Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

March 26th, 2006

Max returns downstairs from putting her youngest brother to bed to find Emma and Evan alone on the couch. 

“Where’s Jamie and Tori?” She questions, flopping down beside the kids who barely glance away from the TV screen in front of them.

“They went outside.” Emma says simply, slurping noisily on a popsicle. 

“Bout 10 minutes ago.” Evan adds.

“Outside? It’s dark out, why would they go outside?” They both shrug, eyes still glued to The Amanda Show, so Max makes her way over to the window. Cupping her hands around her eyes she peers through the glass but doesn’t see anything. 

“You’re sure they went outside?” Max turns to Emma who nods. She steps out onto the porch, shivering a bit but barely registering the feel of the cold stone on her bare feet as she surveys the yard for the twins. “Jamie? Tori?” She calls but is met with nothing but the faint sound of insects buzzing. “James Wayne! Victoria Joyce! This isn’t funny, get your asses inside the house now!” Nothing. 

“Max? What’s going on?” She turns to find Robbie at the top of the stairs, favorite stuffed dog dragging behind him. He rubs his eyes sleepily and, dammit, she had just gotten him to bed, which has not been an easy task since he turned 4 last month. 

“Nothing buddy. Go back to sleep.” She assures him. 

“Jamie and Tori are missing.” Evan supplies bluntly and unhelpfully from the couch. 

“They’re not missing.” Max cuts in. “We’re just playing hide and seek.” 

“Without me?” Robert’s bottom lip wobbles a bit and Max runs a hand over her face in frustration. Every time she starts to get baby fever, a night of babysitting her siblings squashes that desire. She loves them, she really does, but they are exhausting. 

“I’m going to go outside and look for them.” Max tells him gently. “And I’ll let you stay up but you have to stay here and watch TV with your brother and sister.” Robbie ponders her offer for a second but thankfully nods, and races down the stairs, throwing himself onto the couch.

“Evan you’re in charge.” She calls, slipping on her shoes.

“Why is he in charge?” Comes Emma’s protest.

“Because I’m older.” Evan retorts.

“Yeah but you’re also stupider.” Emma snipes and Max honestly can’t disagree that she is more capable of taking care of herself but Evan, at 9, is a year older, and the only one tall enough to reach the ‘incase of Upside Down emergency’ cabinet that they thankfully haven’t needed for 20 years. 

“Evan is in charge. End of story.” Max cuts off their squabbling and grabs a flashlight from the pantry. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t leave the house, don’t open the door, and call my cell if you need anything.” 

“You got it Sarge.” Evan gives her a salute, back ramrod straight, and Max rolls her eyes.

She gives them each a forehead kiss, pulls her coat around her and trudges outside. She doesn’t get very far before her answer to where Jamie and Tori have disappeared to comes into sight and she nearly drops her flashlight. 

There, right in the ground of the quiet suburban neighborhood, is something she hasn’t seen in nearly 20 years: a pulsing red gate into the Upside Down.

She only hesitates a second before she drops down into it, her mind swirling with that fact that if the demobats don’t kill her, Steve certainly will. 

March 26th, 1986   

The vibes in the trailer are definitely tense. Nancy has just finished relaying what Vecna had showed her, Max and Lucas are next door, trying and surely failing to reach their friends in California and Robin is in the bathroom cleaning up Steve - since the man literally had his flesh ripped out by demonic bats. Which is a thing Eddie is still processing. Sure, Dustin had told him about the existence of the Upside Down after they’d found him at Reefer Rick’s, but even the kid’s incredibly detailed retelling had nothing on swimming through a giant pulsing red gate and watching Steve Harrington bite a fucking monster bat. Therefore, things are understandably tense and Eddie is understandably on edge. So he can’t really be blamed when he shrieks bloody murder when someone comes tumbling through the gate onto the mattress on his trailer floor. 

“What is it?” The bathroom door rips open and Steve and Robin appear before anyone else can even process what has just happened. Steve is still covered in blood, eyes wild and ready for a fight. Eddie merely points to the mattress where said someone is staggering to their feet. All eyes turn and it is then that Eddie realizes that the someone is a child. Probably not much older than 12. He glances at the rest of his companions to see if anyone seems to recognize the strange child but they look just as confused as Eddie feels. Steve has even pushed Robin slightly behind him. So not a California friend then. 

The child finally stands and rights himself, wiping Upside Down goop off his sweatshirt, before glancing up at the occupants of the trailer. His eyes widen in surprise but he doesn’t have chance to say anything before the gate pulses again and another child comes tumbling through, this one a girl. 

“For fuck’s sake dingus, why didn’t you move? I could’ve hit you!” The girl is the first to break the silence, standing and giving the boy - her brother, maybe? - a slight shove.

“Uh Tori we have a problem.” He is still staring at them all, a shocked expression on his face and the girl, Tori apparently, follows his gaze. Recognition immediately floods her features. 

“Shit.” 

“Who are you?” Steve asks, stepping forward to place himself between the kids and the rest of the room.

“I’m Tori and this is my brother Jamie.” She introduces, as if that explains literally anything. 

“What the hell were you doing down there?”

“Ask him.” Tori answers, pointing to her brother. “He decided to jump through the glowing red portal and I just followed to make sure he didn’t get himself killed.” 

“Too late.” Jamie whimpers, face fearful. "Max is going to kill us.” 

“Max?” 

“Our sister. She’s staying with us while our parents are out of town.” Jamie explains. 

“Our friend’s name is Max!” Dustin says, excitedly. “She’s a girl too!” 

“Yeah so funny story. But it's um the same Max.” Tori tells them, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. “We’re from the future. I’m not exactly sure what happened but we went through a portal in our time, found another one, went through that, and well we came out here.”

“You know us?” Dustin asks, apparently believing their story right away. Because why not? Just add time travel to list of crazy things Eddie has experienced in the last week. “You said Max is your sister and well you looked like you recognized us.” 

“Sure. Dustin, Erica, Nancy, Robin, Eddie, and Steve.” Tori points to each of them, and Eddie swears her voice falters just a little bit when she gets to Steve. Interesting. 

“She’s obviously a dead ringer for Harrington.” Eddie announces to the room. He’s only like 10% sure of his theory but he knows he’s hit the bullseye when the little girl’s eyes widen comically. The others must notice too, because he sees Dustin’s jaw drop on the other side of the room and Nancy is eyeing the child carefully. 

“But you said Max is your sister?” Erica asks, eyebrows furrowed. Which is a good point. Eddie had forgotten that tidbit and turns to Tori expectantly. It’s Jamie who answers. 

“Not biologically. Dad sort of adopted her when she was 15.” He says, and Tori gives him a look that says ‘don’t reveal too much you idiot’. 

“Dad, being me?” Steve’s voice has never sounded so high. The kids sort of wince but nod and Eddie tries to keep from laughing on the look on Steve’s face. 

His attention is diverted when Robin leaves Steve’s side and shuffles up to him. 

“Tell me that the boy doesn’t look exactly like Wheeler.” She whispers in his ear and Eddie’s head whips to him. Sure enough, he finds curly brown hair, a small face, and big brown doe eyes. He doesn’t know why but disappointment washes over him at the discovery. 

“Holy shit.” He whispers back and Robin giggles beside him with barely contained glee. 

They return to the group conversation just in time to hear Dustin ask, “Who’s your mom?” 

“We don’t have one.” Jamie answers right away and Tori slaps his shoulder, giving him the same shut up look from before. 

This gives Eddie pause. What the hell does that mean? Is Wheeler dead? Did she abandon them? Is Robin’s theory wrong? Maybe the kid is lying to avoid answering who it is? But then his sister’s reaction wouldn’t really make much sense….

The group is sending each other awkward silent glances and its Robin who finally speaks. 

“But you look just like Nancy.” She voices and all eyes whip to her. “What? Everyone is thinking it!” Then the traitor points to Eddie and says, “Eddie agrees with me!” 

“What the hell is going on?” Max and Lucas enter the trailer, and are surveying the scene before them with confusion. “Who are these kids?” 

“Harrington’s spawn.” Eddie answers unhelpfully and their confusion deepens. 

“What?” They stutter simultaneously. 

“They’re uh apparently my kids. From the future.” Steve squeaks out. “Somehow traveled through time in the Upside Down.” 

“Hi Max.” Tori waves at her cheerfully. “Can you remember this moment in like 20 years and tell future you to go easy on us?” 

“Huh?” Poor Max. Eddie takes pity on her and explains everything that they’ve learned thus far. 

“Oh shit.” She says, turning to the kids eyes wide. “What am I like in the future? Am I like the coolest older sister ever or what?” Eddie is honestly a little surprised that she so easily accepts that Steve is basically her dad or at least that she doesn’t have more questions about it. He supposes in all the time he’s known her, he’s never heard her mention her actual father so maybe it isn’t that surprising after all. 

“You’ll be a lot cooler if you don’t tell our dads that we did this.” Jamie says and the room goes so silent you could hear a pin drop. This time Tori skips the pointed look and the shoulder slap and just turns to her brother and exclaims, “Dingus, shut up!” 

“Did you say dads?” Steve questions, eyebrows raised practically to his hairline. 

“Uh no.” Jamie says unconvincingly. He definitely said dads, plural, but Eddie keeps his mouth shut. Harrington has potentially just been outed to this entire room and he’s not going to draw attention to that. The poor kid seems to be wracking his brain for a subject change and Eddie nearly chokes on his spit when what he settles on is, “Is this Grandpa Wayne’s trailer? It looks exactly the same.” 

“Oh my god.” Tori’s hands go up in exasperation and she looks seconds away from throwing her brother back into the Upside Down.

“You call my uncle Grandpa Wayne?” Eddie is embarrassed that his voice squeaks just as much as Harrington’s did minutes ago. 

“I’m just not going to talk anymore.” Jamie says, miming zipping up his mouth. 

“Are Steve and Eddie your dads?” Now Dustin’s voice is squeaking. 

“Uh,” Tori glances around the room and seems to decide that they’ve said enough already because she does some halfhearted jazz hands and says, “Surprise…” 

The room erupts into chaos. Eddie has no idea what anyone is saying over the roaring in his ears. Surely Vecna is playing some sort of trick on him. These kids did not just waltz in here and inform them that Steve and Eddie are their gay fathers. He doesn’t know if its the Steve part or the father part that shocks him more. He catches Steve’s eye across the room and his face is redder than a tomato, but Eddie is surprised to note that he doesn’t seem upset. In fact, he swears the other boy looks pleased, but maybe that’s simply Eddie projecting.

He finally catches a piece of the conversation happening around them: 

“Eddie does look like Nancy that would explain why-” Lucas is saying before Dustin interrupts. 

“They can’t actually have biological children together shithead.” 

And okay. He’s heard enough. He tunes them back out and seeks out Robin, who is being oddly silent in her spot back by Steve. She’s looking at him with something akin to awe and Eddie watches as her hand snakes out and grabs Steve’s. He turns to her and they proceed to have a silent conversation that Eddie doesn’t understand at all so he tears his gaze away and finds Nancy. 

She seems relieved, which Eddie finds very interesting. 

The noise in the room is getting louder and Eddie feels incredibly overstimulated, his knee bouncing faster and faster in front of him until he finally bursts. “Everyone shut up!” 

The room stops talking at once and all eyes turn to Eddie. 

“So Steve and I have kids together, it's not a big deal. Just be quiet, you’re giving me headache.” He pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a deep breath. A hand is placed on his shoulder, squeezing reassuringly and Eddie looks up, surprised to find that it's Steve. 

“You okay, man?” He asks in a low voice. Eddie holds back a giggle that Steve, despite just finding out that they are in some sort of relationship with not one, but two children, is calling him ‘man’. 

“Freaking out just a smidge.” Eddie replies honestly and Steve smiles. “You?” 

“Who me?” Steve questions with a low chuckle. “Totally chill. Just another day.” 

“Are you guys like already together?” Dustin interrupts, eyeing them skeptically.

“No.” Steve shakes his head at the same time Eddie says, “Definitely not.” 

“But you’re both gay?” Lucas questions. Dustin slaps him and Lucas raises his hands in defense. “I can’t be the only one who was wondering.” 

“Well I can’t speak for Harrington, but I am as homosexual as they come.” Eddie answers, because why the hell not? The kids didn’t seem to think everyone would react poorly to the news so they all must be okay with it in the future. 

“I’m bisexual.” Steve answers, much to Eddie’s surprise. He thought for sure that his attraction to men would be a future discovery, but he seems sure of his response. Maybe that explains why he didn’t seem quite as surprised as Eddie would’ve expected him to be.

“I’m a lesbian!” Robin suddenly blurts, before slapping a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. Just like I’ve been keeping that a secret for so long and everyone was coming out and I thought I’d just jump on board.” Steve reaches for her hand, not seeming surprised at the announcement at all and its clear to Eddie that it was something he already knew. Steve Harrington is just full of surprises. 

“Great now that we’ve established that we’re all queers, don’t we have more important things to discuss?” Steve addresses the group. “Like Vecna and how we’re going to get these kids back to their time before future me has an aneurysm?” 

The group seems to sober at that. 

“I don’t suppose you all know how we defeat Vecna?” Robin asks the children hopefully. 

“No idea who Vecna is, sorry.” Tori shakes her head. At the same time Jamie says, “Like from DnD?”

“Henry? One?” Robin questions further but the kids still look confused. 

“Did we not tell you anything about the Upside Down?” Steve questions. 

“What’s the Upside Down?” Jamie asks, eyebrows pinching in confusion. 

“Um the hellscape that you just walked through to get here? Looks like Hawkins only like way creepier?” 

“You’ve been there before?” Tori asks, surprised. 

“Um yeah.” Steve now looks confused. He gestures around the room, “We all have?"

“I haven’t.” Erica adds unhelpfully. “But I have seen the gate before.” 

“Did we really not tell you any of that?” Steve questions and the kids shake their heads. 

“What about El? Do you know about El?” That’s Dustin and Eddie wracks his brain to remember that El is their super-powered friend. 

“You mean Jane?” Tori asks and Dustin nods. “What about her?” 

“That she has superpowers? Well technically had I guess…” Dustin’s shoulders slump a little bit at kids’ continued looks of confusion. “If you don’t know maybe that means she never gets them back.”

“I think Max would’ve told us if her wife had superpowers.” Jamie scoffs in disbelief. 

“Wife?” It’s Lucas’ voice who breaks the stunned silence in the room. Max’s face is as red as her hair. Eddie suddenly wishes that he had popcorn as his eyes dart around the room to take in everyone’s faces. Lucas, however, looks devastated and Eddie does feel a tad bad about that. “Max is married to El?” 

“Jesus Christ Jamie.” Tori runs her hand down her face in frustration, looking for a moment scarily similar to Steve in his ‘mom mode’. “You literally have no filter.” 

“Sorry.” He whispers a bit sheepishly. 

“Anyone else have anything about their sexuality to share with the class?” Dustin exclaims and Eddie can’t help the snort that escapes him. There’s silence for a moment and then:

“Well I-” And Eddie’s head whips gleefully to Nancy freakin Wheeler. He knew there was a vibe.

She pauses, all eyes on her, and frowns. She shoots an uncertain glance towards Tori and Jamie, maybe hoping that they have a magical tidbit about her gay future. Finally she settles on, “I think I’m bisexual.” Steve beams proudly and is the first to step forward and give her a hug. Eddie and Robin quickly follow suit, and Eddie relishes in the way the latter flushes when he steps close and whispers, “Seems like you’ve got a shot Buckley.”

“Okay anyone else?” Dustin glances around the room, but this time it stays silent. Steve parrots back his words from earlier and then Erica, Robin, Dustin, Nancy, and Steve proceed to get into a heated discussion about what they think they should do. Eddie is no expert on the Upside Down so he mostly stays out of it and chooses instead to watch Lucas and Max who are having a quiet conversation on the other side of the trailer. 

“What’s wrong with Uncle Lucas?” Tori asks him quietly and Eddie jumps a bit. He hadn’t realized that the children, his children, had moved but suddenly they were both standing right next to him. 

“Just a little teenage broken heart.” Eddie explains. “He and Max had something going on. Or have? I’m honestly not sure at this point.” 

“Max dated Uncle Lucas?” Jamie asks in surprise, jaw dropping. Eddie nods and Tori mutters something that sounds like, “Awkward.” 

“Just be glad Mike isn’t here. I think you would’ve broken Wheeler’s Jr.’s heart if he found out that he’s not with El forever. He literally never shuts up about her.” 

“Good one. Uncle Mike did not date Jane.” Tori snorts. 

“Um yes he did. He’s currently in California visiting her right now. They’ve been dating since they were like 12 or something.” 

“But I thought that Uncle Mike and Uncle Will have loved each other like their whole lives?” Jamie questions. 

“Hey everyone!” Eddie shouts excitedly. They pause their intense planning session and turn to him with raised eyebrows. “Wheeler Jr. and Baby Byers are together in the future!” 

“Okay seriously?” Dustin exclaims. “Is everyone gay?” 

Chapter Text

March 26th, 2006

Jane is just about to head out from work when she receives the text. 

Code red. J+T thru gate. Love you.

Max doesn’t have to send anymore for Jane to know that that means her wife has gone through after them.  Her suspicions are confirmed when she arrives at the Harrington-Munson residence, after breaking several speeding laws, to find Evan, Emma, and Robbie on the couch - no Jamie, no Tori, and no Max. 

“Jane!” Robbie shouts as she comes through the door. He’s latched around her leg before she even has a chance to remove her coat. 

“Is everything okay?” Evan looks mildly worried. “Max left to go find Jamie and Tori and she’s been gone for awhile.” 

“Everything’s fine.” She says, mostly for the sake of Robert. Evan and Emma don’t seem buy it at all. “I’m going to call your Grandpa Wayne to come stay with you guys and I’ll bring everyone back, okay?” 

“Grandpa Wayne!” Robert cheers, rushing back into the living room to continue watching TV. 

“Something bad happened, didn’t it?” Evan asks quietly once his brother is out of earshot.

“I’m not sure buddy.” Jane answers honestly. “But it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before and everyone is going to be okay. I promise. Let me go call your Grandpa and you go look after your brother and sister, okay?” 

“Okay.” He nods seriously and returns to the couch. 

Wayne agrees instantaneously and is already on his way out the door before they hang up. While they wait for him to arrive, Jane busts open the cabinet they have reserved for emergencies just like this. She’s a little discouraged to find that nothing is missing, meaning Max went into the upside down unprepared and unarmed. Jane isn’t surprised. Of course she did, because the kids the were in danger and Jane can guess that she merely shot off a text and hopped in right after them. 

She tucks a gun into her waist band, grabs Steve’s nail bat, and locks the cabinet back up just as Uncle Wayne pulls into the driveway. She manages to make it outside without the kids noticing and meets Wayne in the driveway. 

“Everything alright?” He asks, eyeing her bat warily. 

“It will be.” She assures him. 

“This got something to do with what happened in 86?” He questions. 

“Yeah.” She nods and he doesn’t look surprised. “Thanks for watching after the kids. Jamie and Tori are with Max so it’s just the little ones.” 

“Of course.” 

“If Steve and Eddie call, just tell them there was a code red but that I’m handling it.” 

“No idea what that means, but you got it kid.”

“Thanks Wayne.”

“Be careful.” He says, laying a hand on her shoulder. She nods, and he disappears into the house. She can hear Robbie screaming excitedly at his presence and feels better knowing that the kids are in good hands. 

It doesn’t take her long to find the gate, grateful that it's still open. Unfortunately, the second after she jumps through, it closes up behind her. Shit. 

March 26th, 1986

30 minutes after the kids arrive, they’re no closer to a plan. No one is exactly itching to journey back into the Upside Down after just escaping, and stopping Vecna has been put on hold momentarily while they figure out what to do with the kids. 

Jamie and Tori, who in Eddie’s opinion, have been brave as fuck so far, are starting to look a little worried and he tries not to look surprised when Jamie sits next to him on the couch and leans heavily on his side.

“Papa?” His voice is quiet and it takes Eddie a second to realize that ‘Papa’ is him. 

“Yeah buddy?” He questions, trying to ignore the emotion in his voice. Eddie is absolutely not going to cry over the fact that he is someone’s Papa. 

“Why is Dad bleeding?” He asks, staring at Steve who is talking with Robin and Dustin on the other side of the trailer. Eddie nearly melts when he notices that Tori is tucked into his side. 

“Oh, um.” Eddie blinks, he feels unqualified to be the one having this conversation, even if future him is the boy’s papa. “You know the Upside Down? Where you just were?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Well there’s some creatures that live there. Bad creatures.” Eddie explains. “And we were just down there, me, and Robin, and Nancy, and uh your dad. Some of the creatures hurt him.” 

“Oh.” Jamie sounds thoughtful. “We didn’t see any creatures.” 

“Really?” 

“No.” Jamie shakes his head against Eddie’s side. “There was nothing down there. It kind of looked like a desert or Mars or something. Everything was red, but there were not creatures.” 

“Maybe that’s because you were in the future Upside Down.” Eddie muses and he feels Jamie shrug. 

“I’m sorry I went through the portal.” He says after a moment. “It was stupid. Are you mad?” 

“I’m not mad.” Eddie shakes his head. He thinks about what his own father would’ve done if he’d done something like this and swallows loudly. “But uh future me, I’m not sure about him. Does he get mad a lot?” 

“Not really. At least you never yell or anything.” Jamie says, and Eddie’s heart clenches. “We mostly just talk about stuff. Sometimes you’re upset when Tori and I pick on the little kids but you don’t get mad.” 

“The little kids? Are there more of you?” 

“Yeah.” Jamie answers. “Dad always said he wanted six kids.” 

“Six?” Eddie squeaks and Jamie giggles.

“Yeah. Me, Tori, Evan, Emma, Robbie and Max!” He explains happily. 

“Yo Harrington!” Eddie calls, and he blushes a bit when Steve meets his eye and smiles. “Jamie and Tori aren’t our only kids. We’ve got six, and apparently that was your idea.”

Steve flushes but is saved from answering when the portal pulses and for a third time someone comes tumbling through. Eddie spots the red hair and immediately knows who this is supposed to be. His suspicions are confirmed when Jamie tears across the room. 

“Max!” He yells, throwing his arms around her. 

“Oh Jamie thank god.” She buries her face in his neck as she kneels in front of him. “Where’s Tori?” 

“I’m here Max.” Tori says, leaving Steve’s side to join their hug. 

“Are you guys okay?” She asks and both twins nod, clinging to their older sister. It’s not until a few moments later when they finally peel themselves away that Eddie gets a good look at Max. 

She’s the same height as the 15 year old he knows, and her hairstyle of choice is clearly still braids. The only real differences are the thick glasses on her face and the brace that he can spot on her left leg. He wonders if that has anything to do with what they’re going through right now. He catches the moment that her gaze leaves the twins and lands on the rest of the room. 

“Uh hi.” Young Max waves awkwardly. 

“Oh shit.” Max swears, eyes bouncing to each occupant of the room. “March 26th, 1986?” 

“Got it in one.” Robin informs her. 

“Um did we just rescue you guys from the Upside Down?” 

“You sure did.” Eddie pipes up. 

“Well fuck.” 

“Fuck indeed.” Eddie can’t help but agree. 

“How much did uh these kids tell you?” Max asks nervously and Eddie doesn’t miss the look that Tori shoots her brother. 

“I didn’t tell them anything.” Tori answers. “Jamie however was not exactly vault of secrets. He clearly learned nothing from Back to the Future.” 

“He did share quite a bit.” Eddie adds on. “Like how these little rugrats apparently belong to me and Steve? Or were they just totally yanking our chains?” 

“Uh no that’s true.” Max admits. “I mean look at Tori, is it not obvious?”

“Yeah but Jamie looks just like Nancy so that threw us off.” Robin defends. 

“That’s fair I suppose.” Max concedes. “Nancy is their biological mother.” 

“I’m what?” Nancy asks, horrified. 

“Don’t worry. You just donated the eggs.” Max assures her. “Then a surrogate carried them. Steve and Eddie really wanted them to be able to know their biological mother. And besides, you and Eddie share some features so.” 

“Oh.” Nancy looks a little relieved. “Did I donate eggs for all of them? Eddie said 6!” 

“No.  Just for these two. Evan and Emma are adopted and Robin donated the egg for Robbie, hence his name.” She pauses and blushes. “I’m number 6.” 

“Aw dingus you named your kid after me.” Robin grins at Steve but then her face quickly morphs into disgust. “Wait does that mean there’s a kid out there that’s half me and half Steve?” 

“Hey! What would be so bad about that?” Steve protests and Max just laughs. 

“No. Robbie is Eddie’s, biologically. Practically his twin, looks wise. His personality is all Steve though.” Max chuckles. Eddie’s head is swimming. He never imagined a life where he had a child, much less six, and certainly not a biological one. And he had them with a man who he loved. 

“You didn’t leave Evan in charge did you?” Tori questions Max. 

“What was I supposed to do? You two dinguses scared the shit out of me. Who just stumbles across a glowing red hole in the ground and is like oh I think I’ll go in there.” 

“Jamie!” Tori accuses, pointing to her brother. “I only followed to make sure he didn’t die!” 

“Instead of coming to get me first?” Max argues back. 

“I was worried! I didn’t really think!” Tori defends. If the kids hadn’t already told them all that Max was their sister it would be incredibly clear to Eddie now with the way the two were bickering. “Why did you come in before Jane came home? Especially since she apparently has superpowers.” 

“You told them?” Max rounds on the room. The room at once simultaneously points to Dustin in the face of Max’s glare. 

“How was I supposed to know they didn’t already know!” Dustin raises his hands in defense.

“Steve and Eddie didn’t want them knowing anything about the Upside Down. It hasn’t been a problem in  nearly 20 years.” Max explains. 

“Well maybe if you had told us we wouldn’t have just gone through the mysterious red portal.” Tori counters. And damn, he and Steve must have their hands full in the future. The two sisters stare each other down for a moment before realization washes over the younger girl. “Is this what the cabinet is for? The one Papa and Dad say is for extreme emergencies only?”

“Yes.” Max admits. 

“That explains the nail bat.” Jamie says in understanding, Tori nodding along with him. 

“You’ve opened it?” Max demands and Eddie has to bite back a laugh when Tori levels her with a look that says are you stupid? 

“What do you expect when you show some kids a mysterious cabinet and ask them to only open it in emergencies? Of course we opened it!”

“You have quite the attitude for someone who left the house at night and went through an inter-dimensional portal.” Max says and Tori finally looks a bit sheepish. 

“Sorry.” She says quietly.

“It’s okay bug.” Max voice softens immediately. “I know you’re just scared.” 

“How are we going to get back?” She whispers, reaching for Max’s hand. 

“We’ll just go back through.” Max explains.

“Yeah that might be a problem.” Comes a new voice and Eddie isn’t proud of the scream that escapes him. There eyes whip to the mattress where a 4th person has appeared, managing to get through the portal without anyone noticing. Eddie doesn’t recognize her but a glance around the room tells him that everyone else does. Thank goodness too because the woman is carrying a freaking baseball bat filled with nails and Eddie is glad she’s not some stranger.

“El?” Dustin questions in surprise. Ah superpower girl. 

“Holy shit.” She turns to Max. “Dustin is so young.” 

“Pretty trippy, right?” She asks. “I see you got my code red. What did you mean, about that being a problem?” 

“Portal closed behind me when I came through.” The woman - El? - shares solemnly. 

“Shit. The kids?” Max questions. 

“Are with Wayne.” El assures, placing a hand on her arm. 

“My Uncle Wayne?” 

“Oh hey Eddie.” El smiles at him. “Yeah, your Uncle Wayne.” 

“Okay.” He nods. “Just checking. It’s not everyday you find out you’ve shacked up with Steve Harrington and have 6 kids. This is all a lot to take in.” 

“I’ll bet.” She laughs. “I’m uh Jane. I don’t think we’ve met at this point.” 

“Nope. But I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s good to meet you.” Eddie’s curiosity gets the better of him and he can’t help but ask, “How’s Wayne doing these days?” 

“He’s great, Eddie.” Jane/El tells him. “Retired and spoiling his grandkids.” 

“Are we really married?” Young Max pipes up, staring between the older version of herself and Jane, a look of awe on her face. 

“We sure are kid.” Max tells herself. “Have been for about a year now.” Then she turns to Jamie. “You really told them everything, huh?” 

“Not everything!” Jamie protests. “I didn’t tell them about Aunt Nancy and Aunt Robin!” 

“What about uh Aunt Nancy and Aunt Robin?” Robin pipes up curiously. 

“Whoops.” Jamie claps a hand over his mouth. 

“Jesus Christ Jame.” Max chuckles fondly. 

“It’s okay.” Jane shrugs. “I can just take away their memories.” 

“You can?” Tori asks, jaw dropping open. “You really do have superpowers?” 

“Sure do.” Jane nods. 

“You get them back?” Dustin asks gleefully, grin on his face. 

“Yeah Dustin, I do. Actually I probably have them back right now.” Jane muses. “You guys are about to fight Vecna right?” 

“Um can we go back to what you said before?” Robin questions, cutting off Dustin’s affirmation. “About Aunt Nancy and Aunt Robin?” 

“Oh. That you all are married.” Jane tells them happily. 

“Me and Nancy?” Robin asks in disbelief, gesturing between her and the other girl who’s eyes are wide with shock. Jane nods. 

“Way to go Buckley!” Steve cheers, pulling a stunned Robin into a hug. 

“So, Nancy and Robin, Steve and Eddie, Will and Mike, and El and Max.” Dustin’s brow is furrowing. “I’m not like married to Lucas in the future am I?” 

“Absolutely not.” Jane tells him as Max cackles next her. 

“Oh thank god.” Dustin breaths out a sigh of relief before turning to Lucas apologetically. “No offense dude. I’m sure you’d be a lovely husband.” 

“None taken.” Lucas assures him. Then he turns to Max hesitantly. “Am I married though?”

“Sure are Stalker.” She smiles at him softly. “I was your best woman.” She looks between young Max and Lucas. “I know the fact that you guys aren’t together was probably a surprise, considering you’re about to start dating again, but I promise you guys are so happy in the future as just best friends. And Lucas, your wife is a total badass.”

“Thanks Max.” Eddie notes that Lucas’ eyes are a bit watery but he’s smiling. He watches as he reaches for young Max’s hand and smiles when she takes it and squeezes. 

“Kind of like me and Nance.” Steve adds, throwing his arm around the girl who still looks a little stunned from the earlier revelation. He grins at Robin. “You stole my girl Robbie.” 

“Oh please. I am not your girl.” Nancy shrugs him off but she’s smiling. 

“Besides, you’re my guy now, Stevie.” Eddie jumps in, taking Nancy’s place and slinging his arm around Steve. He relishes in the way that Steve flushes. 

“Ew!” Jamie exclaims. “Don’t forget that your children are in the room!” 

“Oh right. Sorry about that little dude.” Eddie grins at him.

“Don’t worry.” Tori waves him off. “We’ve seen way worse. You guys are disgusting. You kiss in front of us like all the time.” 

Now it is Eddie’s turn to flush as Dustin snickers and he addresses the room, embarrassed. “So how are we are we going to get you all home?”

Chapter Text

March 26th, 1986  

To avoid travel back through the Upside Down, it is decided that Jane is going to attempt to open up a portal in the same place that the twins came through. The only problem is, how they are going to get there, especially given that half their group is from the future and the other half are fugitives. 

Eddie is quick to offer up his hot wiring skills and a few minutes later, they’re all loaded into his neighbors RV and Eddie’s kids are watching on in amazement as he gets it running. 

“Don’t get any ideas.” Max is quick to tell them. “This an emergency and that’s the only reason we’re doing this, okay?” 

“We know.” The twins grumble in unison and then the engine is roaring to life, and Eddie is peeling out of the trailer park, barely sparing a glance back at his infuriated neighbors. Max directs him to a nice neighborhood, just a few streets over from the one Mike and Lucas live in now and he has a hard time imagining that this is where he lives in the future. 

“It looks different.” Jamie says, nose wrinkling as Eddie turns the car down what is to be their future street. 

“A lot of the houses got renovated.” Max explains to him. 

“Hey, that's our house!” Tori exclaims, pointing excitedly out the window. Eddie slows the RV to a stop outside a nice two story house at the end of the cul-de-sac. It’s bigger than probably 3 of Eddie’s trailer put together, the garage alone looks like it could fit most of his current home. He can just see a swing set in the backyard and he wonders if that's something they’ll have in the future. 

He spares at glance at Steve who is looking at the house with a sort of awed expression on his face, which Eddie finds surprising. He’s been to a party or two at the Harrington residence and that house is somehow even bigger than the one that sits before them, yet Steve is staring at it like Christmas came early. 

“You alright Steve?” Eddie asks, voice quiet as Tori and Jamie rattle on behind them about all the ways the house looks different in the future. 

“I just can’t believe we live here.” Steve admits, and the emotion in his voice takes Eddie by surprise. “We raise our family here. I just, I always dreamed of living somewhere like this when I was little. My house always felt like a museum, big and empty and sterile. I would always picture myself living in a family friendly neighborhood like this, with a house full of kids, but I just never really thought it was in the cards.” 

“Why not?” Eddie asks softly. Steve shrugs. 

“Just thought I’d never find someone to share it with.” He eventually says, looking at Eddie meaningfully. “Most people don’t usually stick around once they get to know me.” 

“That’s bullshit Steve.” Eddie says, wincing when Steve flinches. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just you’ve got people who love you, man. I mean you’re probably Dustin’s favorite person in the entire world, and the only one besides Lucas that can make Max laugh, and you’ve got that platonic soulmates thing going with Robin. Even Nancy didn’t hesitate before jumping right in after you at the lake. People care about you.” 

“And you? Do you care about me?” Steve questions, swiping at his eyes a few times. 

“As much as it kills me to admit this, you’re not half bad Harrington.” Eddie answers, pleased when Steve lets out a laugh. “And I mean come on, if there was anyone that wasn’t going to end up living the perfect suburban life it was going to be the gay, drug dealer from the trailer park, with a dead mom and criminal father.” 

“Shit Eddie.” Steve breaths and then his hand is reaching out and taking Eddie’s. “You know that's not all you are and you deserve to be happy. Everyone in this RV, they would do anything for you, you’re one of us now.” 

“We make quite the pair don’t we?” Eddie says, squeezing Steve’s hand. He’s pleased when Steve squeezes back. 

“Yeah we do.” He chuckles. “But our kids seem to have turned out alright.” 

“Sorry Stevie, but it's super weird to hear you refer to them as our kids.” 

“Guess it's a good thing we’ve got a few years to get used to it then.” Steve shrugs. 

“So you weren’t disappointed, to find out the person you end up with is me?” Eddie can’t help but ask. 

“No, Eddie.” Steve shakes his head. “I was surprised, sure, but only because we don’t really know each other all that well yet. But I wasn’t disappointed. This may sound weird, but I think I feel more comfortable being myself around you.” 

“Yeah?” Steve nods. “Same here Stevie. And I wasn’t disappointed either, just for the record.” 

“Hey!” Robin’s voice interrupts. “If you love birds are done having a moment we’ve got some time travelers to get home.” 

Right. The kids. Steve blushes but he’s smiling as Tori and Jamie’s faces pinch in disgust. 10 minutes later they're all standing in front of a portal, just like the one at Eddie’s trailer and at Lover’s Lake. Jane and Max offer to go in first, to investigate and to attempt to open up one on the other side back to their own time. 

The rest of them wait with bated breath, and Jamie sidles up to Eddie, tucking himself on Eddie’s arm. He watches as Tori does the same to Steve and their eyes meet in a soft smile. It’s another few minutes before the girls return, but they look relieved. 

“The gate is back open.” Jane explains. “But it feels unstable, we need to hurry.” 

“Are you going to take our memories?” Steve asks.

“We’ve got to.” Jane nods. “It’s too much of a risk to leave with this much information about the future.” 

“Ironically enough, we steal this RV in the original timeline too, so Jane is going to leave you with the memories of the original plan so that you can continue on to defeat Vecna.” Max explains. 

“So we win?” Nancy questions hesitantly. “And everyone is okay?” 

“Everyone survives.” Max says evasively, and Eddie isn’t sure he really wants to know what that means.

“Say your goodbyes.” Jane says. “We should get going.” 

Eddie’s only known these kids for a couple hours but he feels emotional as he hugs them tight. 

“Twin sandwich with dad bread!” Jamie exclaims, pulling Steve into their hug. It should be weird hugging Steve Harrington, their future children squished between them, but instead it simply feels like home and Eddie wishes he didn’t have to forget. One glance at Steve’s face tells him that the other man feels the same.

The children eventually untangle themselves and race towards Robin and Nancy, throwing their arms around both of them in turn. 

“Bye Aunt Robin, by Aunt Nancy.” Tori says, her face squished into Robin’s side. 

“Bye kiddos.” Robin says fondly. “Take care of your dads for us, okay?” 

“You got it.” Jamie salutes her and then he’s racing back to Eddie and throwing his arms around him in a second hug. “Bye Papa.” 

“Bye Jamie.” He runs a hand through the boy's curls and then Jamie moves to Steve and Tori is at his side again. She tugs on his sleeve, pulling his head down so that she can whisper in his ear. 

“Dad really likes when you buy him flowers.” She tells him. “Begonias are his favorite.” 

Eddie doesn’t know what the hell a begonia is, but he hopes if there’s any part of this he remembers, it’s that, so he can buy Steve a dozen. 

“Thanks for the tip.” He grins at her. “Hey, I meant to ask. Is your name Victoria?” She nods, and Eddie’s heart soars. “That was my mother’s name.” 

“I know.” She smiles. “You tell me I remind you a lot of her, is that true?” 

“Yeah, Tori, you really do.” He wipes away the tear that rolls down his cheek. “Take care of your brother, okay?” 

“I always do.” She replies, and then she’s hugging Steve one last time and following Max and Jamie down into the portal. 

“Okay everyone ready?” Jane asks, once they’re through. Eddie isn’t sure who reaches first but suddenly, he’s holding Steve’s hand. 

“Ready.” Nancy says, and a glance her way shows that she’s holding Robin’s hand. He catches Robin eye and she looks pointedly down at his and Steve’s intertwined hands and then her own with Nancy and raises her eyebrows in a way that says can you believe it. 

And no, Eddie really can’t. But for the first time in his life, he’s excited for the future. 

March 27th, 2006

When they finally arrive back home, the sky is light with the early hours of dawn. Wayne's truck is still sitting in the driveway, but parked next to is Steve and Eddie's van. 

"Dad and Papa are home!" Jamie cheers, racing up the front steps and into the house before Max can stop him. Tori follows quickly after and Max shares a look with Jane. 

"Wayne must've told them." She says. 

"Seems that way." Jane agrees. "Think they'll be mad?" 

"Maybe." Max says. "But mostly I think they'll just be relieved we're home." 

Her thoughts are confirmed when Steve comes flying out the door and throws himself around Max. "Thank you." He whispers into her hair. "Thank you for bringing those idiots home." 

"Of course dad." Max says and Steve beams. She doesn't typically call him that, only in moments like this or when talking to her brother and sisters, but she knows it makes him happy every time she does. 

"So what happened? Wayne seemed to think it might have something to do with the Upside Down, not that he really knows what that means." 

"Twins found a gate, went through it, ended up in 1986." Max explains, and Steve's eyes widen. 

"What? You traveled through time? Is that even possible?" 

"Apparently so." Max shrugs. "Kids ended up in Wayne's trailer right after you lot came back from the Upside Down, gave them all quite the scare." 

"Wait they were with us? Like our past selves?" Steve clarifies, and Max nods. "Why don't I remember that?" 

"I erased your memories." Jane says casually and Steve throws his hands up in exasperation.

"Of course you did. Time travel, memory erasure, why the hell not." He grumbles. "Well thank you, thank you both." 

"Dad!" Jamie calls suddenly from the door. "Why didn't you tell us that Aunt Jane has superpowers?" 

"Yeah!" Tori appears by his side. "Or that Papa used to have hair longer than mine!" 

"Or that Uncle Lucas used to date Max!" Jamie adds. 

"Um so the kids might have a lot of questions." Max says to Steve sheepishly. 

"Great." He moans, but he's smiling as he heads back to the twins. 

"Now I know where your scars are from!" Jamie says excitedly.

"Wait, where are his scars from?" Max can hear Evan ask, following by Steve groaning. She looks to Jane. 

"I think we'll leave Steve to the explaining." She says. "For the next few hours, those kids are not my problem." 

"Want me to take their memories too?" Jane asks with a laugh. Max chuckles and grabs her hand. 

"Nah. Dad's got this."