Steve had always dreamed of having a big family, going on road trips yearly, the whole nuclear family, and a white picket fence dream. Maybe it was silly, but he'd never been able to shake the idle daydream. For a long time, it was Nancy he pictured by his side. These days, it was someone a little less… conventional.

He also didn't expect to have his dream come true with Eddie Munson either, but there they were, at the beach with six kids that might as well be theirs after driving around in a Winnebago.

Sure, it wasn't what he'd expected, but Steve couldn't complain. He didn't want to either.

"Hey, where you at?" Eddie asked, bringing Steve back to the present.

He only smiled, taking one of the ice creams Eddie was holding. "Nowhere."

"Sure seemed like somewhere."

After checking nobody was around, Steve leaned in to kiss him. "I'm right here with you, Eds. Nowhere else I'd rather be."

Eddie smiled wide, cheeks pink with either happiness or sunburn. Probably both. "Good because if you hated this, it would suck. Considering I overheard you spilling your guts to Nance that this was what you wanted."

It was Steve's turn to be embarrassed. "You heard that."

"Oh, sweetheart, we all heard that."

Steve groaned as Eddie cackled.

Whatever. He was still happy as he licked his ice cream, watching Max and Eleven gang up on Mike to splash him. Dustin and Lucas were too busy playing ball to notice. In the end, it was Will who stopped them by dunking Eleven, and he could hear their shrieks even from where he sat. It was nice to see them acting like kids, even after everything that happened.

He smiled as Eddie rested his head on his shoulder. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised. You're all too nosy for your own good."

"Speak for the buttheads. I didn't want to be involved in your bullshit. Even if I'm kinda glad I was."

"Me too." Steve kissed his head, spitting out sand a moment later, much to Eddie's amusement. "You laugh now, but you've gotta wash it out later."

"That's what you're for."

Steve could live with that. He thought he could maybe live with Eddie for the rest of his life. But for now, today was enough. Maybe his other dreams would come true, too.