Nancy and Robin had eventually gone to bed, with tear-stained faces and watery smiles. They looked exhausted and strained as they trekked up the stairs, but just before Robin went to her room, she grabbed Eddie by the arm and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Thank you," she breathed into his shoulder.

"For what?" he replied, surprised, but strangely comforted in her arms.

"For what you said. I know it couldn't have been easy."

"I should have told you sooner," Eddie replied, guilty at the thought that he could have saved her months of stress and tears. He hated himself for it, felt a stab of regret and anger just at the thought of it, of his own stupidity and selfishness.

Robin pulled back and looked him in the eye, the smile suddenly gone from her face and replaced with a sort of seriousness that made Eddie feel uneasy.

"No, Eddie, you didn't. Not if you weren't ready. But I'm glad you told me. It feels nice knowing I'm not alone in this."

She winked at Eddie then went to her room, shutting the door gently behind her.

Eddie thought about the encounter as he arranged his bed downstairs, throwing a handful of cushions on to the couch and grabbing a blanket from the floor. He wasn't sure if Nancy or Steve had understood the hidden meaning behind his message, but at least Robin had. It confused him. He thought he'd feel relieved that his secret remained safe, but instead he just felt a bitter disappointment. He had wanted Steve to hug him like Robin had, wanted his promise that it would be okay. Most of all, Eddie just wanted his company.

He sighed to himself, throwing the blanket over him. His eyes slowly began to close, the exhaustion finally starting to catch up with him, when he heard the rushing of water from the kitchen and hushed footsteps. He buried his head in his pillow, but it was too late. He was wide awake now.

He sighed, frustrated, and got up, trudging to the kitchen and swinging the door open.

"Can you- oh."

Eddie stopped in his tracks.

Steve stood by the counter, shirtless, drinking a glass of water. He smiled apologetically when he saw Eddie.

"Hey, sorry, did I wake you up?"

Eddie shook his head, using every ounce of self-control he had to look Steve in the eye. Which, if he was being honest, was not a lot.

"No, I... are you okay?"

Steve gave him a quizzical look.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well..." Eddie hesitated. "I know you and Nancy were... and Robin's your best friend and..." he trailed off, adjusting his eyes to focus on the floor instead.

Steve chuckled softly, and Eddie looked up, confused but relieved.

"I have to admit, it was weird at first. My best friend and my ex. But you know, as long as they're happy." He shrugged nonchalantly and raised the glass to his lips taking a long sip.

Eddie felt a slight pang of affection for Steve. He felt ashamed to think he had once regarded him as just another selfish jock, not a shred of decency or kindness in him. Steve Harrington was the exact opposite. He was kind and thoughtful and pretty and-

"Are you sleeping on the sofa?"

Eddie blinked, meeting Steve's inquiring look with his own confused gaze.

"What?"

"I asked if you were sleeping down here, on the sofa."

"Oh, yeah. Nancy said I could use it," Eddie shrugged.

Steve regarded him for a moment, then shook his head.

"You wouldn't rather sleep in an actual bed?"

Eddie felt his confusion sink in further.

"Well, I just figured you were sleeping in the guest room. And I don't mind, really. I crash out on my couch most nights anyway," he replied, running a hand through his tangled hair.

Steve considered this for a moment; head slightly tilted. Then he snapped back to reality and took Eddie's hand, leading him out the kitchen and up the stairs.

"Come on."

"Where- where are we going?" Eddie asked, desperately trying to keep his voice calm as he felt his cheeks darken.

"Upstairs, you're sharing the guest room with me," Steve paused, glancing back at Eddie. "If that's okay with you, that is."

Eddie managed a nod, his gaze shifting from the back of Steve's head, to where their fingers remained intertwined.

Steve pushed the door to the guest room open and flicked on the lamp by the bedside table.

He threw back the covers and sat down on the bed, looking at Eddie expectantly, from where he stood frozen by the doorway.

"Come on, unless you plan to sleep on the floor," he teased.

Somehow, Eddie got his feet to move and laid down next to Steve, hoping that he couldn't see how hard he was blushing, or hear his heart pounding in his chest.

He buried himself further into the pillow, painfully aware of how close Steve was. He could feel the heat radiant from his body, the faded scent of old coffee and coconut wafting in the air, his slow breathing as he turned to face Eddie and smile, revealing just a glint of teeth that made a shudder run down Eddie's spine. A loose strand of hair dangled in front of his eyes and Eddie wanted so badly to reach out and tuck it behind his ear.

"Good night, Munson," Steve breathed.

"Night, Harrington," Eddie whispered back.

They lay in silence for a few moments. Eddie's gaze flitting from Steve's dark brown eyes to his lips, and back again.

He wondered what would happen if he just leaned in and kissed him. He imagined Steve kissing him back, running a hand through his hair and smiling against his lips. Then he imagined Steve pulling away, disgusted. Wiping his lips with the back of his hand and shouting at Eddie, walking out the room and slamming it shut behind him. He pushed the thought out of his head. That was never going to happen. Because Eddie would never have the chance to find out.

"Eddie..." Steve whispered.

He could feel his eyes beginning to droop, the dark abyss of sleep taking over. He willed himself to stay awake, to keep his eyes on Steve for as long as possible. But he was tired. So, so tired.

He could faintly hear Steve sigh beside him, turning to flick the lamp off, darkness descending upon the room and casting shadows across the wall. Then Steve turned back to Eddie and rested his head on his shoulder. Eddie could vaguely feel his own arms wrap around him, too tired to stop himself, and Steve closed his eyes, the ghost of a smile played on his lips. Eddie could feel his own eyes closing, and they law entwined in each other's arms, until dawn broke.