Chapter Text
Steve’s past two years haven’t been the easiest. The divorce had been brutal. At twenty-two and freshly graduated he married his college girlfriend, in a shotgun wedding, she had an east coast kind of pedigree his parents gagged over. That eased the time line of the pregnancy.
She was just like his mother had been, beautiful, distant, but whip smart. Hazel eyes, and dark brown hair that were reflected in his daughters features. He was thirty, divorced, and now the single parent of an eight year old girl far too mature for her age.
His ex wanted to progress her career and be closer to her roots, so the past five years they had been in New York, a year in and he had hated it- so the compromises began along with the marriage counseling. That blew up in a spectacular way when Steve came home from picking JJ up from school sick and walked in on his wife and her personal assistant. Which apparently meant very personal.
He blocked the entry way for JJ’s sake and just calmly said,
“I’d like a divorce.”
Walking himself and his sniffling little six year old to their elderly neighbor’s apartment flipping on cartoons and telling her what had happened in hushed tones.
“You know you can be a lot happier, maybe New York isn’t for you, and maybe Cindy isn’t for you, but I’ve seen you with JJ, and I know raising her is for you.” Mrs. Crandon was an absolute angel.
So the next two years of splitting assets and custody battles Steve held onto the notion. That yes, raising Joanna Jean was a non-negotiable.
***
Everything was finally finalized with curt good byes and attempts at cordial attitudes for JJ’s benefit Steve gave Cindy one last hug, “I hope you’re able to find what makes you happy.” He said.
She scoffed quietly, “Being happy is a childish notion Steven, but I think I can be more successful now, so thank you for that.”
He headed hand in hand with his daughter through the subway back to their Brooklyn walk up,
“Baby doll why don’t you grab that book you’ve been reading and I’ll get dinner started?” He crouched and hugged his kid, through all of this he had never once lead her to believe she had done anything wrong for what was going on.
She easily hugged back small frame wrapping her arms around his neck, “Only if you promise me it’s Spaghetti Carbonara.” She whispered.
That dish was reserved for celebrations and hard days, and yeah today was a mix of both.
“Sure kid I think I’ve got all the fixings.” He gave her one more firm squeeze and let her run off to her room.
Joanna Jean was the light of his life he just wanted to be good for her and lead with the right examples. It was made so much harder since he never experienced that with his own parents, they had passed in a car accident when Joey was still a toddler. he was trying so hard to carve his own path. He thought idly that maybe 1997 could be a good year for them.
The phone rang out over the ever constant chatter of the TV, Steve grabbed the receiver,
“Harrington Residence.”
“Ding dong the witch is dead!” was being sang over the line.
“Robbie, c’mon she was more of an ice queen than a witch.” Steve chuckled.
Robin laughed too, “Maybe a mix of both? Have you thought more about what we talked about?”
Steve hushed his voice so Joey wouldn’t overhear, “JJ has had it rough, and I’m afraid of uprooting her before school starts to cart her off to Hawkins and totally culture shock the kid.”
Robin sighed, “But her cool Aunts Robin and Nancy are here, I own a book store. That’s practically her mecca, Nancy runs the paper like a journalistic superstar what a role model, Steve all your support is here,” Steve heard Nancy yell from the background, “Come back so we can support youuu.”
Steve softly laughed, “I’m not sure the timing’s right.”
Robin rebutted, “Dustin would literally piss his pants if you moved back, did you know the Byers old house is up for rent? I’m sure they’d knock the price if a handy man such as yourself fixed it up, Steve you flip houses for a living, Hawkins has so many old farm houses for you to increase the population here, the town isn’t as sleepy as it was ten years ago. We need someone with your specialties making changes.”
JJ said over the second line, “Isn’t there a cat at Auntie Robin’s book store?”
“Joanna Jean how long have you been on the line?” Steve asked as Robin and Nancy cackled.
Robin added, “We do have a book shop cat. Her name is Athena.”
“Like the Greek goddess of battle?” JJ asked still on the line and ignoring her dad.
“Got it in one smarty pants!”
“Joey hang up. Now.” Steve said firmly.
“Okay cranky much, when’s dinner?”
Steve let out an insufferable sigh.
Robin kept giggling. Finally the other receiver was hung up.
“Robbie I know I can do my work anywhere but that means needing childcare and to get my real estate license in Indiana to sell what I flip, and find suppliers in the Midwest for products and a team for demolition and installation-“
Robin cut him off, “- You have inheritance from your folks, it was the only kind thing they did for you, build a life here, where the people who matter to you live. Child care? Her ass is welcome at the book shop daily, and putting together a demo crew, well Dustin might know some people at least to get you started. Come home already.”
Steve melted at the word home. Because frankly no where had felt like home except for Hawkins. College in Chicago hadn’t been home, and New York wasn’t even close to feeling like home. He added pancetta to the pan as it sizzled he took a deep breath.
“JJ and I will discuss it over dinner, but I gotta go, time to add the egg yolk to the Carbonara and you know that takes attention.” Steve said.
“You got it Stevie, this is just a long con to get your ass back to Hawkins to cook for me!” Robin’s voice sounded light and inviting.
“Yeah, yeah Robbie, talk to you soon.”
***
JJ had gone to Hawkins every summer with Steve for a ten day trip since she was three, she adored his old friends, once Robin took the leap with her own business she loved snooping in the Main street book store, she had fun on hot days at the quarry- even though she wasn’t a super outdoorsy kid.
Twisting noodles onto his fork he looked over at Joey, “Baby doll, real talk, do you think you’d like to try out Hawkins, move there? When we go it’s just fun vacation time. A lot is vastly different between there and New York if we opted to make it permanent.”
She popped a crispy bit of pancetta in her mouth and thought it over. The shape of her eyes and the beauty marks on her face were all Steve, the late summer had her freckles out in full force dusted over her upturned nose, the assessing hazel view landed on Steve’s face. The kid was worlds beyond what Steve was like at that age. “I think different could be good.”
He nodded.
“What if we make the move and you hate it?” Voicing his realest concern.
“I don’t think you’ll hate it, and I’d get to see Robin, Nancy, and Dustin regularly. I guess a new school might be scary. I don’t think I could ever hate a place you love so much. My only friend out here is Eleanor but her mom was talking about putting her in private school.” Joey moved noodles around her plate as she spoke, “I’d like to try?” She finished.
Steve nodded, “Okay baby lets try this.”
Steve was relieved, for the first time in years he felt the iron grip around his lungs let up slightly.
***
Steve informed his land lord of their plans and three weeks later they’re off to Hawkins, his work truck packed to the brim with the important stuff, full approval from all of the lawyers and Cindy, and a bunch of boxes already delivered that Dustin, Will, Lucas, and Mike had helped lug into the Byers house.
Steve drummed his fingers on the steering wheel while JJ sat content in the back seat with her walk man headphones firmly in place listening to Spice Girls, Spice World cassette on repeat. Steve fuckin’ dug the Spice Girls and it embarrassed the hell out of Joey that he knew all the songs.
He had some random stations on as they slowly made their way West to Indiana. He was afraid she would miss the tall buildings and surprise Broadway shows they went to together. Hawkins wasn’t New York, but he vowed to find special activities for the two of them.
Stopping more than half way through Ohio for the night Steve got them a hotel room with two beds and let JJ choose a movie for the evening. She picked Hercules, the kid was on a big mythology kick, Steve loved the way her eyes lit up at the outlandish stories of gods and demigods. She was the coolest kid.
Steve found himself genuinely watching the animated film. “Told’ya you would like it.” JJ smirked back at him as she laid on her stomach eating pizza from the cardboard box.
Steve laughed, “I gotta say this is pretty entertaining.” Steve leaned over and grabbed a slice. “You feeling good about getting to Hawkins tomorrow?”
She puffed her cheeks at him, “I can’t wait to set up my new room dad! We literally could’ve made it through the night.”
He smiled at his kid, there’s no way they were making it the full 13 hours in one day, she was squirrely and Steve just couldn’t focus to do it. His eyes had needed a break.
She rolled off her bed and crawled up next to him on his, leaning back into the pillows, “Is there gonna be a fenced yard where we move?” she asked.
“Uh if my memory serves me I don’t think so, but could put one in, it would add value to their place for sure.” Steve answered not thinking much of it until he realized it was a strange thing to ask, “Why did you want a fenced yard?”
He narrowed his eyes at her, she met his gaze all wide-eyed hazel stare at him, “Um, just curious.”
He leaned over and tickled her, “Alright, alright get offa me! What if we got a dog?”
He knew she had an ulterior motive. “Dogs are a lot of responsibility-“ she started to pout, “-this isn’t a hard no baby doll, but can we start the school year first and see if we’re really ready or equipped for one?”
She looked up at him, “So not a no?”
He nodded at her, “Not a no, but not a right now, got it?”
“Got it. Operation have Aunt Robin and Aunt Nancy help me get a dog is a go.” She grinned all toothy at him.
“You little punk!” Steve beamed at her, she was always tough to say no to.
***
They got to the Byers old place close to noon. Himself and Joey running to unlock the house and use the bathroom. “I told you we could’ve stopped in Indy!”
Through the door JJ yelled, “It wasn’t urgent in Indy dad!”
Steve did a little dance outside the door, contemplating peeing in the side yard.
JJ burst out swinging her freshly washed wet hands. “No towel.” She shrugged as she wiped her hands dry on her purple leggings.
Steve slipped in and found quick relief.
Once done he found his daughter sitting on the patio. “Do you think we could repaint the outside of the house? The chipped navy is depressing.”
Steve took it in, the place needed some serious TLC. “Help me bring boxes in and we’ll talk color?”
JJ lit up, she loved making a game out of designing houses.
***
Beds and furniture were in place, linens were washed, and boxes were mostly organized and partially unpacked. Steve was exhausted. JJ was laying on top of the new sheets on her bed looking up at the glow in the dark stars she had directed Steve where every single one was meant to go.
They were perfect.
He’d do anything to make that kid smile.
Steve stood in her bedroom doorway the day crawling by with the evening well underway, “Joey, wanna grab a shower before we head over to Rob and Nancy’s? They want us over for dinner, here’s to hoping it’s carry out.”
The two of them exchanged a glance and laughed, “How can they both be so smart, and good at so many things, and so very bad at cooking?” JJ asked as Steve continued to laugh.
She wasn’t wrong.
“Well it gives me one thing I’m better at than they are so I’ll cling to that like a lifeline.” Steve joked.
JJ sat up on her bed, “You’re good at a lot dad.”
“Even singing the entirety of the Spice album?” He hedged.
She threw her pillow at his face, “As if, nerd.”
Steve faked falling over from the impact of the pillow while Joey giggled at his antics, she stepped over his dramatically fake fainted body and headed to the bathroom to shower before dinner.
He hollered after her, “I’ll have you know I’ve never been a nerd kiddo!”
“Sure dad.” Came her sarcastic reply.
***
Steve called Robin as JJ showered.
“Robin speaking.”
“Welcome to Family Video what’s your favorite movie?” Steve volleyed back.
“Shut the fuck up Stevie, you know I’ve worked hard to block that retail hell-scape out of my life, you two heading over soon?” Robin responded seamlessly.
“Yeah Joey’s just finishing up in the shower, didja need me to pick anything up? You’re not cooking, right you didn’t set up a ploy to poison us?” Steve asked.
“Oh he’s got jokes honestly for that alone I should uninvite you. Lucky I love your kid so much. Alas Nance is currently picking up Chinese food, and before you ask, yes we got a double order of crab rangoon. So just get over here soon- you best believe I’m digging into the food whether you’re here or not!” Robin ranted.
“Well someone’s got a spicy attitude tonight.” Steve snipped at her.
“I’m gonna hug you so hard Dingus, you have no idea. I have a lot of feelings with you moving home with your daughter. I hope she makes forever friends here too. Good roots to have.” Robin sounded sentimental.
“How much wine have you had? Save some for me, don’t make me tear up about Hawkins, but yeah, it feels good to be back.”
He heard the water turn off.
On the end of the line he heard a greeting.
“Oh did I tell you Dustin and his merry band of losers are here too?” Robin added.
“Well shit Robs, we’re gonna need way more than just two orders of rangoon!” He bitched at her.
“Get your cranky ass here quick then no promises I’m saving you and that attitude any!” She yelled back.
“Hey don’t call my kid that attitude!”
“Awful dad joke Stevie, see ya soon!”
The line disconnected and Steve herded his eight year old into the car and off to Robin and Nancy’s town home closer to downtown Hawkins.
***
Dustin ran out to greet them, picking JJ up and spinning her, “Kid you’re getting tall I’m not sure how much longer we can keep this greeting up.”
She laughed musically as he kept spinning. He set her down, “Uncle Dustin, let’s come up with a secret handshake!”
Dustin looked to Steve, “Did you know me and your dad have one?”
“Dustin! It’s a secret!” Steve joked as they worked on remembering theirs from when Dusty was basically Steve’s charge.
“Wait can I learn yours? That way it can be all of ours?” She asked excitedly.
“You got it baby doll.” Steve said as he rounded them up to head inside.
Greeted by warm welcoming’s from his entire kid squad.
Robin pouncing on him for a tight hug, “ I am so, so, so happy you’re here Stevie.”
“Robs you’re embarrassing me.” Steve fake whined as Nancy came up to hug Joey then Steve.
Nancy smiled warmly. “I feel like the gang’s back together! JJ wanna hear about the interview I did today with Caroline B. Cooney?”
Joey lit up, “I love her books!”
The two were off.
“Is that book a little old for her?” Robin asked Steve.
Steve shrugged, “It says for ages 9 to 12 and Joey has always read at a higher level, nothing like me.” He gave a small laugh and continued,
“She loves the mystery books I don’t want to discourage her reading.”
Robin nodded.
“I brought some home from the shop for her a few mythology ones, that was her most recent obsession, right?”
“Yeah you got it. Thanks, I’ll need to build the kid her own library at this pace. We watched Hercules last night that sparked a lot of conversations about Hades and the underworld- and did I mention kids are fucking weird?” Steve said while loading a plate for himself and grabbing one for JJ.
Robin chuckled, “She is one of a kind dude, but her empathy is all you.”
Steve looked to Robin and bumped his shoulder into hers, “Thanks Robbie.”
Mike had caught them up on El who was off leading a habitats for humanities group in the Caribbean. JJ hadn’t met El since their trips always coincided with El being out of town for her non-profit work.
Lucas beamed when he spoke about Max. Joey adored the fiery red head. A teacher at the local elementary school JJ would be attending. Max was more than half way through her first pregnancy and still hiking, driving like a maniac, and giving people hell. Everything Steve expected to hear.
“Can I hold the baby when she has it?” JJ asked all excitement.
Lucas smiled at her, “Joey of course, and at this rate I think you might be our go-to babysitter when you both get older.”
She grinned at him, “If my dad says it’s okay I’d love to!”
Steve smiled softly.
“Are you kidding me? Your dad babysat all of us, he was trusted with a bunch of preteens, it’s practically family tradition!” Dustin interjected.
Which got Joey asking a million questions about Steve as a babysitter and him in high school.
Steve rolled his eyes but let them entertain her with the stories.
As the night wore on he saw her eyelids beginning to droop, it had been a long couple of days, “Alright peanut, time to head home and catch some Z’s.” He rubbed her shoulder waking her softly.
“’M not even sleepy.” She mumbled out.
Nancy crouched down by the love seat and gave JJ another big hug, “Welcome to Hawkins Joey, we’re so glad to have you here.” She kissed the top of Joey’s head as she slowly uncurled her body and sat up.
Robin came over to give her a squeeze, “JJ can’t wait for you to come by the book store.”
Steve felt like his heart could burst watching the people he loved most in the world together in one place. Sure his time with Cindy had been hard, even in past relationships he heard the word clingy more than a few times, he so badly wanted to be loved the way he gave love, but he had Joey to pour that love into and nurture her.
His love for her was boundless and reflected in his friends.
He tucked his kid under his arm when the rounds of hugs and goodbyes died down and guided her back to the truck.
“Dad? I think this was the right choice.”
Steve knew it was really too soon to make that kind of call but was relieved all the same.
“You’ve got a lot of people who love you baby doll.”
She smiled at him with sleepy eyes.
They buckled in and headed home.
***