And just give me one last look. Darling, the hold you took.
Eddie looked at Steve. He nodded at the nurse as she left and went and sat by the bed.
"Hey, Stevie. How you feeling?"
Steve opened his eyes slowly.
"Like death." He laughed but it came out more of a wheeze.
Eddie smiled softly at him.
"None of that talk here, sailor."
"It's been years, Eds. You ever gonna let it go?"
"Let it go? That uniform is why I married you, Mr Munson."
"Worth the embarrassment then." Steve replied.
Eddie sat looking at his husband. His luscious hair was now a wispy white crown upon his head.
The moles that smattered his skin now had the company of liver spots.
"It's Friday, my love. The kids are coming over to see you today, remember?"
"Oh, yes. I remember. I hope it isn't too much though."
The tiredness in Steve's voice hit Eddie's heart like a gunshot.
He took Steve's frail hand in his own.
"It won't be, darling. I promise. They just wanted to pop on by whilst they were passing."
Steve smiled and closed his eyes.
"I'll just have a rest til then."
Eddie watched Steve sleep. The soft rise and fall of his chest and the rasp of his breathing. He blinked back tears.
"No time for that, Edward." He scolded himself.
He had no idea how long he spent watching Steve but a voice in the hall stirred him from his thoughts.
"Eds? Steve?" The voice called.
"Dad, are uncle Eddie and uncle Steve even here?" Another asked quietly.
"In the living room, Dusty." Eddie called back.
Steve stirred and began to open his eyes.
"Hey, Steve." A familiar voice said. "I'm here. And Suzie. And Evelyn."
"Hey, uncle Steve." The young teen spoke. "Uncle Eddie." She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Evie, my special girl. Come here." Steve beckoned her to his side.
Evelyn sat carefully in the edge of the bed.
"How's school?" Steve asked.
"Good. Real good. Dad's been helping me with my physics. Auntie Nance is helping with English." She answered.
"Eds, they set up the next gen of Hellfire at her school." Dustin said excitedly.
"About time! Only been playing it her whole life!"
Suzie looked at Eddie and nodded to the next room. Eddie nodded back.
"Stevie," he said, squeezing Steve's hand. "I'm just going to show Suzie the new flowers we planted."
He stood up and made his way to the door, looking back at Evelyn and Dustin laughing and joking with Steve.
"How's he doing, Eddie?" Suzie asked, face laced with concern.
Eddie took a deep breath to calm himself as his eyes started to tear up.
"Good and bad days, y'know? Nurse left about an hour ago. I'm still doing what I can for him but I'm no spring chicken now either." He answered quietly.
"Eddie, if you need anything... please just ask? You know Dusty and I think of you as family. We will help wherever we can."
"I know. I know you will. Listen, I have a letter for each of you. Information about... you know. Just... read them when the time comes, OK?
Suzie's eyes filled and she nodded as he reached out to pull her into a hug.
They shared the moment when Evelyn came into the room.
"Mom, dad says that uncle Steve should rest now. But they're having a talk so I got sent in here. Hey, uncle Eds, did mom tell you that the DM is leaving and they're looking at yours truely to replace them?"
Eddie smiled widely, dimples showing.
"Evie! That's great news! Your dad has a lot of my old campaign notes from my time as DM. You will be absolutely amazing. Evelyn Henderson, you keep being the amazing human you are, OK?"
Evie looked at Eddie and nodded thoughtfully.
"Can we see you again soon?" She asked.
Eddie clocked the look Suzie sent her daughter and stifled a chuckle.
They all went back into the living room and Eddie took his place right next to Steve's bed, hands together.
"Well," Dustin began. "We best be making a move. I think the Sinclair's are on their way and we don't want to overcrowd you."
He leant over Steve and kissed his Forehead.
"See you soon, Steve." Dustin's voice caught in his throat.
"Later, Henderson." Steve replied quietly.
As they left, Eddie lifted Steve's hand to his lips.
"You enjoy that, Stevie?"
"It was nice. Evie is so like her father."
Eddie laughed in agreement.
"Without the ego though."
Steve laughed. It was a proper laugh, not the raspy ones of late.
"I missed that sound, big boy." Eddie replied.
"Where are my two favourite idiots at?" A voice called.
Steve relaxed at the sound.
"In the living room, Max." Eddie responded.
A flash of firey red waves entered the room, followed by Lucas and Max.
"Uncle Eddie!" The child called, excitedly.
"June bug!" Eddie replied as the firey mane climbed into his lap.
"Be careful, June!" Lucas admonished as June climbed herself onto the bed.
"Uncle Steeb!" She exclaimed as she wrapped her small frame around his side.
"Hey, Junie." Steve replied as he lifted his arm slowly to hold her.
"I missed you so much!" She said as she pushed the red curls out of her face.
The red curls hid a face full of freckles. The kid had killer dimples and Eddie couldn't help but smile around her. Her energy was contagious.
"Junie, you stay here with uncle Steeb and tell him about the killer park we found on holiday, k?" Max said as she headed into the Kitchen with Lucas and Eddie.
"How long?" She asked, arms folded across her chest. To anyone else, this would seem aggressive. Eddie just saw the scared middleschooler he first met.
Eddie held his hands up in defeat.
"You should have told us sooner, man." Lucas said, eyes sad.
"I couldn't. Steve didnt-"
"Steve shouldn't get to choose on that. We could have had more time."
"I know. I'm sorry. But Stevie... he wanted you to live your lives. He wanted you to enjoy your time with June bug."
Lucas embraced Eddie and Eddie stifled a sob as the tears threatening to fall overtook him. Lucas held him as he let himself feel for a while. The enormity of the situation.
Max joined in and they huddled sobbing until they heard a little voice from the other room.
"Uncle Eddie! Mom! Uncle Steeb wants a drink!"
"Coming, June Bug!" Eddie call back, wiping his eyes and heading back in.
He poured some water into Steve's cup and helped him drink it.
"Uncle Steeb, I have a cup like that too!" June clapped her hands. "We are twins!"
"Don't let Auntie Robs hear that, Junie." Steve responded. "She might think you've replaced her."
"Junie, we have some errands to run, shall we come see uncle Steeb and uncle Eddie another day?"
June's lower lip wobbled and she clung to Steve.
"I don't wanna go, mommy."
Eddie slid her into his lap gently.
He whispered loudly in her ear.
"June bug, you said you'd fetch the secret ingredients for the potion."
"Dad, I need to go to the potion shop!"
Lucas smiled at his daughter and lifted her into his arms.
"Ok, kiddo. Let's go do that then. Say goodbye."
"Bye, uncle Steeb!" She blew a kiss and Steve caught it. "Bye, uncle Eddie!"
"Cya, Junie." Steve said as they left.
"Course, baby." Eddie said as he plumped the pillow and helped Him lie down.
Steve drifted off into a slumber and Eddie messaged Nancy.
/Nance, Steve having a nap. Hold off an hour?/
/Let my dingus get his rest. C U in 1hr. Also, we have Arg, Jon and Mike./
Steve slept peacefully as Eddie watched him.
Memories coming unbidden to him of their many adventures.
The door sounded and he heard Mike call down the hall.
"In here." He called back, softly.
Mike entered the room, slowing as he saw Steve still sleeping.
"It's ok, man. He's just... it takes a lot outta him, you know?"
"I have a surprise for you both. He couldn't come with me coz of work but..."
Mike whipped out his tablet and Will's smiling face was on the screen.
"Hey, guys!" Will said from the screen.
"Will! Hold on, let me wake Steve."
"Stevie, honey, Will is on the line with Mike and wanted to talk to you." Eddie said. He helped Steve sit up.
"Will! How wonderful to see you!" Steve smiled widely.
"I'll just let you two have a catch up whilst I go have a chat with Eddie." Mike said, propping the tablet up on the table.
He left the room with Eddie.
"He looks so... old." Mike blurted out.
Eddie nodded. He was used to Mike's bluntness after all these years.
"We both are, Mike. Stevie just got ill and-"
An arm surprised him by embracing him.
"I'm sorry, man." Mike said quietly.
Eddie just nodded. "Me too."
The door went again and Jonathan, Argyle, Nancy and Robin bustled in.
"He's in there." Eddie gestured. "Talking to Will."
"We'll go see him briefly, man." Jon replied. "Don't wanna..."
As the men went to see Steve, the girls came into the kitchen with arms outreached.
Eddie felt the damn break as he saw Robin's drawn face and Nancy's sad eyes.
The tears came thick and fast and the girls followed suit. They just held each other.
Mike went and joined the men and left Eddie with his best friends.
"Eds, we are so so sorry." Nancy said as she smoothed his hair.
"I can't-" Robin's voice cracked as she tried to explain her feelings. "I'm sorry."
They held onto each other once more.
Jon, Argyle and Mike left the room Steve was in as one.
"My man," Argyle began. His long black hair now a vivid white. "Steve is asking for you."
Jon looked quickly at Eddie and he recognised the tears in his eyes.
"We're gonna go now. I can't... won't..." Jon Fumbled over his words.
Eddie nodded and waved them off as he walked back to his husband.
"Hey, Stevie. Did you want me?" Eddie asked, gently.
"Eds," Steve slurred a little. "Missed you."
"Missed you too, my sunbeam. I was actually about to bring you a surprise!"
"Surprise?" Steve managed to say as the exhaustion settled in again.
"Dingus?" Robin asked as she slowly moved into the room.
"Robs!" Steve breathed loudly. "You came."
"Course I came, Steve. Where else would I rather be? And I came prepared with this!" She held aloft their fave DVD. "Room for a little one in there?"
"Always" Steve replied as Robin climbed up next to him on the bed.
"Hey, Steve." Nancy greeted him as she pulled a chair up by Eddie's. "Just like the good old days here."
"Without the weed," came Steve's bittersweet reply.
"Ah, bet they got you on some good drugs now though, Steve." Nancy smiled. Robin's hand edged towards hers, seeking reassurance as she snuggled up with Steve.
Eddie got up to pop the film on and they all started to watch it.
Robin and Steve used their Wondertwin powers to communicate - Nancy and Eddie always confused how they did it.
Eddie's mind drifted to their younger years and many a night spent just like this. It seemed only 5 minutes ago. Nancy glanced at him and gave him a reassuring look.
Towards the end of the film, Steve was out for the count and Robin alongside him.
Nancy was half asleep with her head on the bed and Eddie nudged her gently.
"Nance? Nance, take Robs up to the spare room. It'll be more comfortable. Me and Steve will be right here."
"Yeah. Gotta be near him for him meds and he doesn't like me going far lately." Eddie shrugged. "I can't sleep without him after all these years."
Nancy began to wake Robin to move her upstairs.
"I know just what you mean"
Eddie's heart swelled as he saw the love between the two women.
"Sweet dreams, Steve." Robin murmured as she kissed his cheek. "Night, Eds."
She let herself be guided out the room and up the stairs by Nancy.
Steve stirred and opened his eyes.
"Just us, Eds?" He asked quietly.
"Just us, Stevie." He replied.
"Will you come read to me?"
"What do you want me to read, baby?"
"The Hobbit. I love you, Eddie."
"You always did enjoy my Hobbit voices." Eddie chuckled. "I love you too, Stevie."
He grabbed the book and got Steve snuggled with his head on his chest.
"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort..."
Eddie read on and lost track of time. All that mattered was his love was in his arms and they were together.
Eventually, he came to a stop as exhaustion began to take hold.
"Stevie, I just need to-" He paused and panic seized his heart. "Steve? Baby?"
The body next to him was unresponsive. He shook him. He checked his breath. It was going through the motions.
"Oh, baby, no." The tears flowed freely as Eddie held his husband tightly. "Please no. I needed more time. We needed more time."
Eddie sobbed and sobbed. He knew he should alert the girls but he was selfish. He wanted his boy all to himself.
"I hope you know how loved you were, Stevie. By all of us. Til the very end. You will always be mine and I yours."
He cried until he had no tears left to cry.
"Let's go see if they're up yet." Nancy suggested as her and Robin descended the stairs. She headed in the kitchen and heard a soul wrenching scream from her wife.
"Robin!" Nancy flew into the living room to where her wife was inconsolable. "Robin, calm. Shhh. Shhh, let me see."
There lay Eddie Munson, Steve wrapped in his arms. There were no movement from either of them. Nancy had seen her share of bodies in her journalism career.
She led Robin into the kitchen and sat her down.
"They're both gone. They can't be." Robin sobbed.
"I guess they couldn't live without each other, Robs." Nancy said, softly. "I need you to stay right here whilst I ring the paramedics, OK?"
"Nancy, they're d... they're de..."
"I know, honey. I know. Shhhh." Nancy held her as she rubbed her back.
She remembered the letter addressed to her on the side. With heartache, she opened it.
As expected, it contained all the arrangements and people to contact upon Steve's death.
"911, what's your emergency?" The operator began.
"We have two deceased elderly males here. One is under the care of the local hospice. The other is his husband. No known health conditions."
"An ambulance is on the way, ma'am."
Nancy took Robin with her outside to wait.
"Fly high, boys." She whispered to the sky with a gentle kiss.
jbbartram-illu
origamiaround
