Warning: angst, not a happy ending, breakup, pregnancy, having multiple kids, cheating, drinking, smoking. Let me know if I missed any
Note: This is very my inspired by “Too Little, Too Late” by laufey clearly by the title.
Not proof ready I’m sorry i literally wrote this in the moment it just hand to be let out in the world
“She’s getting married Steve.” Robin handed him the save the date letter. He couldn’t even look at it, of course you were was, you found your person.
“We’re invited to the dinner the night before too.” Robin smiled, as Steve just looked at her “When did she send it.” He knew Robin wouldn’t have told him right after it was received in the mail as she sighed “About a eight months ago, the wedding is in three days, am I already told her we were going.”
Robin had to hide it, Steve would have taken off done something stupid, there was still that possibility but with cutting so short Steve couldn’t run away from his friends and you…
Steve chugged the rest of his coffee not caring that it burn his tongue. Before pulling out his wallet to pay, getting out of the booth “I have to get back to the school. See you at the house.” Steve tossed the cash on the table before walking out the dinner to his car. Robin watched him leave driving towards the school as she picked up the invitation shaking her head as she put it back in her purse.
For the rest of the next two days Steve couldn’t think straight, his brain playing the memories he had with you, how you wore the perfume he got you for your birthday every day until you guys broke up and the perfume discontinued. He still had a bottle of it, sitting in a shoe box with all the memories he had with you.
It was the day of the dinner when Steve was adjusting his tie when he saw the box, finally giving in to open the box, The stack of letters he was going to send to you while you were away at college still stacked together. The love notes he wrote but never gave you, the perfume you use to love, movie tickets and so many other things, along with pictures of you both together at star court mall with him in his sailor uniform and you mid laugh and huge smile on your face, another with you both taken at the dinner sharing a shake, there were so many pictures Steve found the one with you posing with him, Eddie, Robin, and Nancy in the makeshift combat uniforms as Max in the back rolled her eyes.
Steve couldn’t help but smiled as he placed that picture on his nightstand leaning against the lamp making mental note to frame it.
Robin rushed to Steve’s room “Hey it’s time, we gotta be there early. She wants a pic with all the bridesmaids and the maid of honor can’t be the last one to show.” Robin said before she looked down at the box as Steve tried to cover it quickly as he nod “Ya…ya. I’ll meet you in the car.” He stood up patting off the dust off his dress shirt and fixed his hair a little as Robin rushed to the car
Steve looked back at the letters and love notes debating and hesitating, before grabbing them and rushing out with his keys
The drive was quite besides Robin telling Steve were to go. As Steve drove he noticed they were back in his old neighborhood, as he found a parking not to far from the house.
The side gate was opened as fairy lights guided down to the back yard with a beautiful flower garden and a grand table with a blue table cloth and white flowers in the middle every so often.
Some other guest had already shown up and a woman was still setting up food. Robins eyes widen in shock as she turn to Steve “He’s gotta be loaded.” She mumbled as she looked around before finding the groom with a group of men “That is Frank, the groom.” Robin pointed out as they looks at the man who seemed a little older. looking around Steve heard a familiar laugh.
He looked up to see you walk out holding some a glass champagne in a white casual dress laughing. Oh how he missed that laugh when you finally turn to them “Robin! Steve! So glad you made it.” You ran to them carefully in heel flats as you gave Robin a hug before hugging Steve
The hug lingered only for a second to long before you pulled away. Steve immediately missing the feeling of you in his arms.
You smiled at the both before Frank came to your side wrapping an arm around your waist “Robin.” He smiled as her before looking up at Steve “And you must be—“ he looked at him confused as he was cut off by Steve “Steve, Steven Harrington.” They both extended their hands to shake “Oh shit really! My fiancé has told me all about you.” Frank smiled which made Robin and Steve a little confused, as Steve was about to ask what you had told him. But he was stoped by you “Yup these were my best friends back in high school.” You patted franks chest
Steve looked at you confused you had lied to Frank. You two weren’t friends until after high school, well when he was out of high school, he met you because you worked at the mall and friends with Robin. But you guys hadn’t become close until he had to give you a drive after the mall closed because your shitty boyfriend forgot about you.
And that started to become a habit even picking you up on days he was off, the kiss had just happened after you told him on the way to your place you finally broke up with your boyfriend. And Steve couldn’t help but kiss you.
Robin shoved Steve’s shoulder as Steve was finally brought back to the present. As you looked up at him as Frank looked at him holding out a beer as Steve took it mumbling an apology. And taking a swing as the bitter taste touched his tongue as Frank was called away
As Steve took a drink before making a disgusting face as you couldn’t help but laugh “Ya Frank instead this is the best beer in America. I think the cheep beer from Barnsley Big buy is better.” You smiled walking over to grab a bottle in a cooler before popping the cap off and handing it to Steve as he thanked you. Taking a drink immediately humming in satisfaction, Robin was pulled away by som bridesmaids leaving you and Steve alone
Steve watched you as looked around the yard “So what dose Frank do?” Steve looked at your fiancee as he heard you sigh a little “He’s a doctor. Im surprised, he didn’t bring it up in the first ten seconds of meeting you.” You took a sip of your champagne a little irritation in your voice before you looked up at him and smiled “Still teaching sex ed and coaching the baseball team?”you asked as Steve took a drink nodding his head. “Yup, just got a promotion in a way last month. They want me to help the high school team when my teams off season.” Steve smiled proudly
Your eyes widen a little “Wow, so I’m guessing you’re a pretty good coach then, I’ll have to come watch your team play when I get back from my honeymoon.” Steve looked at you confused “You’re moving back to Hawkins?” You nodded your head “Ya I mean, Frank insisted so we be closer to my parents when we finally have kids, so they can help. And I would be around people I know.” I brought the glass to my lips as I mumbled “And the hospital is paying him much better than in Baltimore somehow.”
Steve looked at you confused, you had done so much to get out of Hawkins, got the grades to go anywhere you wanted, worked and saved any money you got, applied to nearly every scholarship you could. You leaving Hawkins was the reason you guys broke up, Steve had wanted to do long distance until you told him, once you got out of Hawkins, you weren’t coming back.
You didn’t even come for the kids graduation, only sending a letter to them on how proud and happy you were. Everyone had called you, Lost girl.
You never replied to letters to anyone besides Robin, only sent them for special events you heard from Robin or whoever sent a letter notifying you.
It was no surprised either you became closed off after El passed, out of all the kids she was like you’re little sister, sure she had Jonathan or Joyce but Steve remembered how excited you would get when she sent you letters from California.
Steve just looked at you as you drinked the rest of the champagne in your glass “How ironic huh? Guessing you didn’t tell Frank.” He smiled trying to lighten the mood as you looked back at him “He wouldn’t get it…I mean I don’t even think he would believe me. And ya I didn’t tell him about us…it’s—I don’t know why.” You said the last part softly looking away from Steve before you were called away in the house
Steve watched you leave now babying his beer leaning against the house when he heard some laughter and loud talking from the side of the house getting closer as he saw Jonathan, Will, Joyce and Hop. walking in with Lucas and Max right behind. As they all greeted each other Dustin came by giving Steve a big hug as they all talked for a while before Nancy and Mike walked in
Then group all gather around as Robin came by to say Hello as Max asked where you were. When Steve turned around to see you and Frank talking to possibly some of Franks buddies when he called your name as you looked over as a huge smiled graced your face not even caring to excuse yourself when you pulled away from Frank and ran to the group hugging everyone as they each congratulated you.
Max of course inspecting your ring, before she turn to Lucas. A laugh coming from you as you hugged everyone again. Your eyes began to water looking at the kids gushing how much they had grown up from the last time you had seen them in their junior year of high school.
As the night went on and everyone sat for dinner Steve couldn’t help but just watch you. His heart sinking every time he saw you kiss Frank, someone congratulating you, or you showing off the ring. It hurt him in a way he couldn’t even think it would.
When your mother in law started talking about baby’s and Frank said some family names as you just laughed saying you won’t be having a baby for a while. Steve saw the annoyed expression from Frank when you said that.
When the toast started everyone around the table said something either about you or Frank, or about you both. It was a special moment as everyone shared until it got to Steve as he stood hesitating as the old group looked at him, they of course knew about you and Steve’s past.
Steve cleared his throat as he looked at you. “I have know Cherry since her Junior to senior year of high school.” The nickname immediately made you froze as Steve continued. “I remember the first time we met was because she had ordered a sundae with an extra cherry. And I was in a good mood so I gave her three extra free of charge. And a week later after working a late shift I drove her home from the old mall that point on she became part of my daily life. And stayed by not just my side but all of our old friends when times got hard and we lost some friends along the way may they rest easy.” Steve raised his glass hesitantly “Frank you’re a lucky guy. Congratulations to you both.” Steve sat back down as he sniffed a little clearing his throat as Robbin and Dustin rubbed his back
You couldn’t take your eyes off Steve as other guest did their toast . It wasn’t till everyone had finished and Frank was back talking to his family did you walk over to Steve as he got another beer when you put your hand on his back when you came up to him “That was lovely.” You looked up at him as he nod “Ya well it’s the truth. You were there for me..for all of us.” Steve looked at you “Until I wasn’t…I’m sorry again Steve I just…I couldn’t do it, not after Jane..” you stopped yourself when He nod understanding
“I know you carry that guilt…hell I still blame myself for not doing a head count. It was just it happen so fast.” Steve looked down before reaching for his pocket to grab his keys “Come with me real quick.” You nod following him out to his car when he pulled out a cigarette for us each as we leaned against his truck you internally laughed a little surprised he still had the truck thinking he would have replaced it immediately with a new BMW
Steve looked at you as exhaled the smoke. “Do you…do you love him.” The question caught me off guard as I immediately snap my head to Steve as he sipped the beer. “what?” “Do you love him?” Steve said again pointing at the house “I just…look around you, is this really what you imagined it like. Cherry, you did everything you could to never return here, hell we broke up because you never wanted to be tied down to Hawkins. And from what I see you and Frank don’t exactly look—it’s not my place to talk.” Steve stopped him as I was taken back
“It looks like what, Steve?” You looked at him as Steve looked down as you spoke again “Ya you’re right Steve it’s not your place to voice anything, I mean I’m marrying Frank tomorrow so clearly I love him, and if you really were so concerned you would have wrote to me the moment you got the invitation.” You snapped when Steve raised his voice “I didn’t know until three days ago! And I would have written much earlier if I knew, but I also know damn well you wouldn’t have replied. You cut us all off. I mean it’s been five fucking years since any of us last saw you, then out the blue here’s a save the date and a fucking wedding invite.”
Steve went on “I mean everyone wrote to you, I can’t explain how many letters Mike, Will, and Max had written the first year since you three were the closest ones to El. And you never wrote back, and I had to defend you and your actions while I was heartbroken.” You looked at Steve irritated
“Well guess what Steve I fucked up! Okay? Ya I should have written back to them and tried harder, but I can’t explain how many days I waited wanting to get a letter from you.” You looked at him as Steve opened the car door grabbing the stack “I wrote to you, but when you never replied to anyone…I figured you wouldn’t have gave a shit if i sent mine.” Steve placed the stack in your hands when you looked down at each letter addressed to your old dorms. There had to be over a hundred.
Before you could say anything Steve shook his head “I mean for God sake, I loved you. I still do and it hurts to watch you with another man’s ring on your hand in the house across from my old house where I told you I loved you. And now you’re moving back when the whole reason you broke up with me was because you didn’t want to come back. Telling me my love just wasn’t a good enough of a reason.” Steve looked at you with love and anger in his eyes.
Dropping the cigarette as you felt your body react before you could think, you locked your lips with Steve as his arm immediately wrapped around you as the kiss became passionate full of five years of love, anger, and longing
It shouldn’t have felt right, you shouldn’t be moaning into his mouth as steve took the appropriate to take control of the kiss. Neither one of you wanted to pull apart to take a breath even a second because being apart for just a millisecond was too long being apart.
You ran your free hand through Steve hair as his hands lowered to holding you. It wasn’t until you heard glass break did you pull apart fast to see Robin catching you both. You immediately rushed to Robin begging her to not saying anything as she looked back at you both Steve running his hands through his hair.
Robin looked at you nodding along as you tell her it was a mistake and you both had been drinking and smoking, it just happened. Steve looked at you “Mistake? That’s what you want to call it.” He shook his head looking at you as you took a deep breath telling Robin to head back to the party as she rushed back before anyone came looking for her
You turn back to Steve “Yes Steve it was a mistake, I am getting married in less the twenty four hours!” You yelled Steve looked at you shaking his head “Don’t marry him, please you can’t marry him, you won’t be happy, you have to know that. We just shared a kiss after years, you cannot tell me we still don’t have a spark.” Steve eyes began to water not caring how pathetic he might have looked nearly begging you not to get married
You shook your head “Steve you need to leave. I don’t want you here, don’t even show up tomorrow. I can’t do this, I can’t do this while you are still in my life. I won’t be happy until I know I have officially cut all ties with you, and that starts now.” You stepped back as Steve tried to reason and beg as you raised your voice “Go Steve! I don’t want you here, I don’t want you in my life anymore!” Steve looked at you as he slowly walked to the truck door he got in the driver seat before rolling down the window “Say you don’t love me, say you hate me. Say that our relationship was nothing and I’ll go, I’ll leave and I won’t show up tomorrow and this will be it.” Steve looked at you
looking at him dead in the eyes “I don’t love you anymore, it ment nothing, you mean nothing to me. Our relationship was built of grief and lies. And I never want to see your face again Steve Harrington.” You clench the letters in your hands as Steve nod putting his car in drive before “Goodbye Cherry.” He drove off as you felt your eyes water and tears running down your face as you walked to your house taking a seat in the steps as you began to reach for the letters
Robin soon showed up telling you guest were getting worried, you just told her to tell them your stomach was a little upset so you headed to bed she just nod walking back to the back yard as you got up to enter the house and up the stairs to your shared bedroom with Frank as you continued to read the letters each other Steve wrote with love and affection, as he told you about his day and everything. On how he missed and loved you.
You read them even after Frank went to bed in the guest bedroom and the guest left. You didn’t get much sleep reading each letter. But once you got to the last letter, it was Steve’s goodbye full of love and tears you ended up crying yourself to sleep.
When morning came, Steve laid in bed as he heard Robin rushing around before he slowly got up as the memories from the night before ran threw his head and the words you said. He sat there staring at the wall when Robin knocked and peeked her head in “I’m heading out…I’ll bring you back some food.” She smiled at him as she was about to close the door when Steve spoke “wait I’ need you to give her something.” Steve got up with a groan as he got the box placing it on his dresser and carefully taking the perfume bottle out handing it to Robin. “Don’t tell her it’s from me…just say you found it somewhere.” Steve looked at the bottle spraying one last spry before he turn away heading back to lay in bed.
Robin made her leave as she got back to your place, Frank was already out the house as Robin rushed up the stairs. To see you already in your dress and vail. Your hair done, makeup beautiful as you stared at yourself in the mirror Robin looked at you as she put her purse down when you asked what perfume should you wear, when she pulled out the bottle immediately catching your attention threw the mirror as you looked back at her “Where did you find that? It’s been disconnected.” You walked up to her as she smiled “I have my ways.” Robin smiled as she helped spray you before you heard your mother yell downstairs that it was time to go.
When Robin had finally come back it was late as Steve sat on the couch beer in hand before he looked back at her as if silently asking her if it had happened. She just nod her head as Steve felt his heart break as Robin got a beer from the fridge and sat next to him to give him a hug
It only took a year and a half when the baby shower invitation went out but Steve hadn’t received one he had only found out through Dustin when they last called.
And two years later after those invitations, Steve was at Barnsley Big buy when he saw you again as you pushed a cart with a little boy and little girl. “Steven I said be nice to your sister. Jane doesn’t know any better.” You lectured your son until you looked up to see him. As Steve’s eyes immediately went down to your pregnant belly and wedding ring.
This was never what you wanted.
