Chapter Text
The sun hung high and golden in the sky, casting soft, dappled shadows through the old oak trees that lined the edge of the park. It was warm—one of those perfect August days where the air felt soft and sweet, smelling of cut grass and sun-warmed pavement and the faint, familiar scent of vanilla that always clung to his family.
Steve sat on the wooden bench near the swings, elbows resting on his knees, hands loosely clasped between his legs, his eyes fixed on the small, whirlwind of energy tearing up the grass in front of him. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his hair a little messy from running around, and he wore that permanent, soft, besotted smile that seemed to be glued to his face ever since the day she was born.
Ellie Barbara Harrington. Almost three years old, and the absolute undisputed ruler of their entire world.
She was running back toward him now, legs pumping hard, little pigtails flying behind her, her face flushed bright pink from the heat and pure joy. And god, she was the spitting image of Nancy. It was uncanny. She had her mother’s big, bright, intelligent eyes, the exact same shape of face, the same determined set to her jaw, and that specific, sharp, brilliant sass that the Wheelers seemed to be born with. Even the way she tilted her chin up when she was about to say something bossy was identical. Steve often joked that he was basically just raising a tiny, loud, beautiful copy of the woman he loved—and he wouldn't have it any other way.
“Daddy! Push! Higher! Higher!” she commanded as she skidded to a halt in front of the swings, pointing a tiny, imperious finger at the empty seat like she was issuing an order to her most loyal subject.
Steve laughed, standing up and sweeping her up into his arms for a quick, tight hug before setting her safely onto the swing, clicking the safety strap into place. “Yes, ma’am. Whatever you say, boss. Higher it is.”
He stood behind her, hands resting lightly on her back, giving her a gentle push to start her off. She squealed immediately, throwing her head back, laughing so loud it echoed across the park, kicking her little legs out as she soared back and forth.
“More!” she yelled over her shoulder, not even looking at him, completely confident he would obey. “More push, Daddy! I can touch the clouds! Watch me!”
“You’re almost there, Princess,” Steve grinned, giving her another, stronger push, watching her fly. “You’re gonna end up in space at this rate. You gonna bring me back a moon rock?”
“Mhm!” she nodded vigorously, hair flying everywhere. “And stars! And a unicorn! And ice cream!”
“Wow. Busy trip.” He shook his head, laughing under his breath. He could already hear Nancy’s voice in his head: Steve, don’t push her too high. Steve, make sure she holds on. Steve, stop encouraging her to climb things. God, he loved that woman.
He checked his watch, squinting a little against the bright sun, then leaned in close to speak over her happy shrieks as she swung back toward him.
“Ten more minutes, Ellie Belly,” he called out, tapping the tip of her nose when she came within reach, “and then we have to head out, okay? We’ve gotta go get Mom from work.”
Ellie twisted around so fast she nearly lost her balance, grabbing the chains with both hands and pouting dramatically, her big eyes going wide and pleading in that way she knew worked every single time. “Already? But Daddy! I haven’t touched the sky yet!”
Steve chuckled, steadying the swing and giving her a softer push, completely unmoved by the famous Wheeler pout—well, mostly unmoved. “I know, baby, I know. But Mom’s been working all day and she’s gonna be tired, and she’s definitely gonna be hungry. You wanna be the one who brings her her favourite snack, right? And besides…” He lowered his voice, mock-conspiratorial, “I think she might have a surprise for you.”
That did it. The pout vanished instantly, replaced by pure, sparkling curiosity. Ellie gasped, kicking her legs harder to keep her momentum going. “A surprise? What kind? Is it pink? Is it sparkly? Is it a puppy?!”
“Whoa, slow down!” Steve laughed, holding his hands up in surrender. “I don’t know what it is, alright? It’s Mom’s surprise. You gotta come meet her to find out. So… ten minutes. That’s it. Then we roll.”
“Okayyyy,” she drew the word out, clearly negotiating, “but twelve minutes. And you have to push me super high the whole time!”
“Deal,” Steve said instantly, grinning. He’d have given her anything she asked for anyway.
He stood there, hands ready at her back, watching her fly back and forth, drinking in every second of it—the way the sunlight caught the strands of her hair, the sound of her laughter bouncing off the trees, the sheer, unfiltered happiness radiating from her. His heart felt so full it ached, just like it always did.
He thought about where they started. The misunderstandings. The heartbreak. The airport. The nights he thought he’d lost her forever. And now here he was, pushing their daughter on a swing in the middle of a warm August afternoon, waiting to go pick up the woman who had been the answer to every single one of his prayers since he was seventeen years old.
“Hey Ellie Belly?” he said softly, giving her an extra strong push so she soared almost horizontal.
“Yeah Daddy?” she yelled back, arms outstretched like she was flying on her own.
“You know I love you more than anything, right?”
She didn’t even hesitate, didn’t look back, just yelled loud and clear over her shoulder, “I know! I love you way more than unicorns and ice cream!”
Steve laughed, a warm, rumbling sound that bubbled up from his chest, shaking his head in absolute wonder. “Well, that’s pretty high praise, kiddo. I’ll take it.”
He let her have her full twelve minutes—okay, maybe closer to fifteen—pushing her higher and higher each time until she was whooping with delight, completely convinced she really was flying. When he finally stepped in to slow the swing down, dragging his feet in the sand to bring her to a gentle stop, she was breathless, pink-cheeked, and practically vibrating with energy.
“Alright, superstar. Time to go,” he said, unclipping the safety strap and catching her easily as she launched herself toward him, wrapping her little arms tight around his neck. She smelled like sunshine, vanilla shampoo, and pure childhood joy. He swung her up onto his hip, grabbing their bag with his free hand, and started walking toward the car parked at the curb.
“Are you sure it’s a puppy?” Ellie asked seriously, resting her chin on his shoulder, her big eyes searching his face. “Mommy said maybe when I was big enough. And I’m very big now.”
Steve snorted, unlocking the passenger door and settling her carefully into her car seat, buckling the straps securely. “You are very big, that’s true. But I’m making no promises, El. Don’t get your hopes up too high, or you might be disappointed. It could be anything. Could be a new book. Could be those strawberry lollipops you love.”
Ellie considered this, twisting her lip thoughtfully. “Lollipops are good,” she conceded, “but a puppy is better.”
“Noted.” Steve kissed the top of her head, shutting the door and moving around to the driver’s side.
The drive to The Hawkins Post didn’t take long. It was a familiar route—one he’d driven hundreds of times over the last few years. The newspaper office was situated on the main street, a brick building with large front windows, right between the bakery and the old library. It was a small operation, but Nancy had worked incredibly hard, moving from intern to reporter to senior editor, and Steve had never been prouder of anyone in his life. She was brilliant, sharp, relentless, and passionate—everything he always knew she was.
As they pulled up outside, Steve could see the lights were still on inside, though most of the other cars were already gone for the day. He parked right out front, killing the engine, and glanced in the mirror at Ellie, who was already bouncing in her seat, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Okay, hold your horses,” Steve laughed, unbuckling his own seatbelt. “I’m getting you. Stay put.”
He got her out, and immediately she grabbed his hand tight, tugging him toward the entrance with surprising strength. “Come on come on come on! She’s in there! I can feel it!”
He let her drag him along, shaking his head fondly. He pushed open the heavy glass door, the little bell above it jingling cheerfully as they stepped inside. The office was quiet now, desks mostly cleared, phones silent, papers stacked neatly in corners. And there she was.
Nancy was standing near her desk, just pulling her bag over her shoulder, straightening the stack of folders she’d been working on. She looked professional and beautiful in her blouse and trousers, her hair pulled back neatly, though a few strands had escaped to frame her face. She looked up the second she heard the bell, and her whole face lit up—bright, warm, and instantly softening the moment she saw them standing there.
“Mommy!”
Ellie didn't wait a single second. She let go of Steve’s hand and bolted across the open floor, little legs moving as fast as they could go.
Nancy dropped her bag instantly, kneeling down with her arms wide open just in time to catch her daughter as she launched herself forward. She laughed as Ellie practically tackled her, squeezing her tight, peppering her face with loud, messy kisses.
“Hi, my sweet girl!” Nancy murmured, holding her close, breathing her in, running her hand over her soft hair. “Oh, I’ve missed you so much today! Did you have fun at the park? Did Daddy let you swing high enough to reach the clouds?”
“So high!” Ellie yelled, pulling back to look at her, eyes wide and urgent. “Daddy said you have a surprise! Is it a puppy? Please say it’s a puppy!”
Nancy looked up then, over the top of their daughter’s head, her eyes meeting Steve’s as he walked slowly toward them, hands in his pockets, that same besotted expression permanently etched onto his face. She smiled—that smile, the one that belonged only to him—and stood up, keeping one arm securely around Ellie’s waist.
She reached out with her free hand, lacing her fingers through his the moment he was close enough, pulling him in to press a soft, sweet kiss to his lips—ignoring Ellie’s dramatic groan of “Eww, kissing again!” right between them.
“Hi you,” Nancy whispered against his mouth, squeezing his hand. “Best part of my whole day, right here.”
Steve hummed softly, resting his forehead against hers for a beat, just soaking her in. “We missed you too. And for the record? She hasn't stopped talking about this ‘surprise’ since I mentioned it. You’ve created a monster, Nance. She’s convinced she’s leaving here with a dog.”
Nancy laughed, a bright, clear sound that echoed softly in the empty office, and glanced down at their daughter, who was looking up at her with big, pleading, hopeful eyes exactly like her mother’s.
“Well,” Nancy said, her tone playful and mysterious, reaching into her bag and pulling out a folded piece of paper, holding it just out of Ellie’s reach. “It’s not a puppy… but I think you’re going to like it even more.”
Steve raised an eyebrow, curious now himself. “Oh yeah? What is it?”
Nancy shifted her gaze from Ellie to Steve, her eyes sparkling with excitement and something else—something warm and familiar and full of promise. She held the paper out to him.
“I got the approval this morning,” she said softly, her voice trembling just a little bit with happiness. “We’re assigned the feature story on the new state park development. It’s huge, Steve. It’s going to run for six months, maybe longer. And… I get to choose my assistant.”
Steve took the paper, glancing down at the details, then back up at her, confused. “That’s amazing, Nance. That’s huge. But… what’s the surprise?”
Nancy grinned, biting her lip, and looked pointedly between him and Ellie.
“The surprise is… I negotiated the terms. Flexible hours. Work from home options. And…” She paused, her voice softening to that loving, tender tone that always got him right in the chest. “I’m going to be working a lot less. A lot less. I want to be home. I want to be at the park. I want to be there when she wakes up and when she goes to bed. I want more days just like this one.”
She reached out, resting a hand on his chest, right over his heart, and Ellie grabbed onto Nancy’s leg, hugging it tight.
“I’m coming home to you guys,” Nancy said simply. “More than ever.”
Steve looked at her—brilliant, ambitious, incredible her—and felt his throat tighten up all over again, just like it did every time he realised just how lucky he was. He pulled them both in close, wrapping his arms around his whole world right there in the middle of the office.
“Best surprise ever,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head, then Ellie’s. “Definitely better than a puppy.”
Ellie thought about this for exactly one second, then beamed, grabbing both their hands and tugging them toward the door.
“Okay!” she declared, satisfied. “Better than a puppy. Now can we go get ice cream? Please?”
Steve and Nancy exchanged a look, laughing silently, completely in sync.
“Absolutely,” Steve said. “Lead the way, boss.”
The house settled into that soft, quiet hum that only comes when everyone is safe and asleep. They spent a good twenty minutes in Ellie’s room—reading her favourite story for what felt like the hundredth time, tucking her stuffed animals in all around her, listening to her chatter until her eyes finally drifted shut. Steve stayed a moment longer than necessary, brushing a stray curl off her forehead, just watching her breathe, still unable to believe this was his life.
When they finally slipped out, leaving the door cracked open just a little bit, the silence felt warm and peaceful. They grabbed two glasses and the bottle of white wine they’d been saving, then stepped out onto the back porch, pulling the door shut softly behind them.
The evening air was perfect—still warm from the day, but softened by a gentle breeze that carried the scent of jasmine from the garden and cut grass. Crickets chirped steadily in the yard, and the sky was deep indigo, dotted with the first few bright stars. They sank down onto the old wooden swing they’d put up the previous summer, sitting close together, shoulders touching, legs stretched out, swaying slowly back and forth in comfortable silence.
Steve took a slow sip of his wine, his eyes half-closed, completely content. He could have stayed right there forever.
Then Nancy turned her head toward him, resting her cheek on his shoulder, her fingers tracing slow, idle patterns on the back of his hand where it rested between them. She was quiet for a moment, and then she spoke, her voice soft but clear, cutting gently through the hum of the night.
“You know…” she started, a smile already evident in her tone, warm and teasing and sweet all at once. “With me working less now, and being home more… things are going to be a lot more flexible around here.”
Steve hummed in agreement, turning his head just enough to press a kiss into her hair. “Best news I’ve heard all year. I love having you home. You know that.”
Nancy lifted her head just enough to look up at him, her eyes glinting in the dim light, shining with that familiar, beautiful spark. She squeezed his hand gently, her voice dropping to that soft, intimate register that always made his heart race.
“And… maybe we can even start trying for that baby you’ve been asking for since Ellie turned one.”
Steve froze.
The glass of wine halfway to his mouth stopped dead in the air. His eyes went wide, and he turned his head fully to stare at her, completely sure he had misheard her. For a second, there was total silence, except for the crickets and the sudden, loud thudding of his own heart.
Then he blinked rapidly, his brain scrambling to catch up.
“Wait,” he breathed out, his voice cracking slightly. He set the glass down on the small side table so fast he almost spilled it, turning his whole body toward her, eyes searching hers, desperate to see if she was serious. “Wait… really? Are you… are you being serious right now? Because I swear to god, Nance, if you’re teasing me—”
Nancy laughed, a soft, beautiful sound, and nodded, her smile widening into that radiant, breathtaking grin that he would follow to the ends of the earth. She reached up, resting both hands on his chest, feeling the frantic, happy beat of his heart beneath her palms.
“I’m serious, Steve,” she said softly, clear and sure and full of love. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while, honestly. Watching you be the best dad ever… seeing how happy we are… how perfect everything is. And I realised… I want this again. I want another one. I want to give Ellie a brother or a sister. I want to do all of it over again with you. The late nights, the baby bumps, the tiny clothes, everything.”
She bit her lip, her eyes shining with emotion. “And I know how much you’ve wanted it. I know you’ve been patient. I know you’ve been waiting for me to be ready. And… I am. I’m so ready.”
Steve just stared at her, completely overwhelmed. For years—literally since the day Ellie’s tiny little body was placed in his arms—he had been dropping hints. Bringing up how cute it would be if she had a sibling. Pointing out babies in the supermarket. Making jokes about how big the spare room was. And every time, Nancy had just smiled and said not yet, Steve. When the time is right.
He had resigned himself to waiting forever, happy just with what he had, even while that quiet, deep longing lived in his chest.
Now… now she was saying yes. Now she was saying it’s time.
A huge, disbelieving, bright grin spread slowly across his face, stretching so wide it almost hurt. His eyes instantly filled with happy tears, just like they always seemed to do when it came to her and their family. He let out a breathless, incredulous laugh, reaching up to cradle her face in both his hands, holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world—which she was.
“I love our life. I love Ellie more than my own life. I love you more than anything. But… the thought of doing this all again? Of bringing another little Harrington into the world? Of watching you grow and glow and be the most incredible mom all over again? It’s all I’ve ever dreamed of.”
He pulled back just enough to look deep into her eyes, his expression fierce and tender and so full of love it was almost painful.
“You really mean it? We can actually try? Like… starting now?”
Nancy laughed again, bright and happy, and nodded, leaning in to brush her nose against his.
“Starting whenever you want,” she whispered. “I think our family was always meant to be a little bigger, don’t you?”
Steve didn’t answer with words. He just surged forward and kissed her—deep and slow and full of promise, pouring every ounce of love, gratitude, and excitement he had into it. He kissed her like he had the first time, like he had in the airport, like he had on the beach when he proposed. He kissed her like she was his beginning and his end and everything in between.
When they finally pulled apart, gasping slightly, he wrapped his arms tight around her, pulling her right onto his lap on the swing, holding her close, rocking them gently back and forth in the warm summer night. He rested his chin on her shoulder, looking out into the dark yard, imagining another little one running around out there in a few years. Imagining Ellie being a big sister. Imagining their house being even louder, even messier, even fuller of love.
“Best night of my life,” Steve murmured into her neck, pressing a soft kiss there. “Again. Somehow, you keep making every night better than the last.”
Nancy leaned back against him, perfectly safe and perfectly happy, swirling the last of the wine in her glass.
“Get ready then, Harrington,” she said softly, smiling into the dark. “We’ve got a lot more love to give.”