Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This, Ed Teach thinks as he crosses the border into Maine, was probably a mistake. He’s been driving for almost five hours now and his ass is going numb, his cat won’t stop glaring at him from the carrier he set in the passenger seat — which, admittedly, is better than the three hours of non-stop yowling that kicked off the trip — and his car’s Bluetooth keeps disconnecting his phone so he can’t listen to any of his carefully curated playlists. What’s he supposed to do, rely on the radio stations out of Portland? Like an animal?!? To top it off, his foot is cramping because it was raining for the whole first half of the drive, and everyone knows you’re not supposed to use the cruise control when it’s raining because it’s not safe. He’s out of coffee. His shirt collar is itchy.

He didn’t have a plan when he left New York in a rush, but that’s what happens, he supposes, when you get so fed up with the state of your life that you just have to go. Somewhere, anywhere, as long as it’s away. He’s not even sure what he packed in the duffel he hastily threw together aside from his toothbrush and a few pairs of underwear. At least he managed to remember his cat in his mad dash to leave the city behind.

The city and his job that he hates, his non-existent social life, the pressure of having to maintain an image that feels further and further from the person he wants to be with every passing day. He just needed some distance, some space, a chance to breathe a bit and reassess.

Or maybe he just needed his mother.

Feels a little bit pathetic to be running home to Mom when things get rough, but that’s the guilt talking, he knows. Oh, he talks to his mom on the phone plenty, sends her texts and photos and memes all the time as she does him. But he hasn’t been to her house since she moved up to Bennet Bay and started her improbable late-life career writing mystery novels. Very successfully, too, he’s proud to say. He has all her books on his shelves at home, has read every one and brags to everyone who will listen that J.B. Teach is his mother. That was seven years ago now, and while she always makes a point to come by his apartment whenever she’s in New York, he’s never returned the favor.

Well, that’s all about to change, and soon, according to Google Maps. He sees the exits for Kennebunkport — heh, hilarious name for a town — off the I-95 and notes it’s only 17 minutes to his mom’s house. Perfect. Just enough time to have a nice meltdown and pull himself together by the time he reaches his mom’s house.

Bennet Bay is a lovely little town, from what Ed sees of it as he weaves his way off the interstate and through a charming main street to the houses beyond. It looks like there’s a thriving downtown area filled with small shops and cafes, all decorated for the holiday season. It’s almost cloyingly cute, and Big City Ed would never admit to himself that he finds it sweet. But that’s why he’s here, isn’t it? To leave Big City Ed behind, at least for a little while. 

He pulls up to the front of his mom’s house and kills the engine, listens to it tick as it cools down in the cold Maine air. The house is bigger than he expected and incredibly charming, cedar-shake clad with a literal white picket fence around the front yard. There are garden beds on either side of a front walkway put to bed for the winter but are sure to be a riot of color when in full bloom. The walkway leads to an enormous wraparound porch filled with Adirondack and rocking chairs, a perfect place to drink your coffee on a summertime morning. He takes a moment to visualize himself doing just that, slowly rocking back and forth as he sips his too-sweet coffee, the scent of blooming flowers hanging richly in the morning air. It startles him a bit: when’s the last time he actually thought positively about his future? Fuck, it’s been ages. Maybe there really is something in the air here like his mother keeps telling him every time she calls. No time like the present to find out.

He takes a deep breath and gets out of his car, grabs his duffel bag from the back seat and the cat carrier from the front before nervously pressing the lock button on his key fob three times just to be sure. Then it’s up the walkway past the winterized garden beds, up the four steps to the porch, under the pine garlands and large red bows limning the porch for the season. There are lights hidden in there, Ed knows, probably cute white twinkly ones that make his mother’s house look even more like a postcard when they’re all lit up. Good for her. Good for fucking her. He feels it violently in his chest, how much she deserves this life, how proud of her he is that she built it for herself. He may have helped her get away from his father, made sure she landed on her feet, but it was important to her that she do this on her own. He hated it but he understood, and she knew he would be there for her if she ever needed it, so he sat back and let her forge her own path. 

And now here he is, for the first time, ready to see the fruits of her labor in all its glory. 

If she’s home. Fuck, he really should have called first. 

Ed freezes with his hand halfway to the doorbell because what if she’s not home? What if she’s on one of her book tours or in Portland for the day or off having some tryst with a really interesting lover she’s not ready to tell Ed about yet because it’s just casual right now, there’s nothing to tell — no. Nope, blech, not thinking about his mom’s sex life. Though good for her if she does have someone. Maybe they have a son who’s single she can introduce him to.

His cat yowls and shifts in the carrier, and honestly, mood. It’s too cold to be standing here on his own mother’s porch, panicking about ringing the doorbell. Though it’s not actually as cold as Ed expected it to be. Sure, he can just about see his breath, but there’s no snow on the ground yet — thanks, climate change — and when he checked the forecast before he left, it didn’t seem like there would be any in the next few days at least.

He sighs and clenches his fist. Pull yourself together, man. It’s just a doorbell. If she’s not home, you go find a pet-friendly hotel. Not that fucking complicated.

The door opens before he can ring the bell, and there’s his mom, just as perfect as he remembers. She has a smirk on her face like she knew he was standing out there this whole time and she’s going to make a joke about it, but he can feel his own face crumpling with the sheer relief of her presence, and her face softens, joke forgotten. She holds open her arms, and despite being at least six inches shorter than he is, Ed folds himself down into her embrace, exhaling wetly on her shoulder.

She holds him tightly, rocking him slowly from side to side like she used to do when he was a kid and he’d scraped his knee and didn’t want to cry about it. “Oh, love,” she says, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Welcome home.”

Chapter Text

A loud yowl breaks the silence as Ed steps into his mother’s house, and Ed starts to apologize because he’s just brought a freaking cat into his mother’s house without even asking if she minded. But his mom shushes him before he can even finish, cooing at the cat through the front cage of the carrier. Ed sets it down and opens the door, and there’s a blur of white and brown fur as his baby sprints across the room, stopping at the threshold long enough to give Ed a look he can only describe as utter betrayal. 

“Sorry, buddy!” he calls out as his mom laughs, cat sprinting off to who knows where. He’ll be out soon enough, hopefully. He loves people, is the nebbiest cat Ed’s ever met, so it’s probably just the shock of being in the carrier so long and emerging in a whole new house full of new smells. 

“Do you have stuff for him in the car? I haven’t had a cat in years, didn’t think it was kind to keep one around with my travel schedule, so I don’t have anything here.”

Ed’s stomach sinks. Shit. He cannot believe he didn’t think to bring anything with him for his fucking cat. His mom must see the panic on his face because she just hums at him. 

“That’s fine. The pet store in town doesn’t close for a few hours yet. I’ll just run and grab some things for him.”

“I’ll come with you,” Ed says, even though he really doesn’t want to. Not really feeling up for being around people yet. His mom, perceptive as ever, can obviously tell. 

“Don’t even think about it. You stay here, relax a bit, decompress from the trip. What kind of food does he eat? Anything prescription or special or whatever?”

“Nah, he eats anything. He doesn’t have teeth, so wet food is easier, but he really likes gnawing on dry food so I always keep some out for him.”

His mom gasps and puts her hand to her chest. “No teeth?! Oh, poor baby! I can’t want to meet him properly and hear his story.”

“I’m sure he’ll be out soon. He loves people usually,” Ed says, knowing his mom isn’t judging his cat but feeling a little defensive about him anyway. 

“He’ll come out when he’s ready and not a moment sooner, as is his right. I’ll be back in a bit. There’s plenty of human food in the kitchen if you’re hungry.”

Ed takes a few deep breaths once she leaves and lets himself sit in silence for a bit before his curiosity gets the better of him and he gets up to start poking around her house. It’s nice. Homey, full of rich wallpapers on the walls, books everywhere, stuffed with lovely antiques and colorful knicknacks. There’s a brass birdcage sitting on a stand, seemingly empty, an old typewriter Ed wonders if his mom actually uses or if it’s just for decoration. Everywhere he looks there’s something interesting to discover. It makes him realize how little effort he’s put into his apartment back in New York, just the sterile slickness of an apartment worthy of the Managing Director of the most feared corporate investment bank in New York City.

A rumbling stomach cuts his explorations short, but that’s fine. He hasn’t checked out the kitchen yet anyway. May as well head there next. Inexplicably, and despite quitting years ago, he wishes he had a cigarette. Feels like the sort of day to stand out on that big porch and think about his life choices in between drags. Ah, well. Hunger he can do something about, at least.

The kitchen is large and bright, a nice island in the middle of the cooking area and a built-in bench area with a table on the other side of the kitchen, right in front of a window that overlooks the backyard. It’s a lot of house for just his mother. He hopes she has friends over often who sit in that window nook and gossip over tea and cake.

He rifles through the well-stocked fridge and pulls out ingredients for a sandwich, an apple, some slices of cheddar to eat with the apple he’ll slice up. The pantry is also well-stocked once he finds it, the door purposefully made to look like the rest of the cabinets. That’s well-stocked, too, full of snacks and nuts and crackers, those little applesauce pouches that kids seem to love that Ed hopes are going to his mom’s friends’ grandchildren. This feels like a kitchen that should have laughing children buzzing around it. He grabs a bag of Cape Cod potato chips, the brand a little on the nose, but damned if he doesn’t love the crunch of a kettle-cooked chip.

The food is satisfying, delicious in a way that food always is in someone else’s house even if you have the same ingredients in yours. 

His cat pads into the kitchen as he’s rinsing off the dishes and stacking them carefully in the sink, his tail all puffed up, cobwebs stuck in his whiskers. “Poor baby,” Ed coos at him, bending down to pick him up and brush the cobwebs away. He gets a headbutt and some purring for his efforts, so he spends some time loving on the guy and kissing his precious little forehead.

His mom bursts into the house carrying way too many bags with a “There’s more in the car!” which doesn’t surprise Ed one bit. He goes out and grabs the three litter boxes (three! Overkill!) and two bags of dry food. He leaves the cases of wet food for the next trip and the containers of litter the one after that. 

“Mom,” he grumbles, setting down her purchases on the kitchen table. “Just how many cats do you plan to feed and for how long?”

“Oh, shush,” she scolds. “Whatever you don’t use I can give to my friends or donate to the nearest shelter. Now, tell me this precious boy’s name and why he’s missing half his tail.”

“His name is Lobster —”

“Lobster!!!”

“ — and he was like that when I adopted him. Came from a hoarding situation. His eye was all messed up, but they managed to save it. Had to amputate half his tail, though, and pull all his teeth, poor guy. They weren’t sure if he’d be adoptable after that, but it turns out he’s an absolute sweetheart.”

“Yes, he is!” his mom coos at Lobster, who is eating up the attention and purring his little heart out. “Yes, he is a beautiful, clever boy!”

Ed smiles and crosses his arms as he watches his cat charm his mother. “You’ll never get rid of him now,” he teases. 

“Good. He’s welcome to stay as long as he wants. His owner, too, I suppose.”

Ed snorts. “Gee, thanks.”

They spend the evening on the couch, sipping tea and talking, reruns of “Columbo” playing at low volume on the TV for some background noise. Ed teases his mom about stealing ideas from the show for her books, and she goes through the most outlandish plots piece by piece and tears them apart. At one point she breaks out her knitting, and Ed has the sudden desire to learn. He used to watch her knit when he was younger, the way it seemed like magic that she could take two sticks and a length of yarn and turn it into socks or a hat or a sweater. He’s not sure why the urge to learn is hitting him now when it never did before. Maybe it’s because it seems like a productive way to channel the fidgety energy he always seems to get in his hands. Or maybe it’s just a nice way to feel closer to his mom. 

Whichever it is, the surprised but pleased look on her face is worth the asking. She clambers off the couch to go grab him some needles and appropriate yarn, checking back twice to make sure he’s serious. He is. He’s not sure he’s ever been more serious about anything in his whole life. Which is what he keeps in mind as he’s cursing yet another dropped stitch. Turns out knitting does help with his nervous energy but it’s also frustrating as hell. His mom says it will get easier with practice, but that’s only if he doesn’t throw the damn needles across the room first.

Lobster tries to steal his yarn five times, which Ed doesn’t think is too bad. His mom has to clear off some space at the top of one of her bookshelves the cat can’t reach so he doesn’t tear their projects apart. Ed thinks it’s too much trouble, but his mom doesn’t seem to mind.

“What do you want to do tomorrow?” she asks as they’re heading upstairs for the night. 

“Ah, turns out I didn’t really pack enough clothes, so I need to go shopping.”

“Oh, that sounds fun. Can I come along?”

“Yeah, ‘course. That would be nice.”

“Let’s go out early in the day. I think you’ll have better luck in Portland. We can grab a late lunch when we’re done. That should give us plenty of time to be back for trivia night at The Revenge tomorrow evening.”

“Ugh, mom —”

“No buts. You’re coming with me. I know you want to just sit here and wallow for a while longer —”

Wow. Read for fucking filth by my own mother.

“ — but you’ll like The Revenge. It will be good for you.”

“Well, shit. Kind of hard to argue when you pull out the ‘it will be good for you’ card.”

“Damn straight,” she says, smiling. “Now get some sleep. Big day tomorrow!”

“All right. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Chapter Text

Shopping with his mom is fun but tiring. He buys what feels like an entirely new wardrobe, but that’s what happens when you leave home in a panic and don’t properly pack. Not like he has the clothing at home for a Maine winter anyway. And he definitely has the money to burn, so that’s not really an issue. His mom has a good time helping pick out clothes that she says flatter his figure and colors that look good on him. He has closets full of sharply tailored suits at home, but they’re all either black or such a dark charcoal that they might as well be black. He knows how to dress to play a part. So it’s nice, actually, expanding his wardrobe to soft jeans and softer sweaters with color names like evergreen and moss heather and aubergine. He picks out a really nice houndstooth knee-length wool peacoat, and his mom picks out a Maine-proof parka and pair of boots, and between the two of them they do pretty fucking well.

He’s ready to crash by the time they get back to his mom’s house for sure, maybe sleep the afternoon away before getting dragged to trivia. But then the bags get unloaded onto the bed, and he doesn’t want to hang things up and stuff things in drawers, so he trudges back downstairs and stretches out on his mom’s couch.

“Aww, big sleepy baby,” she teases as she covers him with a thick, hand-knit blanket. 

“Mm, yep. That’s me.” 

She laughs and kisses his forehead and wanders off to do whatever the fuck she wants until it’s time for trivia. Lobster hops up onto his lap and makes biscuits for so long before he settles Ed wonders if he’s secretly practicing to run a cat bakery. 

Heh. Cat bakery.

Fuck, he’s tired.

He wakes with a snort to his mother shaking his arm, Lobster curled up on his chest. “I made you some soup,” she says, and fuck yeah, soup. “There’s drinks and snacks at trivia, but it’s best to eat before we head over.”

“‘Kay,” he agrees easily, still half asleep.

The soup is delicious. Somewhere along the way his mother learned how to cook a hell of a meal, but he guesses that’s what happens when you aren’t working 50 hours a week while trying to raise a kid and actually have money to buy decent ingredients. Oh, and you don’t have an asshole spouse breathing down your neck all the time. That probably helps, too.

He puts away the leftovers and rinses off the dishes but doesn’t change out of the sweats he napped in, at least not until his mom hits him with a raised eyebrow and a, “Oh, is that what you’re wearing to trivia?”

“Wow, hint received,” he says as he heads back upstairs to put on a pair of jeans and a sweater he bought today.

“Much better,” his mom says when he’s back at the front door, pulling on a new pair of those brown boots with the white bottoms that he always thought looked kind of cool but didn’t fit in with his aesthetic before. She pats him on the cheek, looking pleased as punch, and he grumbles good-naturedly because it’s a little bit embarrassing but it’s also a little nice, to let her fuss over him. To let himself be fussed over.

The Revenge is down on Main Street, and isn’t that a kick in the teeth that it’s actually called Main Street. So fucking wholesome Ed could spit. It’s a cafe/book store/gathering place slash slash slash, so many things spilling from his mom’s mouth he can’t keep track. His mom lights up when she talks about it, though, so it must be an okay sort of place.

“Is the food good?” he asks after they’ve found a parking spot down the street and are walking toward the store front.

“It’s excellent. Better than you’d think for a small town like this, but that’s chef Roach for you.”

“Hold up. The chef’s name is Roach?!”

“Mm-hmm. The menu is small, mostly soups, salads, and sandwiches, but fuck if that man doesn’t make magical sandwiches. I’ll bring you for lunch sometime. You’ll see.”

Ed supposes he will. Kind of wants to, actually, with that sort of build up. He loves a good sandwich. A magical one sounds even better.

The Revenge is cozy from the outside, its storefront and windows dressed for the holidays in pine boughs, white lights, and red bows. There’s a little pride sticker on the door under the handle, above the ones that show what credit cards the place accepts. He feels instantly more at ease. He can hear low music and lower conversations through the door, a peal of laughter now and then. It’s a welcoming sort of place. Ed likes it already.

His mom has been waiting for him to make his first impressions before opening the door to head inside, and she gives him a little questioning head tilt, and he loves her so much. He knows she would turn around in a second and drive him back home if he really wasn’t ready to go in.

But he is. He wants to. So he nods back. 

She smiles and opens the door.

It’s warm inside, both the temperature and the general atmosphere of the place. People cheer and call out his mother’s name as she walks through the door, and it warms Ed through to his bones to know that she’s a beloved part of her community, that she’s built herself a little family here in Bennet Bay.

“You made it!” a woman with a smoky voice and a fucking eye patch says when they reach the table his mom steered him toward, pulling his mother into a fierce hug. “And who is this tall drink of water?” she asks once she’s released his mom from her clutches.

“Evelyn, this is my son, Ed. Ed, this is Evelyn Hazlitt. She runs the town’s funeral home. Her husband Seth is the town’s doctor,” his mother introduces.

“Nice to meet you,” Ed says, holding out his hand. Evelyn’s handshake is strong and her gaze piercing. It feels like she’s looking straight into Ed’s soul, and he’s not sure he likes it.

“Ed. So nice to meet you. Your mother has told us so much about you. Not, however, that you were this handsome! Which she will be hearing about from me later, have no fear.”

“Oh…kay?”

“Anyway, Jessica, it’s good that you brought Ed tonight. Adele can’t make it,” Evelyn tells his mom.

“Again? Gosh, she never seems to be around these days. Ed,” she says, turning toward him. “Adele Metzger is usually our fourth member, and she’s married to the town sheriff, Mort. And before you ACAB me, yes, I know. Mort’s not bad, though, really. Not much to do in this small of a town.”

“Oh……kay?”

“Buttons is here, though. Buttons!” Evelyn yells, to whom Ed isn’t sure, but a moment later a balding man who’s let the hair he does have grow long approaches their table. He’s wearing what looks to be clothes better suited for a fishing vessel, and is that a seagull pin on his lapel?

“Edward,” he says. That’s all he says, like that’s enough. Fuck, maybe it is. 

He looks over at his mom, who shrugs and smiles as if to say, that’s our Buttons!

“Oh……….kay?”

Thankfully, the young man with curly hair and a cute, patchy beard who’s running trivia starts calling things to order, so Ed is spared any more bizarre introductions. He is a little thirsty, though, and looks around to see if there’s somewhere he can order a drink. His mom notices him looking. 

“So the cafe goes into bar mode after dark,” she giggles, like it’s a cute little secret speakeasy, all lit up in the middle of Main Street. “And Stede — that’s the owner of The Revenge — he has themed cocktails for the night. There’s usually three different cocktails and a mocktail on offer. But he’s the only one who mixes the drinks, so Lucius — that’s the server — comes around to each table and brings bowls of snacks and takes drink orders.”

“Oh…………..kay? Actually, that sounds pretty nice.”

“Yes, it’s so fun! Stede does love a good theme. Oh, Frenchie is ready to start.”

Frenchie must be the guy running the trivia. And what the fuck are with the names around here? Buttons? Frenchie? Lucius? Roach? Stede?!? He’s never heard that name before in his life, and he works in New York City!

“Ed, focus!” his mom hisses, and right. Trivia. That the rest of his team is apparently taking really seriously, holy shit. Okay, he can do this. He can absolutely focus on this trivia category. This trivia category he definitely knows something about and can 100% contribute toward. Yep. He’s gonna focus. Starting now. Now. Starting now.

Now.

Now.

Ugh. 

Lucius comes over after the second category, thankfully, because while Ed did manage to pay attention to that one, he only knew the answer to one question. This trivia shit is harder than it looks!

“So, what are we having tonight, babes?” Lucius asks, setting down bowls of pretzels and pub mix on their table before nonchalantly pulling a pencil out from behind his ear. 

“We didn’t get a chance to look at the menu,” his mom says apologetically, and Lucius rolls his eyes so hard Ed thinks they legitimately might get stuck that way, but he’s smiling, and his mom is smiling, so this just must be a thing they do. 

“Sooooo much work, you are. It’s a good thing you’re cute. Okay, tonight’s theme is Cold Pressed, so there’s a frozen dai— oh, hell- o ,” Lucius interrupts himself. Ed turns around to see if someone walked in behind him who’s drawn the boy’s attention. “No, babe, I’m talking to you.”

“Me?” Ed asks intelligently. “Oh, right. Me,” and ugh, he’s not sure why but he didn’t expect this tonight. He knows how he looks. He knows he’s hot. He just figured it was a small town, probably not a lot of queer people here. Though, with the sticker on the door…and now that he really takes a moment to look around the room, it’s probably more queer than not. Huh. Well, that’s what he gets for assuming.

He’s still panning around the room as Lucius continues talking, and he seems like a nice kid — his mom likes him, and she’s a pretty damn good judge of character — but he’s so not Ed’s type. Too young, definitely. Might be fun for a hookup, but Ed can get that from anyone if he really wants to. No, he’s looking for someone to settle down with, to share his life with. It’s part of the reason he fled the city. It just felt so cold and heartless and lonely there. He felt so alone. He’s not sure he’ll find what he’s looking for here, but this place, these people, being here tonight in this crowd enjoying a fun evening together. It’s a start.

And then he sees him. The man behind the bar. 

He’s shaking a drink in those metal cups bartenders use with flexing biceps, laughing at something Frenchie has leaned over from the trivia desk and said to him, the warm lights in the room limning his golden hair. 

He’s beautiful.

“...and once you get a taste of the Under Pressure on your tongue, you’ll — oh.” Ed tunes back into what Lucius is saying just in time to see him follow Ed’s line of sight, a sparkle in his eyes and he puts two and two together. “Oh, I see. One sec, be right back, won’t be a mo’.”

Lucius walks over to the bar, leans in to whisper something in the bartender’s ear, takes the drink shakers out of his hands, and starts literally dragging him back to Ed’s table by the elbow.

“Lucius!” Ed can hear the hot blonde say, and his voice is pitchy and kind of bitchy, and Ed likes it immediately. “Can’t you see how busy I am? I don’t have time to —” They’ve pulled up next to the table, and the man freezes when he sees Ed, literally stopping in his tracks as his whole entire face slackens. He stares at Ed and Ed stares at him, and Ed hears himself think, am I having a fucking stroke?

And then, Oh, holy fuck, this guy is even hotter up close.

He can see Lucius and his mom exchanging an absolutely smug as hell glance out of the corner of his eye, but whatever. Let them have their fun. Worth it for this broad beauty of a man. 

“Ed,” his mother says, breaking…whatever just happened between him and the hot blonde. “This is Stede Bonnet. He owns The Revenge. And does the bartending for trivia night. Stede, this is my son, Ed, who’s visiting from New York.”

“It’s meet to nice you,” Stede says, holding out his hand, and awgh, that’s so fucking cute! Ed beams at him. Stede beams back for a second before he seems to run back what he said and his smile falls as his eyes widen. His cheeks turn beet red as he starts stammering, “I mean nice to meet you! Obviously! Clearly that’s what I would have said if—”

Ed interrupts him by clasping his hand and shaking it gently. “It’s meet to nice you, too.”

If Ed thought Stede was beaming before, that was nothing compared to the megawatt smile he smiles now. Ed feels himself melt into his chair under its power.

“Mm, yeah, immediately regretting my part in this,” Lucius says, ruining their moment. Stede turns to his employee with the bitchiest look on his face and opens his mouth for what’s sure to be a scathing rebuke, but Lucius cuts him off with a, “Nope, you’re too busy. Let’s go,” and starts dragging Stede back to the bar. Stede doesn’t fight him, but he does twist around so he can look back at Ed and wave. 

Ed waves, too. Stede smiles and waves harder. Ed…sees his mom’s face out of the corner of his eye, and she is absolutely dying to say something, so instead he drops his hand and gives her a blank stare. She laughs and blows him a kiss, and then Frenchie announces the next trivia category and their team gets back down to business. Drinks show up halfway through the round, even though they didn’t actually get around to ordering anything. There’s a little note written on a napkin with Ed’s drink that Lucius delivers with another incredible roll of his eyes that reads, On the and then a little drawing of a house, -Stede.

Ed smiles softly and folds up the napkin so he can slide it into the pocket of his jeans. When he looks up, Stede is biting his lip and blushing. Ed tilts his drink Stede’s way, and Stede blushes even harder and turns away. 

Ed feels lighter than he has in years.

The drink is delicious. The trivia is hard but fun. The company is weird but good. Their team wins, because of course they do. Mostly it’s because there were a lot of categories about the sea, strangely, and Buttons knows a lot about the fucking sea. Ed’s not sure if that’s a Scottish thing or just a Buttons thing. Either way, yay! First place!

His mom is quietly smug on the way home, and Ed makes it halfway back before he finally breaks.

“Oh, my god, just say it already.”

“What? What am I going to say?”

“Ugh, you’re gonna meddle so hard, aren’t you? It’s already happening. You and that Lucian kid —”

“Lucius.”

“ — Lucius — have something up your sleeve already, I just know it.”

“I wasn’t even going to talk about Stede, by the way. That’s not what I’m feeling smug about.”

“Oh.”

“I was going to say I told you so about coming out tonight being good for you.”

“Yes, well. Congratulations. You were right.”

“...But since you mentioned Stede —”

“UGH!”

“What?!?”

“Don’t! Just — I think…it would be nice for things to happen organically between us.”

His mother quietly reflects on that for a moment. “...so you’re admitting there’s something between you.”

“Mom.”

“Because honestly, anyone with eyes could see that.”

“I am so not listening to this anymore!” Ed sticks his fingers in his ears and starts humming. “La la la la la, can’t hear you!”

His mom starts laughing. “What are you, five?”

“I know you are, but what am I?”

“Grounded, that’s what,” his mom grumbles.

“Mom! I’m almost 49 years old! You can’t ground me!”

“Watch me,” she threatens, her eyes twinkling.

She drops it, though, and changes the subject to wondering how the hell Buttons knows so much about the sea, and Ed jumps into that conversation feet first with an incredulous, “Right?!”

She pulls into the garage and closes the door behind her, turning the car over and tucking the keys into her purse. She pats Ed’s leg, and that’s her signal for, “I want to talk to you about something before we go into the house,” and has been ever since Ed was a kid.

“It’s nice to see you happy, is all,” she says. “Looks good on you. I’d like to see it more.”

That’s her way of saying, yeah, I’m probably gonna meddle. But it’s only because I want what’s best for you. Seems like she’s also saying she thinks this Stede guy could be what’s best for Ed, and that thought makes him feel all fizzy inside. 

“Yeah. Me too, mom. Me too.”

Chapter Text

Ed wakes early despite the late night out, and he stumbles downstairs to make some coffee. His mom has peppermint mocha creamer, thank fuck, and he pours that in until the coffee is light enough to drink. He tops it with a big pile of whipped cream and even digs out some mini chocolate chips from the pantry he hopes his mom isn’t saving for cookies and sprinkles some on top.

He decides that even if it’s cold, he’s going to take his coffee out on the porch because why the fuck not. It’s a gorgeous porch, and he’s going to sit on it. The air is bracing, and he only feels a little ridiculous out there in his parka, scarf, hat, and mittens, a blanket tucked around his legs as he slowly rocks in a rocking chair and sips his perfectly sweet coffee. 

But it’s nice, too. Quiet. Really quiet. He’s gotten so used to city noise that it’s been taking him a little extra time to fall asleep at night without it. The only sound now is a few birds calling and squirrels scratching their way up trees. The grass is frosted over, limning the fallen leaves scattered across the yard that haven’t yet turned to mush.

His thoughts drift to Stede and how fucking cute he’d been last night, how sweet and honest and open he’d been with his emotions. Ed’s used to people trying to impress him, trying to act cool like they think that will make Ed want to give them the time of day. In truth, he’s always liked it better when a person’s been so attracted to him it makes them a little stupid. He doesn’t want someone slick and polished. He wants a person who is real and unafraid to show it. Stede is all of that and more, at least he hopes. He doesn’t really know him very well yet, but it’s nice to be excited about someone, to yearn for possibility.

And as much as he wants things to happen organically between them, he does kind of owe his mom for dropping everything when he showed up on her doorstep and letting him stay. A little bit of meddling is the least he can give her. Well. It won’t be a little bit, that’s for sure, but he’s willing to give her a chance, see how creative she can get.

His thoughts are broken by the sound of Lobster pawing desperately at the window, both feet streaking down the glass like he thinks he can break through it if he only goes fast enough. He stops when he sees Ed looking at him and runs his paw down his cheek instead, like he does when he wants someone to pet him there. Ed laughs and heads back inside, sets down his now-empty coffee mug so he can scoop Lobster up in his arms and give him all the morning cuddles he wants.

He settles in on the couch, knitting in hand, and practices for a bit. It’s slow going. And frustrating as hell. He’s not sure how the fuck his mom does this so effortlessly. She really makes it look too easy, is the thing. If he’d known it was this hard, he might never have started in the first place. That probably says something about him he’s not willing to face head-on. His stitches are all over the place size wise, some small and tight, others big and loose, and he’s pretty sure one column shouldn’t be unraveling like that. He sets it aside with a sigh and hopes his mother can help him fix it when she wakes up.

Which clearly isn’t about to happen anytime soon. She must be having a bit of a lie-in this morning. But Ed’s getting hungry, so he decides not to wait for her to start cooking breakfast. Maybe the smell of pancakes and bacon frying will get her out of bed, or at the very least be something nice to wake up to when she finally does.

Ed’s halfway through eating his breakfast when his mom shuffles into the kitchen, holding up a finger to tell Ed to wait when he tries talking to her. She’s hilariously grumpy as she searches for a mug with half-open eyes, mumbling to herself about who decided to put the mugs in an upper cabinet that’s hard to reach (She did) and who decided so many runner rugs were a good idea to trip over (She did) and why does the day have to start so early?

Ed laughs and says he doesn’t remember her being this grumpy in the morning, and she flicks him off and says it came on during menopause, like hot flashes and night sweats. He’s not sure if she’s joking or not, but he laughs all the same.

She’s a lot more human after coffee, breakfast, and a shower. She tells Ed she wants to go Christmas shopping today, and how about he come with her and help her pick out some gifts for her friends? That means standing there listening as she talks herself either into or out of buying something and not actually having an opinion of his own, but he supposes sounding board is as important a job as any. Not like he had anything else in mind for today. So he says yes and goes upstairs to shower and get dressed.

They go shopping but stay in town, walking from store to store on Main Street and stopping in every one, heading back to the car to drop off bags when there are too many to carry. Ed doesn’t start getting suspicious until they’ve been out for almost five hours and he tells his mom he’s getting ravenous and she answers, way too loudly, “Oh, me too, let’s get sandwiches at The Revenge.”

Fuck. Of course. Meddling score update: Mom 1, Ed 0.

They’re on the other end of the street, and as they walk to The Revenge, his mother starts talking about the sandwiches on the menu this week — apparently they change weekly, which sounds like a lot of work but is also impressive — and one in particular catches his ear. His stomach rumbles loudly and he walks a little faster.

Every single sandwich on the menu sounds incredible, but Ed orders the one with maple glazed turkey, Vermont white cheddar, brie spread, spinach, whole berry cranberry sauce, and a layer of stuffing on homemade thick-cut French bread. He’s fucking drooling in anticipation.

While they wait for their food, his mom points out that Stede is working the counter at the cafe, and Ed feels like somebody poured hot fudge into his insides, he goes so soft and gooey. He sets his elbow on the table, resting his chin on his hand to stabilize it as he watches Stede work. He’s so good with the customers, sharing a moment with each of them as he takes their order and goes off to make their coffee or tea or whatever they’re drinking in the early evening. He hears his mom laugh at him and sees her start waving wildly at Stede, so wildly Ed starts to get a little embarrassed, but Stede eventually sees her and waves back. 

It gets even more embarrassing for Ed when she starts pointing at him, not subtly at all, what the fuck? Stede frowns and looks at her with utter confusion until he follows the direction she’s pointing and sees Ed sitting there trying not to sink through the floor. Stede’s face lights up, and Ed sits up straight in his chair, embarrassment forgotten.

He waves at Stede, too — in for a penny — and Stede lights up even more, so brightly he could be advertising a show on Broadway. He does a classic “one moment” gesture, and as soon as he finishes with the next customer in line, he calls over another employee to take his place so he can hurry to their table.

Ed is practically wiggling in his chair by the time Stede arrives and asks them what they ordered. He coos about their choices, especially Ed’s, saying it’s his favorite sandwich on the menu. “Did you want anything from the cafe? I can bring it over, no trouble,” he asks, eyes sparkling and hopeful.

“That’s really nice of you, but it’s a little late for me to have a coffee,” Ed tells him.

“Oh, I can make it decaf!” Stede says a little too loudly, and he’s so enthusiastic about it and so earnest that Ed can’t find it in himself to say no. “Great! I’ll make you something. I have a hunch about you,” Stede says before heading back to the counter.

“He didn’t even take your order,” Ed says to his mom, who waves her hand like it’s no big deal.

“I’m in here all the time, sweetie. Stede knows what I drink. He’s really good about that, actually, knowing what his regulars like.”

Ed sighs dreamily. That is so freaking cute.

Stede comes back a few minutes later carefully carrying a tray laden with two mugs and a small plate. “Herbal peppermint tea for you, J.B.,” he says to Ed’s mom, who tells Stede it’s just what she wanted. “And a decaf peppermint mocha for you, heavy on the mocha, heavier on the whip,” Stede says, setting down the most delectable mug of coffee Ed has ever seen. It smells heavenly and looks even better. Stede’s even sprinkled some chocolate shavings on top of the whipped cream.

“Awh, mate, this looks incredible. Thank you,” Ed tells Stede honestly.

“You’re welcome,” Stede says, his cheeks pinking. He sets down the plate in front of Ed with a hurried “Okay, enjoy your dinner!” and rushes away again.

“Bye!” Ed calls after him, a little confused about why he left in such a hurry, but then Ed sees the cookie: it’s shortbread cut into the shape of a mitten, and Stede has piped on little hearts all over it in chocolate ganache.

Ed inhales sharply as his insides go all gooey again. He knows he must have the softest, dopiest grin on his face, but fuck it. Anyone would if their crush gave them a mitten cookie with little chocolate hearts on it. Fuck. Shit. His crush. 

That’s what it is, too. A crush. God. He feels like a teenager, all hormones and giddy, bubbly feelings. He barely knows the man, and he likes him so much already.

Ed Teach, he says to himself, you are down horrendous.

He almost doesn’t want to eat the cookie, feels like he’s spoiling something or ruining it if he does. He traces a fingertip down the edge and decides Stede gave it to him to be eaten, to be enjoyed and savored. The least he can do is taste it. It’s delicious, of course: incredible texture, just sweet enough, rich and buttery, small hints of chocolate bursting across his tongue.

Stede’s watching him when he glances up, and he looks so sweetly pleased with himself, like he can tell Ed’s reaction is heartfelt. Ed gives him a small smile and mouths “thank you.” Stede mouths “you’re welcome” and turns to his next customer with a smile that doesn’t leave his face the rest of their dinner. 

Ed’s mother looks very pleased with herself when he turns back to start up their conversation again. He rolls his eyes but smiles, and she laughs, pats him on the hand, and starts talking about what gifts she still wants to buy.

Ed falls asleep that night with the phantom taste of peppermint mocha and chocolate shortbread on his tongue.

Chapter Text

Ed’s phone buzzes at breakfast. Twice. Then a third time as he’s washing up, and he finally picks it up to see who’s been trying to call him. It’s Izzy, of course. Ed sends it to voicemail. He only feels vaguely guilty about it, not really feeling up to dealing with Izzy right now.

Ed left New York almost immediately after their last deal was finalized, handshakes exchanged and contracts signed. More money than one person should ever have in their life wired to any number of his bank accounts. The company leadership team always takes a few days between projects to catch their breaths, spend time apart or with family, not like the main VPs have those. But it was important to Ed from the very founding of Blackbeard’s that they take a break at least occasionally, and he’s stuck by that. So it’s not actually that big of a deal that Ed’s away right now, that he’s taking some time for himself. 

Except it seems to be for Izzy. His phone buzzes again, a text this time, from Izzy. Again. At least let me know you’re not dead, it reads. And that’s…well. That’s fair enough. 

Not dead, Ed types back. Up in Maine visiting my mom.

For how long?

And isn’t that the question?

Not sure. A while yet.

His phone buzzes in his hand, lighting up with a phone call, and Ed sends it to voicemail. Izzy seems to get the hint, finally, and leaves him alone for the time being.

“I have Pilates class at 10:30 this morning,” his mom tells him at exactly 10:13, “and you’re coming with me.”

“What? Why would I do that?”

“Because it’s good for you. And because you love a challenge.”

Shit. He really fucking does. “Fine. I’ll come to Pilates with you, despite never having done it one day in my life, because I can do anything.”

She snorts. “We’ll see.”

“Oh, okay, I see how it is. You’re just jealous that my young muscles are going to kick Pilates’ ass. You’re hateful. You’re just a hater telling me I can’t do something.”

Which, Ed thinks as he’s limping out of class, muscles he didn’t even know he had sore as hell, was a great call from the hater. He can’t believe all these middle-aged and older, small-town, unassuming women kicked his ass so fucking hard at Pilates. 

“What did you think of your first class?” the instructor, Jim, asks as they easily catch up to Ed on his way out of the classroom.

“I think you’re a fucking sadist is what I think,” Ed replies. Jim cackles and slaps him on the shoulder, calling out “See you next week!” as they head up to the reception desk where they kiss the receptionist, Oluwande his name tag read, on the cheek.

It’s a small fitness studio, but it’s nice. There are two decently sized classrooms, a lobby gathering area, and two locker rooms separated by gender with a smaller gender neutral locker room in between. There are queer stickers on the windows next to the classroom doors, Ed notices now that he’s able to look at his surroundings without being under Pilates duress.

There’s a Tai Chi class just wrapping up in the second classroom, led by a woman with two high pigtails who really looks like she knows what she’s doing. Buttons is in there, randomly, and he’s surprisingly good.

A dark-haired woman comes out of the locker room with a whoop and starts rounding up some people that are huddled in the lobby, apparently waiting for her class. “Who’s ready for Snake Kung Fu?” the woman asks, loudly, and receives cheers in response. Snake Kung Fu sounds way fucking cooler than Pilates, damn. The woman gives Oluwande and Jim a kiss on the cheek each before heading to the studio Ed’s class just vacated, blowing a kiss to the Tai Chi instructor along the way, who makes a little kissy face in response. That’s cute. That’s nice for them. Ed hasn’t had luck in love with one partner, and here these four are in one giant relationship pile. 

Their shared Google calendar must be an absolute nightmare, though.

“Thanks for visiting Garlic Soup Fitness,” Oluwande tells him as he and his mom shuffle toward the door. Well. He shuffles. His mom walks patiently beside him, face placid like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. “Hope to see you back soon!”

“Not bloody likely,” Ed mumbles under his breath before doubling back to the fact that the place is called Garlic Soup Fitness. Weird fucking name for a fitness studio. Must be a small-town thing.

“Well, I am famished, ” his mom says as they ease themselves into the car. Well. Ed eases himself into the car. His mom is fucking fine, apparently impervious to torture. Ed is immediately suspicious because he saw her wolf down two protein bars on the ten-minute drive from her house to the studio. There’s no way she’s that hungry. “Let’s go to The Revenge for lunch. My treat!” she chirps, way too chipper for someone who just spent an hour in class with the Marquis de Sade.

Ugh. Of course she wants to go to The Revenge. Meddling score: Mom 2, Ed 0.

He kind of wants to whine a bit about how that means Stede’s going to see him looking all sweaty and gross from Pilates, but that also means admitting he cares about Stede seeing him all sweaty and gross from Pilates, which of course he does but there’s no way he’s going to admit that to his mom!

Besides, if Stede can’t handle him at his “on death’s door from one fitness class” then he doesn’t deserve to have him at his best. (He really, really hopes Stede can handle him at his “on death’s door from one fitness class.”) 

Ed spends the short drive rebraiding his hair and pulling out the deodorant he thankfully tossed in the bag he brought to the studio, and checks the hoodie and sweats he changed into after class for random stains. All good. At least he only feels like hammered shit.

Stede’s behind the counter at the cafe again, where he always seems to be when they come in, and he smiles when he catches sight of Ed and his mom. Or maybe just me, he hopes a little selfishly, but fuck it. It’s his crush, he’s allowed.

A college-age — Ed thinks, fucking who knows, kids all look so young these days, which he acknowledges makes him sound like a Boomer — young blond woman comes over to take their order, and Ed hasn’t seen her in here before.

“Hi,” she says as she hands each of them a menu. Not like Ed needs one. That sandwich yesterday was so fucking good, he’s ordering it again. “Can I get you something to drink while you take a look at the men— wait. Are you Ed?”

“Uhh…” Ed says intelligently.

“Lucius,” she shouts across the room to where Lucius is helping Stede at the cafe counter. “Is this Ed?” She’s pointing down at Ed to make it absolutely clear to Lucius who she's talking about, and at least half the customers are staring at him, waiting for Lucius’ response. He gives two thumbs up and a big grin then goes back to working on an iced coffee order.

Ed’s mom makes a sort of squeaking noise Ed has never heard her make before, and when he turns his attention her way, she is clearly fighting for her life not to lose it right now.

“I’m Alma,” the young woman says, holding out her hand for Ed to shake. He does, not bothering to introduce himself since she already knows who he is. “Nice to meet you,” he says instead.

Alma nods and continues. “Stede’s my dad. After you tell me what you want to order, you should totally go talk to him because he’s been sooooooo bored behind the counter today.”

Ed looks over to where Stede is currently — and has been since Ed sat down — frantically filling drink orders. Stede is glaring at his daughter whenever he doesn’t have to be looking at what he’s working on, the line of customers six deep.

“He looks pretty busy to me,” Ed tells her.

“Oh, pfft. Just because he’s busy doesn’t mean he isn’t bored,” she counters, and his mom makes another squeaking sound and covers her mouth with her hands.

Wow. The mom meddling has escalated to full-on Team Meddling. Current score: 3-0.

Just then Lucius comes over because of course he fucking does — go, Team Meddling! — and says, “Alma, I’m going to go work the counter for a bit while Stede takes his break.”

“Didn’t he just have one like half an hour ago?”

“Did. He???” Lucius asks pointedly, and Alma catches on immediately.

“Oh, that must have been yesterday afternoon I’m thinking of. Want me to cover your tables while you’re at the counter?”

“Yeah, that would be great, thanks. Oh, Ed, hi,” Lucius says, weirdly. “Didn’t notice you there.”

What? “What? You literally just told Alma that —”

“Anyway, have to run. Those lattes aren’t going to make themselves. Lovely to see you, as usual, J.B.” Lucius says as he turns on his heels and bolts for the counter.

WOW. Team Meddling 4, Ed 0.

The thing is, he does want to go over and talk to Stede, despite the intense and completely unsubtle meddling. So he orders a sandwich and fiddles with his hair until his mom gives him a thumbs up, and then he takes a deep breath to help settle the butterflies that start floating around in his chest whenever he thinks about Stede, and he walks over to the counter. Stede is having a hushed argument with Lucius when he approaches, his back toward Ed so he hasn’t seen him walking over.

“Oh, Ed, didn’t see you there,” Lucius says loudly, interrupting Stede’s frustrated “And another thing!” 

“You absolutely watched me walk — you know what? Nevermind,” Ed says, and then Stede whips around with a breathy “Ed,” and Ed promptly forgets Lucius even exists. Stede’s eyes are wide and sparkling, and God, how could Ed have forgotten their exact color since yesterday? Feels like a crime against that particularly beautiful shade of hazel.

Lucius hip checks Stede further down the counter, out of the way of the actual paying customers, and Stede goes easily. Ed follows. “I like your braid,” Stede says, nodding toward Ed’s hair. I like you, Ed thinks, but just says thank you out loud.

“My mom dragged me to Pilates class down at that Garlic Soup place.”

“What? Why?” Stede says, affronted on Ed’s behalf. “That’s like if witches volunteered to be burned at the stake!”

“Right? I feel like all my muscles got detached and put back together in the wrong spots!” Ed watches as Stede looks him up and down, a slight blush rising on his cheeks.

“You look perfectly lovely to me,” Stede says. “Not a misplaced muscle in sight.”

Ed feels like he might swoon. He clenches his core so he doesn’t, which —fucking ow , fuck you, Pilates. He tries to think of something nice to say to Stede in return, but his brain must also be a muscle because it too has turned to mush. “You say the nicest things,” is all he can come up with, and it doesn’t feel good enough, but judging by the way Stede flushes and lights up, it just might have been.

“Do you want a peppermint mocha? To help combat the post-Pilates horridness?”

“Awh, you do make the best peppermint mochas, and I’m sorry to say I don’t right now. I had one right before Pilates, and now it has bad vibes by association.”

“Oh, no! Well, I actually have just the thing to help you put that bad Pilates energy behind you. Back in a sec.” He rushes off toward the fancy coffee machines that look incredibly intimidating and dances around Lucius as he makes something just for Ed. An old biddy in line gives Ed the stink-eye for getting a drink when he didn’t order anything, but he stares her down, and she gasps and looks away. Lucius catches the whole exchange and looks like he wants to laugh in the woman’s face, so she must be a particularly annoying customer.

“Here,” Stede says, handing over a mug topped with yet another huge pile of whipped cream, crumbles of some sort of brown cookie sprinkled on top. It looks so good and has clearly been made with such care that Ed himself feels like he’s a puddle of whipped cream melting into hot coffee. Or whatever, who cares if that’s a bad metaphor when everywhere in his body feels like it’s sparkling?

“What is it?”

“A gingerbread latte. Oh, shit, wait, you don’t have any dairy allergies, do you?”

“Nope, thankfully not, with all the whipped cream I eat.”

“Yes, you do have an impressive sweet tooth. Oh, speaking of,” Stede continues, “did you like the cookie yesterday? It was a new recipe, so I’m always on the lookout for feedback.

That feels like a lie, but it’s an adorable one, so Ed doesn’t call him on it. “Fuck yeah, it was incredible. The texture was great, just the right amount of crumble, not too sweet. And the hints of chocolate really kicked into another taste gear. Top notch baked good, thought about it all evening.”

Stede giggles. “Okay, then wait here. I have something else for you to try.” He fiddles with something behind the counter where Ed can’t see, and when he comes back, he’s holding a small plate, a shy grin on his face. There’s another cookie on the plate, this one gingerbread to go with his latte, in the shape of a candy cane. It’s outlined with royal icing, but instead of plain candy cane stripes, Stede has drawn diagonal rows of Xs and Os.

How are you fucking real?!?

“Wow,” Stede sighs happily, the sweetest look on his face, and oops, that must have been out loud, but Ed can’t make himself care, not when Stede looks so happy that Ed said it. Ed smiles softly at him, and they just stand there grinning at each other like fools until Alma comes over to grab a muffin from the cafe case and says, “Damn, I see what Lucius meant.”

That breaks the spell. 

“Alma!” Stede scolds. “You shouldn’t listen to everything Lucius says!”

“Oh, no, I know, but he was totally right about this.”

“He shouldn’t be gossiping about his boss,” Stede grumps, emphasizing the word boss to make sure Lucius can overhear. 

“Mm, yeah, that ship has sailed, I’m afraid. Speaking of said boss, I hate to break up the party, but I’m gonna need a hand over here.”

The line has doubled in size since Ed came up to the counter, and Stede shrugs apologetically, but Ed shakes his head. “It’s not a problem. This is your business, I don’t want to get in the way of that.”

“Gag,” Alma deadpans.

Stede rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “Grounded,” he deadpans back, and Alma sputters. 

“Dad! I’m 20 and in college! You can’t ground me!”

“I think you’ll find that when you’re staying under my roof, as you currently are, I most certainly can. And I just did. Grounded.”

“Omg, next you’re going to tell me to hand over my phone.”

“Oh,” Stede chirps, “what a good idea, actually! Maybe then you’ll stop texting Lucius to make all your meddling plans!”

“No idea what you’re talking about!” She says brightly as she walks back out into the cafe to serve an order that just came up.

Ed wasn’t sure he could crush any harder on Stede, but finding out he’s also a good dad? Absolutely ruinous. He honestly can’t believe he hasn’t started vibrating, his chest is buzzing so hard.

He holds up the mug and plate in thanks, and Stede nods and gives him a smile, and he walks back to his table before he does something stupid like kiss Stede in the middle of the cafe or propose. He sets his goodies down on the table, and when he looks up, his mom looks so fucking smug Ed’s forced to admit that Team Meddling is going to win in a fucking rout.

Chapter Text

Ed, his mother, and Lobster spend a lovely, relaxing day together at home, curled up on the couch. Or it would be relaxing if he wasn’t so anxious about when she was going to suggest heading down to The Revenge for one reason or another. He didn’t think he had anxiety — probably some undiagnosed ADHD if anything — but he’s pretty sure he’s going to end up developing some at this rate.

His mom keeps texting someone throughout the day, smiling and giggling as she reads and then taps out messages in return. He tries to fish for information by making an “ooooh” sort of sound and asking if it’s a boyfriend, then girlfriend when she scowls, then they friend when she scowls harder.

”Nice try,” she replies, and goes back to tapping away at her phone. Damn. She’s pretty good at this infosec thing. 

He’s just about starting to relax once the sun goes down, figuring his mom will probably want to stay in tonight, when she gets up from the couch with a groan, stretching her arms over her head and sighing happily when her back cracks. “All right, get your knitting stuff together.”

He narrows his eyes at her. “Why?”

”It’s Knit Night at The Revenge, and we’re going.”

”Knit Night at The Revenge,” Ed sputters, angry at himself for getting complacent. He knew she had something up her sleeve! “Is that actually a real thing or is that what you’ve spent the whole day on your phone organizing?”

”Edward William Teach!” She scolds, and oh, shit, he’s been third-named. “The world does not revolve around you, and neither does Bennet Bay. We meet every other Friday night for Knit Night, and it just happens to be today.”

”Sorry,” Ed apologizes but not actually feeling that sorry because his mom is firmly on Team Meddling, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that they would make up something like this just to get him and Stede in the same room.

”Now go get yourself presentable and grab your knitting.”

”Yes, mom,” Ed says and dutifully trudges upstairs to do as she says.

”Doesn’t Bennet Bay have a library or community center or something where you could have all these events? Why are they always at The Revenge?” Ed asks as they’re driving over half an hour later.

”We do have a library, but the community center unfortunately burned down mysteriously a couple of years ago, and it hasn’t been rebuilt yet. But it’s always more fun at The Revenge. We can drink, the seating is more comfortable, and Stede and his employees don’t put up with anyone’s shit, so it’s always a nice space to gather if you’re open-minded and not an asshole.”

In other words, a safe place to bring your gay son where no one will bat an eye if he flirts with the proprietor. Hell, they’ll even meddle on his behalf. “Always looking out for me, huh?” Ed says softly.

She reaches out and pats him on the leg. “Always.”

”Oh,” his mom says as they’re walking into The Revenge, “it’s called Knit Night because some knitters started it, but it’s expanded to all sorts of fiber arts. Don’t be shocked if you see people crocheting or doing embroidery or whatever. I think Wee John has recently gotten into needle felting because he likes being able to stab the wool a bunch of times.”

There’s a pretty big crowd inside, all things considered. People are spread out on the bookstore’s couches, which have been pulled together to make a sort of three-sided rectangle. A few groups have gone off by craft to sit at the tables in the cafe because they need the flat surface to lay tools on. Ed sees what look like tiny looms sitting on one table, and that’s pretty fucking cool.

He recognizes some of the people here from Garlic Soup or as customers at The Revenge, but his mom does a round of introductions before grabbing the two of them space on one of the couches. 

He’s seated next to a man his mother introduces as “The Swede,” and he’s sure there’s a story there, but the guy starts talking about the embroidery project he’s working on before Ed can ask, so he just sits back and listens to him talk. 

It’s fun watching his mom in this setting because she’s clearly in her element. Her fingers are flying as she knits, not even needing to look at her work as she chats and laughs. She knows what some people are working on by sight and asks how their progress is, if they’ve encountered any difficulties. It’s clear she’s one of the more experienced knitters of the group, and Ed loves watching her be an expert in her craft.

Stede comes over about twenty minutes after Ed sits down, and once The Swede sees him he stands up and says, in a strangely wooden voice, “Oh, look, the only space on the couch for Stede is the one I’ve just vacated. Bye.” And then he’s off to the cafe side of The Revenge. He sits down with another group of crafters and gives a thumbs up to Ed, who is so confused by the whole exchange that he’s just stared at The Swede as he walks away, mouth agape.

Stede seems just as confused. “Well, that was…one way to exit, I suppose.”

”Guess you might as well sit down since he went to all that trouble,” Ed says, glaring at his mom, who is pointedly ignoring him.

”Guess I’d better. If you don’t mind, that is,” Stede checks, which warms Ed through. Of course he doesn’t fucking mind. Would love Stede to sit next to him. Would also love for everyone else to stop being so weird about this, but that’s probably not going to happen anytime soon.

”Course I don’t mind,” Ed tells Stede and scoots over a bit to give Stede more space. 

“What are you working on?” Stede asks once he’s gotten settled in. 

“No idea,” Ed tells him. “I just started learning how to knit a few days ago, so I’m not really making anything, I don’t think. I’m just practicing right now. See how uneven my stitches are?” Ed points to places on his knitting to demonstrate what he means. “I need to practice until those are all the same size.”

”Sounds complicated,” Stede says, a little bit of awe in his voice.

”It can be, I think. My mom makes some pretty complicated things, but she also makes it look really easy. Kind of like magic.”

”I think it’s really brave of you to start learning,” Stede tells him.

”What? Pfft, no, why?”

”Well, it’s not easy to try new things at our age, is it? What if we aren’t good at it, what if we look stupid? Easier just to sit on the sidelines and watch.”

Ed stops knitting and looks at Stede. He’s looking across to the couch where Ed’s mother sits, her fingers flying. Stede’s own hands are in his lap, but he’s wringing his fingers like they’re aching to be moving, too. Ed wonders how long Stede has watched people knitting in his own store and wished he could join them.

”Hey, learn with me,” Ed says, nudging Stede with his shoulder. “Let’s be disasters together.”

”Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly. Could I?” Stede asks, looking up at Ed with hope in his eyes.

”You absolutely fucking could.” Ed waves to get his mom’s attention, and calls out to her when that fails.  “Hey, mom, Stede wants to learn how to knit.” She gasps and drops her work.

”Only if it’s not too much trouble,” Stede hedges.

”Stede Bartholomew Bonnet!” Ed’s mom scolds, and beside him Ed hears Stede whisper, “Oh, shit, third-named.”

”Of course it’s no trouble,” Ed’s mom continues, “I’ve only been trying to convince you to learn for the last, what, five years? What made you change your mind?”

”Uh,” Stede says intelligently, and his face must be one of pure panic because Ed’s mom immediately course corrects.

”Never mind, I don’t even care why. Let me grab some things for you and I’ll help you get started! Yay, I’m so excited!”

She gets Stede set up with needles and yarn, and after some brief instruction she lets Stede get to it. “Help him out if he needs it, Ed,” his mom instructs before going back over to her own couch.

Stede is actually pretty good once he gets going, and he and Ed sit together on the couch, asking each other questions to get to know each other better, laughing and joking around, going off on wild targets as easy as breathing. It feels so good to spend time with someone who just seems to get him, to meet every silly joke with an even sillier one, who clearly enjoys Ed’s company and actively seeks it out.

The evening flies by, and somewhere along the line everyone else left the whole couch just for Ed in Stede, together in their own little world, learning something new together.

Chapter Text

Ed and Lobster have the house to themselves this morning. His mom is visiting a “Dear friend,” someone Ed’s never heard her mention before, but apparently his mom knows the woman well enough to drive three hours and spend the night in her house. His mom promised to text him when she got there and tomorrow morning so he knows this “Dear” friend isn’t some sort of geriatric serial killer, but she’d also rolled her eyes and hit him with a “Yes, mom.”

Brutal.

Ed’s slept in a bit and done one of those bodyweight workouts from an exercise app that seemed fine on the surface but ended up being way harder than he expected. Lobster had a good time, especially when Ed had to get into plank or push-up position when he would jump up on Ed’s back and lay down like he was perfectly content to hang out there while Ed sweated his ass off.

Ed’s had a shower and some extra pampering time — he exfoliated and did the whole Korean skincare routine his mom bought him while they were out shopping the day after he arrived. It seemed excessive at the time, but damned if his skin doesn’t look good as hell. He rubbed in the fancy beard oil he likes into his short beard, scratching at his own face because it feels good.

Ed’s made himself the best peppermint mocha that isn’t made by a hottie named Stede, has worked on his knitting, has busted out Lobster’s favorite wand toy and ran around the house while the cat chased behind him.

Ed hasn’t opened the laptop sitting on the kitchen table, the one he somehow remembered to put in his duffel when he left New York that he has intrusive thoughts about covering with very not-appropriate-for-word stickers just to shock some of his clients.

He’s procrastinating, is the thing. He knows he is. Just really does not want to open that stupid laptop and see a bunch of emails he really should answer sitting there waiting for him. But he knows he needs to. Shouldn’t put it off much longer or Izzy, Fang, and Ivan are going to be in a real pickle.

He thinks about opening his laptop as he’s sweeping the kitchen floor, thinks about it as he’s scrubbing the shower, thinks about it as he mops the hardwood floors that run throughout his mom’s house.

“Stop judging me, I’ll get to it when I’m done mopping,” Ed says to Lobster, who’s sitting on the couch, silently judging him. Lobster stops licking his leg and looks at Ed as if to say “Are you talking to me?” tongue peeking out of his mouth in the cutest little blep. He very clearly was not judging Ed because he wasn’t even looking at Ed, but whatever. Easier to blame the cat than it is to answer some damn emails.

That makes Ed feel guilty. He apologizes to Lobster and gives him lots of scritches under his chin, just how he likes them.

He also puts away the mop and dumps the dirty water, changes his clothes, packs up his laptop, says goodbye to his cat, who is fast asleep on the couch, and heads out to his car. There’s no way he’ll be able to get any work done in the house when he could just as easily find a million other things to do that aren’t answering emails.

He drives around for a bit, looking for the library, but not actually looking that hard because he ends up in front of The Revenge and so what if he’s been there five days in a row? It’s a public shop, he’s allowed to go there!

Stede isn’t behind the cafe counter when Ed walks in, and he tries not to be too disappointed about it. Stede is allowed to have a day off and a life outside of The Revenge. Ed shouldn’t expect him to always be there, no matter how much Ed might have wanted to see his face and hear his voice. 

Alma and Lucius are working, though, and they start whispering feverishly back and forth when Ed walks in. He rolls his eyes at them and goes to sit at a table by the windows overlooking Main Street. People watching seems like a great way to procrastinate.

Alma comes over not five minutes later, ostensibly to take his order, but it quickly becomes evident that she’s actually there to Meddle because she opens with, “My dad is on his break, what do you want me to tell him to make you when he gets back? Or do you want to let him surprise you? He really likes doing that, by the way.”

Ed sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Should you be telling me that? Maybe he wants to keep that a secret.”

Alma shrugs. “Why? It’s sickeningly cute the way he gets so into thinking up coffee flavors for you to try. Do you like butterscotch?”

“Uh, not especially.”

Alma nods. “I told him that was too much of an old-person flavor. What about frosted cinnamon roll?”

“Oh, fuck yeah, that sounds amazing.”

“Right, one frosted cinnamon roll latte coming up as soon as my dad gets back from his break.”

“Okay, thanks, I guess,” Ed says to Alma’s retreating back. She didn’t even wait for his answer, just turned on her heels and started walking back toward the counter with a thumbs up for Lucius. They stick their heads together and start whispering again as soon as she gets back, and Ed does not feel like dealing with that right now, so he opens his laptop. 

He can’t believe a meddling college student is what finally got him to start working.

There are more emails waiting for him than he’d hoped, so he cracks his knuckles and gets to work. He isn’t sure how long he’s been sitting there typing away when Stede sets down a mug at his table.

“Stede,” Ed breathes, looking up just in time to see the most wonderful smile bloom on Stede’s face.

“One cinnamon roll latte, as requested.”

“It smells amazing, thank you. Though Alma is technically the one who suggested it. She sort of told me you would make it for me after your break.”

Stede’s mouth goes all pinched, and Ed immediately regrets bringing up Alma. He wants to see Stede’s smile again.

“Did she,” Stede says in a tone of voice that clearly indicates he is going to be having some words with his daughter momentarily.

“Shit, didn’t mean to get her in trouble. I would have ordered something anyway, I swear.”

“No, Ed, I’m glad you said something. I keep telling her to stay out of my business, but. Well, she is my daughter, which means she’s a bit of a worrier. She just hides it better than I do. And I know she means well, and that she wants me to be happy, but I wish she would stop meddling so much.”

“Think that ship has sailed, mate,” Ed chuckles. “She, my mom, and Lucius are spearheading the meddling effort. Think half the town are in on it at this point.”

Stede blushes. “I’m afraid you might be right.”

“I can think of worse things a town could try to do than get me together with a cute blonde,” Ed says with a wink, his stomach fluttering. He’s a little nervous about escalating things with Stede to outright flirting, but it’s been almost a week since they met. And his mom wouldn’t be trying so hard to get Stede and him together if she didn’t think he would be good for Ed, so maybe it’s time to take a little chance.

Stede squeaks adorably, his cheeks flushing further, as his mouth opens and closes twice before he turns and walks away without another word. God, he is so fucking cute!

Ed watches as Stede immediately hides his face in his hands when he gets back to the counter, Alma and Lucius’ faces going from cautiously optimistic to full-blown shock as Stede must be filling them in on what happened at Ed’s table. Ed giggles. Lucius looks over at him and mouths “What the fuck?” Alma looks between her father and Ed three times, her face getting more and more determined.

“Alma, don’t,” Ed hears Stede say, but it’s too late: she’s on her way back to his table.

Alma opens with, “My dad doesn’t have a Christmas tree yet, can you believe that?”

“I mean, it’s not that far into December, really, so —”

Ed sees movement out of the corner of his eye and turns his attention toward it: it’s Stede, on his way over to Ed’s table, too, presumably to say something to Alma, who has also noticed her father’s approach and interrupts Ed to deliver the rest of her meddling message as fast as she can.

“My dad’s favorite tree farm is only like 20 minutes outside of town, they’re open until 9:00 tonight, and they have amazing hot chocolate, bye!”

Alma finishes and practically sprints back to the counter just as her dad reaches Ed’s table.

“Ed, I am so sorry about her,” Stede says, clearly harried and maybe even a little upset. He’s blushing so hard now the tips of his ears are turning red. Ed likes him so fucking much. “She’s a great kid usually, but she’s really crossing the line here. I told her to stop pushing, that you weren’t interested, and I promise—”

“Eh, she did tell me some very interesting information, though,” Ed interrupts before Stede can work himself into a tizzy. 

Stede blinks. “She did?”

“Mm-hmm, she did. Said you didn’t have a tree yet.”

“That is true,” Stede confirms, his eyes narrowing.

“And that your favorite Christmas tree farm is open until 9:00 tonight.”

“That is…also true.” Stede’s eyes narrow further.

“And that they have really good hot chocolate.”

“Three true things.”

Ed snorts. If Stede’s eyes get any narrower he won’t be able to see out of them.

“Tangentially, my mom is out of town tonight, and I don’t have anything else to do.”

“How did Alma know that? ”

“Stede,” Ed giggles. “She didn’t, I’m telling you now.”

“Oh. Oh!”

Okay, Ed, be brave. You can do this. Just tell him the truth. “Lastly, who said I wasn’t interested?”

Ed looks up through his eyelashes at the exact angle he knows makes his eyes look all glossy and incredible. Stede’s answering smile could power an entire city. Maybe not a big city like New York, but a medium-sized one. It’s a Milwaukee-sized smile. “Ohhh!” he says, practically wiggling in excitement. “Ed, would you like to come to the Christmas Tree farm with me tonight?”

“Only if it’s a date.”

“It is!” Stede practically squeaks.

“Then yeah, I would love to come to the Christmas Tree farm with you tonight.”

“Great!” Stede says, way too loudly. He winces a little and lowers his voice back to inside-voice levels. “I’ll pick you up at 6:00. They have a little food truck there, too, with some fab soups.”

“That sounds perfect.”

Stede sighs happily. “Wait. Shit, I can’t tonight. I’m closing, so I won’t get off until —”

“No, you aren’t!” Lucius says, seeming to appear from nowhere to pat Stede on the shoulder. 

“Jesus!” Stede gripes as Ed says, “Whoa, where did you come from?”

“I was literally standing three feet away, you two were just so sickeningly oblivious you didn’t notice. Anyway, Stede, I’m switching shifts with you. You’re done working at 4:00 now so you’ll have time to go home and get ready for your date. You’re welcome.” That last part is addressed to both of them, and Lucius makes sure they know it.

“Thank you, Lucius,” Ed dutifully replies.

“Yes, I suppose that was very kind of you. Even if it is industrial-grade meddling.”

“Mm-hmm, just make sure I’m invited to the wedding,” Lucius says before sashaying away.

“ Anyway, ” Stede says pointedly. “I’ll see you at 6:00?”

“Yeah, Stede. You will.”

“Okay,” Stede sighs again, like he’s feeling just about as dreamy inside as Ed feels. Ed had never really understood the expression “on cloud nine” before, but he thinks he does now. He feels so light he could probably float up to the sky and take a nap in the clouds. “I’ll just…let you get back to it.”

“Okay.”

“Later.”

“Later.”

Stede sighs again. “Yep, definitely going to just…go back over there now.”

Ed nods and watches him go. Stede looks back over his shoulder to smile at Ed three times on his way back to the counter. Alma pretends to gag when he gets back, and Stede rolls his eyes at her, but he can’t stop smiling. Neither can Ed.

He has a date tonight.

Stede waves Ed over when he gets up to leave a couple hours later. His hips are a little tight from sitting in one place for that long — thanks, middle-age — but once Stede had gone back to the cafe, he’d been surprisingly focused and had gotten a lot of work done. Stede hands Ed a little pastry box when he gets to the counter.

“Don’t open this till you get home, okay?” Stede instructs. 

“Okay, I won’t.”

“Promise?”

“Pinky promise,” Ed says, holding out his pinky. Stede giggles and curls his pinky finger around Ed’s, shivering at the contact. Ed feels like a Christmas tree full of lights that someone just plugged in. Stede shakes their fingers a few times before dropping Ed’s hand.

“6:00,” Stede reminds him.

“I’ll be there.”

“I should hope so, it’s where you’re currently staying.”

Ed snorts. “Okay, cheeky.”

A customer clears his throat. Stede glares at him but says goodbye to Ed and goes to take the man’s order.

It’s surprisingly difficult to wait until he gets home to open the box Stede gave him, but Ed pinky promised, so he waits. He sprints inside, almost dropping his keys in his haste, and tears open the box. Inside is a shortbread cookie in the shape of a Christmas tree with green royal icing flooding the surface. There’s a pink heart on top of the tree instead of a star. Written in white across the cookie are the words “Tree You Later!”

Ed puts his face in his hands and screams. He bounces around the kitchen sing-songing “I have a date tonight! I have a date tonight!” Then he takes a picture of the cookie and texts his mom. She calls him two minutes later, and when he picks up, all he can hear is her joyful shouts in his ear.

Chapter Text

Ed pulls out his laptop after he hangs up with his mother so he doesn’t spend the next few hours before his date — his date — pacing around the house or doing something even worse like breaking out a notebook and writing “Mr. And Mr. Bonnet-Teach” or “Mr Edward Bonnet” a thousand times with little hearts instead of Os. He’s surprisingly productive, but mostly it solidifies in his mind what’s been floating around nebulously for a while now: he doesn’t want to work at his company anymore. He doesn’t want to own it. He doesn’t want to be associated with it in any way. He opens a new Document and starts outlining a plan to hand over leadership so he can retire.

And isn’t that a heady thought, the fact that he’ll be able to retire before he’s 50. It’s a little scary, if he’s being perfectly honest with himself. He always thought he’d be one of those guys that dies at their jobs, never making time for anything else in their lives because they think being some big muckety muck at a corporation is the most important thing. 

It’s not, though. Not by a country mile. 

Even though he’s wanted to leave his job for a while now, he’s never really given much thought to what would happen after he did, what he would do, how he would spend his time and with whom, what his life could look like. He could now, he realizes. Could probably imagine himself a very nice life here in Bennet Bay with Stede, maybe working in the cafe. But they haven’t even officially had one date yet, and besides, there’s something kind of nice about letting his future stay open and full of possibility. For the first time that feels invigorating instead of frightening. He has time now, time to figure out what he wants to do and who he wants to be. What a gift. 

Stede rings the doorbell at exactly 5:53, bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement when Ed pulls open the door. He looks incredibly charming in jeans and a thick gray sweater, forest green puffy vest over top. He’s holding a meticulously wrapped box and shoves it toward Ed with a “This is for you!”

Ed laughs and tells him to come in, so Stede does, nervous smile stretching across his lips. “Should I take my boots off?” he asks politely, but Ed shakes his head. 

“Nah. We won’t be here that long. Come on, let’s go into the kitchen. I’ll open this at the island.”

“Okay,” Stede says and dutifully follows. 

Lobster jumps up onto the island as soon as Ed sets down the box, sniffing at the paper excitedly. He loves boxes and looks ready to pounce inside once the package is unwrapped. 

“Sorry, Bud,” Ed apologizes, “but this box won’t be empty yet.”

“And who is this handsome fellow?” Stede asks, though Ed’s talked about his cat before. It takes him a moment to realize Stede is talking to Lobster not about him and holding out his hand enticingly for the cat to sniff. Lobster takes the bait and comes over. Stede holds his breath as Lobster sniffs, exhaling with a sweet whoosh of relief when Lobster rubs his cheek against Stede’s hand and purrs as Stede starts petting him. 

“He likes you,” Ed tells him, watching Stede’s face light up like Lobster’s opinion genuinely matters to him. Ed doesn’t have the heart to tell him Lobster likes almost everyone, but there are times he runs away from a person, and Ed is immediately suspicious of those people. So it’s good that Lobster likes Stede. “He’s not the only one,” Ed continues, just to watch Stede blush. 

Jackpot. 

“Oh, you charmer,” Stede replies, tipping his nose toward the gift he brought Ed because he doesn’t want to take his hands off the cat. “Open that, would you?”

Ooh, right, the present. Ed tears through the paper and sees a Lego set inside. Fuck yeah, he hasn’t done Legos in forever. He always wanted more as a kid but his family could only afford the knockoff ones that never quite fit together right. He’s not sure why he never bothered to buy some for himself once he had the money. 

It’s not just a Lego set, though: it’s a Lego poinsettia set. How fucking seasonally appropriate and adorable. 

“Stede, thank you, this is lovely. I didn’t even know Lego made this sort of thing.”

Stede is practically bouncing, he’s so pleased that Ed likes the gift. “I wanted to get you a real poinsettia for the holiday spirit of it all, but then I read that those are toxic to cats, so I thought this was the next best thing.”

Oh. Fuck. The fact that Stede thought about the safety of his cat is making Ed want to kiss him. Shit, they’re on a date. He can absolutely make that happen. But Stede is baby-talking Lobster now, telling him things like “Yes, you are the most handsome boy in the room, but don’t let your father hear me say that” and “I could just pet you all day, yes I could” and “Who’s the sweetest boy? You are! That’s right!”

Ed wants to kiss Stede, but he also kind of wants to wait and let the anticipation simmer for a while, let it bubble in his belly so it’s all the sweeter when he finally does kiss Stede.

“It’s perfect, Stede, thank you,” Ed says. Stede smiles at him and suggests they head to the tree farm but not before they both do a little tag-team petting on Lobster, who is clearly having the time of his life. Ed throws on his boots and parka, grabs a hat, scarf, and gloves, and they head out the door. Stede hops ahead so he can open the car door for Ed like a gentleman, and Ed realizes that no one has ever done that for him on a date before. It’s such a sweet little gesture, but it makes Ed feel so cared for.

Stede tells Ed all about the tree farm as they drive, clearly a little nervous but that much cuter for it. It’s okay because Ed’s a little nervous, too, but the closer they get to the farm the more his nerves turn to excitement.

“I’ve never actually gotten a Christmas tree from a tree farm before,” Ed offers when there’s a lull in the conversation.

“Oh, no?”

Ed shakes his head. “We always had an artificial one that was all scraggly by the time I turned 18. Half the branches were missing and a lot of the needles had fallen off. My mom always tried her best with the decorations, but paper chains and tinsel can only do so much for so long.”

“It sounds like your mom did her best to give you as magical a holiday as she could.”

What a lovely thing to say. And accurate. “Yeah,” Ed agrees. “She did. I know it was hard on her, but she really did do her best. I’m glad she’s not struggling anymore.”

They’ve reached the tree farm, so Stede pulls into the parking lot and turns off the car. He shifts so he’s facing Ed. “You’re a good son, Ed. I know your mother is incredibly proud of you. She talks about you all the time.”

Ed groans. “Half the shit she says isn’t true.”

Stede chuckles. “I don’t believe it’s as high as half.”

“Only the bad stuff is true.”

“Joke’s on you because she never says anything bad.”

“Ugh, that just raised expectations too high. What do you think, am I better or worse than my mom described me?”

“Well, it would be difficult for anyone to achieve the standards she set.” Ed groans again. “Which is why it’s so impressive that you’ve managed to blow them all out of the water,” Stede says, the unrepentant flirt.

“You say the nicest fucking things,” Ed tells him sincerely.

Stede blushes. “Yes, well. Want to go have some soup? I’m famished.”

Ed lets him change the subject. “Yeah, let's.”

Stede pulls on a pair of cream earmuffs and some fair isle mittens he had stuffed in the pocket of his puffy vest, and he looks so cute Ed could scream. They make their way over to the soup food truck and look at the menu and chat as they wait in line. There are four different soups available today, and they all sound incredible. Ed isn’t sure which one he wants. Maybe the people manning the truck will have an opinion. 

When it’s their turn to order, Ed’s startled to see that the woman running the soup truck is the same person who was teaching the Tai Chi class at Garlic Soup Fitn— oh. Maybe she’s the reason that “soup” is in the name.

“Ah, Zheng, how are you this evening?” Stede asks, and she shrugs. 

“Can’t complain. What can I get for you boys?”

Stede orders the hot and sour soup, and Zheng helps Ed decide on the spicy Thai coconut noodle. She throws in a couple of steamed buns “On the house for people on a date” and winks at them. Ed spares a moment for the privacy he used to have in New York that he will clearly never have again as long as he’s in Bennet Bay.

There are log benches with little tray tables set up around a roaring fire, so they take their mugs of soup and steamed buns and sit down to eat. The soup is fucking incredible, flavorful and a little spicy, perfect for a cold New England evening. The company is even better, though, and he and Stede talk and talk as they eat. It’s just so easy to spend time with him. It feels so nice, like Stede doesn’t expect him to be some sort of hotshot financial genius. He just expects Ed to be Ed, whoever and however that may be.

Stede gets up once their soup is done with a “Wait here” and takes their dishes back to Zheng’s truck. He’s gone longer than Ed expects, and when he comes back, he has two to-go cups in his hands and passes one to Ed.

“Ooh, is this the famous hot chocolate?” Ed asks as he takes a sip, not waiting to hear the answer.

“It is,” Stede confirms, and damn, it really is fucking incredible. They chat some more as they sip their hot chocolate, and Ed can say for certain that this is the best date he’s ever been on and it’s barely even begun.

He checks his watch when they’re finished drinking and stand up to start looking for a tree, and he’s surprised to see that they’ve been at the farm for over an hour already. They left Ed’s mom’s house a little later than expected due to all the Lobster canoodling, then the drive…they have a little over an hour left before the tree farm closes for the night. Ed hopes that’s enough time for Stede to find the tree he likes. He gets the feeling Stede is going to be incredibly picky about this sort of thing.

Stede leads them toward the back of the farm, telling Ed about the different breeds of trees they pass. “People don’t usually come to the back, so there will probably be a better selection out this way.” It’s a nice little walk, the path laid with wood chips and lit with strung lights. It smells strongly of pine and freshly cut trees, sharp and crisp in the cold air. It starts to snow just as they reach the first line of trees Stede wants to check out, and it’s so romantic Ed could scream. 

“This one looks good,” Stede says, pointing to the third tree in from the path. 

Ed frowns. The tree is clearly crooked and patchy on the bottom. “Are you sure? I think we can do better.” Stede huffs lightly but continues down the line.

“This one is fine,” Stede says, pointing to another tree a few down. It also clearly is not fine. It’s completely lopsided and barely has a spot to put the tree topper.

“I’m not the tree expert here, but this one also doesn’t look great?” 

“Fine, fine, let’s keep moving.” Stede skips a bunch of trees without looking at them and then stops in front of one at random. “This is good, let’s take it.” It also is not good. Way too patchy and not full enough. What the fuck is going on? It’s almost like Stede doesn’t want to be out here with Ed anymore, which would be a complete 180 from his earlier attitude, but…

But he really likes Stede. And he’s a little cute when he’s bitchy. And Ed really wants this to work out. So maybe instead of pushing it aside like he would have with any of his other relationships he’ll just ask Stede what’s going on instead.

“Hey, are you okay? You don’t seem very enthusiastic about the trees now that we’re out here. Do you want to end our date and go home?” Ed asks, hoping the answer isn’t yes.

“No!” Stede says immediately and with force. “Shit, no, I don’t want to end our date. I’m just —” he huffs like he’s annoyed with himself. “I’m just really cold now that we aren’t by the fire,” he admits.

Now that Stede mentions it, Ed can see that he’s shivering a bit. Ed was paying such close attention to the trees that he missed the state Stede was in. “Awh, it’s because you dressed all cute instead of warm, isn’t it?”

“All right, yes. It is,” Stede grumps. “But I do look cute.”

Ed pulls his scarf off and wraps it around Stede’s neck. He slowly reaches out to pull Stede into a hug, telegraphing it enough that Stede can back away or say no if he doesn’t want Ed to hug him. But he doesn’t, so Ed slides his arms around Stede’s back and rubs them up and down a few times to try and help warm Stede up a bit. Stede tips his nose into Ed’s neck, and Ed yelps  because fuck, it’s cold. 

“Your nose is like ice, damn. You’re not kidding about being cold, huh?”

“No, unfortunately,” Stede mumbles into Ed’s neck. “Because it’s snowing and there are Christmas trees and no one else is around, and I really, really want to stay here like this with you forever.”

Fuck, Stede says the most romantic things.

“But I am freezing my fucking balls off out here.”

And some less-than-romantic things. But funny. Ed laughs and kisses Stede’s forehead and shifts Stede so they’re walking side-by-side, his arm wrapped around Stede’s waist so they’re pressed close.

“Come on,” Ed says, “I’ll help you find a good one. Your job is to stay close to me, just like this, so I can help warm you up.”

“Okay,” Stede sighs happily, like he actually was hoping to spend some time looking through as many trees as possible until they find the perfect one. “Good plan.”

Stede looks at exactly 28 more trees before he finds one he deems passable. Ed truly can’t tell the difference anymore, but Stede seems happy, and that’s all that matters. They carry the tree back to the attendant, who puts it through the wrapping machine, and ties it to the top of Stede’s car. It’s ten minutes to 9:00 when they finally hop inside and Stede turns the car on, immediately blasting the heat. 

Ed laughs. “Engine’s cold, it’s just going to blow cold air.”

“Don’t care, placebo effect, heat is working.”

Ed laughs again. Stede’s teeth start chattering. Ed puts his hand on Stede’s leg and starts rubbing it back and forth to warm him up. 

“Different problem now,” Stede grits out, and Ed giggles and removes his hand. “The seat warmers work pretty much right away, though, if you want to turn yours on.”

Fuck yeah, Ed does. That’s his favorite car feature. Loves the way it feels when it warms his butt.

It only takes a few minutes for Stede to stop shivering, and then he’s able to talk, and the drive to his house passes quickly despite taking longer since Stede has a tree tied to the roof of his car and is driving slower. They get the tree inside, and Stede has a place all set up for it, tree stand and tree skirt at the ready, boxes of what Ed presumes are lights and ornaments off to the side. Stede waters the tree once it’s set up, then sets the watering can aside.

“Would you like to help me decorate it?” Stede asks, a hopeful look on his face.

Ed’s not ready for the date to end either, but he also doesn’t want to step on any decorating traditions he might have with his kids. “Alma and Louis don’t help you decorate it?”

“Louis and Mary won’t be coming to town until next week, and Alma said, and I quote, ‘If it keeps that man on your date longer, tell Ed to help you decorate the tree, I don’t mind.’”

Ed laughs. The audacity. The Meddling! “Well, I don’t want the date to be over. But I also don’t want to step on her decorating toes. So how about the two of us get the lights on since that’s always the most annoying part and then we can see what time it is and go from there.”

“Maybe another hot chocolate? Peppermint hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream?”

“Fuck, twist my arm why don’t you.”

They get the lights on the tree without any trouble, and Stede thanks Ed for his help. “That usually takes me twice as long and is half as fun.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Stede leads him to the kitchen, and Ed takes the opportunity to look at Stede’s house a little more as he goes. It’s charming, smaller than Ed expected but not actually small, homey and lived-in and full of color. It feels perfectly, overwhelmingly Stede. The kitchen is incredible, with bold teal cabinets and buttery cream-colored walls, brass light fixtures and stainless steel appliances and sparkly dark-gray quartz counters. There are bright art pieces on the walls and shelves with trailing potted plants and a massive island in the center.

Stede pulls out one of the stools on the island for Ed to sit in and starts grabbing pots and mugs and ingredients. He chats with Ed as he makes the hot chocolate at the huge range, and Ed feels too far away seated at the other side of the island, so he gets up and moves over to where Stede is. Stede shivers when Ed touches his arm, and this time Ed knows it’s not because he’s cold.

The hot chocolate is impeccable. Stede’s mug says “World’s Okayest Dad,” and Ed laughs about it and asks who gave it to him. 

“My kids did,” Stede says. “I wasn’t actually a great dad until after Mary and I got divorced. I wasn’t bad, and I did love them, but so much of my life felt like I was just sleepwalking through it. They got caught in the crossfire, I’m afraid.”

“How long ago was the divorce?”

“Oh, let me think. Just over six years now. Alma was 14 and Louis was 11, so they were old enough to be angry at me and resentful for a long time. But once I was able to be happier in my own life I was also able to be better for them, and we all worked through it together. Therapy helped for sure.”

“And they gave this to you back then?”

“No,” Stede tells him. “They gave this to me once we were good, once they were able to look back on how things were before and laugh about it instead of only feeling hurt. I broke down and cried because I was so proud of them and so thankful for the second chance, but they thought I had taken it to heart and started telling me all the ways they loved me and actually thought I was the best dad now. It ended up being a really nice bonding moment.”

“And now it’s your favorite mug,” Ed says.

“And now it’s my favorite mug,” Stede confirms. His phone buzzes in his pocket, and he fishes it out. “Speaking of my kids, it’s Alma.” Stede taps out a short message. His phone buzzes again a moment later. “I will never understand how she texts so quickly.”

“Fingers are still mostly cartilage until you turn 35 and therefore are better at texting,” Ed lies to make Stede laugh. 

“That would explain a few things. She wants to know if she should stay out longer or come home.”

“What would you like?” Ed is willing to follow Stede’s lead here, but he has a preference and is curious to see what Stede will say.

Stede sets his phone down on the counter and takes a moment to really look at Ed. “I think,” he says quietly, “That I really like you, Ed. And that what I really want right now is to woo you for a while. I get the impression that you might like to be wooed.”

Fucking nailed it. Ed would absolutely like to be wooed. He smiles softly at Stede. “I would, yeah. I’d like that a lot. I think I’d also like to do some wooing, if that’s all right with you.”

Stede smiles back. “A very rare double-woo situation.”

“It will be woo-nderful.”

Stede snorts. “No, that was awful. You can do better.”

“Afraid not, mate. What you see is what you get, bad puns and all.”

“Suppose I’ll take it, then. Bad puns and all. Ed, I…” Stede trails off. He looks like he wants to ask something but isn’t sure if he should. 

“Go ahead,” Ed prompts him. 

“Do you have any idea how long you might be staying in town? It’s only, scheduling a wooing is a lot easier if one has a general idea of how long it might last. And this…this feels like more than just a passing fling, and I’d really like to treat it as such if I can.”

Ed feels like he might melt right through the floor. Stede wants this to be something special between them. Holy fuck. He wants Ed to be something special.

“I want that too. I can’t honestly say how long I’ll be here. I sort of reached a breaking point back in the city and panicked, grabbed my cat and not much else and just drove. But I like it here. I like you. And if we’re going to woo each other until we can’t stand it anymore, then I am so fucking in.”

“Okay,” Stede breathes.

“Okay,” Ed agrees.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Yes, please.”

Stede smiles and leans in. His lips are warm and taste like chocolate and peppermint. He smells like pine and snow and cold winter air, and Ed feels close to bursting with how right it feels to kiss Stede. Ed tilts his head a little and oh, that’s even better, that’s perfect, that’s so good Ed’s toes curl in his socks. Stede whimpers a little when Ed finally pulls back, and Ed pulls the sound into his chest so he can keep it close.

“Wooing,” he says, a little dazed.

Stede sighs. “Wooing.” They both breathe for a moment. “Did we just cockblock ourselves?”

Ed burst out laughing. Stede joins him. When Ed can talk again, he says, “Fuck, we might have. I’m staying with my mom, too, and your daughter is staying with you.”

“Shit,” Stede says around a smile. “Guess we’ll have to get creative.”

“I am confident in our abilities to do so.”

“Hotels also exist.”

“Excellent point. Love that point.”

Stede leans in for another quick kiss. “Come on,” he says. “I’ll drive you home.”

“Such a gentleman.”

“Well, if you’re still here when Alma gets back, she’ll insist on driving you home herself and giving you some sort of awkward shovel talk, so really I’m just saving you from that.”

“My hero.”

Stede drives Ed home and walks him to the front door, presses a kiss to Ed’s cheek and tells him he had a really nice time tonight. Ed says the same because he did. Best date he’s ever been on, and the look on Stede’s face when he says that is everything.

“Goodnight, Ed.”

“Night night,” Ed says as he slots his key into the lock and opens the door.

Chapter Text

Ed wakes with a smile on his face that lasts until halfway through breakfast when he decides he doesn’t want to spend one more minute without talking to Stede, so he reaches for his phone to send Stede a text message saying good morning only to realize they never actually exchanged phone numbers yesterday. Or any other day.

He has to laugh because it’s just too ridiculous. They can agree to co-captain the Woo Ship together, but they can’t remember to give each other their phone numbers? Well, Ed can remedy that. He can remedy the hell out of that. 

As soon as he’s had a shower, though. Definitely needs to do that first. 

He’s just about to head out the door when he realizes this could be a great opportunity to do something fun for Stede, something more unique than just showing up to The Revenge, hoping he’s at work, and telling Stede his number. He sets his keys and wallet back down on the little table his mom set by the front door for this exact purpose and goes back to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee and have a ponder about what he wants to do for Stede.

Once he starts thinking about Stede he ends up getting a little distracted thinking about Stede’s hair and how his cute nose gets all red when he’s cold and the way his dimple pops when he smiles. That’s not helpful at all for the task at hand, though it is nice to think about, so Ed chastises himself and tries to focus again.

An idea finally comes to him when he works his way back through all their interactions and reaches Knit Night. At one point in the evening, Stede had asked Ed if he had any other hobbies besides knitting, and that had led to a discussion about all the hobbies the two of them have ever had. Stede talked about the cryptography phase he went through as a teenager and how much he liked it, how he missed it sometimes, how thrilling and joyful it was to solve a difficult problem or crack a tough code.

That’s it, that’s the one. Ed is going to make Stede a code and the solution will be his phone number.

If only he had the first idea how to do that.

He cracks open his laptop and starts researching codes and decides to try a book cipher since Stede owns a bookstore. Maybe a little on the nose, but whatever, it’s the thought that counts. Now he just has to figure out what book to use. Book ciphers only work if both the writer and the reader of the coded message have the exact same copy of the book, so Ed heads to The Revenge to borrow a book from the shelves and use it to write the cipher so he knows Stede will have access to the correct book.

Stede is not behind the cafe counter when Ed comes in, thankfully, but Lucius and the cafe chef Roach are. Ed goes over to tell them what he’s planning and can they please help run interference on Stede do he doesn’t discover Ed until he’s ready? Lucius agrees immediately, as does Roach, but not before he puts his hand on his chest and declares this “The most romantic nerd love note he’s ever witnessed.” Bit hyperbolic, but maybe not far from the truth.

Ed goes and finds a copy of his favorite book, “The Count of Monte Cristo,” on the shelf and sits down at one of the little out-of-the-way tables in the bookstore part of The Revenge that Stede told Ed he insisted on having in the store because “There are no third spaces anymore, Ed! I want people to come here and feel welcome, not just like their only use is to spend money.”

It takes Ed way longer to write the code than he expected, but he’s really pleased with himself when he finishes. Hopefully Stede will think this is fun and not some tedious chore. Ed folds up the code paper and slides it into an envelope then puts the book back on the shelf. There are four copies of the same edition, so unless there’s some insane run on “The Count of Monte Cristo” in the next ten minutes, he should be good to go.

Stede’s behind the counter in the cafe when Ed heads over, and his face lights up when he sees Ed, who makes a beeline straight to Stede. Luckily, there’s a bit of a lull currently, so Ed’s able to walk right up to the counter without waiting in line.

“I have something for you,” he says as he hands over the envelope.

“Okay,” Stede says, curiosity clearly piqued as he takes the envelope. “Can I open it now?”

“Yeah, please do.”

Stede very carefully opens the envelope and pulls out the paper. He frowns as he looks at the string of numbers on the paper. Each number represents a page of the book, the line of text on that page starting from the top and working down, and the place of the word in that line of text. So if Stede sees the number 23,018,014, then the word he’s looking for is on page 23, line 18, word 14.

Ed can tell the exact moment Stede figures out what he’s looking at because he gasps and looks up at Ed with wonder on his face. “It’s a cipher! Ed, did you make me a cipher?”

“I did!”

Stede laughs the cutest little “Ha ha ha!” laugh and waves the paper at Lucius. “Ed made me a cipher!”

“Great. Love that for you, babe. Definitely better you than me,” Lucius says, content to watch Ed and Stede nerd out.

“What’s the key?” Stede asks, excited to get started.

“Okay, it’s fine if you don’t remember what I’m about to say. It’s not a test, I swear. I just have a feeling you know the answer to this question and I want to give you the chance to show off a little bit.”

“Ed,” Stede laughs, “just tell me. I’m practically vibrating out of my skin here.”

He is, too. He’s getting all wiggly and dancing on the balls of his feet like he needs to move.

“Right. The key is my favorite book.”

Ed watches as Stede ticks back through their conversations, snapping his fingers when he reaches the answer. “‘The Count of Monte Cristo.’ We have three different editions of that book in the store, but you said…that you liked a paperback copy best because it’s such a big book the hardback is too heavy. But not the paperback editions where the cover has a painting of a man on it to represent Dantès because it feels like he’s staring into your soul and judging you.”

Ed feels warm all over. He knew Stede would remember. “Guess you’ll have to go see if you’re right.”

Stede makes a little “Eeee” squeal of delight and rushes toward the bookstore with a “Call me over the P.A. if you need help at the counter but maybe don’t, bye!” to Lucius, who gives a half-hearted wave at Stede’s retreating back.

“I’m absolutely not calling him unless it’s dire, don’t worry. He can play your little nerd sex games or whatever it is the two of you are doing. Kinkier than I expected, honestly. Nicely done,” Lucius says to Ed.

“It’s actually just my phone number and a request to text me when he deciphers the code.”

“God, that’s so much worse.”

Ed snorts. 

“Well, since you’re here, how about you order something and tip me about it?”

Lucius actually does make a really good peppermint mocha, and Ed does tip him about it. Ed brought his laptop to work on his business transition plan, so he taps away at the document while Stede is busy deciphering the code. Ed can see him sitting at a table in the bookstore, tongue peeking out of his mouth a bit as he thinks. He’s concentrating hard, and every time he gets an answer, he claps his hands or says “yay!” quietly to himself. He’s looked over at Ed four times just to smile at him and give him a thumbs up, like he’s having so much fun he can’t help himself and wants to share his joy with Ed.

It’s incredibly endearing. Ed’s so glad he spent the time to make this cipher for Stede. And truth be told, it was kind of fun. He can see himself doing it more often in the future.

A gasp from across the room draws Ed’s attention, and he looks up in time to see Stede cover his mouth with his hands. He looks up at Ed with a shake of his head, tears starting to pool in his eyes, and Ed knows he’s finished deciphering the code because he scrambles for his phone. Ed watches Stede tap out a message, thumbs flying, and he smiles when his phone buzzes on the table. He picks it up.

>You were not fucking kidding when you said you wanted to woo me, were you? The message reads, from an unknown number.

>> New phone, who’s this? Ed replies. The look Stede sends across the room would make a lesser man wither. As it is, it just makes Ed laugh.

> It’s Stede, you ass. It’s a good thing you’re cute.

>> Aww, you think I’m cute?

> I think you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.

Fuuuuuuuuck, Stede really can turn the tables quickly. 

>> Goddamn, what a counter-woo. I think you should come over here and kiss me about it.

The sound of Stede’s chair loudly scraping across the floor as he forcefully pushes it back draws a few curious looks, but by the way Stede is striding over to Ed’s table it’s clear he does not give a shit. 

Goddamn, Stede looks good. Ed never really thought of himself as the swooning type, but he may have to reassess because he is about to swoon hardcore, maybe just fall right out of his chair and into Stede’s arms like some romance-movie heroine of old.

He ends up not getting the chance because as soon as he reaches Ed’s table, Stede cups Ed’s face in his hands ( large, soft, so much hand, wow ) and kisses the everloving hell out of him. Ed sighs into the kiss and kisses Stede back, whimpering when he feels Stede’s lips part ever so slightly so Stede can run the tip of his tongue along the seam of Ed’s mouth.

Stede pulls back before the kiss deepens any further, but Ed can’t be too upset because Stede leans down and pulls Ed into a crushing hug. And because they are in public, but that’s really secondary in Ed’s mind. Stede tucks his face in behind Ed’s ear so he can say “Thank you” with aching sincerity.

“You’re welcome,” Ed says with equal sincerity when Stede stands back up. Stede smiles and sits across from Ed at the table, reaching out his hand palm up for Ed to take if he wants to. Ed very much wants to, so he does. They sit like that for a while, palms touching, just grinning at each other without a care in the world.

“Paging the besotted blonde owner of The Revenge to come to the cafe counter, please,” Lucius says over the P.A., cutting into their moment. Stede glares the boy’s way, but the line of customers is six deep, so Lucius just shrugs.

“Better go see to that. Seriously, Ed, thank you. That was so much fun. And now I have your number!”

“And I have yours.”

“Expect some texts and silly photos.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Oh, and how about another date? Tomorrow, if you’re free?”

“Stede, I would love that.”

“Okay, I’ll pick you up at 6:00 again. We’ll have a bit of dinner and then…a surprise. Bring clothes to be out in the cold and that you don’t mind getting a bit wet.”

“Well, color my curiosity piqued.”

“Is that…mixing a metaphor there?”

“Stede, get your ass up here!” Lucius hisses over the P.A., the line of customers now eight deep.

“Right, sorry! Coming! Bye,” he says to Ed, pressing a kiss to Ed’s cheek before he bounds up to the counter.

Ed’s mom is home when he gets back. She holds up one finger before he can say anything and puts the kettle on, then she settles them both at the kitchen table. “Tell. Me. Everything, ” she instructs. 

So Ed does.

Chapter Text

Ed spends a few hours the next afternoon at the kitchen table with his mom, catching up on her trip and chatting about whatever comes to mind as they put together the poinsettia Lego set. His mom compliments Stede for being so thoughtful toward Lobster, who seems to approve of the gift himself with how often he tries to knock pieces off the table. It’s a wonderful way to pass an afternoon. He’ll have to remember to thank Stede again, for the gift and for the opportunity to do something fun with his mom. He’s not sure he’s ever just sat with her and chatted like this over Legos. It seems like she really enjoyed herself, too. Ed gets out his phone and makes a mental note to go online and see if Lego makes any other plants or flowers. Might be fun to get his mom some for Christmas and put them together with her. 

Ed takes a quick nap on the couch, Lobster purring away on his chest as he falls asleep, which is his absolute favorite way to nap. The vibrations of Lobster’s purrs on his chest feel so therapeutic. He always wakes feeling incredibly well-rested when he naps with his cat. 

He finds a handful of texts waiting from Stede when the alarm he set earlier on his phone to start getting ready for his date — his date! — goes off. One of them is a photo with the accompanying message, “Lucius made this for one of his boyfriends and it made me think of you.” Ed bursts out laughing when the photo loads and it’s latte art of a dick. 

>> Didn’t realize we were at the sexting phase already. 

His phone buzzes again immediately, and Ed laughs again at the sight of a gingerbread man with a very realistic penis drawn in icing.  

>> Another Lucius special?

> He’s in rare form today. As his boss, I should probably be upset at him, but it’s kind of slow today, and I made the mistake of laughing at the first inappropriate thing he made and that just egged him on. 

> Just about time for me to head home to get ready for our date!

Their date! Ed can’t wait to see where Stede takes him this time. He has a few ideas based on what Stede told him to wear, and all of them will be fun. Pretty much everything is fun with Stede. 

>> I should go get ready too, Ed texts back. I’m gonna go shower, so you can think about me warm and naked. ;)

Stede’s answering text is twenty mind blown emojis in a row. Ed laughs all the way to the bathroom. 

Stede shows up just before 6:00 again with one of Lucius’s inappropriate gingerbread cookies for Ed and a small gift bag he doesn’t hand over. 

“What’s that?” Ed says, nodding at the gift bag as he bites off a gingerbread leg. 

“Oh, this is for your mom. Is she in? If not, I’ll just leave it for her.”

Holy fuck. Holy fuck. Stede came to pick him up for a date and brought his mom a present! Ed swallows his bite of cookie and hisses out, “How are you even real? ” as he pulls Stede in for a crushing kiss. Stede makes a surprised sound against Ed’s lips, but he catches on quickly and lets the gift bag slide down his forearm so he can get both hands in Ed’s hair and lick into Ed’s mouth. Shit, he’s such a good kisser. Ed feels a lovely warmth start pooling low in his belly the longer Stede kisses him this way, a mixture of arousal and tenderness at being held in place to kiss like he’s something precious.

“Did I hear the doorbell? Is Stede her— oh. Oop, yes, he sure is,” Ed’s mom says, accidentally interrupting them as she enters the room. “I’m just gonna…go.”

Ed laughs as he breaks the kiss. “Mom, no, it’s okay.” 

“Mm, no it isn’t,” Stede pouts.

“Sorry, Stede,” she says, walking over so she can pinch his cheek.

“No, you’re not,” he laughs. “Here, this is for you,” he says, handing over the gift bag.

“What on earth...wait. Stede. Did you come for a date with my son and bring me a gift?”

“That’s what I was kissing him about, mom.”

“Yeah, good call. Wow.” Stede puts his face in his hands and groans. His mom reaches into the gift bag and pulls out a small bag of chocolate-covered almonds. “Ooh, my favorite!” She steps over and gives Stede a kiss on the cheek, which he accepts with a blush. “Thank you, Stede. This was incredibly thoughtful of you.”

“You’re very welcome, JB.”

“Now go show my son a good time on your date.”

Ed laughs when Stede gives her a cheeky salute. “I shall do my best.”

“That was incredible of you, Stede, bringing my mom her favorite treat. You didn’t have to do that,” Ed says once they’re on their way to the restaurant Stede’s picked out for them.

“I know I didn’t. But I’m wooing you, right? And she’s a big part of your life. She deserves a little attention, too. Besides, I’ve known her way longer than I’ve known you. We are actually friends independent of what you and I have going on.”

This. Fucking. Man. “Oh, my god, Stede. If you’re not careful, I’m gonna fall right the fuck in love with you.”

“Oh,” Stede whispers, clearly caught off guard by Ed’s declaration but also pleased by it. “That, uh…that wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”

“No,” Ed admits softly. “That wouldn’t be so bad at all.”

Stede smiles the entire way to the restaurant. 

It’s a cute little Mediterranean place with the smoothest hummus Ed’s ever had and amazing beef shawarma that just melts on his tongue. Stede orders a dish called foul moudamas for them to share that looks a little unappealing, swearing that it tastes incredible despite the unique appearance. Ed tears off a piece of pita to dip into the foul, and holy shit, Stede was not kidding.

“Oh, this is incredible. What the hell? Where has this been my whole life?”

“Isn’t it good?” Stede says cheerfully.

“What is it? Like what is it made from?”

“No idea,” Stede admits. Ed resolves to ask their server when she comes back to their table. Fava beans, as it turns out. Who knew. Aside from people in Lebanon, apparently. And other places near there. Okay, plenty of people knew.

Stede orders a baklava platter for dessert, and they take turns feeding each other bites, their fingers sticky with honey and bits of flaky pastry. Ed wants to lick the honey from Stede’s fingers, just suck them right into his mouth, but there are a few families scattered throughout the restaurant, so it’s definitely not the place.

Doesn’t change the pang of want that rattles around his chest.

Stede pays the bill over Ed’s objections, but he promises to let Ed pay for any fees for the next part of their date. He voices his objections rather vociferously, but Ed is adamant that if they’re going to do this wooing thing together then both of them should pay for things. They bicker goodnaturedly about it all the way back to the car and as they clamber inside, pausing as Stede puts the directions to wherever they’re going next into his phone and asks Ed not to look. They start up again once Stede starts driving.

“Besides, Stede,” Ed finally says, “I’m a famous Wall Street banker. I have more money than I’ll ever be able to spend in my lifetime.”

“You’re famous?”

“I mean. Famous enough. Maybe not a household name, but you might recognize my company if I told you.”

“Tell me, then.”

“Uh, it’s Blackbeard’s Bank and Investments.”

Stede’s so shocked he almost drives them off the road. “You’re Blackbeard ?!?”

They’re going ice skating, as it turns out, which is excellent and was absolutely one of the activities Ed thought might happen based on Stede’s clothing instructions. He’s pleased to see Stede is dressed warmly and not cutely tonight, though he’s always cute no matter what he’s wearing. He tells Stede so just to see him blush, which he does, right on cue. Stede’s blushy reaction to being complimented is quickly becoming one of Ed’s favorite things about him.

They rent their skates, and Stede begrudgingly lets Ed pay. “Have you been skating much before?” Stede asks as they’re getting laced up. 

“Nope. This is my…third time, maybe?”

“Ed. Seriously? Shit, I should have asked first. I think I assumed you had for some reason.”

“Have you?”

“No. I’ve probably been fewer than a dozen times my whole life.”

Ed giggles. “Good. We’ll be terrible together. I’ve seen you at your best. Now I get to see you at your worst.”

“Unfortunately, I can get a lot worse than this,” Stede grumbles. 

Ed laughs and pokes him in the ribs. “That’s the spirit!”

They are terrible. Just awful. It’s a really cute outdoor rink with one open end that leads to a winding curated ice path through a landscaped area so it feels like you’re skating through the trees. Which you kind of are, to be fair, though there is a fence so you can’t actually crash into them. Lucky for Ed and Stede because they both need to hold onto it as they inch along. 

They both fall a few times, laughing as they pull each other down by accident and one time on purpose when Stede decides he’s not crashing alone. Stede is a bit grumpy about it at first, but Ed thinks it’s hilarious and his infectious good mood wins Stede over, so that by the time a rink attendant pushes out two skating assistant devices made of PVC pipe that look like walkers for older people but able to slide across the ice, Stede is joking and laughing and ready to give the slightly clunky devices a go.

It takes them both a little while to get going, but once they figure out how to most effectively lean on the devices while keeping their feet under them, they manage to make it around the rink three times without falling. That’s good enough for one day, they both decide. Besides, their jeans are a bit wet from falling on the ice so often, and Ed’s ass is a little bruised. Stede’s shivering.

“Here,” Ed says, wrapping his scarf around Stede’s neck once they’ve taken off and returned their skates. “This should help.”

“I even dressed for the cold tonight,” Stede says, huddling further into Ed’s scarf.

“There’s a little snack bar area inside. How about some hot chocolate?”

“Yes, please,” Stede agrees readily. They each order a hot chocolate and split a soft pretzel. 

“Not as good as the tree farm,” Ed says, rating the hot cocoa.

“We’ll have to keep a running list of hot cocoa rankings just from places we go on dates,” Stede suggests, and Ed likes the sound of that. He likes the sound of that very much.

“We can publish it when we determine a Top 10.”

“Why stop there? Top 20.”

“Fancy 50, even.”

“Hot 100 Chocolate.”

Ed snorts. “That’s a lot of dates.”

“Yeah,” Stede sighs, looking at Ed with a dreamy expression on his face. “It will be.”

Chapter Text

Ed and his mom are having a late breakfast when the doorbell rings. Technically he supposes it could be considered brunch, but Ed kind of hates that word. Makes him think about some of his asshole clients who make going to brunch and day drinking their entire personalities. Spoiled rich kids with trust funds and estates who think they’re better than everyone because they won the birth lottery.

“Were you expecting someone?” his mom asks.

“No. You?” 

“No.”

“Package?”

His mom rolls her eyes at him. “Just go see, would you?”

Right. Yeah, he can do that. There’s a delivery guy standing at the door when Ed opens it, holding a fairly large box.

“Ed Teach?” the man asks.

“Yeah?”

“Sign here, please.” He holds out a tablet, and Ed uses his finger to sign a very shitty version of his signature. “Thanks, have a nice day!” The guy hands over the box and heads back to his truck.

Ed takes the box back inside with a frown. He knows he didn’t order anything to his mom’s house. And it was his name on the order. Curious.

“Whoa,” his mom says when he comes back into the kitchen. She clears a few dishes off the table so he can set the box down. “What did you order?”

“Nothing. But the guy had me sign for it, so it is for me.”

“Hmm. That’s — oh. Ohhhh.”

“What?” His mom has clearly had a capital “R” Revelation.

“Nothing, nothing. Just open the box.”

“Didn’t sound like nothing,” Ed grumbles but starts opening the package anyway.

His mom chuckles at him. “Oh, my god, you’re going to find out soon enough anyway! Stop grumbling at me.”

Ed sticks out his tongue at her. Inside the box is something large wrapped in plastic with an envelope sitting on top. He pulls out the card inside and reads it aloud. “Ed, just a little something to brighten your day. Yours, Stede. P.S. share the strawberries with your mom, there are plenty. xoxo P.P.S. everything is cat safe, the florist and I researched. Xoxoxo” Ed gasps. “Mom, he sent me flowers.”

“Pull them out, let me see!”

“Shit, okay.” Ed feels a little unbalanced, weirdly. No one has ever gotten him flowers or sent him flowers or brought flowers on a date. He didn’t even know he was the kind of person who would enjoy receiving flowers until just now, until Stede sent him some. Stede clearly could tell, or maybe he just made a lucky guess. Either way, he was thinking of Ed and wanted to do something to demonstrate that, and it makes Ed feel warmed through. Day absolutely brightened.

The flowers are stunning. They’re an arrangement not a bouquet, his mother explains, set in a red metal bucket. There are red roses and red gerbera daisies with tall sprays of white snapdragons surrounded by masses of different ferns and pinecones. Ed’s mom also points out the flowers to him and names them, thankfully, because otherwise he would have no idea what was in the arrangement other than very pretty things. His mom coos over the flowers and compliments Stede’s taste and choices. Lobster hops up on the table to sniff at everything but decides he doesn’t really care for the flowers and tries to jump into the box instead.

“Hang on, bud, let me get the plastic out of there for you.” Pulling the plastic out of the box reveals another, smaller box at the bottom, and that’s right. Stede’s note did say there were strawberries. Chocolate-covered strawberries, it turns out, a dozen of them, dipped in different kinds of chocolate with fancy drizzles on top.

“Wow,” his mom says when Ed shows her. “He likes you likes you.” Ed can feel his cheeks starting to flush. “Aww, you two are so cute! Ed and Stede, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”

“What are you, five?” Ed snorts.

His mom grabs the box of strawberries and pulls one out so she can bite into it, continuing her chant with food in her mouth like she didn’t used to chastise Ed every day of his childhood for talking with his mouth full. “First comes love, then comes marriage —”

“ — Then I put my tongue in his undercarriage,” Ed interrupts, finishing the chant for her. His mom inhales so sharply Ed’s afraid she’s going to choke on the strawberry, but then she starts laughing so hard she falls over onto the floor. Her laughter is infectious, and Ed can’t help but join in. He sits next to her on the floor as they both wind each other up, laughing so hard they end up crying. Lobster bounds out of the flower box and worms his way into Ed’s lap so he can sniff at the tears running down Ed’s face, and his whiskers tickle, which makes Ed laugh even harder still.

His stomach hurts worse than it did after Pilates by the time they’re done laughing. 

“Strawberry?” his mom offers when they’re both able to breathe and talk again.

Ed takes one but not without a bit of good-natured grumbling that he has to share his wooing with his mom.

“Look at you, being all possessive and jealous. Not cute! Anyway, this is just how Stede is. I know you know Stede doesn’t mean anything by it, not with me.”

“Yeah, duh. But what do you mean it’s just how he is?”

“With the treats and giving them to people? Surely you’ve noticed.”

And yeah, of course Ed has noticed that Stede likes giving sweet things to people. He’s just not sure he’s ever stopped to think about it before. “I know he likes making treats and coffee and shit. Hell, I’ve benefitted myself a fair few times. He has a chef and bakery team that help him, though, right? He’s not doing all that himself.”

“No, of course not, but…” His mom hesitates.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing, it’s just. Maybe I should wait to let him tell you about the specific details, but you know how a small town loves to gossip.” Ed is learning. Trivia night was a bit of a revelation, as was Knit Night. “But if I don’t, someone else might think they’re ‘helping’ and tell you anyway.”

His mom is talking to herself now, trying to work out whether she should tell Ed whatever she knows that he doesn’t. He grabs a strawberry and munches on it while she figures out what she wants to do.

“Okay, I’ll just say it.”

“Sounds pretty ominous, mom.”

“Oh, no,” she assures him, “it’s nothing bad! Well. Maybe a little — okay, anyway, Stede’s parents are super-rich assholes, you know the type, and are kind of horrible and were really strict on him growing up. Controlling about everything, including food. Didn’t really let him have sweets.”

“But he has a massive sweet tooth, like me.”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck.”

“He’s told me a bit about it himself, but he didn’t have many friends, got bullied by other kids who pretended to be his friends. That sort of thing.”

Ed can imagine Stede as a gentle, sensitive child of parents who wanted a rough-and-tumble son and didn’t care that he knew it, ground down by their control and by forcing him into proximity with kids who hated him. Fuck, Ed aches for that poor kid. He’s glad Stede was able to get away from that, was able to build himself a life he enjoys full of warmth and books and—

“Oh, fuck. That’s why he has a cafe slash bookstore, isn’t it. He’s giving himself the childhood he always wanted,” Ed says, feeling like he understands Stede so much better now.

“And helping to create the community and space he wished he had. It took him a while to settle into his place in town, though. He used to be so bitchy.”

“Mom!”

“What, it’s true! Now he’s just pleasantly bitchy. Don’t look at me like that,” she says, and Ed makes a concentrated effort to stop glowering at her. “He was going through a lot back then, of course he was bitchy. He’s way more comfortable in his own skin now. It’s nice to see how he’s changed.”

“I like him a lot, mom.”

“I know you do. I really am happy for you. For both of you.” She squeezes his arm, and Ed’s just about to pull her into a hug when her phone beeps. “Oh,” she says, pulling it out of her pocket, “shit, I have to get ready for Pilates class. Want to join me?”

Ed snorts. “Definitely not.”

His mom cackles at him. “You sure?”

“It was four days until my muscles returned to normal last time.”

“It will probably only take three days this time!” she chirps, absolutely not selling the idea of going to that fucking class again.

“Pass,” Ed deadpans.

“Okay, suit yourself. I’ll see you in a couple hours. I think I’m gonna grab a coffee with a couple ladies from the class afterwards.”

“That will be nice. Have fun!”

Ed flops onto the couch after his mom leaves, flipping through the channels on the TV a few times before deciding there’s nothing he wants to watch and tries one of the streaming services. Lobster hops onto his lap and promptly falls asleep. Not a terrible idea. Maybe he’ll take a nap, too. He didn’t use to take this many naps, didn’t even think he was a person who liked napping, but that person was wrong because naps are incredible. Best invention ever.

Turns out he’s not quite tired enough for a nap, so he breaks out his phone and decides to text Stede.

>> How is work going?

Stede answers almost immediately. > Oh, I’m actually not working today.

Awh, they could have made plans to see each other! Though, Ed supposes, they have seen a lot of each other the past few days. Might be okay to actually have a day apart.

>> What are you doing on your day off? Anything fun? Ed asks, genuinely curious about what Stede gets up to in his free time.

> Oh, well…

“Stede is typing” dots show up and disappear, show up and disappear. Ed gives him a few minutes, but when there’s no follow-up message, Ed texts again.

>> You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. It’s okay.

> No, I do. Or I think I do. It’s only…December can be a really hard month for me, and I’m not sure how much I want to talk about why at the moment.

>> That’s okay. I think you’re fascinating and want to know everything about you, but only when you’re ready to tell me.

> Fucking hell, Ed, that’s…

>> Come over. Ed has a feeling that Stede doesn’t want to be alone right now. Or ask Alma to do something with you.

> She’s out with a friend.

>> Then come over.

> I don’t want to ruin your time with your mom.

>> She’s out at Pilates and then coffee with friends, and besides, she loves you and would be happy to see you.

More “Stede is typing” dots appear, disappear, reappear. > If you’re sure…

Ed hits the call button on his phone, and when Stede answers he says, “Come over, Stede. Come be here with me.”

“I don’t think I’ll be very good company right now.”

“Come over anyway. Besides, that’s for me to decide, and I always think you’re good company. Nothing you do will change that.” Ed can hear Stede smiling through the phone.

“Okay. Yes, I will. Be there in a bit.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“Bye, Ed.”

When Stede shows up twenty minutes later, in comfortable-looking sweats, more casual and rumpled than Ed has ever seen him, Ed pulls him into a crushing hug. Stede melts into his arms at the contact.

“You look so cozy,” Ed tells him. “Come on. Let’s go snuggle on the couch.” Stede looks like he might cry with relief. There are dozens of questions bouncing around in Ed’s head, but it’s clear that isn’t what Stede needs right now. No, Ed thinks he needs to not talk about it as much as possible.

There are bowls of snacks on the coffee table in front of the couch that Ed set out while Stede was driving over, a few cans of soda and bottles of water, a bowl of peanut M&Ms in cute holiday colors. Ed unpauses the episode of The Great Pottery Throw Down he was watching and offers Stede some snacks. Stede eats a little and asks questions about the show, which he’s never seen before. Ed thinks that’s a travesty, so he grabs the remote and goes back through the episodes list until he gets to season one, episode one so Stede can see the glory of the Throw Down from the very beginning.

Lobster joins them on the couch halfway through the episode, curling up next to Stede, who scooches closer to Ed to give the cat more room.

“You can just sit near me,” Ed jokes. “You don’t need to use the cat as an excuse.”

“Oh, thank god. You look so comfortable, I didn’t really want to disturb you, but I would love that.”

Ed leans back a little so he can get Stede tucked under his arm and let Stede rest his head on Ed’s chest. Stede sighs, and he sounds so relieved it makes Ed feel sad for him, like he’s never had anyone do this for him before. Ed kisses the side of his head and lets Stede wiggle until he’s comfortable.

Stede’s asleep within ten minutes. Ed listens to him snuffle in his sleep and pays no attention whatsoever to the show. Stede is warm and solid against him, and it feels so good to hold him like this while he sleeps. 

When Ed’s mom comes home, she walks into the room asking “Is Stede here? I saw his car in — oh. Shit,” she whispers the last word when she sees Stede sleeping. She grabs a blanket and drapes it over Stede’s legs, then gets her phone out and takes a picture. She texts it to Ed with a heart eyes emoji.

Stede sleeps for two hours. He’s apologetic for falling asleep when he wakes, but Ed shushes him. He thanks Stede for the flowers, but Stede shushes him, and that’s all it takes for them to dissolve into a fit of giggles. Ed asks if Stede wants to stay for dinner, and Stede thanks him but declines. “I do have a few things I need to get done at home,” he says by way of an explanation, but it’s fine. Ed gets it. Stede wasn’t exactly planning on napping away the afternoon, no matter how enjoyable it was or how much he needed it.

Ed walks him to the door and kisses Stede goodbye before he leaves. “Thank you for the relaxing afternoon, Stede.”

“I really am sorry I sacked out like that.”

“Don’t be. You needed it. Besides, it was nice. I liked it.”

Stede smiles softly. “Felt good, just being near you. Breathing the same air.”

Ed feels like an icicle in the sun, melting away under the strength of Stede’s sunshine smile. “Yeah, fuck. That’s it exactly.”

Stede leans in and kisses Ed sweetly. “Meet me at The Revenge tomorrow night at 8:00, would you?”

“Why, what’s at The Revenge tomorrow night at 8:00?”

“Our next date.”

“Awwwwgh, smooth, Stede. Very smooth. I’ll be there. And one of these days maybe you’ll let me plan a date.”

“Mm, maybe. Anyway, seems to me you do pretty well on the fly.”

Was Ed an icicle once? Not anymore. Melted clear away, now he’s just a little puddle of cold water and emotions. He kisses Stede again and thinks about how he’ll never get tired of the way Stede’s lips feel against his, the way his stomach swoops with delight.

“Tomorrow, then.”

“8:00,” Stede reminds him, like he’d ever forget. 

“See you then.”

Chapter Text

Ed gets to The Revenge a few minutes before 8:00 to find a sign on the door that says “Closing At 7:45 Tonight For A Private Event.” He’s a little confused as he pulls the door open because Stede didn’t mention a private event happening tonight. He wonders what it is. And where in the store it is because the place looks deserted. Maybe no one has shown up yet?

“Stede?” Ed calls out, wandering toward the cafe counter. Stede comes rushing out in a bright-orange apron that’s dusted with flour. 

“You’re here,” he breathes before pressing a kiss to Ed’s cheek.

“Yeah? Said I would be.”

“I know,” Stede says as he brushes past Ed to lock the door to the store. “It’s just nice, I guess. You keep showing up. For me. That’s kind of new, not really used to it. Takes my breath away a little bit every time it happens.” He’s smiling as he says it, like he hasn’t just admitted something so quietly devastating. Ed gets the feeling if he asks Stede about it right now he’ll change the subject to avoid talking about it, and that’s okay. Ed can wrap that little trauma up in cotton wool and tuck it inside his ribcage near his heart and keep it safe for a while until Stede’s ready for them to unpack it together.

“I like taking your breath away,” Ed says instead, loving the way Stede predictably scrunches up his nose and hunches up his shoulders as he giggles.

“Wait here for a second,” Stede requests, pulling a narrow band of fabric out of his pocket. “And put this on, will you? I need to go tell Roach you’re here. And then I have a surprise for you.”

Ed unfolds the fabric. It’s a blindfold. “Kinky,” he teases. “If you wanted to get me blindfolded so bad you could have just asked.” The last thing Ed sees as he raises the fabric to his face are Stede’s eyes unfocusing, his pupils dilating so fast there’s hardly any hazel left. “Like what you see?” Ed teases in Stede’s general direction.

“When I’m looking at you?” Stede says, his voice gone rough and deep. Ed hears him step closer and then he’s wrapping one arm around Ed’s waist and sliding his other hand into Ed’s hair so he can pull him in for a searing kiss. Ed sighs and lets himself be kissed, parting his lips when Stede touches them with the tip of his tongue. It’s heady being kissed like this at the best of times, but the blindfold is making every sensation more intense. Ed’s not sure why: he closes his eyes to kiss all the time. There’s just something about knowing he couldn’t see Stede even if he tried that’s making him feel extra sensitive, like his lips are a live wire Stede can’t stop touching. 

“Always,” Stede whispers when he breaks the kiss. It takes Ed a moment to gather himself and figure out what Stede’s even talking about, but when he does he can’t help but lean in so he can kiss Stede again. Unfortunately, Stede had shifted since they stopped kissing, and Ed misses and grazes the side of his face. Stede chuckles and takes mercy on Ed by tilting his head in the proper direction and kissing him once again.

“Sorry to interrupt, boss, but things are ready,” Ed hears Roach say somewhere off to his left. Stede makes a disappointed sound against Ed’s mouth. 

“Yes, all right. Thank you, Roach, I’ll be back to help you once I get Ed settled,” Stede says. Ed feels Stede take his hand. “Is this okay? I don’t want you to run into anything.”

“Yeah,” Ed tells him. “It’s perfect.” Ed lets himself be led through the store. He can feel carpet under his feet, so they’re in the bookstore part, he just isn’t sure exactly where. Stede has him stop, and then there’s the soft sound of something scraping over the carpet.

“Here, shuffle over this way a bit,” Stede says, putting Ed’s hands on a table and guiding Ed around the edge of it by gently touching Ed’s hips and moving him the direction Stede wants him to go.

“Guy could get used to that,” Ed flirts, and he can practically hear Stede blushing.

“I’ll remember that,” Stede tells him once Ed has leaned back enough that he’s sitting in a chair. 

“I hope you do. Can I take my blindfold off now?”

“Not yet, if that’s okay. I have to help Roach bring out some trays and then you can.”

“Okay. Hurry back.”

Stede pecks him on the cheek. “Will do!” he chirps as he rushes away, presumably to help Roach with whatever surprise Stede’s cooked up. Ed sits patiently, humming some deep-cut 80s song his mom was listening to earlier today as she wrapped gifts for her friends, drumming his fingers on the table to keep the beat. He hears clattering and Stede hissing a few curse words under his breath and footsteps approaching. He sits up straighter, excited to see what Stede has in store. There’s a bunch of rattling and clinking of what sounds like china, and Ed couldn’t even guess what they’re doing if he tried. Something smells delicious, though, sweet and rich. 

“Thank you, Roach, for your help,” Stede says after a few minutes.

“Sure thing. Have fun, you two. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Roach says a bit suggestively.

Stede scoffs. “Roach, I’m not sure there even is anything you wouldn’t do.”

“Exactly. I’ll lock up behind me. Later!”

“Such a weird guy.”

“Makes a hell of a sandwich, though,” Ed says, to which Stede hums his agreement. “Hey, can I take this off yet?” Ed asks, hands drifting to the blindfold.

“Shit. Yes, please do.”

Ed pulls the blindfold off to see what Stede’s done. He’s pushed two tables together and set them in the back area of the store near the lit fireplace, which Ed still thinks is insane to have in a bookstore. There are fairy lights strung around the shelves that cast a lovely glow around the room. Combined with the flickering light from the fireplace and the whole vibe is majorly romantic. There are little plates of food on the table that look like tapas, and they all look incredible: honeyed figs stuffed with goat cheese, succulent bites of meat, stuffed mushrooms, an assortment of cheeses, sliced oranges drizzled with more honey and dusted with cinnamon, a pile of olives, a plate of Spanish cheeses. More food than the two of them could possibly eat. 

Lined up across the center of the table are two rows of matching teal floral teacups on delicate little saucers with rich brown liquid filling each of the seven cups. There are little placards in front of the saucers with what look like flavors written in a looping cursive: double chocolate, peppermint, spicy, caramel, cinnamon, raspberry, and hazelnut.

“Stede,” Ed gasps. Stede’s biting his lip and holding a can of whipped cream in his hands when Ed looks up, which confirms Ed’s guess. “Is this a hot chocolate flight?”

“Yes!” Stede squeaks, clearly excited that Ed’s guessed correctly.

“Fucking mental,” Ed whispers, but it’s fucking brilliant, too. Hot chocolate taste test. Will wonders never cease. “Stede, you should do this as an event. I bet you’d sell out so fast.”

“Oh, well. Maybe for a charity thing. Actually, that could be fun.”

“Do it in the middle of January when things from the holidays have calmed down.”

Ed can only describe the look on Stede’s face as wondrous. “I might do that, Ed. Thank you for the suggestion.”

Ed shrugs up one shoulder. “Course. You did all the work. I just had an idea.”

“Well, it was a good idea. Don’t downplay it.”

“Awgh. Let’s try this chocolate, hey? Which order, the way they’re lined up?”

“You pick.”

“Um, well, I think double chocolate first as a sort of baseline.”

“Agreed.”

“Peppermint last because otherwise everything else will taste a bit minty.”

“An excellent suggestion.”

“Then everything else we rock, paper, scissors for the right to decide what flavor we try next.”

Stede laughs. “Okay, sure. Want whipped cream?” he asks, holding up the can.

“Uh, obviously!”

The hot chocolate is all incredible, just as Ed knew it would be. Once they’ve drunk them all, they set the placards on their saucers and do their own individual rankings of which flavors they like best, teasing each other when their orders don’t match up.

“How can you put raspberry last?” Stede asks, affronted. “It was delightful!”

“Stede, they were all delightful. Something has to be last!”

“Mm, no it doesn’t,” Stede pouts. Ed laughs and picks up the can of whipped cream so he can spray some onto Stede’s nose. Stede sputters before finally huffing out a sharp “Edward!” that makes Ed laugh so hard he cries.

The food is incredible and light, just what Ed needed after so much sugary cocoa. They talk as they eat, asking each other silly questions to get to know each other a little better. “It’s okay if you don’t, but I’m here if you want to talk about yesterday,” Ed tells Stede at one point. 

“Oh, that’s…I think…okay. Yes, I think you deserve an explanation.”

“Not about deserving, mate. You want to tell me, I’m ready to listen. You don’t, I ask you what animals you think you could take in a fight and we talk about that.”

“Okay, definitely put a pin in that because I absolutely want to come back to it later. But I do want to tell you. About yesterday. My parents called.”

“Ah,” Ed says, like that’s all Stede needs to say. Stede looks a little surprised by that.

“Did someone tell you about them? That sounded like the reaction of someone who knows something I haven’t told him.”

“Uh, yeah, a bit, sorry. My mom was filling me in a little yesterday before you came over. Nothing in detail, just broad strokes. Enough for me to know it probably sucked to hear from them.”

“Small towns, I suppose. Nothing is your own business for long,” Stede laments.

“I think she wanted me to hear it from her and not someone else more gossipy if I wasn’t going to hear it from you.”

“I suppose that’s fair.”

Ed reaches out and touches the back of Stede’s hand. “So, your parents called.”

“Right. They did. Usually it’s just one or the other of them, but this time it was both, so I was immediately on my guard. I had no idea what they wanted to talk about. We don’t talk much anymore, by design. But they just wanted to harangue me about seeing their only grandchildren, which is a hard no. Mary and the kids went no contact with them a couple years after we divorced, with my blessing, when I finally realized my parents were being just as horrible to them as they always had been to me.”

“That must have been difficult.”

“Ha. If only. No, it was incredibly easy. It’s not like my parents were any sort of real presence in my children’s lives to begin with. They would show up sporadically to their events and loudly judge the other children and parents and be generally rude and awful. They’d buy extravagant presents for their birthday and Christmas, which of course the kids thought was amazing when they were little. Alma has a horse! They literally bought her a horse.”

“Did she even want a horse?”

“No! She hates horses, is terrified of them! I ride the horse all the time, but she never once did. He’s lovely, actually. His name is Arthur.”

Fuck, that must be part of why Stede’s thighs and calves are so fucking incredible. Oh, god, and if he rides horses, that must mean he’s also really good at riding —

“Anyway,” Stede continues, cutting off Ed’s train of thought before it got too explicit. Focus, Ed. Listen to your boyf— date! Listen to your date! “They call once a year to try and convince me to let them see my kids by yelling at me and telling me what a horrible son and parent I am. So that’s always super fun.”

“Fuck, Stede. I’m really sorry. That’s awful.”

Stede shrugs. “I’m used to it. Most of the time I can brush it off, but yesterday they just really got to me.”

“Hey,” Ed says, tapping his foot against Stede’s under the table. “I’m glad you didn’t have to be alone.”

Stede’s face softens into a look of utter fondness. “So am I.”

“Now, tell me what animals you think you could take in a fight. I think I could take a capybara, myself.”

“Yes, but Ed, they’re so cute, would you even want to?”

Neither of them are ready for the date to be over once the food is eaten, so they get up and wander through the bookshelves, holding hands while Ed points out interesting-looking books and sees if Stede knows anything about them. It’s sweet. Kind of wholesome. Feels a little bit like the kind of date you might go on in middle school with your first crush when you have all these bubbly feelings inside but don’t know how to act on them. He says as much to Stede, who gets a determined look on his face, and then Ed is being pushed up against a tall bookshelf and kissed like Stede might die if his lips aren’t on Ed’s this instant.

Ed giggles into the kiss a little, those bubbly “I have a crush” feelings working their way up from his stomach and out his throat. He can feel Stede smile against his lips.

“What’s so funny?” Stede whispers.

“Dunno, just feel even more like a teenager now, getting kissed in the stacks by my crush.”

“You have a crush on me? How embarrassing for you.”

“Stede,” Ed laughs.

Stede kisses him again. “I wouldn’t actually know how that feels. I didn’t have crushes when I was a teenager, so I don’t have anything to compare it to.”

Ed hums and brushes a stray golden curl off Stede’s forehead. “Sometimes it was fun, like you’d see the person and it felt like someone had released a beehive in your stomach.”

Stede laughs. “That doesn’t sound fun at all.”

“No, you’re wrong, it’s fun as hell. You get all giggly and blushy when you think about them or talk about them, and everyone knows you have a crush and they tease you a bit but it’s okay as long as your actual crush never, ever finds out.”

“Well, I suppose I can see the appeal. That’s how I feel when you’re around, after all.”

“Aww, see? You have been kissed in the stacks by a crush.”

Stede smiles brightly before his expression turns a little more contemplative, like he has something he wants to say but isn’t sure he can. Ed watches him take a breath to gather his courage and give the cutest little nod to himself for motivation. “I’ve never been kissed in the stacks by a boyfriend, though.”

Ed wants to scream, that’s so cute. And brave, so brave of Stede to put himself out there like that. Ed’s never been kissed in the stacks by a boyfriend, either, but it looks like he’s about to be. He leans in and kisses Stede, who makes the sweetest little sound as he melts against Ed. Ed wraps one arm around Stede’s waist and reaches up to tangle his other hand in Stede’s hair like Stede did to him earlier, and there’s that sound again, the one that makes Ed want to swallow it into his stomach and keep there it forever.

Stede presses their foreheads together when he breaks their kiss and takes a moment to simply breathe. “Now I have,” he whispers when he’s ready to talk again.

“Now you have,” Ed confirms. “And so have I.”

Chapter Text

Ed’s sipping his coffee at the kitchen table, smiling at his phone because Stede’s been texting him this morning, cute little messages about his morning routine and how he’s thinking about Ed. Ed’s been encouraging him by asking questions and being genuinely interested in the answers. Stede is fascinating. Ed loves listening to him, even through text. Stede gets a little self-conscious when he talks for a while or goes on a tangent, and Ed’s been trying to reassure him that he does actually want Stede to do that. But it’s going to take more time for that to fully sink in for Stede, Ed knows. Ed gets the feeling that there have been way too many people in Stede’s life who have shut him down, and that takes a toll.

His mom shuffles into the kitchen and pours herself a cup of coffee. She brings it to the table and slumps into the seat across from Ed with a heavy sigh. If Ed weren’t already smiling at his phone from Stede’s texts, he’d be smiling at her. He can’t believe it’s taken this long for him to learn his mom is so grumpy in the morning. It feels like a gift, one that he’s given himself by taking a chance and leaving his old life behind, even if he didn’t go about it in the best way. Ed takes a deep breath and forgives himself for that decision, too. He felt desperate, and leaving the way he did was clearly an act of desperation. He’s so thankful it worked out in his favor.

Not just in his favor. That doesn’t feel like a grand enough statement for how much his life has changed for the better in just under two weeks. He has Stede now, a stronger relationship with his mother, and a new life to look forward to. It’s worked out pretty fucking fantastically.

“Ugh, it’s too early for you to be smiling,” his mom grumbles. “Nothing to be smiling about this early in the morning.”

“Mom, it’s 10:00,” Ed laughs.

“Yeah, exactly. Wait. You’re texting Stede, aren’t you.” It’s not even a question, like she knows Ed is texting Stede because who else would be making him smile like this?

“Yes, as it turns out, I am texting my boyfriend.”

“Knew it.” She takes three more sips of her coffee before Ed’s words sink in. “Did you say boyfriend?”

Ed bites his lip and nods. “I did!” She squeals and Ed squeals with her, and it’s a little ridiculous but also, who fucking cares? He’s happy, his mom is happy for him, the world is a tire fire. Might as well celebrate and be joyful while you can.

“When did that happen, last night?” she asks. 

“Yeah, toward the end of our date. He closed down The Revenge early so we could do a hot chocolate flight taste test and eat tapas that Roach made.”

“Holy shit, I am jealous of that date.”

“Yeah, Stede’s doing a really good job with these.”

“Does it feel a little fast, being boyfriends already? Hasn’t even been two weeks since you met him.”

Ed has actually spent a little time this morning thinking about this very question. Because it is fast. They’ve only been on three dates, though they have hung out a few more times than that. They’re still getting to know one another. But there’s no reason they can’t do that while being boyfriends. But the real answer is it doesn’t feel too fast. It feels right, feels good. Maybe it should be a little scary, but it isn’t.

“I have put some thought into it, I’ll have you know.”

“That’s good. What did you decide?”

“Yeah, it is fast, but it doesn’t feel too fast. It just feels right.”

“Good. Sometimes when you know, you know. I just wanted to make sure that’s what this was.”

“It is. At least I hope it is. Feels that way to me.”

“Oh, Ed.” She reaches out and squeezes his hand. “I’m so glad you’ve found this. I’m so glad you found him.”

Ed squeezes back. “I am, too. Now we just need to find you your own Stede.”

“Ugh, don’t even start. One relationship at a time.”

The doorbell rings a few hours later while his mom is reading in an armchair and he’s practicing his knitting. His mom doesn’t stop reading, just tilts her eyebrow up, which is apparently Ed’s cue to answer the door.

“Don’t let Lobster destroy my knitting,” he tells his mom, covering his work with a blanket and a pillow. Lobster is napping on his mom’s lap, so the risk of cat destruction is low, but it’s never zero.

“If that’s another flower arrangement from Stede, I might actually throw up,” Ed’s mom calls after him as he makes his way to the door. He’s laughing as he pulls it open, secretly hoping it is another flower arrangement just to see how his mom reacts.

“Fuck,” Ed says as sees who’s standing at the door. “You’re not a flower arrangement.”

“No, I am fucking not,” Izzy Hands rasps from his mother’s front porch. Oh, this won’t be good. “It’s fucking freezing out here. Can I come in?”

Ed has the fleeting thought of saying no, of telling Izzy it’s his mom’s house not his, so his mom has to give her permission for him to enter like some weird vampire situation. But Izzy’s driven all this way, and Ed isn’t actually that much of a dick. Most of the time.

He steps back to let Izzy inside, watching as he wipes his boots off on the mat and looks around for a place to hang his coat. Ed’s mom comes into the entryway just as Ed’s closing the door.

“Mrs. Teach,” Izzy nods.

“It’s Fletcher.”

“I’m sorry?”

“My last name. Teach was my married name, so I use it for my books.”

“Right. Sorry, Mrs. Fletcher. This a shoes on or shoes off establishment?”

“Off, please. And I can take your coat,” she tells Izzy, holding out her hand.

“Uh, mom, this is Izzy Hands. Izzy, this is my mom,” Ed says awkwardly from where he’s standing behind Izzy. His mom has a strange look on her face that he can’t quite read.

“We’ve met,” she says tersely, and oooh, boy, this is already not off to a great start.

“You have?” Ed can’t remember, but it must have been one of the times she was visiting New York to see him.

“Yes, he came to your apartment when I was there and you were out picking up dinner.”

“Uh…huh. I see.”

Izzy smiles, which is unfortunate because his smiles always look so sharp, even when he means it genuinely. He very much does not mean it genuinely right now. “A pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Fletcher.”

“Yes, I’m sure it is. I’ll be upstairs if you need me,” she directs to Ed before she leaves to hang Izzy’s coat in the closet and head up to her upstairs office. He wonders if she’ll actually try to do some work and stay out of the way or if she’ll do some eavesdropping. Knowing her, it will be the latter.

“Come on, let’s go sit in the kitchen. You hungry?” Ed asks, walking away because he knows Izzy will follow.

“Not really. Could use some water, though, if you’re offering.”

Ed gets Izzy some water and sets the glass in front of where he’s sitting at the kitchen table. Ed sits down across from him and leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. He waits for Izzy to start speaking. He’s the one who drove all this way. Surely he has something important to say.

Izzy finishes drinking and sighs, setting the water glass down on the table with a clack. He looks Ed right in the eyes for a moment as if trying to work something out for himself. He nods once and then starts talking. “You’re not coming back, are you?”

That throws Ed for a loop. He figured Izzy was here to lecture him, to harangue him, to preach at him about how Ed is ruining the company and throwing away years of hard work, abandoning everything they’ve built together, how fucking could he?

“No, Iz, I’m not. At least not permanently. I’ll come back and help hand over the company, but I’m not working there anymore.”

Izzy sighs heavily and turns his head to look out the window. “This has been coming for some time, hasn’t it.” He says it like it’s just a fact he knows. “I panicked when I first figured it out, that you were done with Blackbeard. I didn’t know what to do, so I pushed you, which was the wrong thing to do. If you’re really done, then I won’t fight you anymore. I’ll help you get out. Whatever you want, Ed.”

Ed has absolutely no idea how to react to what Izzy’s just said. He never in a million years thought that Izzy would just accept that Ed was done. Not only accept it but support it. “It’s a fucking Christmas miracle,” Ed hears himself say. He winces and wishes he could take it back because Izzy can really fucking suck, but he is trying.

“Fuck you,” Izzy huffs.

“Shit, no, sorry. I just wasn’t expecting you to say that.”

Izzy nods. “Yeah, I bet you weren’t.”

“Look, I really do appreciate that this isn’t going to be a fight.”

“Do you have a plan for succession?”

“Yeah, I do. A couple, actually.”

“Dependant on what?”

“On whether you want the company or not.”

Izzy snorts. “And what was your first instinct, that I’d say yes or no?”

“No.”

Izzy glares at him. “It’s really fucking annoying how often you’re right.”

Ed snorts. “I know. You really don’t want it?”

“You already know I don’t.”

“I need to hear you say it, Iz. To be sure.”

“I don’t want it, Ed. I know I don’t have the skillset to run a company like that. Besides, I…” Izzy pauses, huffing at himself, probably about what he’s deciding whether or not to say next, Ed guesses. “I met someone.” He looks away again so he doesn’t have to see Ed’s reaction.

“Holy shit. It really is a Christmas miracle!”

“Oh, fuck off, ” Izzy repeats, but he’s smiling. Well, barely, but the corner of his mouth is turned up, and Ed will count that. “I know you met someone, too, and for the record, I’m happy for you. But I also don’t want to meet him while I’m here, okay? I just want to talk business and the succession plan and that’s it.”

“Well, too fucking bad because we were supposed to go to dinner tonight, so I’m going to call him and have him come here instead.”

“Ugh, Ed, no.”

“And you can meet him and the four of us can hang out and it will be weird for me because my Bennet Bay people will be colliding with my New York person, but I will handle it like an adult. And so will you.”

Izzy folds his arms over his chest. “Fine,” he grits out. “But I don’t have to like him. And business first.”

“Business first,” Ed agrees. “After I call Stede and tell my mom what’s going on.”

“His name is Stede ?!”

Ed and Izzy spend the next few hours before Stede comes over going through the plans Ed’s made to transfer the business to Fang and Ivan, the two VPs Ed thinks will work best as a team like he and Izzy had. Izzy agrees with him and offers a few insightful suggestions, and between the two of them they have a solid foundation to start moving forward once Izzy gets back to New York. 

“Let’s do a video conference between the four of us on Monday,” Ed suggests. It’s currently Saturday, so that will give Izzy time to drive home tomorrow without having to rush.

“Yeah, okay. Works for me.”

The doorbell rings. “That’s Stede. Be nice, okay?”

Izzy rolls his eyes. “No promises.”

Well, that will have to do. Ed takes a deep breath, makes a wish that everyone will get along tonight, and opens the door.

Chapter Text

Stede is holding a bunch of bags in each hand when Ed opens the door. “I brought food!” he chirps, kissing Ed on the cheek as he brushes past Ed and into the house. 

“Thanks, babe,” Ed says. Stede whips his head back, a smile blooming across his face. 

“Babe?” he checks, like maybe Ed said it by mistake.

“Yep, definitely. That okay?”

“Mm-hmm,” Stede nods, biting his lip. His eyes fall to Ed’s mouth, and that’s a good fucking idea, actually. Why aren’t they kissing? Ed leans in to do just that when his mom interrupts them with an exclaimed, “Is that Stede?” as she comes to the door.

“Mommmm,” Ed groans, but she waves him off with a “pssht” sound.

“Edward, help your man bring those bags into the kitchen already,” she instructs. Ed groans again, but Stede just laughs. Ed follows Stede toward the kitchen where Izzy is standing near the island, glowering at Stede already.

Great. They haven’t even been introduced and Izzy is already mad about something. Ed’s too in his own head to do anything about the way Stede glances from Ed to Izzy like he’s waiting for an introduction, so instead Stede digs into one of the bags he brought and pulls out a bottle of wine so he can hand it to Ed’s mom.

“For you, JB. Thank you for having us over,” he says.

“Oh, Stede, thank you. Oooh, my favorite! How did you know?”

“You mentioned how much you enjoyed it a few Knit Nights ago, so I thought I’d bring it tonight. I think it will pair well with the food.”

Izzy scoffs and rolls his eyes. 

“At least,” Stede continues, glancing between Ed and Izzy again, “Roach said it would pair well. I admit I don’t know much about that sort of thing.”

“Figures,” Izzy whispers under his breath.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Stede bites, rounding on Izzy. “I didn’t realize we had a wine expert joining us tonight.”

Fuuuuuuck, this is already off to a terrible start. Ed knows he should step in, probably should have the first time Izzy was a dick, but he can’t make his mouth move. Stede is his boyfriend, he should be sticking up for him and standing by him, not letting Izzy be an ass. But he’s known Izzy for more than 20 years. He’s Ed’s oldest friend, such as it is. It’s an awful, awkward worlds colliding situation, and he feels paralyzed.

“Stede,” Ed’s mom cuts in, throwing Ed a Look like he’s the one who should be doing this, “have you been introduced to Izzy yet? Izzy Hands, Ed’s business partner. Izzy, this is Stede Bonnet, Ed’s boyfriend.”

Stede plasters on a smile and holds out his hand for Izzy to shake, and he’s trying so hard for Ed, and Ed cannot get it together enough to do the same for him. Fuck. Fuck. No wonder no one’s ever loved him before. Now Stede will see how terrible he is at this and he will leave and won’t love him, either.

“Izzy, nice to meet you. Ed’s told me so much about you,” Stede continues, his hand reaching toward Izzy.

“Funny,” Izzy grits out, intentionally not taking Stede’s hand. “Ed never said a word about you.”

Stede’s hand drops to his side as his smile tightens, and Fuck. That. “Hey,” Ed finally manages to snap at Izzy. “That’s enough. Come on.” He strides over to Izzy and drags him out of the room by the bicep so he can do this in private.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Ed growls once he’s frogmarched Izzy across the house and closed the door to the study. “You’ve had it out for Stede since he walked in, and you don’t even know him.”

“I know enough,” Izzy growls back.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Fang told me his name,” Izzy bites, and shit, he did say something earlier about knowing Ed had met someone. Fuck, Ed didn’t realize he meant it literally and not just by how he was acting.

“And?”

“And I knew who he was right away. I recognized his last name. You don’t?”

Ed shrugs. “Bonnet isn’t the most common last name, but it’s not like no one else has it.”

“His father is Edward Bonnet.”

Edward Bonnet…that does ring a bell, but Ed can’t quite put his finger on why. Not that it matters. Stede hates his father. “So? Stede barely talks to his parents.”

“Edward Bonnet, owner of Centurion Finance.”

Fuck. Fuuuuuuuck. Edward Bonnet is the asshole Ed’s always in competition with. He’s the worst kind of Wall Street prick, and that’s saying something coming from a certified Wall Street prick like Ed. At least he’s a decent person underneath. Bonnet is just a horrible human being. No wonder Stede hates his father so much. 

“Wait. But Bonnet of Centurion Finance pronounces his last name with a silent ‘T’ like it’s French. Shit, I thought he was French.”

“No, he’s from Maine originally,” Izzy informs him.

“That pretentious motherfucker! Well, no wonder I didn’t associate Stede with him. I thought they had completely different last names.”

“They don’t. But now you can see why I think Stede is such —”

“You’d better not finish that sentence, Iz,” Ed says, coolly and calmly but he knows Izzy hears the threat behind his tone.

“Ed —”

“No. You came here with your assumptions and didn’t give Stede a chance. He’s not like his father. Not one bit. Stop being a dick. Especially when he hasn’t even done anything to you. And in my mother’s house, to boot.”

Izzy’s quiet as he searches Ed’s face, for what Ed isn’t sure because he is deadly serious about this. 

“Fine,” Izzy finally spits out, bumping Ed’s shoulder as he stalks back to the kitchen. Ed follows behind. Stede and his mom are laughing together as they unpack and plate the food Stede brought, and Ed can hear Izzy start to scoff before he cuts himself off and takes a deep breath instead.

“Stede,” Izzy starts, pausing for a bit as he tries to work out what to say. It’s like pulling teeth with him most of the time, fuck’s sake. Ed thought maybe with how he reacted earlier that Izzy truly had turned over a new leaf, but it seems like his progress has only gone so far. “Ed and I, we’re in competition with your father.”

“Ah,” Stede says, looking over at Ed with eyebrows raised. 

“Ed didn’t know,” Izzy says immediately, which makes Stede’s eyebrows shoot up even further. Ed is also confused. Is Izzy trying to make sure Stede doesn’t think badly of Ed? What is going on? “But I did, and I made some assumptions.”

“You thought I was an asshole like him,” Stede fills in.

“Yes.”

“And then you were a dick about it.”

“ Yes, ” Izzy grunts, and Ed thinks Izzy may have to see a dentist tomorrow, he’s grinding his teeth so hard.

“Well, despite the fact that you haven’t actually apologized, apology accepted,” Stede says. He looks over at Ed and gives a thumbs up, and he’s so adorable Ed might cry.

“And Mrs. Fletcher,” Izzy says, turning his attention to Ed’s mom, and oh, shit, Ed wasn’t expecting this part. “I apologize for being rude in your home.”

“See that it doesn’t happen again,” his mom says, her tone sharp. She’s not as easily forgiving as Stede, but she has more history with Izzy than he does, has heard Ed bitch about him enough that she probably doesn’t like him much, actually. Shit. Maybe having him stay for dinner was a mistake.

“Well,” Stede says, clapping his hands together lightly. “Shall we eat? Don’t want everything to go cold.”

“Yes, Stede, thank you,” Ed’s mom says.

They all grab plates and finish serving themselves the food Stede brought. There’s an amazing lasagna, a salad, and fresh bread. Ed’s stomach rumbles as he sits down.

“Where did you get Italian in town, Stede?” his mom asks as she pours glasses of the wine Stede brought and hands them around. “I didn’t think we had a place in Bennet Bay.”

“Roach made it,” Stede says brightly, and Ed loves how he’s always so happy to show off his friends or employees or both. “He had a new recipe he was dying to try, so when I asked if he could throw something together for tonight, he dropped everything and made us a pan.”

“It smells incredible, I can’t wait to try it,” his mom compliments.

“You have a chef named Roach?” Izzy asks, and oh, fuck, here we go again. 

“Not a private chef. He works for me at the cafe.”

“You own a cafe?” Izzy asks again, more incredulous and less antagonistic.

Ed shrugs when Stede looks over at him. Ed’s not sure where Izzy is going with this, but he thinks Stede can handle it. And he’s kind of curious to give Izzy a length of rope and see if he’ll use it to strangle himself or tie a lifeline.

“And a bookstore. It’s sort of both at once. I thought you said you knew who I was?” Stede says, and it’s a good fucking question. Ed’s curious about Izzy’s answer.

Izzy looks a little embarrassed to have been called out, but he swallows hard before he answers. “It is becoming apparent to me that I didn’t do enough research and due diligence.”

Stede furrows his eyebrows and just looks at Izzy for a moment. Then he shrugs. “Okay,” he says, and that’s that.

The rest of dinner is actually kind of nice. Izzy is very clearly making an effort to be kinder to Stede, and Stede is doing the same to Izzy. Stede doesn’t even have to try to be nice to his mom because Ed knows they were friends before he even met Ed. Izzy is being very cautious and polite to his mom, and she’s thawing a bit toward him, too. It’s strange having these two halves of his life combining this way, but it’s a good strange. One he could get used to. They even manage to share a laugh or two during dessert, and Ed thinks, cautiously, that this could really work.

And then his mom breaks out a puzzle, and everything goes to hell.

Izzy and Stede are five minutes into an argument about how to start putting the puzzle together before Ed realizes they’re not actually mad at each other and are enjoying the bickering. He looks over at his mom to confirm, and she’s sipping her glass of wine with the smuggest look on her face. It’s kind of awesome not being on the receiving end of her meddling because he can watch a genius at work without worrying about the consequences to his own life.

Though, he has to admit, the last time she meddled in his life it worked out pretty damn well.

“Are you unwell?” Stede says sharply enough that Ed tunes back in to his and Izzy’s argument. It’s a lot funnier now that he knows they aren’t actually angry at each other. “Because no one in their right mind starts a puzzle that way.”

“Well, excuse me, Mister Puzzle Rules,” Izzy snaps back.

“It’s not that there are rules , it's just that everyone knows you look through all the pieces and pull out and assemble the edge pieces first! That’s how it’s done!”

“No, everyone knows you sort all the pieces by color and then pull out the edge pieces from the individual colors and assemble them by color group first.”

“I have never once heard of anyone assembling a puzzle in that manner.”

“Not my fault all your friends put puzzles together wrong.”

Ed’s mom cackles at the way Stede sputters before she takes mercy on him. “Boys, play nice. It’s just a puzzle.”

“A puzzle he’s clearly wrong about,” Stede grumbles under his breath.

“Look —” His mom clears her throat to cover the fact that she was about to laugh at Stede’s surliness. “I’ll be the tie breaker because it’s my puzzle. Izzy, unfortunately, in this house we put together the edge pieces first.”

“ Thank you!” Stede says at the same time Izzy says “Heathens” just to annoy Stede.

Ed’s mom bites her lip to keep from laughing and takes another sip of wine. Ed watches Stede as he and Izzy dump out the puzzle pieces and get to work, trying to control himself because, as it turns out, seeing Stede’s bitchy side is a bit of a turn-on.

“Unfortunately,” Izzy says, stretching his back a bit as he stands up an hour later, “I should get going. I have a long drive tomorrow and I want to head out early, so I’m going to go to my hotel and get some sleep.”

“You staying over at the Lighthouse Inn?” Ed asks as he walks Izzy to the door.

“Yeah.”

Ed nods. It’s a decent hotel. Probably not as luxurious as Izzy’s used to these days, but he came from nothing like Ed did, so he’s slept in worse places. His phone pings in his pocket, and Ed watches him pull it out and smile before tapping out an answer.

“That your fella’?” Ed asks.

“Fella?” Izzy repeats. “What are you, 95 years old?”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“Oh, fuck off,” Izzy says with a roll of his eyes and the barest hint of a grin.

Ed laughs. “Bring him next time you visit.”

“I’ll introduce you when you’re in the city,” Izzy counters.

“Fair enough. Night, Iz.”

Izzy nods and heads out the door. Ed watches him walk across the porch, down the front walkway, and get into his car. He watches Izzy start the engine and put the address of his hotel into the GPS on his car’s display. He watches Izzy answer a call as he’s driving away, his face smoothing out as he talks to whoever’s on the line. Ed guesses it is the mystery man Izzy’s being so cagey about. Good for him. Let him have something just for himself for a while, especially if it’s making him happy enough to change.

His mom and Stede are tidying up the kitchen when Ed comes back into the room. “Oh, good,” his mom says, handing him a stack of plates from the table, “You can take over for me. I’m heading upstairs to my office to do a little work. My office that I soundproofed so I wouldn’t be distracted by anything else that happens to go on in the house at any time,” she says, pointedly.

Ed groans as Stede, doing dishes at the sink, just laughs, the traitor. His mom cackles and heads out of the room with a wave and a cheeky quirk of her eyebrows.

“I can’t imagine my mom ever telling me to go ahead and have sex because she wouldn’t hear it,” Stede says, scrubbing at the baked-on bits in the lasagna dish. “Then again, I can’t ever imagine my mom having sex.”

“Where’d you come from, then?” Ed asks, putting the pile of plates on the counter to the right of the sink so they’re not in Stede’s way as he scrubs. Stede’s wearing yellow rubber gloves and a white cotton apron of Ed’s mom’s that has the cover of his mom’s first book, “The Corpse Danced At Midnight,” printed on the front of it. Ed had it made for her as a birthday present the year it was published. The sight of Stede being so domestic is really working for Ed, fucking hell.

“Canada, probably,” Stede deadpans, and Ed laughs as he steps behind Stede so he can press their bodies together. Stede shivers.

“This okay?” Ed asks, gently resting his hands on Stede’s waist.

“Yeah, it’s — yeah. Just. Are you sure your mom can’t hear us?”

“Definitely. She had me test it earlier this week when I was worried I would bother her watching a movie down here while she was trying to work. You can’t hear anything up there. If you’re worried, I can turn some music on in the other room anyway, just for some added protection. And if you’re really not comfortable, we don’t have to —”

“No!” Stede interrupts. “No, believe me, I want to, but…the music, I think. Please.”

“Of course.” Ed kisses the back of Stede’s neck just below the curls of his hair. “Don’t move. Keep scrubbing.”

“ Jesus, ” Stede hisses, and the dish brush he was using tumbles into the sink with a clatter.

“Guess we’re both learning things about ourselves today,” Ed teases. He hears Stede call out behind him as he goes into the living room to turn on some music, “What did you learn about yourself?”

“I’ll tell you when I’m back in the kitchen.”

“Tease.”

“If you want,” Ed tosses back, chuckling when Stede curses colorfully from the kitchen. Ed’s not sure what music he wants to put on, so he scrolls through his phone. Nothing sounds good, so he opens Spotify and searches for a playlist. He’s been mooching off his mom’s Premium account while staying with her, thankfully, because he can’t think of anything worse than having an ad for some stupid car insurance start playing right as he’s about to make Stede come. He settles on an Indie Christmas playlist because fuck it, it’s almost Christmas. Might be kind of fun to develop a pavlovian response to “Santa, Baby” since he has to hear it 8 million times during December.

Stede is dutifully washing dishes again when Ed walks back into the kitchen, and he has to stop for a moment and compose himself so he doesn’t crumple to the floor, the wave of arousal that sweeps through him is so strong. “Fuck,” Ed grunts. “Look at you.”

“Like what you see?” Stede flirts, turning his head so he can bat his eyelashes at Ed.

“I really fucking do,” Ed tells him. “Eyes on your work,” he instructs, sliding behind Stede again so he can speak right into Stede’s ear. “What I learned about myself tonight is that seeing you this way, all domestic like this, is so fucking hot.”

“I-it is?”

“Yeah, Stede, it is.” Ed wraps his arms around Stede’s body, over his clothes but under the apron, one hand gripping at Stede’s waist while the other moves around Stede’s torso. “This isn’t something I’ve ever had before, this kind of gentle ease of being in each other’s space and doing chores or just existing together.” Stede’s breath hitches as Ed’s thumb brushes across his nipple. “I like it so much more than I ever expected.”

Ed is so fucking hard already, his body tense with the familiar throbbing ache of arousal, the strengthening urge to thrust against something or get his hands on a cock. And that is what he really wants to do, fuck, wants to get his hands on Stede’s cock with an intensity that shocks him. He feels like he might burst if he doesn’t feel Stede in the palm of his hand right fucking now.

“Can you tell how much I like it?” Ed asks, pressing the long line of his erection against Stede’s ass.

Stede inhales sharply, pushes his hips back, and whispers a breathy “Yes.”

“Fuck, Stede, can I touch you? Please, I need —”

“ Yes ,” Stede hisses, trying to turn around, but Ed holds him by the hips so he can press Stede into the counter and keep him in place. Stede gasps and relaxes in Ed’s grasp, letting his head fall back onto Ed’s shoulder. 

“Stay here, like this,” Ed instructs, frantically trying to open Stede’s jeans. “Just like this, Stede, don’t —” The stupid zipper’s stuck on something, Ed’s not sure waht, but he can’t see what he’s doing because of the fucking apron, so he steps back to untie it with a huff. Stede whines at the loss of contact, and goddamn, that is a good sound. That is a sexy fucking sound.

“Fuck, Stede, you make the prettiest noises.” Ed gets the apron untied and pulls it over Stede’s head. “Make more for me, come on. I want to hear you.”

Stede whimpers when Ed presses up behind him again and tries to help Ed undo his own jeans, but Ed isn’t having any of that.

“Nuh-uh,” he scolds. “Not with those dirty dishwater gloves you’re not.” Stede grunts and practically spasms against Ed, and Ed is so fucking hard in his jeans it’s starting to hurt. Ed finally, finally, gets Stede’s jeans open, and he pulls Stede’s cock out of his boxer briefs, and he’s hard too, so hard, hot and thick and wet at the tip, practically dripping for Ed already. It makes it easier for Ed’s hand to start sliding up and down the shaft of Stede’s cock, twisting when he reaches the head again to re-slick his hand. Easier but not enough, so Ed holds his hand up to Stede’s mouth and tells him to spit. Stede moans and does as he asks, and that’s better. That’s what Stede deserves, the smooth glide of Ed’s hand on his achingly lovely cock.

“You’re perfect,” Ed coos into Stede’s ear. “You’re everything I have ever wanted, everything I could ever possibly want. You feel so good in my hand, Stede, so fucking right. I just know you’re going to feel even better in my mouth or fucking into my ass.”

“Ed, fuck, fuck, oh ,” Stede moans, and he’s thrusting up into Ed’s hand now as he strokes. Ed can feel the clench of Stede’s ass as he flexes his muscles to push himself through Ed’s fingers, and Ed can’t stand not being able to see him for one second longer. He hooks his chin over Stede’s shoulder and looks down, and he’s never seen anything hotter in his life than the tip of Stede’s cock desperately grinding through the tight grip of Ed’s fingers.

“Stede, fuck, look at us. Look how good my hand looks on you, how incredible we look together. Fuck, has anyone ever looked this perfect before?”

Stede snaps. He bats Ed’s hand away, pulling his gloves off, flinging them halfway across the kitchen as he turns around and grips at Ed’s shirt so he can pull him into a furious kiss. He pushes Ed backwards until Ed hits the island, and he’s going to have a bruise on his back from hitting the edge of the countertop so hard, but he doesn’t care. He does not care one single, solitary bit because Stede is biting at his lips and pulling at his clothes, and he breaks the kiss to swear at the button fly on Ed’s jeans, and Ed is laughing and licking his own palm so he can get his hand back on Stede’s cock immediately. 

Stede hisses and thrusts up into Ed’s hand as he pulls Ed’s cock out from his underwear. He grabs Ed’s wrist and moves his hand away so he can line up their cocks together, and fucking hell, Stede has the best ideas. Stede thrusts again, and Ed pulses with arousal. He sends a prayer to the sex gods or whoever’s listening that he and Stede thought to discuss their negative test results before anything happened between them so they could do this bare because it feels intense and incredible. And then Stede reaches down so he can wrap Ed’s hand around both of them, and that’s better. That’s so fucking good, that’s lightning and sunsets and heat, heat, heat, and Stede is wrapping his hand around Ed’s, lining up their fingers so they slot together, and it’s so good, it’s too good, it’s —

“Not gonna last,” Stede pants into Ed’s mouth. “Ed, I —”

“Look at us,” Ed orders. “Fuck, Stede, look —”

Stede thrusts frantically as he looks down. His mouth falls open and his eyes slam shut as he comes, hard, onto Ed’s cock and his fist, streaks of white smearing along their shafts as Ed works Stede through it, and the hot clench of his hand as it spasms around Ed’s, the way his head falls back as he moans Ed’s name, is all it takes for Ed come tumbling after. 

They’re both panting hard in the aftermath, loud gulping breaths that echo in the empty kitchen as the tender notes of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” drift in from the living room. “Ed,” Stede breathes, shivering from overstimulation, so Ed slows his hand to a halt. They stare at each other with wide, glossy eyes, and then Stede pulls him in for a kiss that’s really only half a kiss, the other half breathing against each other’s lips as they try to catch their breath from the crushing orgasm. 

“Stay,” Ed whispers against Stede’s neck because he can’t fathom not having Stede near him tonight. “Can you stay?”

Stede groans. “Alma leaves tomorrow night.”

“Ah. Yeah, no, you should go home, then. Be with her. You’re her Dad, I understand.”

Stede groans again. “On the other hand, she’s a junior in college and has been teasing me about when I’m going to ‘seal the deal’ with you, as it were, so I’m sure she’d understand. I’ll text her.”

“In a minute.”

“Yes, fuck. In a minute.”

There’s a text from Alma waiting for him when Stede’s able to check his phone, hands washed and lips thoroughly kissed. She asked her dad if it was okay that she stays at her friend’s house tonight even though it’s her last night in town because she had a couple of drinks and doesn’t want to drive home, she’s sorry, dad are you there? Stede chuckles and calls her back. Ed hears Stede’s side of the conversation: “Sorry, I was busy with Ed. No, stop cheering, that's weird. Fuck, don’t tell your friends I just had sex. Oh, my god.” Stede’s laughing and rolling his eyes. “Of course it’s okay that you spend the night there. I would much rather you be safe than try to drive home just to see me. Thank you for being honest. Now go enjoy your night with your friends. I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

His phone buzzes a moment later, and he laughs at the text, holding it up for Ed to see. It’s a string of emojis from Alma, confetti and balloons and a bunch of eggplants.

It’s still kind of early, but they’re both wiped, from the dinner and from the orgasms. They finish cleaning up and get their clothes situated again, laughing and exchanging casual little touches that make Ed’s skin tingle. Ed folds his mom’s apron and puts it away, thankful that Stede pulled it off when he did so they didn’t have to try and launder it. Ed leads Stede up to his room by the hand, kissing him softly before he rummages through his dresser to find something for Stede to wear to sleep in.

He only has a small existential crisis about seeing Stede in his clothes, probably because he just came not fifteen minutes earlier. Would have been a much bigger — heh, bigger — crisis if he hadn’t. Stede hums softly as Ed searches for a spare toothbrush for Stede and pulls out all the skin-care products he has for him to pick through. He’s sweet like this, a little giggly even though his eyes are drooping, fighting to stay awake like he doesn’t want the day to end.

They climb into bed and exchange sleepy kisses, and Stede falls asleep between one kiss and the next. Ed shifts back a bit and nestles into his pillow. It always takes him a while to fall asleep — his brain needs time to unspool from the day — but it’s better tonight. Tonight, he can watch Stede’s nose twitch in his sleep, lit by the slice of moonlight streaming into his room where Ed forgot to pull the curtain closed. Tonight, he can listen to the sounds Stede makes, the rhythmic pattern of his breathing. Tonight, he can fall a little bit in love, and it soothes him.

Chapter Text

Ed is warm when he wakes, warmer than usual, and it takes him a moment to work out why. Stede is curled up next to him, one leg tangled between Ed’s, his mouth open as he snores lightly. They’re more like little huffs in his sleep than true snores, thankfully, so Ed finds it incredibly endearing instead of incredibly annoying. He can’t remember the last time he woke up like this, cuddled under a down comforter, protected from the chilly winter air of a drafty old house, sharing someone’s body heat just for the joy of it.

Ed spends a few minutes watching Stede before he decides that might be a little creepy instead of romantic. He’ll have to ask Stede’s thoughts on the subject when he wakes up. So he closes his eyes and listens to Stede’s sleepy snuffles, twists around so he’s closer to Stede and can smell the scent of his body, and lets the weight of Stede’s leg on his pull him back under.

He’s not sure what time it is when he wakes again, but Stede’s up this time, smiling down at Ed. He’s laying on his side, his head resting on a propped-up arm. His hair is flat in some places and sticking out in others, stubble with more gray than Ed expected peppered across his chin and jaw, that one maddening dimple on display. 

He looks happy. He looks so fucking happy. 

Ed’s belly goes all squirmy when he remembers Stede looks that happy because of him.

“Oh, good, you’re awake,” Stede says, right before he jams his freezing-cold toes against Ed’s shins, laughing maniacally when Ed shrieks. 

~~

“Good morning, Stede,” Ed’s mom smirks when they finally make their way downstairs.

“Good morning, JB,” Stede echoes, sticking his tongue out at her to make her laugh. She cackles and asks if they want pancakes, and fuck yeah. Pancakes.

Breakfast is so nice. A little weird, Ed won’t lie, but he never thought he would have anything like this in his life, anything this soft and gentle and easy. Because it is easy with Stede. Not that he doesn’t know relationships take work and that they will inevitably fight and that they both have insecurities that will rear their ugly heads. But he has no doubt that even those problems will feel solvable instead of overwhelming with Stede by his side.

Stede heads out after breakfast but not before inviting Ed and his mom to come spend the afternoon with his family at the local sledding hill. 

“God, I would love to, but I’m meeting a dear friend for lunch and some shopping, so I can’t,” Ed’s mom says.

“Who?” Ed asks.

“Amos Tupper,” she tells him.

“Who?!”

“Amos Tupper. He was the sheriff before Mort Metzger took over the job.”

“Never heard of him.”

“Ed, we were friends for years. I’m sure I mentioned him.”

“I’m starting to think you have a whole cadre of ‘dear friends’ no one has ever heard of before, mom.”

“Edward!” his mom scolds, and her tone makes Stede laugh so hard he spits out his coffee.

~~

“So, Stede stayed the night,” his mom presses after Stede heads home.

“Mm-hmm, he did.”

“Good for you. How are you feeling about things with him?”

“Really good, mom. I can easily see myself falling in love with him.”

“Oh, Ed,” she says softly, pulling him in for a hug. “What are you going to do when you go back to the city? Have the two of you talked about it?”

Ed takes a deep breath. He’s been thinking about this topic and making plans to leave the city, but saying it out loud like this to his mom with such certainty is still terrifying. “I’m not going back. Not to live, at least. I’ll probably have to make some trips to get things settled with Blackbeard’s, but mom. I want to move to Bennet Bay.”

His mom tears up but shakes her head when he tries to ask what’s wrong. She spins her hand in the universal “please, continue” gesture, so he does. “I feel so much better here, happier and more like myself. I know it’s a privilege to be able to afford to hand over my business and retire and start over, but I want to do that. I want to have a life I can live instead of just existing.”

“Oh, Ed. I want that for you, too. So much.”

“I know you do. I’ll get my own place, too, don’t worry. I won’t mooch off you forever.”

“Oh, hush. It’s been lovely having you here. Maybe not the part about how you and Stede defiled my kitchen last night —”

Ed picked the wrong time to take a sip of coffee.

“ —but I’ve enjoyed your company tremendously otherwise.” She reaches out to pat Ed on the back until he stops coughing.

“I think maybe we should talk about what brought you here in the first place,” his mom says when Ed can breathe again, “with your cat and a half-packed duffle bag.”

Ed sighs. He knows he owes her an explanation, but the Ed who fled New York feels so far away now. He doesn’t want to look back. “I guess I just felt like I was treading water, waiting to drown. I didn’t like who I had become, the part I had been playing to become the best, to become Blackbeard. It wasn’t just the company name. It was this whole persona. And at first it was thrilling to be this badass corporate banking god, to pull one over on all the rich white assholes who thought they were better than me. But it wasn’t even challenging by the end. People just gave me whatever I wanted when they heard I was in the market. I got tired of it, but I felt trapped by my own creation. I didn’t think I could get out.”

His mom hums in sympathy.

“We had just closed this deal we’d all been working on for weeks and weeks, and I don’t know, mom, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I felt like I had to go, like if I didn’t I really would drown this time. And if I spent any time stopping to think or even to fully pack, I would have talked myself out of leaving. So I just left.”

His mom gets up and comes around the table so she can give him a crushing hug. “I’m so glad you did, Ed. It was really brave of you.”

Ed leans into the hug. “I’m glad I did, too. Really fucking glad.”

~~

Izzy calls as Ed’s walking out the door to meet Stede and his family at the local sledding hill. “Sorry, Iz, can this wait? I’m heading over to Stede’s.”

“Unfortunately, it cannot,” Izzy rasps.

“Fuck, okay. What’s up?”

“There’s been chatter that Ricky Banes is putting together a takeover bid.”

Fuck, Ed hates that guy. He’s the C.E.O. of Prince Corp., thinks he’s god’s gift to finance. Really he’s just an asshole who was handed $10 million of daddy’s money and thinks he’s special for turning it into $11 million. “Okay, what’s his target?”

“Us.”

Shit. Fuck. That’s not good news. Just like Banes to do this right before the holidays, too. “Okay, how close is he?”

“We think a couple weeks out, as far as we can tell.”

“Okay. Thanks for letting me know. Keep me informed, would you?”

“You’re not coming back?”

“What for? Couple weeks out, Iz. Anything could happen between now and then. You don’t need me there yet. I’ll start putting out feelers from here, see if I can dredge up any information.”

“Fine,” Izzy sighs, but Ed can tell he’s not actually upset. He sounds tired, if anything. 

“Good work, Izzy. Tell your fella I said hello.”

Izzy’s heavy sigh makes Ed chuckle as he hangs up the phone. Fucking Banes. Ed hopes whatever he’s planning falls apart on him, but he’s not going to leave it to chance. Shit, he’s going to have to take care of this now before he meets Stede and his family. Double shit. He hits Stede’s name in his favorites list and gives him a call.

“Oh, Ed, I was just about to call you,” Stede says when he picks up. He sounds breathless and harried.

“Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah, just — Louis and Mary are running late, so we won’t be at the sledding hill for another hour or two.”

“That’s perfect, actually. I just got a call from Izzy. There’s a few things I have to take care of with work before I can meet you anyway.”

“Oh, I see. Well, I hope everything works out okay for you,” Stede says tightly. He sounds tense, like he always gets when Ed talks about New York. Ed’s not going to push it, though. It’s a sore subject for Stede, and Ed can reassure Stede until he’s blue in the face that he’s not going back there, but it’s going to take action for Stede to truly let himself believe that.

“Thanks, babe, I’m sure it will be fine. Text me when you guys are on the way to the hill and I’ll meet you there, okay?”

“Sounds good. See you there.”

Stede texts him an hour and a half later that they’re just about to leave the house, so Ed finishes up his final email and gears up. He’s excited to meet Stede’s son and his ex, and isn’t that an interesting feeling, that he’s so ready to get to know Stede’s family. It should feel like a big step, and it does when Ed stops to think about it, but he already knows Stede’s daughter and his father. Stede already knows Ed’s mom. It probably would be weirder if he didn’t meet the rest of Stede’s family. Whatever, he’s not going to overthink this or he’ll get all anxious. He hasn’t gone sledding in years, and that’s going to be fun. Focus on that.

According to Stede, Louis is 16 and in high school, and he just finished his last day yesterday and is currently on winter break. He and his mother, Mary, are driving down to spend the day with Stede and pick up Alma as they continue down to Rhode Island to spend the holidays with Mary’s family, who are “also kind of pricks but are at least trying to do better, so they still get to see their daughter and grandchildren.”

The sledding hill isn’t too crowded when he arrives, to Ed’s relief — he wasn’t looking forward to accidentally barreling over some kindergartner if the place was packed — and it’s easy to pick out Stede and his family. They’re laughing and ribbing each other and being generally fun and loud, for one thing. For another, Stede’s snow parka is truly a lurid shade of orange. Ed’s not even sure where Stede found the thing.

“Ed!” Stede says excitedly when he finishes climbing back up the hill and sees Ed waiting at the top. He gives Ed a kiss, his lips cool and dry. “Kids, come say hello to Ed!” Stede calls down the hill. Ed’s not sure if they hear him, but he doesn’t mind cuddling up next to Stede until they make their way back up the hill, too.

Introductions are made, and Ed gets handed an innertube. Louis pats him on the back and says, as only an overconfident teenager can, “Good luck staying on that, old man.”

Oh, it is so fucking on.

Ed and Louis spend the next half hour trying to knock each other off their innertubes as they slide and spin down the hill. Louis almost takes out a group of Tweens standing around texting each other on their phones. Ed almost crashes into three trees. Stede looks torn between cheering on his boyfriend and his son and generally stands there in a state of decision paralysis. Alma and Mary throw snowballs at both Louis and Ed to try and knock them off balance, their allegiances changing like a shifting wind.

Ed hasn’t had this much fun in years.

The game finally ends when Ed negotiates a truce with Louis so the two of them can gang up on Stede together by trundling him onto an innertube as they hold onto a handle each, pulling Stede down the hill between them as he shrieks and squeals with laughter. “You’re all right, Ed,” Louis says when they reach the bottom of the hill, and Ed rides that high for the rest of the day.

“You’re good for him” Mary says an hour later as she and Ed watch Stede, Alma, and Louis build two snow forts for a snowball fight.

“He’s good for me,” Ed counters. 

Mary nods. “You’re good for each other. I was worried about him for a couple years after the divorce, but he’s really found his feet up in Bennet Bay. He settled in there so well, and he’s worked really hard on himself, has worked even harder to rebuild his relationship with his kids. I’m proud of him. But I’ve never seen him so happy, so loose and free. I didn’t even know he had it in him. You’ve helped bring that out.”

Peals of laughter ring out as Alma and Louis join together and tackle their father into the snow, rubbing handfuls in his face and down into the neck of his jacket. Fucking brutal sneak attack. Stede is shouting at them as he laughs, calling them “Traitorous spawn! You get that from your mother’s side of the family!” He breaks free from their grasp and runs over to where Ed and Mary are, using them as human shields. “Base! I’m safe!” he shouts, and the kids grumble but back off, heading back to the forts to put the finishing touches on them before starting to make snowballs.

“Fuck, they really got me good,” Stede laments, shaking out the hood of his parka. “Ed, can you help me, please?”

Ed kisses the tip of his nose, long since gone red from the cold, and starts brushing snow out of Stede’s hood. Once the snow is gone, he wraps his scarf around Stede’s neck to help keep him warm. “One of these days you’re going to wear your own scarf and will stop having to steal mine.”

“But then how would you come to my rescue?” Stede says, batting his eyelashes exaggeratedly. Mary gags, so Stede gives her the finger before realizing there are small children around, squeaking as he tucks his whole hand under his arm like that will make any kid who saw the gesture forget what it was.

He is so fucking cute, Ed can hardly stand it.

The snowball fight is epic. Ed nails Louis in the face on accident, but Louis laughs it off and seems to respect Ed more because of it. Alma has incredible aim. Stede has terrible aim, but he’s strong and surprisingly fast as he runs through the snow, so it’s hard to hit him with a snowball. Mary is like a ninja and keeps popping up where Ed least expects her. They play in the snow until the sun sets and it’s too hard to see, the hill abandoned to the oncoming gloam.

There’s soup and hot cocoa back at Stede’s place, conversation and laughter, too. Maybe it was a little soon to meet the whole family, but it was absolutely the right decision. It’s one of the best days Ed’s had in recent memory. His knee might not be too happy tomorrow, but that’s tomorrow Ed’s problem. Today he is going to enjoy himself with Stede and his family.

“Whoa, Dad, did you get a new tree topper?” Louis asks as he sees the decorated Christmas tree in the family room, where they’ve gathered to open the presents Stede got for his kids, a little early Christmas since they won’t be together for it this year.

“Louis, oh, my god, you can’t just ask if Dad got a new top. Also, his name is Ed,” Alma deadpans. Mary chokes on her wine.

“Alma!” Stede scolds, sending an apologetic look toward Ed, who is fighting for his life not to laugh, both at Alma’s quip and at Stede’s mortified face.

“One,” Louis counters, “I said tree topper not top. Two, Dad’s gay now, and that means I can ask him all sorts of personal questions. That’s how it works.”

Stede folds his arms across his chest. “That is not ‘how it works.’ You shouldn’t be asking anyone about their sex lives since it is none of your business.”

“What if it doesn’t want to be a tree topper?” Ed chimes in. “What if it wants to be a tree bottomer, but it looks like a tree topper so everyone just assumed and no one ever thought to ask its opinion on the subject?”

“Tree bottomer,” Mary wheezes, taking another sip of wine.

Louis tilts his head as he assesses Ed and thinks about his questions. “...Gay,” Louis finally pronounces.

“Yeah, duh,” Ed says.

“Huh,” Alma adds as she looks at her father.

“What? No,” Stede says, his voice pitching higher as he continues. “No ‘huhs.’ And stop looking at me like that!”

“I’m not looking at you like anything.”

“Yes, you are. You’re looking at me all…calculating, like you’re reconsidering some core beliefs.”

“Oh, shit, then yeah, I am definitely looking at you like that.”

“Oh, my god,” Stede laments.

Louis holds his fist out for Ed to bump. “Nice.”

Ed completes the fist bump. “It will be.”

“Edward!” Stede shrieks, to everyone else’s delight.

~~

All too soon it’s time for Mary and the kids to head out. Stede helps Alma do a last walk-through of the house to make sure she didn’t leave anything behind. There are hugs and tears and a few more teenage jokes about Stede and Ed boning which make Stede flush so red Ed’s worried his skin might stay that way. Ed tries to stay out of the way, but Alma and Louis each give him a hug and make him promise to spend Christmas with their father so he won’t be alone. Ed does, because he wants to and because it’s sweet that they’re looking out for their dad. 

And then they’re gone, and the house is empty and quiet. And empty.

“I’m sorry about my kids,” Stede says once Mary’s car is fully out of sight and he’s come back to the living room to sit next to Ed on the couch. “They mean well, but they need to learn that some jokes are not appropriate.”

“Awh, I don’t mind. I think it’s sweet and fun that they’re confident enough in you that they can tease you like that. It clearly comes from a place of love. They’d never do it if they thought you would actually be upset by it or if they knew you would get mad at them. Like I cannot fathom saying anything like that to my dad. His reaction…”

“Yeah,” Stede agrees. “I know what you mean.”

“It’s sexy watching you be a good dad.”

“Ohh,” Stede raises his eyebrows. “Sexy, you say?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You know,” Stede says, his voice pitching low and sultry as he walks his fingers up Ed’s thigh. “There’s no one else here but us.”

Ed inhales sharply as Stede’s fingers make their way higher and higher. “I was actually just thinking that. And did you know I brought an overnight bag?”

“Presumptuous. I like it.”

“Just in case. It’s in my car.”

“Better go get it, then.” 

Ed hops off the couch and rushes to the front door, pulling on his shoes as he digs his car keys out of his pocket. 

“And Ed?” Stede calls out, his voice firm and authoritative.

“Yeah?”

“Hurry up.” 

Ed shivers and does as he’s told.

Chapter Text

Ed practically sprints to his car, grabs his bag from the back seat, and rushes back toward the house with a swing in his step. He curses when he reaches the door and realizes he didn’t lock his car, fumbling with the key fob as he tries to pull it out of his pocket and hitting the button three times in quick succession. Bro, he says to himself, try to act like you’ve been here before. 

Stede isn’t in immediate sight when Ed steps back inside, so he calls out to see where he’s gone. “In here!” Stede replies from the direction of the kitchen, so Ed heads that way to see what Stede is up to, setting his bag down by the foot of the stairs as he passes. Stede turns around when he hears Ed approach, holding out a plate filled with those little clementine slices that Ed secretly thinks are really cute, a bunch of grapes, nuts, little cubes of cheese, and some homemade Christmas cookies, M&M chocolate chip ones with the red and green holiday candies so they look extra festive.

“Ta da!” Stede says, showing off his plate of snacks for toddlers or two grown-ass men after they fuck, and Ed feels like his knees might buckle he likes Stede so much.

“Huh,” Stede says as Ed steps close and carefully takes the plate from Stede’s hands so he can set it on the counter before leaning in to kiss and nibble at Stede’s neck. He smells so fucking good here, like the fancy soaps and lotions he uses mixed with the scent of his skin.

“Huh what?” Ed asks, and his beard must tickle because Stede giggles.

“You really do have a domesticity thing, don’t you?”

“Mm, I think maybe I do,” Ed rumbles, pulling the neck of Stede’s shirt out of the way so he can drag his teeth along the tendon near Stede’s shoulder. “Or maybe I just have a you thing.” 

Stede shudders and steps away from Ed, wagging his finger between them as he says, “We are not doing this in the kitchen again before we do it in a bed. Besides, the lube is upstairs.”

Ed pouts. He backs Stede against the counter and starts to nose at the bolt of his jaw. Stede’s hand flies up to tangle in Ed’s hair, his voice rougher when he continues. “I’m sure we can test that little theory, you know.”

“The domestic thing?”

“Mm-hmm. We just have to think up boring things adults do together and see if they make you horny or — nn, fuck, right there,” he groans when Ed starts running his teeth against the skin of Stede’s neck. “Just — hold that thought.” He reaches over and grabs the plate from the counter in one hand, pushing Ed back again with the other so he can start walking toward the stairs. He looks back over his shoulder with a quirked eyebrow as if to say, why aren’t you following me?

Why the fuck isn’t he? Stede holds out his hand when Ed catches up to him, so Ed takes it and threads their fingers together.

Ed grabs his bag from the floor before they head up the stairs. “Okay,” Stede starts, “boring adult things. Oh, I’ve got it,” and for some strange reason, he pitches his voice lower and puts on a purposefully bad, exaggerated English accent when he says “Taxes,” stretching the word to at least four syllables. “Picking out hardwood flooring.”

Ed giggles. What an absolute goofball. “Buying storage furniture,” Ed adds, and now it’s Stede’s turn to bark out a laugh.

“Car maintenance.”

“Mortgages.”

“Folding laundry.”

“Comparing how you take your coffee.”

“Spending three weeks deciding whether or not you need a new mattress.”

They reach Stede’s bed just in time for Ed to crumple onto the mattress with laughter, aroused and amused in equal parts. Fuck, when’s the last time sex was this fun? Maybe never. Stede giggles and sets the plate down on his nightstand, and now that his hands are empty, Ed takes the opportunity to pull him onto the mattress.

“Kissing your boyfriend senseless after he helps run a scientific experiment about this new thing you’re trying to discover about yourself, and he makes you laugh while turning you on, but the experiment is a wash because you still can’t tell if it’s a kink or you just really fucking like everything about him,” Ed says, running the back of his knuckles down Stede’s cheek.

“That’s an incredibly specific one, Ed, but I think I can work with —” Ed interrupts him by kissing him deeply, swallowing down the little gasping whine Stede makes when he opens his mouth to brush their tongues together. Ed wraps his arms around Stede’s waist and rolls onto his back, using the momentum to pull Stede on top of him so they can kiss some more, loving the way Stede’s broad chest presses him down into the mattress. He opens his legs so Stede can settle more comfortably between them, moaning when he feels the hard line of Stede’s cock grind against his own.

“You like it, too,” Ed says, rolling his hips just to see what sounds Stede might make. Gorgeous little gasping sighs, it turns out.

“I like seeing how much you like it. It’s not not doing it for me, though, imagining doing those things together, building a life with you.” He pushes up on an elbow so he can gaze softly down at Ed when he says, “Ed. Of course that does it for me. You do it for me.”

Ed hears himself make a noise like he’s been gut-stabbed, because that’s so much. That’s just — it’s perfect, it’s everything Ed has ever wanted and never let himself believe he could have, and he wants it with Stede with such sharp ferocity that it scares him. Stede doesn’t scare him, though. Stede makes him feel safe and cherished. Stede makes him feel seen. He wishes he could tell Stede that, but the words evaporate before they ever leave his throat. Even so, he doesn’t feel worried. They have time. He’ll be able to tell Stede one day.

Today, though, right now, he settles for making Stede laugh. “Do it to me.”

Stede snorts and collapses back down onto Ed’s chest. Victory.

“That was a horrible line.”

“Yes,” Ed confirms.

“You’re so clever, I know you can do better than that.”

That sends fissures of pleasure dancing up Ed’s spine. He grips Stede’s hips and pulls him down against Ed’s pelvis. “Worked anyway. I can feel how hard you are for me.”

“I think you could read the phone book to me and it would get me hard,” Stede admits.

“Phone book? Who has a phone book anymore?” Ed teases.

“The dictionary, then.”

“Ooh, yeah, that dirty dictionary talk.”

Stede giggles and leans down so he can whisper into Ed’s ear, bad English accent back in play. “Fixing a leaky faucet.”

“You fucking lunatic,” Ed cackles, kissing Stede until they’re both breathless. Ed runs his fingers through Stede’s hair, soft and golden like wild barley at the harvest. “I like it.”

Stede gazes at him fondly. “So, just out of curiosity and for no other reason, did you mean the whole ‘tree bottomer’ thing as an obvious metaphor for yourself or were you just teaching my kids a good lesson in making assumptions?”

“‘For no other reason,’ he says. Stede Bonnet,” Ed teases, batting his eyes to amplify the effect, “do you want to fuck me?”

Ed watches as Stede’s pupils blow wide. “I mean…if that is on the table.”

“It very much is, yes. I happen to like it both ways. Like it a lot of ways.”

“Me too.”

“Nice. Love that for us. But yeah, tonight I definitely want you inside me.” Stede groans and shudders above him, hips twitching like he can’t help himself. “You want that?”

“Mm-hmm,” Stede nods, his lips pressed tightly together. “I very much want that.”

“Good.”

Stede kisses Ed again, like he might actually waste away if their lips aren’t pressed together that instant. “Do you need to use the bathroom first or anything?”

God, that’s sweet. Ed stops clutching at Stede’s ribcage to take a moment and assess. “Yeah, maybe to pee.”

Stede snorts, and the English accent is back when he says, “Leave the door open and it will be like we’re an old married couple.” 

Ed groans at the door open part — way too soon — but the idea of being an old married couple with Stede makes him feel all tender. He runs his hand down Stede’s back to feel his muscles shift under his shirt. “Here, budge up.”

Stede pushes himself up and off of Ed with adorable eagerness. “Hurry back.” Ed brushes his thumb down Stede’s cheek before scotting off the bed and heading off to the en suite. It’s nice in there, because of course it is. Stede’s house is nice everywhere. Ed goes to the bathroom and washes his hands thoroughly, splashes some cool water on his face, tugs his scrunchie out of his hair before deciding to put it back up again. He takes a few deep breaths to try and calm the nervous fluttering that’s rising in his chest. He’s not even sure why he’s nervous other than he really wants this to go well so that Stede will like him and want to keep him. Right. Yeah, other than that. It’s Stede. And yeah, Stede is everything, but he’s just Stede. He adores Ed, and Ed knows it. He rolls his eyes at himself and heads back into the room.

Stede is naked and leaning up against the headboard, a stack of pillows supporting him. He’s stroking his cock lazily, is a bit in his head and doesn’t notice Ed at first, so Ed just leans against the bathroom door and looks at him: his broad chest with its smattering of strawberry blonde hair, the way his tummy folds so cutely, the freckles dotting his shoulders and strong arms, the fucking legs Ed wants to feel wrapped around his waist or even his shoulders. And then Stede sees him and gives him the softest, sweetest smile, and that’s it, his nerves are demolished, atomized, strewn across the universe never to converge again.

Ed is pulling off his shirt and trying not to trip as he flings his socks to the far corners of the room, his pants following, and Stede is giggling a little but still stroking his cock, and then Ed is naked and climbing onto his lap and Stede is gripping onto his hips, thumbs tracing the bones there, shuddering sweetly beneath him. Ed cups Stede’s face and runs his thumbs across Stede’s cheeks. His eyelids flutter shut and then back open, and he looks at Ed like he might die if he misses a single moment.

“Are you okay?” Ed checks.

“Mm-hmm, yeah. A little nervous,” Stede admits. “I feel kind of silly about it.”

“I was nervous, too.”

“Oh, thank god. Wait, ‘was’?”

“Yeah. But the way you looked at me just now…I dunno. Just hit me that I’m in good hands with you, safe hands.”

“Ed,” Stede whispers, a little awed.

Ed kisses the tip of his nose, shifting his weight in Stede’s lap to find a more comfortable position. “I think it’s okay to be nervous about something that’s important to you.” He feels Stede’s hands flex against his hips.

“I just want this to be good for you.”

That’s part of it, Ed realizes, but not all of it. There’s something more Stede isn’t saying, but now isn’t the time to talk about it, so Ed doesn’t press. Whatever it is, it will keep. Stede will tell him when he’s ready.

“It will be,” Ed says easily, “Because it’s us. ” Stede makes a devastated noise in the back of his throat and surges up to kiss Ed. “And if it isn’t,” Ed continues, “we’ll talk about it and oh, no, keep practicing until it’s the best sex of our lives.”

Stede’s chuckle is pure relief. He grips Ed’s thighs and tugs until Ed gets the hint and shuffles closer. “That would be a travesty.”

“Just an outright tragedy,” Ed says, shifting his hips so he can grind his cock against Stede’s thigh. 

Stede pats around the bed for something, pressing a bottle of lube into Ed’s hand once he finds it. “The Hindenburg and Titanic would have nothing on us.” Stede looks down hungrily at Ed slowly grinding his cock against Stede’s thigh, precome glistening against the thin, sparse hairs on Stede’s upper leg. 

Ed’s cock twitches as he takes the lube and slicks up two of his fingers. “I can see the headlines now: Ed and Stede have to practice their fucking a whole bunch, oh, the huge manatee!” He reaches behind himself, enjoying the way Stede inhales sharply.

“Huge manatee,” Stede says, a little breathless, but he maintains eye contact as he slides a hand over the curve of Ed’s ass cheek and grabs hold, pulling it gently so Ed has better access to his hole.

“Fuuuuck,” Ed groans, his cock twitching up toward his belly. That is so fucking hot, Stede holding him open a little like that, and maybe it should make him feel vulnerable but he just feels cared for and cherished, tended to. Safe. Fuck, he feel so safe with Stede, and they’ve barely even started. “Fuck, Stede, you —”

“Just like that,” Stede encourages, his fingers flexing and digging into Ed’s flesh deliciously. “I want to watch your face as you open yourself up for me.”

Ed moans and presses a finger to his hole, circling it around his rim a little to spread the lube and tease himself because it feels good, and because Stede wants him to make himself feel good. It’s heady, being looked at with such tender desire. “Fuck, Stede, you can’t just say things like that when we’re in the middle of bantering.”

“I can say anything I fucking want, I think you’ll find,” Stede says, voice rough and steely. It makes Ed moan. “Now stop teasing and finger yourself open before I fly apart at the seams.”

Christ, Ed isn’t sure how Stede knew exactly what he was doing, but he doesn’t fucking care. He does what Stede asks and slides a finger into himself, surprised by how intense it already feels. He wasn’t expecting that, wasn’t ready for the way he’s barely started and he’s already absolutely burning with desire, aching with the need to be filled. Usually it takes longer for Ed to get there, and he can’t believe it feels this good already. Stede has barely even touched him for fuck’s sake.

“Fuck, Edward, your face,” Stede hisses, and the hand that’s not kneading Ed’s ass cheek starts wandering up and down his torse, tracing the path of tattoos and pausing at scars. Ed opens his eyes — when the fuck had he closed them? — to see Stede looking up at him with awe and wonder. 

A surge of desire makes his whole pelvis throb. “Fuck,” Ed grunts, is all he’s able to manage, because he’s suddenly desperate. He needs more, right now, right fucking now, so he sticks another finger in his ass and starts working himself open in earnest.

“You’re so beautiful,” Stede whispers, and Ed feels his eyes go wide before he has to slam them shut. That’s so much, that’s too much, Ed can’t — no one’s ever told him he was beautiful before. Hot, yeah, and he’s not stupid, he knows what he looks like. But beautiful…Fucking hell. “You are, ” Stede insists. “I look at you and can’t believe you’re real. It feels like a dream that I get to see you like this, that you want me, of all the —”

“I want you so fucking bad, Stede, you have no idea.”

“Tell me,” Stede instructs, needily, and Ed will do anything, anything, to make him believe.

“I think about you all the time,” Ed says as Stede groans, “I wake up and it’s you, I get dressed and it’s you: what you’re doing, how you’re feeling, if you hate being apart as much as I do.”

“ Ed .”

“It feels so good to be near you, but it’s not enough, it’s never enough. I want you closer, closer, always, fuck, Stede, ” the hand on Ed’s ass is twitching and creeping toward Ed’s hole, and they both groan as Stede traces a fingertip along Ed’s fingers where he’s stretching himself open. “Inside,” Ed hisses, “Stede, I need you inside.” 

Stede kisses him, all heat and tongue and aching desperation. He’s lubing up his cock, and Ed wants to feel it so bad. He pulls out his fingers with a hiss, and Stede soothes him as he presses the tip of his cock to Ed’s hole. Ed desperately wants to grind down, but Stede grabs his hips and makes sure Ed can’t go too fast.

“That was quick, Ed, and I don’t want to hurt you,” Stede grits out, practically vibrating with the effort it’s taking not to push into Ed’s body.

“You won’t. I’m good, I’m ready, I promise. Besides, I like to feel it a little.”

“Fuck, okay, god,” Stede grunts and finally lets Ed sink down. Ed moans as Stede’s cock pushes past his rim, and then Stede’s sliding inside. He’s being so careful and lovely, making these tiny little thrusts to give Ed time to adjust because Stede’s just past the bigger end of average and he’s worried anything more would be overwhelming. 

It wouldn’t be, not for Ed, but he lets Stede take a moment anyway because it feels good. It feels really fucking good, this slow build, the inevitable press of Stede’s cock into Ed’s body, opening him up so deliciously. 

Then his cock slides over Ed’s prostate, and that’s it, that’s enough waiting, Ed wants more and he wants it now. He shifts his weight and works his hips down until he’s fully seated on Stede’s cock and can start rocking his hips back and forth to feel the stretch, the hard heat of him, the way Stede’s fingers flex and grip his flesh. Stede hisses out a string of curse words and sits up straighter so he can wrap his arms around Ed’s waist, tipping him back slightly before he kisses him.

Fuck, he feels so goddamn good. This new angle is incredible, and he feels so full. Stede’s cock is perfect for him, just big enough but not too big, a bit of a stretch like Ed wanted. Stede is making the sweetest sounds, little grunts that sound punched out of him, as Ed starts moving his hips in earnest, trying to find the perfect angle for Stede’s cock to hit his prostate and make him see stars. 

Stede is holding him close, breathing against Ed’s mouth as he tells Ed he feels so good, so hot and tight, nothing’s ever felt so good before. “I can’t believe I was nervous, we’re like sex gods already,” and a surprised little laugh bursts from Ed’s lungs. That’s so fucking sweet and funny, and then Stede tilts his hips a little, and it makes his cock press right into Ed’s prostate again. He jerks on Stede’s lap and moans. 

“Yeah, fuck, right there, don’t fucking stop,” Ed groans, and his cock is leaking and dragging between their bellies, catching on Stede’s hair, and it’s all so intense and fun and tender. Ed never knew he could feel like this. He can feel his orgasm building already, and he can’t believe he’s so close this soon. 

Stede keeps talking, telling Ed the most glorious things about how he’s so wet, how beautiful he looks bouncing on Stede’s cock. It makes Ed moan and move faster as he chases his orgasm, burning thighs and sore knee be damned.

“That’s it, take what you want,” Stede praises. “Make yourself come, Ed, I want to see you.”

Ed makes a noise from deep in his belly, a reedy, punched-out sort of sound he didn’t know he was capable of making. It’s intensely erotic. 

“I love the way you sound,” Stede groans. “I love — I —”

“Stede, fuck, fuck, I’m so close, I’m so —”

Stede growls and reaches down between them to wrap a hand around Ed’s cock, a little slick still from when he lubed himself up, just the right amount of friction to have Ed gasping and thrusting up into Stede’s hand before coming over Stede’s fist after a few quick strokes. It feels electric, pleasure pinging through his pelvis and up his spine, and Ed slumps forward and moans into Stede’s neck as he works Ed through it. Stede curses as his hips speed up, his thrusts becoming ragged as he chases his own orgasm.

“Do it,” Ed gasps, clutching at any part of Stede he can reach. “I want to feel you come inside me.” Stede tenses up and groans, gasping against Ed’s neck as he comes.

Chapter Text

Ed’s ears are ringing. His skin feels tingly, his nerves alight. Stede is heavy on top of him, grounding, panting as he fights to catch his breath. When he’s able to look at Ed, his eyes are wide and full of wonder. Tears start pooling in the corners, so Ed reaches up to brush his knuckles gently across the smooth thin skin near Stede’s eye. Stede shakes his head, so Ed doesn’t ask. He slides his hand into Stede’s sweaty hair, brushing it back away from his face until gravity claims it again.

Stede starts shivering in Ed’s arms, so he reaches down and grabs blindly at the covers, pulling at them until the shake loose enough that he can wrap Stede up in soft linens. Stede’s breathing turns ragged and wet. Ed holds him tighter and then tighter still.

“Fuck,” Stede sighs into Ed’s neck. He’s stopped shivering. His breathing is back to normal. He rolls off Ed, and Ed takes a deep, full breath, but he misses the heat of Stede’s skin pressed to his. Stede crawls under the covers and lies down on his side, facing Ed. Ed smiles at him and sits up so he can grab the plate of food, setting it down on the bed between them before he slides under the covers himself. He runs his foot down Stede’s shin, just to feel the hairs rasp against ticklish skin.

“You okay?” Ed asks, holding out a slice of clementine for Stede to eat. He lets Ed feed it to him. 

“Yeah, I think so. I don’t know what happened there.”

“Overwhelmed?”

Stede hums. “That must be it. It’s never been like that before for me. I don’t think my body knew how to handle it. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, no, don’t apologize. It’s kind of flattering, really. Sex so good your central nervous system went haywire.”

Stede chuckles, and Ed counts it as a victory. “Was it okay for you?” Stede asks, trying for nonchalant but missing by a mile.

“Stede. Mate. It was fucking incandescent.”

“Oh, Mister fancy word over here,” Stede says, smiling, and that’s more like the Stede Ed knows.

“Tremendous. Peerless. Magnificent,” Ed continues, and Stede’s shoulders drop with every word. 

“Yeah, okay. That’s — for me, too. All of those things.”

“Good, Stede. I’m glad.”

“Any suggestions for next time? Something I should work on?”

Ed kisses him. “You are so fucking sweet. No. No notes. Oh, wait. One thing: I loved how fun everything felt, how easy it was to joke and laugh with you. I’d like more of that.”

“Yeah,” Stede says, his whole face soft and fond. “I can do that.”

They eat more food, chatting with each other for a while before Stede yawns wide enough that his jaw cracks. He gets up and goes to grab a wet washcloth, telling Ed to just lay there and let him work when Ed tries to help. He must fall asleep while Stede’s cleaning him up because the next thing he knows, he’s startling awake, arm curled around Stede as he sleeps. The sun is just starting to spill in through the bedroom windows, and Ed shuts his eyes so he can hold Stede close and pretend he doesn’t notice the coming day.

Stede’s awake the next time Ed wakes, leaning up against the headboard as he reads a book, sipping coffee from a mug that says “World’s Best Gay Dad” with the cutest reading glasses perched on his nose. Ed groans. That’s just fucking unfair is what that is.

“Oh, good, you’re awake,” Stede chirps.

“Yeah, and you’re a menace, did you know that?”

“Uh, well, no, but —”

Ed slides across the sheets until he’s pressed up against Stede’s side. “Sitting there in those reading glasses like I’m not supposed to blow you about it?” Ed slowly pulls the covers down Stede’s waist, watching Stede’s cock bob as it rapidly fills.

“Ed, fuck, ” Stede hisses, setting aside his book.

“That okay?” Ed asks, mouth hovering over the tip of Stede’s erection. He knows Stede can feel his breath by the way he shivers. 

“Yes, of course, god, please. ”

Ed smiles and gets to work.

~~

“I think you sucked all my brain cells out of my dick,” Stede says once he can talk again. Ed laughs against his thigh. “Give me five minutes and I’ll return the favor.”

“Nah, no need,” Ed tells him. 

“What, don’t trust my oral skills? What if I promised not to cry this time?”

“Stede,” Ed giggles, “I will absolutely let you suck me when I haven’t already just come.”

“Oh. Wait, but you — I didn’t — ”

“I had to touch myself, I couldn’t help it. You were so fucking hot, and those noises you made for me? Forget it.”

“Fucking hell, Edward, that’s…well, let me just say I wish I had the refractory period of a much younger man right about now.”

Ed laughs and lets Stede kiss him.

They lounge in bed for a while, talking and touching and kissing, eating the nuts and cookies from the tray but leaving the cheese for a lost cause. Stede gets a text at one point and reaches over for his phone so he can read it. His face gets all stormy when he sees who it’s from, then even stormier as he reads the message.

“Fuck!” he shouts, closing his eyes and slamming his hand down against the mattress. He puts his phone down before he accidentally throws it and sits there shaking his head.

“Hey, talk to me,” Ed says, hoping that Stede will this time.

Stede huffs and tips his head back until it hits the headboard. He closes his eyes. “My father texted me.”

“Fuck.” That’s never good.

“He owns the building The Revenge is in, did I tell you that?”

“No, you didn’t.”

“He owns that whole side of Main Street, actually,” Stede informs him.

“What? Why?”

“It belonged to his grandfather. Anyway, he just informed me that rent will be going up 25% starting January 1.”

“Holy shit! Can he do that?”

“Apparently he can.”

“Fuck, Stede, I’m really sorry.”

“He does this all the time, threatens to raise the rent so I’ll give him something he wants. It’s a small town, The Revenge isn’t that profitable. Mostly I just want to make enough so it pays for itself. I don’t want to have to fire someone or raise prices too high or…Shit. Fuck.”

“Maybe he’ll change his mind,” Ed offers. 

Stede laughs bitterly. “Maybe. But don’t hold your breath.” He’s silent for a few minutes. Ed watches a series of complex emotions dance over his face. He wishes there was something he could do. He takes Stede’s hand in his and holds it, watching Stede as he sinks into his own treacherous thoughts.

Stede looks incredibly apologetic when he shakes himself out of his own head fifteen minutes later. “Fuck, Ed, I’m so sorry. I’ve ruined our first morning after, haven’t I?”

“You did no such thing. I got to spend it with you, and that’s all I wanted.”

“I was barely here half the time.”

“Stede, I want you to look at me,” Ed says, pushing himself up to sitting so his head’s at the same height as Stede’s. He waits until Stede is able to look at him. “I’m in this for the long haul, okay? That means all the days you have, not just the good days. You don’t owe me anything. I just want to be with you, even when it’s hard.”

“Yeah?” Stede chokes out, tears gathering in his eyes.

“Yeah. Abso-fucking-lutely.”

~~

Ed’s mom teases him when he finally makes it home. “Would it still be considered a walk of shame if it happens in the early afternoon?” she asks Ed, who deadpans a “har har har” back. She cackles and wanders off to go do whatever the hell she wants, the miscreant.

Ed takes a shower. He takes a picture of himself after he gets done, wrapped in a towel but still wet, skin pinked from the heat of the water. He texts it to Stede and tells him he misses him already. Stede sends back a string of emojis that are only half decipherable to Ed. Stede must be picking up texting habits from his kids, which is just about the cutest thing Ed’s ever seen.

Lobster jumps onto the bed where Ed’s sitting post-shower, smiling down at his phone while he and Stede exchange texts. Lobster starts licking the water off Ed’s skin, which tickles but is also really gross. He doesn’t know where that tongue has been! Fucking weird cat he has.

Ed calls Izzy once he’s dressed to ask about the Banes takeover bid.

“It’s weirdly quiet, Ed,” Izzy tells him. “I don’t like it.”

“I’m not getting any information from my contacts, either.”

“What do you want to do?”

Ed sighs. “Let’s see if Fang can dig anything up.” Fang is a weirdly effective investigator. He’s so big and burly that Ed assumed people would naturally shy away from him, but it turns out that Fang is so good at putting people at ease that they end up almost compelled to tell him things. He’s been instrumental in gathering key information in so many of Ed’s business deals he’s lost count. “I bet he’ll be able to find something we can use against Banes. That fucker is so sketchy. Surely he must have any number of SEC violations outstanding.”

“Yeah, okay. Good idea.”

“I’m working on a plan, too. I need to sit on it for a little, but I think it could work.”

“Anything you want to talk through?”

“No, but thank you. I’ll let you know.”

Izzy pauses. “All right. Just don’t do anything too stupid.”

“You know I will.”

Izzy’s answering sigh is weary down to his bones. “I know you will.”

~~

Ed’s sitting on the couch, Lobster sleeping in his lap, knitting with “Midsomer Murders” on the TV. One of the characters has just wrapped an almost comically oversized scarf around their neck, and it suddenly gives Ed an idea.

“Mom?” he calls out, hoping she’s not upstairs in her office.

“Yeah?” she answers from the kitchen.

“I need your help with something!”

“Okay, be right there!”

He asks her to take him to a yarn store and help him pick out something nice, preferably in a teal color. The store owner is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. Ed walks around the shop in a daze, looking at all the colors of yarn, touching them to see which is the softest. So many are the softest. 

He’s a little overwhelmed, but his mom and the shop owner know each other — “We’re dear friends, Ed,” his mother insists, though he’s never heard of this woman before — so they chat away while Ed looks at all the yarn and tries to decide what Stede will like. His first choice is a fingering — heh — weight, and it’s gorgeous and lush, but it will, apparently, take Ed forever and a day to finish a scarf with this yarn. And he doesn’t have that kind of time. The shop owner says he needs something thicker — heh — and points out a worsted yarn that is actually perfect. His mom buys some yarn, too, just because it’s pretty, and Ed loves that she’s able to do that now, buy herself things just because she wants them.

He takes the yarn home and has his mom help him cast on, and then he starts knitting, DCI Tom Barnaby asking questions in the background, a snoring cat stretched out on his lap. Bliss.

Chapter Text

Ed spends his entire morning knitting, working away at Stede’s project. He’s getting a lot better. Annoying that his mom was right yet again that knitting is a hobby that takes patience and an incredible amount of repetition, but he likes that it doesn’t feel like a struggle anymore. He can even kind of turn his brain off and just let his hands take over since they know what to do now. It’s really relaxing. He didn’t expect that. Even better is that Lobster loves sitting near Ed on the couch or even on his lap, watching Ed’s fingers as they work the yarn. He’s stopped trying to attack Ed’s knitting, mostly, since that will get him scolded and scooted off the couch. Every once in a while he will very slowly reach out one paw toward the ball of yarn Ed’s using, like if he moves slow enough Ed won’t notice what he’s doing. It makes Ed laugh, so he lets Lobster try, intercepting his paw when he’s a few inches away from the yarn with his hand and shaking it like they’re closing a business deal. Weirdly, Lobster seems to enjoy the whole process, purring up a storm every time Ed shakes his paw.

He’s in the middle of shaking Lobster’s paw yet again when he hears his mom say, “Aww, look at you two.” He hadn’t even realized she’d come into the room. She’s looking down at her phone when he looks up, texting someone with a mischievous grin.

”What are you doing? Who are you texting?”

”Stede,” she says. “Just sent him a photo of you and Lobster shaking hands on the couch.”

”Shit, mom, I’m working on a present for Stede! Is my knitting in the photo?”

”Shit,” she says, scrambling to bring the photo back up so she can check. “Okay, there’s a bit of the color peeking up behind your thigh, but you can’t tell what it is.”

”Let me see,” he demands, holding out his hand for her phone. She’s right. You can’t see the knitting, just a bit of stray yarn, but even that isn’t really too decipherable. That was a close call.

”Sorry, you two just looked so cute,” his mom apologizes.

”It’s okay.” Ed gives her her phone back. “It is a cute photo. Wait. Why do you have Stede’s number?”

”Ed. I told you we were friends before you even met him. It’s a small town, Bennet Bay, and we like to look out for each other.”

”Right. Yeah, sorry, of course. Just caught me off guard.”

“It’s okay. We don’t text about you that much.”

Ed blinks. “What?”

His mom cackles and refuses to elaborate further. “Come on,” she changes the subject, “Let’s go have lunch at The Revenge and pick up Stede after so the three of us can go to the Bennet Bay Historical Society. I’m thinking of setting my next novel here, or a town like it, so I’m starting the research process.”

”Should call the town something else alliterative.”

”Hmm, yeah. Snowbell Sound.”

”Cabot Cove,” Ed suggests.

”Ooh, I like that one!”

~~

Lunch is delicious, like it always is at The Revenge. Lucius looks smug as hell when he comes over to take their orders, and Ed can’t even find it in himself to be annoyed. He can, however, be a gracious winner. “Congratulations on the top-tier meddling. Stede and I are happy as fuck.”

”Oh, yeah, I can tell. He’s like radioactively happy,” Lucius says, and Ed feels his chest swell. “Oh, god, you two get the same dopey look on your faces when you think about each other. This might have been a mistake.”

Ed laughs and tells him to be careful or he’s not going to tip, cutting Lucius off before he can even make a “just the tip” joke like Ed knows he wanted to. His mom does instead, and that is both hilarious and deeply traumatizing.

Stede joins them with his own sandwich about ten minutes later, and Lucius was right because Ed feels his face go all loose and smiley like a teenager with a crush. And why not? Why shouldn’t he have a crush on his boyfriend? He’s hot, and he’s fun, and he’s ridiculously good at sex, and he makes Ed happy. What could be better than crushing on someone like that?

Stede slides a plate Ed’s way, and of course there’s a cookie on it. This one is the shape of a reindeer, and written on it in red icing are the words “Hello, Deer.” Ed snorts and shakes his head. This man and his cookie puns. Stede looks pleased with himself. Ed reaches his foot under the table to bump against Stede’s, waiting until he’s in the middle of telling a story to start running his foot up and down Stede’s ankle just to watch him freeze and start blushing.

”Ugh,” Ed’s mom grumps. “You two really are gross.”

Ed laughs. Stede blushes harder and mumbles an apology.

~~

The Bennet Bay Historical Society is a surprisingly detailed little museum. It’s been set up in a decently sized house, starting with exhibits about the earliest history of the town on the bottom floor and getting more modern as you work your way up the floors. They have exhibits about the founding of the town as a fishing village, then a cannery opened, then a paper mill and logging set up on the outskirts and the town boomed. Ed’s surprised there are so many artifacts from the founding days of the town and how well-preserved they are.

Their guide is Buttons from trivia night, and just like then, the man displays a surprising depth and breadth of knowledge. His mother is absolutely soaking it in, nodding as Buttons talks and asking loads of questions and taking copious notes in a little notebook she brought in her purse. 

Stede is holding Ed’s hand, pointing out cool things in the display cases or reading little information cards out loud when he thinks Ed would like a particular tidbit. It’s sweet, having his own personal museum guide to highlight the best items for him and filling in more salacious details that the official historical society signage doesn’t explain.

Ed’s favorite part is all the photos they have of the town and how it’s changed through the decades. They spend a lot of time looking at the ones on display, and when Buttons sees how much Ed is enjoying the photos he says, “We have a whole photo archive upstairs if you want to go have a look. Usually we don’t let visitors up there, but we have a Bonnet here, so.”

”Why does that matter?” Ed asks, looking between Buttons and Stede.

Stede blushes and shifts his weight and refuses to look Ed in the eye. 

“Stede?”

”Uh…”

”Shall I pull The Document for your perusal?” Buttons asks Stede, and Ed is incredibly confused right now. He looks at his mom, who shrugs. Guess she’s confused about it, too.

Stede sighs. “I supposed you may as well.”

”Right. Come with me to the upstairs offices and we’ll have a look.”

The upstairs offices end up being the fourth floor of the house, which is really just a finished attic space, but it’s nice and big and bright. A lovely place to have an office. Ed could see himself working in a place like this, some large, airy space all his own. He’s not sure what he’d be working on, exactly, and it can’t match the city view of his current office, but it’s much cozier.

“Okay, before Buttons comes back, I feel like maybe I should explain,” Stede starts, but it’s not that big of a space, and Buttons comes back over wearing white cloth gloves and carrying a glass case the size of a legal document.

”Here she is,” Buttons says, setting the case down on the table. Ed and his mom look inside. He’s not quite sure what he’s looking at, but the document looks incredibly old and official. The ink is faded but still clear, the handwriting fancy and precise.

”What am I looking at?” Ed asks as he starts reading. It looks like a series of legal agreements.

”This is the original charter for Bennet Bay by our founder, Rowland Bonnet,” Buttons says proudly.

Ed’s eyes flick over to Stede. “Bonnet?”

”Yes, sorry. That’s my great-great-something grandfather,” Stede says. “

Ed laughs. Of course he lives in the town his ancestor founded. That’s just too perfect.

”Wait,” Ed’s mom chimes in. “Why is it called Bennet Bay and not Bonnet Bay?”

”Ah, yes, excellent catch, JB,” Buttons says. “That’s what makes our document so special: the way Rowland wrote the ‘O’ in his last name looks like an ‘E,’ hence Bennet and not Bonnet.”

Ed looks closer at the charter, and son of a bitch, Buttons is right. Huh. Look at that. A historical, handwritten typo.

”An important document for our town but also for the Bonnet family, who graciously donated this building and the funds to set up this Historical Society,” Buttons adds.

”Did they,” Ed says flatly as he looks at Stede, who is blushing furiously and staring intently at the charter.

”If you’re all through, I’ll put this back and we can start looking through some photographs,” Buttons tells them.

”Yes, please, Buttons. That would be lovely,” Stede says. “If you’re finished, JB.”

”I’m good, thanks,” she says, and knowing her, she would like more time with the charter, but she can tell Stede is uncomfortable now, so away it goes.

~~

”You can ask,” Stede says after he and Ed have gone back to Stede’s house. They’re in Stede’s kitchen baking Christmas cookies, some incredible-smelling peppermint chocolate recipe Stede said he’s been wanting to try.

”About what?” Ed counters.

Stede rolls his eyes. “About the charter and the town and the Historical Society.”

”Do you want to tell me?”

”Feel like I probably should.”

Ed walks across the kitchen to where Stede is standing. He’s leaning against the counter next to the oven, wearing an apron that says “Check Out These Tits” with birds all over it, and he looks wary like what he’s about to say will somehow change Ed’s opinion of him. Ed collapses against him, and Stede makes a little “oof” sound and laughs.

”You’re scared of something,” Ed says into Stede’s neck.

”I’m scared of a lot of things, Ed. All the time.”

”Yeah. Fuck, well, that’s just part of being human. You know what I’m not scared of?” Ed says, standing up straight so Stede can see his face and know he’s serious. “Us. You. Whatever you’re about to tell me. I bet it’s not nearly as bad as you think.”

Stede huffs and shakes his head. But he starts talking all the same. “My ancestors founded this place, then got rich off exploiting it: the canneries, the logging, the paper mills. They bought up all the land and buildings in town and built this little empire on the coast of Maine. I’m my parents’ only child. Whatever my father has will in theory pass to me, provided he doesn’t donate it to charity or something like that, but he doesn’t have a charitable bone in his body, and the scandal in his finance circles would be too much to bear.”

”Yeah, well, he’d be dead, so it wouldn’t really matter.”

Stede chuckles. “The threat of a scandal, then. Doesn’t matter, it’s going to be mine. Except I’ve been trying to get what I can from him now so I can sell it to the people who live here and work here and make this town what it is. It’s Bennet Bay in name, but Ed, it’s Bonnet Bay in practice. The more I push the harder he fights back, and I don’t have the resources anymore to do anything but argue with him about it.”

”I’m sorry your father is such a dick.”

Stede groans and tips his head down to rest on Ed’s shoulder. Ed wraps his arms around Stede’s waist and holds him tight. “Me too.”

”Why on earth did you think I would be upset by anything you just said?”

”Because you’re getting a mostly broke cafe owner whose horrible father literally owns the town and will have an oversized role in your life. And you already hate him from your own dealings with him.”

”Yeah, he really fucking sucks, but you don’t. And I’m not here for him. I’m here for you . What you’re trying to do here is incredible, Stede.”

Stede sighs. Ed expects him to try and brush off the compliment, so he’s surprised when Stede says, “Yeah, I guess it’s pretty good.”

Ed barks out a laugh. “Better than pretty good.”

“Decent.”

”Warmer.”

”Average.”

”Keep going.”

”No, I think I’m good there. What I want to know is why I’ve been wearing an apron for at least an hour now and haven’t been ravished.”

”Oh, I see, ” Ed says, letting his voice go all low and rumbly, just how Stede likes. “Truthfully, I’ve been standing across the room because it seemed like you legitimately wanted to bake cookies.”

”I’ve changed my mind.”

”Mm, in that case, here’s what’s going to happen,” Ed tells him, sliding his hands down to Stede’s ass and pulling him flush with Ed’s body. “I’m going to hold you here and kiss you until the oven timer goes off and you can get the last batch of cookies out of the oven.”

”That isn’t the last batch.”

”Yes, it fucking is.” Stede whimpers. “Then I’m going to lift you up onto this counter, rip that apron off your body, and suck your cock until you come down my throat.”

“Ed!” Stede groans, grinding his rapidly filling cock against Ed’s thigh. “That’s so unsanitary.”

”That’s what cleaning supplies are for.”

”Fuck, yeah, okay, let’s —“

The oven timer dings. Stede shudders and hurries to pull the cookies out of the oven.

Chapter Text

“So good for me,” Ed coos as Stede transfers the cookies onto a wire cooling rack. Stede is practically vibrating out of his skin, and Ed is absolutely enjoying winding him up even further. “Can’t wait to taste you, to feel your cock slide into my throat as I —“

”Done!” Stede shouts, throwing the cookie sheet and spatula in the general vicinity of the sink, the parchment paper liner fluttering to the floor. He’s pulling his apron off, tossing it halfway across the kitchen as he starts working his fly open.

Ed laughs, enjoying how messy Stede gets when he’s horny. He’s usually so fastidious and particular, but when his cock gets hard, all that goes out the window. It’s a heady feeling, knowing he has that effect on Stede. Ed likes it.

He lets Stede wiggle halfway out of his jeans before spinning him around and walking him back over to the island, which is partially covered with dirty mixing bowls and spatulas, the roll of parchment paper, and the wrapper from a stick of butter. But the other half is clear, and there’s enough space for Ed to have his way with Stede. He lets go of Stede so he can untie his own apron, and Stede whines.

”Be patient,” Ed instructs, which only makes Stede pout. He reaches down to touch himself, but Ed growls at him, so he pulls his hand back with a startled little yelp. 

“That probably shouldn’t be so hot,” Stede breathes, but fuck that.

”It can be hot if you want it to be hot. We both like it. Nothing else really matters.” Ed reaches behind Stede to lay out his apron on the island, both to protect Stede from the cold surface and to protect the surface from Stede’s ass, before picking him up by the waist and settling him onto the island.

Stede’s eyes glaze over, his mouth hanging open in surprise and arousal, and Ed chuckles lowly as he waits for Stede’s brain to come back online. “That definitely was hot,” Stede says after blinking a few times and shaking his head as if that will help kick it back into gear.

“Glad you think so,” Ed rumbles as he works Stede’s cock free from his underwear. “And if you liked that, you’re really gonna like this.” He leans down so he can take Stede into his mouth. Stede gasps, groaning out Ed’s name, shaking with the effort to keep from thrusting up.

Ed tugs at Stede’s thighs until he wraps them around Ed’s shoulders, laying back on the island with a moan so sexy Ed will be thinking about it for years. Stede’s back is a little arched, his head tipped back, one hand gripping tightly onto his own hair. He looks incredible like this, erotic and sultry, focussed intently on his own pleasure. Ed aches to give it to him.

“Ed, please,” Stede begs, and the desperation in his voice makes Ed’s cock twitch in his jeans. Absolutely putting a pin in that and exploring it some other time, but right now all Ed wants is to give Stede whatever he wants. 

Ed wraps his hand around Stede’s cock, strokes him slowly as he says, “Don’t hold back,” and takes Stede into his mouth. 

Stede doesn’t. He’s wild with it, sinking into the sensations as he thrusts his hips up off the island in an ever-increasing pace, moaning as Ed takes him deeper and deeper. The noises he’s making are driving Ed insane, and if he didn’t have to support Stede’s body, he’d have his hand down his own pants by now. Ed loves the way Stede’s using his mouth for his own pleasure, how he’s chanting Ed’s name and working a hand into Ed’s hair to keep him in place when he finds an angle he likes. 

“Fuck, Ed, right there, don’t stop, don’t stop ,” Stede groans, thrusting so deep his cock slides into Ed’s throat, gasping at the feeling. Ed swallows around him, and that’s all it takes for Stede to tense up and come. Ed sucks him through it, keeping Stede in his mouth until Stede’s shuddering with oversensitivity, his softening cock finally slipping from Ed’s mouth. His hips have to be killing him, so Ed gently moves Stede’s legs off his shoulders and rests his forehead against Stede’s thigh. He’s still hard and so desperate to come that as soon as Stede is settled into a more comfortable position, he grasps his own cock and starts stroking. He’s so close from sucking Stede that it only takes a few strokes until he’s coming into his own hand, groaning and panting against Stede’s sweaty skin.

“Fucking hell, Ed,” Stede says once he can speak again. “I can’t believe I was ever nervous about having sex with you. We are so fucking good at this.”

Ed snorts against Stede’s thigh, laughing when Stede flinches and squeals, “Ticklish!” Ed uses his clean hand to help Stede hop down from the island, catching him with an “oof” when Stede’s legs wobble as he steps down onto the tile floor. Stede melts against Ed, and Ed wraps his arm around Stede’s waist, holding Stede tight as he breathes into the curve of Ed’s neck.

He asks Ed if he can return the favor, leading him upstairs to the shower instead when Ed tells him he’s already come. Stede fiddles with the dials until the water is steaming, then he pulls out a basket full of shampoos and soaps from a basket in the linen closet, smelling each one before grabbing a couple of bottles. Ed can feel himself smiling as he watches Stede fuss, knowing it’s probably a combination of the way Stede is anyway about his showers and wanting everything to be just right for Ed.

Stede smiles shyly when he catches Ed looking at him, and Ed thinks he knows how the Grinch felt when his heart grew three sizes. It’s gonna take some fucking getting used to, being able to hold this much emotion in his chest. Maybe once they’re out of the honeymoon phase things will settle a bit, and part of him knows that’s what love does: it changes and evolves as it grows, sometimes feeling heavier and other times lighter, but always there to comfort and adore and nurture.

The water pressure is incredible when Ed steps into the shower, soothing on his shoulders and neck where he carries so much of his tension. Stede’s washing him gently, tracing the lines of his muscles and tattoos with a soapy washcloth. He’d asked if he could, and Ed nodded, finding himself a little too overwhelmed to speak. Not in a bad way, just in a “no one has ever cared for me like this” sort of way, a little bit awed and humbled by the experience. Everything feels a little soft right now, muted, like he’s gone up in altitude and his ears have yet to pop.

Watching Stede tend to him feels like a gift. It makes him feel like a gift, or maybe a treasure, something worth protecting and caring for to keep it at its shining best. He lets Stede wash his hair, lets him condition in, lets him wrap Ed up in the fluffiest towel Ed’s ever seen, lets him lead Ed to the bed and gently pat him dry, lets Stede pull back the covers and nudge him underneath, lets him tuck him in with a kiss to the forehead.

Stede tells him he’ll be right back, just has to do something real quick, and Ed waits until Stede is in the bathroom to sit up and peek in to see what Stede’s doing, not wanting him out of his eyesight for a moment. Stede brushes his teeth and uses at least three different skincare products before he moisturizes. Ed sees him very intentionally not look at the state of his hair, and then he’s turning off the light and coming back into the room, so Ed ducks back down and pretends he wasn’t watching.

“I saw you in the mirror, you know, peeking into the bathroom,” Stede says once he’s back under the covers next to Ed. Ed shrugs, not sorry one bit. Stede scoots closer, close enough that he looks a little bit like a Cyclops when Ed tries to look him in the eye, and then they’re giggling, and Stede’s pulling down the covers to their waists because “It’s too fucking hot,” and that’s good, that’s better, actually, because it was too fucking hot.

There are tentative fingers on his shoulder, “Is this okay?” from Stede’s lips, and Ed nods so Stede will start tracing warm fingertips across his skin, chasing the lines of his tattoos yet again. He can’t seem to get enough of them, wants to touch them all the time. It makes Ed wonder why.

“They suit you,” Stede says, like he can read Ed’s mind. “It feels like a window into your mind, so many things just running through your clever brain, all vying for your attention. Some of them made it onto your skin so other people could give them the attention they demand and you could give your brain a rest.” Ed feels a tear start winding its way down his cheek before he can blink it away. Stede notices but doesn’t stop moving his hand. “Do you want me to stop?” Ed shakes his head. 

There’s not a single line on Ed’s body Stede misses before he’s done. Ed’s half-hard, has been since Stede put his hands on his skin, but he doesn’t want to do anything about it, and Stede seems to understand that intrinsically. Ed feels so warm, so whole, so full to bursting with affection for this man, with love.

And it is love, Ed realizes as Stede traces the mizzenmast of the frigate tattooed on his chest. He is catastrophically in love with Stede Bonnet. He’s never been in love in his whole life, but he’s wanted it since he was old enough to listen to his mother tell him fairy tales of beautiful princesses and dashing princes who loved each other enough to slay dragons and move mountains. He wanted that for himself, so badly it made him ache. But he lived in the real world and tender romance wasn’t for him, so he quenched the fire and let it grow cold.

Then along came Stede, a burning ember, a steady hearth, a spark over tinder, and suddenly Ed is ablaze, simple as anything.

Stede’s hand is resting above the fore top-gallant sail now, right over his heart. Ed wraps it up with his own. “You win,” Stede whispers, and Ed’s heart thumps wildly in his chest. He hopes Stede can feel it. He hopes Stede understands what it means. He doesn't want to say it yet, wants to luxuriate in the feeling a while before letting his feelings loose. He thinks Stede will understand. 

“Here,” Stede says, shifting so he’s laying on his back, arm raised so Ed can curl up against Stede’s side and rest his head on Stede’s chest. Ed sighs and gets settled, breathing in the scent of soap and Stede’s skin. Stede pulls the covers back up to Ed’s shoulders, tucking him in with a sweet smile.

Ed’s ear is right over Stede’s heart. He wonders if Stede did that on purpose, if he wanted Ed to hear how it beats just for him. If his chest is full of emotions he can’t name yet, just like Ed’s. He starts stroking Ed’s hair and humming tunelessly, the vibrations pleasant against Ed’s face. Ed closes his eyes and lets himself fall asleep to the sound of Stede’s gentle affection.

Chapter Text

Ed wakes to the sight of Stede looking at him fondly. It makes him feel bashful for some reason, so he buries his face into his pillow. “Creeper,” Ed teases, his voice muffled by the pillow.

Stede laughs and tucks Ed’s hair back behind his ear so he can see the side of his face. “Can you blame me? Beautiful man in my bed, how can I not look?”

“Awgh.”

Stede chuckles again and lets Ed get away with it, but he doesn’t stop stroking Ed’s hair, which Ed is thankful for. It feels nice. Really nice. He hasn’t let any of his past boyfriends touch his hair like this because he never trusted that they wouldn’t fuck it up somehow, but Stede is good with hair and knows how to touch it without tangling up his curls and waves. Ed trusts him with his hair. And his heart. Fuck, now he’s feeling all sentimental again.

“You feeling all right this morning?” Stede asks, sounding both cautious and hopeful.

“Yeah, why?”

“Just wanted to make sure. You went a little…distant isn’t the right word because it was clear you were very present, but. Fuck, I don’t know what I mean. Forget I brought it up.”

Ed reaches up to clasp Stede’s hand, bringing it down to his lips so he can kiss his palm in between each word he says. “Quiet. Uncommunicative. In my own head.”

“I just want to make sure I didn’t hurt you somehow.”

“You didn’t,” Ed says with conviction. “Hey, look at me.” Ed waits until Stede stops looking over his shoulder and makes eye contact again. “You didn’t hurt me. Not one bit. You were incredible. You are incredible. I didn’t know it was possible to feel like this. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. Sometimes it catches up with me and I don’t know what to do about it. Takes a little time to readjust.”

Stede swallows hard and nods. “Okay,” he whispers.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I think I know what you mean. Feels like that for me, too.”

Ed kisses Stede’s palm again, then the inside of his wrist. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You didn’t. It wasn’t scary. It was kind of cute, actually, the way you went all soft around the edges and let me care for you like that. It felt good.”

Ed smiles at him. “You like taking care of me.”

“I think I do.”

“I liked it, too. You’re good at it, you know. Caretaking. And wooing. Believe me when I say I feel real fucking wooed all the time.”

Stede laughs and bumps Ed’s leg with his foot. “You are, too. Good at wooing, that is.”

“Mm, I don’t know, mate. Don’t really feel like I’ve been on your level.”

Stede pushes himself up onto an elbow so he can look down at Ed, disbelief making his face scrunch up adorably. “Ed, are you — you’re serious.”

Ed shrugs up a shoulder. “Well, yeah. You’ve planned all these cute dates and shit, and I —”

“Stop right there before I get upset,” Stede says in this low-pitched voice laden with steel, and Ed’s cock twitches under the covers. It’s definitely not the fucking time to discover something about himself, but he’s absolutely going to file this away for later because hoo boy, is Stede hot when he gets all serious and demanding like this.

“Yes, okay, maybe I have been planning more dates,” Stede continues, “But that’s only because my schedule is more full than yours is, so it’s easier for me to plan around it. And yes, I do enjoy going all out and being over-the-top and I know it’s a lot, I know I’m a lot, but Ed. No one has ever let me do all this before. No one has wanted me to. You not only let me, you’re enthusiastic about it. You want me to be a lot. And not only that, you’ve helped me so many times with my self-esteem and self-image and loads of other self- words I can’t come up with right now. And sure, maybe I’ve done more physical wooing? But you’ve done so much emotional wooing! I’ve never felt so…oh, what’s the fucking word all the kids use these days? Seen! Ed. I have never felt so seen. By you. With you. I feel like I can be myself around you. Do you have any idea what a gift that is?”

Okay, wow, absolutely no way to avoid crying about that. “Think I’m starting to understand, yeah,” Ed manages to work out, though his throat is thick with oncoming tears.

“Ed,” Stede sighs happily, laying back down so he can curl up next to Ed and kiss the tears off his cheeks. “You make me so happy.”

Oh, low blow, Bonnet. Low fucking blow. “You make me happy, too,” Ed says before promptly bursting into tears. Stede laughs because they’re happy tears, and he knows it, and now he gets to gather Ed up in his arms and kiss all the tears right out of him.

“I was going to take you on another date today,” Stede says once Ed’s stopped crying. 

Ed wiggles under the sheets. “I bet it was going to be romantic as fuck, too.”

“Candy-making,” Stede tells him. “There’s a little shop the next town over that has classes where you can make your own chocolates.”

“Stede, what the fuck?”

“I think I’d rather have you all to myself today, though, if that’s okay.”

Ed feels himself go even softer. “Yeah. That sounds nice.”

“Okay,” Stede says, his smile sweet and a little relieved.

“Oh!  I have an idea for a date we can do here: build a blanket fort!”

Stede looks confused when he echoes, “A blanket fort?”

“Yeah.”

“Like I used to make with my kids?”

“Yeah! Except we can take a bunch of cushions and blankets inside so it’s like a cozy little nest, and maybe a laptop, and we can cuddle and watch a movie and crucially: do some kissing.”

Stede giggles. “Okay. Yes, let’s do that.” His stomach growls alarmingly. “Maybe after breakfast.”

~~

They’ve been in the blanket fort for hours, doing exactly what Ed wanted by building a lovely cushion and pillow nest and watching movies while they cuddle and kiss the day away. It’s early afternoon, and Ed’s starting to think about what food he wants to order to have delivered to Stede’s house for dinner when his phone rings. It’s outside of the fort, so Ed decides to ignore it. But then it rings again. And again. 

“Fuuuck,” Ed groans, wiggling his way out of Stede’s arms. “I should check on that.” He’s nervous making his way to his phone, hoping it’s not a hospital or the cops about to give him horrible news about his mom. He checks the caller ID. It’s Izzy. Ed’s nerves spike for a different reason.

“Izzy, what’s going on?”

“Ed, finally,” Izzy huffs, but Ed can tell it’s less about Ed taking a while to answer the phone and more that Izzy has news he needs to tell Ed urgently. “Things have escalated with Banes. Badly. We need you here.”

“Iz, it’s December 22nd. This won’t wait until after Christmas?” Stede has crawled out of the blanket fort, wrapping himself up in his fuschia velvet robe as he walks over to where Ed is.

“I’m sorry, but it won’t.”

Ed sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Shit. Okay. Yeah, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Text me when you leave with your ETA. Come straight to the office.”

“I will.” Ed hangs up the phone and looks at Stede. He’s hunched in on himself, shoulders rounded and his face tilted down. “Stede,” Ed says, reaching out so he can pull Stede into his arms. “I’m so sorry, but I have to go into the city.”

“I heard.”

“If there was any other way, I wouldn’t be going.”

Stede nods, but it doesn’t look like he believes Ed. Or…no, that’s not quite it. It looks like he believes that Ed has no choice to go back to the city, but that once he goes, Ed won’t be coming back. Oh, Stede.

“Hey,” Ed says, cupping Stede’s face so he can look him in the eyes. “When we get things settled in New York, I’m coming back here.”

Stede shrugs. “Okay.” 

Shit. He definitely doesn’t believe Ed’s coming back.

“Stede, listen to me. I lo—”

“Don’t. Don’t say that to me, not now. Not when you’re leaving, and I —”

“Okay, fuck, fine. But I am coming back. I promise. You’re coming to my mom’s for Christmas since the kids are going with Mary and Doug on a ski trip, remember? How can I miss Christmas with my two favorite people? I’ll be home in time for Christmas.”

“If only in my dreams,” Stede whispers, barely audible. His eyes widen like he hopes Ed didn’t hear him say that, and Ed pretends he didn’t and pulls him close so Stede can bury his face in Ed’s neck.

Ed packs as quickly as he can. Stede follows him from room to room as he gathers his things, quiet and subdued, handing Ed a sock he missed where it got tucked under the bed, packing Ed a sandwich for the road. 

He follows Ed to the door, looking at him like he’s trying to take everything in, like maybe he won’t ever see Ed again, and it breaks Ed’s heart. He’s going to do whatever it takes to come back to this man, he vows. Whatever it takes. He kisses Stede passionately, trying to show him with actions instead of words.

“I’ll see you for Christmas,” Ed says again, hoping Stede truly hears him this time.

Stede nods, his eyes filling with tears. “Okay,” he whispers. “Drive safely.”

It’s clear that Stede still doesn’t believe Ed will be back, but that’s okay. Ed believes enough for both of them.

~~

Izzy wasn’t wrong: the Banes takeover bid is bad. Really bad. Fucking Banes. Ed hates this guy. Ed gets straight to work when he gets to the office, researching and planning and working for hours and hours with Izzy, Ivan, and Fang. He takes the time to text Stede when he arrives and a few times after that. Stede’s replies are polite but perfunctory, but that’s okay. Ed gets it. He orders food for the office and calls Stede’s favorite Chinese place in Bennet Bay and places an order for Stede, too. Then he settles in for a long night.

It’s more of the same the next day. He runs through scenario after scenario with the other three, even though they’ve gone through them all already. No new solutions present themselves.

“We need some leverage against Banes,” Ed decides. “I still don’t know how he was able to do all this and fly under the radar, but surely if we can just turn the screws on him a little bit the coalition he’s put together will fall through.”

“If we had leverage against Banes, we’d be using it already,” Izzy points out.

“I know. Fang. I think it’s time for you to go do your thing,” Ed says, which is code for gather information, whatever it takes, and I don’t want to know how.

Fang nods, looking almost gleeful that he’s been given free reign to help take Banes down. “On it, boss.”

Ed, Izzy, and Ivan keep tossing out ideas for hours as Fang is off working. Ed brought his knitting with him, the secret present he’s making for Stede, and he knits while they’re all talking. Keeping his hands moving helps keep some of his nervous energy at bay, and he ends up making a lot of progress. He sends some texts to Stede, who’s more talkative today but still sounds pretty defeated. Ed’s sure he doesn’t mean to and probably thinks he’s hiding his feelings well, but Ed can read between the lines. He knows Stede well enough now to know he’s hurting and he’s scared and he doesn’t know what to do about it. 

Ed’s mom sends him photos of Lobster, who he left back in Bennet Bay. Yet another reason for him to go back. There’s no way he’s living anywhere without his cat. He thinks about telling Stede this, hoping that yet another example of how he’s coming back for Stede will finally make him believe it’s true, but he decides against sending the texts. At this point, Ed’s pretty sure the only thing that will make Stede believe Ed is coming back to him is actually coming back to him.

The day passes. Fang is on radio silence, so there’s no way to know how it’s going for him. The rest of Ed’s employees are home for the holidays, so the office is empty except for Ed, Izzy, and Ivan. If it weren’t for all his employees, Ed would be tempted to just say fuck it and let Banes win, let him have the company. Izzy, Ivan, and Fang would be fine. They’d find positions in other corporations easily, if they wanted. Or they could retire rich. But the idea of so many other people Ed’s responsible for possibly getting fired makes Ed angry. He’s going to win this and then he’s going to take Banes down.

“Hey,” Ed finally says as 9:00pm rolls around, “Go home. There’s nothing more we can do here. Get some sleep in your own beds tonight. We’ll start again in the morning.”

“Yeah,” Izzy says, rubbing his eyes. “Okay. Back at 7:00 tomorrow?”

“Sounds good. Have a nice night with your fella, Iz.”

Izzy rolls his eyes, but he’s too tired to do much more than that.

“Make sure you get some rest yourself, boss,” Ivan says as he’s packing up his laptop and heading out the door.

“Sure,” Ed says, though he knows he won’t. He’s going to crash in his office tonight and probably obsess over stupid Richard Banes and his stupid attempt to take over Ed’s company. He opens his phone and texts Stede, though he knows he’ll be sleeping.

> Richard Banes fucking sucks.

> I can’t wait to be back in Bennet Bay.

> I miss you, Stede. I miss the sound of your voice, the way your dimple shows up when you smile, the feel of your arms around my waist. Nothing feels right in New York anymore.

> I’ll see you soon.

Chapter Text

It’s 8:37 in the morning, December 24th. The team, minus Fang, are gathered in Ed’s office. Large snowflakes are falling lazily past the wall of windows. Ed’s frantically stress-knitting. Izzy is pacing. Ivan is dicking around on his phone, trying to look unaffected to help keep everyone else’s nerves down, but he’s bouncing one of his legs without realizing, so it’s not working. Ed has already set up delivery for three different presents to Stede’s house today: an incredibly over-the-top winter floral arrangement, a box of gourmet hot cocoa mixes because Stede mentioned in passing on their hot cocoa flight date that sometimes he’s so tired from making treats at work that he doesn’t take the time to make himself anything nice at home, and one of those fruit bouquet things where they cut up fruit and put them on little sticks because who doesn’t like eating fruit off a stick? Bah humbugs, that’s who.

“What are you making?” Izzy asks when his pacing brings him toward Ed again, nodding toward the knitting in Ed’s hands.

“Oh. A scarf for Stede.” Ed holds it up to show Izzy and is surprised to see that it’s quite long. In fact, it might be close to finished. 

“That’s…uh, that’s very nice. It looks…” Izzy trails off, unsure of how he wants to finish that sentence. Ed can’t really blame him. The scarf is pretty awful, objectively. The tension on the beginning half is way looser than at the end, there are gaps and extra yarn loops and twisted stitches. It looks like a beginning knitter’s first project. Ed’s so proud of it he could scream.

“I just learned how to knit a couple weeks ago. This is the first thing I’ve ever made.” Izzy’s face softens.

Ivan looks up from his phone. “He’s gonna love it, boss,” he says wholeheartedly, and Ed hopes he’s right.

“He will,” Izzy confirms. “He may be an annoying twat, but he’s really good for you. He’ll be touched that you made this for him.”

“Thanks, guys,” Ed says, wrapping the scarf around his own neck to make sure it’s long enough. Just a few more rows and it will be perfect. He smiles at Izzy, and Izzy nods and goes back to his pacing. He likes this new relationship they have. He thinks about saying something to that effect but figures Izzy’s already been kind enough for one morning and might end up being a dick on purpose so he doesn’t have to examine any additional feelings, so Ed keeps quiet, unwinds the scarf from his neck, and goes back to knitting.

Fang bursts into Ed’s office at 9:42 a.m., holding a thick file folder in his hands. “I got it!” he exclaims, beaming as he hands the file to Ed.

“Fuck yeah, brother, I knew you could do it,” Ed tells him, slapping him on the back. He takes the file over to the 6-person conference table at the other end of his office and opens it up, fanning out the documents inside so Ivan and Izzy can also see. Fang starts talking them through all the evidence he’s collected against Banes, and there’s a ton of it: S.E.C. violations, hidden offshore accounts, illegal insider trading, false visa applications for foreign workers, money laundering, bribery, blackmail, embezzlement. You name it, Banes has done it.

“Christ,” Izzy whispers at one point. Even he’s impressed by the breadth and depth of the rot in Banes’s company. “How has he gotten away with all of this for so long?”

“Probably the bribery and blackmail,” Ed suggests. “And I know I told you I didn’t want to know where the information came from, Fang, but since I’ll be retiring soon, maybe you should tell me.”

“I can tell all of you. Wasn’t even anything illegal in the end. I just found someone who had already compiled all this evidence, and they gave it to me because they knew we could put it to better use than they could,” Fang says.

“Who?”

“Have you ever heard of Spanish Jackie?” Fang asks. Izzy and Ivan shake their heads, but Ed has. Hell, he’s even met her a few times in the private room of her seedy bar. She’s smart and capable, lets people underestimate her so she’s always two steps ahead of them. Ed likes her. Wouldn’t want her as an enemy, that’s for sure.

“Yeah, I’ve heard of her. Loan shark. Bookie. Deals in information. She had all of this on Banes?” Ed asks.

Fang nods. “She’s been putting it together for years. Apparently he came to her way back in the day when he was just starting out, had some of Daddy’s money and an overinflated ego. Tried to steal something from her and got himself caught.”

“Wait,” Ed says, putting two and two together. “Is that how his nose got all fucked up? Jackie did that?”

“Correct,” Fang confirms. Ed and Izzy share a glance. Banes has a prosthetic nose piece, a number of them actually, that he changes out to match his outfits like an accessory. He’s always said what happened is he hit a tree skiing in St. Moritz, fucked up his face, lucky to be alive and all that. Then the plastic surgery to repair his face and nose took a turn, and his nose became gangrenous and was too dangerous to operate on again. Hence the prosthetics. But if it was actually because of Jackie, that’s yet another way to nail his ass to the wall.

The file is the final piece of Ed’s plan. Time to set it in motion. “Fang, excellent work. Ivan, get Stanton on the phone and tell him to meet us here immediately. Izzy, I need you to schedule two meetings: one with Banes here at 6:00 p.m., and one with Edward Bonnet in his office at —” Ed looks at his watch. “ — Let’s say 11:00 a.m.”

“Bonnet? What do we need him for? Why not just take Banes down ourselves?” Izzy asks, a little derisive, but it’s been a stressful couple of days so Ed lets it slide.

“For a few reasons. One, I want to show Banes that he has more opposition than he thinks. Two, it’s a move he won’t expect, and he’ll likely panic. Three, Bonnet has something I want.”

“Is this about Stede?” Izzy asks.

“Yeah. But Bonnet doesn’t know we’re dating, so that needs to stay a secret.” Ivan and Fang share a confused glance. “Right. I’ll fill you two in after everyone’s finished making their phone calls.”

~~

Ed and his team stride into Edward Bonnet’s office at exactly 11:00 a.m., joined by their lawyer, Dennis Stanton, who’s a genius at navigating contracts. If everything goes according to plan, they’ll be needing his services today. Bonnet is seated at his desk, a handful his own VPs or CFOs or whatever other combination of letters his people use, standing behind him like they’re some sort of bodyguards. It’s an intimidation tactic for sure, and Ed’s sure many people have succumbed in the past.

Ed just thinks Bonnet looks like he’s trying too hard.

Bonnet starts talking, and his voice is just as smarmy as Ed remembers. “Edward Teach. To what do we owe the pleasure? I have to admit, I was incredibly intrigued when the phone rang earlier this morning.”

“I’ll cut to the chase,” Ed replies, eager to get things moving. He holds up the folder Fang gave him. “This folder contains enough information to take Richard Banes and his entire corporation down for good.”

Bonnet’s eyes widen and flick to the folder, a hungry look passing across his face before he’s able to school his expression. Fucking got him.

“And why would I be interested in that?” Bonnet asks, trying to sound impassive but failing by a country mile.

“Look, we both know Banes is making a play for my company, so we’re under a deadline. I don’t have time to fuck around with this. I know you’re interested because you hate Banes even more than I do, ever since he fucked up your Hagerty merger three years ago. Why I brought it to you specifically instead of taking him down myself — which I am fully prepared to do — is because you have something I want, and I think you’ll find the trade more than satisfactory.”

Bonnet looks at the folder again. “Go on.”

“‘I will give you this folder in exchange for all your property and land in Southeastern Maine. That’s all buildings, lots, titles, deeds, stakes in businesses: everything.”

“Southeastern Maine,” Bonnet echoes, tilting his head to assess Ed. The look on his face is a cross between confusion and impressed, like Ed’s surprised him with this offer and he finds himself respecting that. “Why on earth is that your condition?”

“That’s my business.”

“I think not,” Bonnet counters. “Tell me why you want my holdings in Maine or no deal.”

“Fine,” Ed says, tucking the folder under his arm. “Pleasure not doing business with you. Check the news to see how well we fuck up Banes.” Ed turns to leave.

“Wait,” Bonnet calls after him. “Fuck. Wait.” Bonnet sighs. “Fine. McGraw is my contract lawyer. He’ll work with your lawyer to get everything drawn up. All my holdings in Southeastern Maine. As it turns out, that’s the only area of the state where I have any holdings, so we’ll just say Maine to make it easier. But before anything is signed, I want to see those papers.”

“Deal.”

“And after everything is signed, you’ll tell me why you want my holdings in Maine.”

“Deal.”

Bonnet stands up and holds out his hand for Ed to shake. “Well,” he says, “I wasn’t sure what to expect from our meeting today, but it definitely wasn’t this. Something tells me this is exactly the outcome you wanted.”

“Call it a mutually beneficial endeavor,” Ed says.

“Hmm. Well, it will take a few hours for the contract to be finished. Shall we all head to a conference room and take a look in your folder?”

“Fine by me.”

Bonnet is practically drooling by the time they work through all the evidence in the folder, hours later. He’s actually been quite a good host: he’s ordered food delivered, lots of food, with a variety of beverages and desserts. It makes Ed angry on Stede’s behalf, that his father is making such an effort for practical strangers yet won’t bother for his own son. He can’t wait to leave this office and never see Edward Bonnet again.

It’s quite clear that Bonnet thinks Ed made a bad deal the more he reads the file on Banes, but Ed doesn’t give a fuck. Let him. Ed was counting on this anyway, that Bonnet would feel like he’s gotten one over on Ed. At one point Bonnet’s lawyer calls him to ask a question, and Ed hears Bonnet tell the man, “Give him everything, Harry. Everything .” Fang’s been on his phone for the past hour, pretending to play a silly phone game but in reality he’s been digging into Bonnet’s holdings to make sure he hands over everything he has in Maine, but Ed is somewhat mollified to hear Bonnet put it so plainly.

The lawyers come back with the contracts just before 4:00 p.m. Ed is struggling not to fidget in his chair. He knew the timing would be tight, but the later it gets in the day the more worried he gets that he won’t have time to make it back to Stede before midnight.

Bonnet and his group leave the room so everyone can look over their copies of the contract privately. “Fang?” Ed asks after he’s seen the list of Bonnet’s holdings in Maine. It’s longer than even he anticipated. Fang starts going through everything and double-checking it on his phone.

“Everything that I could find seems to be there, boss,” Fang tells him.

“My sense of it is,” Stanton chimes in, with that smooth accent of his that Ed’s always liked, “You surprised him today, and Bonnet isn’t often surprised. I think for the novelty alone he decided he didn’t want to fight you on this. It’s a good deal.”

“How many of the deeds and titles did he have on hand?”

“About 60%. The rest, as we have stipulated, are to be turned over to you within 10 business days or you can sue him for breach of contract. That should be enough time to cover office closures for the holidays. I wrote into the contract that those documents should come to my office. I will then send them to you at whatever address you request. They won’t know where they’re going.”

Ed nods. The contract looks good, no hidden tricks or anything. It’s better than Ed could have hoped for. “You’ve done good work here, Stanton. All of you have. I’ll be sure to work out extra bonuses after the new year.”

“Thanks, boss,” Ivan says.

“Let’s go get this thing signed, shall we?”

It’s 5:00 by the time the contract has been read aloud and signed. Ed is beyond ready to go back to his office and start prepping for the meeting with Banes at 6:00.

“So, the contract is signed. Will you tell me why you want Maine?” Bonnet asks.

Ed thinks about telling him the whole truth, about how he’s an idiot for not cherishing and loving his incredible son. But he decides not to. It’s not really his place to tell, and anyway, he wants to make triple sure that nothing happens to fuck up the property transfers before they’re finished. So instead he shrugs and says, “My mom lives there. Thinking about retiring and moving closer to her.”

“Huh,” is all Bonnet says. Ed doesn’t give a flying fuck that he seems disappointed by the answer.

“Banes is meeting me in my office at 6:00,” Ed says. “You’re welcome to come join the meeting and drop the hammer on him there. He won’t expect a thing.”

“Oh, Ed, that is positively devious,” Bonnet practically purrs. “I would love to. Expect us at a quarter till.”

Ed nods and turns to go. They make good time back to their building; te roads are practically empty since everyone else is already home with their families, getting ready to celebrate Christmas. It makes Ed think of Stede, and his heart thumps.

“Home stretch now. Hopefully Banes will shit a brick quickly and we can all be out of here by 7:00,” Ed says when they’re back in his office, prepping for Banes’s visit.

“Ed, you won’t make it back to Maine in time if you leave at 7:00,” Izzy says.

“It will be a little late, but I think —”

“Boss,” Fang interrupts, “We’ve got this. Leave whenever you need to.”

“Yeah, we got this,” Ivan confirms. “Let us do our jobs.”

Ed does a little mental math. “6:30,” he says. “I have to leave by then.”

“We’ll make sure you do,” Izzy vows.

~~

Bonnet shows up alone at 5:45, and Ed has to hand it to him. That’s a baller move. He’s holding the file folder he bought from Ed and is practically vibrating with excitement behind his calm exterior. He sits at Ed’s desk, and Ed goes around to the front and half sits/half leans on his desk to block the view of Bonnet. It’s going to feel fucking incredible when Banes sees him for the first time and realizes what’s going on.

Banes bursts through the door at 6:04, always a few minutes late so others have to wait on him but not so late as to appear overly rude. What a prick.

“Ed, how kind of you to invite me,” Banes says in his smug voice. His nose of choice today is a festive, celebratory red. He clearly thinks he’s here to accept Ed’s defeat and inevitable takeover of his company.

“Richard,” Ed replies, knowing how much Banes hates being called that. “So good of you to join us. Before we start, I think an introduction is in order. Richard Banes, have you met Edward Bonnet?”

Ed steps aside so Banes can see Bonnet sitting at his desk. The color drains from Banes’s face in a most satisfying manner.

“Wh— what’s going on?” Banes asks. “You didn’t say he would be here.”

“Change of plans. Before we discuss business, Bonnet has a few things he’d like to go over with you first,” Ed says. 

“Is he your business partner now? Did you two broker a deal? Is that what’s going on?” Banes sounds frantic, his voice pitching higher and higher with each word.

“Mr. Banes,” Bonnet says, in a voice so imperious it makes Banes stop breathing. Ed knows without a doubt that Bonnet used that exact tone of voice on his son countless times when Stede was a child. No wonder Stede hates him so much. What a fucking asshole. “Would you please tell me what happened on September 30, 2012?” 

Wow, opening with a bang. That’s the day Ricky lost his nose.

Banes’s eyes go wide. He reaches up to touch his nose and takes a step back. “N-nothing happened! Why do you ask?”

“What about on April 14, 2014?”

First illegal offshore account.

“Nothing!”

“And August 27, 2017?”

First bribe paid to a judge.

“ Nothing! ” Banes shrieks, lunging toward the folder in front of Bonnet. Fang and Ivan move to stop him, but Ed sticks out a leg and trips Ricky first, sending him sprawling to the ground. “Where did you get this?” he shouts, whipping his head back and forth to look at every person in the room.

Ed squats down, knee be damned, so he can look Ricky in the eye when he says, “He got it from me. And he’s going to use it to destroy you. Goodbye, takeover bid of Blackbeard’s. Goodbye, Prince Corporation and all its sleazy dealings. And most importantly, goodbye, Richard Banes.”

“No! No, no, you — you can’t do this!” Banes screams, scrambling to get off the floor. He rounds on Bonnet. “You! You’ll pay for this!”

“Oh, Richard, I most sincerely doubt it. A copy of everything in this folder has been sent to the police, the S.E.C., as well as every newspaper, television station, and news magazine in the city. Your Christmas present from me is a one-way ticket to a jail cell.”

Little cliche, but Ed doesn’t expect creativity from Bonnet. Doesn’t really matter, in the end: Banes collapses onto the ground and starts blubbering, begging for Bonnet to change his mind and take it all back, trying to make some sort of deal to save his skin.

A phone alarm goes off. Izzy pulls his phone out of his pocket and turns it off. “Time to go, Ed,” he says.

“Fuck. Yeah, okay. Thanks.” Ed makes eye contact with the rest of his group, just to triple check that they’re really fine with him leaving. They are. And they’re right: they’ve got this.

Ed walks away without another word to Banes. He’s not sure the man even realizes he’s leaving, he’s so distraught. And that, Ed decides, is the last time he’ll ever think about Richard Fucking Banes.

It’s 6:28 when Ed pulls his car out of the parking garage. A text from his mom pops up on his car’s display, so he taps the preview and waits for the car to read it to him.

“Izzy called and said you were leaving to drive home. I know you’re excited, but please drive safely, okay? There, mom duty done. Now, go get your man.”

Ed smiles and shakes his head. She’s not wrong, though, about driving safely. Ed would speed the whole way there if he could, but he knows Stede would rather he arrive late and alive then get a phone call no one should have to receive. So he takes a deep breath and eases off the gas a little. Even with a stop to refuel and to pee, he has time. He’ll make it.

~~

Fucking fucking fucking fuck, why are there still construction lane closures on December fucking 24th?!?! What sort of state even does road construction in the winter? Fucking amateur hour! Ed looks at the clock, like it’s somehow changed in the ten times he’s looked at it in the past minute. Okay. It’s 10:43, and he has an hour left on his drive. He’s gonna make it.

~~

He’s 32 minutes from Stede’s house when traffic stops again. He sees flashing lights ahead, just cops and no ambulance. That’s a good sign. Probably no one got hurt. He looks at the clock. 11:19. Fuck. Fucking. Fuckity. Fuck.

~~

He speeds a little once he’s past the accident and makes up 3 minutes, cursing as he parks in Stede’s driveway. It’s 11:55. Ed bolts out of the car, almost tripping when he gets tangled up in his seatbelt. Stede’s Christmas lights are still on, but Ed knows those are on a timer that shuts off at midnight, so that doesn’t mean Stede’s awake. He hopes he is, though. He hopes he is.

Ed reaches the door and rings the bell, then rings it again when no one answers. He starts pounding on the door and shouting Stede’s name, not caring that it’s Christmas Eve and Stede’s neighbors are probably sleeping. The houses here are far enough apart that they most likely can’t hear him anyway, and if they can, fuck them. They don’t matter. Stede is the only thing that matters.

Ed rings the bell again. And again. Fuck. Fuck. What if Stede isn’t here? Like actually isn’t here? Oh, god, what if he went somewhere else for Christmas Eve and didn’t tell Ed, and he’s there right now hoping and wishing that Ed will somehow magically show up and sweep him off his feet like one of those cheesy Hallmark movies Stede secretly loves so much and Ed is here and not there and now —

A light turns on upstairs. Ed rings the bell again. “Stede!” he calls through the door. He checks his watch. It’s 11:58.

He looks through the little windows on the sides of Stede’s door and watches as Stedeslowly makes his way down the staircase, rubbing sleep from his eyes and tying the sash of his favorite mustard yellow robe around his waist.

It’s 11:59. The porch light flickers on. Stede opens the door. 

“Ed?” He asks, confused. He rubs his eyes like he can’t believe what he’s seeing. He’s rumpled and bleary and achingly beautiful.

“Stede. It’s 11:59.”

Stede’s face scrunches up adorably. “Okay?”

“It’s 11:59 on Christmas Eve.”

“Mm-hmm, you just said th— oh.” Ed watches with delight as Stede realizes what Ed is saying. “Ed. It’s 11:59. On Christmas Eve. And you’re here. You — you came back.”

“I will never leave again.”

~~

It’s quiet in Stede’s house. It’s quiet in Stede’s room, in his bed, where they’re laying together, just gazingat each other under the warm glow of a string of fairy lights Stede grabbed from around the fireplace as they walked past and strung up over his bed. He keeps reaching out and touching Ed, like he can’t quite believe Ed is here, wiggling happily every time he feels solid flesh beneath his fingers. 

It’s warm in Stede’s room. It’s warm in his bed, under his covers, in his flannel pajamas he handed to Ed with a shy look, like maybe he was worried Ed would be upset if he didn’t want anything physical right now, but Ed kissed him and put them on and told him this was good, this was perfect, this was what he wanted, too, just to be near Stede, to be by his side, to hear him breathing. It feels big, like even though he was only gone for a few days, coming back has helped heal something deep inside of Stede he thought no one would ever be able to reach. 

There’s love in Ed’s heart. There’s love and joy and an overwhelming sense of belonging, of being home, and home is a place but it’s a person, too, and that person is looking at him like all his dreams have come true, and the love in Ed’s heart bubbles and bursts and spills up into his throat, into his mouth, across his tongue. It presses against his teeth, his lips, and Ed — Ed wants to say it. So he does.

“I love you,” he says, simple as that. 

Stede inhales, a deep sharp breath, and he smiles, wide enough that his dimple pops, and Ed rests his thumb there because he wants to and he can. It makes Stede smile even wider and blink a few times, lazy and sweet, and Ed loves him so much he doesn’t know how his skin is strong enough to contain it all. 

“That’s…that’s,” Stede says, breathy, joyous, and Ed drags his thumb from Stede’s dimple to his lips. Stede kisses it and falls silent again, waiting to see what Ed will do next. He looks so soft and golden, like he’s glowing and it has nothing to do with the lights. He looks like he’s in love, too.

Ed brushes his thumb across Stede’s lips a few times, and Stede catches Ed’s wrist in his hand so he can gently move it so Ed’s cupping his face instead of covering his lips. 

“‘That’s lovely,’ is what I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted,” Stede says, his eyes sparkling with delight.

“I think ‘rudely’ is a bit of a stretch.”

“You’re a bit of a stretch.”

Ed waggles his eyebrows. “I mean…”

Stede snorts and presses a kiss to Ed’s palm. “Later.”

“I know. I’m not trying to push, I was just —”

“I know,” Stede says, cutting him off because he doesn’t need an apology for a joke he clearly understood was a joke. “You know what else I know?”

“What?”

“That I love you.”

Ed blushes. “Awgh, walked right into that one.”

Stede giggles and scoots closer on the bed. He yawns, his jaw cracking with it. “Think some of the adrenaline of you showing up is wearing off.”

“That’s okay. We should get some sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep. I want to stay up all night just looking at you. You’re so beautiful, Ed, it takes my breath away.”

“Stede,” Ed says, hiding his face in a pillow. “You can’t just say things like that.”

“Tough shit, get used to it. If I want to tell the man I love that he’s beautiful, I’m damn well going to.”  He sweeps Ed’s hair off of his neck and kisses the exposed skin.

“I like being the man you love,” Ed says into the pillow.

“Yeah?”

Ed nods and decides to be brave and look at Stede. “Feels nice.”

“Good. Feels nice to love you.”

“Feels nice to be the person it feels nice to love.”

“Well, in that case, it feels nice to love the person who feels nice to be loved and — wait. I’ve lost track.”

Ed giggles. He giggles and giggles and the giggles turn into laughs and the laughs turn into guffaws, and before he knows it, he and Stede are both laughing so hard they have tears running down their faces and their stomachs hurt. It’s not even funny. Nothing is funny. It’s just late and they’re tired and their emotions are running high. Ed’s laughter dies down, and he’s suddenly exhausted. It’s been a long few days and a tense drive, and all he wants right now is to fall asleep in Stede’s arms. And isn’t he lucky because he can do just that.

“Hey,” Ed says once Stede’s stopped laughing, too. “I’m really tired now. Can you hold me while I fall asleep?”

Stede settles himself on the bed and holds his arms open so Ed can curl up in them exactly how he likes best. Stede kisses the top of Ed’s head.

It’s quiet in Stede’s house. It’s quiet in his room, in his bed, the only sound the lengthening breaths they take as they draw closer and closer to sleep. “Ed,” Stede whispers, almost as quiet as the house.

“Hmm?”

“You came back at 11:59.”

“Mm.”

“You made it home for Christmas. Just like you promised.”

“Yeah,” Ed mumbles sleepily against Stede’s chest.

Stede’s quiet a moment, taking it all in as he slowly strokes Ed’s hair. “Wow,” he finally breathes.

It’s warm where Ed is pressed against Stede, where his arm is wrapped around Stede’s waist, where his feet are tucked between Stede’s shins. It’s warm under the blankets and it’s warm in the room and it’s warm in Ed’s heart because he loves Stede and knows he’s loved in return. His eyes slip shut, and the last thought that passes through his head is wow indeed.

Chapter Text

Ed blinks awake to moonlight filtering in through the bedroom curtains and Stede smiling down at him, his head resting on his hand. “Oh, good. You’re awake,” is all the warning Ed gets before Stede is kissing him hungrily. Ed laughs against his mouth, groaning with disappointment when he realizes he needs to pee. Stede pouts prettily when Ed tells him, but he lets Ed scramble out of the bed after promising he’ll be right back.

Ed’s buzzing with excitement and arousal as he goes to the bathroom, washes his hands, and grabs the toothbrush he’s used at Stede’s place before. He starts going through Stede’s cabinets looking for body wipes while he brushes his teeth, hoping he can do a little pits and bits wash after the long day at the office yesterday. He makes a little “yay” sound when he finds them, pulling one out once he’s done brushing.

Refreshed, he hurries back to the bedroom. Back to Stede. Stede, who is waiting for him on the bed, looking sweet laying on his back, eyes closed, a smile curling at his lips before they drop open to release a small snore. Disappointment is quickly shuffled out of the way by fondness as Ed sneaks back to the bed where Stede has fallen asleep, the adorable tease. It is still dark outside, and Ed did wake him when he arrived a few hours earlier, so it’s not exactly a surprise that Stede’s so tired, Ed supposes. He curls up to Stede’s side and chuckles when he thinks about how annoyed Stede will be with himself when he does wake up again and realizes what happened. Stede makes a sound that’s halfway between a snore and a snuffle, and Ed feels grateful down to his toes that he gets to learn that Stede’s the kind of person who snores. And snuffles. Snoruffles. Ed giggles. He can’t wait to tease Stede about it later. Ed closes his eyes and starts counting Stede’s snoruffles. He falls asleep somewhere between six and seven.

Soft light floods the room when Ed wakes again. Not sunlight exactly, more like the sun is making it known that it’s out there somewhere behind a wall of gloomy gray clouds. Stede is leaning against the headboard, reading quietly, those cute reading glasses that drive Ed nuts perched on his nose. 

“Mm,” Ed mumbles, snuggling closer to Stede.

“I cannot believe,” Stede grumps, “I fell asleep earlier.” He places his bookmark carefully before setting the book back on his nightstand. The glasses, Ed notes happily, stay on.

“”S okay,” Ed says into Stede’s ribcage where he’s pressed his face. Fucking loves this ribcage, all broad and flexy. “Got to learn something new about you because you did.”

Stede huffs. “What, that I can’t stay awake long enough to fuck my boyfriend?”

“Nnnnope,” Ed draws out just to annoy Stede further. He’s so fucking cute when he’s annoyed.

“Edward,” Stede says in that low, warning tone of voice he uses when he’s done talking around the subject and wants to know the answer already. It makes Ed shiver.

“You snore.”

Stede goes intensely still. “I do not,” he says.

“Mm-hmm, you do. Cute little snores. Most of the time they combine with a sort of snuffle sound.”

“Lies.”

“Snore snuffle. Snoruffle. You snoruffle, Stede.”

“Take it back,” Stede says, narrowing his eyes at Ed.

Ed giggles. “Can’t take back the truth, love.”

“Ed,” Stede says, reaching over so he can poke Ed’s side. “Take. It. Back.” He’s trying to be stern, but Ed can see him fighting not to smile, so he’s pretty sure Stede will be on board with him looking Stede dead in the eyes, tilting up his chin, and saying, “Make me.”

Stede gasps exaggeratedly, raising his hand to his throat like he’s clutching invisible pearls. “I intend to,” he growls playfully, lunging for Ed, who squeals with delight.

“Please,” Ed begs after what feels like five hours but is probably more like fifteen minutes. After Stede had pounced on Ed, he’d pinned him to the bed, using his body to keep Ed in place as he set his glasses aside and rummaged for some lube in his nightstand and proceeded to start fingering Ed within an inch of his life. He still has two thick fingers inside Ed now, grinding them slowly against Ed’s prostate, his other hand lightly stroking Ed’s cock. It’s just enough to drive Ed wild but not enough to actually make him come. Which is exactly what Stede is going for, the sadist. “Stede, please. ”

“You know exactly what you need to do to come,” Stede says archly, squeezing the base of Ed’s cock when he pushes his hips off the bed to try and get more friction. Stede tsks, and it sends a wave of arousal skittering across Ed’s skin. 

He wants Ed to take it back. About the snoruffles. It’s literally all Ed has to say, and he’ll get to come. But fuck, it’s been a long time since he got to play like this in bed, got to draw out his pleasure with someone who was equally stubborn and wouldn’t give in just because he whined and batted his eyelids prettily. 

“Fine, fine,” he gasps after Stede aims a particularly perfect thrust. “I take it back.”

“Oh, good —”

“It’s more of a huff than a snuffle. Maybe a wheeze. A snore and a wheeze.”

“Edward, there is no way on God’s Green Earth that I sneeze .”

“Oh, fuck,” Ed giggles, covering his face with his hands. Sneeze. That’s too much.

“Or,” Stede continues, in a tone that suggests he’s had a particularly amusing thought. Ed loves the way Stede’s face looks when he’s amused, doesn’t want to miss it, so he peeks up at Stede between his fingers to find him smirking, his eyes sparkling. “Combine it the other way and I whore .”

“No!” Ed barks, dissolving into helpless, gasping laughter punctuated with breathless little sounds because Stede is still fucking fingering him, the absolute madman. 

“Snoruffle sounds a bit better now, doesn’t it.”

“You asshole, I love you so much,” Ed says, and it’s Stede’s turn to laugh as Ed surges up off the bed to pull Stede into a crushing kiss. They’re both smiling too big for it to be a good kiss, but Ed doesn’t give a shit about that. He’s had plenty of good kisses from bad lovers. He’ll take a bad kiss from a good partner any day of the week. Even a bad kiss from Stede is still good because it’s Stede and Ed loves him, and he loves Ed, and who else would come up with such ridiculous portmanteaus in bed just to make him laugh? That’s keeper material right there.

Stede’s giggles turn into a breathless gasp when Ed surprises him by grabbing his waist and manhandling him onto his back. He wiggles as he burrows into the blankets, looking up at Ed with hunger and wonder and joy. 

Ed’s not sure what his own face is doing, but it must be something good, something open and gentle and adoring, because Stede senses the change in his energy and settles beneath Ed, clutching at the bedding while he waits to see what Ed will do next.

“Get the lube,” Ed instructs, and Stede hurries to comply. He pats around the bed enthusiastically as Ed clambers up Stede’s body, not as sexy as he’d like — as much as Ed loves it, this position is kind of hell on his knee, especially after a long car ride the night before — but Stede doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he looks incredibly in favor of proceedings when Ed situates himself on Stede’s lap, his eyes widening adorably as he inhales sharply. Ed kneels up so he can grasp Stede’s cock, already hard just from fingering Ed, from giving Ed pleasure, and isn’t that an incredible feeling, to know Stede wants him so much he doesn’t even need to be touched to get this aroused. Ed brings Stede’s cock to his hole, lets the tip kiss it gently, and rubs the head slowly back and forth so he can feel the way it catches on his rim.

“Lube?” Ed reminds Stede, who’s stopped looking for it in favor of staring up at Ed, mouth open in disbelief like he can’t believe Ed is real. Stede curses and starts patting around the bed again, and Ed sighs happily, reveling in the way Stede’s cock feels as it catches and gently tugs on the hairs around his hole. Stede smiles as he presents the lube to Ed with a flourish. Ed chuckles and holds his hand out so Stede can squeeze some onto his palm. He reaches back and slicks up his hole and Stede’s cock, chuckling when Stede hisses and tosses the lube away so he can grasp desperately at Ed’s thighs as Ed starts sinking down. 

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of that initial stretch, and Ed likes to really feel it, so he takes his time, reveling in the almost overwhelming pressure and fullness. Ed twists his hips a little, and Stede’s hands fly there to feel the movement. He’s holding on for dear life, eyes shut tight and brows furrowed like he’s concentrating hard not to come. 

“You close?” Ed asks. Stede whimpers and nods, can’t even look at Ed, and he’s so sweet and so lovely. He makes Ed feel incredibly wanted. “Me too,” Ed admits, surprising himself a little at how true it is.

“Oh, thank fuck,” Stede sighs in relief. He opens his eyes and matches Ed’s smile when Ed giggles at his endearing honesty. Ed works himself down on Stede’s cock, and he’s open enough from the through fingering that it doesn’t take long before he’s seated in Stede’s lap. He takes himself in hand and starts stroking his cock. Stede moans at the sight. His hands clutch even tighter at Ed’s hips, and he’s making the most beautiful sounds, little aahs and groans and grunts that sound punched out of him. His eyes are wide open like he doesn’t want to miss a second of watching Ed, like Ed’s pleasure is his favorite thing in the world to see. Fuck, no one has ever looked at him like Stede does.

“You feel so fucking good,” Ed says, picking up the pace so he’s riding Stede in earnest now, sore knee be damned. “You make me feel so good, Stede, you — I —”

Stede is gasping and moaning now, bucking his hips up when Ed bottoms out, and the angle is exactly what Ed needs to feel his orgasm start building low in his pelvis. He lets Stede take over when he feels Stede’s hand at his cock, and he leans down and rests his arms on Stede’s torso, solid and strong beneath him. Ed tries to kiss him, but they’re both too worked up, too close to orgasm to do anything but breathe each other’s air. Fuck, that feels more intimate than anything else they’ve done so far, and he doesn’t know why, only that it does. And that he wants more.

“Stede,” he whispers, his breath a caress across Stede’s lips. “You make me feel — fuck. You make me feel like me.”

Stede gasps, hand stuttering as he thrusts up hard, and he moans against Ed’s lips as he comes. Ed groans and grinds down on Stede’s cock to work him through his orgasm, leaning back a bit so he can thrust up into the now-slack grip of Stede’s hand. Ed’s so fucking close. He just needs a little more friction and he’ll be there, a stroke or a squeeze or something, fucking hell.

“Please,” Ed begs, past caring what he sounds like. “Stede, please.” Stede must hear him through the haze because he tightens his grip and gives Ed two firm strokes, and that’s all it takes for him to come, spilling with a whine onto Stede’s belly and up his chest. Ed collapses onto Stede, knowing Stede can handle his weight. He feels strong arms wrap around him, and he tucks his face into Stede’s neck and lets him hold him close as they both catch their breaths.

Ed’s legs are still straddled around Stede, and eventually the stretch in his hips becomes too much, so he lets himself slide off Stede, who makes the cutest little disapproving noise. Ed curls up next to him, sweetly tucked up under Stede’s arm, chuckling at the adorable man beside him who doesn’t want even an inch of space between them.

“Not going anywhere, love.”

“Good. I don’t want you to.”

“I won’t. You’ll get sick of me before I voluntarily move.”

“Not possible.”

He says it so simply, like it’s an irrefutable fact. Maybe it is, to him. That sort of certainty is going to take some getting used to, but oh, Ed can’t wait to get started. “You really mean that, don’t you,” Ed says, more a statement than a question.

“Mean what? That I won’t get sick of you?”

“Yeah.”

“I do,” Stede tells him, and it’s not just the trail of his fingertips up and down Ed’s arm that leave goosebumps on his skin. “Did you mean it? What you said earlier?”

“Probably, but can you be more specific?”

Stede takes a moment to answer, and when he does his voice is soft and reverent. “You said I make you feel like you.”

Ed kisses him on the stubbled jaw. “Yeah. Never meant anything more in my life.”

Stede smiles. His eyes are shining, but Ed can tell they’re happy tears gathering, so he pays them no mind. “That’s probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“The nicest thing so far. Looking forward to breaking my own record many, many times.”

Stede’s breath catches as he inhales, and his smile is stretched wide across his face as he closes his eyes. A tear winds its way down to the pillow, then another, and Ed kisses the closest part of Stede he can reach and simply says, “I love you, too.”

“Fuck, we’re filthy. Gonna have to shower,” Ed says a few minutes later, once the tears have dried on Stede’s face.

“Mm, yeah. Not yet.”

“You sure? Not too cold or anything?” Ed is warm where Stede is touching him, but the rest of his skin is starting to cool off, and he knows he’s going to start shivering soon if they don’t either get up or find a blanket.

Stede shakes his head. “I just want to lie here with you for a while and bask because,” he says, mouth twisting into a smirk, “I have been dreaming of a white Christmas.”

“No,” Ed whispers, lips twitching as he tries not to laugh.

“You’ve really…jingled my bells.”

“Oh, my god .”

“Frosted my snowman, as it were.”

Ed is practically beside himself at this point, but his croaked out, “yeah, well you decked my halls” finally makes Stede break, too.

~~

It’s almost noon by the time they make it downstairs, freshly showered but still only dressed in their favorite robes. They don’t need to be at Ed’s mom’s house until 3:00, and it’s nice to just take some time and lounge around with Stede, cuddling and kissing when they want to, lazing in bed, whispering sweet nothings. Things people do when they’re stupidly in love, Ed realizes, and the thought fills him with joy. 

They make sandwiches too big for their mouths and eat the leftover fruit on sticks that got delivered yesterday, and Ed only pretends to fellate it one time, which is a real show of restraint, in his opinion. Stede doesn’t even laugh, he just stares at Ed as his pupils dilate, and as Ed sinks to his knees he thinks about how the true Christmas miracle this year may be their refractory times.

Mugs of hot cocoa help soothe two slightly sore throats after a couple of fantastic blow jobs, and Ed feels fucked out and content and more happy than he has in years. Maybe ever. He tells Stede, who smiles sweetly and reaches across the kitchen table to hold Ed’s hand, rubbing his thumb across Ed’s knuckles as they finish their mugs of cocoa in companionable silence, happy just to breathe the same air for a while.

“Hey, do you have any wrapping paper?” Ed asks as he’s rinsing out their mugs and putting them in Stede’s dishwasher. “I could use some to wrap your presents.”

“Shit, I can’t believe I almost forgot about presents! And of course I have wrapping paper, Edward. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Ed snorts. “Yeah, what was I thinking? I bet you have like twelve different kinds with matching ribbon and bows and shit.”

“Oh, at least. ”

Stede leads him upstairs and into one of the spare bedrooms, pulling out all his wrapping paper storage boxes, ribbon, and bows. Ed’s eyes cross a little bit at all the choices, but Stede just laughs and kisses Ed on the cheek and tells him to take his time, that Stede will be waiting downstairs by the tree when he’s ready.

Ed stares at all the wrapping paper for a good ten minutes trying to decide which one he thinks Stede will like best before he realizes that Stede bought all of them and probably would like any of them, and it won’t matter anyway because whatever paper he chooses is just going to get torn off and recycled in like half an hour at most, so there’s really no reason to sweat this decision. So he picks one. Then changes his mind three times before just grabbing a tube and wrapping Stede’s gifts, sighing at himself the whole time.

He’s procrastinating, is the thing. Which is stupid because this is Stede, and Stede loves him and will like any gift Ed gets him because Ed got it. He just…really hopes he hasn’t overstepped with the whole “Hey, I managed to get ownership of the whole town and more from your dad, here you go!” thing. Feels like it’s pretty romantic, but maybe Stede won’t see it that way? Maybe he’ll feel like it’s condescending or something? 

He must be taking longer than he realizes as he spirals over the gifts because there’s a soft knock at the door followed by a concerned-sounding Stede asking, “Ed? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, fuck, sorry,” Ed calls back. “I’m just being stupid.”

“I doubt that’s the case, but please don’t worry, okay? Whatever it is you’re worrying about.”

“How do you know I’m worrying? Maybe I’m just being incredibly meticulous with my wrapping.”

“Well, you’ve been in here for almost half an hour, so…”

Fucking busted. 

“Listen,” Stede continues through the door, “You already gave me the best Christmas gift anyone possibly could have by showing up last night, so whatever else you have is just a bonus, all right?”

Ed needs to wrap his arms around this man immediately, so he rushes to the door and tugs it open. Stede lets out a surprised oof before he hugs Ed back, kissing the top of Ed’s head when he buries his face in Stede’s neck. 

“Hey,” Stede says, his hand a comforting weight brushing up and down Ed’s back. 

“It’s stupid,” Ed repeats before Stede can say anything else.

“Definitely don’t think it is, especially considering this reaction.”

Ed sighs and burrows further. “I second-guessed myself with your gifts and panicked a little. It’s going to take some getting used to, is all.”

“Mm,” Stede soothes. “What is?”

“This. Us. Or not us, not really, but knowing that you’re safe. That we’re safe. That even if I fuck up sometimes you’ll still be there to help me set things right.”

“If it makes you feel any better, it’s an adjustment for me, too, especially in a relationship.”

“I know. Yeah. Doesn’t exactly make me feel better, but it’s nice not to be alone in this. It’s like…” Ed pauses so he can kiss Stede’s neck while he gathers his thoughts and leans back. He wants to look Stede in the eye for this. “It’s like I was a tightrope walker, you know? Balancing everything myself, scared to look down because it was a long way to fall, and at the bottom there were like sharks and spiders and all sorts of scary shit ready to hurt me when I fell.”

Stede hums in sympathy, and Ed can’t help but reach up to smooth out the lines that appear on his forehead as he frowns at Ed’s description of his struggles. “And what I like — no, what I love — about us, what we’re doing for each other as boyfriends is that we aren’t saving each other. You aren’t suddenly deciding to pluck me off that high wire and whisk me away to somewhere less perilous. You’re chasing away the sharks and putting cushions down below the wire and cheering me on, so now when I do fall, it’s not so far, and it won’t hurt, and I know you’ll be there to kiss me and tell me to try again. And when I get back on the rope, I won’t be as scared. And I won’t be so worried about falling again.”

“Oh, Ed,” Stede says tightly, eyes glittering.

“I think I lost the plot a bit with that metaphor, but —” Stede interrupts him with a kiss, and that’s good, that’s nice. The perfect way to take Ed out of his head for a second and let him reset.

“You didn’t lose the plot. I know exactly what you mean,” Stede tells him earnestly. Ed sighs, happy and a little relieved, and rests his forehead against Stede’s. Stede hums again, sweetly this time, and Ed likes how much he does that, how he has all these different little hums and noises that Ed gets to learn and catalogue. Stede nuzzles his nose against Ed’s, which makes Ed giggle a little. Strong nose, Stede has, with a lovely shape. Ed could nuzzle it forever and die happy.

“You’d make a great tightrope walker,” Stede says, probably just to make Ed laugh, and the look on his face when Ed leans back to check confirms his suspicion.

“You think?”

Stede nods. “I do. You’re strong and bold, and you’d look really good in a tight, sparkly uniform.”

Ed barks out a laugh. “You just want to see me in spandex.”

“Mm, guilty.”

“Maybe a nice purple number.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“You know, some old-timey performers used to walk the tightrope in like a regular shirt and high-waisted cropped pants that really accentuated certain assets, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh, that’s…” Ed watches Stede’s eyes unfocus as he thinks about Ed in a pair of those pants.

“Should we run away and start an old-timey circus?”

“What would my job be?”

“Stede, are you fucking kidding me?” Ed runs his hands up and down Stede’s torso. “With this barrel chest and those legs? You have to be the strongman. You’d look incredible in one of those singlets with the narrow straps and a low scoop neck. Ooh, and a belt to cinch your waist in.”

Stede giggles. “Sounds like we’ve found our Halloween costumes.”

Now it’s Ed’s turn to bluescreen as he thinks about Stede as an old-timey strongman.

Stede laughs again and kisses Ed’s nose. “As much as I’d love a round three, I think the mind is more willing than the flesh at this point. And we probably don’t have time for that and opening presents before we have to head over to your mom’s house, so —”

“Round three later, presents now. I’m good, I feel good about it. The presents, I mean. And generally. Thank you for helping me work through that. And before you even say it, I know you think it’s not necessary to say thank you, but tough shit. I want to. Because I love and appreciate you, so let me.”

“Okay,” Stede says, swallowing down the denial he very clearly was going to give. “In that case, you’re welcome.”

Ed kisses his cheek. “I know that was hard for you. And now I’ll change the subject and let you off the hook. Presents. I’ll grab yours and meet you downstairs in a sec, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” 

Stede looks a little dazed as he heads downstairs, but pleasantly so, like he’s happy but still not at all used to someone else knowing him so well. He looks back at Ed and gives a silly little wave when he reaches the bottom of the stairs, and Ed loves him so fucking much. Gone are all his worries and concerns about the gifts he has for Stede. He’s going to love them. But first Ed has to actually give them to him , so he rushes back into the bedroom to grab the two wrapped presents and heads downstairs after Stede.

Stede’s sitting criss-cross applesauce on the floor in front of the Christmas tree, two small but meticulously wrapped boxes resting in his lap. Ed wiggles happily as he sits down in front of Stede and mirrors his position, knees touching when he settles, because those boxes are for Ed! He’s going to open presents on Christmas! Fuck yeah!

“Can you open mine first?” Stede blurts out before they can even exchange gifts. “I don’t think I can wait any longer.”

“Course, love. Hand them over.” Stede laughs at the grabby hands Ed makes, a little nervously, but that’s all right. Ed gets it. He felt the same way a few minutes ago.

“Wait!” Stede shouts as Ed starts opening the smaller of the two boxes. Ed freezes. “Sorry. Shit, sorry,” Stede apologizes. “I meant to ask you to open the bigger box first.”

Ed sets the smaller box down with a gentle pat, smoothing down the corner of the wrapping paper he’d torn open. It’s nice paper and not, Ed is pleased to note, the pattern he chose to wrap Stede’s gifts with. He picks up the bigger box and double checks with Stede before he starts opening it. Stede is drumming his fingers where they’re resting on his legs as he watches Ed carefully and meticulously open the present. Stede did such a nice job wrapping it, is the thing, and it makes Ed feel like he should take the same sort of care opening it.

“Ed, please, it’s just wrapping paper!” bursts from Stede’s mouth before he can stop himself. Ed freezes, and Stede slaps his hands over his mouth, muffling his murmured “sorry.”

“You did such a nice job, is all. I don’t want to tear it.”

“Of course, and that’s fine,” is what Ed thinks Stede tells him. It’s still muffled because he hasn’t moved his hands.

“But I will concede that I can probably find a balance between opening the present carefully and not taking all day.”

“Oh, thank god,” is definitely what Stede mumbles this time.

Ed works faster and gets the paper off of the box and opens the lid to find a cookie inside, shaped like a house, meticulously decorated. Meticulously decorated to look like Stede’s house, Ed realizes with an awwww! “Babe, it’s your house!”

“It is.”

“That’s so cute, thank you!”

“There’s a note, too.”

Ed peeks back into the box and sees a folded piece of stationary. “Shit, you’re right.” He pulls the paper out to find Stede’s familiar handwriting. Home is where the heart is: your heart, my home.

“Stede,” Ed gasps, clutching the paper to his chest like he’s a Victorian lady who’s just caught the vapors. “You wrote me a lovely note.” Ed carefully sets the note aside before Stede can ask him to open the next box because he can see that Stede is practically vibrating out of his skin. He tears into the second box and lifts the lid to find a key attached to a Bennet Bay keychain, sitting on a bed of red velvet fabric. Huh. A key.

Stede looks expectant when Ed looks up at him to say thank you, and he realizes he’s missing something, so he looks back down at the key. The key in a box. That Stede gave to Ed. After he gave him a cookie shaped like a house. That looks like Stede’s — oh, holy fuck. Ed’s gaze snaps back to Stede.

“Stede. Is this a key to your house?”

Stede bites his lip and nods.

It comes out softer than he means it when Ed asks, “Are you — you really mean it?” 

Stede nods again. “Of course I really mean it. I know it’s fast. Comically fast. But it doesn’t feel wrong, Ed, not to me. It just feels like home when you’re here.”

Ed picks up the key so he can hold it tight. “It doesn’t feel wrong to me, either. Or too fast. I love your home. Ask me.”

Stede beams. “Ed, will you move in with me?”

“Fuck yes,” Ed promises, clambering up so he can tackle Stede to the floor and kiss him senseless. Stede laughs and kisses him and kisses him and kisses him.

“I know you’ll have to settle things in New York,” Stede says when they can both talk again, “But I’ve been cleaning out some drawers and things, making lists of furniture I can get rid of to make space for your things. It’s my home, yes, but I want to make it our home. And if that feels like an insurmountable task, then we can sell this place and find somewhere new and make it ours together. A fresh house for our fresh start, as it were.”

“Okay,” Ed says, kissing Stede again because he doesn’t know how to express all of the emotions bouncing around his chest. “That’s a good plan. I like that plan. And I like you. ”

“I like you too,” Stede seals with a kiss. “Now give me my presents.”

Ed laughs and does just that. “Open the squishy one first,” he directs, knowing it will make Stede squeeze the present. Stede rips into the wrapping paper like it insulted him personally, gasping when he pulls out the scarf Ed knitted.

“Oh, Ed, it’s beautiful!” He wraps it around his neck, and the color looks gorgeous on him, just like Ed hoped it would. “You made this for me?”

“Mm-hmm, because your neck was always getting cold. It’s the first thing I’ve ever knitted.” 

“Ed,” Stede repeats, like he’s overwhelmed and can’t say anything else, not that Ed minds. He loves all the different ways Stede says his name. Stede’s looking at the scarf with wonder in his eyes, and Ed has never loved him more for not mentioning all the mistakes and the uneven stitches. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Stede holds up the knitting needle and ball of yarn still attached to one end of the scarf. “What are these, though?”

“Yeah, I forgot how to bind off and panicked, so I left them there. My mom will be able to help us, so we should take the scarf with us to her house.”

“Okay, yes, let’s do that.”

“And maybe be a little careful with the end there so the stitches don’t fall off and the scarf starts unraveling.”

“Right. Being careful with the end of the scarf,” Stede says as he follows Ed’s instructions and very carefully unwinds the scarf from his neck, folds it, and pats the torn wrapping down into a little nest so he can set the scarf down on top of it. “Can I open the other one now? I have to admit, the shape is intriguing.”

They both look down to where a wrapped legal-size folder is sitting on the floor, waiting to be opened. 

“Yeah,” Ed tells him, confident now that Stede will love what’s inside. “Open it, babe.”

“Yay!” Stede chirps, clapping his hands twice before reaching for the folder. He’s more careful with the wrapping paper this time, probably because he doesn’t want to accidentally tear what’s inside, guessing that it could be fragile. “Oh, it’s a folder,” Stede says, trying but ultimately failing not to sound incredibly disappointed.

“Stede, oh my god,” Ed laughs, waiting for Stede to catch on that he has to actually open the folder.

“Come on, Stede, get it together,” Stede says, laughing at himself with a wry shake of the head. “I guess the whole ‘move in with me thing’ scrambled my brain.”

“Aww, babe, you have a crush on me. How embarrassing!”

“Shut up!” Stede gripes goodnaturedly as he opens the folder. Ed watches Stede’s eyes as they glide down the page, his smile turning into disbelief the more he reads. He whips his head up when he gets to the bottom. “Ed, what — how — I don’t —” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Is this what I think it is?”

“What do you think it is?” Ed asks gently.

“I think it’s the deed to the building where The Revenge is.”

“Yeah, yep. That’s what it is.”

“But it’s in your name.”

“It is.”

“Edward. How is it in your name? My father owns this building.” 

“Keep going.”

“What?”

Ed nods at the folder in Stede’s hands. “Keep going.”

Stede shakes his head and turns the page. His eyes go wide as he reads. He flips to the next page. And the next. His hand flies to cover his mouth, so he has to stop, and when he looks up at Ed again there are tears pooling in his eyes. “Edward,” he says, his voice thick. “How did you get these from my father?”

“I traded him something he wanted more.”

“What did you give him? I don’t understand, I don’t —”

“There’s this guy, Richard Banes. He’s an asshole. He was trying to take over my company, and your father hates him, so I found evidence that Banes was doing some very illegal things and traded that information to your father, who hates Banes more than I do.”

“And he gave you all of this in exchange?”

“Stede,” Ed says solemnly as he takes Stede’s hand in his. “He gave me everything he has in the entire state of Maine. This folder is just the deeds he had on hand. The rest will be arriving in the next few weeks.”

Stede’s eyes go impossibly wider as he realizes the full implications of what Ed is telling him. “You mean to tell me that you now own everything my father did?”

Ed nods. “I do. For now. After the New Year, I want to start transferring properties, give them to you and to the people who run the shops, who live in the houses. Maybe let them buy it off me cheap if they want to do it that way, I know how some people can be about what they feel is charity, but yes, Stede. Yes. I own everything your father did. You will never be beholden to him again.”

Stede snuffles and covers his face as he bursts into tears. Ed shuffles over so he can pull Stede into his arms and hold him as he cries. It’s a good one, too, deep and cathartic. A cry that’s been a long time coming and will feel both exhausting and incredibly relieving once it’s over. 

“I can’t believe you did all this and all I gave you was a cookie and a fucking key!” Stede wails into Ed’s chest when he’s finally able to speak. 

“Stede, no, you gave me a place in your home, that’s not —” Ed says, trying desperately not to laugh because Stede is obviously distressed, but this is what he’s focusing on?

“Oh, just accept the fucking compliment, Edward!” Stede bitches as he wipes his face with the sleeve of his robe. “You absolute bastard, how dare you give me the most insanely romantic gift anyone could possibly give another person this soon into our relationship? I’ll never be able to match this, I hope you realize that, so you had better temper your expectations now.”

Ed laughs and kisses the top of Stede’s head. “It’s not a competition, babe.”

“No, it’s not, but only because you’ve already fucking won!”

“I’ll fucking win you. ”

Stede sits up just so he can glare at Ed, which of course makes Ed laugh again. “That doesn’t even make sense, Ed.”

“You don’t make sense.”

“Edward,” Stede says in that tone of voice he gets when he wants to be a little stern and sound a little mad but isn’t actually mad, the one that never fails to make Ed’s dick twitch and start filling up. Now is no exception.

“I think you did that on purpose,” Ed rumbles, lowering his voice because he knows it drives Stede wild. Two can play that game, and Ed is pretty sure Stede wants to play it. Maybe he wants a distraction after crying out so many built-up feelings, or maybe looking at real-estate deeds makes him horny. Maybe Ed’s misreading the situation completely. Whatever Stede needs, Ed will do. 

“Do you, now?” Stede practically purrs. 

Hell yes, game fucking on! Ed tries to play along, tries to be sexy and serious, but he just loves Stede so much and is so proud of him for letting himself be open and vulnerable and then letting himself follow his feelings when they shifted to something more fun. He can’t help the smile that spreads across his face.

Stede smiles back, like he can’t help himself, either. “You’re supposed to be serious right now,” he says, beaming at Ed.

“Oops,” Ed says, pulling Stede with him as he falls to the floor.

“I mean it,” Stede tells him, still smiling. “Be serious, just like I’m being serious.”

“You’re being seriously adorable is what you’re being.”

“Wow. Now who has the embarrassing crush?”

“Me. Definitely me.”

“You should probably kiss me, Ed, just to make sure.”

“I probably should.”

“And after that, you should probably let me suck you off a little bit. Also to make sure.”

“That goes without saying.”

“And since that won’t be conclusive, I think you’ll have to fuck me. For science.”

“Well, since it’s for science…”

Stede giggles and lets Ed kiss him.

After, when they’re sweaty and sticky again, curled up in each other’s arms on a blanket, basking in the glow of the Christmas tree, Stede wiggles happily and says, “I think the real science experiment is how we’ve managed to fuck three times in four hours.”

Ed snorts. “Guess the only thing left to do is try and replicate the results.”

“I think my dick might actually fall off if we try again today, though.”

“Yeah, this is an experiment for future us.”

“Godspeed, future us.”

Stede hums as Ed runs his fingers through Stede’s hair, the hum that means he’s content and doesn’t want to move. “We do need to get up and shower soon, though. Have to get ready to head to my mom’s house.”

“Mm. But not quite yet.”

“Not quite yet,” Ed agrees.

“I still can’t believe what you did, you know. With the deeds. What you’re going to do with them.” Stede pushes himself up on his arm so he can look down at Ed. “You gave me Bennet Bay.”

“Yeah, guess I did.”

“Ed. You gave me my freedom.”

“Shit,” Ed chokes, closing his eyes when they start to prickle. He hadn’t thought about it quite like that, hadn’t really worked through everything it would mean to Stede to be able to stop worrying about all the ways his father controlled him.

“Thank you,” Stede whispers, leaning back down so Ed can wrap his arms around him again and hold him close.

“You’re welcome,” Ed whispers back, knowing what they both really mean is I love you.

~~

Wolf-whistles greet them when they finally make it to Ed’s mom’s house, 45 minutes late. Ed laughs and Stede rolls his eyes before peeling away from Ed’s side to hand his mom a bottle of wine. The house is warm and inviting, and there are more people here than Ed thought there would be: along with Ed and Stede, Oluwande and his partners are here, Lucius and Pete, Wee John and Frenchie, a few of his mom’s friends he hasn’t met yet. Ed hopes their families just live far away and not that they’re shitty people who don’t love and treasure their relatives as wholly as they should, but it doesn’t matter for now. They’re here in his mom’s house, filling the place with love and laughter, good food and better company. Lobster is having an absolute field day flitting from person to person, smelling outstretched hands before butting his head against them and demanding he be petted. Ed laughs and scoops him up, scratches his chin just how he likes it and revels in his cat’s loud purrs.

Christmas music is playing softly in the background as people talk and eat, his mom circling around to make sure everyone has food and drink, being an excellent host. Ed touches her elbow as she walks by so he can tell her what a lovely job she’s doing, hugging her when she tries to brush off the compliment. She sighs happily and hugs him back. Ed finds Stede in the middle of charming a few of his mom’s friends and slides in next to him. Stede wraps his arm around Ed’s waist without missing a beat, gesturing with the wine glass in his other hand to emphasize a point in whatever story he’s been telling the ladies. They laugh, and Stede laughs, too, and takes a sip of wine, and Ed kisses him on the temple before grabbing the wine glass out of his hand to steal a sip of his own.

Ed’s happy, here in Bennet Bay, with his mom and his new friends and the love of his life standing solid beside him. He’s happy and in love, and it’s Christmas. Ed looks around the room before looking at Stede as he launches into another story, and he knows that everything he will ever need is right here in this room with him.

I’m home, he thinks, and smiles.