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dwobbitfromtheshire · 2 months ago

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A/N: Yes, just like Steve, I missed having my first girlfriend.

The stars shone overhead as Steve parked his truck by the quarry, the full moon on display without a cloud in sight. It was still weird to be driving a truck after driving the BMW for so long, but Steve was actually glad to be rid of it. It was the last thing that his parents had ever bought for him, and he was pretty proud that he bought the truck with his own money just like he did with his apartment. Said apartment was currently being used by his new roommate. A newly resurrected Eddie was having another date night with Chrissy, which usually meant extracurricular activities. Steve hadn't been sure what to do with the rest of his time, thankful that Jonathan had called when he did to ask if he could give him and Nancy a ride to the quarry. Which was weird now that he thought about it. They both had cars, didn't they?He watched them climb out of the truck and into the bed after spreading out a blanket. Steve opened the window.

"Do you guys want me to leave you alone? I could go for a walk?" Steve asked.

"Why would we want that?" Nancy asked in confusion.

"Because this is a date," Steve said.

"Exactly, this is a date," Nancy said.

"We want you here here," Jonathan said softly.

"Are you sure?" He asked. "I don't want to be a third wheel."

"Why wouldn't we want you here? Why would we ask you out and then tell you to leave?" Nancy asked. "Did Jonathan not make it clear that this was a date for all three of us?"

"No, he did not!" Steve exclaimed with wide eyes. "You want me? Both of you?!"

"Steve, we had sex with you!" Jonathan exclaimed. "Of course, we want you and for more than just your body!"

"I thought - you said that you wanted to keep warm because the power had gone out, and it was snowing - "

"It was a line!" Nancy yelled, trying not to laugh.

"I kind of thought the last couple of times that we hung out were dates," Jonathan said.

"Me too! I mean, we kissed you after every single one of them!" Nancy exclaimed.

"I thought you were being friendly!" Steve yelled.

"Okay, Steve, what's going on? I know you're not this stupid. You're quicker than that," Jonathan said softly.

Steve ran his hand through his hair and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked at them.

"I don't know - I guess I just didn't want to get my hopes up. You two are all that I've been thinking about since that night, and it just seemed too good that you both wanted me," Steve said. "We were getting along so great. . .I just didn't want to make assumptions and mess everything up."

"We love you, Steve, and we want to be with you," Nancy said softly. "Probably should have been clearer about that, but you know our communication skills need work."

"I love you, too," Steve beamed.

Jonathan cupped his face and kissed him through the window. Steve sighed against his lips, remembering the way that Jonathan had kissed him that night. Flashes of memories flooded his mind: hands touching, skin against skin, more kissing, and the moans. . .Jonathan and Nancy had curled up against him afterward. Jonathan was kissing him softly now, just like he did back in December. Jonathan pulled back, smirking at Steve. He knew what he was thinking about. That night had been great and one of the last nights he had spent in his childhood home. It had been a great way to say goodbye to it.

"Get your ass back here, Harrington," Jonathan's voice grounded him to the present.

Steve laughed and got out before hopping quickly into the bed. Nancy giggled and pulled him in for a kiss. It was a deep and rather harsh kiss, as though Nancy was pouring every feeling she had into it. She pulled away, wiping her lipstick off his mouth with her thumb.

"Well, we got food, too," Nancy said. "We brought your favorites."

She pushed the picnic basket out into the open and started pulling out the food. She pulled out a battery-operated lantern and flipped it on.

"We forgot the chocolate covered strawberries, but I think we found something better for desert, anyway," Jonathan said and squeezed Steve’s thigh.

"If I wasn't so hungry, I'd say we skip to deserts," Steve said and kissed Jonathan sweetly on the mouth.

"I'm starving," Nancy agreed.

Nancy passed out the food and made space so Steve could settle in between them. Jonathan moved the piece of chicken around on his plate.

"You and Robin still planning on becoming paramedics?" Jonathan asked.

"That's the plan," Steve said.

"I figured you would have moved in with Robin," Nancy said. "We were surprised when you invited Eddie to move in."

"Well, I'm still going to. . .it's just Eddie needed a place to stay because Wayne wanted to move in with his. . .uh, significant other," Steve said.

"Uncle Wayne told us about Scott," Nancy said, smiling.

"Oh, yeah, I wasn't sure if that was public knowledge. . ." Steve said and then snickered.

"What?" Nancy asked.

"Just remembering the look on Eddie's face when he came back and found out that Wayne had become everyone's uncle," Steve said. "He pouted so hard."

"He was my uncle first!" Nancy giggled with a fake shriek as she tried to mimic Eddie's voice.

"I love him," Jonathan grinned. "I'm glad they're a part of our group."

"Yeah, Chrissy and Vickie, too," Nancy smiled. "They saved my ass and Robin, too. I'm going to miss them when I do go to Emerson."

"So, you decided to go?" Steve asked.

"Yes, even after they rejected me. . .I did want to make them work for it when they sent me another acceptance letter," Nancy sighed. "But it's been my dream to go to Emerson."

"I guess finding out that you weren't actually working with a serial killer but actually saving the town made them change their minds?" Steve asked.

"Some of them there are still hesitant and believe that Eddie is a killer, according to my sources. Of course, none of them has seen him cry because he accidentally stepped on a kitten's foot," Nancy said.

"Yeah, we got a cat out of that. Not that I'm complaining. Although, he seems to like me more than Eddie. I think he still remembers what Eddie did," Steve said and they laughed.

"Hm, all the more reason to go to Emerson. Make those fuckers sweat," Nancy said. "I want to prove them wrong, but also, like I said, Emerson is my dream, and nothing is going to stop me from going."

Jonathan shifted in his spot beside him. Steve looked at him and found him frowning into his food.

"Are you okay?" Steve asked.

"It's nothing," Jonathan said.

"He gets like that when I bring up Emerson. I think he feels guilty for lying to me about not applying there, which is crazy because it's not something that I wanted for you in the first place. You've been wanting to go to NYU since you were six years old, Jonathan," Nancy said, rolling her eyes. "Stop using me as excuse to run away from that."

"I'm not! Do you ever think that maybe dreams change?" Jonathan asked.

"I'd believe that if I didn't know you. You never want to admit when you want something for yourself. It always has to align with someone else. I know Argyle told me that you applied to Lenora because it would be close to your family," Nancy said.

"What's wrong with wanting to being close to my family?!" Jonathan asked.

"Nothing, if that's really the reason and not because you're scared of putting yourself out there," Nancy said. "You've used them as an excuse before when we had that internship. We weren't being paid, Jonathan! I know the reason you wanted to stay is because you liked the job, but you didn't want to admit to being selfish."

"I'm going to have to side with Nancy on this one. Not because I'm scared of her or anything but because she's right," Steve said.

"This is supposed to be a fun relaxing date," Jonathan pouted.

"Okay, but now we feel like this is something we talk about. It's okay to want things, Jonathan," Steve said.

"Steve’s right. You've spent a lot of time looking after your family and putting them first. . .making sacrifices for them. You've always been afraid to admit when you wanted something, and I think it's because you've watched your dad put himself first time and time again. It's okay to be selfish sometimes," Nancy said.

"You've got to find the right balance, but you know, I think that's what a lot of people do. Try to find that perfect middle between being selfish and between selfless," Steve said thoughtfully, and Jonathan smiled at him. "What? I'm more than just a pretty face."

"I know," Jonathan said softly and paused. "I just - "

"Have we still not convinced you?" Nancy asked.

"It's just every time we get separated, something fucked up happens," Jonathan sighed. "And I know eventually that the three of us are going to have to do our own thing, but I just can't shake this feeling. . ."

"We know. We feel that way, too, but we can't let that stop us from living our lives," Nancy said softly.

Steve grabbed their plates and put them aside. He grabbed Jonathan and maneuvered them so he was in the middle.

"Tell us what you want, Jonathan," Steve said, holding his hand in his, stroking it with his thumb.

"Not what your family or friends want. . .not what we want," Nancy whispered. "What do you want? What have you always wanted?"

Steve could tell that Jonathan was about to break, his cheeks were flushed red, and if Steve pressed his hand to his chest, he could probably feel his heart beating rapidly.

"I feel like I'm being pressured here," Jonathan muttered, but Steve could see the smile at the corner of his lips.

Steve ducked his head down, tucking his head into Jonathan's neck, his nose brushing against his skin.

"Say it," he whispered.

"Steve," Jonathan whined. "It's not fair."

Steve ran his hand up his arm and then moved to his stomach, caressing it. Jonathan jerked, his stomach reacting to his touch as though it had tickled him. Steve sent a mischievous grin to Nancy, and she smirked. Steve dug his fingers into the spot, and Jonathan let out a startled shriek.

"Come on, you know you want to. Just admit it," Steve said as he continued to tickle him.

"N - n-no!" Jonathan laughed and tried pushing Steve’s hands away.

Nancy dug her fingers in on his other side, and Jonathan let out another shriek. Jonathan was now laughing so hard that his dimples were showing and his face was turning red as he tried to wiggle out of their grasp.

"Jonathan, just say it, and we'll stop," Nancy said. "We're doing this for your own good."

"Okay! Okay!" Jonathan wheezed, and they stopped. "I want - I still want to go to NYU."

Nancy and Steve pulled their hands away, quickly kissing his cheek. Steve made sure to kiss his dimple.

"See? Now, was that so hard?" Steve asked.

"It doesn't matter," Jonathan sighed. "Even if I do apply, they might not accept me."

"That's kind of the risk in doing anything you want," Steve shrugged. "You might not get it."

"You still should try, though," Nancy said. "One day, you might wake up and regret not trying at all."

"I never really tried before either, not really," Steve said. "Everything I did was for my dad. I mean, sure, I did end up liking basketball and swimming, but those were things my dad liked. For the longest time, I thought I had to do all that in order to get his attention, but he was an unhappy man, and nothing I did would have made him happy. That thought is what made me step out on my own. You and Nancy sort of gave me the courage to do that."

"You did that yourself," Jonathan blushed.

"Yeah, I did, but you two inspired me," he smiled. "Look, Jonathan, you've got a great family now. With Will and El. Joyce has Hopper. They're going to be okay when you go off to NYU. The important thing about Joyce is that she's the kind of mother who wants whatever makes you happy, and if you aren't happy, then she isn't."

"I know," he said softly.

"You've got another year to apply," Nancy said. "And I think it'd be the perfect time to start practicing doing things that you want to."

"And you and Steve?" Jonathan asked.

"Well, I'm hoping that I'm one of the things that you want to do," Steve smirked and Nancy giggled.

"It's okay for us to have different dreams as long as we happen to share one," Nancy said. "We don't have to do everything together, but as long as we find our way back towards each other, I think we'll be happy. That's the most important thing in any relationship, right?"

"So, I become this famous photographer, Nancy, a famous reporter, and Steve a paramedic?" Jonathan asked.

"Well, for now. I'm still figuring that shit out. Kind or slow in that department," Steve said.

"Everyone figures things out at their own pace," Nancy said. "We don't have it all figure it out. . .you know, taking a year off doing nothing sounds nice."

"I guess we're nothing, Jonathan," Steve grinned and Nancy laughed, slapping his chest.

Nancy dove at him, tickling his sides. Steve laughed when Jonathan started doing the same. During the scuffle, Steve somehow ended up in the middle. This time, Nancy was on his other side. Steve collapsed onto the bed of the truck while Nancy shoved their trash into a plastic bag. She curled up against Steve while Jonathan did the same. Steve looked thoughtfully up at the stars, his heart singing.

"I guess since we're being honest with each other, there's something I should tell you," Steve said.

Nancy gasped and sat up. Jonathan did the same, looking at her curiously.

"Which one of us did it? Or was it both of us?" Nancy asked.

"What are you talking about?" Steve asked with wide eyes.

"Because of the bat bites. . .were we able. . .I mean, are you telling us that you're pregnant?" Nancy asked, seriously.

Steve stared at her, and she stared back at him. Jonathan was looking back and forth between them, panicking.

"What?!" Jonathan exclaimed, his voice higher than before, and then Nancy burst into giggles.

"No, Nancy, you didn't me pregnant," Steve said, rolling his eyes. "That joke is so old. It has great grandchildren."

"Oh, thank God," Jonathan said in relief. "Not that I haven't thought about it, it's just too soon."

"No, I just wanted to tell you that before we slept together. . .I slept with someone else. I wasn't sure where I stood with either of you, and everyone hadn't come back from the dead yet, so Eddie was upset about Chrissy. . .it just sort of happened," Steve said.

"You slept with Eddie?" Nancy asked.

"You're living with a guy who you slept with?" Jonathan asked.

Steve shifted slightly as he looked at them. He hadn't really thought that this might have been a problem until now.

"Like I said, I said I wasn't sure where I stood with you. Eddie has Chrissy now, and I have the two of you. I don't want anyone else. I swear," Steve said.

"I suppose we did wait a little long to act on our feelings," Nancy sighed. "And it would be hypocritical of us considering how Jonathan and I got together."

"I mean, can't Robin move in?" Jonathan muttered. "I mean, I like the guy. . ."

"Oh, baby, are you jealous? You're the only guy I want to be with," Steve said. "I love you. Eddie's just my best friend. You have nothing to worry about."

Jonathan buried his face into his neck while Nancy laid down again. She laid across his chest, running her hands over his stomach. Steve had a problem. He really did because now he was imagining them putting a baby there. Nancy giggled like she knew what he was thinking. Jonathan popped up suddenly.

"How did you not know that last Saturday wasn't a date? My hand was down your pants!" Jonathan exclaimed.

"I thought you were just helping out a friend," Steve said.

"And have other guy friends helped you out in the past?" Jonathan scowled.

"Yeah!" Steve exclaimed. "I mean, it was just one guy, really. . .we were two lonely guys who didn't have girlfriends or boyfriends yet. . .at that point, I wasn't even sure I was interested in girls. And it was just one friend I did that with, we did it a lot. We were really close. He used to take me out a lot, buy me things, and he got really excited when he had me meet his parents. . .it sucked when he had to move, but yeah, we were just two friends helping each other out."

"Steve. . .he was your boyfriend," Nancy said in amusement.

"No. . . I mean, I would have known if he was my boyfriend," Steve frowned, and then he thought about it. "Oh, Goddamnit, I did it again! I missed having my first boyfriend!"

Jonathan and Nancy laughed. Jonathan let the laughter fall from his lips and he pouted.

"I can't believe that I'm not your first boyfriend," he said.

"Yeah, but you're going to be my last," Steve said, kissing his forehead and pausing. "Not that I'm going to kill you or anything - "

"I know what you meant," Jonathan laughed.

"You're both my last," Steve sighed.

"I think this was supposed to happen. . .ever since that night in Jonathan's house, with the demogorgon. . ." Nancy sighed happily. "I'm glad I didn't have to choose between you two."

"So are we," Jonathan said softly.

Nancy and Jonathan snuggled deeper into Steve’s arms. The three of them looked at the stars as they continued to talk softly about what the future may hold for them. Jonathan was right about one thing. Nothing was set in stone, and everything could change in an instant. Living in the moment, Steve thought, was just as important as looking head. One thing he hoped would stay the same was a future with Nancy and Jonathan. His eyes fluttered closed, and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.

3 AM

Steve quietly walked through the doorway of his apartment, shushing Jonathan and Nancy as they giggled. He wasn't sure why he was telling them to be quiet. When Chrissy was over, Eddie slept like a log. They followed him to his room and watched him change into pajama shorts before tossing them something to sleep in. Before they could crawl into bed with Steve, Eddie came bursting in, holding a frying pan while Chrissy held a pot.

"YOU CANNOT PASS - oh, it's just you. And what time of night do you call this, Steven?!" Eddie asked.

"Well, most people call it three in the morning," Steve said, scoffing.

"Hm, that kind of attitude won't get you a spot in the TARDIS," Eddie said, pointing the pan at him.

"Paramedic, Eddie," Chrissy laughed. "He's studying to become a paramedic, not a time lord."

"Semantics," Eddie said, waving the pan around. "By the way, I KNEW something was going on with the three of them."

"You knew nothing," Chrissy laughed.

"I didn't even know that something was going on with his," Steve said. "Rather, I didn't want to get my hopes up. . .by the way, I was completely honest with them tonight, and I wasn't sure if Chrissy knows that - ,"

"You fucked my boyfriend?" Chrissy asked with a grin. "Oh, yeah, he told me. You thought I was dead, so it's fine. It's not happening again, though."

"Oh, yeah, no, definitely not," Steve said, smiling.

"So, raise your hand if you haven't slept with Steve Harrington?" Eddie cackled and then blinked when no one raised their hand. "Chrissy?"

"I told you I knew him," Chrissy shrugged. "You didn't ask me how."

"The shorts don't lie," Steve said and turned around. "I made them myself."

On the back of his shorts, in pink shiny letters, was the word: SLUT.

"Oh my god!" Eddie said, wheezing.

"I'm Nancy and Jonathan's slut though now, and only their slut," Steve said, cocking his hip in their direction.

Jonathan buried his head into Nancy's shoulder, laughing while she giggled.

"You're an idiot, Steve Harrington," Nancy said.

"And you're both beautiful," Steve said, smirking.

"Well, I guess since you're not balrogs, I'll let you guys get some sleep," Eddie said, wiggling his eyebrows. "I demand a pair of shorts for myself but in red! Gotta let Chrissy know I'm her slut, too!"

"That message has already been spread, Eddie," Chrissy giggled.

Chrissy was in the middle of dragging Eddie out when he gripped the doorframe and looked meaningfully at Steve.

"You happy, big boy?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah, I am," Steve grinned, biting his lip.

"Me too," Eddie said, smiling softly at him.

Steve crawled into bed with Nancy and Jonathan. He never thought it would have worked out like this. Hoped? Yes. He had made time to discover himself after he and Nancy broke up. He found that he could be happy without her, that he could make meaningful relationships that weren't romantic, as well as relationships that were somewhere in between, and he found this family along the way. He didn't need Nancy or Jonathan to be happy, but his heart longed for them. . .he wanted them like this. He was glad that the break up happened because it led him to Dustin, to Robin, then to Eddie as well as Vickie, and it even led him back to being friends with Chrissy again. Bad shit happened, but there were good things that came of it, too. Steve pictured himself as a young boy, looking out the window and hoping that his parents would come home, dreaming of a large family of his own.

"You are home," he whispered to himself and fell asleep with a smile on his face. "And you have a family. . ."

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