stranger things? no that’s the eddie munson show

Gareth: Not since the Pictionary incident

Steve’s in his Scoops uniform, apron half-tied because he never quite gets it right, and his hair fluffy and messy after wearing that stupid hat.

Max is perched on one of the stools at the counter, feet swinging, cherry Slurpee sweating onto the linoleum.

She’s talking about a skateboard trick she almost landed when Steve clears his throat.

“Hey, Max?”

She glances over, instantly clocking his tone. “What’d you do?”

He snorts. “Nothing. Just...uh. I gotta tell you something.”

Her feet stop swinging.

Steve leans his elbows on the counter, lowers his voice like he’s about to confess a crime.

“So. The girl I’ve been seeing?”

“The one who smells like candy bracelets and looks like she could yell at God?” Max says, deadpan.

Steve blinks. “…Yeah. Her.”

Max sips her Slurpee, watching him over the rim. “Okay.”

“She’s pregnant.”

The words hang there, buzzing louder than the mall.

Max’s eyebrows shoot up. “Like… pregnant pregnant?”

“Unless there’s a fun new fake version I don’t know about.” Steve rubs the back of his head. “Yeah. Pregnant.”

She studies his face, sharp and quiet in a way that makes him feel like she’s older than she looks.

“And you’re… freaking out?” she asks.

Steve shakes his head immediately. Too fast.

“No. I mean...okay, a little. But mostly I’m just… excited.” He huffs a laugh, half-disbelieving. “I’m gonna be a dad.”

Max’s mouth twitches. “You can barely keep a plant alive.”

“Rude.”

She tilts her head. “What about her?”

Steve’s smile falters, just a notch.

“She’s scared,” he admits. “Didn’t plan it. Doesn’t know if she wants this. Or… me.” He shrugs. “I told her I’d support whatever she decides. That I’m not going anywhere.”

Max watches him closely now.

“And what do you want?”

Steve doesn’t hesitate.

“I want the kid,” he says simply. “I already do. Doesn’t matter how it turns out. That’s my kid.”

Max looks away, pretending to be very interested in the mall crowd.

“okay,” she says after a beat.

Steve frowns. “That’s it? No lecture?”

She slurps loudly. “You already decided. Plus...” she smirks at him “you’re gonna be really annoying about it.”

He laughs, real and relieved.

“Hey,” he says, nudging her gently. “You know that thing I said. Before.”

She looks at him.

“You’re my kid too,” Steve adds, quieter. “That didn’t change.”

Max doesn’t smile. She does something better.

She reaches over and flicks his stupid sailor hat.

“Guess I’m getting a sibling,” she says. “Don’t screw it up, Harrington.”

Steve watches her hop off the stool and disappear into the mall crowd, heart pounding with fear and hope and something solid underneath it all.

The future is terrifying.

But for once, it feels like something he’s running toward.

Steve worried Eddie won’t want to be a step parent:

OUGH?!?? AUGH?!???!

This is DEVESTATING. And opens the question of how Steve knew bc I don’t think Eddie talks about it much.