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Boxing Day had never been his favorite of the Christmas period. Often spent alone and bored out of his mind, Eddie Munson had learnt young to make sure he had something to distract himself for the majority of the day. Lest he think a little too hard about the past and make himself sad.
Wayne always made sure he was home for Christmas, every single year since he took Eddie in. He was home on Christmas morning and made a big show of giving Eddie the few small gifts he could afford.
Eddie was beyond grateful for anything to call his own. Before Wayne, he wasn’t sure he’d really even had a proper Christmas. Certainly not one that both landed on actual Christmas Day and involved gifts. It was one or the other it seemed. A couple of years with neither sprinkled in the middle. But Eddie had tried hard to block those out.
But Boxing Day was different. Still technically a holiday, it meant double pay and for the night shift, which Wayne had worked for the last few years it meant almost triple. He didn’t make the best wage but working Boxing Day made him enough money to cover their little Christmas celebration plus a few gifts. So Eddie didn’t complain when Wayne waved goodbye even though he knew it meant a boring day of wondering what other families did during the holidays.
It was currently the Christmas period of 1985 and Eddie’s first ever winter holiday with a girlfriend.
As a result he was no longer spending Boxing Day alone. Instead he was standing in the living area of a house he’d been to only once before. Hand in hand with the love of his life as she pointed around the party and whispered about the people attending. Telling him who was who and filling him in on if they liked them or not.
Every year since Karmen had moved to Hawkins, her friends and family gathered at this house the day after Christmas. Once all of their own intimate family celebrations had concluded it was a time for friends, food, games and drinking if you were old enough. Which she hadn’t been for quite some time. Attending her first party at the age of eight.
Karmen’s best friend John had grown up in the foster system. Eventually landing him in a relatively stable household that saw lots of different kids of varying ages come and go. Every year they hosted this day for their current family, family members that had moved on to other homes, members that had long since passed. Neighbors new and old. Anyone and everyone that wanted to join in or perhaps even like Eddie, needed a place to go, to keep from being alone.
Earlier in the year, Karmen’s friend and John’s brother, Arthur had purchased the house from his parents and had agreed to keep the tradition running until the ranch they had moved to was ready to take it over.
Eddie had been brought here by a friend only a week or so after Arthur had moved in. The night he’d met Karmen and his life had changed for the better.
“You know in Australia we’d go outside and play cricket or something.” Karmen mentioned idly, catching Eddie’s attention. “I’ve been here for nearly twenty years and still every year I forget how cold it’s going to be at Christmas.” She smiled as Eddie looked down at her in fascination.
“Would you ever want to go back?” He asked. Karmen considered his question. Pursing her lips as she thought.
“Maybe.” She replied. “As much as I miss it, I’m not sure I’d want to leave all of my family and friends behind.”
Eddie nodded knowingly.
“Yeah, I get that.”
“I think it’d be easier to just play cricket in the snow.” She joked, making him smile.
“I can make that happen for you.” He said earnestly, leaning closer as she looked up at him with sparkling eyes. “I’d do anything for you.” He added softly, leaning down to kiss her before she could move away. Not that she had planned on it. Smiling against his lips as she squeezed their hands together tight.
He pulled away first, still reluctant but not wanting to embarrass her in front of her friends.
“Oh look!” Karmen exclaimed suddenly, pointing towards the other side of the large room. “It’s Sadie.” She said excitedly. “I haven’t seen her yet.”
Eddie looked towards where she was pointing. Catching sight of a crowd of people milling around a sandy haired woman and a large man by her side.
Eddie wracked his brain hard to try and figure out why Sadie was important. He remembered Karmen mentioning her a couple of times recently. He had definitely been listening. But sometimes things he really wanted to remember didn’t stick in his brain.
“I’m going to go and congratulate them.” Karmen whispered, looking up at Eddie and smiling excitedly. “Do you wanna come over?”
Eddie didn’t reply right away. Desperately trying to remember why Sadie needed to be congratulated.
“Uh, I’ll stay here. They look like they’re being crowded.” He said softly, any excuse to hide the fact he couldn’t remember a single thing she’d told him about her friends.
“Okay.” She replied, letting go of his hand and trotting off.
Eddie watched in amusement as she made her way over. Swirling herself around in front of the couple and holding out her arms as the man moved in to hug her. A twinge of jealousy niggling in his gut before he shoved it down.
These were her friends.
She moved to the woman next, wrapping her arms around her before breaking apart and pressing her hands over her heart. Exchanging words back forth before suddenly Karmen nodded and stepped closer again.
Eddie watched as the women leaned toward one another. Chests and shoulders bumping together briefly before they slowly separated. The blonde woman took a step back and placed a hand over her own heart. Tapping her partner on the arm and catching his attention as she pointed to Karmen who took another step back and revealed herself as one of the most ethereal things Eddie had ever witnessed in his life.
Karmen stood with her arms cradled around a tiny form. Her emerald eyes watered, highlighting their gorgeous color. The apples of her cheeks a beautiful tint of rouge as she grinned down at the wiggling bundle she had been handed.
Time stood still for Eddie Munson as the golden backdrop of the late afternoon through the large glass windows highlighted the loose curls of hair cascading over her shoulder and the flowing fabric of her dress as she swayed side to side. She was illuminated, the way angels were depicted in media. A golden glow around the edges of her frame that made him notice the absence of a halo and wings.
It was as if the room was devoid of anyone but them. Eddie, Karmen and the tiny nameless bundle of joy she held with such a tender grasp that he was sure came naturally to someone like her.
He couldn’t tell in that moment of time if he wanted to have the baby or be the baby. A sudden hole in his chest that longed to be filled with his own family or maybe the gentle security of a Mother’s embrace.
Either way he was acutely aware he was currently looking at one of the most beautiful things he’d ever seen and this moment was important. A memory he would keep for the rest of his life.
A glimpse into his own future or maybe an omen of what was to come. Her future that he would not be a part of.
The thought soured the imagery and forced him to look away. The butterflies in his gut spluttering and falling to the pool of acid as it tried to rise to his throat.
The people around him returned to the room. The sound that had been sucked out when Sadie stepped back, rushed back in, entirely too loud.
He took a deep breath, holding it for a second and exhaling slowly before turning back to where he had left his vision of Karmen. The place by the window abandoned, the afternoon light suddenly dull and boring without her presence.
As if the universe was listening to his thoughts, she appeared in front of him suddenly. Much closer now but still holding the pudgy little human poking out from the middle of what seemed like an excessive amount of blankets.
“Hey.” She whispered as she stopped in front of him and watched his eyes drag downwards to the bundle in her arms. His brown orbs locked onto mottled skin and thin blonde wisps of hair.
He wondered what they would look like with brunette curls instead.
He held out a cautious hand, eyes flicked to hers for permission before he ran the pads of his fingers along the soft skin of the baby’s forearm. Ending in the cliche of holding out his finger to see what they would do.
Dark blue eyes looking up at him from under long black lashes that fluttered gently with every tired blink. They fell to his hand, staring for a long while before fulfilling their end of the cliche and clutching the tiniest fingers Eddie had ever seen around the 3rd knuckle of his index finger.
He pressed his lips together tightly to keep an excited scream that was meant for the void inside his mouth as Karmen chuckled lightly. The movement of her shoulders shaking the little one and causing them to look up at her instead. Squeezing hard onto Eddie’s finger before dropping the bottom lip and beginning to cry.
Karmen was not Mom.
A fact that had managed to elude them longer than anyone had anticipated. Sadie appeared beside them in an instant and thanked the both of them for affording her a quick moment to eat something with both hands.
Eddie gently removed his finger from bub’s grip. Shuffling awkwardly as the woman smiled at him like she could read his mind. Hoping to hell his cheeks weren’t as red as they felt as he watched Karmen hand the child back. Exchanging words he didn’t hear as he overthought his own situation.
“Your turn next.” A rusty voice cut through his thoughts as a heavy hand landed on his shoulder. He turned to see John had sidled up beside him, shaking his shoulder lightly before reaching out to gently tap at Karmen’s arm as she turned her attention to them.
“Very funny.” She replied dryly, placing her hands on her hips.
“Wasn’t being funny.” The other man scoffed, placing his hand on his chest to feign being wounded at her comment. “Just trying to scare him off.” He added, quickly scooting out of the way as her arm shot out to smack him.
Eddie watched them bicker. Not really listening as he returned to his own thoughts. He was used to the ribbing by now. Not exactly one to let a bit of gentle teasing get to him.
A joke or not, John’s words lingered in his mind. He had told Karmen not long ago that he was serious about wanting the same things as her. A simple life and a family. He still wasn’t sure if she really believed him or not.
“I swear, I’m so close to being done apologizing for you.” Karmen hissed, her eyes all but twitching as John snorted in response.
“So stop, I don’t care.” He laughed, nudging Eddie with his elbow before continuing. “He knows I’m just joking.”
Eddie didn’t respond, not even feeling it as he got lost in his thoughts. His silence and glazed over eyes caught the attention of the two in front of him. Making them turn to him fully and watch as he continued to think on everything.
“Eddie?” Karmen said firmly, a tinge of worry in her voice as she reached out to take hold of his bicep. “Hey?” She asked, giving him a shake and watching as the room came back into focus for him.
“Hmm?” He asked quickly, looking between them both and wondering what he’d missed.
“Jesus, what were you thinking about so hard?“ She asked with a laugh.
“Babies.” John answered for him. A joke that hit a little too close to the truth.
“Go away.” Karmen said coldly, having had enough of him for the evening. “Don’t you have a child to palm off on someone else?” She asked, watching as John’s mouth fell open at her audacity.
“Excuse me. He’s entertaining himself.” He answered with a dramatic huff, gesturing with his beer can towards the corner of the room. The couple turning to where John’s toddler, Jack, sat with an entire pie in his lap. Dipping his dirty palm inside to get at the filling and licking it off before going again. Somehow he was covered almost head to toe in filling despite only touching the pie with one hand.
“Jesus Christ.” Eddie mumbled, looking down and suppressing a smile as he waited for Karmen to say something.
She was definitely going to say something.
“Looks like fun, you should join him.” She said after a beat. “Come on.” She directed at Eddie, wrapping her arm around his waist and steering him away from other party guests.
Eddie let himself be led, not asking where they were going. She stopped them in the opposite corner of the room. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as she brought both hands to her face and rubbed over her eyes.
“I swear we’re friends.” She chuckled, making Eddie frown.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“John and I.” She replied. “Best friend since we were kids. Two of a kind. Platonic soulmates. But all you’ve ever seen us do is bicker and fight over stupid shit.” She sighed. “And I’m serious, I am sick of apologizing for him. But I’m sorry he-“
“I was thinking about babies.” Eddie interrupted her, watching as her mouth slapped shut and she stared at him, waiting for more. “I want one.” He said softly, feeling his cheeks heat at the admission.
Karmen was silent for a lot longer than he had anticipated. A small smile creeped onto her lips before she eventually spoke again. Leveling him with a knowing expression.
“Eddie…” She chuckled, unable to help it. “I think it’s really sweet that baby Adler made you clucky.”
“I was already-“ Eddie began, pausing as he chewed on the word clucky. Not liking the way it sounded when applied to himself “Wanting… it.” He concluded, reaching out to take her hands in his.
“We’re not even engaged yet, let alone married.” She said with a squeeze to his palms.
“I could change that.” Eddie said swiftly, watching as she tilted her head at him sympathetically.
“Eddie I-.”
“Marry me?” He interrupted, a little too quickly, stepping closer to her as she pursed her lips together to keep from saying something stupid. She was lucky she hadn’t had anything to drink yet or she might have agreed on the spot.
“Please don’t propose to me without a ring at a Boxing Day party.” She laughed, letting go of one of his hands and bringing it to his face to gently swipe away loose bangs before cupping his jaw and pulling him in for a tender kiss.
Eddie tried not to feel disappointed, he hadn’t seriously been proposing. But if she had said yes he probably would have just ran with it. He wanted it badly. Wanted her, forever.
He kissed her softly, enjoying the sweet taste of her lips as they moved their mouths against one another slowly.
Karmen pulled away first. Eddie chasing her briefly before coming to his senses. He brought his hand up to hold the one on his cheek. Tilting his head to kiss at it as she looked up at him thoughtfully.
“I’m not saying no.” She whispered after a moment, watching as his eyes widened in surprise for a brief moment before he managed to school his features to the best of his ability. His lips pressed together to conceal a smile, eyes still wider than usual as he stared down at her in awe. “Not long now until you graduate. Let’s revisit in April, okay?”
Eddie’s hidden smile faded, lips loosening as the spark disappeared from his gorgeous doe eyes.
“Alright.” He agreed, trying not to sound deflated. He wasn’t keen on the idea of his only solid plan for the future hinging on his academic ability.
He only had a few months left of school and if he played his cards right he would actually graduate this time. He was closer than ever, thanks to the incentive of wanting to impress her.
Karmen saw the light fade from his eyes. His shoulders slumping slightly as he tried to pretend that what she’d said didn’t affect him. He liked to think he was subtle and aloof but he was an open book to those that knew him.
“Hey?” She whispered, tapping the pads of her fingers against his cheek to get his attention. “You know we haven’t been back here since we met.” She smiled, raising her brows suggestively before looking around them to see if anyone was keeping an eye on them.
Eddie’s brows raised in return, following her gaze around the room before she turned back to him and smiled wickedly.
“Wanna revisit the room?” She asked, her free hand snaking up his side and wrapping around his lithe frame. Pulling them closer as she looked up at him with a sultry gaze and chewed on her bottom lip, waiting for an answer.
“Oh my God, yes.” Eddie answered hurriedly, catching on and inhaling an excited breath. It had been about seven months since they’d met in this house and snuck off to one of the bedrooms to hook up.
The only issue being that Eddie had never hooked up before. Never even been kissed before she took the privilege of being his first. They had fooled around a little instead of a full on hook up. Vowing to return one day and show the bedroom some action. A joke at the expense of her friend John who had also lost his virginity late in life.
“Can’t disappoint the room.” Eddie added, quoting her and making her smirk.
“I mean at this point it would be rude not to.” She nodded, making them both giggle as she took his hand like she had that first night. Leading him through the house until they reached that door he remembered so vividly.
She knocked first, just to check the room wasn’t already occupied by another couple or someone getting changed. When there was no answer she dragged him inside and locked the door behind them.
Eddie pounced on her immediately. The click of the door coincided with his warm breath against her neck. Hands sweeping hair out of the way as he kissed and licked against the corner of her jaw. His arms moving to slide around her front. One of them already slipping under the fabric of her dress and squeezing greedily at her breast while the other lingered on her hip. Holding her in place as he pressed his hard on against her ass.
“Oh fuck…” Karmen breathed, tilting her head to give him better access as her eyes fluttered closed. One of her own hands falling between her legs as Eddie ground himself against her. A gruff moan vibrating against her neck and making her clench around nothing as she pressed her fingers hard against her clit through her clothes.
“I wanted this, uh, so bad… that night.” Eddie huffed out as his kisses became sloppy. More nipping and licks of apology as a groan rumbled in her ear.
“Me too.” She gasped out, spinning in his grasp so she was facing him and kicking off her sandals before slipping the straps of her dress down her shoulders.
Eddie grabbed for them excitedly, her hands falling away as he shimmied them down, lifting the fabric where he needed to, to reveal her braless chest. Voluptuous breasts responding to his touch as he swiped his thumbs over puckered nipples. Pulling the dress as far down as her hips before letting go and returning his hands to his favorite girls.
He dipped his head down, capturing one of the rosy buds in his mouth and relishing in the breathy sound Karmen let slip. Alternating between giving them both attention with his mouth and hands before slowly lowering himself to his knees.
Her hands fell to his hair as he continued to slide her dress off her body. Kissing down her pudgy stomach and over her thick hips as the fabric dragged over the widest part of her before falling gracefully to the ground.
Eddie didn’t give her a chance to step out of it, his nose already nudging against her clit through her panties. One of his hands running a gentle thumb over top of it and making her squirm.
“Eddie.” She mumbled, looking down at him with lusty eyes. Her hands tightening in his hair as the thumb hooked into her underwear and pulled it aside. Tongue licking a long, sensual stripe up her dripping cunt as his cock kicked against his fly. Precum leaking inside his pants and threatening to soak through. “Oh, shit.” Karmen gasped, her hips grinding against his tongue as he returned it to her throbbing button.
Eddie hummed at the feeling of her riding his face. The vibrations making her whine. He felt so fucking good. Knew exactly where she needed him. He was a natural at almost everything. If she’d known that all those months ago she probably would have let him do a little more that first night. But she hadn’t wanted to embarrass him. Hadn’t realized how eager he would be to be taught.
Eddie’s free hand fell to his neglected cock at the sound of her whine. He squeezed it desperately, trying to take the edge off. He was so painfully hard. She tasted so delicious. Any other time he’d eat her out for hours. Rutting against the mattress until he came with her over and over. Refusing to stop until she was physically pushing him away.
But today was different. He wanted her for himself. Needed to be inside her. Wanted to fuck himself so deep that when he came it would take hours for her to fully rid herself of him. He wanted her to still be leaking him when they left. Wanted to taste himself on her when they were back at her place, alone in her bed.
“Fuck.” He grumbled against her, wrapping his lips around her clit and sucking on her like she was his lifeblood. A strangled moan fell from her lips as her thighs began to shake. But Eddie pulled away from her with a pop, moving back in to kiss her swollen nub just once before rising to his feet, undoing his belt and fly as went.
He pulled himself free as Karmen’s hands left his hair. Grabbing onto his belt loops and yanking him closer as he pumped his cock with a shaky hand. Precum beading on the head at the action and sliding down over his knuckles.
He crowded into Karmen’s space. His slick lips pressing all over cheeks and neck as he backed her towards the door. Only stopping as he felt her back hit against it. Both of his hands on her hips now as he captured her lips and forced his tongue into her mouth. She kissed back feverishly, tasting herself and quivering at the thought as Eddie’s dick pressed insistently against her stomach. Jumping every few seconds and sliding easily against the softness of her belly.
“I love you so fucking much.” Eddie huffed against her lips.
“I love you too.” She murmured back. Her hands roaming his own soft belly and toned chest under his shirt. His erection nodding happily at the returned sentiment
Eddie slipped his hands down over her ass and under her thighs. Pushing himself flush against her before lifting her up and bracing her against the door with his weight. Karmen helped him along by wrapping her legs tight around his hips.
He held her there with his chest as he felt around between them and maneuvered his dick, slipping it under the side of her panties and pressing it against her entrance. Only holding off for a few long seconds to try and stave off his excitement before pressing into her in one slow motion that ripped a groan from his throat. The pleasure pooling in his gut already threatening to overflow at the feel of her.
He wasn’t sure he’d ever get over how fucking good she felt. Warm, wet and so Goddamn tight. Better than anything he’d ever fucked in his life and utterly irreplicable.
“So good.” Karmen slurred, her arms tight around his shoulders as she buried her face in his neck. His cock pulsed inside her as she clenched around him in response. Both of them silently enjoying the quick moments of cockwarming before Eddie inevitably lost his footing.
“Please?” He grunted softly, on the verge of tears as she began to nip at his neck. Her lips curling into a smile as she thought on the fact that he knew he didn’t need to ask for permission when they were this far in.
“Fuck me”. She breathed, smiling around a moan as she realized he had already been moving before she’d finished speaking. His own low moan, a constant sound that changed pitch with every slap of his balls against her ass.
His pace was sloppy but unrelenting as he took a careful step backward. Pulling her by the grip on her thighs as her upper back leaned heavily against the door that thrashed in its track with every carefully aimed thrust.
The head of his dick pressed insistently on her sweet spot with the slight change of position. The first hit making her cry out involuntary. One of her hands shooting between her legs to circle her clit as the orgasm Eddie had built with his tongue, rose toward a peak out of nowhere.
She was right back there and relishing in the joint sensation of being fucked senseless by his girthy cock as she tried to stroke herself to replicate the feeling of his mouth. Wishing he could eat her out at the same time he fucked her.
“Holy shit Eddie.” She moaned, making his hips stutter. “Oh my God.” She breathed, speeding up her hand as she began to feel floaty. “Gonna cum. Fuck.” She gasped as Eddie let out a croaky whine.
He was so close. So fucking tantalizingly close to blowing his load and filling her to the hilt. She was so sexy. Spread out in front of him like this. He could see himself moving in and out of her. The fabric of her panties sliding against his velvety skin with every thrust.
“Fuck yes. Cum for me baby. Cum on my cock.” He panted out. Barely managing to form the words between his various moans and grunts.
So close. So fucking close.
He watched with bated breath as Karmen’s hand on her clit began to falter. Her brows furrowing, mouth falling open as the muscles in her abdomen began to clench. Thighs trembling against his hips as her head slid against the door. Her chin rising up toward the sky as the peak of her orgasm crashed against her. A long strangled cry being ripped from her chest as she came hard. Her walls clenching around him and making him cry out as he hurdled towards his own peak.
“Yes, fuck. Yes.” He huffed with each thrust. Pleasure over taking him as he fucked into her harder and harder. Barely pulling back as he grunted and moaned expletives. Stepping closer to her once more and pushing them both hard against the door with his body weight as the hands under her ass slid up to her hips as he pulled her down onto himself with every thrust upward.
“Wanna fill you with my fucking cum.” He grunted. “As he teetered on the edge. “Get it so fucking deep. Fuck, uh. Shit. Wanna fuck a baby into you.” He groaned as he finally let himself reach the edge. His orgasm washed over him suddenly and fiercely as he came hard inside of her. His seed spilling deep within and being kept in place by his unrelenting grinding. His entire body shaking as the sensation began to fade and he finally started to slow down. Burying his face in her neck and evening out his breathing at the feeling of her hands running tenderly through his hair.
Eddie hid against her jaw for as long as he was able. Slowly pulling away and looking at her sheepishly as he fiddled around between them and pulled himself free. Making sure to pull her panties back in place before any of his seed could escape down her legs.
He carefully lowered her down. Kneeling closer to the ground so when she unhooked her legs she wouldn’t fall. Once her feet her on the floor they pulled apart. Karmen leaning back against the door with her arms crossed over her chest as Eddie avoided her gaze while he tucked himself away.
“Fuck a baby into me huh?” She asked with a smirk, making Eddie shudder at his own words. He looked up at her with wounded eyes. Trying his hardest to look pathetic and hoping she’d take pity on him.
She didn’t say anything else, just smiling to herself as she bent down to pick up her dress. Eddie’s eyes lingering on the growing wet patch on her panties.
“I talk a lot of shit when I’m horny.” He chuckled nervously. Watching as she looked up at him with a condescending expression.
“I know Baby.” She replied simply, shaking her head as she pulled the dress back up over her breasts and slipped her arms through the straps.
“I didn’t mean that-“
“Eddie.” She laughed, moving over to him and trying to stop his racing thoughts with firm hands on his chest. “It’s okay. I liked it.” She assured him, watching as he balked at her. “Maybe not the actual baby part but you know… You wanting to fuck me so hard you get me pregnant? Hot as hell.” She said bluntly. “You’re so pretty.” She sighed, running a hand over his cheek and stopping to boop his nose before dropping it back to his chest as Eddie continued to blink in surprise. “Still surprised you want to fuck me at all to be honest.” She admitted softly. “Also, surprised you can lift me.” She added as an afterthought.
“I’d carry you anywhere in the world if you keep being my girlfriend.” Eddie responded quickly, seeming to come back to himself. “Also, you’re beautiful.” He reaffirmed. “Like, way, way too pretty to be dating a freak like me.”
“Well, if I can’t date a freak like you, maybe I’ll just have to marry him instead.” She smiled, eyeing the look of awe from earlier that returned to Eddie’s eyes.
“Maybe.” He said croakily, not wanting to add anything else. Too scared of ruining the moment as they stared at one another with starry eyes.
“Come on, they’re probably about to do dinner.” Karmen said suddenly, taking his hand and pulling him back to the doorway before any other silly promises could be made.
She unlocked the door and peeked outside briefly before pulling Eddie out with her and closing it again behind them.
“Where’d you two sneak off to?” A gruff throaty voice asked, startling them both. They turned to the doorway across the hall, a little ways down. An older man with dark salt and pepper hair and a matching mustache leaned against the frame with a smug look on his lined face.
“Oh shit.” Karmen breathed, hand over her heart as he turned towards him. “You scared me.” She admitted, pulling Eddie with her as she moved closer.
“Did you think I was Arthur?” The older man chuckled, looking between the two of them as Karmen nodded. “Mm, don’t blame you. He’s being a pest tonight.”
“Oh, give him a break, it's his first year hosting.” Karmen laughed. “Big shoes to fill.”
The older man scoffed at her response, waving a hand lazily in her direction before settling his eyes on Eddie.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.” He said suddenly, standing up straighter and offering his hand. Eddie took it quickly, eyes flicking between the man and Karmen as they shared a firm shake. “Dutch Van der Linde.” The man offered. Eddie’s eyes widening slightly at the name. His blood ran cold as he swallowed thickly.
Dutch. The self appointed ‘Crime Lord’ that his friend Sean had brought him to this house to meet around seven months ago. The man that hadn’t been there at the time. Instead he was introduced to Karmen and the rest of her friends. One of them eventually managing to get him a supply of drugs through Dutch without ever having to meet the man.
“But you can call me Grandpa Dutch. As everyone does.” The older man said as he ended the hand shake, crossing his arms back over his chest and giving Eddie a strange look as Karmen reached over and pushed his hand back to his side.
“This is Eddie.” She said, a little too cheerily. Gesturing to her partner before nudging him softly to try and unfreeze him. “He’s actually one of your best sellers.” She continued.
“This is one of my boys?” He asked, index finger pointing towards the younger man in amusement.
As if it was timed perfectly, although Karmen knew deep down it certainly wasn’t, Eddie’s brain managed to catch up and he smiled widely at the older man.
“Absolutely. Best seller in Hawkins East.” He assured the older man with a nod. “From the trailer park over to Lover’s Lake and the estates out that way. I also have clients at Hawkins High and a few over near Mildura since my previous supplier is in the slammer now.” He finished, slightly out of breath as he had briefly forgotten to breathe during his speel.
Dutch nodded thoughtfully. He was impressed, as was Karmen. Eddie could be a little shy when first meeting someone but it was far more rare to find him quiet in general. He could talk the ear off a statue and speak his way out of almost anything. Although a lot of it was rambling, fortunately it was almost always entertaining. He would have made a good lawyer if he wasn’t liable to jump up onto the judge’s desk and start shouting his point.
“Well Eddie, it’s very good to meet you son.” Dutch smiled, his hand waving between the two of them as he spoke next. “So you two are…” He left the word unsaid, waiting for them to confirm which Karmen did swiftly. Nodding, as she leaned into Eddie’s side.
“Yes.” She answered simply as Eddie’s arm wrapped around her shoulder.
“Well good for you.” The older man said genuinely. “But if I was you, I wouldn’t go sneaking into any more of these bedrooms. You never know what you’ll find.” He said ominously, slipping passed them and starting to walk away before Karmen called after him.
“We had to christen John’s room. It was sad.”
Dutch stopped in his tracks. His shoulder shaking as he turned back to them with a look of condescension on his tired face.
“Oh Sweetheart.” The older man laughed heartily. “Hosea and I Christened that room years ago.”
Karmen’s mouth fell open at the admission. A look of horror on her face.
“Grandpa….” She gasped scandalously, watching as the man simply shrugged before walking away and leaving them there to think about it.
They stood in silence for a long moment. Karmen stared straight ahead as she tried to rid herself of the mental image.
“I swear to God if you got me pregnant in Grandpa’s sex room…” She threatened vaguely, as Eddie tried hard to stop his own shoulders from shaking. Breathing uneven as he stifled the laughter on his lips.
“Grandpa’s Sex Room would make a really good band name.” He wheezed, as the urge to cackle died down.
Karmen sighed in response, her shoulder’s slumping.
“Yeah… it would.” She agreed reluctantly. Pulling on his waist as they began their slow walk of shame back to the main party area.
Boxing Day 1986
“So, do you know the gender?” Sadie asked excitedly, looking between them both in anticipation before Karmen answered.
“No, someone had their legs crossed.” She teased, poking a finger into the side of her belly gently.
“But it’s definitely a girl.” Eddie added, practically bouncing off the walls at being asked about his favorite subject.
“Eddie…” Karmen sighed, taking the hand from her belly and running it through his hair. “You can’t keep telling people that.” She laughed, shaking her head as she looked back at Sadie. Baby Adler sitting up on her knee and looking around the room in wonder at all the lights and decorations.
“I just know.” Eddie replied, not even looking up at her as he gazed down at her swollen belly. Both hands were placed on it at that moment but there was at least one on it at all times lately.
“What if it’s a boy?” John asked from across the couch.
“It’s not.” Eddie answered, again without looking up.
“Alright.” The other man laughed. “But like, theoretically-“
“It’s a girl John.” Eddie cut him off, finally taking his eyes away from her belly and looking at the other man in exasperation.
John’s eyes flicked from his to Karmen’s and she shrugged in response. She knew Eddie wouldn’t care either way which gender the baby was. He’d love them both the same. His hopes for a girl stemmed from a fear of raising a kid to turn out just like himself.
Karmen thought if that was the case that perhaps he should spend a little less time worrying about gender and a little more time concentrating on his therapy.
She was pulled from her thoughts as Eddie leaned closer to her belly. His hands roaming over the sweater to feel the firm stomach underneath.
“I’ll love you no matter what though.” He whispered, only loud enough for Karmen and the baby to hear.
“Gross! Get a room!” Sean drunkenly slurred from across the room.
“That’s how they got in this mess.” John replied loudly before either of them could respond. Eddie looked up at Karmen excitedly as the people around them chuckled. She looked down at him with tired eyes, nodding slightly as she smiled to herself at what was about to happen.
“Hey, John!” Eddie called out, whipping his head around to smirk devilishly at the older man.
“Munson.” He replied, looking Eddie up and down at the smug smile on the younger’s face.
“Your Dad’s used your bedroom as a sex room after you moved out.” Eddie grinned as John spluttered in response. “Also we fucked in there too.” He added, pointing to Karmen’s belly despite the fact that their Boxing Day escapades could not have logically been the start of their pregnancy.
“Hey!” Arthur shouted, catching everyone’s attention right as John had opened his mouth to yell. The room went silent, air sucked out as they all looked up to the large, intimidating form standing in the doorway. “That’s my sex room now.” He joked. “Stay outta’ there. The lot of ya.”
Eddie’s eyes slid from Arthur’s back to John’s. The smug smile returning before he turned his attention back to Karmen. His hands never leaving her stomach as he looked into her eyes with that intense stare she remembered so vividly from the night they’d met.
“Thank you.” He said softly, shuffling closer as she frowned at him. The rest of the room returning to their conversations and leaving them in their own little bubble.
“What for?” She asked, sliding her arm around his neck and encouraging him to rest on her shoulder. He did so happily. Smiling to himself at how content he felt in that moment. He couldn’t remember a time he’d ever felt so goddamn happy on a holiday. Never even had a good Boxing Day until they met and now he was sure each one was going to be better than the last. If that was even possible.
She had given him everything and he wasn’t sure how to express it all other than small bursts of affection and unrelenting thanks.
She always asked what he was thankful for and he always replied the same way.
“Everything.”
