"It's officially Autumn!" Eddie exclaimed, swooping down to pick up an amber leaf.

Steve looked at it, unimpressed. "Great, time for wet weather and washing my car every weekend because it gets covered in crap. Why are you so excited?"

"It's the best time of year!" Eddie looked aghast. "Nothing better than blasting Metallica on a rainy evening. You'll have to come over when the first storm hits and you'll understand."

"If you say so."

The storm came almost a week later. Steve was watching the rain lash against the kitchen doors and splash in the pool when the phone rang. "Harrington Residence."

"Steve, get your ass over here!"

He rolled his eyes, cradling the receiver between his ear and shoulder as he moved to set his mug down. "Calm down, Eddie. I can hear you vibrating from here."

"Just hurry!" The line went dead.

Steve put it back and grabbed his coat and shoes. He wasn't convinced this would be as an amazing experience as Eddie had promised but he was willing to give it a try. Besides, spending more time with Eddie was always a bonus.

Opening the front door, he paused on the awning. There was a large orange leaf just outside the door, blown in from earlier since it was still dry. Steve picked it up and twirled it by the stem, reminded of Eddie's excitement a week ago. He went back inside to grab a random book from the shelves - like his parents would ever notice - and stored the leaf carefully in its pages.

As he drove to Eddie's, he kept glancing at the book and wondering what possessed him to do it. He had no doubt Eddie would like it but still, it was a weird gift. As he pulled up outside the familiar trailer, it hit Steve. He had a crush on Eddie.

"Fuck."

Too late to back out now.

Grabbing the book he hurried up the rickety steps and the door swung open before he could knock. Eddie stood grinning on the other side and took the book with a puzzled expression as Steve shed his coat and shoes.

"What's this?"

"A gift for you."

He turned the book over and read the title out loud. "One hundred and one crochet ideas. Aww, Steve, you know me so well."

"Not the book, dumbass. Open it."

Eddie frowned at him but did as asked. The book fell open on the page with the leaf and Steve watched his confusion transform into excitement as he picked it up carefully. "Oh, it's beautiful!"

"Thought you'd like it."

"Uh, wait a second." Eddie looked around distractedly. "Ah-ha!" He shoved the book back to Steve and hurried into his room.

Steve followed in time to see Eddie carefully adding the leaf to frail looking book and covering it with clear film. "What are you doing?"

"Preserving it of course." Eddie flipped the pages and Steve saw it was full of different leaves and flowers. "I started this with my mother before she left. Not added to it for ages though, it's got to be really special so you should feel honoured."

"I do."

Eddie crouched down to store the book back in his wardrobe. "Now, I believe I owe you the best night of your life!"

Steve tossed the book aside and got comfortable as Eddie sorted out the music. He tensed when they were plunged into darkness but quickly relaxed. Eddie lay next to him and began humming along softly.

Listening to the rain lashing against the trailer and the quiet music, accompanied by Eddie's humming, Steve felt himself drifting off. "It is nice," he admitted.

"Told you."

And if Steve returned for every storm thereafter, that was nobody's business but theirs.

And if Eddie eventually framed the leaf to put on the mantelpiece of their first house, he would always explain gleefully where it had come from.