and Eddie held out his arms. Steve crept forward on the couch, plastering himself against Eddie and burying his face in his neck. 

“Wayne is gonna fucking love you. Do you know why?” Eddie asked.

Steve shook his head. 

“Because you make me happier than anyone else ever has, and he’s gonna be able to see that.” 

Steve pushed himself up to look at Eddie. “You’re sure?” Steve asked, lip wobbling a little.

“I’m sure,” Eddie said, kissing Steve on the forehead. “But, if you insist on refusing to get him a case or two of Coors Light, you should buy him a mug. A really kitschy one. He has a collection.”

Steve punched Eddie lightly on the shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me that, like, two hours ago? That’s perfect!”

Eddie shrugged, looking a little sheepish. “I forgot about the mugs. I don’t know how, they occupy a very prominent space in the trailer.”

Steve’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I’ll get him the collectible mug from this year’s Christkindlmarket!” 

Eddie smiled. “You’re brilliant. An absolute genius. And a smokeshow.”

Steve kissed him, and Eddie buried his face back in Steve’s neck. “You smell a little different,” he mumbled into Steve’s skin. 

“Oh?” Steve prodded. “Like, different bad?” 

“No,” Eddie said, shaking his head. “Just different. Like there’s something extra, in your scent.” 

“Hmm,” Steve said, sniffing Eddie. “You don’t smell any different to me.” 

Eddie shrugged. “Maybe I’m just getting a cold.” 

They planned to meet Robin, Nancy, and Charlie in downtown Chicago to visit the Christmas market the next day, and then head down to Hawkins the day after, Christmas Eve. They caught one of the morning commuter trains, and Steve had a much better time than usual on the two hour trip, listening to a constant stream of Eddie’s interesting thoughts and holding hands.

They got off the train at Millenium Station, walking the few blocks through the frigid, windy air. Steve saw Nancy first, huddled around one of the fires holding a bundle that was presumably Charlie to her chest. 

Robin was close by, manning the empty stroller for whenever Charlie would let them put her down. “Dingus!” she called, when she caught sight of Steve. “And dingus’s dingus!” she said to Eddie. She gave them both hugs, and they went on to walk through the market.

Steve bought a few more last minute presents, and Eddie spent most of his time holding Charlie, alternating between talking nonsense to her and pointing out cool things to Steve. Steve acquired his gluhwein in the year’s collectible mug, which he would take home and wash so he could give it to Wayne.

It was a really wonderful morning, spent with all of Steve’s favorite people. It started to snow around noon and they decided to retreat to Robin and Nancy’s apartment so they could put Charlie down for a nap.

“So you’re finally going back to Hawkins, Steve?” Nancy asked after Charlie was asleep and they were all gathered in the living room. “I’m pretty sure I remember the words ‘I will never return to that noxious hellhole’ coming out of your mouth on multiple occasions.” 

Steve blushed as Eddie shot him a look. He hadn’t actually told Eddie how deadset he’d been on not returning. “Yeah, well, priorities change,” he mumbled. Eddie reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. 

“We’re not going to really go anywhere except my uncle’s trailer, and I get the impression we would be highly unlikely to catch sight of Steve’s parents there,” Eddie said. 

Robin snorted. “I think they would implode into a fine bougie mist the minute they stepped foot into a trailer park.”

When Steve and Eddie got back home that night, exhausted from walking around in the cold and 4 hours of train time, they both fell onto the couch, cats crowding in around them. 

“I didn’t realize how much you didn’t want to go back to Hawkins,” Eddie said quietly, reaching for Steve’s hand. “I’m sorry if I pressured you into it.”

Steve crawled into Eddie’s lap, holding his face between his hands. “You absolutely did not pressure me into it. I didn’t know I’d end up falling in love with someone from Hawkins when I said I was never going back.” 

He realized what he’d said a few seconds too late. He’d known he was in love with Eddie almost since their first date, but it felt like it was way too soon to say that. Eddie’s eyes widened and Steve slapped a hand over his mouth. 

“You’re in love with me?” Eddie asked. He didn’t look upset, really. Just kind of surprised.

Steve sighed and looked away. He couldn’t take it back now. “Yes, I am. But I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say it so soon. It’s really okay, I won’t be weird about it. Take all the time you need, or never say it, that’s fine, too.”

Eddie put his fingers under Steve’s chin, forcing him to look up at him. “Stevie, baby, I’ve been in love with you since you made me dinner that first time. You really don’t need to feel self-conscious about this.” 

“You - you have?” Steve asked, voice tremulous. 

“Now I see where Robin’s getting the ‘dingus’ from,” Eddie said. “Of course I have! You’re sweet and funny and beautiful and a spectacular lay. What’s not to love?” 

Steve leaned forward and kissed Eddie, just a chaste peck on the lips. “You’re amazing,” Steve said. “I love you.” He said it just because he could now.

Eddie’s huge grin made Steve beam back in return. “I love you, too.”

The drive to Hawkins was uneventful, until they passed the “Welcome to Hawkins” sign and Steve’s anxiety ticked up to very high levels. He was glad they weren’t going near his parents’ neighborhood, veering off to head to Forest Hills Trailer Park. He pulled in beside the trailer Eddie indicated, and they jumped out of the car. They’d check into their hotel later, Eddie was too excited to see Wayne. 

Eddie rushed up the steps and knocked on the door, which was promptly opened by a grumpy looking man who bore very little resemblance to Eddie. 

“Wayne!” Eddie cried, pulling the man into a tight hug. 

“Good to see you, son,” Wayne said, patting Eddie on the back. Eddie stepped back, motioning to Steve.

“This is Steve Harrington, my boyfriend.” 

Steve held out a hand, which Wayne took in a firm grip. “Welcome, Steve. Harrington, huh? You guys gonna be heading over to see your parents?”

Steve shifted awkwardly. “Ah, no. They’re not particularly accepting of my lifestyle choices. I haven’t spoken to them since I left town.” 

Wayne’s face softened a little, and he patted Steve on the arm, ushering him in. “Well, you’re always welcome here.” 

Eddie smiled at Steve behind Wayne’s back as they walked in, reaching out to give Steve’s hand a squeeze. 

The mug was a huge hit with Wayne. He made a big deal of finding a spot for it in the mug display right away. “Collectibles are the best for a mug wall,” he said, straightening a few of the other mugs as his hand drew away.

They had a late lunch with Wayne, and Steve found him surprisingly easy to talk to for all of his gruff exterior. He was interested to hear about Steve’s job, especially the basketball coach part of it. Wayne turned out to be a big basketball fan, and Eddie had to interrupt multiple times when he got bored in the middle of a lengthy discussion of college teams. Steve and Eddie left around 7, heading for their hotel. 

“See?” Eddie said, once they were in their room. “You had nothing to be worried about. That man is crazy about you. Think he might like you more than me already.” 

Steve rolled his eyes. “That’s definitely not true. But I will admit I was pleasantly surprised to be talking with a basketball fan after having to spend so much time with Mister ‘now which sportsball is this one’ over here.” 

“You wound me,” Eddie said dramatically, holding a hand to his chest. 

Steve collapsed onto the bed, sighing, and Eddie crawled on top of him. “It is a true testament to my willpower that I managed to keep everything PG that whole time we were with Wayne,” Eddie said, sneaking his hands up beneath Steve’s shirt and kissing his neck. He licked at his scent gland, tasting the oil. Steve could feel Eddie’s cock, already hard, pressing against his hip.

“Well, I’m very proud of you,” Steve said, kissing the top of Eddie’s head.

“Do I get a reward?” Eddie asked, lifting up his head and grinning at Steve.

Steve laughed. “Sure. What do you want for your reward, my horny friend?” 

Eddie paused to think about it. “How do you feel about anal?” 

Steve blinked. He hadn’t actually had much anal sex. People tended to go for the option that required less work. But he had enjoyed it, the few times he’d done it. “I’m up for it.” Steve said.

“You sure?” Eddie asked, picking up one of Steve’s palms and kissing it. 

Steve nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Alright,” Eddie said, getting up. “Come shower with me.” Steve would never say no to showering with Eddie.

They undressed and stepped into the spacious shower, Eddie immediately drawing Steve against his body and kissing him before reaching for the shampoo. He washed Steve’s hair, massaging into his scalp, then moved on to his body, holding Steve flush against his own body as he lathered soap all over his front, then turning him around to get his back. 

He wouldn’t let Steve take much time washing him, much to Steve’s annoyance. As soon as he was done washing himself, he pressed Steve against the tiles, face-first, then bent to his knees behind him, pulling open his cheeks. Steve groaned when he felt the first press of Eddie’s tongue against his rim, licking lightly over him at first, then slowly starting to press in. 

Eddie licked into him, hands tightly gripping Steve’s hips as Steve tried as hard as he could not to shove his ass into Eddie’s face like he wanted to. Steve was achingly hard, cock pressed against the cold tiles of the shower stall. Eddie eventually pulled away, and Steve looked over his shoulder at him.

“As much as I’m loving this,” Eddie said, “my knees would prefer we take this to the bed.”

“Alright, old man,” Steve said with a grin, and Eddie smacked his ass. 

They dried off quickly, falling into the bed kissing each other, hands roaming everywhere. Eddie stood up for a moment to rifle through his bag, pulling out the lube. “You want to be on your back or your front?” he asked. 

“On my back. I like to look at you,” Steve said, and Eddie smiled. 

Steve laid down, Eddie grabbing a pillow to put beneath his lower back, tilting his hips up. Eddie squirted some lube onto his fingers and pressed a kiss to Steve’s hips, fingers grazing over his asshole. 

He was loose enough from the rimming that Eddie was able to slide in his first finger easily, just a bit of a stretch when it went deep. He moved the finger in and out slowly, watching Steve’s face the whole time.

“Okay?” he asked, and Steve nodded.

“You can add another.” 

Eddie complied, sliding a second finger slowly into Steve as he bent forward to take Steve’s cock into his mouth. Steve groaned and put his hands in Eddie’s hair, tangling his fingers in the curls. Eddie shifted his fingers up, hitting Steve’s prostate.

“Oh, fuck, that’s good,” Steve said, squirming beneath Eddie. He’d forgotten how good that felt. Eddie worked over Steve’s prostate, scissoring his fingers apart every few strokes to stretch Steve out, until Steve was begging for his cock. 

“Want you inside me now, Eddie,” Steve said. Eddie lifted off of his cock, removing his fingers and grabbing the lube, spreading some on his cock. He bent down to kiss Steve then lined himself up.

“Ready?” he asked, and Steve nodded vigorously. 

Eddie started to push in, and Steve felt the stretch acutely. Eddie was big. He went slow, sinking in by small increments, letting Steve adjust. Once he was fully inside of Steve, he bent to kiss him again.

“You feel so good, baby,” he said against Steve’s lips.

“You, too,” was all Steve could manage. Steve moved his hips a small amount, encouraging Eddie, who took the hint and pulled out slightly, pushing back in slowly. 

“I’m not gonna break, Eddie,” Steve said, wiggling his hips again. Eddie laughed and held Steve’s hips in place. 

“Let me take my time. This is my reward,” Eddie reminded him. 

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime of small, slow thrusts, Eddie started to move faster, pulling out further to thrust in deeper on each stroke. His cock grazed Steve’s prostate, making Steve let out a little “ngh” noise with each thrust.

Eddie reached between them with his clean hand, pressing down to stroke at Steve’s cunt. “Oh my god,” Steve said, as Eddie slipped two fingers into his pussy, crooking them up expertly to hit his g-spot. “What the fuck.” 

Steve unraveled quickly under the dual assault, Eddie’s cock pressing into his prostate as his fingers hit Steve’s g-spot. He was coming in seconds without even a hand on his cock, an orgasm so intense he felt like he was going to black out. 

When his vision cleared, Eddie was smirking down at him, cock still buried in his ass and fingers in his pussy. He gave Steve a few seconds, then started to thrust again, with cock and fingers. “Oh, shit,” Steve said as Eddie started to thrust hard and fast with his fingers, keeping pace with his cock, until Steve was squirting all over his belly, mostly flaccid cock twitching in a valiant effort to keep coming.

“Fuck fuck fuck, Eddieeeeeeee,” he yelled as he came, not caring that they were in a hotel with paper thin walls. Eddie let up for a second after this orgasm, peppering Steve’s chest and face with kisses, but still buried in both of Steve’s holes.

“You think you have one more in you, baby?” Eddie asked. 

Steve nodded weakly. “I might die, but it will be a good death.’

Eddie laughed, but the next second started to thrust again with his fingers and cock, pummeling Steve’s prostate and g-spot in tandem as Steve shook apart around him, squirting even more onto his stomach as he screamed and clenched around Eddie. Eddie pulled his hand from Steve’s cunt and thrust several more times into his ass, coming with a loud grunt. 

He collapsed on top of Steve for a moment, catching his breath. Steve didn’t think he would be capable of coherent speech for some time, so he didn’t mind. Eventually, Eddie got up, pulling out of Steve and getting a wet washcloth to clean them up, then bundling Steve under the covers with him.

“Was that okay, sweetheart?” Eddie asked, kissing the top of Steve’s head. 

“It was so good,” Steve mumbled from where his face was smashed against Eddie’s chest. “I didn’t know I could feel that good. How did you even get your hand to bend like that?”

Eddie laughed. “I do think I pulled a few forearm muscles. But it was worth it.” 

“You’re so good to me,” Steve whispered, and Eddie tilted his head up to kiss him.

“You deserve it, baby.”

Steve woke to an empty bed, grumbling and throwing his arm out to confirm that Eddie wasn’t there. Just as he was about to get up, Eddie jumped on top of him, kissing his face all over. Steve laughed, half-heartedly trying to push Eddie off.

“What are you doing?” Steve asked, gasping. 

“I was waiting for you to wake up,” Eddie said. Steve could see him smiling gleefully in the light seeping in through the drapes. “Merry Christmas, baby.”

“Merry Christmas, Eddie,” Steve said, pulling him in for a proper kiss.

“Can I give you your present?” Eddie asked, looking excited. 

“Let me at least pee first. You’re laying on my bladder.” 

Eddie got up, letting Steve out of the bed, and rifled around in his bag. When Steve returned from the bathroom, Eddie was holding out a wrapped present which was large, flat, and rectangular. 

“This is for you!” he said, looking excited. Steve opened it to reveal a beautiful framed drawing of himself with his four cats, standing in his garden, stylized to look like something from a Miyazaki film. Steve had made Eddie sit through all of the Studio Ghibli Miyazaki movies with him after he’d found out he hadn’t seen a single one. 

“Holy shit, Eddie, this is beautiful,” Steve said, staring at it in awe. “Where did you even get this?” 

“Chrissy’s got some real artsy friends, and one of them takes commissions. You really like it?” 

“I love it,” Steve said, holding it to his chest. “I think it might be the best present anyone’s ever given me.”

“Oh, wow, well I seriously have to up my game then to make up for the years of lackluster gift-giving in your life,” Eddie said.

Steve put the drawing down and pulled Eddie into a hug. “Thank you, baby. It’s perfect.” He pushed himself back, getting up to look through his own bag. He pulled out an envelope and held it out to Eddie, who opened it so fast Steve was afraid he was going to tear what was inside. 

He pulled out two tickets, and screamed when he saw what was on them. “You got me tickets to see Ozzy ?” he yelled, pulling Steve into a hug. “You’re fucking amazing, Stevie. The absolute best. Are you coming with me, or is this a ‘find your own friend who doesn’t care about their eardrums’ situation?” He looked hopeful.

“I’m coming with you,” Steve said. Eddie yelped and tackled him to the bed. 

They made it to Wayne’s around noon, after a round of gratitude sex. Christmas with Wayne was a wonderfully low-key affair, so different from the fancy, extravagant dinners Steve had dealt with in his childhood. They watched a bunch of old Christmas movies and had a delicious dinner that Steve insisted on helping with. Wayne unearthed some hilarious photos of Eddie as a kid and teenager.

“Look at you! You were so moody!” Steve crowed as he came to a picture of Eddie frowning at the camera, wearing all black and enough chains to make him sink if he got in a body of water. Eddie grabbed the picture from Steve. 

“This isn’t fair!” Eddie said, pouting. “You need to reciprocate and show me embarrassing little Stevie pictures.” 

“I think Robin actually has some, don’t ask me why. Because I don’t know. No idea where or when she stole them from my parents.” 

Eddie laughed. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” 

Steve felt relaxed and comfortable the whole day, in a way he never had with his own family. They were driving back to Steve’s place that night, and Wayne gave Steve a hug as they were getting ready to go, while Eddie was in the bathroom.

“You make him real happy, Steve,” Wayne said as he pulled away. “Hope I get to see a lot more of you in the future.”  

Steve smiled. He got the impression that Wayne Munson didn’t give out his approval lightly. “Oh, you definitely will, if I have anything to say about it.”

“Please tell me you’re not saying anything embarrassing, Wayne,” Eddie said as he approached from the hallway. 

Wayne didn’t answer, just pulled Eddie into a hug. “Don’t be a stranger, son.” 

They didn’t talk much on the way home, just sat in a companionable silence, holding hands on and off whenever the driving was easy. When they got back to Steve’s, the cats were very happy to see them, weaving in and out of their legs. 

“Do you need to go back to your place?” Steve asked. He wasn’t excited about the prospect of the nausea and malaise returning, but Eddie had been at his place or at the hotel with him pretty much every night for the past one, or maybe even two, weeks. He went back to his apartment to get things while he was working, given it was just above the shop, but Steve still felt a little bad about the situation.

“Nah,” Eddie shook his head. “Not unless you need me to go back there. No hard feelings, though, if that's the case.” 

Steve reached for his hand, pulling him in for a kiss. “No, I want you here.” Amos meowed and rubbed himself on Eddie’s leg. “So does he,” Steve added, motioning down to Amos. 

Eddie bent down to scoop him up. Steve had been the only person Amos would tolerate that treatment from prior to Eddie entering their lives, but Amos had warmed to Eddie so fast Steve was almost jealous. “Missed you, old man,” Eddie said, giving Amos a kiss on the nose. Amos rubbed his face against Eddie’s cheek and Eddie groaned. “You’re drooling on me!” he said, putting Amos back on the ground. 

Steve insisted that they hang up the drawing Eddie had given him before they could even unpack, admiring it with a big smile on his face while Eddie pressed kisses into his neck from behind.

A few days later, Steve was getting ready for bed when he heard Eddie let out a loud groan from the living room. “Dammit, I forgot my book at the shop again. I was at a really good part!” He typically stayed up later than Steve, reading in bed for a few hours while Steve slept.

Steve made a sympathetic noise, walking out into the living room, and spent a few moments warring with himself, trying to decide if he wanted to voice a thought he’d been having a lot recently. He took a deep breath and plunged in. Even if Eddie said no, Steve knew he would be kind about it. “Maybe you should just move in.”

Eddie looked up sharply, face softening, and held out a hand for Steve. He sank down onto the couch next to Eddie. “You’d want that?” Eddie asked, looking hopeful and a little scared.

Steve nodded. “You’re here every night anyway, and I have plenty of space for your stuff.”

“You don’t think you’d get tired of me?” 

Steve laughed, squeezing Eddie’s hand. “No, absolutely not. I don’t think I could ever get tired of you.” 

Eddie’s smile was huge and bright. “Then, yes, I want to move in.”

Eddie slowly started to pack up his apartment and bring things over in the following days, able to take his time since he hadn’t started trying to find someone to rent the apartment over the shop from him. Steve enjoyed watching Eddie unpack and find spaces for all of his things in the house. It made him happy in a way he wasn’t sure he’d ever been before. 

Even with Eddie starting to move in, Steve was having increasing trouble with nausea when he school started back up after the holiday. He started to spend time in the store with Eddie whenever it was open and Steve wasn’t working, sometimes helping, but mostly just reading or grading papers on an antique chaise lounge that he’d told Eddie he was no longer allowed to sell. 

He was laying back on the chaise reading a book one day when the door of the shop opened and a group of loud boys walked in. He looked up, immediately recognizing the loudest voice - Dustin Henderson and his group of miscreants.

“We need to find the perfect table, I’m telling you. It will make everything else go more smoothly,” Dustin was saying. 

“Dude, this place looks way too fancy. We’ve only got, like, twenty dollars between us.” This came from Lucas Sinclair, who Steve had noticed was often the voice of reason in the group. 

“Mr. Harrington?” Will Byers asked, confused, the first to catch sight of Steve sitting on the chaise a few feet away from where they were arguing. All four of the boys turned to him. Steve put his book down, sitting up. 

“Hey, guys. What are you looking for?” he asked.

“Are they really paying our public school teachers so little that you have to have a second job?” Dustin asked, sounding scandalized. 

Steve laughed. “No, I don’t work here.” He thought about it for a moment, then decided now was as good a time as any. No need to be weird about it. “The owner is my boyfriend.” 

Mike Wheeler’s mouth dropped open. “You’re gay?” he asked. Dustin elbowed him in the side. 

“Well, technically bisexual,” Steve replied, as Eddie came back from whatever he was doing in the back room to see the boys clustered around Steve.

“You’re gay with the Dungeonmaster?” Mike asked, voice rising. “He’s way too cool for you.” 

“Mike,” Dustin whispered to him, elbowing him in the side again. 

Eddie looked between them, raising his eyebrows at Steve, who nodded, letting him know everything was alright. 

“I think he’s way too cool for me, actually,” Eddie said, smiling at them. “Can I help you young lads find anything?” 

They launched into a spirited and lengthy discussion of the perfect table they were trying to find as Eddie listened and nodded along. Will was staring at Steve with something almost like hope on his face. He gave the kid an inviting smile. He’d always had his suspicions about Will Byers, and hoped maybe this would give him the onus he needed to start realizing things about himself.

Eddie managed to locate an old table in the backroom that he had been planning to just donate to Goodwill, as it was far below the quality of his usual wares, but it was perfect for four kids with only twenty dollars. After they left, he sat down on the chaise next to Steve, looping an arm around his shoulders.

“You alright?” he asked, pressing a kiss into Steve’s hair.

“Yes. Very alright.” 

Nancy, Robin, and Charlie came for a visit in mid-January, and it caused more trouble for Steve than he would have anticipated. He felt himself getting increasingly agitated as the visit progressed, wanting to be holding Charlie all the time, feeling bereft when he wasn’t. He tried to keep it under control, but Robin of course noticed. 

She pulled him aside in the kitchen as they were cooking, Nancy and Eddie in the living room with Charlie. Robin grabbed him by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes. “Steve. Dingus. You need to have a baby soon.” 

He shook her off, turning away and crossing his arms over his middle. “What are you talking about, Robin? Eddie and I have only been together for, like, four months.”

“I don’t care, you need to have a baby pronto,” Robin said. “I see the way you’re looking at Charlie, the way you never want to let her go. I’ve been there, Steve, believe me. When I was finally ready to have a baby it was like a switch flipped and the thought took over my entire brain. Every time I saw a baby I felt like I was getting increasingly feral until Nancy finally agreed to knock me up.”

Steve brushed off her concern. “I’m fine. Really. I’m fine. Also, I’m already so nauseous whenever I’m away from Eddie, I don’t want to add morning sickness to that.”

Robin’s gaze sharpened. “That’s still happening? You didn’t tell me that was still happening.” 

“Yeah, it has been since my heat. It’s like the only thing that calms my stomach down is Eddie. It’s much worse in the mornings, but kind of there all day if I’m not with him.”

“Oh, shit. Why did it take me so long to figure this out?” Robin asked herself.

“Figure what out, Robin?” 

“Steve, I think you’re already pregnant,” she said. 

“No. That’s not possible,” Steve said, scoffing. “I was on birth control during my heat.”

“Birth control doesn’t have a 100% success rate,” she said, rolling her eyes at him. “I think you’re feeling the effects of being pregnant while unbonded. Your body’s freaking out and the only thing that makes it better without the bond is Eddie’s physical presence.”

“Oh,” Steve said, stomach sinking. “That’s - is that a thing?” 

“Yes, that’s a thing, for some omegas! Did you pay any attention in health class?”

“Not really, no,” Steve said. 

“Truly amazing that you’ve made it this far.”

“I still don’t think you’re right,” Steve said. “I would know if I was pregnant.”

“I mean, your body is basically screaming it at you right now, but, fine, don’t believe me. Just do me a solid and take a pregnancy test. Prove me wrong.” She knew that was his weakness. He could never pass up an opportunity to try to prove her wrong. 

“Fine,” Steve said. 

Nancy walked in as they were glaring at each other, looked between the two of them, and then walked back out muttering, “I don’t even wanna know.” 

After the girls headed back to Chicago Sunday afternoon, Steve couldn’t stop thinking about his conversation with Robin. He decided to buy several pregnancy tests after work on Monday and go home instead of to Eddie’s shop. 

He pulled out three tests. “Just to be sure,” he said to himself, knowing he wouldn’t trust just one. After he peed on the sticks, he stood in the bathroom staring daggers at the tests sitting on the toilet lid. 

“Oh my god, I can’t do this,” Steve said, turning away in disgust and walking out of the bathroom. Amos lifted his head up from his nap on the couch and let out an annoyed noise at being disturbed. Steve sat next to him, scratching him behind the ears to make up for it. 

A few minutes of nail-biting later, Steve picked Amos up, clutching him to his chest. “I need you to be my emotional support cat,” he whispered. Amos rubbed his face against Steve’s chin in response. 

Steve crept into the bathroom, approaching the toilet slowly, like maybe the pregnancy tests were going to bite him. He closed his eyes as he got close, squeezing Amos tightly enough that he let out a little squawk. 

Steve took a few deep breaths then opened his eyes. Three plus signs. He sank to the floor, burying his face in Amos’s fur and letting out a sob. It was real. He was gonna have a baby. Amos tolerated his squeezing for about another minute, then wriggled his way out of his arms, dashing out of the bathroom.

Steve followed, picking up the phone and automatically dialing Robin’s number. She answered after a few rings.

“Robin, I’m pregnant,” he said, not even bothering with a greeting. She screamed so loud he dropped the receiver.

“Oh my god, I fucking knew it! Steve, this is amazing,” she said when she finally stopped screaming. “Is Eddie, like, freaking out levels of excited?” 

“I haven’t told him,” Steve admitted. 

“You told me before you told Eddie?” Robin asked.

“Robbie, what if this is too soon for him?” Steve asked, voice cracking a little. “I know he wants kids but that doesn’t mean he wants them now.”

“I know you’re not going to believe me,” Robin replied, “because you never do, but that man wants you knocked up pronto. He’s gonna be stoked.” 

“I don’t know…” Steve said, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. 

“What are you gonna do, just not tell him? I don’t think that’s gonna work.”

“Ugh, no, Robin, I’m gonna tell him. I’m just nervous,” Steve admitted.

“My darling dingus, you have nothing to be nervous about. He’s gonna be thrilled. I’m thrilled. Soon, you’ll allow yourself to be thrilled. Everything’s gonna be okay.”

He hung up feeling slightly better than when he’d called her, but was a bundle of nervous energy waiting for Eddie to get home. When he finally heard the sound of Eddie’s truck, he ran into the bathroom to grab one of the tests, putting it in his pocket and waiting for Eddie at the door into the house from the garage.

Eddie opened the door, jumping and yelping when he found Steve standing directly in front of him. “Jesus, Stevie! What is this, a horror movie?”

Steve was about to show him the test, but chickened out at the last second. “Sorry, I was just… going out into the garage for something,” he said, pushing past Eddie into the garage. He panicked, grabbing a box that was sitting there waiting to be broken down.

Eddie gave him a weird look. “A box? What do you need a box for?” 

Steve shrugged. “Just some things,” he said, walking back into the house and putting the box on the table, then sitting down on the couch. Eddie sat next to him.

“Steve, is everything okay?” he asked. 

“Yeah. Everything’s great,” Steve said, attempting a smile. 

Eddie gave him a skeptical look. “That wasn’t very convincing,” he said, frowning.

Steve sighed and put his head in his hands, then looked up at Eddie. He looked concerned, and reached out a hand, placing it on Steve’s arm and rubbing soothing circles into it. 

Steve took a deep breath, then fished the test out of his pocket and handed it to Eddie, who gave it a very confused look until he figured it out, brow clearing. “Oh my fucking god. We did it already,” he said, staring at Steve in awe. He reached out and pulled Steve into a hug, pushing him down onto the couch and covering his face with kisses.

Steve laughed, pleased to be getting a positive reaction, and half-heartedly pushed at Eddie’s shoulder. “That tickles!” he protested. Eddie pushed himself up on his hands, moving down Steve’s body and pulling his shirt up, baring his belly. Eddie kissed the skin just under his belly button.

“They’re in there? Already?” he asked, looking up at Steve. 

Steve nodded. “Hopefully ‘they’ in a gender neutral sense and not a twin sense,” Steve said. 

Eddie shrugged. “We need six, might as well start with a double.”

Steve rolled his eyes, pulling Eddie back up to kiss him on the mouth. “This is why we’ve been feeling so weird then?” Eddie asked. 

“Robin thinks so,” Steve said. “She’s the one that told me I needed to take a test. She thinks me being pregnant without us being bonded is making us both feel not great when we’re apart.”

Eddie nodded. “That makes sense. So when are we going to bond?” 

Steve felt like he was going to get whiplash. “So you’re okay with this? Even though I was on birth control, and we weren’t trying.” 

“The birth control was your idea,” Eddie said. “I would have been more than happy to spend that cycle with you even if you hadn’t been on birth control, knowing full well what that would lead to. Are you okay with this?” Eddie looked apprehensive for the first time since he’d found out.

“Yes,” Steve said quickly. “More than okay with it.”

Eddie’s smile returned, and he bent to kiss Steve.

“And you’re ready to bond with me?” Steve asked when they broke the kiss. 

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” Eddie replied. “But if you need to wait, we can. I can carry you around on my back in a little harness all day so you never have to be away from me and feel like shit.” Eddie’s voice changed slightly to what Steve thought of as his dork voice. “I can’t carry the baby for you, Mr. Frodo, but I can carry you!” 

Steve snorted. “Not necessary, Samwise. I’m ready, too.”

Later that evening, they lay in bed together, naked, kissing slowly. Eddie had his arms wrapped around Steve’s waist, pulling him in close to his body. Steve could feel his cock, hard and pressed against his hip. The sensation had slick pooling between Steve’s legs.

“It will probably be easiest if we’re both sitting up,” Eddie said, breaking the kiss. Steve nodded, and Eddie shifted up the bed, back against the headboard. Steve climbed into his lap, grabbing hold of his cock and sliding it into his pussy, sinking down. 

Eddie gasped. “Ooookay, unexpected but that’s good, too,” he said, voice a little breathy, and Steve smirked, moving his hips in little circles. Eddie reached out his hands to still him. “I need to concentrate!” he protested. “It’s hard to get my fangs out when I’m not pissed off or in a rut.” Steve rolled his eyes but stopped moving. 

Eddie closed his eyes and his face screwed up in concentration, his mouth moving a little. When he opened his eyes and smiled, Steve could see his fangs poking out over his bottom lip.

“Ready?” he asked. 

“Yes. Bite me,” Steve said, tilting his head to the side and moving his hair. Eddie leaned forward, one hand going into Steve’s hair to hold his head still, and licked over Steve’s scent gland. Steve felt Eddie’s mouth open wider, then felt the sharp sting of his fangs breaking his skin. It was only a little painful, and mostly just turned Steve on, making him grind his hips down onto Eddie’s cock as Eddie whimpered against his neck.

Eddie kept his fangs in Steve’s neck for a few moments, tongue coming out to lick at the skin there, collecting Steve’s scent mixed with blood. Eventually he let go, licking over the mark to soothe. 

Steve let out a shaky breath. He felt floaty, like his head was full of clouds. Something had shifted into place inside of him, something that had been just slightly off for his entire life, and now was in perfect harmony. 

“Feel alright?” Eddie asked, looking at Steve with concern.

Steve nodded. “Feel fucking fantastic,” he said. 

Eddie kissed over the bite again. “Do me now?” 

“Of course, baby,” Steve said, grabbing Eddie’s one of Eddie’s hands and squeezing. 

Eddie pushed his hair to the side and tilted his head to give Steve access to his own scent gland. Steve’s little fangs popped out easily, his body seeming to know what was required of it.

“Ready?” he asked, and Eddie nodded. Steve bent forward and pressed a light kiss to Eddie’s scent gland before he bit down. He tasted Eddie’s blood and the oil that made up his scent, reveling in the combination. Eddie’s hips bucked up, fucking into Steve for a few thrusts before he stilled himself. After a few moments, Steve pulled back, licking up the blood, then pushing back to look at Eddie.

Eddie’s pupils were blown and he had a goofy smile on his face. “Feeling good?” Steve asked.

“Perfect,” Eddie murmured. “I feel… right. In a way I don’t think I ever have before.”

Steve nodded. “Me, too.” He’d heard of bonds gone wrong, or bonds that were just sort of neutral, so he was relieved that theirs seemed to be a true mating bond. 

“Love you, baby,” Eddie said, leaning forward to kiss Steve. 

“Love you, too.” 

Eddie’s hands started to wander, cupping Steve’s ass and squeezing. Steve shifted his hips, fucking himself down onto Eddie’s cock and leaning forward to keep kissing him. Eddie grabbed Steve’s hips and flipped them over so he was laying on top of Steve, starting to slowly and gently thrust into him.

He continued at the same pace for a few minutes, and it was nice, but not what Steve needed. “I’m not gonna break, Eddie. Fuck me,” Steve demanded.

“But… the baby,” Eddie said, looking concerned.

“The baby will be fine,” Steve assured him. “There are a lot of protections in place down there.”

Eddie didn’t look convinced, continuing his slow pace. 

“I’ve got almost seven more months of this, and if this is how you’re gonna fuck me for the whole thing, it’s absolutely not going to work,” Steve said, shifting his hips to try to meet Eddie’s thrusts with more force.

Eddie rolled his eyes. “You’re really bratty sometimes, you know,” he said, but started to pick up the pace of his thrusts, reaching down to pull one of Steve’s legs over his shoulder and deepen the angle, hitting Steve’s g-spot now. 

“Much better,” Steve said, sighing out a moan.

“‘M not gonna last very long, baby,” Eddie admitted, panting. He reached down for Steve’s cock, wrapping his hand around it and stroking. Steve felt his own orgasm building, pleasure heightened by the new sensation of the bond between them. Eddie thrust harder, the way he knew Steve liked, face scrunched up with the effort of keeping himself from coming before Steve.

A few thrusts like that were all it took, and Steve felt himself unraveling, clenching down on Eddie’s cock as he came. Eddie followed closely, Steve feeling the warmth of Eddie’s cum spilling into him as he groaned and buried himself in Steve.

Eddie slid to the side, wrapping an arm around Steve’s waist and pressing kisses into his chest. He gradually moved down, licking Steve’s cum off his belly as he went, then laying his head down on his lower belly.

“Can’t wait to meet them with you,” Eddie said, kissing the skin there. 

Steve felt tears start to build in his eyes. “Me neither,” he said.

Eddie turned his head to look up at Steve, smiling so bright Steve was surprised it didn’t hurt his eyes, and said, “This is gonna be so awesome.”