Eddie tried to stay away. He really did. But after a week without Steve, no texts, no communication other than a plate of strudels Robin had brought him, he just couldn't take it.

He'd been selfish with the strudels. Not even Charlie knew about them. Maybe Robin had told Chris, but if she did, Chris hadn't mentioned it. The treats were stored on the top shelf, well out of Charlie's reach and sight. After the last one was gone, that was when Eddie broke.

Charlie looked surprised to see him the following morning and asked after hugging him, "What about work, Daddy?"

"Not today. I'm going to take you to school."

"Oh, okay." She promptly sat at the table, looking at him expectantly. When he didn't do anything, she rolled her eyes in a very Chris-like fashion. "Auntie Chris always makes pancakes on Mondays. She says it's the best way to start the week."

"Does she?"

"Yep."

Eddie knew it was a lie. Chris was not a morning person, let alone awake enough to make pancakes once a week. But Charlie didn't even blink. He was genuinely impressed by her ability to tell a bald-faced lie, especially to him. Sighing, he picked up the spatula and waved it at her threateningly. "I'm going to choose to believe you today. But you don't lie to me again, okay?"

Charlie blushed furiously and looked down, hands in her lap. "Sorry."

"I know you are." He let her sit with it for another minute before scooping her into his arms and kissing her head. "I forgive you, babygirl. I just don't like it when you lie to me. We're not supposed to do that, are we?"

"No," she mumbled against his shoulder, arms wrapped tight around his neck. "I'm sorry, daddy. I don't want pancakes anymore."

"Too bad because you're having some. And you're cleaning up after, deal?"

"Deal." She smiled back to her usual self and let him go so he could make breakfast.

He turned on the radio so Charlie could sing along, joining in when he recognized the songs because these days, he was more familiar with the top 40 after listening to the radio constantly at work. If it were up to him, he'd play his own music, but no, Chris had convinced him it was unprofessional, so the radio it was. Not that he'd ever admit to anyone else that he knew the words to an Olivia Rodrigo song.

Full of pancakes, it was easier than Eddie thought to get Charlie ready for school. Probably because she enjoyed going, and she ended up waiting by the door for him, backpack on and calling, "Hurry up, daddy! Mr Steve doesn't like it when we're late."

"We still have thirty minutes. Plenty of time." Still, he hurried to shrug on his coat and took her hand once they were outside.

Charlie spent the walk telling him about the model solar systems they were making and how she was still trying to get the moons to stick to Saturn. How she would glue that many paper balls to a painted ball was anyone's guess, but Eddie knew that somehow, Steve would come up with the perfect solution.

The closer they got to the school, the more nervous Eddie became. He didn't know how Steve would react to seeing him again since their last meeting had definitely been the ending type. Just when he was about to chicken out, Charlie dragged him into the classroom and called, "Hi, Mr Steve. Daddy brought me today."

Steve turned around, looking surprised, but when his eyes landed on Eddie, the shadow of a grimace flickered over his expression before what looked like a painful smile replaced it. "Is Chrissy okay?"

"Yep. Daddy wanted to meet you, though."

Eddie could feel himself blushing and cleared his throat, helping Charlie out of her backpack and coat. "That's enough out of you."

"You said I shouldn't lie."

"To me. Don't start embarrassing me." When he glanced up, Steve's smile had softened. "Hey."

"Hi. So what are you doing here?" Steve asked curiously, eyes flickering between him and Charlie.

"I, um, wanted to see it." Eddie couldn't suppress a nervous laugh, shoving his hands in his pockets. "So… yeah. Mr Steve in the flesh."

Steve laughed, not unkindly. "You're a dork."

"Yeah, but you already knew that."

"Daddy?" Eddie looked down as Charlie tugged on his arm. "Are you and Mr Steve friends?"

"We sure are, babygirl."

"But you've never met?"

Steve gave him a helpless sort of look, eyes panicked, but Eddie only smiled. "Just because we've never met doesn't mean we can't be friends. We send each other gifts all the time, don't we?"

Charlie considered it for a moment and then shrugged, letting Eddie go. "Okay." And she promptly left them alone, going to sit in the corner with what looked like half a toy shop.

Once Eddie was sure she was completely engrossed, he turned his attention back to Steve, only to find him watching Charlie with sadness creeping into his expression. Steve jumped when Eddie touched his hand, locking their fingers together before he could object. He took a shuddering breath, probably to tell Eddie to knock it off, but then exhaled, shoulders slumping with a slight shake of his head.

"I almost forgot how beautiful you were," Eddie told him softly, and he smiled as Steve's cheeks flushed. "You really are like sunshine, especially in that sweater."

Steve rolled his eyes when Eddie plucked at the yellow sweater. "Always so sweet yet somehow teasing."

"You love it." He regretted the words immediately because Steve winced, pulling his hand free to cross his arms over his chest. "Sorry."

"It's fine."

It wasn't fine. Nothing about the situation was fine. Eddie didn't want to pretend that Steve meant nothing to him, especially now they were standing in the same room. Maybe it was a mistake to come, but he couldn't help himself. He'd never been good at self-control anyway. It turned out Steve was no different. Eddie wondered briefly if he was going to fuck this up too, take it too far, and end up making Steve hate him. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Eddie?"

"I'm sorry," He said in a forced casualness he didn't feel. Swallowing down his self-pity, Eddie managed to smile, even if it felt more like a grimace. "Shit, I'm so fucking sorry. I shouldn't be here. Don't know what I was thinking."

"I do." Steve reached out this time, grabbing Eddie's hand. "I miss you, too."

Eddie couldn't help himself, leaning in closer, and was surprised when Steve did, too. But before they could kiss, the door banged open again, and they sprung apart. Steve was faster, his smile back in place as he greeted the kid who ran in to say hello, the infamous James. Charlie was happy to see him, though, so Eddie supposed he couldn't hold a grudge against him for getting Charlie hurt.

Soon enough, more kids were running in, and this many crammed into a small place made Eddie nervous. One child he could handle, but over a dozen? Not his scene. Steve caught his eye, and his smile was a little too knowing. He nodded at the door, joining Eddie after ensuring the kids were occupied. "It's not that bad. This class is very well-behaved."

"I'll take your word for it."

"So you're not sticking around for story time? I bet you'd be better than me since you're into the whole DnD thing." Eddie had to resist the urge to kiss Steve hard. Something in this expression must have given him away because Steve smiled shyly, stepping a little closer. His hand came to rest on Eddie's chest, warm even through his leather jacket. "You need to go before we make a scene. I love you, but leave."

"I love you," Eddie told him sincerely, backing out the door.

For a moment, Steve hesitated and gave him the most heartbreakingly beautiful smile. "Go."

"I love you," Eddie told him again before walking away.

It had so been worth it.

Eddie didn't go to work. He didn't consciously decide not to but found himself at home. As soon as he sat down on the couch, he sank back into the cushions and seemed to deflate, staring up at the ceiling with a blank mind. It felt like no time, but also, decades had passed when the door opened, and he was greeted by the wonderful sound of Charlie's laughter, bringing him out of his stupor.

He sat upright in time to receive a whirlwind of wriggling limbs and giggling, knocking him back down again with a grunt. "Hey, babygirl, you're back early?"

"No, I'm not. And you weren't at the shop. So we came home."

"Well, you found me." He glanced at Chris, noting her worried expression, and sat up again, setting Charlie on his feet. "Why don't you go change? You're covered in paint."

"Okay."

As soon as Charlie was out of earshot, Chris sat beside him, her voice dropping. "Why are you home early?"

"Didn't go to work."

"Why?"

"Couldn't face it after…" Eddie trailed off and eventually shrugged. Even saying Steve's name proved painful.

Thankfully, Chris understood. "Warned you not to."

"Stupid idea. Don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to see him. All it did was remind us both that we can't be together." Eddie leaned forward, covering his face with his hands to try and hide from the horrible truth.

"What happened, Eddie? You're so into him, and from what Robin's told me, Steve's just as cut up about it. So what's the problem?"

"The problem is that he's Charlie's teacher. Steve won't break the rules, and I don't expect him to. He loves his job. I could never ask him to leave for me." Chris was looking at him like he was being particularly dense, and immediately, his hackles raised. "What?"

"So if he weren't Charlie's teacher, you'd be together?"

"Yeah?"

"Charlie graduates in what, four months? Then she moves to First Grade. Elementary."

"Uh-huh…"

Chris smacked his arm, ignoring his wince. "So Steve won't be her teacher! Use your brain, Eddie! In four months, it's no longer a problem. So you gotta ask yourself, can you wait that long?"

"Yes." He answered without hesitation. Steve was worth waiting for. Four months, a year, or several. Eddie would do anything if it meant by the end of it, he would get Steve back. Chris had effectively given him a golden ticket, and incredibly, Eddie could feel himself smiling. "You're a genius."

"One of us has to be." She laughed as Eddie launched himself at her, almost knocking them off the couch with the force of his hug.

"Thank you," he told her sincerely.

Four months. It was a long time, but also nothing compared to what he'd get at the end of it. Already, Eddie could feel the weight of their breakup easing from his shoulders, just knowing it was temporary. Now, all he had to do was convince Steve. Surely it wouldn't be a problem?

He needed time to think about it. Luckily, he had nothing but time now concerning Steve since they weren't together. But then… how long did Eddie have before Steve decided to move on? The invisible clock was ticking.

"Eddie?" Chris asked in alarm when he jumped up.

He ignored her, going to his room to search for an empty notebook. Lucky for him, people kept insisting on gifting them, being the prodigy writer he was. So many words jumbled together in his head, and they needed to get out. Eddie sat cross-legged on the bed, scribbling furiously in a way he hadn't in years, the world around him receding. Again, time passed like it was nothing, and it was dark when the door opened, Charlie crawling onto the bed beside him.

Eddie stopped, looking at her in surprise. "Hey, babygirl, what are you doing here?"

"I missed you."

Setting the book aside, he pulled Charle into his lap and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. Got caught up with my writing."

"Is it songs again?"

"Sort of. They're not ready to be songs yet."

"Can I see?"

Eddie hesitated. He had always been protective of his writing. But this was his daughter, and he'd promised to never keep secrets from her. So he picked up the book to let her read through the few pages he'd written. It was different from showing a song to the band or making it into a demo and trying to get it into the world. It was raw and untested, and it was his daughter reading the words, looking into his soul. It was terrifying.

When she looked up at him again, she was beaming. "It's good. Why did you stop?"

Laughing in relief, he took the book back. "Because I was given something better to do."

"What?"

"Raise my babygirl. And that's the most important thing to me. Not writing, not the band, not anything else. Just you." Eddie pulled her back into his arms and held her tight. "You're everything to me, Charlie. Don't ever forget that. I will do anything for you because I love you so much."

"I love you too, daddy."

Chris found them a while later and joined their embrace. Even if Eddie couldn't win Steve back, he would learn to live with it. As long as he had Charlie, he could get through anything. Eddie hoped it wouldn't come to that, though. He wanted to share this with Steve and have him on the bed with them, too, Robin as well. Their family had grown, but it wasn't yet complete.

Four months.