Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

July 1986

Summer has come to Hawkins and the kids begged and pleaded to be driven to the lake to swim. Eddie agreed to take the second car full of gremlins which is how he finds himself sitting in the shade with Robin while the kids splash around the lakeshore. Almost immediately upon arrival, Steve began to set up a sandwich station for lunch with Nancy offering her assistance, leaving the pair to gossip and chat. 

Eddie scans the scene before him and takes in the sight of Harrington and Wheeler making sandwich after sandwich, while the teenagers start a game of chicken. It’s almost too domestic for his taste but reminds him of something he’s been meaning to ask Robin. “So tell me, how much shit have you given Harrington for his six kids and a Winnebago comment?” 

“I gave him a decent amount before we even left the Upside-Down. Then it reemerges every single time we wind up on an outing like this, naturally. And yourself? Does he get just as pissy when you tease him?” she laughs, clearly finding Eddie’s question amusing as she too takes in the tableau before them. Eddie knows Robin’s looking for trouble because while they were individually smart, they were collectively, undeniably dumb. So leaving them without some form of supervision in a lake wasn’t exactly the best idea. 

Eddie has to admit that the way he riles Steve up is different from Robin. It's funny to make the other man squirm because Eddie can tell he's not used to the kind of flirty teasing Eddie dishes out. "Oh he does, but I have yet to breach that particular line of jesting. I just don't see how he thinks he's going to find a mate that wants to have six kids. Like that's insane," he whistles. In some ways, the King of Hawkins still has a mighty opinion of himself, especially for a beta.

“I mean, he kinda already ended up with way more than six,” she gestures, using her coke can to point at the kids now taking turns at dunking each other under the water as the girls laugh at them. “And to be fair, I don’t think he’d actually put himself through having that many. I think it was more like, a dumb kid's dream. Like, I wanted to be a pop star but also a lawyer with seventeen pups and a yacht. But for argument’s sake what’s not an insane number? In your opinion.”

"I think four is good. After two you both start to be outnumbered which is always a problem, but I get the interest in a proper pack," Eddie answers before realizing what Robin started her ramble with. "Wait, wait back up Buckley. You said put himself through that. By that you meant like he wouldn't actually ask his mate for six kids or..." he pauses because he feels like someone's about to pull the rug out from under him.

“I mean that he would be the idiot carrying them. And we’ve all seen how dramatic he gets when he’s ill. Imagine nine months of that? No thank you.” She shakes her head as she replays that scenario letting her sunglasses fall over her eyes. 

“Hey! Idiots! Stop doing that,” she warns, turning Eddie’s attention from his miniature crisis to look as Mike Wheeler attempts to climb a tree to jump into the water be thwarted. The teen freezes at Robin's stern warning, and he finds it amusing how readily the young Wheeler listens to Robin but ignores Steve almost entirely nowadays. But even with the distraction, the information bomb Robin just gave him has him looking a bit wide-eyed - Steve Harrington is an omega.

“Why do you look like you’ve just been told the sky is purple?”

"I, uh, thought Harrington was a beta or alpha...so does that make Nance...?" he wonders, his brain stuttering.

“Nance is an alpha. All the Wheeler kids are,” Robin supplies him with what she clearly sees as obvious information, eyes drifting back to the kids to make sure Mike has actually gotten down. 

“Did you really not know any of this? Where is your head, Munson? Under a rock? Buried in the sand? Jeez.” It’s not news that Eddie could be oblivious at times, but the way Robin is looking at him it seems like this is common knowledge and not something subtler he should have been cued into. In retrospect, it should have been painfully obvious, especially when one look at Steve being followed by a small pack of pups he essentially “mothers” would tell you exactly what you wanted to know.

"Clearly not paying attention to the school gossip,” he mutters. “I dunno I just thought with all his popularity he'd be I dunno, not be an omega. Not that there's anything wrong with that!" he adds looking at Robin with concern. 

“Hey, chill. Reign in that panic yelling tone you get. I know you’re not an Alpha dickhead, no need to tell me there’s nothing wrong with him being an Alpha. But to explain, Steve was a late bloomer, people assumed he’d be an alpha so he got the little title of ‘king’ and it just stuck. As did all the popularity, especially with alpha women,” she grumbles, and Eddie can’t tell if it’s from frustration that Steve gets more women hitting on him than her or if she’d appreciate fewer distractions at work.  

Eddie's never been a secondary gender guy, more focused on liking men in general. But this new information is something he feels conflicted about learning. He glances across the way to where Nancy is taking the pickle jar from Steve who’s been trying to open it for a few minutes now. "Well the two of them make sense now. And these kids really do seem to be Harrington's practice run."

“Yeah, they did make sense. Until they didn’t.”

The way Robin talks about them was as if they were in the past tense, and aren’t actively in front of them making sandwiches for their pseudo-children. "So he and Wheeler didn't get back together after their tension-filled Upside-Down adventure?" He asks finally looking at Robin who looks too amused at Eddie's confusion and questions. 

“Yeah no, I mean, no. I think they figured out they were better of as friends. They didn’t really get the chance after the last breakup to chat it out, right? I mean, you weren’t there to really see it, obviously, and neither was I obviously,” she recalls, looking confused as she tries to tell Eddie two years worth of Stancy drama. “Let’s just say between last summer and this spring Steve tried it with every girl that walked into work but didn’t get his closure until a few months ago.” 

The best part about having Robin be the keeper of the Tome of Harrington is that her propensity to word vomit gives him a bit more information every time. Bless her.

“So how do you think he’s doing on his practice run at kids?” she queries, trying for a slight pivot in conversation.

"I'd say if it weren't for Stevie being a horrible patient I'd trust him to raise a bus full of kids."

“That’s a very nice way to put it. But a bus full of kids would make his beautiful hair fall out and he’d lose all of his powers.”

"True. Harrington losing his hair would be a grave tragedy as that is certainly something to be passed on," he nods, looking over to see Steve call Max over to reapply sunscreen. "Frankly if that man breeds too much the next generation will be helpless against his offspring. Too much charm in Hawkins would make it explode."

“I mean, Hawkins could do with a little bit more charm. Don’t you think?” she posits.“Or maybe if he mates with someone with a little less conventional charm. It would maybe even out the charm to average.” 

Eddie looks away from the shore when Robin's hint smacks him. He needs to stop drooling. It's not like he really looked at Steve before like that. I mean other than the normal amount that people looked at Steve Harrington.

“But as I said, I don’t think he’d have six. I think he’d have three at most. Considering he’s already got all of these to deal with too, right?”

"Well, I'm sure he'll find someone soon enough. And honestly, if anyone is going to have a pack it's going to be Henderson with his Mormon girlfriend."

“Oh, god. I didn’t even think about that! He’s gonna have loads, a little army of nerds. You and Steve will have your hands full with that,” Robin snorts as her eyes find Dustin in the water. 

"Whoa whoa wait, why am I suddenly dealing with Henderson's litter? I think I've done enough babysitting in the last few months to be absolved of that. Besides, do you think Suzie would let me near her and Dusty Buns' precious pups," he giggles, his voice pitching up to imitate the sweet voice they've all heard through the radio. 

“You’re like, Dustin’s idol. He totally talks about you to Suzie-poo,” she lilts. “And she loves pretty much everything about Dustin, including his occasional bad grades and weird father figures. That’s you and Steve by the way. Weird and fatherly to him. So naturally, you’ll be dealing with them. In fact, I’m sure Dustin would make them call you both grandpa just to mess with you, man. You’ve met the kid. You’ve met the kid’s attitude.” 

Eddie can't help but grin at the idea that Henderson would fight to include him in his life even after he grows up. "I think I could at least escape with an Uncle Eddie, not grandpa. I'm not that much older than Henderson. 

“Grunkle Eddie,” Robin mumbles under her breath, making Eddie roll his eyes. 

“Steve would definitely be entrusted to be like a godfather or whatever for Henderson’s kids. Harrington is going to have the strangest extended family his poor mate." 

“Steve is going to have the weirdest extended family, we all are. Here’s your auntie, she has superpowers. And your uncle, he’s been to the upside-down. Oh, and that’s Mike,” she jokes, pushing her shades up to look pointedly at Eddie. “But if you ask me, I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve hasn’t already met the one who’ll get him closer to his Winnebago dreams.”

That statement makes Eddie’s stomach twist. He doesn't want to think about Steve already meeting the one . It's probably some pretty alpha his parents approve of who would look good in an oil painting over the family mantle.

Eddie looks over and watches Steve and Nancy work in a comfortable pattern - Steve whacking the sandwiches together in an unnecessary rushed manner, while Nancy, ever the perfectionist, fixes them before cutting them into triangles.

Eddie realizes he’s staring into the middle distance because it’s only when Steve whistles for the kids to come in and eat that he snaps out of it. "Should we head over? I'll carry your parasol m'lady."

“Aren’t you a gentleman!” 

Eddie stands and takes the umbrella he and Robin have been camping out under to avoid the sun. Eddie's in a cut-off black tank and jean shorts, having explained to everyone several times that no he doesn't own a bathing suit. He strolls over with Robin, arms linked with her, and lowers her on the blankets Nancy has spread out. It earns him a thank you Sir Edward, and as soon as her attention is on Nancy he stakes the umbrella back into the ground and chances the rays to get food. 

He walks over to Steve who's in charge, making sure the kids get their own sandwiches, watching for allergies and weird food preferences. Steve looks somewhat stressed as he sorts through each of the sandwiches whilst simultaneously dealing with their attitudes. 

“Look, see, you just have to give me like, a whole second to sort it out Henderson I can give you your food, calm down” Steve huffs, handing off the last of the plates to the kids, exasperation lacing his movements. There are only two plates left on the table he packed for the day, and Eddie is about to reach out to get one when Steve stops his hand and patiently waits in case Steve needs a second. 

“Eddie, that one is yours. Thanks for not telling me to hurry things up,” he says, glaring at the kids.

Eddie takes his plate, giving a disappointed look to Mayfield and Henderson for antagonizing Steve. "Nah I'm just grateful to be fed. Ooh, ham & cheese with pickles, thanks Stevie," he smiles, pleased that his sandwich order from last time was remembered. 

"Did you make yourself something or did you forget again?”

“Yeah, of course, I made myself one. I’m not an idiot.” Eddie would later find out that Steve had in fact forgotten to make himself something until Nancy pointed it out. 

"I didn't say you were an idiot Harrington don't get snippy," he pokes, looking around for a place to sit.

“I’m not. I’m not getting snippy.” Steve states in a very snippy tone as he moves to sit down on a fallen tree trunk, 

“You know they're all old enough to feed themselves right?" It’s an argument that’s been rehashed and rehashed between them all because everyone agrees that unless checked Steve will overextend himself.

“I know, I know. But picture how many ingredients they’d use on their sandwiches, man. It would be a nightmare. It’s way easier this way,” he reasons, moving around the table to find an empty spot to eat. 

"And again they are teens they can self-regulate their condiments." Eddie looks around and sees everyone settled in and trying drying off, finally noticing that Steve is still bone dry. "No water for you?"

“I’m going to. After my sandwich has settled.” 

"Of course, you're going to wait the recommended amount of time post-meal to swim." Eddie has a sneaking suspicion that the kids will be made to wait too. It’s clear Steve got too caught up in making sure everything was okay with the kids, that they were using sunscreen and their lunch ready, that Steve had forgotten to enjoy himself. 

“Obviously. It’s obviously recommended for a reason, why would I not wait? It would be silly, Munson,” Steve tells him so matter of factly before digging into his sandwich that Eddie has to laugh. 

“And you're worried about me being dry when you’re not exactly dressed for a swim. No water for you, either?”

"Nah not going to swim. I've actually got a secret Harrington," he whispers, leaning into the other man. "I can't swim for shit. Like at all."

Eddie is leveled with a shocked expression and watches as Steve swallows a mouth full of food before talking. Eddie's amused by how much Steve adheres to his manners. The man would rather choke than speak with his mouth full. “You’re kidding”.

"Nah not joking. That night we crossed through Watergate? Well, I partially hesitated because I can't swim. But with all the shit happening I figured drowning wasn't the worst way to go if I couldn't sink and kick enough. But seeing as I survived, I'm not looking for a repeat performance."

“So you literally just sank your way into the upside-down? I just thought you looked frazzled because of the whole alien world and bats.” It’s clear Steve couldn’t quite believe it, and he looks at Eddie as if trying to figure out how someone in Hawkins with all the lakes and quarries hadn’t learned how to swim. 

“Well, most of the water you can stand in. You at least have to get your feet wet. And I’m a registered lifeguard, you know? So it’ll be fine”.

"I don't have to do anything of the sort. Your lifeguard line might work on the ladies but not me pretty boy," he insists, shaking his head because he's not getting near that lake, even with the promise of Beach Barbie Steve. "Besides I'm keeping Robin company by engaging her in sparkling conversation and dazzling her with my wit and showmanship."

“And by that, you mean that both of you totally sat there gossiping and bullying us all, huh? That’s what you mean by sparkling conversation?” Steve has experienced firsthand the power that was the combination of those two and their words. Enough to make a grown man cry. Luckily for him, he was used to it. As were they all. 

"Steven! Are you implying that Robin and I are no better than a pair of gossiping hens," he gasps, clutching his chest in mock offense. "Tsk tsk, Harrington. Besides its not gossip if it's true." He moves just in time out of Steve's shoving rang, laughing as Steve swipes for him.

“I mean, yeah. That’s literally exactly what I’m implying, Eddie. And what’s it about the water that won’t let you put your feet in? You could stand and kick water at the kids. That’s pretty fun and super not a drowning risk.”

Eddie shakes his head. “No, no, no. See it starts with ‘dip your toes in, kick the kids.’ Then it's let me show you how to float. Next thing I know the little gremlins are tackling me and I'm swallowing lake water."

“I mean, it is so easy to float you know? But I wouldn’t push your boundaries. Not today at least. And I’d also be in the water, you know? Kids would tackle me not you. And nothing wrong with a little lake water.”

Eddie rolls his eyes and looks over at Steve explains further why he should be in the water. "You know if you wanted to see my shirtless all you have to do is ask, big boy. No need to offer me lessons," he teases, figuring his forwardness would get Steve to give up like every jock that's come before him. It seems to work when Steve flushes, but Harrington is always one to push on.

“When we get back, you can do lessons at my place. Until then, all I ask is your feet in the water. To get the full experience of our day out. And you don’t even need to strip down to do that!” he argues before finishing off his sandwich. “And don’t use Robin as a crutch, I will be throwing her in the lake in thirty minutes.”

"Does that mean I don't have to go in for another thirty minutes too since I've just eaten? Swim cramps are very serious Steven," he mocks, imitating Steve's concerned face, even going so far as to put his hands on his hips. 

“Yes. Mainly because if you go in and I try and get the kids to wait, they’re going to tell me to fuck off. Besides, I think we all need a little time to relax.”

"And I think you should save your swim lesson energy for your next date. You need to make sure your mate knows how to swim so the whole Harrington brood can be aquatic prodigies."

Steve steps over Eddie’s comment and barrels forward. “No, I need to make sure you know how to swim. Because it’s important. So shut it about me using it as a dating tactic. If you’re really worried about people thinking me teaching you how to swim is a date, I’ll get Robin to teach you instead. And she’s mean.”

Eddie really does enjoy riling Steve up. Mainly because Steve doesn't get worked up over normal things. No Steve Harrington gets worked up about safety, improper footwear, and whether the kids are home before midnight. "Harrington, I don't think I'd be the one worried about a dating rumor. You're the one with the very shiny reputation. I'd hate to taint that."

Steve frowns and Eddie would pay money to know what he’s thinking. It’s quiet for too long and Eddie is about to say something to break the tension when Steve mutters, “I don’t care about my reputation like that.” 

He doesn't meet Steve's eyes when the omega says that because he doesn't want to know how sincere the comment is. This group has taken him in and Eddie's convinced he's somewhere in a coma imagining it all. Sighing dramatically, he throws his hands up. "Fine I'll dip my toes in and I'll consider dropping by your place for lessons if you can fit me in between your busy dating and work schedule. Does that sound like a deal?"

“That sounds like a deal. We’ll figure out the schedule when we get back.” Steve stands, collecting their plates, and walks over to throw them out, only to come back with a can of beer for each of them. 

"My my Mister Harrington, careful with the little ones running about."

“Like those idiots would be able to drink a beer without gagging,” he stated quite simply as pops his beer open. “Besides, one beer won’t hurt. We only brought a four-pack for the adults.”

"I think Wheeler the younger would chug it just to spite you. It's kind of funny how he has it out for you. Which means I've got one of them who likes me more than you." He clinks his can against Steve's and absently wonders if Steve would mate with someone just as responsible as himself.

“Ugh, I have no idea why he’s got it out for me. Like, his sister was the one who technically broke up with me. It’s not like I was mean to her, you know?” He lets out a big sigh before taking a few long sips. “And congratulations. Mike is shockingly hard to have favorites. And I mean, Dustin idolizes you. Even Erica thinks you’re cool, though she won’t say it to your face ever.” 

"I think he thinks you two are going to get back together. I mean all the kids do," he mutters, looking out at the gaggle. "Henderson is always trying to set you up with Robin. It's kind of sweet how they're determined to get you a date.”

“For fucks sake that’s not going to happen,” Steve insists. “I’m kinda getting sick of telling them all that. But if that’s the case, then why is Mike being a little dick to me twenty-four seven? And I don’t know how many times I need to tell Henderson that Robin and I are just friends. Like, friends. Plat-”

“Yes, yes, platonic with a capital P I know. I mean I thought you two would make a great couple until Buckley read me the riot act. Didn't get what her type was and now I know it is definitely not you," he chuckles. "But you don't help your cause you know. Fucking six kids and a Winnebago, Harrington."

“She’s good at reading the riot act. Or screaming it, I guess. Countless topics I’ve had that read against me.” Steve groans at the mention of his apocalyptic confession. “Ugh, not you too. Did she tell you to say that? And what do you mean it doesn’t help my cause?”

"No Harrington she didn't. I might have been in the back of that RV but we all heard your dream. For the record, I think it's sweet that you think of the future like that. But the kids probably see it as a challenge to find you the person willing to handle six Harrington pups." He leaves out the part where he just learned today about Steve's socially acceptable breeding kink with that number.

“I said it was my dream. It had been my dream, what I thought about when Nancy and I were together. But that was high school. I think you guys can cut me some slack.” Steve argues and looks off, staring out onto the lakeshore, his hands twitching against his beer can “You know, I’m starting to think that’s just not for me. Finding a mate, you know? Not that I’m implying you can’t find a mate. That’s not what I meant by ‘y'know’ y'know?”

Eddie feels his stomach drop at the way Steve sounds. "What makes you think you can't find a mate? I get that these past few years haven't exactly been prime dating conditions but a lot of women in Hawkins would probably kill each other, battle royal style for the chance to go out with you."

“Yeah. Date. Not mate. Massive difference.” Steve shifts as he glances over to the kids as they started to finish up. “I mean, I’m not desperate to settle down or anything. But no one seems interested past the dating stage. And most get frightened off by the kids.”

"By these kids?" Eddie exclaims and is now offended on Steve's behalf. "Then fuck then. If someone is going to turn you down because this group scares them they don't fucking deserve you. Do they realize how fucking lucky they'd be to be accepted into this group? Like talk about ideal in-laws. Sure they'd drive you crazy but how many people have one person willing to shatter knees for them let alone more than ten. I agree, no date is worth your time in that case."

Steve just robotically nods along as Eddie rants. “Yeah. Yeah, I usually cut them off as soon as they make even a hint of a comment about you guys. You’re all way too important to me. No chance in hell would I risk you guys, you know? And then there’s my dad who’s been trying to get me to come around to just arranging a marriage. Not like an official arrangement. Just that his business partners have suitable Alphas my age. Or a little older. But I could never.”

"I don't think stuffy business alpha that's a carbon copy of your parents would suit you from what I've learned about you. But if it makes you feel better I'll never get a mate either. Innocent or not, murder suspect does wonders on an alpha's mating potential." 

“Yeah, but that’s silly. You were a suspect and you were cleared of it. You didn’t murder anyone. Like, not even close.” Steve rolls his eyes at the idiocy of the town they lived in. 

Eddie just laughs wryly and holds out his beer can for Steve to toast. "To being single and watching these kids grow up.".

“To being single and watching them grow up.”

Chapter Text

Steve looks around and sees the kids about to get up and run into the water. Before he can open his mouth though Eddie is standing up, waving Steve off. 

"Set the timer and I'll keep them busy for 30 minutes so they don't think Mom imposed rules again. Hey Wheeler!" He calls out and walks over to the boys, challenging them to a sandcastle contest on the shore. Steve laughs as Eddie gets up and works his Munson magic on the kids, his remarkable skill of distraction and playing on the kids' competitive (asshole) natures. 

He lets himself relax as he watches them, right up until Nancy sits beside him. "So did you convince him to get in the water?" 

“Yeah, he’s going to put his feet in. And I’m going to give him lessons back home, for next time.”

"Lessons? Eddie doesn't know how to swim? But didn't he get through Watergate?" she asks looking over at their friend in confusion.

“He like, just sunk with skill. All the way to the bottom, apparently. That’s what he said anyway.” Steve shrugs it off as he turns his attention back to watching Eddie interact with the kids. “Which is crazy, right? Dangerous. Which is why I’m going to teach him.”

"It was dangerous at the time sure,” Nancy agrees, “but now? Eddie doesn't strike me as the type to want to go swimming laps at the local pool so not so dangerous now. You don't need to be an eagle scout about it if he doesn't want to learn Steve." Steve hates that Nancy has taken it upon herself to be his paranoia check this summer before she goes off to Boston. Despite her insistence, he is not actually trying to bubble wrap their lives.

“Yeah but I’d rather him know how to swim in case of an emergency. Plus you just know the kids are going to make this a regular thing and I don’t want to be completely ganged up on in the water.” He tried to reason with her without stating the fact that maybe he was a little excited at the idea of one-to-one time with Eddie in swim trunks.

"Right and this has nothing to do with the ramble you gave me the other day about his tattoos? 'Nance I swear every time I look there's more! How many does he have?'" she imitates.

“Oh shut up, you know I’m right. I swear he sneaks off to get more. But not a noticeable amount, just enough to make me seem crazy.” Steve likes that he can argue with her now, after more than a year when he felt he had to tiptoe around her. “Maybe I should get a tattoo.”

Nancy has to cackle at that. "Please do and show your parents. I'd pay to be a fly on the wall for that." She gets her laughter under control and looks over to see the boys competing in building castles while Eddie is showing El sandcastle 101. "He didn't know you were an omega until today you know," she offers casually.

Steve’s head whips to look at Nancy to make sure she actually said that before looking back at Eddie, ignoring the way the boys were being children and sabotaging each other. “He didn’t? Really? What did he think I was?”

"Beta. According to Robin,” she gossips. “Didn't hear about your late bloom because it's not far-fetched to think Eddie Munson ignored anything that had to do with the popular kids. But then again he didn't know I was an alpha so he might just be oblivious," she shrugs, Steve unaware of how Nancy is watching him try and process that information.

“Yeah, I guess that’s not far-fetched at all.” Steve couldn’t take his eyes off of Eddie. He’d gotten used to people not really treating him like an omega after his late bloom. But it felt nice to know that Eddie had just been treating him like that anyway, but that it continued even after he found out. “Maybe he’s just dumb when it comes to secondary genders.”

"Probably. Robin also said he's just into guys, secondary doesn't play into it for him, which is very Eddie Munson," she decides. "So are swim lessons all you talked about?"

“We did talk about mates. About not being able to find them. We toasted to being single and watching the kids grow,” Steve tells her as he fights the urge to get up and tell the kids to just build their own castles and stop being destructive. “And about the business partners' alpha kids, actually”.

Nancy nods. She’s been told a few times about Harrington's suggestion and has been on the receiving end of his rants about it. She thinks it's a horrible idea and she told him so over and over again when his misery makes him wonder if his parents might be onto something. "To being single and watching the kids grow up? Interesting." She sucks in her lips, trying to hide a grin. 

“What’s so interesting? Don’t think I can’t see that damn grin, Wheeler,” he nudges her gently.

"Nothing, nothing. He definitely cares about them as much as you do. It's nice. Makes me less worried to go off to Emerson in the fall."

“Oh, well. I’m glad. I can’t wait to hear about Emerson, you know. When you come back for breaks. You’re going to be amazing. 

"Thanks. I'm nervous to go but it'll be good,” she admits, gripping her knees “You know Robin might come and see me over a long weekend," she adds, glancing over to the woman who’s now fallen asleep in the shade with her absence, but Steve sees her attempt to change the subject. 

“You still haven’t answered my question Nance, what’s interesting about what we said.”

"I just think it's interesting that you're both promising to see these kids grow up. Together."

It takes Steve a second to really click onto what she was saying, even if he wasn’t completely clicking just yet. “Why is that weird? Of course, we’ll be together. We live here. And the kids are a part of our lives. What I’m saying makes sense,” Steve gestures, his finger emphasizing the points by poking the palm of his hand. 

"Oh, it makes perfect sense. You both share a lot of your lives together. And the kids love you both. It's kind of cute. Well hopefully if your pact does break, the omega Eddie brings in fits in just as well."

Before the words can fully process, Steve’s face falls at the thought of Eddie bringing an omega into it all. He can’t explain why, but it’s making his chest hurt. “Yeah...yeah, I’m sure whoever he picks the kids will love. It’ll be good for him.” It was stupid for him to think otherwise because he should want his friend to be happy. It’s not jealousy about Eddie, more about that Eddie would have someone while he’s alone. Right?

Nancy watches as Steve's face goes through a series of emotions and wonders if he knows that his feeling isn't just jealousy from sharing a friend. Before she can say anything though Eddie is walking over, his shirt now off because Max threw sand at it. "Harrington do you have extra sunscreen? I'm not letting my money go to waste by ruining my tattoos."

“Yes! I do.” That question quickly snaps Steve out of his tumbling thoughts as he quickly jumps up, moving a few steps away to reach into his bag and a second later tossing a bottle over to Eddie. “It’s a good one, your tattoos should be safe.”

"Thanks, man. Wheeler," he nods, looking between them as if he’s interrupting something. 

"You know,” Nancy snaps, standing, “sunscreen reminds me that I should adjust Robin's umbrella so she doesn't burn. Steve how about you help Eddie get his back!" she suggests and runs off.

Steve feels like he’s missing something, but nods. “Yeah. I’ll help him. I can help.” He wouldn’t say no to helping - sun safety is important after all. 

"You don't have to Steve. I can get most of it myself," he starts but the patented Steve-mom look he gets has him turning around and handing over the bottle.

Steve starts at his shoulder and figures he’d do this quietly when Eddie starts talking. The man doesn’t do silence. "It's crazy how much El has missed out on. She's fifteen but it's like watching a six-year-old sometimes. I helped her make a moat and she got so delighted she made the eater spiral over us, which is certainly something to behold."

“That’s pretty cool,” he agrees, “it’s nice that we can give her moments like this, you know? Time to be a kid. It’s kinda the same with most of them. Not to the same extent. But I know most of them missed out on normal childhood things.” 

Steve is about done, but when his hand reaches Eddie’s neck he feels him tense, pulling away from his touch. "Alright! I think I've got it from here. Why don't you let the kids know they can go into the water again,” he suggests, looking a little frazzled for a reason Steve can’t explain. 

“Right. Yeah. Yes, I’ll do that. Let the sunscreen soak in for five before you get wet, Munson,” he orders, using the excess on his hands to top up the one on his own chest before heading towards the shore.

Steve immediately gets roped into whatever the kids want to do, which right now involves him picking them up and throwing them into the lake from where he stood already waist-deep. He’s pretty strong for an omega, years of sports to thank for that coupled with the annual fight with unworldly creatures. He’s just finished throwing El into the lake when Eddie comes to the shore a few feet away, his hair pulled up in a haphazard bun. Steve doesn’t think he’s ever seen Eddie with his hair up, and he finds himself staring. 

"Don't even fucking think about doing that to me Harrington. If I even see a glint of the idea in your eye I'm leaving you to deal with all these gremlins," he warns, taking a step closer to the water but one step further from Steve's reach.

“I would never!” He calls out with a bark of a laugh, mere seconds before Dustin jumps on his back and dunks him. It’s clear when Steve comes up from the water that the sight of him disappearing into the lake because of a rogue child doesn't make Eddie feel at ease whatsoever. He manages to tangle his limbs off of Dustin and stands back up, pushing his wet hair back. “It’ll feel nice on your feet, I promise,” gesturing him to come close

Eddie takes a tentative step to the water and dips his toes in. Steve watches as his face relaxes a bit and can’t help but stare as the alpha takes in the view of the lake, noticing that he absently touches his stomach scars as he does. Steve knows how those particular scars feel on his body, even if he has significantly less than the alpha. 

Carefully, he takes a few towards Eddie, smiling. “We could sit if that’s okay? Like, in general really shallow part. It’ll cool you off.”

"I'm not sure how jeans will be in the water but if it lessens the chance that one of those hellions tackles me I'll do it." Eddie squats and sits gingerly, stretching his legs out. Steve takes a seat beside him and takes in the contrast of their legs - one set pale, the other sun-kissed.

“Do you want to hear something fucked up Steve?” Eddie asks as he looks out onto the water, and Steve wonders if his eyes are trying to place the location of all the messed-up things that happened here a few months ago. 

“What’s fucked up?”

“I’d do all of spring break all over again if it meant having this. I mean I’d want Chrissy to be alive of course, but the whole learning about this other world and fighting for my life thing? I think I’d go through it if it meant I got all of you at the end. Fucking sappy more than fucked up probably,” he admits, laughing at the realization. 

Steve shakes his head because he gets it. “I could probably do without the nightmares, but I know what you mean. The first year it happened I wanted to run from it all, but now? Now I don’t think I’d make that trade either. Especially now.”

Steve knows he’s staring but something isn’t letting him look away. Something more is on the tip of his tongue but before it can come out, Max and El are squirting Eddie with a water gun, sending the alpha running to the shore.

“I blame you for this Harrington! I take back everything I just said!” 

Steve can’t help but laugh because he knows it’s untrue. Whatever he has to say can keep for now. Or at least until he and Eddie are alone in his pool.