15. 𝐈 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐈𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮
steve harrington x fem!reader
warnings: smut 18+, slut shaming, fluff
a/n: we hit big milestones in this chapter
The first thing you noticed when you woke up was that Steve wasn’t beside you. The second thing you noticed was the empty space wasn’t warm anymore. You blinked a few times against the morning light filtering through the curtains before instinctively reaching across the mattress.
Nothing. Your stomach tightened briefly before reality settled back in. You pushed yourself upright and glanced toward the clock.
Later than usual, which immediately told you Steve had been up for hours.
After getting dressed, you checked on Blaire first. She was completely sprawled across her bed, one leg sticking out from under her blanket and her stuffed rabbit tucked beneath her arm. Still asleep and blissfully unaware of how complicated life had suddenly become.
You smiled softly before pulling her blanket back over her shoulder. Then headed downstairs. The smell of coffee reached you before the dining room did and the second you stepped through the doorway, every coherent thought left your brain.
Steve was sitting at the dining room table. Coffee mug, stacks of paperwork, messy hair, and…glasses?
You stopped dead. Steve looked up, “…What?”You narrowed your eyes, “What are those?”
He blinked, “My glasses?”
“You have glasses?” Steve looked genuinely confused by the question, “Yeah?”
“You have glasses.” you said a little bit more turned on than you intended. The corner of his mouth twitched, “Baby, I’ve had glasses since high school.”
You immediately walked closer, “You’re lying.”Steve laughed softly, “I’m not lying.” You stopped beside his chair and reached down to touch the frame lightly. He watched you with entirely too much amusement.
“I wear them when I read.”
“I’ve never seen them.” Steve looked down at the paperwork spread across the table, “That’s because you usually distract me before I get this far.”
Heat immediately climbed into your face. Steve looked very pleased with himself. “You think you’re funny.” you said booping his nose.
“I know I’m funny.” His arm wrapped around your waist before you could retaliate. He pulled you closer until you were standing between his knees.
Immediately, his forehead rested against your stomach. You melted a little against your will.
“I thought you were gonna sleep in.” His voice was rough from coffee and being awake too long. You ran a hand through his hair, “Well someone left me all alone and cold in bed. You’ve been up since when?”
“Early.” You gave him a look.
You stared at him, “Steve.” you groaned.
You opened your mouth then closed it again when he pressed a quick kiss against your stomach through your shirt. Then another. Then another.
“What?” He wasn’t even pretending to be sorry. You rolled your eyes, unable to stop smiling. Then your gaze drifted toward the table and the smile faded.
Paperwork, folders, sticky notes, highlighted pages. Your stomach sank immediately and the softness disappeared from the room.
You looked back down at him, “How long have you been doing this?” Steve’s expression changed, “A little while.”
You studied the table again. There was far more here than there had been last night.
“You’ve already started calling people?” Steve looked away. Your stomach dropped, “Steve.”
“That’s not an answer.” His arm loosened around your waist, only slightly.
You pulled out the chair beside him and sat down. The more you looked at everything, the worse it got. Mediation notes, schedules, custody information, names and phone numbers.
You looked back at him, “When were you planning on telling me?”
Steve immediately sighed. Suddenly the house phone rang. Loud and sudden, cutting straight through the tension like it didn’t care what was happening.
Both of you froze. Steve closed his eyes for half a second like he already knew. The phone rang again and again.
Steve exhaled through his nose, “…Of course.”You didn’t move and neither did he at first.
Then Steve pushed back from the table, “I have to get it.” You immediately shook your head, “Steve—”
“I know.” But he was already walking. He picked up the receiver from the wall, “Hello?”
The shift was instant. His shoulders changed first, then his voice, everything tightened into something more controlled. You stayed at the table, watching him from the dining room.
The silence you were left in suddenly felt louder than the argument. Steve turned slightly away as he listened, “Yeah.”
“Wednesday works.” He grabbed the pad beside the phone and started writing. Your stomach dropped a little.
“It’s fine,” Steve said into the phone. A pause, “I can get that over this afternoon.” Steve ran a hand through his hair as he listened, “Right.”
Your chest tightened without warning. You didn’t even fully understand what he was talking about, but you understood enough.
“I understand,” Steve said finally. Then, “I’ll take care of it.”
The call ended a minute later. Steve hung up the receiver carefully then stood there. When he turned back toward the table, his eyes found you immediately.
Something shifted in his expression. Softening, because he could tell. “Hey,” he said gently.
You didn’t answer. That was enough to make him move closer. “Baby,” he tried again, quieter now.
You finally looked up at him and whatever Steve had been prepared to do next, whatever plan he had for handling the school, the lawyer, the paperwork….it all paused.
He stepped closer to you, automatically. Hand going to your shoulder first. Then sliding up to your neck in that grounding, familiar way.
“I’ve gotta head out for a bit,” he said carefully.“I’ve got to go deal with a couple things at the school…and get started on some things with my lawyer.”
You nodded once, but it didn’t reach your eyes. Steve noticed immediately. His thumb brushed your cheek, “I’m not leaving because of this,” he added quietly, like he could already feel where your head was going, “I just…can’t sit on it right now.”
“We’ll talk when I get back, okay?” You didn’t answer again but you didn’t pull away either. Steve took that as the closest thing to okay he was getting.
He leaned down and kissed your forehead. Longer this time, a little more careful, then your temple. He exhaled like he didn’t want to let go of the moment.
He gathered the papers quickly, stacking them with practiced hands. The kind of efficiency that came from needing to stay in control. He looked at you one more time, “I’ll be home soon,” he said.
And then quieter, “Okay, baby?” You gave a small nod. Steve lingered for half a second longer, like he wanted to say something else.
Then he left. The front door clicked shut behind him. The house went still, and the silence didn’t feel empty, it felt unfinished.
Steve was gone. That was the part your brain kept returning to. Not the argument or the phone call. Just the fact that one minute he was there, close enough to touch, close enough to kiss you like it was normal and the next he wasn’t.
You stayed at the dining table. Facing some papers Steve had left behind. You didn’t move them, you just stared at them like if you stared long enough, they might turn into something simpler.
Something you understood, something that you could handle enough to help Steve carry the weight. That thought came in too easily and immediately your stomach tightened like you’d swallowed it wrong.
Because it wasn’t supposed to feel like that. You were his…whatever were to him. You weren’t supposed to be thinking like that.
That word kept slipping into everything. Nineteen and sitting in a house that wasn’t really yours yet no matter how many mornings you woke up here. Nineteen and looking at custody papers like they belonged in another world. Nineteen and trying to understand a man who could switch from kissing you like you were the only thing in his head to talking to lawyers like you weren’t even in the room.
You pressed your fingers lightly against the edge of the table. Grounding yourself.
You told yourself to breathe. To stop overthinking. To stop making everything bigger than it was.
But your brain didn’t listen, it kept going anyway.
That phrase didn’t even feel real in your head. It felt like something you weren’t supposed to say out loud, something you weren’t qualified for.
A family that already existed before you. You were just…in it now. Except you didn’t feel inside it right now, you felt next to it, like you were standing in the doorway of something important and nobody had told you if you were allowed to come in yet.
That one hit harder. Even though no one had said it, your brain said it anyway, quiet and mean and automatic, like it had been waiting for the chance.
Steve had a life before you, a daughter before you….a history before you. No matter how gentle he was with you, no matter how soft he looked when he said your name or kissed your forehead or called you baby, there was still a part of you that wondered if you were something that had just…arrived in the middle of it.
Your throat tightened at the thought and you looked down quickly at the table like the wood grain could distract you from your own head.
You hated that you were thinking like this. You hated that it felt easy. Steve hadn’t even done anything wrong.
He’d left because he had to, because there were lawyers and custody and school and responsibilities that didn’t wait for emotional conversations to finish.
He had said he’d come back. He had kissed you before leaving. He had looked at you like you mattered.
And still, your brain was whispering that you were something temporary inside a life that was very, very real without you.
You swallowed hard. Your hands curled slightly on the table edge. You wanted him back already. Not to fix anything, not to finish the argument.
Just to look at you like he did earlier, like you weren’t something he had to divide his attention between and his life around. Like you weren’t standing at the edge of something too big for you to understand. Like you weren’t nineteen and trying your best not to feel nineteen in a room full of adult consequences.
Blaire woke up slowly. The soft sound of little feet padding down the hallway and a stuffed rabbit dragging slightly behind her. You looked up from the table before you even realized you were moving.
Her hair was a mess, Her pajama shirt twisted slightly. Eyes still half lidded with sleep and the second she saw you, her face changed, like she had found what she was looking for.
“Mama.” She walked straight into your space and wrapped her arms around your leg without hesitation.
Something in your chest loosened a little. You bent down immediately, “Hey, bean.” You smoothed her hair back gently. Steve’s absence still lingered in your head, but Blaire had a way of pulling you into the present without asking permission.
You made breakfast and Blaire sat at the counter swinging her feet like nothing in the world had ever been complicated in her entire life.
For a while, you let yourself match her energy. Not think, just do.
By the time you got her out of the house, the sun had fully come up.
You decided on something easy. Park first then maybe a small store nearby. Nothing or overwhelming. Just a day that didn’t feel like last night.
Blaire held your hand the entire way to the car, almost like she had already decided you were the one she was sticking to.
And every time she said “mama” in that small, casual way, like it was just what you were it hit a little differently than the first time. It was becoming normal.
The park was quiet when you got there.
Not empty but peaceful. A few parents, a few kids. The usual scattered laughter and scraped knees and sun warmed grass. You helped Blaire out of the car and she immediately tugged you toward the swings.
“Not yet, I have to start slow first.”
You smiled despite everything, “Okay, okay.”
For a while, it worked. Really worked. You pushed her on the swing, she laughed. You bought her juice from a vending machine, she spilled a little and didn’t care.
She pointed at everything like the world had just been invented for her that morning. For a while, your brain stopped spiraling.
It started small. You noticed it first when you were sitting on the bench beside the playground.
Blaire climbing, laughing, calling for you every few seconds like she needed to make sure you were still there.
And you were smiling when you answered. But then you felt it…eyes. Not just passing ones, lingering ones.
A woman nearby adjusting her child’s hat. A man at the picnic table looking a little too long before looking away.
You felt your posture shift slightly without meaning to. You suddenly became aware of how you probably looked.
Young, too young. A toddler calling you mama like it was the most natural thing in the world. Your brain filled in the blanks for them before they even had to think it.
Sixteen. Seventeen. Maybe younger. Knocked up and alone.
Blaire didn’t know any of that. She just ran back to you, breathless, smiling wide, “Mama! I did it!”
You smiled quickly, reaching out and to fix her hair again without thinking, “Good job, bean.”
But the moment didn’t sit the same anymore because now part of your brain was listening for what wasn’t being said out loud.
You looked down at Blaire again and she was drinking her juice now, completely unaware of any of it. Completely certain of you.
“Mama” again, softer this time, like she was just confirming you were still there.
And you nodded, smiled, stayed.
Because whatever anyone else thought, it didn’t matter, she didn’t hesitate for a second so nether should you.
By the time you and Blaire left the park, you’d made a decision. You weren’t going to do this today.
The overthinking, the spiraling, the comparing yourself to every responsibility in Steve’s life.
Today belonged to Blaire. The second you told her you were taking her shopping, she’d nearly vibrated out of her shoes.
Now she was practically dragging you through the entrance of Starcourt Mall.
You laughed despite yourself, “I’m coming.”
“Faster.” You shook your head as she tugged on your hand again. She had somehow developed Steve’s ability to get exactly what she wanted simply by being cute.
The next hour was perfect. You let her look at toys she absolutely didn’t need. She made you try on ridiculous sunglasses. You bought her a pretzel and the cheese ended up all over her shirt.
She proudly informed you she was saving the other half for Steve, even though you knew it wouldn’t survive the car ride.
Maybe this was what Steve felt like all the time. Maybe this was why he always seemed calmer after spending time with her.
Blaire had a way of pulling you into whatever moment she was living in. And right now she was living in a world where matching bracelets were the most important thing on earth.
The two of you ended up in a store, you were helping Blaire choose between two pairs of sparkly sunglasses when you noticed a woman staring.
At first you ignored it. People looked at Blaire all the time.
People smiled, waved, asked how old she was,
This woman was staring but not at Blaire. At you. You glanced up once before looking back down. The feeling didn’t go away. When you looked again, she was still there.
Watching like she’d figured something out. “Oh,” she said. The word immediately made your stomach tighten.
You didn’t answer, you just turned your attention back to Blaire, “Which ones?”
“You said that about the last pair.”
“The pink ones.” You smiled faintly.
Then the woman spoke again, “So you’re the girl.”
Your smile disappeared. Slowly you looked up, “I’m sorry?”
The woman crossed her arms, “Claire wasn’t exaggerating.”
Your stomach dropped. Claire, of course. Blaire looked between both of you before moving a little closer to your side. You kept your voice calm, “I don’t know who you are.”
“No, but I know who you are.” The woman smiled. “Priscilla, Claire’s friend.” There it was.
Priscilla laughed, “That’s all you’ve got?”
You looked down at Blaire still holding your hand, still oblivious, trying to decide between sunglasses. You already knew where this was going, you just needed it to happen somewhere Blaire wasn’t standing.
Unfortunately, the woman didn’t seem interested in that. “You know, it’s funny.”
You closed your eyes briefly, “Please—”
“No, seriously.” She looked you up and down, “Claire said you were young but I didn’t realize she meant young.”
You felt your shoulders stiffen, “Excuse me?”
“What are you, eighteen?”
“Nineteen.” The answer slipped out before you could stop it. Immediately you regretted it.
She actually laughed…again, “Nineteen.”
like that proved something. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
Blaire’s grip tightened around your fingers. You felt it instantly and glanced down. She wasn’t looking at the sunglasses anymore.
She was looking at Priscilla, then at you. Trying to understand.
“Listen,” you said carefully, “I’m not doing this.”
She scoffed, “Of course you’re not.”
You took a breath, “Have a nice day.”
You began trying to guide Blaire out the store but she wasn’t finished. “You move into a man’s house, start playing mommy to his kid, and expect people not to talk?”
Your jaw clenched, “That’s enough.”
“No,” she snapped. “What’s enough is watching some little homewrecking slut play family while Claire gets pushed aside.”
The entire store suddenly felt too quiet. You could feel people listening now. Your face burned. Not because of the insult, but because Blaire was standing right there.
Blaire immediately moved against your side, one arm wrapping around your leg.
The woman shook her head, “I don’t know what Steve sees in you.”
You stared at her, “Okay.”
“I mean seriously.” she laughed again, “You’re practically a child.”
There it was. The thing you’d been thinking all day coming out of someone else’s mouth.
You hated how much it hurt. Priscilla kept going, “A little whore barely out of high school trying to play house with someone else’s family.”
That did it, not because of you. Because Blaire flinched. Tiny, barely noticeable, but you felt it and suddenly you weren’t embarrassed anymore.
You were angry. You stepped forward slightly, “Look at her.” Priscilla blinked and you pointed gently toward Blaire, “Look at her.”
For the first time, she actually looked, really looked.
The little girl pressed against your side, at the confused expression on her face, the way she was holding onto you.
You swallowed hard then said quietly, “You should be embarrassed.”
The woman opened her mouth but you didn’t give her the chance. You crouched immediately beside Blaire, “Hey, bean.”
Blaire’s eyes found yours instantly, “Can we go home?” And just like that, all the fight left you.
“Yeah…we can go.” you said lifting Blaire up to rest her on your hip. She immediately tucked her face into your neck.
You stood back up and looked at Priscilla, “Yeah…I’m practically a child.” you scoffed. She stood there embarrassed as people around shot her disappointing looks.
The car ride with Blaire was quiet, you felt terrible for everything she had been going through the last couple days. Who knew a day out would make it worse.
Blaire sat in the backseat hugging her rabbit against her chest, staring out the window. Every now and then you’d glance at her in the rearview mirror, hoping she’d say something. Ask a question. Complain about being hungry. Anything, but she stayed silent.
By the time you pulled into the driveway, your stomach was in knots. The porch light was on and Steve’s car was home.
The sight of it should’ve made you feel better. Instead, all the anger you’d been holding together throughout the drive came rushing back.
You unbuckled Blaire and took her hand, “Ready, bean?” She nodded.
The front door opened. The smell of dinner hit you immediately. Something warm and comforting. For a split second it almost made everything worse because your day hadn’t been normal. Your day had been humiliating and now you were stepping into a house that still felt untouched by it.
Steve looked up from the stove the second you walked in. The smile on his face came instantly, “There are my girls! What’d you guys do today?”
Your chest tightened because for one brief second he looked happy. Completely unaware.
Then his smile faltered immediately. His eyes moved between the two of you. Taking everything in. Your expression, Blaire’s. The tension. The silence.
His shoulders straightened, “What happened?”Blaire didn’t answer. Steve frowned slightly, “Blaire?” Nothing.
He turned the burner down and took a few steps forward, “Hey.” Blaire’s eyes stayed on the floor, “What happened today?”
“No, Daddy.” she finally spoke. Steve blinked,“What?”
Blaire shook her head, “No.” The tiny voice broke your heart all over again. Steve looked completely thrown, he crouched slightly, “Blaire—”
She swerved out of Steve’s attempted grasp, grip tightening on her rabbit. Then she turned and walked toward the stairs.
Steve watched her disappear upstairs. The sound of her bedroom door closing echoed through the house. Steve stayed staring at the staircase for another second.
When he finally turned back toward you, the concern on his face had completely replaced the smile, “What happened?”
You dropped your purse onto the counter, “One of Claire’s friends recognized Blaire.” Steve’s expression darkened immediately. You continued, “At Starcourt.”
His jaw tightened, “Who?”
“Priscilla.” Steve groaned instantly then rubbed a hand down his face, “Jesus Christ.”
“I know enough.” The answer came quickly, like he already hated where this story was going. Steve folded his arms, “What did she do?”
The anger you’d been holding together all day flared back up immediately, “She cornered us in a store.” Steve’s expression hardened. “She started talking about Claire.”
Another step closer, “What’d she say?”
You looked away. Suddenly finding the countertop very interesting.
“Baby.” he whispered. You swallowed, “She called me a homewrecker.” Steve’s jaw clenenched immediately. “She called me a slut.” His face went still. “A whore.”
You looked up and his expression had gone completely flat. The kind that only happened when Steve was genuinely angry. “She said all of it in front of Blaire.”
His eyes closed, just for a second. Then he looked toward the staircase and exhaled slowly through his nose, “Of course she did.”
The quietness of his voice made your chest ache. “She wouldn’t stop.” Steve shook his head, muttering something under his breath.
“She called me a nineteen year old little girl playing house.” Steve’s eyes snapped back to yours. The kitchen fell silent because suddenly it wasn’t about Priscilla anymore and both of you knew it.
You crossed your arms tightly over your chest. Trying to hold yourself together, “Maybe that’s the problem.” you mumbled.
You shook your head, “Nothing.”
“Baby,” he started. You looked away. “It’s not nothing.” he continued.
Steve immediately straightened, you could practically see him realizing there was more happening here.
“You wanna know what the worst part was?” you asked quietly. Steve didn’t answer he just listened. “None of it was new.”
His eyebrows pulled together, “What?”
“The homewrecker thing.” you laughed bitterly, “The too young thing.” Another laugh, this one weaker, “The little girl thing.”
Steve’s face fell, now he understood. You looked down at your hands, “I spent the whole day feeling like a kid.”
The words finally left your mouth, “I spent the whole day feeling like everyone sees me as some stupid teenager who doesn’t belong here.”
Steve opened his mouth but you kept going. Now that it was coming out, you couldn’t stop it.
“I wanted to help.” Your voice cracked, “I wanted to help with Blaire.” Steve froze. “I wanted to be included.” Tears burned behind your eyes, “I wanted to be part of it.”
His face changed instantly. Regret, real regret, and not because of the custody stuff. Because now he understood what you’d actually been upset about.
“No.” You shook your head, “I know you were trying to help.” A shaky breath, “But it felt like you made every decision without me.” Steve looked devastated. “I felt like a child sitting at that table while everybody else handled the real stuff.”
Steve finally spoke, “Baby, no.” You laughed weakly, “Then what was I supposed to think?”
Steve stared at you. He’d been trying all day to carry everything himself and somehow never realized what it looked like from your side.
“I wasn’t trying to leave you out.” You looked away, the tears finally falling, “Then why?”
“I was scared.” he admitted. “Claire scared me, the lawyers scared me, the custody stuff scared me.” Steve swallowed, “And seeing you cry yesterday scared the hell out of me.”
Your chest tightened. “I hated it.” His voice cracked slightly, “I hated seeing you hurt.”
Then Steve took a step closer, his eyes never leaving yours, “I didn’t do it because I wanted to shut you out.”
Steve’s voice was barely above a whisper now, “I did it because I love you.”
Steve froze the second the words left his mouth, like he hadn’t planned on saying them. He’d only realized he’d said them after they were already hanging between you.
Steve had finally said it to you. Directly.
“I…” Your voice cracked immediately.
Steve looked terrified now, and suddenly that was enough to break the rest of the wall.
Steve Harrington looked more scared waiting for your answer than he’d looked dealing with lawyers.
Finally, “I love you too.”
The relief that hit Steve was almost painful to watch, like he’d been holding his breath for months and only just now remembered how to exhale. His eyes shut briefly, one hand coming up to cover his mouth as he stood there looking completely overwhelmed.
When he opened his eyes again, they were glossy. “Yeah?” he asked quietly. The stupid question pulled a laugh through your tears. You nodded immediately, “Yeah, Stevie.”
Something in him completely melted. His shoulders dropped, every ounce of tension leaving his body at once. Both hands finding your face immediately, “You do?”
“I know, I know.” He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I just…” His forehead dropped against yours. “I wanted to hear you say it again.”
Your chest tightened painfully, “You idiot.” The smile that spread across his face nearly made you cry all over again.
“There she is.” You rolled your eyes through the tears and Steve kissed you. Not desperate, not rushed, just happy. The kind of kiss people shared when they weren’t carrying something alone anymore. When he pulled back he didn’t go far. One arm wrapped around your waist immediately while the other stayed cupping your cheek, like now that the words were finally out there he couldn’t stand not touching you.
“I’m sorry.” The softness in his voice made you look up.
“No.” He shook his head, “I’m serious.” His thumb brushed beneath your eye, catching the tears you’d missed, “I’m sorry I made you feel like that.”
The joking disappeared completely, “I never wanted you sitting at that table thinking you weren’t part of this.”
You looked down instinctively and Steve’s hand immediately moved beneath your chin, “No.”
You laughed weakly, “Stevie…”
“No. Look at me.” When you finally did, his expression softened, “I never wanted you thinking you weren’t part of us.”
That one hit harder than everything else. Steve saw the reaction immediately.
“You are.” Your throat tightened, “Steve…”
“You are.” His voice grew firmer. More certain. “I don’t know how many different ways to say it.”
The tears threatened to return. “I spent all day talking about you.”
You blinked, “What?” A small smile tugged at his mouth, “The lawyer.”
Your eyebrows rose immediately. Steve nodded, “Every time we talked about living arrangements, support systems, custody, future plans…” He laughed softly. “Half the conversation was about you.”
You stared at him. “The lawyer kept asking questions.” Your stomach dropped, “Oh.”
You covered your face with both hands immediately. Overwhelmed, embarrassed. Everything all at once.
Steve immediately grabbed your wrists and pulled them away, “Hey...”
You laughed despite yourself, “Steve.”
“Baby...let me see you.” A quick kiss landed on your forehead. Then your cheek. Then your jaw.
“You don’t get to hide now.” You rolled your eyes. Another kiss.
“I love you.” The words came out of him so naturally that both of you froze for a second.
Another kiss. “Love you too.” you smiled at him, entire face heated instantly.
Steve looked absolutely delighted, “Do you now?”
“No.” His grin widened, “You said it.”
“You love me.” You shoved his shoulder. He laughed, a real laugh. The first genuine one either of you had managed all day.
Then he caught your hand before you could pull it back and kissed your knuckles. The smile stayed for a second before his eyes drifted toward the staircase.
Your gaze followed his and reality settled back over the room.
Blaire was still upstairs. Still upset. Still carrying around feelings she didn’t fully understand.
Steve squeezed your hand gently, “We should check on her.” And this time, when he said we, you believed him.
Together, you headed upstairs. The hallway was quiet. Steve reached Blaire’s door first and knocked softly against the frame, “Hey, Blaire?”
No answer. He pushed the door open anyway. Your heart immediately squeezed. Blaire sat cross legged in the middle of her bed, rabbit in her lap. A coloring book lay open beside her, crayons scattered across the blanket, but she wasn’t coloring. She was just sitting there.
Steve softened instantly, “Hey, bug.” Blaire looked up. Her eyes found Steve first, then you, then dropped back down to the rabbit.
Steve sat carefully on the edge of the bed, you settled beside him. For a moment nobody spoke.
Then Steve reached over and brushed a hand through her hair, “Wanna tell me what happened today?”
Blaire shrugged the smallest shrug imaginable. Steve exchanged a glance with you before looking back at her, “You got really quiet.”
Another shrug, Blaire’s fingers picked at one of the rabbit’s floppy ears.
Steve waited, giving her time. Eventually she whispered, “That lady was mean.”
The words barely reached you. Steve nodded softly, “Yeah, I heard.”
“She was mean to Mama.” The room immediately fell silent. Your chest tightened so hard it almost hurt. That was what she’d carried home. Not the park, or the pretzel, or even picking out fun sun glasses. Just that somebody had been mean to you.
Steve looked over at you briefly, his expression softening even more. Then he turned back toward Blaire, “Yeah,” His voice stayed gentle, “she was.”
Blaire looked down at the rabbit. A few seconds passed, “Why?”
The question was so innocent it almost made you laugh. Steve looked at you, you looked at Steve. Neither of you had any intention of explaining custody battles, jealousy, or adult bitterness to a two year old.
Steve turned back toward his daughter, “Sometimes grown ups say unkind things when they’re upset.”
Blaire thought about that, “She was upset?”
Steve nodded, “Probably.” Then he added firmly,“But she was wrong.”
Blaire looked up immediately, “Wrong?”
“Yep.” Steve nodded, “Completely wrong.” The certainty in his voice made something warm bloom in your chest. Blaire seemed satisfied with that answer.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly. Then her eyes moved toward you, “Mama sad?”
You immediately shot Steve a look. Steve pointed directly at you, “Little bit.”
Your jaw dropped, “Steve.”
He shrugged, “I’m being honest.”
Blaire frowned immediately. Concern washing across her face, “Oh.”
The tiny sound nearly broke you. Before you could say anything, she scooted across the bed, straight toward you, then climbed directly into your lap.
Your arms wrapped around her automatically, “Mama.”
“I’m okay, bean.” But Blaire wasn’t listening anymore. Instead she shoved the rabbit against your chest like she was solving a problem.
You stared down at it. Of course this was her solution. Rabbit fixed everything. Bad dreams, scraped knees, sad days.
Your throat tightened, “Thank you, bean.” Blaire nodded once, completely serious. Then wrapped both arms around your neck.
You hugged her tightly, pressing a kiss against the side of her head. Beside you, Steve sat watching the two of you. His eyes moved between Blaire clinging to you and your arms wrapped securely around her.
And suddenly you knew exactly what he was thinking. Exactly why he’d brought you up during every conversation with the lawyer. Exactly why he’d looked so frustrated when you said you weren’t part of it, because sitting here now, there was no denying it.
No matter what Claire thought. No matter what Priscilla thought. No matter what anybody in Hawkins thought.
Blaire had chosen you and somewhere along the way, you’d chosen her too.
Steve smiled softly then reached over and squeezed your knee.
A silent reminder, a silent promise.
We’re figuring it out. Together.
Dinner ended up taking longer than expected. Mostly because Blaire suddenly decided she had a lot to say.
By the time Steve reheated everything and the three of you finally sat down at the table, she was talking again. Not completely back to normal, but close enough to make both you and Steve breathe easier.
By the end of dinner she’d somehow managed to tell a five minute story about a crayon, a dinosaur, and something that may or may not have involved a princess. Neither you or Steve understood half of it. Blaire seemed satisfied anyway.
Afterward the three of you piled onto the couch for a movie. Blaire lasted maybe twenty minutes before she curled against Steve’s side and started falling asleep.
By the time the credits rolled, she was completely out. Steve carried her upstairs. You cleaned up the popcorn bowls. And for the first time all day, the house finally settled into silence.
When Steve came back downstairs, he looked exhausted. His hair was a mess, his shirt was wrinkled, his glasses had been abandoned somewhere upstairs.
And somehow he still managed to smile the second he saw you.
You shook your head and settled back into your corner of the couch. Steve dropped down beside you.
He wrapped an arm around you and began placing soft kisses on your neck. You giggled at the feeling, “Stevie…where are your glasses?” you asked.
Steve groaned and mumbled into your neck, “Baby, they’re just for reading..”
“I know,” you reassured, “but you looked so sexy” you said biting your bottom lip.
Steve hummed against your neck sending vibrations through your body, “You thought I looked sexy?” he asked nipping at your ear.
Steve pulled back just enough to look at you, one brow raised, a slow grin spreading across his face, “Say that again.”
You immediately shook your head, “No.”
“Oh, come on.” His hand tightened slightly at your waist as he leaned in again, lips brushing your neck like he was trying to distract you into compliance.
“You can’t just say stuff like that and take it back.”
Steve hummed like he didn’t believe you, kissing just below your jaw now, slower this time, deliberate. “You said I looked sexy in my glasses.”
You tried not to smile, and failed. “I did.”
Steve pulled back again, clearly satisfied now, like he’d won something, “Good.”
You narrowed your eyes at him, “Good?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged like it was obvious, like he wasn’t currently smiling like an idiot, “I like knowing things like that.”
“You already know things like that.”
“No,” he corrected immediately, leaning back in just a little, voice dropping softer, “I know you love me.”
His grin softened into something warmer now, less teasing, “But I didn’t know I looked sexy in glasses,” he added, like that was somehow more important information.
You laughed under your breath, “You’re ridiculous.”
“Mm.” He nodded against your shoulder, “Ridiculous and sexy. Got it.”
“What?” He kissed your neck again, slower this time, like he was just…happy to be there. Not rushing it. Not trying to make it anything else.
After a moment, quieter, almost like he wasn’t sure if he should say it again but couldn’t help himself, “I really am glad you’re here.”
That one softened you immediately. Your hand found his wrist automatically, holding him there a little, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Steve didn’t answer right away, just tightened his arm around you slightly. Then, very quietly against your neck, “Good.”
Then, because of course he couldn’t stay serious for too long, “…because I still haven’t gotten over the glasses thing.”
You laughed instantly, “Steve.”
“What?” he said innocently, pulling back just enough to look at you again, completely pleased with himself now. “That’s important information.”
You groaned into his shoulder again, trying to ignore how smug he sounded. Steve just smiled into your hair like he’d won something.
A beat passed, then his hand slid a little slower along your side, the teasing easing out of him just enough that you noticed the shift.
“You okay?” he asked, quieter now.
Steve hummed like he wasn’t fully convinced. Then casually, like he was testing the waters more than anything
“…we could go upstairs.” You blinked, pulling back just enough to look at him, “Steve”
His eyebrows lifted slightly, but he didn’t look embarrassed. “What?” he said softly. “We don’t have to just sit here.”
Your mouth twitched, “Oh my God.”
Steve immediately laughed under his breath. “What?”
“Fine, we can go upstairs.” you said with a careless shrug.
“Yeah, but we’re going to bed.”
He frowned, “Well I mean…we don’t have to go to bed right away.”
You sat up a little, pointing at him. “You’re just trying to get in my pants!”
His grin widened instantly. “What? Psh—baby, trust me if I wanted to have sex with you, I would just come right out and say it.”
“You are unbelievable.” you giggled, you began trying to scoot away from Steve but he grabbed your hips quickly, “Wait, wait, wait—okay…I wanna have sex...” he mumbled.
That made you laugh again despite yourself, shaking your head as you leaned back into the couch.
Steve watched you for a second, still smiling, then softened just a little. “Please baby…” he started, quieter now, fingers idly tracing your arm again. “I need you.”
Your teasing slowed at that. Steve glanced at you, then added, more honest now, “Love hearing all the pretty sounds you make for me.”
Then, like he couldn’t help himself, a small smirk came back. “…gonna have you screaming my name…telling me how much you love me.”
“Yeah,” he said, a little more confident again now that he’d said it out loud. “I know you want it too.”
You snorted, “You don’t know what I want.”
“Yeah.” you said confidently.
“You don’t want me to stretch you out and have to cover your mouth again because you can’t handle how big I am ?” he whispered in your ear.
You studied him for a second, thighs pressing together as you imagined it. Then you sighed dramatically, “Fine.”
You stood up first, pointing at him again as he followed your lead, “One condition,” you added.
His grin came back instantly. “Anything, baby.”
“You gotta wear your glasses.”
Then, as you started toward the stairs, Steve reached for your hand like it was automatic now, no hesitation, no thinking, just instinct.
When you reached the top of the stairs he picked you up effortlessly and you wrapped your legs around his waist, “C’mere.”
You giggled as Steve carried you to the room, and closed the door behind him. He carried you to the bed and dropped you onto your back. He was towering over you now.
Steve began leaning down to hover over you but you quickly put your foot to his chest, “Ah ah, remember our deal..” you said.
Steve groaned and then began searching the room frantically. While he searched for his glasses you began undressing. Your jeans and top came off first, and then you quickly shed your bra, dropping it onto the floor beside the bed.
When Steve finally found his glasses he put them on and turned back towards you, “Woah…might need to start using these more often.” he said taking in your body.
“Urgh—you look so good, baby.” you said squeezing your thighs together. “Yeah?” he teased. You just nodded your head biting your lip, “Come here.”
He was on you in no time, palming at your tits as he slowly laid you down. “Wait—wait” you said trying to sit up, “let me ride you, I wanna see your face.” you said pushing up off the bed.
Steve slowly switched spots with you as you stood up in between his legs, he quickly worked on getting his belt undone and pulled his jeans and boxers down in one swift motion. His cock springing out and slapping against his stomach.
You took his cock into your hand and slowly stroked up and down his shaft. He whined as you spread his pre cum all over his dick, instinctively bucking his hips up into your hand.
“You want me to fuck myself on your big cock Stevie?” you asked, still stroking him.
“Yeah—yeah baby.” he whined. You couldn’t tease him for much longer, you were needy and aching too.
You straddled his lap, pulled your panties to the side, and slowly sunk down onto his cock, both of you moaning in unison. “You’re so tight, baby.” Steve groaned.
You gave yourself a minute to just feel him, he really was big. You could feel him pulsing inside you. You finally began to move, lifting yourself up just enough for the tip to stay inside and then sinking back down.
“Fuckkk” Steve moaned, he grabbed your hips but let you stay in control. You began bouncing up and down his cock, tits bouncing in his face. The glasses were turning you on so much you didn’t know how long you’d last, “Fuck—Steve—you need to start wearing these glasses more often.” you whined.
“If this..is what I…get every time I wear…them, trust me I will.” he grunted each word out one by one.
“I’m so close—ahh.” you moaned loudly, Steve clasped a hand over your mouth. “Ha—told you.” he teased. You rolled your eyes, it was all you could manage to do.
“Oh Steve—Steve.” your moans began growing louder. “Are you close, baby?” Steve asked as he took control over your pace. He was thrusting up into you now, driving more moans and whines out of you.
You frantically nodded your head, mouth slightly open as whines and moans occasionally slipped past your lips. “Steve—I’m cumming—I’m cumming.” you whined. Steve began thrusting up into you harder as your orgasm washed over you, ripping a loud moan out of you as you came, “Fuckkk—I love you Stevie.” you whined.
Those words sent Steve over the edge as he whimpered, actually whimpered, he lifted you up and off of him, shooting his load all over your stomach, “Shit—you did that on purpose.” he groaned as his head fell between your tits.
You laughed as your breathing began to slow, “Maybe…”
Steve smiled up at you, “I told you I’d have you screaming.” You shoved his shoulder lightly at his cocky comment.
Steve made you cum two more times after that, each time he had to cover your mouth as you screamed his name.
Steve was half turned toward you, one arm still wrapped loosely around your waist like he’d forgotten he could let go. You were tucked against his chest, blanket twisted somewhere around both of you, neither of you really caring where it ended up.
His fingers moved slowly through your hair, absentminded but steady, like he was making sure you were still there.
You shifted slightly and Steve immediately tightened his hold without even thinking about it.“Hey,” he murmured softly.
You hummed in response, eyes barely open. You lifted your head just enough to look at him, hair a mess, face soft in the dim light. He looked the same. A little wrecked, a little amazed. Very much like someone who couldn’t quite believe the day had ended this way.
“I love you.” he whispered.
Your chest warmed instantly, “I love you too,” you whispered back.
Steve’s expression changed in the smallest way like something in him settled completely at that.
He kissed you, slow and unhurried, then pulled back just enough to look at you, “…I really love you.”
You shook your head into his chest, smiling, “I know, Stevie.”
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