The first song went down well when Eddie presented it to the group. They were all impressed by his speed and ability to make sense of their scraps. He didn't tell them how Steve had helped, only that his methods were tried and true. Even in the good old days, he used to go out and get laid to clear his head. Steve proved far safer and more effective, and they both enjoyed it—a win-win for all involved.

Still, it took two weeks to produce one song, and they had to nail down the music now. Eddie could produce a tune, sure, but with five different people offering up solutions, it would take time to smooth it out. The building blocks were there, though, and since Eddie wasn't technically part of the band, he decided to let them argue about it without his input.

Instead, he spent more time with Charlie in the studio, teaching her how to play. She was getting good with a guitar but a natural with the drum set. Ronnie took particular delight in rubbing that in Eddie's face.

Steve sometimes joined them, too, when he wasn't busy working on his plans for his next class. It was strange to see the other side of it and how much passion Steve put into his lessons and planning them out. He'd really lucked out when he'd stumbled across the kindergarten and discovered Steve.

But when he joined them, Steve drifted to the piano that rarely saw use. He'd learned as a kid and was still pretty good despite it being years since he'd played. Eddie liked to listen to the melodies Steve produced; they reminded him of his mother's music, and it was comforting. Charlie liked it too and often sat with Steve, adding in her own notes.

It was beautiful. Eddie could spend hours watching them together.

And he did, sometimes sitting in the studio with them but often in the control room, the melodies his two favorite people created floating softly through the speakers. The occasional murmur of Steve's voice or Charlie's laughter always had him looking up, and sometimes, he would get lost in watching them together. It never failed to amaze him how quickly Charlie took to Steve and how clearly Steve loved her.

It was hard to believe it had only been a few weeks when it felt like Steve had been with them forever.

Eddie was watching them one afternoon - instead of working on the chorus of a particularly difficult song - when the door opened behind him, and someone stepped inside. He expected it to be Ronnie since she had always disregarded his need for privacy and turned to tell her to fuck off but was surprised to find it was Paige.

Their last meeting had been explosive and, admittedly, Eddie's fault. So he wasn't sure how to react when Paige smiled and sat beside him.

"Hey," she started softly. "Been a while."

"Almost seven years. But who's counting?" Eddie set down his pen, glancing back in the studio, but neither occupant seemed to have noticed the new arrival. Charlie was busy showing Steve the new song she had been learning to play on the piano. Eddie sighed, turning his attention back to Paige, and swallowed thickly, guilt bubbling up fast and acidic inside him. "I'm sorry."

When Corroded Coffin had moved out to LA, under Paige's record label, their relationship had blossomed. But it hadn't lasted. Paige wanted to settle down after a year, marriage and kids, the whole package, but Eddie? He wanted to experience the world. The arguments had been rough, and Eddie still winced when he remembered what he'd said to her about dragging him down and trying to hold him back.

She left him, and he took it hard. The night of their breakup was the night he turned to drugs. It wasn't her fault, not really. Eddie had been spiraling for so long, and it was the excuse he needed to fall off the deep end.

WR Music had threatened to drop the band, so Eddie stepped back after their first tour, technically forced to since there were no alternatives. Not that it had stopped his self-destructive spiral.

But things were different now. Eddie was different. And he didn't blame Paige for any of it.

Paige just shrugged, eyes on the studio. "Cute kid. Heard about that from Ronnie. Surprised you stepped up."

"Me too," he admitted honestly, grinning when she raised her eyebrows at him. "Best decision I ever made."

"I can tell. You look good, Eddie."

"So do you." Paige had definitely moved up in the industry. There was an air of refinement to her now and a very big, very sparkly ring on her finger. But Eddie didn't feel even the tiniest hint of jealousy. If anything, he was happy for her. "He treats you well?"

"Well enough. What about him?" She nodded at Steve.

"Biggest heart I've ever seen. Charlie adores him. So do I." Eddie realized the microphone was on because Steve smiled suddenly. Deciding to tease him just a little, Eddie added, "Prettiest dick too."

Paige laughed as Steve turned red.

Eddie leaned toward the mic to murmur, "Shouldn't eavesdrop, Princess. It'll get you into trouble."

"Still got a big mouth, I see."

"What can I say? Some things never change." Eddie shrugged, glad to see Paige smile. "I really am sorry. You deserved better than the shit you put up with from me. And I deserved that dumping of the century."

"You did," Paige agreed.

They fell silent, watching Charlie jump up and do a little victory dance as Steve shook his head. A moment later, she grabbed the microphone, and her voice rang clearly through the speakers. "Daddy, Steve owes me a soda. You'll make sure he doesn't forget, won't you?"

"I will," Eddie promised. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing. I played the song perfectly. It's my reward."

"Well, in that case, how about we get some burgers to go with your soda? You let Steve know we'll leave in a few minutes, and I'll meet you by the doors, okay? Tell him it's my treat."

"Okay. Love you, Daddy."

"Love you too, babygirl."

She hopped down and relayed the information to Steve, not that she needed to since he was wearing a headset, but he nodded along as if the plan was news to him. When Charlie ran outside, Steve stopped long enough to say, "Don't take too long. Nice to meet you, Paige." Before following after her.

"How did you manage to get him," Paige asked in wonder as the door shut behind Steve.

"Munson Charm." Eddie was not about to explain the whole ordeal to her. Enough people knew and ridiculed him as it was. Thank god Ronnie didn't know, or he might have to kill her. "Charlie snagged him. He was her teacher, and I got dragged along for the ride. Turns out he likes me too, so we all win."

"Lucky you."

"Lucky me," Eddie echoed sincerely.

The door opened, and Charlie poked her head in, scowling. "Hurry up, Daddy, I'm hungry." She caught sight of Paige and smiled. "Hello. Are you here to listen to Daddy's music? He's writing songs, and they're amazing. If you are, you should be impressed."

"I always am," Paige told her.

Eddie shooed Charlie from the room, promising to be quick, and sighed as he shut the door. "She's going to inflate my ego."

"She's not wrong, though. You are an amazing writer. Good thing you work for me, isn't it?" Paige nodded at the WR Record logo when Eddie frowned. "I own the company now. Corroded Coffin never left, and I convinced Davey not to drop them. So now, here we are."

"Well, I hope you don't mind rehiring a known addict who also happens to be your ex," Eddie joked, relieved when she laughed. "Seriously, I promise this time will be different. I won't let you down."

"I believe in you, Eddie. I always have, even when you gave it up. Knew you'd come back eventually." Paige got up and, surprisingly, hugged him. "And the past is the past. I'm over it, and it looks like you are too. I think we can make this work without it being too awkward. No hard feelings?"

"None," Eddie promised, hugging her back.

They broke apart when someone knocked on the door, and they heard a giggle on the other side, followed by Steve's admonishment, "Charlie!"

"Looks like it's burger time," Eddie said happily. "I guess I'll see you around then?"

Paige nodded, tapping his book. "Count on it."

Out in the corridor, Charlie was quick to grab Eddie's hand and begin towing him to the exit. Steve trailed behind them, making sure to grab their stuff because Eddie didn't get a chance.

Gareth jumped back in the entranceway and watched them blow past with a bemused expression. "Bye, guys?"

"Bye, Gareth, we're getting burgers!" Charlie called back, still dragging Eddie towards the car.

"Have fun!"

Charlie had seen a burger place on their earlier drive and directed Eddie with surprising ease. Well, she was better than Robin, at any rate. Eddie could see why the place had caught her eye as he parked, a giant anthropomorphic burger towering over their heads from the rooftop. The sign proclaimed they got a free toy with every kid's meal.

"Burger Boy?" Steve asked curiously as they entered, eyes on the hostess stand statue.

"Yeah. Totally not creepy," Eddie whispered back so Charlie didn't hear.

Once they were seated and got their menus, it was to find them covered in more images of the unsettling mascot. Maybe it was because he was too old for this kind of thing. After all, Charlie thought he was cute and was delighted to find out she would get her very own Burger Boy. Eddie was going to make sure it went 'missing' on their way home.

Burgers ordered, and Charlie distracted in the play area, Steve took the opportunity to interrogate Eddie, who had been expecting the questions ever since they left the studio. "So Paige, huh?"

Eddie shrugged, sipping his drink to give himself time to prepare. "Yeah, an old friend."

"Friend," Steve repeated doubtfully, but he was smiling, and he even nudged Eddie's leg playfully.

"Fine, we dated."

"Should I be worried?"

Eddie snorted, accidentally spraying Steve with coke. He looked mildly disgusted but allowed Eddie to clean him up and accepted his apology kiss. "She's got a rock the size of Mars on her finger, and I have you, Sweetheart, who puts up with me doing shit like this. I'd have to be insane to leave you."

Steve laughed, his cheeks turning their pretty shade of pink. "I'm just teasing, Eddie. I know you won't leave me. Besides, you've slept with a lot of people, haven't you? I wouldn't be surprised if you'd slept with Ronnie too."

He couldn't suppress a gag at the thought. "Disgusting. Never say that again."

"You two never…?" Steve trailed off, looking mildly surprised.

"God, no. Well, I mean, I tried when I was, like, eight, but she quickly put me in my place. It's like suggesting you and Robin- exactly." Eddie nodded when Steve shoved a hand in his face, looking disgusted. "I only have eyes for you, sweetheart."

Their food arrived, and despite the questionable mascot, the burgers looked delicious and smelled even better, drawing Charlie back to their table.

Along with their very own Burger Boy was a paper crown. Charlie tossed it aside, far too interested in the toy, but Eddie picked it up and placed it upon Steve's head with a solemn expression. "King Steve." He was surprised when Steve pulled a face and immediately took the crown off. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just an old nickname I hate."

"A nickname?"

"Uh-huh. During high school. Back when I was a rich kid with an attitude and Tommy was my best friend. I was king of the keg stand." Steve winced. "Not my proudest moment."

Eddie stifled his laughter by drinking again. It didn't hide his amusement, though, because Steve's eyes narrowed at him. Swallowing thickly, Eddie smiled and held out his hand, relieved when Steve took it. "So you were a jock?"

"What gave it away?"

"Oh, I don't know… everything you've ever told me about your high school days? You played basketball, your nickname was King Steve, and you're gorgeous. You can't tell me you didn't have people falling at your feet." Eddie nudged Charlie, and she looked up curiously. "Don't you think Steve is pretty?"

"Yep!"

Eddie nodded succinctly. He could just imagine Steve being the talk of the hallways, girls and boys both watching him pass, blissfully unaware in his own bubble. Not that unaware, Eddie amended to himself. Steve wouldn't be sitting across from him now if he hadn't hated his life back then. Still… maybe he could persuade Robin to show him some old photos.

"I think you're the pretty one," Steve told Charlie sincerely. And put the crown on her head. "Queen Charlie."

"Princess Steve." Charlie bowed her head and then looked at Eddie and giggled. "My jester."

"You jest!" Eddie poked her cheek. "Why does Steve get to be a princess?"

"Because he's pretty, and you're funny."

"Can't argue with that," Steve agreed. "Now, my Queen, would you care to take the first bite?"

Charlie did, smearing sauce across her cheeks as she nodded enthusiastically and said through her mouthful, "Good!"

"Good? Well, we better follow her lead, dear jester. Or off with your head."

Eddie rolled his eyes when Charlie banged on the table in agreement and picked up his burger. "Fine."

She was right, though. The burgers did taste good.

Not good enough to warrant Burger Boy a place on honor in the car, but Charlie insisted he be belted in. Eddie couldn't look at Steve for fear of laughing. He kept his eyes on the road, barely checking his mirror because the damn thing was in the middle seat.

Consequently, he was the first to see someone outside the house as he drove down the street. It was Ronnie, looking quite at home on their doorstep with her book and sunglasses perched on her head. She looked up and smiled when they stepped out of the car. "Hey, guys."

"Ronnie!" Charlie ran over to give her a big hug. "Did you bring presents?"

Before Eddie could say anything, Ronnie held out a wrapped gift. "I sure did."

"You didn't have to get her anything," Eddie said with a frown, but Ronnie just shrugged. "What is it?"

"Wait and see."

Charlie eagerly ripped into the package, revealing a worn leather-bound album. She opened it, and Eddie saw early pictures of Corroded Coffin. They looked like teenagers. He leaned over Charlie's shoulder to get a better look.

In the first one, taken outside the Hideout, his hair was wilder, and his face was smooth of laughter lines, but he didn't look too different except for his arms, which were pale and marked with only a few tattoos. He supposed he was lucky the drugs hadn't destroyed his appearance or brain. He probably would have if he'd continued—another thing to thank Charlie for.

"Feral little thing, wasn't he?" Ronnie said with a smirk.

Eddie scoffed. "I'm domesticated now. Come on, inside. And don't forget that rubbish."

He unlocked the door, stepping aside so Charlie could lead the way for Ronnie, who smirked and bumped his shoulder in passing. Steve, however, left a lingering kiss on Eddie's lips and whispered, "I'm so stealing that album later."

Not looking forward to that moment, Eddie followed them inside.

Charlie and Ronnie held court that afternoon, going through the album as Ronnie treated everyone to embarrassing stories about Eddie, including the story about Granny Ecker beating his ass with a wooden spoon for trailing mud into her trailer. Eddie swore he still had a scar on his ass.

He got his own back, though, telling a delighted Charlie about the time Ronnie got locked out, and she decided to try and climb in the back window to her room and got stuck. Eddie had found her later on with her legs flailing and had laughed himself stupid before helping. It still brought tears to his eyes when he remembered.

As it was getting dark, Steve left them to talk, and Charlie was quick to follow him into the kitchen. Steve was rarely alone these days when he cooked, and Eddie could tell he loved the company as much as Charlie did. Who knew his little girl loved cooking so much?

"She's pretty great," Ronnie said as Charlie's footsteps faded away.

They were sat on the couch together, and now alone, Eddie felt a rising sense of guilt bubbling up, remembering the last time they had been alone like this. "I'm-"

She moved so fast that Eddie barely had time to flinch before she punched his arm. "Shut up, Eddie. You don't need to apologize for being a good father. I get it. We all did." Ronnie turned so their knees pressed together. It was how they used to sit during open time, when they would speak honestly to each other, no holds barred. Ronnie could be brutal, so Eddie prepared for the worst. "You needed to get away because, let's be honest, you were falling apart."

"Let me apologize for being an ass to you, at least?"

"No." Ronnie's mouth quirked upwards slightly. "You're always an ass. At least now it's contained around Charlie."

"Jesus, look in the mirror already." They both laughed, looking around when they heard Charlie and Steve laughing, too, although at something else, no doubt. When Eddie looked at Ronnie again, she was smirking. "Shut up."

"You are so in love with him, it's sickening."

"And what about you?"

"Me? I'm not interested in dating. There's so much to explore out there, and as cute as Charlie is, I don't want my own mini-me."

"She could pass as yours," Eddie said teasingly because it was true. All three looked so alike that people would probably assume Ronnie was Charlie's mother.

Ronnie hesitated before leaning in closer, voice dropping to a low murmur. "What happened to her?"

Eddie didn't need further prompting to know who she was talking about and only shrugged. "Don't know. Haven't seen her since I found her with a needle in her arm. Haven't spoken to her since she signed away her parental rights. Charlie deserves better."

"Looks like you found better."

"The best." Eddie couldn't help smiling. "Steve adores her."

"I think he adores you just as much." Ronnie squeezed his knee. "I'm glad you left."

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. What you're saying is you were right. I know."

"Thank you."

"Are you staying for dinner? I think Steve's making enchiladas."

"As amazing as that sounds, I can't. I've got to help Granny paint the living room. Why a woman in her nineties decided to redecorate is beyond me but a pain in the ass. I scrubbed every tile in the kitchen last week, and my back still aches." Ronnie got up with an exaggerated groan but got no sympathy from Eddie. He just nudged her with his foot and cackled when she shot him a glare. "Asshole."

"Love you."

He walked her to the door, shouting for Charlie to come say goodbye, and she ran out of the kitchen to hug Ronnie. "Thank you for the pictures."

"Anytime, sweetpea."

The use of Chris' nickname made Eddie's heart ache. He would have to call her later, maybe a video call so Charlie could see her too.

"You guys should come visit granny. She misses you, and she'd love to meet Charlie."

Despite the light tone, Eddie felt guilty. He hadn't seen Granny Ecker in a long time and was surprised she was still alive, if he was honest. "We will," he promised, hugging Ronnie tight and only letting go when Charlie tugged on him for her turn.

Steve came to say goodbye too, covered in flour and wearing a Kiss the Chef apron, so Eddie did as he was told and kissed Steve. He still needed to thank Robin for gifting it to Steve.

"Look after him," Ronnie warned Eddie, who put a hand to his chest, feigning offense. "Yeah, yeah, I know, you're an angel."

"See you soon?"

"Tomorrow. At the studio with that second song," she threatened him, and Eddie nodded, not wanting another punch. "Good. Bye, guys."

"Bye!" Charlie called for them as Eddie shut the door. She turned to look at Steve expectantly. "How long until they're ready?"

"Ten more minutes."

"Can I go play?"

"Of course." He took her apron, and they watched her run upstairs. "She's going to be better than me soon."

Eddie grabbed the ends of Steve's apron ties to pull him in, smiling when he laughed. "Then she can take over when we're old and grey."

Steve's expression became impossibly soft, hands linking around Eddie's neck. "That's how you see us?"

"One day. I told you that now I have you, I'm not letting you go. Not in five years, not in fifty," Eddie said sincerely, and he was rewarded with one of those sweet kisses that made his heart race. He cased Steve's lips for another but was met with his finger instead. "What?"

"The enchiladas will burn."

"Order takeout."

Steve scoffed but was quickly silenced by Eddie's mouth again. He conceded to Steve's wish, though, and backed him into the kitchen so they could listen for the timer. Ten minutes of kissing seemed a fair price to pay for good food. Lucky for Eddie, Steve was in agreement and only let him go at the sound of the beeper. Reluctantly, Eddie set the table before calling Charlie down to eat.

As usual with Steve's cooking, it was amazing and filling. Eddie hadn't eaten this well in years, and Charlie was practically glowing with her new diet. Not that Eddie didn't feed her properly, but it was easier to make her eat vegetables wrapped up in a tortilla than on the side of her plate. Bonus points because she made them, too.

"Daddy, why did you shave your head when you were younger?"

Eddie choked on his food, and Steve had to bang on his back to dislodge the pepper. He was going to kill Ronnie. "Uh, because I didn't look after my hair properly, and it got too tangled." He kicked Steve under the table to stop him from laughing. "Which is why you plait your hair before bed. Isn't it?"

"Uh-huh. I don't want to be bald."

"You won't. I'll make sure it doesn't get that bad."

"Why didn't anyone help you?"

Because he was eight years old and alone, but that was too depressing. "Because my dad didn't know how to take care of curly hair, and your grandma had died. I learned when it grew back." He tickled her nose with a strand of his hair, making her giggle. "And as you can see, it's fine now."

"Stop it! I'll sneeze!"

"Not on the food, I hope." Steve whisked her plate away just in time for the explosion.

It had been a long day, and Eddie was ready for bed once they had cleaned up. He read to Charlie for a bit, and she dropped off quickly. When he stood to leave, the album caught his attention, and begrudgingly he took it. Might as well let Steve look and get it over with.

Steve was delighted to be handed the album and spent almost an hour pouring over the old photographs. Eddie had showered, changed, and crawled into bed long before he set it down. "You looked like such a dork."

"Rude," Eddie yawned, accepting his apology kiss. "Bet you were so preppy it hurts to remember."

"Something like that."

"You've seen me as a teenager, so now I want to see you," Eddie wheedled, grinning when it worked.

Steve huffed, rolling over to grab his phone. Eddie waited patiently as he scrolled and scrolled, brow furrowed. Finally, he held out the phone with an eye roll. "Here."

Eddie took it and looked at the picture curiously. It was Steve, obviously, but he looked very different. There was a casual arrogance that Eddie could sense even through the years, and he was wearing expensive clothes, hair quaffed to perfection. It was hard to believe this was the same person as the man sitting in bed beside him with such a troubled expression. Swallowing back the lump in his throat at Steve's sad eyes, Eddie locked the phone and put it down with a shrug. "Don't see what the big deal was, honestly. Bet you didn't even have chest hair back then."

Blinking at him in disbelief, Steve replied, "I shaved. Only because I was on the swim team."

"Of course you were," Eddie groaned, falling back and covering his face with a pillow. "How many sports teams were you on?"

"Too many," Steve laughed.

Eddie pulled back his pillow to look at Steve. His beautiful Steve full of laughter and light. How different things were now compared to their pasts? "Do you think we would've liked each other if we met back then?"

Steve's smile faded as he thought about it. "I don't know. I probably would have thought you were weird and, well, beneath me. I wouldn't have interacted with you because my dad would never have allowed it. But I'd have wanted to. I think I would have been jealous of your freedom."

"I would have stolen you away in the dead of night, never let you go," Eddie said sincerely, knowing it was true. If he'd gotten a chance with Steve and seen this person so desperate to escape and be themselves, he wouldn't have been able to resist. "Maybe brought you out to LA with the band so we could both be free."

"What about Paige?"

"Oh, right."

Steve was smiling again, thumb brushing over Eddie's pulse point tenderly. "So, if we were together, do you think Paige would have brought you guys out here?"

"She liked our music too, you know. Not just me."

"Mhmm, but I bet your dick helped."

Eddie smothered him with a pillow.