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Eddie lifts his head up off the couch arm to look at Steve as he has a realization.
“Hey, are you busy next weekend?”
Steve snorts as he looks over at him. “Why?”
“Wanna take a road trip with me and Wayne?”
“Where to?”
“Uh, Tennessee.”
“What’s in Tennessee?” Steve asks curiously.
“My uh, my Nan. Er um, Wayne and my dad’s mom… She’s not doing well so Wayne wants to go see her, maybe help around the house. I think my cousins are coming too. Little Munson family reunion kind of thing.”
Steve sits up as he considers this. “You want me to meet your family?”
Eddie smiles softly as he tugs at his hair, pulling it all over one shoulder. “I… yeah. I want you to meet my family.”
Steve runs his bottom lip through his teeth as he bites back a smile. “When do we leave?”
“We’re planning on going down tomorrow night and staying through Sunday.”
“Well then, guess I gotta prepare to make a good first impression.” Steve says as he shifts to lay his head down in Eddie’s lap.
Eddie leans back against the couch again, carefully carding his fingers through Steve’s hair. “I wouldn’t worry about it. They’ll all love you.”
“You sure?”
Eddie presses a kiss to Steve’s cheek. “I love you. So that’s all that matters to them. Trust me. They’ll love you.”
Steve smiles softly, temporarily letting the anxiety and stress of meeting Eddie’s family subside.
-
Just a couple days later, they all pile into Wayne’s truck and begin the road trip to Tennessee.
Steve had prepared himself to listen to metal the whole way, due to Eddie usually being persistent about the kind of music he listens to. So he’s taken aback a bit by the amount of country music they listen to. Anything that ranges from Dolly Parton to Bob Dylan to John Denver.
There’s something about seeing the way Wayne and Eddie interact with each other in a new light that makes Steve’s heart beat faster. Eddie seems happier, free to act however he wants to without any judgment.
“I didn’t know you were a country fan.”
Eddie turns to Steve, full dimples on display as he grins. “It’s the storytelling. Country and folk music have this way of painting out a picture that’s easy to follow.”
Steve smiles softly.
“Any other secrets you’re keeping from me?” He asks playfully
Wayne snorts. “How d’ya feel about horses?”
Eddie turns white as his eyes grow wide, making Wayne burst into laughter.
“Horses?”
Eddie shoves his face in his hands.
“He’s been ridin’ ‘em since he was just a little kid. Takes care of ‘em every summer when we come down here.”
“Oh my god.” Steve responds, taken aback at the new information he’s been given as Eddie lets out a groan.
“C’mon Ed, he was gonna find out sooner or later anyway. Plus yer good at takin’ care of them. You boys’ll gotta go for a ride.”
“I’ve uh- I’ve never actually ridden one before.” Steve admits.
Eddie drops his hands and looks at Steve. “You haven’t?”
Steve shakes his head in response.
“Guess we’re going horseback riding this weekend.” Eddie says, a small smile creeping up his face.
“You’ve gotta meet the family first so don’t think I’ll let you get away with goin straight to the stables, Ed.”
“I know, I know.”
They spend the rest of the car ride telling Steve about the family. How Aunt Trish has the best cooking, Eddie’s cousin Carson and his crazy wife, Stephanie, Nan and Pop, Uncle Dave and his wife Heather and how they have three boys all under the age of ten, pretty much everyone he can expect to be there.
As they turn into the ranch, Steve feels his stomach drop as the nerves come in at full force.
“Eddie? Do they… do they know about you? Or am I just your friend this weekend?” He asks softly, realizing they’d actually never discussed this part of it.
Eddie quickly reassures him. “Oh, they’ve known since I was twelve and they’re all fine with it. Trust me, they’ll all be excited to meet you.”
Steve takes a deep breath. It’s relieving to know that his family won’t care, but he still feels nervous about meeting everyone.
Wayne barely parks before Eddie is scrambling to get out of the car, leaving Wayne chuckling softly as Steve gets out after him.
As they make their way inside, Eddie’s cousins, who Steve believes to be Liam, Austin, and Travis, all swarm Eddie and practically tackle him to the ground, yelling in unison. “Eddie!”
Eddie laughs as he swats away at them and Steve smiles fondly as he watches him play with his cousins.
“Hey guys!” Eddie greets as soon as they calm down enough and he catches his breath.
“I want you to meet Steve.” Eddie says, looking over in his direction.
The youngest, Liam, looks Steve over and grins. “You’re Eddie’s boyfriend right?”
“I am. You’re Liam?” Steve asks.
“Sure am! That’s Austin and that’s Travis.” He says, first point to the oldest of the bunch who Steve believes to be the ten year old and then Travis who is eight.
“Hey, do you play basketball?” Travis asks.
“You got a hoop out back?” Steve asks.
“Oh you’re so much cooler than Eddie.” He replies, quickly running over to grab a ball by the doorway.
“Hey you little shit!” Eddie yells after him, making all of the boys break out into laughter.
All five of them end up out back where Travis and Steve take turns shooting baskets as Eddie messes around with Liam, Austin going between the two of them before quickly getting bored and going back inside.
Wayne and Pop eventually make their way outside, observing from the deck as Steve and Eddie keep the boys company.
“How bout you boys come in for some lunch?” Pop calls out, all of them turning in his direction at the sound of his voice.
Eddie runs over to greet him, pulling him in for a hug. “Great to see ya old man.”
“And who is this?” Pop asks, pointing at Steve.
“Oh, this is Steve. He’s my um, my boyfriend.”
“You keepin’ Ed outta trouble?” He asks, reaching out to shake Steve’s hand.
“Doing my best, sir.” Steve responds.
“None of that formal shit, kid. Jus’ call me Pop.”
Steve chuckles politely in response, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by how much love there seems to be radiating off of everyone here.
This is what a real family is supposed to be like?
He doesn’t even remember any of his extended family. He knows he has a handful of cousins as well as a few aunts and uncles, but it’s probably been at least fifteen years since he saw any of them.
Eddie pulls him out of his thoughts as he tangles their fingers together. “Hey, let’s go see nan. Wayne says she’s awake.”
“Uh, yeah. Let’s go.” Steve says, allowing Eddie to lead him down the hall to the master bedroom.
Nan is in bed, propped up on several pillows with an oxygen take next to her. She smiles as she sees them enter the room and reaches her weak arms out to Eddie.
“Eddie.” She breathes out heavily.
Eddie runs over to her and gives her a hug, staying by her bedside. “Hey nan.”
“And who is this handsome young man?”
“Nan, this is Steve. Steve, nan.”
“Hello, Steve.” She says with a weak smile. “You takin’ care of my boy?”
Steve nervously shuffles towards her as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “We’re taking care of each other.”
Eddie turns and shoots him a soft smile as he reaches out to rub nan’s knuckles.
“Ed’s always been a little bit of a nuisance. Make sure you keep him in line for me.”
“Hey!”
“I say it with love Ed.”
“Nuisance or not, he’s still pretty great.” Steve responds.
Nan smiles as she takes the two of them in, continuing the conversation as she gets to know Steve and the three of them spend some time together.
Once she’s tired out, they quietly make their way back out to the front room to enjoy some sandwiches and Steve meets the aunts and uncles.
“Wanna go meet the horses?” Eddie asks after a while.
Wayne immediately responds, “Don’t stay out too late, boys.”
“You worry too much.” Eddie says.
“Almost lost ya a few months ago. I’m allowed to worry about you, kid.”
Eddie’s shoulders slump and he steps forward to give him a hug. “I know.”
“You two have fun.” Pop adds in as Eddie pulls Steve along.
As soon as they’re out of the house and no one is around, Eddie takes a deep breath. “Sorry. My family is a lot.”
“Don’t be. You have no idea what I’d give to have a family as loving as they are.”
“Steve-“ Eddie starts
“No, it’s okay. Really, it was a lot at first but I’m having a good time.”
“Steve.” Eddie says again.
“What?”
“You do have that. The kids, Robin, Nancy, Hopper and Joyce, Wayne and me… we’re all your family.”
Steve chews his bottom lip and pulls Eddie in, wrapping his arms around him, resting his chin on his shoulder.
“I love you.”
Steve feels Eddie freeze for a split second before he relaxes again.
“You, you love me?”
Steve pulls back a little, loosely keeping his arms around Eddie’s waist. “I do.”
“I love you too.” Eddie smiles, bringing a hand up to cup Steve’s cheek as he pulls him in for a kiss.
As they part, Eddie opens the stable doors. “I want you to meet some of my very good friends.”
Steve looks around and sees three different horses all in separate stalls. Cream, black, and tan.
Eddie shovels the hay and starts making sure they all have water and everything they need.
He points to the tan horse first, “This one is Dusty. He’s the oldest of three and is definitely Wayne’s favorite.”
Steve snorts, “Like Dustin?”
Eddie rolls his eyes. “Dusty came first. Dustin wishes he was a cool as this guy.” Next he points to the cream one. “This beauty is the one I’ve grown up with and she’s practically my own. Her name is Blue.” As they reach the black one Eddie leaves him standing alone as he goes to grab a pair of saddles. “And this one is Willow. Don’t tell Austin, but she’s the one you’re gonna ride. Austin is more than convinced that Willow is only his.”
Steve watches as Eddie saddles up the horses, fascinated by how naturally all of this seems to come to him.
“You said you’ve never ridden a horse?” Eddie asks as he pulls his hair into a messy bun.
“Maybe a pony once a long time ago at one of Carol’s birthday parties, but not that I remember.”
“Well, horseback riding is one of the best things in the world. Come on, I’ll help you up.” Eddie says gesturing for Steve to come over to Willow.
Eddie strokes her side to calm her before coming face to face, bribing her with an apple as he gives her some love.
“Come pet her.” Eddie says, reaching for Steve’s hand.
Steve cautiously places a hand on her and strokes downwards as Eddie shows him how. “This helps calm her and allows her to get more comfortable with you.”
Eddie makes his way over to her side and gestures for Steve to follow, directing him on how to put his feet in the saddle holes and helping him mount the horse.
“Okay, these are your reigns. Pull on it for her to slow down.”
Steve feels butterflies in his stomach as Willow slowly starts walking around, sending him into a slight panic.
Eddie mounts Blue quickly and takes the lead, tilting his chin to signal for Steve to follow him out.
After some time, Steve starts feeling a little more comfortable with it and starts to relax.
“Look at that, you’re a natural.” Eddie says, shooting him a grin.
“So you do this a lot?”
“Every summer for as long I can remember. At least since Wayne took me in.”
“How long have you been riding?”
“God, I don’t know. I used to do competitions.”
“No way?”
Eddie hums in response. “There’s some blue ribbons lying around somewhere.”
“How many did you win?!”
“Eh, three or four. Stopped competing as much after moving to Hawkins.”
Steve smiles. “Huh, I feel like I learn something new about you every day.”
“But seriously, never tell the kids about this.”
Steve barks out a laugh and shakes his head fondly.
“I’ve gotta tell Robin at least.”
“God, she’ll never let me live this down.”
“You know I tell her everything though.”
“Fine. As long as she promises not to tell anyone else I’m good with it.”
The two of them ride for a little bit longer until they decide they need to head back due to the sun starting to set.
By the time they’re back and the horses are back in the stables, the family is sitting down for dinner.
Steve laughs along with them and continues to chase the boys around with Eddie, his heart full as he realizes that this is what family should be about.
As he catches Eddie’s gaze he throws him a wink before reaching out to take his hand.
He can’t wait to eventually be an official Munson.