Work Text:
June 2nd, 2003
4 months into Stede’s pregnancy
Ed was absolutely horrified by what Stede just told him, he gasped and clutched at his chest dramatically. “You’ve never been to Pride?!”
Stede could only laugh while he was cutting up vegetables for dinner, “No, and I have very good reasons, even if it is horrific.”
“What are your oh so important reasons?”
He stops, and turns towards Ed, resting his arms on Ed’s shoulders. As if an automatic response triggered, Ed rests his hands on the sides of Stede’s belly (now starting to really show). Stede counts off the reasons, “Couldn’t go while under my parents’ roof for obvious reasons, was going to go my first year of college but got super sick with the stomach flu the week of the one event in my college town, the next year I found out I was pregnant with Alma and focused on working, and it’s been the same every year since. I’m always working during pride. And you know, you become a parent—a single parent at that—and you miss out on things like this.”
He turns back to continue chopping, and Ed adjusts his position so his hands are still on Stede’s belly, but he’s now rested against his back. Ed does have to admit, he’s been a bit more lucky than Stede when it comes to things like this. Ed didn’t have a baby to take care of then, for one. Pride was all about him and Jack, Izzy, Annie, Mary, and John going out and getting drunk and hooking up. It makes him feel like a bit of an ass now, like he suddenly gained consciousness the moment Stede told him he was pregnant, and became a real adult. Putting all those partying days in the past, Stede should’ve gotten those days too though.
Stede continues, “Believe me darling, I really want to go, but it’s just been an insane six years.”
He feels for Stede, he really does. After his dad died, Ed and his mother took full advantage of it, and went to all the queer events his father would’ve been horrified at the mere thought of attending. Liz made sure to let Ed know he was loved for who he was, and show interest in the things he was interested in. Stede didn’t have that luxury, and it breaks his heart every time to think about it.
Stede didn’t have accepting parents, a close knit community, or any sort of support. But that’s changing, right this second.
“What if,” Ed starts, “you, me, Alma, and the bean go this weekend?”
“What, all of us?”
“Hell yeah man, make it a family thing. It’s fucking fun, Alma would love it.”
“Would she?” Stede looks over through the window separating the kitchen from the “dining room” (just the part of the apartment with the table). Alma’s currently sitting in her booster seat at the kitchen table, coloring away at one of her My Little Pony coloring books, kicking her legs against the chair, and humming some song from Lilo and Stitch (which she’s watched 8 times in the past few days since Ed got the VHS). “She’s not really big on big groups of people, and isn’t this more for adults?”
“It’s for everyone, babe, that’s the point. They have special kids and family spots that usually have smaller crowds, way far away from the more adult stuff. Trust me, it’ll be fun.” He leans in next to Stede’s ear, “One of us can stay with her, while the other goes to the more adult section, and get some special things.”
Stede shivers under him, he can practically feel the giddy smile Stede has on his face right now, “Didn’t know they were just handing those sort of things out there.”
“Oh yeah, love, they got it all. What do you say?”
He mulls it over a second, Ed can tell he’s doing that nose scrunch thing he does when he’s thinking. “I say yes, let’s do it. Zheng is closing the place for the day anyway, she and Olu and the rest of them have plans, apparently.”
“I bet they’ll enjoy the adult section.” Ed mumbles.
Stede dumps all the salad fixings in the bowl, just in time for the oven to ding with their fries and chicken perfectly golden brown. “Alma dear, put your crayons away, please. Dinner’s ready.”
Alma collects all her things together and dumps them on the side table near the couch. “Daddy,” she starts, walking to the kitchen, “why is there wainbows everywhere by school?”
“That’s actually what we were just talking about girly,” Ed scoops her up. “It’s for the pride festival going on, celebrating gay and trans people.”
“People like me and Ed; boys that like boys, girls that like girls, people that identify as different genders from what they were born with, all kinds of people.”
“Wow,” she breathes. She looks up between the two of them, saying in a tiny voice, “Am I gay?”
Both Ed and Stede should be commended for how they’re holding in their laughs, Stede takes her out of Ed’s arms and kisses her on the cheek, “Maybe dear, that’s something you have to figure out though. And, if you are, we won’t love you any less.”
It’s the sort of thing Stede definitely needed to hear as a little kid, something he never received from his own parents. It’s for sure something Ed never got from his own father.
Alma looks down at Stede’s belly, patting a spot near where her hand rests, “Is the baby gay?”
Ed actually does laugh that time, making Stede and Alma laugh in turn. “Maybe he is, maybe not, we won’t know till he’s out of your dad’s tummy and can talk.”
“What matters is, that we love you and the baby no matter what, and you can be whoever and love whoever you want.”
She swings her arms around Stede’s neck, and looks up at him, their noses touching in one of their little nose kisses she likes so much. “I wanna be Alma.”
“That’s the best thing to be, dove.” Stede kisses her on the cheek and sets her down, “Now, you want to help and put the plates on the table?”
“Yes please!” She takes the plastic plates and walks them over to the table, getting on her tip toes to reach the counter.
“They also have the best funnel cakes there.”
“Say no more, we’re going.”
-
The day is warm and sunny, big puffy clouds hover over them, slowly gliding across the sky in a nice cool breeze. The sound of whatever new Britney Spears or Kylie Minogue songs wafts through the air, along with people laughing and talking in high spirits. The joyful sounds of pride, Ed could bathe in it.
Ed picked up a special shirt for Stede a few weeks ago just for today (he knew Stede would say yes to going), a white tee with “Seahorse Dad” in blue and pink and white block letters.
“Not my usual choice of font, but… thank you. I love it, genuinely, thank you darling.” Stede kissed him about it that morning when Ed presented it to him as they were getting ready. Stede insisted on pairing it with the “perfect shirt” he just so happened to have, a blue button down with tiny white ships adorning it. It lays unbuttoned, the tee shirt straining a bit against Stede’s growing bump, as they walk through the festival. Alma sits on Ed’s shoulders, enthusiastically waving around the two flags the organizers gave her when they arrived.
It must be quite the sight—Ed in his combat boots, crop top, cutoff black denim shorts, and black denim cutoff vest adorned with band patches and various pride flags—with a smiley three year old girl in a pink and blue polka-dotted dress on his shoulders, and his heavily pregnant boyfriend on his arm. It’s a sight Ed wishes he could see for himself.
“So,” Stede starts, “where to first?”
There’s so much to see, too much, arguably. The place is divided up in a few sections; the more adult/sex ed focused part at the back end, the more family friendly section in front, makers market on one side, and some activities and live performances on the other (he knows Annie and Mary are gonna be in the roller derby match this evening). But Ed wants to take things slow, they definitely won't be here all day either, he gives it three hours tops before Stede and Alma are begging for a nap. Ed gets a directory map, and finds what he’s looking for. “I’ve got some people you have got to meet, I’ve known them forever, you’re gonna love them.”
They wind their way through to the more family oriented section; with teen outreach booths, tables of people selling art and little crocheted bees in gay flag colors, and all sorts of carnival games and craft activities crowded with parents and kids. Then they reach their destination, a booth ran by Queen Anne’s, the drag club nearby that Ed’s been practically begging Stede to go to with him for weeks.
“Here we are, hey, Calypso!” Ed calls out to one of the queens, she turns, revealing dramatic Divine inspired makeup and a flash of big white hair.
She gasps, and comes over to hug him, “Eddie, it’s been too long.”
“Likewise, I have some people here I’d like you to meet,” he swings an arm around Stede, “this is my lovely boyfriend Stede, and his daughter Alma.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Stede holds a hand out, Calypso takes it, he kisses the drag queen’s gloved knuckles.
“The pleasure is all mine, such a gentleman you’ve got there Eddie, and what a beautiful girl. Hello sweetheart.”
Alma tentatively peaks out of where she’s been hiding her face atop Ed’s shoulders, intrigued by the person in front of her, “You look like Ursula.”
Calypso places a hand on her chest, stricken by the comment, “Thank you, that’s what I was going for, love to see that it’s working.”
“Are you a sea witch?” She asks in a tiny voice.
“A good sea witch my dear, won’t be taking anyone’s voices today. If you want, my good friend Missy is doing face paint over there…”
Alma gasps, “Daddy please, face paint?!”
“Yes of course love,” Stede helps her down, “we’ll be right over in just a moment.” She scampers over a few feet where one of the other queens is doing hearts and flags on kids cheeks, and waits behind the line of other children. Stede turns back to Calypso, “So how do you know Ed?”
“Oh my god we’ve known each other forever, I was in his art classes back in school.”
“He did the most incredible performance pieces, and is one hell of a seamstress.”
“I mean hello,” she swishes around her short full skirt, adorned with sequins and pride flags.
“Wow, I mean this, what you’re doing right now, is really incredible.”
Ed looks on fondly, “Yeah, she came a long way.”
She hugs Ed again, and turns back to Stede, “Now, I don’t want to assume anything,” she taps a finger on her chin, and gives a pointed look down at Stede’s belly, “but judging by your choice of clothing, and absolutely gorgeous skin and hair, is there congratulations in order?”
“Oh, yes,” Stede looks down and laughs, resting a hand on top of his belly, “about 4 or 5 months along. We actually just found out we’re having a boy.”
Calypso rests a hand on Stede’s shoulder, “Well congratulations to both of you, I’ll have the girls put together a little baby gift basket.”
It throws Stede for a loop, such a sweet offer, he’s never had anyone aside from his tiny circle of friends offer to give gifts or pitch in with the baby like that. He was all on his own with Alma. “Oh wow, that’s-“
Ed chimes in at the same time, “Oh no, you don’t have to-“
“No, I insist, Eddie,” Calypso gestures, “it’s my best friend’s baby, you guys deserve it.”
Stede smiles and hugs her, “You’re too kind.”
“We gotta support each other, that’s what this is all about!” She waves around the multicolored tents, “None of us would be here if it wasn’t for community, and that includes getting diapers and adorable baby clothes for new parents like you guys.”
“Oh lord, it is impossible to find cute baby clothes for boys, they all have trucks and shit like that on it. Boys don’t get cute patterns.”
“Easier to find fuckin’ camouflage than plants or an animal print not in pink or blue.” Ed laments.
Stede emphatically nods in agreement, “Green, yellow, purple, any of these are better than baby pink or blue.”
There’s a twinkle in Calypso’s eye at that, “I’ve never sewn baby clothes before, but that’s a fun chalenge, isn’t it?”
“Hey Calypso,” Another one of the queens yells across the the block of tents, “could you come help me with this?”
“Duty calls, it was so nice meeting you, Stede.”
“You as well.” They start slowly meandering towards Alma, “Well that was unexpected.”
“I haven’t seen her in so long, she’s always been super nice like that.” Ed adds, “Was a huge activist type back in school.”
“I bet. If she can make baby clothes better than Baby’s R Us can, I’m never buying from the store again.”
“We just need her to make our boy his first drag gowns.” Something catches Ed’s eye in the distance, a little glimpse at what’s at one of the adults only booths at the edge of the festival. “Hey, I’m gonna go get something really quick, you stay here with Alma.”
“Alright, get me a funnel cake while your over there, ok?”
“Sure thing, babe.”
-
“Daddy!” Alma yells across the way, Stede kisses Ed on the cheek and he parts from them. Alma crashes into Stede’s legs. “Daddy, it’s uncle Lucius!” She says excitedly.
“What do you mean?”
“The pretty lady that does face paint, it’s uncle Lucius!” She points over to the booth, and indeed, it is Lucius sitting there.
He’s done up in a sleek ponytail wig, with a short rainbow striped dress, a white paint covered apron, and a face beat for the gods. His silver glittery eyeshadow sparkles in the midday sun, and his face is so expertly contoured, Stede is surprised how quickly Alma recognized him.
“Lucius?!” He asks, in shock.
He gets up and hugs Stede, “It’s Missy, thank you very much.”
“Since when have you done drag?”
“Like a year ago, I had a life outside living with you, you know.” Lucius… Missy sits Alma down in the chair, and starts painting little hearts on her cheeks. “Alright, now sit very still for me, can you do that?”
“Yes, I’m so good at that.” Alma says, confidently.
“I’m just surprised you never told me about this, I would’ve loved to see you perform.”
“You were going through a lot with you know who, and you had a kid, I didn’t wanna add more stress onto you.”
Stede sits beside her and Alma, “I’ve missed out on a lot.”
“Yeah, it’s not your fault, though.”
A small moment of silence sets in, the only sounds around them being the muffled musical performance on stage, discordant chatter around the tents, and the distant sound of carnival games being won. “I’m sorry,” Stede says softly, making Missy pause and look over at him, “I should’ve been a better friend and asked you about this. I never even questioned where you were going four nights a week.”
“Babes, don’t be sorry.”
“We work together,” Stede insists, “and either you never told me or I was too oblivious to even notice.”
“Bit of both,” she returns to the face paint, making intricate rainbow lines inside the hearts, “I didn’t really talk about it. But when I did, you thought I was just going to a drag show.”
“I’m sorry, Lucius.”
“What did I tell you?”
He remembers what Calypso told him, None of us would be here if it wasn’t for community. If this is Stede’s big entrance into the community, he wants to do it right. Lucius has been there for him all these years, the best thing Stede could do is return the favor. “I want to support you, just like you’ve done for me, what kind of friend am I if I don’t?”
Missy smiles to herself, and puts the finishing touches on Alma’s hearts, “My next show is next Friday, you and Ed should come.”
“We will.”
With one last flourish of glitter, Missy finishes Alma’s face paint, “Alright little lady, what do you think?” She pulls up a hot pink bedazzled hand mirror.
Alma gasps at her reflection, with the widest smile he’s ever seen. “So pretty!”
“What do we say?”
“Thank you, Uncle Lucius!” She wraps her tiny arms around Missy’s shoulders, and Missy hugs right back.
“Of course, my love.
“I’m back,” Ed announces to the group, a black drawstring bag affixed to his back, “what’d I miss? Oh wow, look at you, baby girl!” He picks Alma up and swings her around.
“Uncle Lucius did my face paint!”
“Uncle Lucius?” Ed finally notices Missy and freezes, “Oh, hey.”
“Hey yourself, handsome.”
“Didn’t know you did drag, you look amazing.”
“Thanks, you’ll see me look even more amazing and maybe slightly less sweaty at my show next week. No promises though.”
“She invited us to her show.” Stede spots the powdered funnel cake Ed got for him, and snatches it out of his hand, “Thank you.”
“Well, we’ll be there.” Alma starts dragging Ed away towards the carnival games, “Just a minute baby, we’ll go in a second.”
“I wanna get a stuffed animal.”
“Go ahead, have fun, feed my nephew a bunch of shitty food and get a giant Tweetie Bird, that’s what today’s about.” Missy shoos them away, blowing kisses the whole time, “See you next week!”
“Bye bye!” Alma calls from Ed’s shoulders.
They head further into the crowd of queer families at the various games, and Stede finally notices the drawstring bag on Ed’s back. A small Adam & Eve logo in the middle of it. He raises his eyebrows, earning a tiny grin and a wink from Ed. They’re sure to have a fun night tonight.
-
Lots and lots of definitely rigged games later, Alma has a Snoopy stuffed animal as big as her body. The wealth is spread around plenty, with them getting bags and bags of artisanal soaps and lotions, plenty of art prints, and a couple of nice pieces of jewelry. Even then, it still isn’t everything to be seen. This festival is big, but Stede is flagging fast. The heat, plus all the activity, plus having to deal with a toddler, plus being four months pregnant is a combination that can only result in needing a long nap.
“You ready to head out?”
“No, we haven’t even seen everything.” He punctuates his denial with a yawn.
“Don’t make me pull out the toddler defenses with you, I know how to make a stubborn person sleep.”
Alma isn’t even being the difficult one here, she’s already passed out on Ed’s shoulders. Makes convincing Stede a whole lot easier.
“We should get her out of the sun, anyway. And my feet hurt.”
“Yes we should, come on. I’ll give you a massage at home.” Ed takes Stede’s hand, and lets him lean his head on his shoulder. The gold afternoon sun shines through the flags fluttering overhead, casting them in rays of pink, purple, green, and blue. A rainbow with no rain to ruin their perfect day.
“I’m glad we came, thank you, darling.”
“What’d I tell you? It’s always a fun time.”
“The baby had fun too,” Stede rests a hand on his stomach, rubbing along the top, “seems like he fell asleep.”
“Kid got all the junk food he wanted and took a nap immediately after. That’s the fuckin’ life.”
They walk past all the celebration going on around them; people laughing and dancing along with the band on the temporary stage, the party’s only getting started for the younger crowd, while the families all shuffle off, kids and tired spouses in tow.
Ed can’t help but think about last year’s pride, how he ended up in some guy’s house, bottoming in the only orgy he’d ever been in before; crossfaded on tequila, pot, and the high you can only get from being passed between 8 people. He felt that hangover the next day, but what a night that was.
Now, though, being a part of the herd meandering out at 4 pm isn’t so bad. They’ll order a pizza, maybe watch The Birdcage, frame all the prints they bought, massage Stede’s feet, put Alma to bed, and tonight… in the soft glow of candlelight… Ed will lay Stede down on their bed… and pull out all the fancy new vibrators and toys some of the vendors were selling in the adults only section. Having a nice dinner, giving Stede the best orgasm of his life, and falling asleep in his arms. Yeah, that sounds like a perfect way to end Pride.