Chapter Text
Once they had walked off their breakfast and were getting hungry for lunch, Eddie was given a picnic basket and cooler by the crew and they drove out to the park for their picnic.
They sat on opposite sides of the park table as Eddie unpacked everything. There were turkey sandwiches with avocado slices and ranch dressing. There were sour cream and onion potato chips, brown sugar baked beans, and homemade potato salad.
He then pulled out black cherry soda from the cooler and his favorite beer. Steve was instantly endeared further.
"Your bestie is an absolute hoot, by the way," Eddie said, opening the bag of potato chips.
Steve grinned around his first bite of sandwich. "She's like that. I don't know what I would do without her."
"Not be on this game show for a start," Eddie teased.
"I'm not surprised she told you about that," Steve huffed in good humor. "Did she also tell you that technically the whole queer dating season is my fault?"
"You mean your absolutely brilliant and amazing idea?" Eddie said, grinning back. "Too much wine and you get really cute, according to her."
Steve buried his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. "Yeah. I'm a silly drunk."
"Well, rest in peace Garfield," Eddie said, "your death has brought me the best boy I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. To Valhalla!" He raised his beer and Steve clanked his soda bottle against it.
"He was a good fish," Steve said solemnly. "I have a cat named Odie now." He pulled out his phone and flipped to his photos. He handed the phone to Eddie.
"He's adorable," Eddie cooed. "My uncle is a huge Garfield fan. He collects mugs and his most prized possession is a Garfield head one."
Steve grinned. "I've had people give me flack for naming the fish Garfield and the cat Odie, but fish don't last long enough in Garfield to have names. And Odie isn't an orange tabby, so that wouldn't work for him."
"Makes sense," Eddie said, nodding his head. He took a bite of his sandwich. "Much better than Subway. I had a lot of fun making everything."
Steve paused mid bite. "Wait? Really?"
"Yup!" Eddie said. "The potato salad and beans are my uncle's recipe."
"They're really good."
Eddie blushed and hid behind a lock of hair.
They talked about Eddie's uncle, Wayne, and all of Steve's kids. Then it was time to pack up. They played at the playground a bit, just being silly.
"Now," Eddie said, after tackling Steve to the ground, "I understand this town doesn't have minigolf, but it does have bowling and an arcade that has managed to survive the digital era, so what will it be?"
Steve thought about it for a moment. "The arcade. The flashing lights at the bowling alley can give me a migraine."
"Score!" Eddie cackled gleefully. "I was hoping for the arcade."
It was that moment that he realized how close their faces were. He leaned down and pressed a sweet kiss to Steve's mouth.
"Oh," Steve stuttered when Eddie pulled back. "Wow. That was amazing."
Eddie smiled widely. "An amazing kiss for an amazing guy."
Steve knocked out Eddie's arms and rolled them over, pinning the other man's arms above his head. He straddled Eddie's waist and looked down at him fondly. "Gotcha!"
Eddie surged up and kissed him.
Then there was a cough and Steve sprang off of Eddie, looking kinda sheepish. "I kinda forgot about the cameras there," he said, helping Eddie to his feet.
Eddie smiled, smoothing out Steve's hair. "It's all right."
They got back into the car and drove to the arcade. They played all sorts of games, they raced each other, played skee ball, Steve even shot a few hoops to win them extra tickets. Tickets they turned in for two matching tiger plushies.
"Hobbes," Steve said pointing to Eddie's, "and Tigger."
"I approve!"
Dinner at Benny's blew Eddie's mind as much as Big Ma's blew Steve's. He loved everything about it. Including Benny.
Steve couldn't remember having a date that went this well before in his life. They never ran out of topics to talk about and he was going to have to admit that he was falling a little bit in love.
Finally, the date was drawing to a close and it was time for Eddie to ask his questions. They had gone up to the quarry and set it up for them to sit on the hood of Eddie's car on a blanket.
"All righty!" Eddie said, pulling out cue cards. "First question, who was your first kiss?"
Steve smiled. "A girl named Alice. It's when I learned it was strictly boys for me. Up to that point I had held on to hope that I was bisexual so that my dad wouldn't kick my ass. Still dated women in a futile attempt to force myself. But once I got to college, I dropped the pretense."
"Oof," Eddie said. "I feel that. My dad was a homophobic asshole too. He came out of the woodwork briefly when I got famous enough to be in the news. But I sent him packing."
"I think that's what upset my parents the most," Steve huffed, "was that I didn't chose a job that they could depend on after they retired to mooch off of."
"I hear you," Eddie said. "Second question, have you played D&D?"
Steve burst out laughing. "No, I had sex in high school," he said, quoting that TV show.
Eddie held his hands to his chest. "Are you suggesting that I didn't? For shame! Dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow!" He moved to get up but Steve grabbed his wallet chain and dragged him back down.
"You're ridiculous," Steve said, his cheeks beginning to hurt from all the smiling. "I like that."
Eddie beamed at him. "Yay!"
Steve kissed him on the cheek and he blushed.
"Third question," Eddie said shyly, "What's your favorite cartoon series?"
Steve hummed as he thought about it. "Avatar: The Last Airbender. There is just something so good about that show."
"Yes!" Eddie crowed. "Secret Tunnel, Secret Tunnel!"
Steve laughed. "Or when Sokka got poisoned by the cactus juice?"
"I loved that," Eddie said, bumping their shoulders together. "What is your favorite quote?"
"Shit, shit, shit, fuckity, shit, shit, fuck and willy. Willy, shit and fuck and...tits," Steve said with a completely straight face.
Eddie giggled. He stopped to look at Steve in shock and awe and then he giggled again. It just bubbled out of him. "Where the hell is that from? Clearly I'm not watching the right movies, damn."
"The King's Speech," Steve said with a huff of laughter. "It's about the Duke of York, who had a stammer and was suddenly made king of England when his older brother abdicates."
"You'll definitely going to have to show me that one," he said with a grin. "It sounds fun."
"It's not all swearing," Steve said with a giggle. "It was a scene about his speech therapist trying to get him to swear so that he understands it's all in his head."
"Still," Eddie replied fondly. "If you like it, I still want to see it." He cleared his throat. "Last question."
Steve took his hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Who had the better date, me or Billy?" Eddie asked shyly.
Steve kissed him. "I'll tell you that in terms of kisses, he only got two. A kiss at the questions portion and again at the door to my hotel room. Now, how many kisses have you gotten?"
Eddie's eyes twinkled. "I think I lost count."
Steve kissed him again. "Me too."
"I hope I'm not being presumptuous," Eddie murmured, "but I got you a present."
"Oh?"
Eddie hopped off the hood and opened the trunk. He got out a large white box and brought it over to Steve. He handed it to him as he clambered back onto the hood.
Steve opened it up and there nestled the white tissue paper was a lingerie set. It was pink chiffon and white lace. It was a babydoll top and matching bottoms. It wasn't a thong for which Steve was grateful. He looked nervously toward the camera and then put the box lid between the contents and the cameraman.
The cameraman tried to look around it, but then decided it wasn't worth trying to pry.
"Eddie, it's beautiful," he whispered. "I love it."
Eddie smiled broadly. "I'm glad." He paused for a moment. "I have a small confession. I'm not a sports fan. The college basketball team was literally pulled out of my ass. I didn't lie, I used to watch it with Uncle Wayne..."
"But you're a nerd?" Steve teased.
"Yuck it up, pretty boy," Eddie said dryly. "But, yes."
Steve bumped their shoulders together. "I have a small confession too. Or maybe not so small, depending on you."
"Wha'cha got?"
Steve bit his lower lip and lifted the box a little. "I've never done anything like this before. I just wanted to see how Billy would react."
"Oh."
"But seeing it here, with you," he continued, not looking up. "I want it, with you. I want to be your princess."
Eddie carefully removed the box from Steve's hands and moved off to the side. Then he tackled Steve again, showering him with kisses.
"Come on back to my hotel room, sweetheart."
"I'd love to."
"Welcome back to the 'Love Connection'," Bob said. He had changed suits into a nice dove grey one with a silver tie.
Steve was off to one side, while the three Suitors were on a large white sofa.
"Eddie was a runaway favorite leaving the question round," Bob continued. "Did Billy's date go well enough for a second date?"
Steve shook his head. "He was charming and sexy, but I don't think we clicked."
Billy nodded his head back and forth. "I'd agree, I was hoping for someone a little more adventurous and daring. Someone with hidden depths."
"Ouch!" Bob winced. "Please tell Eddie fumbled somewhere. Like does he drool in his sleep or have a vodka aunt who is way too invested in his sex life? Something!"
Steve laughed. "I'm afraid not. Eddie was goofy and silly and as one of my students wisely said, the right person for the right now."
"Wise kid," Bob said softly. "So overwhelming in favor of Eddie Munson?"
"Very much so!"
Bob turned back to the audience. "And there you have it. Join us next time for Tina Peterson, and her three lovely Suitors, Daren, Emily, and Carol."
When he got home, he had Eddie's number and promise that Eddie would come down from Chicago to be with him, he just had to do a few things first.
The first episode wouldn't air until October, so they had to be discreet, but it was nice to know someone was waiting for him.
They returned just before the episode aired to film a short reunion spot for the end of the episode to see if they were still together and if Steve wanted to change his answer.
"Steve, welcome back to 'Love Connection," the host, Bob said cheerfully. "Why don't you tell us about what's been going on in your life?"
"Hey, Bob," Steve said with a smile. "I'm actually glad to be back. I went on a sabbatical from work after the school year ended."
"What's a sabbatical?" Bob asked, cocking his head to the side.
"It's paid leave," he explained, "usually in colleges and the like, but basically for a year, I can take time off to focus on other things, but my job will still be there when I get back."
"Nice."
"I took it because I appeared on here," Steve said wryly. "Nothing against the show, but it is a little racier than most schools like for their teachers. This way, the show will air and by the time all the dust settles, I can go back to my job." He shrugged. "If I want to. I haven't really decided yet."
"Smart," Bob agreed. "Tell us about that adorable kitten of yours."
They flashed up a picture on screen of Odie still tucked under his chin, but much bigger.
"Yeah," Steve said with a grin. "We found that he's probably a Maine Coon. Which if you know anything about the breed, biiiiigggg cat."
"Will he get bigger?" Bob asked, his eyes wide.
"Most likely," Steve replied. "They stop growing at eighteen months."
"Damn!" He turned to the Suitors. "Gentlemen. Welcome back."
All three of them murmured their hellos.
"Let's start with Tommy," Bob said. "Tell us about what you've been up to."
"I moved to LA and am working full time at a firehouse," Tommy said with a blush.
The audience oohed as they flashed up a picture of Tommy in his gear with some of his fellow fire fighters.
"Congrats!" Bob said.
"I have a boyfriend, too," Tommy said. "His name is Evan Kincade and he's the one on the left of me."
"Well then!" Bob said brightly. "That's a first for our show. A discarded Suitor finding love on their own before their episode aired. Well done."
Tommy blushed. "Thanks."
"All right, Billy," Bob said, turning to the man in the middle of the sofa. "Tell us about your last six months."
Billy brought up one leg and showed off an ankle monitor. "Got into a fight in a bar over a piece of ass that I didn't know was taken. So I'm teaching youths how to surf as part of my community service. That means I lost sponsors and couldn't compete outside of LA. But I'll be back at it next season."
Bob and Steve share a concerned glance.
Steve is so glad he dodged that bullet.
"And Eddie," Bob finished. "What have you been up to?"
"Moved to Hawkins to be closer to my uncle, Wayne," Eddie said with a grin. "When I was working up in Chicago, we'd visit each other on occasion, but now that he's thinking of retiring, he would really like me closer to home. And I do my producing from anywhere really, so I figured what the hell."
"That must be nice for your uncle," Bob said sweetly. "Added bonus of being in Steve's backyard didn't hurt either?"
Eddie laughed. "Those two are inseparable now. You'd have to use a crowbar to pry them apart. I also ran a D game for Steve's kids over the summer. Kept it short, but fun. They all had a blast."
"So are you two still together?" Bob asked, already knowing the question.
Steve smiled over at Eddie who blushed and nodded.
"We moved in together back in June."
Bob's eyebrows shot up. "I've heard of U-haul lesbians but damn you guys move fast."
"My lease was up," Steve explained. "My best friend was moving in with her girlfriend of two years, and I didn't want to stay there. So when Eddie got settled into a house in town, I moved in with him."
"We scandalize our neighbors," Eddie cackled with glee, "by being gay, democrats, and I'm a metalhead. All the ladies thought Steve was single and brought over baked goods. And only when the last one tried to seduce him, he kissed me in front of all them. Boy did they go running."
"It's been great," Steve insisted. "Fences really do make the best neighbors."
"Well there you have it," Bob said. "A great success story."
When they got home and curled up with Odie, Eddie asked, "Are you still mad at Chrissy and Robin for signing you up without telling you?"
Steve shrugged. "Maybe a little. I would have liked to have made the choice for myself, but I am grateful because I got to meet you."
"I love you, Stevie," Eddie said softly.
"I love you, too, Eds."