Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a nice day, so Steve had invited Nancy and Chrissy over. It was mainly for Billy, as the little one had wanted to have a playdate with Eddie and Robin. It was one of the first requests he had made. They were both so new to this, so he wanted to be lenient. Plus, Billy had woken up quite grumpy that morning with a tummy ache, and Steve just wanted to make him happy. He made sure to get the blonde bathed, clothed, and fed - he beams at seeing Billy in a baby blue sweater that matched his eyes, a pair of shorts covered in sailboats on his bottom half.

"When they gonna get here?" Billy whines loudly from his spot on the couch, all pouty and sulking. He'd even put out his nicest toys for the other two when they got there. His boats, trucks, and cars, even his stuffed animals and blocks! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was playing on the TV, and he had his sippy-cup full of grape juice clutched in his hand, bringing it up to suckle on angrily.

"They'll be here soon, buddy," Steve chuckles, shaking his head as he sits next to Billy on the couch. Billy had been staying over for the last couple of days, nerve-rackingly lying to Neil that he was staying at a friend's house. "You gotta give 'em a little time."

"Want 'em here now," Billy grumbles around the spout of his cup, a little juice leaking down his chin which Steve is quick to wipe away with his sleeve.

Steve sighs softly, reaching up to brush Billy's hair back gently. "Soon, bub." He glances at the clock, hoping the others would actually show soon before Billy has an outright tantrum.

-

Nancy pulls up to Steve's house with a smile, chuckling a little as Robin bounces in the passenger seat, wiggling impatiently and struggling to unbuckle herself with one hand, the other clutched tightly onto a stuffed lizard. She had thought the choice of animal or, well, the reptile had been odd at the time, but Robin had lit up when she saw it, gushing about how cool it was. "You ready to get out, honey?" She chuckles, asking the question rhetorically but cooing when Robin nods anyways. "Okay. " Hold on and let me help," She adds before switching the car off and getting out, walking to the other side of the vehicle, and opening the door. As soon as she unbuckles the seatbelt, Robin hops out and runs up to the front door, knocking loudly and excitedly.

"Stevie! Stevie! Stevie!" She calls loudly with each knock, bouncing on her feet. She squeals when the door opens, revealing a smiling Steve, Billy standing behind him. "Billy!" She calls.

"Robin!" Billy calls back, blonde curls bouncing as he jumps up and down. "You got Queen Elizardbeth with you?" He asks, giggling at the name she had told him last time when he asked. He had his favorite stuffie too, a shark named Ripper - when Robin had asked him why the name, he said it was cause sharks ripped people apart with their teeth, and then had to apologize when she ran to Nancy crying and scared.

"Uh-huh, she's right here!" She says proudly, holding the lizard up and beaming. "She and Ripper can play, but he can't bite her!"

"That's what sharks do, Robin!" He complains, pouting once again but is quickly warned by Steve with a simple look, the other man's eyebrows raised. "...okay, Ripper won't bite her." He huffs.

"Yay! No bad Ripper!" Robin cheers before Nancy finally makes it to the door, sighing fondly, a bag covered in an array of cartoon reptiles clasped in her hand.

"Hey, Nance."

"Hi, Steve," She responds, smiling softly. "Chrissy and Eddie aren't here yet?"

"No, I think they're running a little behind. Y'know how wild Eddie can sometimes be. She's probably got her hands full." Steve chuckles. "There's still a stain on my carpet from the last playdate."

"Did you really think it was a good idea to give him a Yoohoo without putting it in a sippy cup?" Nancy asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I guess that ones on me." He hums before ushering the little ones inside. "Alright, you two go play while you wait on Eddie, okay?"

"Okay, Stevie!" Robin and Billy shout simultaneously, their rushing footsteps echoing through the house as they run to the living room. 

"Hey! No running!" Steve and Nancy both call before turning to each other and laughing. "We've gotta stop doing that. It's getting creepy." Steve snorts. "On another note, I can see you let Robin dress herself today." He jokes.

"There was no way of stopping her. She was already up and dressed before I even got up. She looked so happy, and I couldn't bring myself to tell her to change."

"You're getting all soft, Nancy Wheeler." He jokes.

"As if you aren't." She responds, glancing toward the two playing on the living room floor. Robin was dressed in a bright red skirt, polka dot leggings underneath in purple and green, and an oversized, plaid button-up. Nancy shakes her head fondly, just smiling before a knock on the door sounds behind them.

-

Chrissy was a bit out of breath, holding onto Eddie's hand as they stood outside Steve's front door. She'd had to do some wrestling with Eddie that morning to be able to get him ready. He'd been so excited to see Billy and Robin, but he'd been clinging to her all morning. Even now, he was plastered against her side, his face shyly tucked against her shoulder.

"Sweetheart, are you sure you don't want to go back home? We can lay down and cuddle if you want." She offers softly, tucking a strand of his fluffy, brown hair behind his ear. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Eddie stubbornly shakes his head, reaching up to rub at his eyes and nearly hitting himself in the face with his five-headed, stuffed dragon affectionately named Tiamat. Chrissy had to improvise that one by buying extra heads to sow on per Eddie's request. It had taken time, but it was worth seeing how excited he was when she presented it to him on his birthday.

"Okay, baby," She relents, knocking on the door and watching as it swung open to reveal Nancy and Steve, the sound of Robin and Billy playing from the living room.

"Hi, Chrissy! Hey, little guy!" Steve coos immediately, Nancy following.

Eddie's eyes widen slightly, hiding further against Chrissy.

"I think he's a bit extra little today. I hope that's okay," Chrissy explains, smiling at the other two caregivers. "He's been attached to me all morning. I thought I'd never get him dressed."

Eddie was dressed simply in a yellow t-shirt, covered by a pair of black overalls and his battle jacket that he insisted on never taking off even when he was in his headspace.

"Of course, it's okay!" Nancy reassures, helping the two into the house and taking the bag from Chrissy's hand to put it on the counter in the kitchen.

Chrissy smiles sheepishly, holding onto Eddie's hand as she helps him waddle towards the living room.

"Eddie!" Robin is the first to notice him, Billy's head snapping up directly after, the two littles rushing over to him.

Eddie jumps, letting out a small whimper and turning his body to Chrissy, wrapping his arms around her instinctively, causing Robin and Billy to pout and look at each other.

Steve hurries over, quietly shushing them before he hums. "Eddie's a bit smaller than you two today, okay? So you've gotta be more careful with him." He says. 

"Can he still play with us?" Billy asks, tilting his head. He was slightly disappointed, having wanted all three of them to play.

"I'm not sure, little man. You can try and see, but don't force him."

Billy nods hurriedly before stepping closer, tapping Eddie's shoulder, who wiggles a little before his doe eyes turn and look. "Eddie, can you play with us? We got blocks!" He says enthusiastically. He felt a little too big to play with blocks, but he could do it for Eddie.

Eddie doesn't answer him, continuing to stare. Billy frowns. Robin went back to playing with some of the toys on the floor as she waited. He reaches out instead, squirming his hand into the middle of Chrissy and Eddie's to grip the other little's hand, starting to tug him along impatiently.

A panicked whimper escapes Eddie as he's dragged toward the toys on the floor, starting to yank and pull, attempting to get away from Billy and back to Chrissy. He wanted to be close to her but couldn't make the words come out. Instead, he starts to fuss, lips wobbling and eyes welling with tears.

"William Hargrove!"

Billy halts at the use of his full name, peeking back at their caregivers. A disappointed Steve, a frowning Nancy, and a worried Chrissy, even Robin had looked up. 

"Eddie's crying, Billy!" Robin shouts, which only makes Eddie flinch again at the loudness, a sob escaping him before he tugs free of Billy's hand and rushes back to Chrissy, burying his face against her chest.

"Shh, shh, baby boy. You're okay. I got you," Chrissy coos into Eddie's hair, hugging around him and running a soothing hand up and down his trembling back.

Steve steps over, his hands on his hips as he looks at Billy. "What did I say about forcing, William?" He asks firmly.

Billy pouts, looking down at his feet and shuffling them. "...to not do it."

"And what did you do?"

"I did it," Billy mumbles, not liking where this was going. "I just wanted Eddie to play with us!" He insists.

"I told you. He's littler than you two today. He doesn't understand that." Steve says again, his eyebrows furrowed. "Now, I want you to go apologize, then you're getting a time-out."

"But-"

"No buts, now go." He says sternly.

Billy whines loudly, but he walks over, lips poked out. His tummy was hurting again, and his head had started to throb, sniffling once through his slightly stuffy nose. He hadn't told Steve that he felt bad when he woke up cause he hadn't wanted him to cancel the playdate. 

"...sorry, Eddie." He murmurs quietly.

"What was that?"

Billy sighs, waiting until Eddie peeked out toward him, his eyes puffy and pink from crying. "I'm sorry, Eddie." He says a bit louder.

Eddie simply looks at him, blinking slowly before bringing his thumb up to suck on, curling closer to Chrissy as if she'd disappear if he moved even an inch away. Luckily, Steve figured the apology was good enough and stepped over again, grabbing Billy's hand and leading him towards a chair in the corner. "You're going to sit here for ten minutes and think about what you did, okay?" Steve informs, situating Billy into the bright yellow chair. "You're a good boy, but that was very rude. I know you can be better than that, Billy."

Billy whines but doesn't try to fight, the last words oddly comforting. Steve always finds ways to reassure him even when he's not sure he deserves it. He's starting to feel worse though, maybe he should've told Steve.

"Steve," Chrissy pipes up behind them, trying to get his attention. "Do you have any milk?"

Steve brushes a gentle hand over Billy's shoulder before he stands straight again. "Yep, it's in the fridge. Are you going to make the little guy a bottle?"

She nods softly, smiling. "Yeah, I think he needs it. Maybe we could use one of your rooms upstairs to feed him?" She adds hopefully.

"Very sneaky, Cunningham," He teases but nods. "Yeah, you guys can use my bedroom." He understands the need for privacy. Not all littles wanted to be stared at, and Eddie seemed particularly shy today. He watches as she carefully shuffles off with Eddie, managing to make a bottle despite the other never loosening his hold on her before they disappear upstairs. 

"I'll bring his bag up in a bit!" Nancy calls after them.

"Thank you!" Chrissy says back.

-

Billy squirms where he sits on the chair, wondering how long it's been. It felt like hours! He whines softly, digging the palms of his hands into his eyes as they sting, causing his head to throb dully again. He sniffles once, twice, then three times. His nose was becoming more stuffed up by the minute, using his mouth to breathe.

He jumps a little when he feels a hand touch him, looking back to see Robin. "You're all sniffly, Billy."

"Nu-uh, and you're not supposed to talk to me in time-out. Stevie's going to get mad."

She ignores him, tilting her head cutely. "Are you sick? Nancy always makes me soup and reads me stories when I'm sick." She chirps.

"Not sick," Billy pouts.

"Why didn't you tell Stevie you were sick?"

"Not sick!"

"Hey, hey, what's with the yelling?" Steve asks, hurrying over with Nancy, who pulls Robin closer to her protectively.

"Billy's sick, and he's being a big liar!" Robin says, now pouting as well. "He's all sniffly and keeps holding his head!"

"Honey-" Nancy starts but is cut off by Steve, who instantly looks concerned as he looks over Billy.

"Sick?" He asks, hand moving to press against Billy's forehead first and foremost to check his temperature, sighing in relief when he feels normal. He hears him sniffle though, cringing at the stuffed-up sound. "Jesus, bud. You sound all congested. Does your head hurt?"

Billy looks at Steve for a second before he crumples, whimpering and nodding his head.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asks, scooping Billy off the chair with a bit of a struggle and carrying him to the couch, sitting down with him on his lap. "You know you can tell me when you feel bad, right? I won't be mad. I need to know to make you feel all better, okay?"

Billy shrugs uncomfortably, and Steve sighs, pulling him closer to his chest and kissing the top of his head. He knows Billy struggles to ask for things often, but they had been working on it. He hopes that Billy won't be afraid to tell him anything one day.

"It's okay. You're okay. Stevie's not mad. I would never be mad at you."

Billy whimpers again and curls up against him, his hands fisted in Steve's shirt. 

"How about I get you some more juice, and we go upstairs so you can nap? How does that sound?" He asks quietly, smiling when he feels Billy nod against him. "Okay, buddy. Sit here with Nancy and Robin for a second. I'll be right back." Steve says, carefully moving Billy onto the couch and shooting a thankful look to Nancy as she sits beside him.

He makes quick work of filling Billy's sippy cup with more grape juice, feeling lucky that it was such a strong flavor, as he mixes in a serving of cold medicine. Billy would fight him tooth and nail if he tried just to get him to take it. He learned that the first time. He steps back into the living room, walking over to the couch. "Alright, baby. Grab Ripper, and we'll go to your room."

Billy stands slowly, wobbling a little as he does so before picking up the stuffed shark and grabbing onto Steve's hand with the other. He watches Nancy grab Eddie's bag from earlier, motioning to it and hastily bringing it up to the room Chrissy and Eddie were in before she returns.

"I think me and Robin are going to head out too. Someone else is getting a little sleepy," She chuckles, looking to Robin, who was staring off, practically blinking in slow-motion.

Steve laughs softly too, nodding his head. "Okay, you two be safe. Text me when you're back to your house."

"We will," Nancy whispers, grabbing Robin's hand and leading the sleepy little out of the front door.

-

Steve and Billy eventually make it to Billy's room that Steve had put together for him. The walls were a soft blue, and he'd even tried to free-hand some waves on them. They weren't the best, but Billy had loved them, paired with the sandy-colored carpet on the floor. 

He helps Billy to bed, tugging a soft blanket over him before he climbs in next to him. He pulls him to lay against his chest, handing over the sippy cup, which Billy immediately starts to drink, cheek squished against Steve. He chuckles quietly, not wanting to jar the tired, sick boy. Reaching over, he brushes his fingers through Billy's blonde curls, repeating the action until Billy's sippy cup is empty and he's completely knocked out against him.

Steve wants to check on Eddie and Chrissy though, so he cautiously moves Billy onto the bed and gets up, tip-toeing from the room and walking to his own. He creaks open his bedroom door, peering inside, and smiles when he spots the two curled up together. Eddie was still clinging onto Chrissy in his sleep, laying against her front with a black pacifier tucked between his lips, hair an absolute mess. Chrissy's hands were laid protectively over his back and the back of his head, keeping him close to her.

Steve sighs, looking for a second longer before pulling back and shutting the door. He didn't have the heart to wake them. Instead, he returns to Billy's room and gets back onto the bed, keeping still as Billy shifts with a little whine, tucking himself into Steve's warm side and reaching up to hold onto his shirt, the tip of his nose a faint red from all of the rubbing and sniffling.

This wasn't exactly how he had planned the day, but it was what it was.

Chapter Text

Jason didn’t really know what to expect when Chrissy invited him over to Eddie’s house. He'd spent the last few months apologizing for the hurt he’d caused, wanting to be on good terms with his ex-girlfriend and the guy he’d basically caused a witch-hunt over for nothing. Jason didn’t think he’d ever felt so miserable in his life when he realized all the damage he’d caused over the weeks when he thought Eddie had done something to harm Chrissy or worse. Only to find her tucked away in the Munson trailer, staring at him with a look of pure disappointment and betrayal. He doesn’t ever want to see that look on her face again, and the accoupling look of Eddie’s hurt beside her. 

He wrings his hands out as he stands on the honestly hazardous set of broken, wooden steps leading up to the front door. His stomach does a flip at the thought of Eddie falling down them, he’d always been pretty clumsy from what Jason had noticed at school. He shakes the thought out, raising his hand to knock, huffing out a nervous breath, his shoulders tense and drawn up. It doesn’t help that the door practically swings open, knocking against the opening as a frazzled-looking Chrissy looks out at him. 

His hands come up naturally, almost as a sign of showing he meant no harm. “Uh, you asked me to come here?” He says, sounding unsure. “Are you okay?” 

“Oh, Jason. It’s you,” Chrissy breathes out, sounding relieved and anxious at the same time. “Yeah, we’re okay. Eddie’s inside. He’s just a little fussy. We ran out of his favorite snacks, and it made him upset.” 

Oh, that had been another thing he’d forgotten which genuinely weighed on his conscience even more. He’d sent an angry mob out to catch and possibly kill a little. He was barely able to forgive himself for that, so he didn’t know how Chrissy or Eddie would manage, but it seemed like they’d been coming around over time.  

“Oh,” Jason responds awkwardly before clearing his throat and placing his hands in his pockets. “Um, is it alright if I come in?” 

He notices the hesitation and understands it fully, though he relaxes a bit as Chrissy nods wordlessly, stepping back and beckoning him inside. He steps through the door, quickly noticing the mixture of smells in the air: cigarettes and that smelled like a fruity air freshener spray, and a few other things he couldn’t exactly place. Jason looks over where he hears a small thump, spotting Eddie on the floor, sitting on the top of a soft-looking blanket that looks fairly new. The sight makes his chest tighten, along with the wide, brown eyes peering up at him, darting quickly between him and Chrissy before Eddie makes grabby hands at her, small grunting noises escaping from behind the pacifier tucked between his lips. His eyes were puffy and red, too, which Jason assumes is from an earlier tantrum. He watches as Chrissy hurries over, gathering Eddie in her arms with an affectionate smile. He can tell Eddie is still eyeing him untrustingly and understands why, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. 

Yeah, Jason had been surprised on the day they’d all received their letters, too. How the hell had he been deemed a caregiver? Maybe he should’ve taken those times more seriously when he felt sick to his stomach after insulting Eddie, sometimes leading to him actually spilling his guts. He’d always brushed his friends off, telling them it was nothing. That he just had a sensitive stomach and he’d eaten something that didn’t agree with him. He hadn’t connected the dots when he’d sent all those angry people on a fucking tirade and it felt like he was spiraling, losing his mind – going completely insane. He thought it was grief, concern over Chrissy, but the sight of Eddie’s terrified expression had plagued his mind, making him lose sleep. 

“-ason, Jason! Jason!” 

“Huh? What?” He shakes his head again as he looks over at Chrissy again, now sitting on the couch with Eddie on her lap, the little’s head tilted curiously to the side. 

“I was calling your name for a good few minutes, are you alright?” Chrissy asks softly, concern laced through every word and expression obvious on her face. She’d never been good at hiding her emotions. 

“Yeah, yeah, sorry,” Jason says, motioning towards the couch after a moment of awkward silence. “Is it okay if I sit next to you guys?” 

Chrissy smiles again before nodding, patting the spot beside her. “Of course. I called you here, so we could all get along. How are we going to do that from across the room?” She giggles, a twinkling sound. It makes Jason calm down, a smile spreading over his own lips before he glances back at Eddie again. “Um, hey...little man.” 

Eddie’s eyes narrow for a second as he eyes Jason, unblinking for an uncomfortable amount of time before he lays against Chrissy’s chest, his pacifier bobbing with each suck, though his eyes never leave Jason. 

"It’s okay, Eddie. Jason’s not going to hurt you. Mama’s here,” Chrissy says, pressing a gentle kiss to the wild brown curls of Eddie’s hair. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Never again, and Jason won’t either, right?” She asks, turning her attention to the other man.  
“Y-Yeah, never again. Won’t let anything happen, I promise,” Jason is quick to answer, looking between the two of them with sincere eyes, hoping to get his point across, though his throat is tightening. “I’m-...I’m so sorry, Eddie. Chrissy. Both of you. I should’ve thought more before I...I did all of that. God, you don’t know how sorry I am.” 

Chrissy stares for a minute before she finds herself nodding again. “Yes, you should’ve thought through it more but it’s the past now. It’s already happened and there’s no changing it. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again or you won’t be so lucky.” She ends, sending a chill down Jason’s spine. It was like a mama bear protecting her cub. 

“I understand,” He responds, nodding so fast that it makes him a little dizzy. 

“Good!” She chirps as if she didn’t just vaguely threaten his life, turning to Eddie and pecking him on the cheek. 

Eddie reaches up, giggling quietly from behind his pacifier before he rubs at his eyes, a small sniffling noise leaving his nose. Jason almost jumps when Chrissy whips her head around to look at the clock, gasping softly. “Oh! It’s nap time,” She says, bouncing Eddie on her knees to the best of her ability. “Honey bear, let’s go lay you down, yeah?” She asks Eddie, moving to stand which is met with surprisingly little fuss as she leads Eddie to what Jason assumes is the direction of his bedroom. “Jason, I’ll be back in a minute!” 

“O-Okay!” He calls back, waving at the two of them with one hand before continuing to sit on the couch, bouncing his leg up and down as the silence of the trailer consumes him. He looks around, making note of the little things around. He notices a collection of different mugs, even some hats, all on shelves or hanging on the tan walls. He notices a small, folded-up cot in the corner of the room, too. Chrissy had said Eddie had a room, so who’s was that? His stomach drops a bit when he remembers Eddie lives in the trailer park with his uncle, Wayne Munson, and quickly comes to the realization that Eddie must have the only room in their home. His uncle had given up comfort for him. Tears nearly prickle at Jason’s eyes before he’s interrupted by footsteps, hastily wiping his eyes and looking back to the short hallway. 

“Hey, sorry. It took a minute because I usually nap with Eddie, he didn’t want me to go,” Chrissy chuckles, a smile gracing her lips once more. She sighs, looking up to the clock again before biting her lips and fiddling with her nails. 

He remembers it being a habit of hers when she needed to say something but wasn’t sure if she should, so he spoke up. He might’ve been a shitty boyfriend, but he liked to think he noticed things going on with Chrissy. At least sometimes. 

“Hey, what’s wrong? Did you need something?” 

Chrissy looks surprised at the question, her cheeks flushing a light pink. “Oh, uh...well, how I said earlier that Eddie had been upset because we ran out of snacks. I was thinking I could run to the store really quick to pick some stuff up b-but it’s okay! I don’t have to. Eddie will be okay until tomorrow.” 

Jason chews on the inside of his cheek, thinking for a moment. “I...I could watch him for a little while if you really need to go out.” He says. “I don’t mind. He’s asleep anyway. How long does he usually sleep for?” 
“...well, it depends. Sometimes, he sleeps for two hours, sometimes one,” Chrissy says, sounding nervous. “Are you sure it’d be okay? I promise I’ll be quick! Probably even before he wakes up!” 

“Course, wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t think I could do it,” Jason says, trying to instill some confidence into Chrissy, nodding his head. “It won’t be a problem, swear! And if something goes horribly wrong, you can kill me when you get back.” 

Chrissy lets out a small laugh at that but nods again, blowing out a large breath as if she were trying to hype herself up. “Okay, okay, I’m going but I’ll be right back!” She says, stepping towards the door and slipping her shoes over her socked feet, grabbing her pink cardigan off the hook by the door and slipping it over her shoulders. “I’ll be right back!” And with that, she’s out of the door. 

Jason leans back against the couch and lets out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, casting an unsure glance down the hallway, toward Eddie’s room where the boy slept. 

God, help him.