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It’s a quiet evening. Jonathan is curled up against Steve’s side, their bodies expertly pressed together so they can both fit on their shared couch without having anyone’s limb dangling off the edge. The end credits of whatever badly framed movie Steve insisted on watching are now scrolling on their TV screen, but Jonathan doesn’t have the mind to complain about the filmmaker’s blatant incompetence with a camera. Not today.
Steve is running his fingers through his hair, every stroke slow and gentle, while the lovesick smile only Jonathan’s privy to lights up his stupidly handsome face, which would usually soothe any of his worries away, but not even that is enough to ease the growing tension that has his stomach twisted up in knots. His heart is pounding faster and faster within the confines of his chest, like it wants out, and Jonathan knows it won’t relent until he shares with Steve what he’s discovered just a few hours ago.
So, he gathers up his courage and inquires, his mouth dry:
“Say, you remember what we talked about, when we were traveling through the Abyss?”
Steve looks puzzled by the question for a second, then his smile quickly morphs into a teasing grin.
“You mean, when you claimed you didn’t like me? Cause I’m pretty sure we moved past that stage a long time ago.”
To emphasize his point, he shifts closer and joins their lips in a soft, lingering kiss that almost distracts Jonathan from what he has to tell him.
Almost.
“That’s… not what I was trying to refer to.” He stutters after they part, their faces now only a few inches apart. “I was talking about the part where you mentioned wanting to have, like, four or six kids…”
“And called them nuggets, I know. You’ll never let me live that one down, will you?” Steve sighs dramatically.
Despite the apprehension that’s keeping a tight grip on his throat, nearly choking him up, Jonathan cannot help but chuckle at his boyfriend’s antics.
“Maybe not, but… is… is that something you’d still want? To have kids, I mean.”
Steve immediately notices the maelstrom of emotions piercing through his trembling voice. His hand goes still, though it stays buried in Jonathan’s hair, and his face takes on a more serious expression as he goes pensive and truly considers the question.
“Well, only if that’s something you’d want too, obviously, but… Yeah. Yeah, I’d like to have children one day. Maybe not six, though, ‘cause I now realize that might be more chaos than we’d be able to handle. But if I’m offered the chance… I’d gladly start a family with you.” He marks a pause then, and, because he’s always been more observant than people give him credit for, asks: “What brought this up?”
This time, Jonathan pushes past his fear, reassured by the heartwarming answer Steve just gave him.
“Well, what… what if I told you I was pregnant? And that I… that I would like to keep it? I… I know the timing’s not exactly ideal, but…”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Steve cuts him. “We’re going to be dads?!”
Jonathan barely has time to register the intense joy that permeates Steve’s voice and the way his eyes shine bright with unbridled happiness before he’s engulfed in the tightest hug of his life.
“We’re going to be dads,” Steve repeats dazedly while he loosens his embrace just enough to press their foreheads together, his voice shaky with marvel, like he can barely believe it.
“Yes, we’re going to be dads,” Jonathan tearfully confirms, all that stress from earlier now melting into relief and giddiness.
“That’s… Fuck, that’s amazing!”
“It is.”
They stay like that for a few moments, just laughing and crying quietly, until Steve eventually breaks the silence.
“Can… Can I say hello to our child?”
“Of course you can.”
Jonathan watches with fondness when, as soon as he is given permission, Steve hurries to rest his head on his stomach and starts talking to their unborn child.
“Hi, uh…” He looks up at Jonathan and shouts-whispers: “What should I call them?”
“Anything but nugget,” He unhelpfully supplies.
Steve rolls his eyes.
“Ah ah, very funny. Don’t listen to your dad, kid; he’s just being mean. Oh, and I’m your other dad, by the way. The cooler one, obviously. And I’m so very impatient to meet you, you have no idea. And I know that might sound shallow, knowing I didn’t even know you existed until like, ten minutes ago, but you’re already my favorite person in the world, along with your father, and…”
He rambles on and on, and Jonathan listens to it all, absolutely endeared.
“And to think I was scared you’d freak out cause we didn’t plan for this ahead,” He warmly chuckles. “Guess I should have known better.”
At his words, Steve’s face suddenly turns stark white.
“Oh no.”
Jonathan’s heart misses a beat.
“What’s wrong?”
“We absolutely cannot tell Robin this happened by accident. God, I do not want to go through ten years of ‘Steve Harrington does not know how to use a condom’ jokes.”
“Ten years? Honestly, I don’t think she’ll let you off the hook that easily.”
“Thanks, that’s making me feel really better,” Steve groans. “Gotta see the positive, though. She’ll make a great aunt for the kid. And so will Nancy. Oh, and you can be sure Henderson will want to teach them alllll about D&D and science.”
“Don’t forget about Will. He’ll want to cover the D&D part as well, and will probably drag Wheeler along to help with it. And maybe he’ll show them how to paint and draw, too,” Jonathan whispers while smiling softly at the prospect.
“You already told your family? About the baby, I mean.”
Jonathan shakes his head.
“Not yet. I only found out I was pregnant today, and… I wanted you to be the first to know.”
Steve beams at that confession and takes his place back by Jonathan’s side so his boyfriend can lie on him again, which he gladly does.
“Have I, by any chance, already mentioned how much I love you, Jonathan Byers? Because I really, really do. And I can’t wait to tell the whole world about our child. Maybe we could invite everyone here to share the news? I mean, if that’s what you want. We could also keep this to ourselves for a little while, if you’d prefer. I’m sorry, I don’t want to rush you into anything, it’s just that I am so happy right now...”
“Hey, it’s fine. Gathering our friends and family sounds like a great idea, actually. Especially since it’ll be to celebrate, and not, you know…”
“Prevent the end of the world?” Steve provides.
“Yeah. That. And we can start figuring out the logistics and calling everyone tomorrow, but as for tonight, I would like to stay just where I am.”
“In my arms?” Steve specifies, a little smug.
“Yes. In your arms.”
A bright smile greets his statement, and said arms pull him a bit closer.
“I can work with that.”
In place of a reply, Jonathan buries his face against Steve’s neck and lets out a pleased little hum as his boyfriend resumes stroking his hair, content.