Everyone was pretty freaked out after what happened.
Max wouldn't really talk about it, since she was clearly shaken. She continued blasting her Kate Bush tape, and nervously looking around Nancy's basement. Robin and her had picked up food for them, and shared everything that had happened at the hospital. Steve was happy to see that Nancy and Robin were getting along, and had actually worked as a team. He felt sorry originally thinking going there was going to be a total waste of time. If it hadn't been for them, they wouldn't have discovered the music trick, and Max would be dead. The image of her floating up into the air kept haunting Steve. He barely picked at his pizza, before setting it aside, and stared off into space. They were still completely in the dark over all of this, and had no idea what they were gonna do. He just prayed they would figure something out by tomorrow in order to help Max, and Eddie.
That's when Max walked over, one of the paper plates with what resembled pizza slices underneath it, covered in tinfoil from upstairs. She offered it to him. Steve raised an eyebrow as the others were all talking near the couch.
"For Eddie. I think you should go see him since we might need you all of tomorrow."
Max said, shocking Steve. He shifted in the seat by the desk, and sighed.
"Eddie made me promise to stick around here and keep an eye on things...especially you."
Max softly smiled, the music still faintly being heard beneath her headphones.
"That's sweet of him, but I think Kate Bush is working her magic. Besides, I'm with everyone else. Go see him, he must be starving. I'm sure he ate everything we brought him already. He looks like he inhales food."
Steve shook his head, giving a soft laugh.
"Yeah, he sure does. Still, I should stay."
"Steve..."
Max began, setting the plate down on the desk next to them. Sighing, she took a second, clearly struggling.
"After what almost happened...it really hit me how scared I am. Seeing the things I saw. This Venca...he uses things that have hurt us...or have haunted us. I know we've both blamed ourselves for what happened to Billy and this monster somehow knew it. He used Billy to try and trick me. That's what happened when you guys said my eyes got all strange looking. I couldn't wake up. It must be what Chrissy and Ralph went through. I saw him."
Steve raised an eyebrow before Max sighed.
"Billy. He pretended to be Billy, and for a fraction of a second I actually believed what I was seeing. I almost threw my arms around him, wanting to say how sorry I was for everything that happened...then he made...this front, this fake Billy say terrible awful things to me. I now know that wasn't my stepbrother. It wasn't Billy. He was hurting the worst to get to me. I...guess I would like to believe the letter I wrote to him, wherever he is he heard the words I was saying. That he knew how sorry I really am, and that this Venca...is worse than any monster we've faced yet. I guess...I just want you to know that I'm done fighting. I'm done with the bullshit. If you hadn't come to check on me it probably would have been too late. You saved me Steve."
Steve shook his head and motioned to the others.
"They saved you...and Kate Bush."
Max smirked before she did something he didn't expect. She leaned over, and gave him a quick stiff hug. Steve sat back speechless, before Max smiled, looking exhausted.
"As a favor for me Steve, go check on Eddie tonight. He was the one that told you to keep an eye on me. Please."
Sitting back, Steve sighed wishing so badly things had been different for her. Even though she was only fourteen, she looked so much older, and the fact that this bastard used Billy to trick her, made him boil with rage. He decided right then and there he was going to save not only Eddie, but Max as well. If things had been different, that's what Billy would have done. In his last act on Earth, he had died protecting her, so he figured...this was the very least he could do.
Later...
He decided to only visit Eddie for a few hours since tomorrow seemed like it was going to be a pretty long day. Besides, he really did want to make good on some sort of that promise Eddie made him make, and now after what had happened with Max he was honestly nervous to leave the others for too long. He had driven, taking different roads this time, making sure nobody was following him, before climbing out, now knowing exactly where to go in the darkness by heart. By the time he reached the boathouse, he hoped Eddie wouldn't be angry with him. In a plastic bag, he had the three slices of pizza for Eddie, along with two cans of coke. Carefully opening the door, he closed it quickly behind him, before looking at the tarp covered boat.
"Eddie?"
He softly whispered. The tarp rustled, before it slowly pulled back and Eddie looked up, his hair blowing slightly in the breeze coming off the water.
"Steve? What are you doing here?" Steve shrugged, shaking his head as he walked over, and offered his hand for him to climb out.
"Don't get too excited, I can't stay long but I was on orders from Max...aka Red to check up on you. Plus, I brought dinner. You okay?"
Eddie made a face, and Steve knew it was a stupid question. He helped push his long hair off his shoulders, before he sighed. Eddie, as always, instantly knew something was wrong. He looked down at him with his big dark eyes, raising an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
Later...
"That's exactly what happened to Chrissy. Like same exact way." Eddie said, finishing the crust of his last slice of pizza. Steve had told him everything about today, as well as the music trick."
"Yeah, now I know how terrifying it is. The music seems to be helping, she said she hasn't had any more headaches or visions, but we're going to try and investigate more tomorrow so I might not be able to come by until late tomorrow or the next day."
Eddie waved his hand showing it wasn't a big deal.
"You guys are doing the hard part, I'm just hiding...which I guess I'm getting pretty good at."
He cracked open the second can of coke and took a big gulp, still looking so scared. Steve closely watched him, before Eddie sadly smiled.
"Music huh? That's what could have saved Chrissy..."
"Eddie you didn't know..."
"No, I just watched her die and ran away screaming..."
He shook his head, draining his coke, before setting the can down.
"Jesus H Christ..." He said, rubbing his face. Giving a humorless set of nervous giggles, he looked up at Steve.
"Jesus this is not how I saw us spending Spring Break. I had these big stupid dumb plans. I was saving up, and wanted to try and make this Spring special for us. First my birthday, then graduation, then leaving this shithole with you once and for all."
Steve smiled.
"When's your birthday?"
"May 15th. Just a few days before graduation. I had plans that we were just going to lay low this week. Party at the Hangout maybe, and at my place. I was going to work my ass off selling as much drugs as I could to save up, then on my birthday I was going to see if you really meant it about wanting to leave town with me. If you were serious, I was going to start making arrangements that we could really leave, and stick to that stupid plan we made for the day I graduated. God, why did we even wait?"
"How could we have known? Maybe I should have been more honest with you..."
Eddie smirked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"We've been through that already, remember? I guess with all this time alone, I've just been thinking..."
"About what?"
"Us. How badly I fucking want us to work. Steve, I know I've admitted this as embarrassing as it is, but I've had a major crush on you for years. I used to watch you during lunch, or during those stupid basketball games, and it was all a fantasy in my head. That night at the quarry, seeing you and Billy...I couldn't believe it, but I was jealous as Hell. Maybe that makes me a bad person, but I was. I swear on my mother and sister's soul I wasn't happy when I heard he died. In fact, I kept trying to build up the nerve to make some excuse to see you. Even after you started working at the video store...but I kept telling myself Steve Harrington would want nothing to do with a freak like me."
He reached across and squeezed Steve's hands, his metal rings gently pressing against him.
"These past few weeks, before everything went to Hell I kept telling myself I was dreaming. I can honestly say I've never been in love before you. I just want to go somewhere safe where they don't know us and start a life together..."
His words started breaking up a little, before he gulped. His Adam's apple moved up and down as he fought back tears.
"I guess...would just be nice to start taking care of you for once Steve."
Steve sighed, his heart aching.
"You have. You brought me back to life after Billy. You showed me happiness and love could be possible again. I don't regret a single fucking thing Eddie. We're going to figure this out, and we're going to leave this town together. I promise."
Eddie smirked, leaning in and kissing Steve. It was a short kiss, but sweet nevertheless and felt wonderful to Steve. Sitting back, Eddie nodded trying to calm himself down before he shook his head and nervously chuckled, holding his hand up, and wiggling his fingers, where his engagement ring was.
"This ring has honestly helped me from losing my Goddamn mind Steve. It's like a reminder...there might be a light at the end of the tunnel...somehow."
Steve opened his arms, and Eddie carefully turned down, laying between Steve's two spread legs, laying his head right on his crotch, and looking up at him. Steve gave a calm smile, and gently stroked his long hair, and softly hummed under his breath, as Eddie laid there. They stayed that way for almost an hour before Steve knew he needed to get back. Eddie told him to radio him tomorrow if they found anything, but to stick with the others. He promised he would radio Nancy if he needed anything when they all came the next day with hopefully some news. Saying goodbye, Steve found himself having a hard time. He didn't want to leave Eddie in this cold darkness, but after today with Max he knew he was needed elsewhere.
"Please be careful. I swear I'll lose my Goddamn mind if anything happens to you Steve."
Eddie whispered in his ear as they hugged tightly goodbye. Nuzzling up against him, taking in his scent of the soap they had used early this morning, and cigarette smoke, he took a deep inhale, before promising. They kissed goodbye, before Steve helped him back into the boat and covered him up. Heading back to the woods, Steve kept telling himself even though he probably wouldn't be able to come back for all of tomorrow, he would make due on using the time to really find a way to stop Venca from hurting anybody else.
He made a silent promise to Billy, that no matter what, Max would be okay. Wishing he could just bring Eddie with him, his heart ached thinking about him laying in the boat, looking up at him so scared, yet so calm, believing that he would be back, and that he would somehow be able to figure all of this out. He was determined not to make the same mistakes he did with Billy. He was going to save Eddie, and he told himself by this time next month the two of them would be sitting on a beach somewhere. If they hadn't cleared Eddie's name, maybe someplace in South America. He was certain they could get help, chop off Eddie's hair as much as that thought killed Steve. He knew the government had helped Eleven, Jonthan, Joyce, and Will. Maybe now that they knew for certain these monsters were back, maybe just maybe they could help them? Once they got a hold of Mike and the others, he was going to do anything within his power to get that guy Owens involved who originally helped Eleven start to try and live a somewhat 'normal' life. Maybe, he could do that for them? Eddie was no killer, and even if they had to leave everyone behind, change their identities, and never look back...he was certain he could do this. Sure, he would miss his friends, but as much as he hated to admit it to himself, he didn't think he would mind leaving his parents.
He could find a small little beach house, or hell even a hut and live there with Eddie and be happy. Just the two of them, living the life that Billy had so badly wanted for them when he was alive. Eddie would be his new family, and they would find a warm beautiful place with no memory of Hawkins.
The next morning...
"Steve? Steve?"
Steve jolted awake, having fallen asleep in one of the chairs down in the basement. His legs stretched out onto the coffee table. Startled from the thick soupy dreamless sleep he had fallen into shortly after coming back, he had taken first watch on Max, who had been trying to get some sleep on the sofa beside him. He knew she was restless, and kept tossing, and turning. Steve kept eyeing her walkman and the clock, and everytime he heard the tape click and end, he would jump up and press rewind quickly. Twice during his watch, he knew she was awake since before he even got a chance to reach over and do it, she would automatically do it herself. He kept watching her, as Robin and Nancy laid on the floor talking, as the boys talked softly to themselves, taking turns sleeping. Nancy then took the next watch, insisting to Steve to try and sleep since he looked terrible. Steve quickly used the bathroom down there, before getting back into the chair and trying to settle back. Nancy had asked Steve how Eddie was, and Steve had answered truthfully...
"He's scared, but handling this a whole lot better than I would be."
Nancy sadly smiled, before she nodded.
"Try to relax. Get some sleep. We'll need it."
Steve smirked, wishing he had something of Eddie's with him. Ever since they started dating, that faded W.A.S.P T-shirt he had lent him was one of his favorites to sleep with when he was alone. Almost like a security blanket, or teddy bear. He found, if he didn't have Eddie sleeping with him, that T-shirt was the next best thing. He loved holding it tight, and inhaling the faint smell of Eddie's cheap cologne, weed, and cigarettes that lingered on it. Thinking of it all the way back home, where he wished he was with Eddie right now celebrating their engagement, he closed his eyes and found sleep actually much easier to find than he thought. He kept thinking of Eddie laying in bed with him, stretched out under the covers, that long rat's nest of hair pooled around him as he slept, looking like.a Goddamn angel. He found himself slowly falling deeper and deeper into this image of Eddie's peaceful looking face as he slept, and soon was sleeping sitting halfway up, lightly snoring. Blinking, his eyes, his neck slightly aching from the position he had been sleeping in, he sat slightly up as Nancy tossed him the heavy walkie and hurried up the stairs with Dustin. Max must have already been up, since only Robin and Lucas were down there, still sound asleep. He looked up, catching the walkie as Nancy motioned to it, quickly following Dustin.
"It's your better half."
She called back, as she climbed the steps, two at a time. Steve took a second, before cracking his neck again, before pressing down on the walkie.
"Eddie? You okay?" He now felt fully awake. A second later, the walkie sounded back.
"Hey babe. Just called in a food delivery for tomorrow."
Steve sat up straighter.
"You got enough for today. I could..."
"Oh no, I'm snacking on something truly nasty and gross, but it will do. Just wanted to hear your voice."
Steve smiled, wanting him here with him more than ever.
"Yeah me too."
"Swing by tomorrow if you can. I'll keep laying low. Radio me if anything major happens and keep an eye on..."
"Red, yeah got it."
Steve said smiling.
Taking a second he sighed.
"I love you."
"I love you too babe. Over and out."
Steve sat there, holding his walkie having no idea that tonight would be the night Eddie would have needed him the most.
Instead, they all got caught up going to that spooky house, and the second that evening the flashlights started to explode, Steve got a strange feeling in his stomach. Something was definitely here. When they all got back to Nancy's, she said she was going to make up some story to her mother about tomorrow, that they would go to some movie or something. Steve was tempted to use the radio to check in on Eddie, but Dustin said they outta keep radio contact down low, since he listened in on the Hawkins' PD, and by the end of this week the state police were coming in if they couldn't find Eddie, then the FBI. Dustin was paranoid that somebody could be listening to the channels, and told Steve they would all get up early, get Eddie his food, and try to figure out what the next step would be in helping him and Max. Steve figured he was right, and as much as he wanted to head out there again, he knew it was smarter to just let everyone lay low. Still, he hated that after taking all day looking around that stupid house, they still weren't any closer to figuring this all out. Steve grabbed a pillow, and figured the faster he would get some sleep, the faster he could wake up and get to Eddie. Robin was taking first watch with Max, and Steve quickly drifted off listening to the others talk in circles.
Later...
Steve's eyelids fluttered open, and he found himself suddenly no longer in the Wheeler's basement. Instead, he was looking up at the skylight, and found himself lying in what felt like the softest bed he had ever laid in. The comforter a plush soft Navy blue, and the sheets a lighter shade. Steve linked, and looked around, finding himself in a small bedroom. There were two surfboards leaning against one wall, a long dresser, covered in stereo equipment, and a few framed photographs he couldn't quite get a good look of. There was another dresser across the way with a tiny TV on it, and what resembled sea shells. He then saw, hanging on the opposite wall Eddie's guitar. This looked sorta like his bedroom back in his trailer, but was a million times neater, the windows with light blue curtains, and the rug a sandy brown color. Steve slowly sat up, feeling his hair sticking up, before he glanced at the nightstand where a small lamp, made out of glass, and filled with tiny colorful seashells sat. He saw a wrist watch laying there, and a framed photo. Steve snatched it, feeling so confused and froze. It was a photo of Eddie and him both shirtless, laying back in each other's arms laughing, tanned...and happy. Steve didn't remember taking this photo. In fact, Eddie and him sorta looked a little older in this photo. Eddie's hair was actually longer than it was. In this photo it was almost halfway down his back. Steve closely examined the photo, before he heard noises coming from the open door.
He froze, sitting there when suddenly Eddie appeared, walking in carrying two mugs. He was shirtless, with new tattoos he didn't recognise scattered all over his deeply golden tanned skin. Steve noticed his own name tattooed above his bicep. He sat up in shock, as Eddie gave him that same lopsided grin he always gave him whenever they were teasing each other. Steve watched, in stunned silence, as Eddie sat two steaming cups of coffee on the nightstand before he raised an eyebrow and plucked the framed photo out of Steve's hands.
"Forget what your darling husband looks like?"
Steve looked down and saw a silver wedding band on his left hand, just like the one he had given Eddie just a few days ago. Now, sitting here in a room he didn't know, and looking at Eddie, he somehow knew he was in the future? Eddie looked roughly the same, besides maybe a few new lines around those dark eyes of his. He looked at the new tattoos, tanned skin, and longer length of his hair. Steve reached over, and gently stroked Eddie's hair, which was shiny, and very well taken care of. Most likely due to him. Eddie smirked.
"You okay?"
Steve didn't take a second to think. Instead he tightly wrapped his arms around Eddie, squeezing him so hard, he felt Eddie almost lose his breath. Steve buried his face into his hair and shoulder, smelling coconut, and suntan lotion. He closed his eyes, intoxicated by this new scent, before squeezing him even tighter. Eddie stroked Steve's messy hair, before pulling back and smiling, closely looking down at him.
"What? Bad dream?"
Steve didn't want to waste time to even question it. Instead, he just sat there on the verge of crying pure tears of happiness, before Eddie chuckled, and leaned in, kissing his forehead. Eddie pulled back, ready to say something when suddenly a baby's cry came from down the hall. Steve and Eddie looked in the same direction of the noise, before Eddie grinned, pretending to roll his eyes.
"Looks like the other princess wants attention. Hold on."
Steve watched in stunned silence as Eddie got up and left the room. Steve took a second, looking around the room, and could have sworn he could faintly hear under the cries of what sounded like a baby, and Eddie's low voice...the sounds of the ocean. Sitting up, really not knowing what was going on, he sat back before Eddie reappeared, carrying a baby. Steve wasn't good with knowing the baby's ages, but it was tiny. Laying against Eddie's bare chest, dressed in a purple onesie. It's tiny head resting against Eddie, as he gently rubbed the baby's back.
"Looks like Ms. Elora wants to see her daddy."
Steve sat back stunned, before Eddie sat down on the edge of the bed, and carefully, with the skill of a pro, handed the baby over to Steve. He looked down, unable to believe it, as the baby gently cooed, as he took her into his arms, remembering his mother always telling him when his baby cousins, that he needed to make sure his arms were supporting the head. He sat there, holding the baby, staring down at her tiny perfect little face. Steve looked up stunned, not even realizing he was crying as he smiled ear to ear.
"She's ours?"
Eddie smiled, cocking his head and looking at Steve as if he was crazy. "
Of course she is. You can't thank Wheeler for helping us out with her."
Steve stared down stunned, ready to ask so many other questions, when instead he just continued looking down at the sleeping baby's face, and truly feeling he was home. He smiled through the tears, laughing softly before looking back up at Eddie when... He saw a tanned shirtless and smiling Billy sitting there watching him.
That morning...
Steve snapped awake. Taking a second to realize where he was. Dustin was smiling, bouncing on his feet.
"Come on Steve, we let you sleep in. Nancy already brought us to the market. Let's go see Eddie."
Steve took a second, looking around the empty basement. He took a second, sitting up, his back feeling stiff from being on the floor all night.
"Um...what time is it?"
"Almost six-thirty."
"Where are the others?"
"In the car waiting. Come on, use the bathroom quickly and let's go."
Steve looked around, hating that the dream he had just snapped awake from was still lingering. He wished more than ever he was back in that bedroom, holding what he supposed was his daughter, sitting across his husband...
He was ready to summon Eddie's handsome tanned smiling face, when instead Billy's came into his mind.
Pushing this away, he knew he just needed to splash some cold water on his face, take a quick piss, and grab that yellow sweatshirt he had in his trunk to change into. Thinking of seeing Eddie, he got up quickly, hurrying and actually not minding how annoying Dustin was being, telling him to hurry up.
Later...
They took Nancy's car, and Steve sat in the back with Dustin, actually munching on some of the junk food that they were taking to Eddie. All of Dustin's favorites, that he was sure Eddie would love. He smiled in amusement, when he saw the six-pack, and listened to Nancy explain that Eddie had requested one to 'calm' his nerves. Robin was in a mood, going on and on about how much she was dreading telling Eddie that yesterday resulted in them really finding out absolutely nothing. She kept rambling on and on, as Steve chewed chips, and sighed, looking out the rear window. He had mentally decided that Eddie wasn't going to be left alone anymore. His parents were due back for a few more days, and at least his house might be a little safer, and warmer for him. Besides, after everything he had been witnessing, he didn't like the idea of his fiance staying in that gross cold boathouse all alone. He would figure something out, but enough was enough. That's when...he heard the others, and snapped out of his thoughts and felt his heart sink, seeing all of the police outside of Rick's, and the news vans.
A few minutes later...
Patrick, one of the basketball players, had been the latest victim. Steve and the others listened in, as Eddie's name became public, as the number one subject. Steve felt all color drain from his face, knowing how stupid he had been not to go by here last night.
"This is not good."
He muttered under his breath. Then, as if he had heard him, Eddie's panic filled voice filled Dustin's radio, calling out. Steve snatched the radio, whispering into it, closing his eyes with relief when he heard his voice. As soon as Eddie told him where he was, Steve said he knew where it was, hating that besides some past girlfriends, he had even taken Billy there one night. Dustin claimed to know where it was, but Steve was taking the lead, He walked forward, still pressing down on the radio button.
"Hold tight babe. We'll be there soon."