Chapter Text
It's difficult to say exactly how they went from insults to kisses.
One minute, they’d been glaring across the overpriced restaurant’s fancy dining set up at each other— throwing out barbed words and snide remarks under their breath like it was a full time job. Seemingly the next, they were stumbling into Eddie’s upscale apartment building with clothes flying off their bodies at an impressive speed and mouths finding much better uses than spewing poison.
Steve also can’t say he remembers every detail of that night because it’s been a couple months since the disastrous first date that made him nearly swear off dating anyone ever again.
Not that he had a particularly lively dating life prior to that fiasco, but still. It was the principle of the matter.
What he can say for sure is that they hadn’t used any protection.
Or at least… he’s pretty damn sure of that now.
Yes, Steve knows it was a stupid idea to let Eddie fuck him when neither of them had come prepared for such a thing. It’s not like he thought they’d end up fucking— especially when it was clear there would be no second date approximately five minutes into their first one.
Yes, Robin would’ve absolutely smacked him upside the head if he’d remembered to relay that tiny little detail about the lack of condoms in their tryst during his dramatic retelling the next day at work.
And yes, he’s currently holding a positive pregnancy test in hand that makes that insignificant detail a little less… well, insignificant.
In all honesty, Steve’s first thought upon seeing the ominous red plus sign is that his parents are going to murder him.
They’d worked hard to mold him into their ideal offspring worthy of carrying on the Harrington legacy. He'd taken piano lessons, etiquette classes, and business courses since he was old enough to speak. Their plan for his life was clear. Which is precisely why his being unmated and knocked up at only twenty years of age would surely disappoint them.
Luckily, his second thought is that he hasn’t spoken to his parents in two years since he fled his hometown after high school graduation and moved to New York City with his best friend to pursue a bigger dream.
What that ‘bigger dream’ is exactly, he still hasn’t decided, but he knows it didn’t include having a surprise baby from a one night stand with a complete asshole.
(To be fair, it hadn’t included working as a barista for a soulless corporation either and that’s been his reality anyways.)
Either way, he’s sitting on the floor of his dingy apartment bathroom, holding a positive pregnancy test, and internally laughing at the idea that he’d almost deleted Eddie’s number.
He’d really thought about it several times, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it after he snuck out of the alpha’s apartment the next morning.
Perhaps it was more than just wishful thinking that he’d need it in the future. After all, Steve was delusional if he believed Eddie would want to see him again. They’d all but hurled a telephone book of insults at one another prior to their appetizers even arriving.
In his defense, it was a blind date.
One of Steve’s friendly regulars at the coffee shop, Gareth, had suggested it. He’d mentioned having a single alpha friend who needed to get out of the house more and Gareth thought they’d get along well. Supposedly Eddie was a good looking guy with a heart of gold. Robin immediately latched onto the idea of Steve ‘putting himself out there’ and she wouldn’t allow Steve to politely decline the set-up, so he’d hesitantly agreed to a day and time arranged via text.
Meeting Eddie in-person was nothing like he imagined. Whereas Gareth was calm, polite, and fairly put together, the beta’s best friend was decidedly… not.
Steve knew beforehand that Eddie was quite a bit older than him, but he didn’t know Eddie was also heavily tattooed, dressed exclusively from head to toe in all black, and sported a mane of wild curls that looked like they'd never heard of a hairbrush.
Arriving at the restaurant and seeing him for the first time, Steve was intrigued, if also mildly horrified as to what he’d gotten himself into.
He couldn’t remember if Gareth had mentioned what Eddie did for a living, but his parents’ ignorant comments about tattoos and piercings had bounced around in his head on repeat, making it hard to think about anything else.
When Steve gets nervous, he speaks without thinking.
Being on a date with an attractive older alpha definitely made him nervous.
They’d immediately started out on the wrong foot when Eddie had taken much offense over Steve innocently asking whether he had to hide all his tattoos in order to get a job. He truly hadn’t meant anything negative by it, but then Steve nearly chucked a breadstick at Eddie’s head when the alpha snidely told him not to worry about it because he couldn’t afford his hourly rate anyways.
Steve tried to defend himself by explaining that he was simply curious since he’d never met anyone with so many visible tattoos who wasn’t busting their ass just to get by. The intent behind his words must not have come out correctly though because Eddie outright called him stuck up and rude then.
He admittedly hadn’t reacted well to that, having heard similar things back in high school when he was still Hawkins’ golden boy prior to presenting as an omega.
So Steve may have told Eddie he was a crass knothead in return and insinuated that Eddie wouldn’t be qualified to so much as wash dishes in the restaurant they were dining at with his obvious lack of class or decorum.
The insults had flowed between them with surprising ease after that.
At some point between appetizers and entrees, Eddie's patience must have finally cracked because he just unceremoniously tossed down a fat wad of cash on the table to more than cover their bill. He then proceeded to grab Steve by the arm and lead him out of the restaurant. They’d almost stumbled into traffic attempting to hail the nearest cab down in their rush to leave the fine eatery and have filthy hate sex.
It was more than clear by the end of the night that their only real chemistry was found when their clothes were off.
And yet.
Call him a romantic, but Steve hadn’t possessed the heart to delete his number afterwards.
Maybe he’s crazy. Maybe he’s stubborn.
He’s definitely pregnant.
The proceeding circumstances aside, it’s fair to say he’s been well and truly fucked.
He clutches the test so tightly in his shaking hands that his knuckles go white.
Steve doesn’t have the money to raise a baby. He doesn’t live in a safe apartment, he doesn’t have a job with paid maternity leave, and he certainly doesn’t possess a caring mate to support him through the difficulties of an unplanned pregnancy. His entire life as he knows it would be over if he chose to keep this pup, regardless of how much he might want to.
A soft knock on the other side of the bathroom door brings him back to the present and the tight feeling in his chest loosens ever so slightly.
Robin.
Steve may not have all the necessities that an expecting mother requires, but he has a Robin.
Robin is the best thing to ever happen to Steve. She isn’t a replacement for the stability and support necessary to grow and raise a pup by himself, but she won’t let him drown in this alone. Robin’s the closest thing he has to a family and she’s yet to abandon him like they did.
He can’t help but silently question whether this will be the last straw for her and he hesitates to confess how big of a mess he’s in.
She was, however, the one who made Steve leave work after the third shift in a row where the smell of coffee made him sick to his stomach once again. He at least owes her an explanation.
“Stevie? Can I come in?”
He can’t force real words to come out, but he does release a pathetic whine that Robin seems to interpret as affirmation because the door creaks slowly and she squeezes herself through the small crack. It's a real feat considering their bathroom is as cramped as the rest of the studio apartment they share.
There’s barely enough room for Steve to sit on the floor the way he is, let alone someone else, but she joins him nonetheless and glues herself right to his side, not commenting on the little white stick he’s yet to put down.
They had two hours left in their shift when he left to buy a pregnancy test. He’s apparently been down here for a while.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” she asks delicately.
Robin is one of the only people who doesn’t treat Steve like some fragile omega, so he must look pretty bad for her to soften her voice.
“What’s there to talk about?” he chokes out. “I’m pregnant.”
The ensuing silence is so long that Steve mentally questions whether he even spoke at all until she finally breaks it.
“Say the word and I’ll call to make the appointment.” His head whips toward her in surprise so fast it makes his neck hurt. She’s quick to amend her statement when she sees the panic on his face. “The way I see it, you have three viable options. Adoption, abortion, or raising it. All of them need an appointment, Steve.”
She’s not wrong. There really are only three good choices and each one comes with their own pros and cons.
Adoption would involve giving up this child to someone else and letting his mistake become their dream come true. A family who could love and appreciate what’s nearly giving Steve an entire panic attack. He’d still be growing a baby for nine months, but that would be the extent of his involvement.
Then there’s abortion. From what he’s been told, it’s a quick and relatively painless procedure nowadays. Maybe even a simple pill he can take and be on his way since he’s only two months along. The entire thing could be over within a day or two.
Or… he could raise a baby.
If he chooses to keep his pup, it will mean a whole human he’ll be responsible for nurturing and protecting when he can hardly take care of himself some days. But they would be his. Steve’s baby to cherish and adore. The start of a new family.
All the love in his heart, brought into the world in the form of new life.
He already knows what he’s going to do. From the moment it was confirmed, Steve couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
His hands move without permission, dropping the pregnancy test on the floor and resting to cup his flat stomach instead, as if he could feel a bump there already. There’s no physical proof of the life within it, but he still swears he's holding his entire world in his hands.
“This is my pup.”
Robin doesn’t argue. She doesn’t ask if he’s sure or whether he wants to take some time to think it over first.
Instead, she pulls him even closer and rests her free hand over top of his.
“Then we’ll figure it out. Together. We’ve done everything else together. This will be no different. Just another classic ‘Robin and Steve’ adventure for the books. Raising a pup… How complicated could it be?”
Her unquestioning acceptance does little to quell the anxiety fluttering around inside of him though. There are still so many things to deal with and the list only grows the longer he thinks about it. This is undoubtedly going to be messier than she’s attempting to make it sound.
“Do you think I’m insane?” Steve has to ask.
A small amused smile pulls at the corners of Robin’s lips.
“Never for this, no. For many other things, yes, but not for choosing to raise this baby. I actually think you’re brave. It certainly won’t be the easiest thing to do, that’s for sure.”
“I can’t even keep a cactus alive,” he reminds her.
She winces.
They both remember his gardening phase last year and the end result of a dumpster full of dead plants. Steve had bawled over them, apologized to their dried up carcasses, and vowed to never buy another plant so long as he lived.
“Plants don’t cry when they need to be watered. A baby makes noise when they need something,” Robin points out helpfully. “Besides, there will be at least two of us keeping it alive. Better survival odds.”
He pauses.
“At least two?” Steve questions.
She gives him a sheepish grin.
He has a terrible feeling about where this is going, even if it’s already on his ever growing list of shit to deal with.
“Well, you didn’t exactly make this baby by yourself… It makes sense that you should tell him. It’s not like there are other options about who the father could be and he has the right to know at least.”
The ‘him’ in question is obvious.
They both know Steve hasn’t slept with anyone before this since he had a few fumbling attempts back in Hawkins when he was in high school.
“Eddie isn’t going to want anything to do with me or our baby. He hates me. What’s the point in even telling him? So I can be rejected for a second time?”
Robin shoots him a skeptical look and she removes her hand from his as she pulls back slightly, making it clear she’s being serious about this. Apparently she’s done coddling him now.
He barely holds back a groan. Robin can be ruthless when she thinks he’s being stubborn and unreasonable.
“You don’t know that, Steve. Just because the two of you didn’t exactly click on your one date doesn’t mean he’ll abandon you and your pup. It’s his kid too. If he’s truly a decent guy like Gareth said he was, Eddie will step up and do the right thing to support you. Alphas are hardwired to take care of their own. And if he doesn’t, then we get him to sign papers giving up his rights and we move on with the peace of mind that he won’t come around stirring shit up.”
Steve hates how much sense she’s making.
“Do I have to do it right now?”
Her face softens and she shakes her head.
“No. That can wait. Today is for moping, eating ice cream in bed, and catching up on our soap operas. Calling your knothead of a babydaddy is tomorrow’s problem.”
True to her word, Robin didn’t make Steve pick up his phone until the next afternoon.
It took fifteen minutes for her to convince him to click the ‘call’ button on the alpha’s contact just for it to ring three times and go to voicemail. Steve didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t leave one.
He tried again a few minutes later and it went straight to voicemail without ringing at all. Hurtful, but not surprising. Steve knew things didn’t end well enough between them for Eddie to want to speak to him again.
At a loss for options, Steve sent a last ditch effort text asking if they could meet the next morning and talk about something important. He didn’t bother waiting for a response he wouldn't get, opting instead to just send the address of a local cafe a block from his apartment and the time he’d be there waiting.
Steve figured that if Eddie didn’t show, that was a sign in and of itself. He refused to tell him about the baby via text.
Eddie would be there or he’d ignore Steve entirely.
Either way, he’d have his answer.
Despite his belief that he’d be eating breakfast alone, Steve still feels a twinge of disappointment when he shows up right on time to the meeting spot and doesn’t see Eddie anywhere.
He figured as much, but the confirmation that he’ll be navigating a pregnancy by himself stings nonetheless.
Steve orders himself a blueberry muffin and a glass of orange juice. Much to his dismay, coffee would be off the menu for him for a while. If the smell didn’t already turn his stomach, the research he’d done on pregnancy safe foods would’ve convinced him anyway.
Most strong smells seem to upset his pup and it begs the question of how he will return to work the next day if the scent of his job makes him terribly sick. He’d have to ask his doctor once the office Robin called got back to them about an appointment.
Maybe there was medicine he could take.
“Is this seat taken?”
Steve nearly falls over from surprise when he looks up from the muffin he was picking at aimlessly to see Eddie shrugging off his coat and hanging it on the back of the chair across from him. The alpha plops into the seat with a forced neutral expression on his face. It’s clear he’s feeling as awkward about this meeting as Steve is and he doesn’t even know what it’s about.
He’d tentatively planned out what to say, but seeing Eddie in daylight and realizing his memory didn’t do the man justice is an awful realization to have.
Eddie is unfairly attractive for someone once again just dressed effortlessly in an all black ensemble. Black t-shirt, black ripped jeans, black leather boots, a black pea coat, and even a black and grey plaid scarf he’s currently unwinding from his heavily tattooed neck.
A pointed cough tells Steve he’s staring and he quickly looks back down at his half-decimated muffin.
“Sorry I’m late. I… don’t really do mornings.”
Steve isn’t sure how to respond to that. The last time they had a real conversation with their clothing on, all they’d done was argue and that’s not what he wants to do right now.
“It’s fine. I just assumed meeting for breakfast would be less weird than asking you to get dinner with me again.”
He knows his sentiment didn’t come out correctly when Eddie’s eyebrows nearly disappear into his hairline.
The alpha croaks out a soft, “Uh, yeah, I don’t know if that would be such a good idea. I was actually pretty surprised to hear from you because you didn’t seem to—”
Steve’s face heats up immediately and he rushes to correct the assumption in order to save any dignity he still has left.
“No, sorry, that’s not what I meant at all. I just— um, I wasn’t trying to like hit on you or anything. I know you don’t like me and it’s— that’s fine. I need to talk to you about something else, something important and– and oh my god, this is coming out all fucking wrong.”
Eddie’s entire being goes from uncomfortable to serious very quickly. He sits up straight and gives Steve his full attention.
“Okay. What did you need to talk to me about?”
His throat feels like it’s closing up.
The words are stuck and the urge to run out of the cafe and never contact Eddie ever again is stronger than he would like it to be. This is a serious matter and he shouldn’t be so weak that he can’t even tell the other party involved.
“Steve?” Eddie probes softly.
He shakes his head to himself and bites down on his lip, trying desperately not to give in to the pressing need to cry in front of a cafe full of strangers and the alpha whose baby he’s currently carrying.
Before he can excuse himself from the inevitable scene he’s about to make and save himself from further embarrassment, Eddie takes his trembling hand where it’s resting on the table and covers it with his own.
His hand is pleasantly warm and bigger than Steve’s. Decorated with ink like the rest of him, mostly with some pretty roses. It's a steady presence applying just enough pressure to keep Steve grounded and clear his head.
When he glances up, Eddie’s waiting patiently with a softer look on his face than Steve’s seen on him before.
It gives him the courage to speak, even if his voice is shaky and small.
“I’m pregnant.”
Eddie doesn’t flinch, but Steve sees the moment of shock pass through his eyes. Then he lets out a long sigh and shakes his head in silent acceptance of the news, as if he was expecting something far worse.
“I’m guessing it’s safe to assume that it’s mine since you’re telling me this?”
Steve doesn’t press his luck with speaking, so he just nods once.
Eddie is quiet for a long minute before continuing.
“And you’re planning on keeping it.”
It’s a statement, not a question, but Steve still nods again to confirm the assumption. Eddie’s tone is unreadable. He doesn’t sound mad though.
More silence.
He stares back at his crumbling muffin once more, afraid of finding pity in the alpha’s face. As happy as he is to have this baby, this entire conversation is shrouded in his own deep shame. It feels the same as when he presented as an omega in high school and his parents could hardly speak to him anymore.
Steve feels utterly pathetic waiting to find out if Eddie is disgusted with him.
“Alright. Well obviously we didn't exactly plan this, but I want to be involved in whatever capacity you'll allow me to be. And I’ll cover any expenses for you and our baby. Whatever you need from me, I’ll take care of it.”
It’s a very generous offer, however, Steve feels the need to clear something up. He can’t accept Eddie’s blanket statement to pay for everything. It’s important to him that Eddie knows he’s not some gold digger.
“I didn’t come here to ask for money.”
Eddie bristles at that.
Christ, it’s like Steve can’t say anything right to him.
“I’m not some deadbeat dad who doesn’t provide for their own kid, Steve. I have more than enough money to take care of you both. You work at a coffee shop,” Eddie states bluntly, his tone firm.
“I’ll figure it out,” Steve attempts to brush him off once more. “I can pick up extra shifts and there are programs to help unmated omegas with medical expenses for their pregnancies. I don’t need your money, Eddie.”
Eddie releases his hand. His musky alpha scent permeates overwhelmingly across the table and it’s clear he’s truly upset now.
Goddamnit.
“Look, it’s pretty obvious to both of us that you don’t have the finances to take care of a baby, but I do. You saw where I live. I’m not exactly struggling, so stop being fucking stubborn and let me do this. This is my pup too.”
It’s not meant to be hurtful. He knows that, but he feels useless and small for having to bother Eddie at all and now it’s just another thing widening the gap between them.
The age difference they have already makes Steve feel off balance. They’re supposed to coparent a baby, but they couldn’t be less alike.
He’s just a stupid young omega who ran away from home in a moment of rebellion and lives paycheck to paycheck in a shitty studio apartment. His and Robin’s mattresses are only a foot away from each other, the elevator has been broken for months, and the water never gets more than tepid at best.
Eddie’s at least in his mid-thirties, he lives in a building with a doorman, and he’s far too mature for all of this baby drama.
And now they’re arguing over money too. Steve still doesn’t know what Eddie does for a living, but clearly the tattoos haven’t been an issue for him considering the aforementioned state of his home.
“We can… discuss this later,” Steve mumbles.
He has no intention of accepting a dime, but he doesn’t want to continue this argument. It’s causing more harm than good. They need to be on the same team in order for this to work.
Eddie's posture relaxes slightly.
His scent becomes more subdued, easing Steve’s discomfort. He actually finds Eddie’s scent quite pleasant when it isn’t tinged with discontent.
“Sure thing, babydoll,” the alpha agrees flippantly. “As long as it ends with you agreeing to let me pay for everything.”
Against his better judgement, Steve lets out a tiny snort of amusement.
Eddie doesn’t quite manage to fight back the smile that creeps across his lips. It’s a nice look for him. Much nicer than the sneer he typically wears around Steve.
“We’re both adults. We can figure it out like adults.”
Eddie scoffs playfully at him.
His deep voice is a gentle rumble that cuts through the bustle of the busy cafe with ease, “I mean, I know I’m an adult. You’re practically jailbait, sweetheart. I was on my first senior year victory lap when you were born. You have no business negotiating money with anyone when I’m pretty sure you still get a weekly allowance.”
The alpha’s soft teasing does strange things to Steve’s lower belly and he swallows down the rising need to bare his neck in submission. It’s not his fault that he’s wired wrong and gets worked up by a couple smooth words from an older man.
He shouldn’t be reacting to this at all. The door of opportunity for something more between them has been slammed shut and his inner omega needs to get that message loud and clear.
Any possible romantic relationship with Eddie is off the table.
“I’m twenty,” he argues, trying not to whine at Eddie and sound even younger than he feels.
Eddie groans dramatically like he’s been shot.
“Stop reminding me. You’re not old enough to be having my baby.”
Steve freezes, unsure how to respond to that statement. As supportive as Eddie has been about this, that doesn’t mean he’s happy about being saddled with both a pup and a needy pregnant omega.
“I’m sorry, I really should’ve been more careful. I don’t take birth control, so I should’ve bought a Plan B or something. I swear I wasn’t trying to—”
“Please don’t apologize. I’m the cranky old geezer, remember? I knew better, but I let my dick get the best of me on that one. We got carried away. It happens. If anything, we can share the blame,” he offers jokingly.
It’s weird to allude to the mindblowing sex they had without having any intentions of a repeat performance, but Steve knows he’s already getting a better deal out of this than he was expecting.
He smiles shyly in agreement.
“Sounds good. As long as you agree to share the ongoing morning sickness and sleepless nights.”
“Deal. I barely sleep as it is.”
Eddie mirrors his smile before checking his watch and grimacing slightly.
“I hate to cut this conversation short, but I really do have to get going so I can get ready for work in a bit. I meant what I said about doing whatever I can to support you both though. Medical appointments, parenting classes, baby clothes shopping— all of it. Keep me informed please. Good or bad, I want to know what’s going on.”
Steve isn’t entirely sure what bits Eddie wants to be notified of, but he agrees to tell him about the important things he mentioned at least.
“Does that mean you’ll actually respond to me this time?”
Eddie looks mildly ashamed of the reminder and Steve almost regrets saying it. Almost.
“I promise to answer anytime you call.”
The alpha stands then, pulling his coat back on and picking his scarf up as he prepares himself to go back onto the freezing city streets. As he’s starting to loop the soft looking material around his neck, he stops and stares at Steve.
Before he can ask if Eddie’s okay, the alpha is holding the scarf out towards him instead.
Steve hesitates to take it, unsure what exactly he’s being offered here.
“I want our pup to know my scent too… Would you mind putting this in your nest? You don’t have to, but I’ve heard it can help with pregnancy symptoms too because it’s comforting for the baby.”
Oh.
The idea that Eddie wants their pup to recognize him and that he’s concerned about Steve’s wellbeing is actually heartbreakingly sweet. It might be the kindest thing anyone has ever done for him without expecting anything in return.
He accepts the scarf wordlessly, afraid to show how much it means to him.
There’s no reason to tell Eddie he doesn’t have a nest of his own. He’ll put it under his pillow instead and the alpha will be none the wiser.
Steve leaves the cafe with two new things. He has a warm scarf around his neck that smells like home and a newfound confidence in him that he might actually be able to raise a pup.