Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

December 17th, 1991

They met at a coffee shop down the street from the hospital. For a reunion. For reminiscing. Reconciliation, whatever. Steve didn’t know what to call the conversation he and Billy were about to have, but the Alpha had asked ‘please’ and ‘just a few minutes’ and just like senior year, just like all the times in the locker room, just like during the after midnight phone calls and sneaking away from crowded parties-- Steve had said yes. 

They agreed to meet at ten am. By the time Billy’s loud truck pulled into the parking lot at 9:45, Steve had been sitting in the back booth nursing a cup of coffee for a solid hour. 

He watched Billy step from the cab of the truck and land with a wince on the pavement as if too hard a step still hurt clear up his wrecked chest. He watched Billy reach in and manhandle-- gently manhandle-- the little boy out of the backseat. Steve sat and watched as the big Alpha with long blond hair with bright blue eyes held out his hand for the little boy with even longer blonder hair and even brighter blue eyes so they could walk in together, and when Billy pushed the café door open and sent the bells above jingling announcing their arrival, the Omega clutched at his coffee cup in a desperate bid for balance and wondered if he could really do this. 

“Steve.” Billy lit up with a smile when he saw Steve sitting there, couldn’t help hurrying forward a few steps instinctively trying to get immediately close to the Omega, but he slowed when he caught the apprehension on Steve’s face, slowed further when the initial rush of elation tempered behind a stomach turning bout of nervousness. 

Six years. Six years it had been since the last time they’d been face to face talking and Billy felt the weight of every second of those years apart when Steve’s dark eyes landed at him and one of the heavy brows arched almost challengingly. 

Shit. 

“Steve.” he tried again, softer. Held his hand out offering as he and Blue approached the table. “Hey. Thanks for coming. For meeting us.” 

“I um-- I already--.” Steve’s fingers twitched wanting to reach for the Alpha’s outstretched hand, but he curled them into a fist, then set his fist in his lap to force himself still. He’d always been helpless to resist whenever Billy asked for him, whenever Billy had quit being loud and obnoxious and went mostly non verbal, begged silently with his hands outreached and his heart shining out of his eyes for the Omega to please. 

Please please please. 

Six years later was too damn long for Steve to still be so affected by Billy Hargrove, fuck. 

“I’m here for coffee every day already.” Steve’s nails cut into his palm as he tried tried to stay balanced. “Meeting you didn’t affect my schedule too much.” 

“Right.” Billy rubbed at the back of his neck, nostrils flaring as he tried to get a read on the Omega’s scent and his shoulders dropping a notch relieved when the tendrils of lavender soothed the ragged edge of his anxiety, the tension in his jaw easing beneath the hint of sweet sage. He knew Steve’s scent clear down to his soul and even after six years he was instantly calmer breathing it in. “Did I know that? I knew that, right? That you came here every day for coffee?” 

“I don’t see why you would, the shop didn’t open until after you left.” Steve kept his voice calm. Kept himself steady. He’d been sick to his stomach again this morning just thinking about seeing Billy and-- and Billy’s kid and he didn’t know if watching the Alpha visibly physically relax once they were close made him want to break down and scream… or freak out and smash something. 

Fuck. 

“Sure. Sorry.” Billy wasn’t sorry for not remembering this particular coffee shop but he was sorry for a bunch of other things so he said it anyway. “Sorry. Um. Here, Bubba come here.” the Alpha reached behind him and tugged the kid forward. “Guess you two should officially meet, huh? Introduce yourself, kiddo.” 

“I’m Blue Hargrove.” Blue took his hands out the pockets of his leather jacket and stuck one out for Steve to shake. “How you doin’?” 

“Blue Hargrove.” Steve pried his fingers off the coffee cup and reached to solemnly shake the little boys hand. “I’m Steve Harrington and I…” he wanted to laugh at the confident smirk Blue sent his way. He wanted to throw up because it was far too similar to ones Billy used to send his way. “I guess I’m doing just fine. How are you?” 

“Bored with all of this. I wanted to watch a movie at the motel but Billy said I had to come.” Blue shrugged his backpack off his shoulders and unzipped it with a flourish. He yanked out a well worn copy of 'The Neverending Story' and announced, “I’m gonna go read over on the couch. Billy, I want hot cocoa?"

“Use your gosh darn manners asking for cocoa first of all. Second of all, walk don’t run to the couch, and stay where I can see you.” The Alpha instructed mildly. “Post up in a comfy spot and if you gotta go piss, come and tell me first. No dirty shoes on the couch, act like I raised you right.” 

“No to all of that.” Blue stuck his tongue out but he still moved carefully through the café rather than sprinting wildly for the unoccupied couch by the fire place, he checked over his shoulder once, twice to make sure he and Billy stayed in each other’s line of sight and when he cozied into the corner cushions on the couch, his shoes stayed decidedly off the upholstery. 

“He’s acts like a little shithead, but he’s a damn good kid most of the time.” Billy chuckled when Blue stuck his tongue out again. “Do the waitresses come around to tables in this place or do I gotta go up to the counter and order?” 

“The waitress will come around.” Steve cut his eyes at the booth seat across from him. “Gonna sit down?” 

“Sorta felt like maybe I should ask for permission before getting in your space. But uh--.” Billy hesitated, hesitated, then slid into the seat. Scooched his way across the vinyl covering. Clasped his hands on the table in front of him and tried to figure out how the hell to start the conversation, then poked his tongue at the side of his cheek and decided to just be honest, “You look good, Steve.” 

And rasping, “Omega. You’re beautiful.” 

“So are you.” Steve slouched back in the booth chair, arms folded over his chest, head turned just a little, just a little because the physical proximity to his Alpha prickled at his skin almost painful and he was having a hard time standing his ground. “California looks good on you.” 

And quieter, “Being a Dad. Looks good on you.” 

“Blue is--” Billy stopped. Shook his head. They could talk about Blue and that history later, talk about it at some point when he could look the Omega in the eye without wanting to wince away from the condemnation and resignation and exhaustion lining Steve’s handsome features. 

“So.” He changed the subject. Took the cowardly way out and avoided the difficult topic for the time being. “I drove past the Loch Nora house. Looked like a whole other family is living in Castle Harrington.” 

“Yeah.” Steve took the subject change in stride, maybe with a little bit of relief. “My parents divorced the Christmas after graduation.” the Christmas after Starcourt. He didn’t call it that, though. “Mom decided to be single and spend all her alimony living it up in a condo in Florida. Dad sold the local office, sold the house and relocated full time to Chicago.” 

“You stayed though.” Billy stated rather than asked. “College? Or--?” 

“Nursing school.” The waitress came by to take Billy’s order and Steve stayed quiet while the Alpha ordered coffee for himself and a hot chocolate to be delivered to Blue, then clarified, “I took classes at the community college, worked at the hospital to earn course credits and graduate faster.” 

“And then you stayed in Hawkins.” the Alpha pointed out. “Even though you had your license and could’a gone anywhere to work. Even though you had the chance and ability to leave? You stayed?"

“Yeah, well.” He took a long drink of his coffee, then set the mug down with a quietly damning thunk on the table. “Not all of us can just turn tail and run away from the truth of Hawkins. Some of us felt like we had to stay just in case. Some of us wanted to stay just in case. Just to make sure the people we love stayed safe."

The statement would have been easier to deflect if Steve had been angry and accusatory about Billy leaving, but the Omega said it as calmly as if he were discussing the weather and somehow the lack of emotion made it all hurt worse. 

“The kids are grown.” Billy ducked the subject again. Goddamn coward of an Alpha, he was. “Your brat pack. The Party. All graduated and gettin’ married I guess.” 

“Eighteen isn’t grown.” Affection for the rowdy group of kids had Steve smiling, his fangs gleaming in the café lights. “At least not for them. They come back from college on their breaks and they’re still just maniacs. Erica’s driving now so they all pile in and wreak bullshit all over the place. At Thanksgiving, Dustin and Mike actually coordinated this whole group prank against Mrs. Henderson. They worked it all out so when she left for work, they could--” 

Billy didn’t realize how hard he was staring at Steve’s mouth, how dialed in focused he was on the curve of the Omega’s fangs, the huskiness of the Omega’s voice and the sugar sweet bump of family-centered contentment in the Omega’s scent until the smile dropped right off Steve’s face and the enthusiasm dimmed from his voice. 

“And they what.” Billy tore his eyes from Steve’s lips to prod, “What did they do?” 

“You don’t care what they did.” There it was again. A sentence that would have been an accusation or the start of a fight if Steve didn’t say it nearly bored, nearly dully, as if Billy’s attention or interest really didn’t matter to him.

A slap would have hurt less. At least then Billy would have known what the hell Steve was feeling. 

But he was a coward. So instead of pushing the Omega for answers or making an inadequate apology, Billy asked, “So Erica’s the last one, right?” He only vaguely remembered Erica Sinclair and he remembered her being downright vicious even as a kid. “Once she’s graduated, your babysitter’s club will all be grown. What um-- what will you do then?” 

“Same thing I do now.” the conversation was almost painfully awkward. Uncomfortably stilted. Alpha and Omega had nothing to talk about and far too much to talk about all at the same time and the small talk was brutal. “I’ll keep working. Keep an eye out to make sure the monsters stay away. Hawkins is home. So I'm here. Probably forever.”

He scratched his nail at a worn spot on the tablecloth. "I've made my peace with it."  

“There's no uh,” Billy straightened up enough to catch Blue’s eyes so he didn’t feel abandoned or ignored over on the couch by himself, then cleared his throat and asked as casually as he could manage. “No love life keeping you busy?” 

“Billy.” Steve went very still. “Don’t.” 

“I’m not trying to be a dick about it,” Billy put his hands up placatingly. “I’m just… asking. That’s what two people who used to know each other do, right? Ask about love lives?” 

“Two people who used to know each other.” he repeated harshly. “Sure. Cos that’s what we are.” 

“I just thought.” Careful careful, the Alpha was being careful verbally tip toeing through what could quickly become a disastrous turn in their painstakingly civil exchange. “I thought you’d be back with Nancy. Maybe."

“No.” Steve hadn’t ever told anyone about that one awful day in the spring of 86 when he’d gone to Nancy asking please. The Alpha had turned him down gently, sweetly, crying as she kissed him and told him no. No they weren’t who each other needed anymore and no she knew he wasn’t ready to talk about Billy yet, but no they weren’t who each other wanted anymore. 

No, she’d said and “No.” Steve said from behind gritted teeth. “I’m not with Nancy.” 

“I just figured if I ever came back, you'd be, you know, one white picket fence away from being Ted Wheeler.” Billy’s coffee had long gone cold but he kept sipping at it, rolling the bitter aftertaste on his tongue to give himself time to think through his words. “You always wanted it, right? To get bonded and mated up young, pop out two kids, have a dog and a cat and a house in the suburbs. The RV. You always wanted a motorhome. Talked about it all the time.” 

“Shockingly enough,” Steve tried for a smile but it came through a grimace. “I’m not exactly the white picket fence type anymore.” 

“I bet you still are.” Billy tried for a smile too. His came through wistful and longing and chock full of remembering when he used to tease and laugh at Steve for being so god damn domestic all the time. “You’re just waiting for an Alpha who wants all that too, right?” 

Snap, the Omega’s scent snapped instantly frigid and a passing waitress sent them both a concerned look as she walked by in time to see Steve’s lip curl into a snarl as he hissed, “Oh fuck you, Billy Hargrove. You left me.” 

Shit. “No I wasn’t trying to--” Billy reached for Steve’s hand before he thought about it, lunged halfway across the table instinctively grasping trying to calm his the Omega down. “Steve, I wasn’t tryna be a dick about that, I was just saying-- cos we always used to joke about--” 

“Fuck you, Billy Hargrove.” Steve yanked his hand off the table before Billy could touch him, eyes blazing furious. “You don’t get to sit here and joke about me waiting for the right Alpha to mate me up when you left me. You. Left. Me.” 

“I left Hawkins.” The atmosphere in their booth charged brittle and Billy’s vision rimmed red in response to the open challenge. “But not because of the domestic thing, don’t make it sound like I left cos I was afraid of commitment or something. I sure as hell wasn’t ever the white picket fence type, but you know that’s not why I left.” 

“I know full well why you left.” Just that fast, the Omega was too quiet again. Too steady. Too locked down. Too empty meeting Billy’s eyes so he could point out quietly, brutally calmly, “And you’re right, you weren’t ever the white picket fence type. Or at least you never were for me.” 

“For you.” The whiplash of frostbite beneath the sting of Steve’s anger to the echoing nothing of emotion from the Omega left Billy’s head spinning and it took him a few seconds to follow. “What do you mean, I wasn’t for you, what do you--” 

Steve inclined his head towards Blue and oh, Billy shook his head, oh no it made perfect sense for Steve to think Billy had gone off and been happy to play house with some other Omega but no no that wasn’t it at all. 

“Steve.” Billy reached for him again. Couldn’t help it. Pushed his hand palm up offering and pleading across the table. “Omega. Lemme tell you about Blue, alright?” 

“It’s none of my business.” Steve ignored his outstretched hand, even went so far as to angle his body slightly away from the Alpha as if trying to protect himself. 

“Steve--” 

“None.” Flatly. Turned away. Steve thought he’d be able to talk about it, about Blue, but he couldn’t so he stayed flat and stayed turned away and finished, "Of my business. How long are you in town?” 

“Until the 26th.” Steve had been gracious enough to allow Billy to change the subject a couple different times so Billy bit his tongue and let the Omega change the subject too. 

“We’re in town until right after Christmas.” He clarified when Steve didn’t comment. “I have to be back to work by New Years and it’s a lot slower driving cross country with a kid.” 

“What do you do for work?” They were back to small talk. Stilted and awkward and shallow and terrible. 

“Mechanic shop.” A too large swallow of cold coffee landed uncomfortable in Billy’s stomach. “Been there just over five years now. I uh-- needed to trade some labor for parts for the camper I was sleeping in for a while and my boss, he’s a good guy. He hired me on full time after the parts were paid off and his Omega mate even watches Blue sometimes when I work late…” 

He sniffed. Changed the subject. Steve didn’t want to talk about Blue. “Um. So. Nursing. Have you been at Hawkins General the entire time?” 

“I have a shift in an hour.” Abruptly done with the conversation, fragile from listening to the pride in Billy’s voice talking about Blue, blistering from the scratch scratch scratch against long buried and attempted forgotten memories crowding up into his consciousness and wreaking havoc on his heart,  Steve stood up from the booth and pushed his coffee cup away. “I still have to get home and change. I’m gonna go.” 

“Wait.” Billy scrambled to his feet too, almost upending the table as he tried to get out in time to stop the Omega from just walking away. “Wait wait, Steve. Just um. Could I--” 

“Billy.” It sounded like please. Like Steve was begging the Alpha to just let it go. “I’m gonna be late.” 

“Can I see you again?” Billy blurted out, blunt and uncaring of who might over hear. “Can we do this again? Here or--or wherever. My place or dinner or something. Max said I owed you a conversation and she’s right, you and me we gotta-- we gotta talk or something, we gotta--” 

“Can I say goodbye to Blue?” Steve cut in, and Billy blinked a few times, “Um. Yeah? Yeah you can say bye to him, but Steve. Sweetheart. When can I see you again?” 

“Don’t do that.” The Omega took a step away, a step away, a step away, “It’s been six years. Don’t call me sweetheart.” then turned his back on Billy entirely and went to say goodbye to Blue. 

Billy would have warned anyone else that Blue didn’t like to be approached too quickly. He would have cautioned them to keep a little distance and not take it personally if Blue didn’t look up from his book to acknowledge them.  In fact, with anyone else the Alpha would have followed just to make sure Blue didn’t feel pressured into an interaction with a stranger. 

But when Steve went to say goodbye to Blue, all Billy did was slump back into the booth and watch in disbelief as the Omega knelt down in front of the couch and reached his fingers to brush lightly through Blue’s blond curls, then down to his cheek. Blue set his book aside and scooted forward to nuzzle noses before turning into Steve’s palm and closing his eyes, nudging into the warmth of Steve’s hand and all Billy could do was watch as his the Omega tangled gentle fingers into Blue’s messy blond hair and pulled the little boy in until their foreheads touched. 

The Alpha clocked the moment Steve started purring, he could tell the very instant the comfortingly low buzz affected Blue, Billy saw the exact second when Blue’s whole body slumped forward relieved and content into the Omega’s arms. 

Billy knew exactly how good it felt-- he used to know exactly how good it felt-- to be held by Steve, to feel the vibration of the Omega’s purr against his skin, to close his eyes and sink into the warmth of a hug and think for a few minutes that maybe everything would be okay. 

Billy knew exactly how that felt but god damn he hadn’t realized how good it would feel to watch his kid be bundled into that same safety and warmth. 

“Steve’s nice. Smells good. Not like some of the other Omegas you take on dates.” Steve left without looking at Billy, without even pausing to acknowledge the Alpha as he passed, and after the door jingled closed behind him, Blue came to stand by Billy, his book held tight in both hands. “When are we gonna see him again?” 

“I don’t know, Bubba.” Billy answered hoarsely, reluctantly. “I don’t uh-- I don’t think Steve wants to see me again.” 

“I bet he’ll want to see me.” Blue scooted into the booth and opened his book again. “He told me I was a precious pup. How come you don’t call me a precious pup?” 

“Cos you’re stinky and gross and barely housebroken.” Billy signaled the waitress over to order some breakfast. His stomach was churning too hard to eat, but Blue needed to eat and he didn’t like to eat alone, so Billy would have to force down a few bites too. “Face it kiddo, you’re more like a feral cat than a precious pup.” 

“Better a feral cat than a trash panda.” came the quick retort and Billy rapped his knuckles on the table, chuckling, “Well as far as feral cats go, I guess you’re probably the best of the bunch.” 

Blue peeked up with a quick smile, then went back to his book and Billy lolled his head back against the head rest of the booth, eyes closed and heart hurting. 

Hawkins had only ever felt like home when Steve was smiling at him. 

*****

December 19th, 1991

“Stevie.” the front desk attendant stuck her head into the empty clinic room and sent the Omega a quick smile. “When you’re done with inventory in here, there’s someone waiting to see you up front.” 

“Who is it?” Steve kept counting boxes of bandaids, hiding a tremor of anxiety by rifling quickly through the supply drawer. “Are they an Alpha?” 

Billy hadn’t called yet. Or rather, Billy hadn’t called again. The Alpha could have called the hospital to talk to him or called his home and left a message but for two days now there had been nothing and Steve was running out of ways to convince himself it was fine. 

Six years he’d been just fine without Billy Hargrove, so he was definitely fully fine now. He’d told Billy they’d see each other at the wedding and it was fine for the Alpha to apparently agree. Steve had called Blue a precious pup, he’d scratched his fingers through the little boys hair and pulled him in close to scent at his soft skin and purr into his ear because Blue made the Omega ache the way he’d ached one day in the spring after his heat when Billy had bit into his throat and pressed a big hand down low where Steve was still a little crampy and promised, “One day I’ll pup you up Omega, fuckin’ swear it…” 

…it was fine. Two days and no call, not a single conversation, not anything. It was fine. 

Steve didn’t want to see him anyway. Billy and the pup the Alpha had been apparently willing to have with a different Omega. 

He was fine. 

“I’m not an Alpha, and I’m almost offended you’d think such a terrible thing when I clearly smell miles better than those gross rutting knotheads, ew.” It was Robin at the door, hanging halfway into the room with her hair cut short and died some impossible color, a ridiculously puffy coat wrapping her from shoulders to feet, huge clunky boots and mittens clutched in her hands. “By the way? You’re welcome for even showing up. Hawkins is so cold this time of year, you owe me a shiny new present just for walking through the snow.” 

“Robin.” Steve dropped his clipboard and rushed to scoop the other Omega up, picking her up off her feet and twirling into a hug. “Welcome back.” 

“Hi.” Robin laughed out loud and hugged on Steve just as tight as she could. “Pretty Omega, it is so good to see you.” 

“You have no idea how glad I am to see you.” Steve set her down but didn’t let go, kept her right in his arms so he could noisily scent up and down her neck and into her hair. “How are you? Besides being dramatic about a few inches of snow and single digit temperatures, I mean.” 

“Look, I moved to Arizona so I’d never have to deal with this winter bullshit again.” Robin clicked and trilled at Steve as she scented at him too, nosing at his cheek and pushing the shaggy strands of hair off his forehead. “I have found my true calling, and it’s grading English Lit papers under palm trees, not trudging through the icy streets of this nightmare town and drinking crappy coffee at my hotel.” 

“Hawkins misses you too.” Steve rolled his eyes at her dramatics but still didn’t let go, still kept his arms around her waist and held his best friend tight. “Is that why you haven’t come to visit in two years? The palm trees are holding you prisoner?” 

“You could come visit me, you know.” Robin tapped her nails playfully on his nose, then untangled to unzip out of her heavy coat so she could breathe. “There’s so much more to the world than stocking bandaids at Hawkins General. And we could find you a fantastic Alpha in Arizona. I’m not even into Alphas but I’m telling you, everyone is golden and tan and sort of ridiculously beautiful there, you should come just to take in the eye candy.” 

“Thanks for that advice, I’ll file it away.” Steve retrieved his clipboard and went back to quickly counting. “I’m almost done with inventory in here, I’ve got one more office to do, then I can take my break. Did Chel come with you?” 

“My parents are traveling for the holidays so we’re spending Christmas in Texas with her folks. Chel flew out to Dallas a couple days ago while I finished up the semester grading, and I fly out like two hours after the wedding to join her.” The pretty Omega hopped up on the examination table, long legs kicking idly in the air. “Oh and by the way? I’m pretty sure she’s going to propose this year.””

“Robin!” Steve’s scent burst with happiness and Robin turned pink with pleasure, “I know. I feel like it shouldn’t be all that big of a deal considering we’ve been living together since Freshman year of college and full on bonded for eighteen months but… it’s still exciting?” 

“I guess I could handle taking in the eye candy beneath a palm tree for your wedding.” Steve closed the medicine cupboard and locked it, then took her hand to pull her off the table, winding their fingers together tight. “Have you seen Max yet? Or at least checked in with El about the bachelorette party? Erica swung by to drop me off an invitation but I’m pretty sure I’m only invited cos I’ll be designated driver. Max can’t drink but she shouldn’t have to drive on her own bachelorette party so I guess I’m going for that.”

“You got an invitation because Max loves you and wants you to be part of everything for her special day.” Robin jabbed at Steve’s ribs. “You’re not their babysitter anymore, Steve sheesh. Quit being such a Mama Omega and go get drunk with the pups. I’ll be the designated driver. I hardly ever drink anymore anyway, and since I’m thoroughly spoiled on all the fancy fruity Arizona drinks, I certainly won’t be missing out on the swill the Hawkins bars consider drinkable.”

“Well as good as you made all that sound,” Steve shook his head and pushed her into the next office so he could keep doing inventory. “you can’t tell me to stop being a Mama Omega and then call the kids pups all at the same time. Either they’re kids who still need me or fully grown people who I’m supposed to treat as equals instead of like annoying little children who have to be reminded to buckle up.” 

He slanted Robin a faux annoyed frown when she just laughed at him. “You can’t have it both ways. Messes with my head.” 

“I’m just saying.” That office had an examination table too and the paper lining crinkle crackled under Robin’s weight as she hopped up on it again. “If Max invited you it’s cos she wants you there. Not as designated driver, but as a friend. As family. You’re the closest thing she has to a big brother unless someone else has suddenly arrived back in town...?"

The Omega trailed off, eyebrows raised and scent curious, “Hm?” 

“Damn it.” Steve dropped his head and sighed, “You know about Billy, huh?” 

“I called Max literally the second I got into town so I could plan when and where to meet up.” she confessed all in a rush. “She told me Billy is here so you might be a little on edge and then she told me you guys met for coffee a couple days ago so you could meet his son?” 

Robin’s voice went high pitched and a little bit hysterical. “Billy has a kid? A little boy? Max says he’s the spitting image of him and I came right here to see you because I thought you’d be a mess and I thought you’d be--”

“--upset because the Alpha I used to sleep with knocked someone up and brought him home to meet his Auntie Max before her wedding, which is the most important day of all our lives currently and not the place to bring up years old drama?” Steve shook his head, shook his head, cataloged the number of sterile needles in the well secured drawer and shook his head again. “It’s not as big of a deal as you’re making it, Rob. I’m fine.”

“Are you?” 

“Yes!” Steve slammed the drawer just a little bit harder than necessary, and when Robin made a quietly sympathetic noise, the Omega shuddered through another sigh and admitted, “Okay no. No I’m not fine. But it doesn't matter. Billy's here for Max's wedding and that's it, so I'm just gonna deal with it and it-- it doesn't matter how the kid could be--"

He coughed. Tried again. "It’s just uh-- I don’t want it to be a big deal but--” 

“But?” 

“But he looks just like Billy.” Steve confessed in a miserable whisper. “Blue does. Blond hair and blue eyes and he wears this little leather jacket and boots and he’s so damn cocky, you can see it. It’s all bravado and bullshit and he’s so,” Steve’s voice cracked. “He’s beautiful, Rob. And I can’t even ask Billy about him. It hurts too bad. Cos every time I think about them, I have to think about how Blue’s almost the right age like he could be--” 

“Yours.” she finished softly. “Max says he looks like he’s about six which means in some different life or alternate dimension, Blue could have been yours. Yours and Billy’s from that last summer.” 

“A different life.” Steve nodded. Kept counting. “Some alternate dimension where my boyfriend wasn’t possessed and killed a bunch of people and you and I weren’t fucked up by the Russians and I didn’t have to be in Starcourt watching Billy--” 

Slam! The cupboard door fell off it’s hinges cockeyed when the Omega smacked it hard with the flat of his hand. 

And, “No.” Steve rubbed at his eyes. “I’m definitely not as fine with all this as I’m pretending to be.” 

“No shit, Sherlock.” Robin flicked him on the ear affectionately, then dragged him into a quick hug. “After I sleep off the hangover from the bachelorette party I’m gonna come over to your place and we’ll talk for hours, yeah? I have a whole bunch to tell you about Chel and I know you need to get this out of your system so we’ll do ice cream and wildly spiked eggnog and have a sleepover like old times.” 

“But until then.” Robin squeezed at his hand. “Until then, you need to do two things.” 

“Oh yeah, what’s that?” 

“You need to stop referring to Billy as the guy you used to sleep with, or just your boyfriend because we all know--” she caught his chin and forced the Omega to meet her eyes. “We all know you and he were a half step away from full on mated when everything happened, okay? I remember how the bite he gave you right at the end of your heat started to turn silver before fading.” 

“I remember too.” Steve’s fingers went to his throat, to the long gone mark of his Alpha’s teeth at his bonding spot. They hadn’t spent his heat together, not that one or any one previous, not when Neil still wielded so much control over Billy’s life and well being, but Billy had come to Steve after. Just as soon as he’d been able to manage. The Alpha been half feral with the lingering scent of heat still on Steve’s skin and Billy had pinned him down, knotted him full, cut his teeth in deep deep chasing a bond and for a few days, for almost a week right at the end of June, silver had set into the scar. 

Mating bonds only took during full heat, silver only set binding when the Alpha was lost in a rut but Steve had loved each other enough, Billy had almost wanted him enough so close to the end of his heat that silver had sparkled just in hints against his skin.

Steve remembered.

But then July. And Starcourt. And everything. Billy left and the silver had faded right along with all of Steve’s hopes and dreams and the way he’d been so sure Billy was going to be the rest of his life. 

Steve remembered. 

“What,” he ground out. “Is the second thing?” 

“The second thing is.” Robin trilled at him coaxingly. “Steve, I think you need to maybe give Billy a chance.” 

“What?!” 

“Stop.” She held up her hand when his scent frazzled out in immediate disbelief. “Don’t do that bug eyed thing where you stare at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. Just listen. This is the first time in six years you’ve even known Billy was actually alive, and he’s staying in the same zipcode. Within driving distance. He made a point to try and meet you, brought his boy to meet you cos you are important to him and I think you need to give him a chance.” 

“A chance.” Steve echoed incredulously. “He’s here for Max’s wedding, not to rehash anything with me. He didn’t even know I was still in Hawkins! You’ve been watching too many rom-coms Rob, real life doesn't work like that, real life doesn't involve two long time exes getting back together over Christmas that's not real."

“No of course not." Robin shrugged carelessly. "Our real life involves monsters and government conspiracies and secret Russian bases full of scary drugs and torture devices and us watching our friends nearly die. Real life involves us losing people and being scared for years afterwards but you're right. Real life could never involve reconciling with the love of your young, fucked up life. No, that's too much of a stretch. Mind Flayer, okay. Second chances at romance? Absolutely not."

Steve’s throat moved as he swallowed, but when he couldn’t come up with an answer to her brutal sarcasm Robin continued, “Besides. If you were ever going to be a little reckless, now’s the time to do it. Tis the damn season, Omega.” 

“For what?” 

“For weekends spent with someone you never let yourself get over.” She counted off on her fingers. “For finding reasons to be under the mistletoe and getting purposefully drunk so you have the courage to kiss. For babbling out love confessions with the security of knowing you can blame it on the holiday nostalgia and it doesn’t have to carry over into the New Year if you don’t want.” 

“I don’t want any of that.” Steve maintained, but when Robin tried to interject, he talked over her louder, “I don’t want any of that, Rob. And I can’t do it. Not with him.” 

“What do you have to lose, though?” she whispered. “Steve, you haven’t been on a date since Starcourt and I know you get asked out all the time. Your heart is so hurt, you barely made it through Nancy and Jonathan’s wedding and when Mike and El announced their mating bond, you disappeared for days. When Dustin got his college acceptance letter you left so he wouldn’t see you grieve about losing him and when Will left for school, you were so sad you didn't come out of your house for almost a week. Everyone is growing up and moving on but you’re still stuck here in Hawkins, still stuck in that summer cos your heart just hasn’t gotten over him. You need some closure and it literally just walked into Hawkins. Go and get it.” 

“I…” Steve hesitated, then his shoulders slumped. “I don’t know how to get ahold of Billy. He called me but it was from a payphone. Even if I was willing to try for the whole closure thing or the reckless thing, I don’t even know where to begin--” 

“Steve.” The front desk attendant again, rapping loud at the door and shooting Robin an apologetic glance. “Hey, I’m sorry I know you’re technically on your break but we just got a little boy in through the emergency room for an asthma attack and his Daddy’s asking for you, just keeps asking for you. He’s freaking out and it’s riling up the other patients so if you don’t mind--” 

Steve was already running, dropping his clipboard and grabbing his stethoscope, shoving his hands into gloves as he bolted for the emergency room. 

“Blue!” The crowd in the emergency room scattered when the Omega burst through the double doors. “Blue?” 

“Steve.” Billy had Blue cradled in his arms and the big Alpha was trembling, shaking as he clutched the little boy to his chest. “Steve. I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to see me but I didn’t know who else to call for, Blue’s havin’ a hard time breathing and his inhaler isn’t working and I don't know what to do, I thought if I asked for you maybe he'd get help sooner or-- or--" 

“Shh shh shh.” Steve snapped into professional mode, crooning hushing at the Alpha while he felt at Blue’s forehead, pried the little boy’s eyes open to check his pupil response. “Hush hush Alpha, it’s okay. I just need you to talk me through a few details. When was the last time you gave him an inhaler?” 

“H-half hour maybe?” Billy stammered. “I don’t-- he says it’s hard to breathe here but I thought he was just tired but it’s-- he isn’t--” 

"Has this every happened before?"

"Not since he was really little? We try to stay on top of it so I don't know why-- or-- or how--?"

“I'm sure it's just the change in altitude and the change in weather coming from California to Hawkins. Cold weather can absolutely be a trigger for some asthma cases.” Steve leaned in close to click his tongue at Blue, trilling and purring when Blue began to stir and fuss. “Hi Baby Blue, precious pup, I’m just gonna listen to your breathing okay? Gotta pull your shirt up and listen to your lungs a second. Tell your Daddy to hush hush cos it’s gonna be okay.” 

To Billy, “Hold him steady, Alpha.” as he rucked up Blue’s shirt and set the stethoscope over his little chest to listen. 

“Hush hush, Daddy…” Blue mumbled listlessly, and Billy’s features crumpled with fear and pain, “Steve? Please."

“Hush hush, it’s gonna be okay..” Steve straightened up and put the stethoscope away, snapped his fingers at the next nearest nurse and ordered. “Prep me a bed and oxygen, his skin is sunken in around his collarbones, there’s a little bit of blue tinge at his lips. Corticosteroid to help his lungs, Ipratropium to get his air ways open. His prescription for regular medication is on file in the temporary box behind the front counter, last name Hargrove. Ready a set up for intubation if the Ipratropium doesn’t help.” 

“C’mere Baby Blue. Billy, let me have him.” Steve tried to take Blue from Billy, scooping his arms under the kid to hold him. “We’re gonna get you through these doors here and into a room. I’ve got medicine all ready and we’ll get you feeling better in no time, okay? Come on, come with me pup, c’mere with me.” 

“No don’t-- don’t--” Billy tried to resist but Steve shook his head, “Billy. You're scenting out of control scared right now and it’s not helping Blue. He’s reacting to you and you’re reacting to him and neither of you will be able to calm down at this rate, so it’s just gonna cycle messier until things really get bad. I know you don't want to be separated, but there won't be space for you in the room until I get all the machines hooked up so I need you to trust me with your pup right now and I’ll be right back. I’ll come get you just as soon as I can, but I need you to trust me.” 

“He’s-- he’s my boy--” Billy was a wreck, scent ragged and breathing harsh, eyes wide and red with panic. “Steve, please-- I tried to make him feel better, I did, I tried to be a good Dad to him, I don't know what I did wrong, please--!"

“Alpha!” Steve popped his fangs loud and the red in the Alpha’s eyes faded as Billy startled back to focusing. 

“There you are.” Steve immediately softened, immediately nodded in approval and appreciation so the Alpha would relax another notch. “Hush hush, my Alpha. Trust me with your baby, okay? Trust me.” 

“I -- I trust you.” Billy relinquished his hold on Blue and Steve caught the pup up in his arms, hugging Blue close and upright so he had an easier chance at breathing. 

“Daddy.” Blue went to Steve willingly, but as Steve went running through the doors again to get him into a room, Blue reached out with both small hands, straining over the Omega’s shoulder for Billy. “Daddy? Daddy I’m scared--! Daddy I'm scared!"

Billy collapsed back into a chair, a helpless anxious growl bursting from his chest as he listened to his son cry for him. He folded in over his knees, hugging at himself and trying to keep from breaking down completely, too worried about Blue to even realize Steve had called him Alpha. 

Hush hush, my Alpha. Trust me.

… …

… …

… …

Blue was sleeping when the nurse came back to get Billy close to twenty minutes later. She explained in hushed tones how they’d given him a light sedative to make the IV insertion easier, how the doctor had decided against intubation and just went with the breathing mask, how the medicine was already making a difference and the little boy was sleeping exhausted but breathing clearly. 

“Shit.” Billy dropped into the chair next to Blue’s bed and stared at all the machines, all the tubes and wires and dripping IV’s. “Shit. Is he-- he’s okay though?” 

“He’s okay.” Steve, coming through the door with a clipboard and a weary smile. “I promised I’d take care of him. He’s sleeping, his breathing is good, everything’s going to be okay. We need to keep him at least twenty fours just to make sure he recovers fully hydrated and without any hurt to his lungs from struggling to breathe, but it looks like it’s fine. Just a cold-triggered asthma attack."

“Thank you.” Billy reached for Steve’s hand, grabbed for the Omega’s fingers and pressed a rough kiss to his knuckles, “Thank you for saving my boy.” turned his hand over and lay a kiss at his palm, pulled pulled pulled coaxing until Steve stumbled forward between his knees and Billy could push his face into the softness of the Omega’s stomach. “Steve.” 

“Hush hush.” Steve swallowed hard then put his hand gently gently at the top of Billy’s head, sank his fingers into the thick curls and stepped forward another inch so Billy would wrap both arms at his waist and hug him. The Alpha made a rough, pleading sound and Steve nodded, gave into the clamor at his heart and soul and curved in around to cover Billy warm and protective. “Hush hush, my Alpha. It’s… It’s gonna be alright.”

*****

Chapter Notes:

My favorite part of this chapter is absolutely Steve going over to Blue in the cafe and how Billy is all ready to be like "hey my kid doesn't like strangers" but then just sits and watches while Steve is the most natural caregiver with Blue and Blue just melts into him as if he already recognizes Steve as family.

Also though, I really love Take Charge Nurse Steve. My little brother used to have very severe cold-worsened asthma and I remember how scary it was when he'd have the really bad asthma attacks so writing Steve as someone who knew exactly what to do and how to fix it was comforting for me.

One of my favorite things about Omegaverse (or soulmate verses) is how the characters fall into each other in the worst most stressful moments. It doesn't matter how long it's been or how awkward the small talk is or how big the hurt, at some point their hearts and souls win out over their mind/common sense and they fall in to one another for comfort. Idk, I just love it.

Coming Up! Blue recovers (I'd never let him be too sick) and BillySteve give in to all the emotional upheaval to get closer. Cue the saxophone noises and make it "we probably shouldn't but its Christms and I miss you" themed.