Steve jolted awake, something was wrong. He looked around him and his eyes grew wide, Eddie was napping beside him on the couch. Steve realized he was wearing the same clothes the day they went back into the upside down, the day Eddie died. Steve was determined to change the trajectory of that day, he couldn't loose Eddie again.

He needed to tell Eddie the way he felt, to hopefully keep him from dying again.

Eddie woke as the others did. "So we ready to kill vena?"

"One."

"Henry."

"Right whatever, okay is our plan set?"

"Yeah, it is." Steve remarked taking a deep breath. Everyone quickly got to work on the exact things as before. Steve was jittery, he needed to tell Eddie how he felt. Needed to tell Eddie that this had all happened before and he needed him to stay alive for not only himself but for his uncle and for Dustin.

Steve smirked watching Eddie and Dustin play fight as they had before. He took a deep breath and made his way up to them. "Eddie can we talk just really quick?"

Dustin eyed the two of them, he saw them both as his father figures even if everyone joked that Steve was like his mother. Eddie nodded and followed Steve a few feet away. "What's up big boy?" Steve tried to hide the blush that crossed his face. Eddie looked him up and down curiously. "Steve?"

"This is going to sound crazy Eddie, but.. I.. we have lived through this day once already and you died. You.. you left me and your uncle and Dustin behind and I'm not about to let that happen again. I swear if you die I will come back and kill you myself. I can't loose you."

"What are you saying?" Eddie asked his eyes lighting up.

"I'm saying you've died, and you can't die again."

"I got that part Stevie."

Steve froze. "Then what do you mean by asking what I am talking about?"

"Why can't I leave you behind? Why can't you loose me?"

Steve tried not to blush again, Dustin was peering at them from behind Eddie's shield. "I.. well Eddie I..."

"I thought you wanted six little nuggets." Eddie mused. "I can't have kids, neither can you."

"We already have six little nuggets. Six kids to protect and care about like they are our own and I want to do that with you."

"So the King wants to raise kids with the Freak?" Eddie asked crossing his arms, but the smile of his face was one of pure bliss.

"I... I do. I want to be with you Eddie, when you died I lost it. I.. I thought it was all for not but you.. well when I woke up and saw you laying there alive I couldn't help but believe I got a chance to fix it all. Everything I've done has been leading up to this moment. I.. I need you to live for me Eddie. I need you to help me keep these kids alive in the coming apocalypse. Will you do that? Will you not be stupid and die this time?"

"How'd it happen?" Eddie questioned.

"You were so brave, and you didn't run. You were protecting Dustin, but you could have ran. You should have ran, I would have preferred if you did. I need you to run this time okay? The bats, they'll break through. Instead of fighting through them when they do, you need to help Dustin up then get your ass up there and figure out a way to seal the split between our world and the upside down in the ceiling. I don't care what you use. But I need you to do that, please. I'm begging you."

"I expect a kiss when I survive."

"You'll get one, I promise and you'll become the King's Freak."

Eddie couldn't help but laugh as he pulled a D20 out of his pocket and chucked it into Steve's palm. Steve looked down at the red and black marbled dice. A 20 looked back at him. "You'll become the Freak's King." Steve went to hand the dice back but Eddie closed Steve's hand over it. "Keep it Stevie, it's a token."

Steve blushed as he held the dice in his hand. "I'm going to see you again, do you understand me?"

"I promise. I'll keep Dustin safe, I'll keep us both safe."

Steve sighed and hugged him. "You better, I know you may think not running is a bad choice because it got you in this mess but I promise you running will keep you alive."

Eddie nodded, the two parted as they got the rest of their plan in place. "What was that about?" Dustin asked holding up his shield to do another look over.

"You want both a mom and a dad?" Eddie questioned as he popped the rim of his hat over his face.

"What?"

"You know how you see me as your father figure, and everyone calls Steve your mom?"

Dustin nodded trying to figure out where he was going with this. "Yeah, and?"

"Steve confessed his love to me, so once we get out of this we are going to be king Steve and Eddie the freak. Top couple at Hawkins High."

Dustin's mouth hung open. "Wait you mean.. you mean that you two are like a couple!"

"Not yet, but we will be. Now lets do this Dusty, and survive it."

Dustin nodded jumping up and down happily. Eddie couldn't help but smile seeing his reaction. Steve was concerned the rest of the night, he was just praying everything went right. That Eddie survived. He had to make sure Eddie was okay, if he wasn't okay he didn't know what to do. He just prayed if something went wrong he would wake up the next day and it would all be okay.

He just needed him to be alive now.

As everyone found one another to make sure they were okay Steve's eyes shot to Dustin. Last time the kid had come running to Steve with tears in his eyes. This time he was smiling. "Where is h-." Before Steve could finish his sentence he was tackled to the ground from the side. He groaned as he sat up and soon lips were on his own. Robin and Nancy were standing side by side watching the boys in awe.

"You're okay!" Steve shouted in relief as their lips parted for only a moment before he soon the two were kissing once more. "Thank god."

"I ran, but I fought." Eddie muttered into his lips. "I fought to come back to you. To help keep an eye on the little nuggets." Steve was laugh crying as he held onto Eddie. He was just thankful it was all okay, that they were okay. "You're my king, the freak's."

"Yours." Steve whispered before kissing him again thanking the starts he got a second chance.