summary: you and steve are headed to graduation. he’s feeling emotional and sappy, and more than ready to share the secret you've been harboring with your kids
wc: 1.1 k
warnings: discussions of marriage, steve being a sap, the kids bullying steve as always
a/n:
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“Baby, you look fine, I promise.” Steve groaned, continuing to tug at his tie. You stepped in front of him, gently moving his hands away. “I need you to take a deep breath with me, please.”
Steve leaned his head back, gaze settling on the ceiling. His chest began to rise and fall steadily underneath your arms. You adjusted his tie, smoothing it down to lay flat against his shirt. “It’s a big day,” and despite his huffing and puffing, his voice was soft.
“The biggest.” you nodded, smiling up at him. Your kids were graduating today. You wound your arms around Steve’s middle, resting your head against Steve’s chest. His heart sounded faster than usual, and you squeezed him tighter. “They already did the hard work, Stevie. Today’s the victory lap, right?”
Steve’s arms wrapped around you, his cheek resting on the top of your head. “Yeah, honey,” his voice was soft and gentle, and slightly more sure than it had been earlier. “We worked hard for this.”
You laughed, but he wasn’t wrong. You had spent a lot of time helping Max catch up on things, attending meetings with the school when her mom wasn’t able to make it and pleading her case for graduation. She was so bright, and motivated to catch up, it seemed hateful to hold her back. Ms. Kelly had agreed, citing that keeping her in a place that held so much trauma was not in her best interest. It took what felt like forever, but she was walking across the stage today and you couldn’t be prouder.
Steve had shepherded the kids to school faithfully, making sure to leave early so he would have time to set up his classroom for the day before the first bell. Your kids weren’t the only ones who found a safe haven in his classroom, but you were biased in your opinion that they were the best of the best.
“We half raised a valedictorian, baby.” Steve sighed into your hair.
All you could do was grin. He was so proud of his kids. Not exactly because you saved the world together, though that was a plus. He was just proud that they loved each other, that they made it this far, and that they still had a long way to go. It wasn’t something either of you took for granted.
“Good practice, right, Stevie?”
Steve’s arms tightened around you, pulling you closer. “Perfect practice, honey.”
“Did you get the bouquets?” your voice was mumbled from being squished so close.
“Yeah, angel. But you know they’re all gonna whine about it.” Steve was under the impression that they either wouldn’t want the attention or wouldn’t want to be seen with a big bundle of flowers.
‘They always make fun of your flowers, angel. You sure they would want their own?’
‘I think they’re making fun of you, my love. Not so much the flowers.’
‘Why would they be making fun of me?’ He’d asked incredulously, his face cartoonishly shocked.
‘They always make fun of you.’ You’d respond, fond despite your words. He’d wanted to fight with you over it, but you were placing small kisses underneath his ear, and that always distracted him.
“I think they’ll surprise you, Stevie.” You couldn’t see, but you were sure he was rolling his eyes.
“I got the flowers, honey. Promise.”
“And you made sure-”
“Baby,” Steve had your face in his hands. His eyes were wide, insistent. “I followed the instructions. Sunflowers for Max, no carnations because-”
“They’re hideous.” You both finished at the same time.
“Right, right. I know, angel. I’ve got it.” You knew what you really meant was I've got you.
Steve’s hands fell to the sides of your neck, down your arms before taking your hands in his. The path he traced was careful, like you were fragile. He knew you could take care of yourself, he’d seen you prove it several times over. But still, you were the most precious thing in his life, and he was going to act like it. He’d seen what an apathetic relationship looked like more than once, and he’d never want that for you. And now that he was in a position to do something about it? You were doomed to a life of tender, loving care.
His thumb found the ring, snug on your left hand. He rubbed across the band a few times before slipping it off gently. He kissed your bare finger, before carefully taking off the chain he wore snug around his neck. Your wedding ring made a satisfying click when it landed against his.
You’d snuck off to city hall a few towns over last month. Signing the papers in secret with Robin as a witness- and she’d done a surprisingly good job of keeping that to herself. You would have a big, beautiful wedding that everyone would travel back to Hawkins for eventually. You’d wear a big white dress and Steve would cry before you came through the chapel doors. But for now, you just wanted to be each other’s. You would tell everyone later, after the ceremony and their graduation parties wrapped up.
You gently took the necklace from him, clasping the chain behind his neck. You tucked the rings under the collar of his button down, patting them gently over his shirt.
Steve caught your hand with his, settling it over the rings. “Still think he’s gonna cry?”
You grinned. “We caught him crying in the kitchen over the lasagna I made last week.”
“Honey, it was a really good lasagna.” He said it in such an earnest way, you had no choice but to laugh.
You patted his cheek, smiling. “Thank you Mr. Harrington.”
Steve turned his head quickly, managing to kiss your palm before you could pull away. “Mrs. Harrington?” his voice had your favorite sparkly quality to it that made your toes curl in your boots. “It’s my absolute pleasure.”
“You’re gonna make us late!” You laughed, pulling away gently. Steve’s arm caught you around the waist, holding you steady.
“One more, for luck.”
You rolled your eyes, but gave in anyway. One more, for luck.
Steve grabbed the bouquets off the table, checked his pockets for his keys and held the door open for you. You slipped your hand in your purse quickly, checking for your travel pack of tissues. You hoped one would be enough. For all your joking about Dustin crying when he finds out he missed the wedding, you knew that the valedictorian speech he’d run by you the week before was going to get your husband first.
rewatching Mamma Mia! and just. it’s so perfect in it’s imperfection. people are sweating and their hair is messy and the makeup is minimal and the older people have wrinkles and also look hot and the costuming is chaotic and perfect and the actors were a little tipsy and they mess up lines and aren’t always perfectly on pitch and some of them are clearly not singers or dancers but they look like they’re having so much fun and I really believe that they’re on a greek island that’s the site of Aphrodite’s fountain and god it’s just a perfect movie.
