A continuation of the ending of Baxter's Step 4. If you can't have all the boys, then maybe there's another suitable option for your childhood bestie right under your nose!
Just a nice lil thought, no content warnings :) Please be friends with me and talk about this game because it has eaten my brain and all that's left in my head is these lil buddies <3
"Together at last," Baxter murmured, clasping your hand and pulling it in close to his chest.
You grinned up at him, your new/old boyfriend, as dramatic as always.
"I know, we've been apart for maybe ten whole minutes," you teased fondly, letting him lead you in easy box steps around Scott and Jude's living room. "How did we survive?"
"I'll never know," he replied. He wore his signature smirk, but part of you felt like maybe there was a little truth to the remark -- after all, there had been times in your five years apart where it did feel like you might not survive.
You glanced up at his eyes, as warm and bottomless as you'd always remembered. While you felt like you'd never get tired of looking into them, you did take the opportunity to step in a bit closer to Baxter, resting your head against his chest as you danced.
After a moment of breathing in the moment, you took the opportunity to glance around at your friends. From your angle, you saw Miranda and Terry wrapped in a similar embrace, and you couldn't help but smile.
Miranda had ended the call with her brother and new brother-in-law a little earlier, letting the newlyweds get back to their honeymoon. Now that she didn't have to carry them around in their little screen for them to enjoy the party, her attention was solely on Terry, who then decided to grasp her firmly before dropping her down into a dramatic dip.
"Terry!" Miranda half-scolded, half-laughed, grasping onto his shoulders. "Give me a little warning next time!"
"You can't stop the funk," he told her plainly, picking her back up only to twirl her around a few times. "I know that as much as I know anything."
Miranda gave him a light kiss along with a giggle, and you felt Baxter chuckle too.
"Why can't we get funky too?" you pouted, looking at him.
"Hey, don't doubt the B-Man on this," Terry called out, catching your remark. "He gets it."
"I do indeed," the B-Man confirmed before sending you on a spin of your own.
You laughed, happier than you'd been in a very long time. As he expertly pulled you back to him, you caught a flash of sea green out of the corner of your eye that made you pause.
Cove was never one for dancing, and you know he was always perfectly content to stay on the sidelines whenever your friend group decided to partake in an activity that wasn't his cup of tea. But you didn't want to get too caught up in your rekindled romance with Baxter -- you didn't want him to feel like a fifth wheel.
Back in your boyfriend's arms, you tried to subtly drag him over towards the kitchen where you'd seen Cove heading as you were mid-twirl. He raised an eyebrow.
"I just want to check on Cove," you whispered, "but be cool about it, I don't want to make him uncomfortable."
He snorted, and you looked at him questioningly. He glanced up towards where Cove had went and then back at you and smiled warmly, then said, "I don't think you have to worry about him at the moment."
Curious, you gave up on subtlety and turned around so you could see what Baxter had seen.
Cove had gone to the kitchen like you'd thought, but he hadn't gone alone -- the last party guest, the most recent addition to your roster of friends, was right beside him. Xavier was standing by the counter, gesturing toward the tray of desserts they'd brought with them to the party. Cove was watching them with wide eyes, taking turns between looking down at the sweets and then looking back up at Xavier in awe.
If he had a tail, it would definitely be wagging.
You were about to call out to him, some joke on the tip of your tongue, but then you paused. Xavier had grabbed a napkin and picked up one of the muffins then handed it to Cove, their face breaking out into a grin. You saw a light blush break out on your friend's cheeks as he looked between Xavier and the muffin before taking it into his own hands and taking a large bite. His eyes rolled back in his head, something you thought may have read as a bit obscene if you didn't know that he truly just liked baked goods that much.
You felt Baxter wrap his arms around your waist, dropping his chin to your shoulder.
"An interesting development, I'd say," he said quietly.
You pulled your eyes away from Cove and Xavier then looked back to him, beaming.
Listen. Listen. All of Step 4 versions could canonically take place during the same summer, right next to each other. Derek's Step 4 takes place first. Father's day in America is on the third Sunday in June, so in 2021 that would be June 20th.
Moms wedding anniversary is referenced multiple times in Derek's Step 4, as an event happening a few weeks later.
Then Cove's Step 4 takes place during the anniversary, a few days before and after the event. Taking the estimated time period, their party would be happening in June, i'd say around the middle of the month, maybe closer to the beginning.
Derek makes an appearance here too!
(i actually had to speed replay cove's step 4 cause i had no, and i mean no screeshots from it lmao. that was before i learned that you can make screeshots through steam and don't have to do it MANUALLY sigh)
Then we have the last Step 4 version, the events of Baxter DLC.
I'm assuming the Adams' wedding takes place sometime in August, probably also in the middle, but leaning towards the end of the month.
So hypothetically speaking, MC could canonically participate in all of these events.
All THAT to say: imagine meeting Xavier in Baxter's Step 4 after first meeting them in Derek's Step 4, and them being like "Oh, hi MC! Good to see you again :D" with Baxter looking so confused sdhfjkshfsjk
That's right, it was a Xavier post all along! You got tricked! Xavier DLC when 👀
Just kidding, but i'm living for this version of events. And just in general, it's nice to imagine everything happening, even if it's not possible in the game itself. I headcanon it all happening, it's so fun to think about <3
