It had been a long - but enjoyable - summer. Corroded Coffin had gone on a somewhat successful tour of the Midwest. Eddie loved getting out of Hawkins and touring with his friends, doing what they did best but a small part of him missed his hometown or more specifically the misfit group of kids he'd adopted in his final senior year.

They were doing alright without him though. Whenever he got the chance to call home, someone always answered and filled him in on their recent adventures - or mishaps.

One thing was for certain, their other co-parent was keeping them in line.

And that was the real surprise of Eddie's final year at school, co-parenting the buttheads with Steve Harrington, the former King of Hawkins High.

Not so much a king these days but more of an exasperated babysitter.

One Eddie had a massive crush on.

It was a problem but hey, he was dealing with it.

When his trusty van finally rolled back into Hawkins and sputtered to a stop outside his trailer, Eddie sighed in relief. The last fifty miles had been touch and go yet he'd gotten his bandmates home and made it himself. He patted the hood as he got out, she deserved a well-earned rest.

When he opened the trailer door he was hoping to find Wayne but was greeted with a full house of teenagers grinning, streamers hanging from every available surface and a homemade banner pinned to the wall proclaiming, Welcome Home Eddie!

"Welcome home Eddie!" They chorused and he was almost bowled over as they rushed to hug him.

"Hey, guys." Eddie choked out, overwhelmed but in the best way possible. "I missed you buttheads too."

The party lasted for hours. The kids had gone all out and brought enough food to last him weeks. At some point Wayne returned and hugged Eddie tightly, promising they could catch up later once everyone was gone. He retired to Eddie's room to sleep which meant they moved outside to be quieter.

"How was it? Did you meet any cool rockers?" Dustin asked excitedly.

"Plenty, none as cool as you though." Eddie ruffled his hair affectionately. "So who missed me the most?"

They all looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"What?" Eddie looked between them, confused.

"Uh, definitely Steve," Lucas chortled. "He doesn't shut up about you."

Mike snorted. "Yeah, the last time you called me, Steve interrogated me for at least an hour afterwards! He basically wanted a transcript of every word you said!"

"He missed you." Eleven told Eddie sagely as Max nodded her agreement.

"Huh." Eddie tried not to wiggle in excitement. Steve probably missed having a second babysitter to hand them off to. "So where is he then? Surely if he missed me so much he wouldn't skip my welcome home party?"

"Working," Dustin explained. "Him and Robin are coming once they close the shop he said."

"Cool, what time will that be." Eddie glanced at his watch. "It's already eight. Do you lot need a ride home? Not sure my van's up to it though..."

"Chill, we're having a sleepover at mine," Max replied before adding smugly. "Good thing too. I doubt we'll want to be in your trailer tonight."

"Why?"

They burst into another round of laughter. Eddie was going to interrogate them but a familiar maroon BMW trundled up the pathway, effectively making him forget the kids. Robin was out before the engine was off and she slammed into him so hard they stumbled back.

"Eddie!" She squealed, bouncing on the spot when they broke apart. her eyes were wide with excitement. "I'm so glad you're back!"

"Missed you too, Robs." He grinned, instantly amped up by her infectious energy. "Hope work hasn't been too boring without me there to brighten your day."

"Well," She drawled. "Having you back will certainly make someone's life better." And she nodded at the car as Steve stepped out.

Maybe Eddie had been away for too long because he didn't remember Steve being that attractive. He'd ditched the polo for what Eddie had a sneaking suspicion was one of his band shirts. His hair seemed to be quaffed to perfection and his step was a little more bouncy as well. But it was the smile that killed Eddie, warm and direct, all focus on him.

"Eds," Steve caught his arm, fingers digging in ever so slightly to his skin. Did he feel the shiver that went up Eddie at the touch? Hopefully not. "Man, I've missed you."

"I've been getting a lot of that today." He grinned as Steve's expression fell ever so slightly. "Missed you the most though."

He perked back up immediately and hugged Eddie. It seemed significantly longer than any other hug he'd received. Max seemed to think so too because she cleared her throat loudly.

Eddie pulled back sharply with a laugh. "I think that's-"

Steve cut him off with a kiss. Eddie froze, hands splaying across Steve's arms as he tried to understand what was happening. It was only when he pulled back sharply, an apologetic look on his face that Eddie realised his mistake. Fisting Steve's shirt he yanked him back into a proper kiss, smiling as Robin wolf-whistled.

"I've been wanting to do that for months," Steve breathed as they broke apart.

Eddie laughed. "Try years." And he kissed Steve again just because he could.