Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Oh my god did you hear?" Tina whispered to Carol as Mrs. Odendall droned on in her lecture on something or the other that Carol couldn't care less about; this gossip was far more interesting.

“Oh my god what?” Carol was hooked on her new best friend's every word. Her old best friend was Stephanie Harrington but she decided one day out of the blue, that she was too good for her and Tommy, and Carol’s not bitter even a little bit.

“Stevie Harrington is pregnant!” Tina whisper shouted to her.

“What!” Carol really shouted, sinking back into her chair when Mrs. Odenall gave her a scathing glare.

“Who's the daddy?” she asked at a far more reasonable volume.

“I don't know, I just overheard her tell the coach she was quitting cheer because it was bad for the baby” Tina answered. Carol took a moment to consider who the new cheer captain would be with Stevie gone, probably Chrissy before she got right back on the paternity issue. While there were a few suspects, you know not taking into account that just about any boy in the school would kill to be with her, but her three top suspects.

The first was Stevie's ex, Jonathan Byers the pair were dating for over a year but he was with Nancy Wheeler now so he's out. The second was Carol's own boyfriend, Tommy Hagan, he tried to hide it from her but Carol knew he was in love with Stevie. But if Tommy had even half a shot he wouldn't dare mess it up by not dumping Carol immediately. So that leaves her thirst suspect Billy Hargrove, it didn't take a genius to see just how obsessed with her he was, until now Stevie seemed resistant to his charms. Saying on several occasions that she finds him insufferable but the girl’s only human and unattached but very attractive Billy makes for an almost airtight case.

“It's probably Billy's,” Carol said to Tina, who agreed. Munson the fucking freak who sat behind them stifled a giggle. Tina and Carol spun around in their chairs to face him.

“Got something to say munson '' Carol spat, popping her gum.

“No not all you ladies just get back to your detective work I'm sure you're right on the money” Munson sarcastically stated. Carol could hear the mocking in his voice but decided to let it go with a huff. This juicy piece of gossip put her in a good mood, even if a small part of her was worried for her former friend. It's not like Billy was going to marry her or maybe he would. Carol doesn't really know him all that well and tries to avoid him. As a general rule, she finds him annoying, but if Stevie liked him there had to be something redeeming right? Carol decided to talk to her former friend at lunch to offer to help her out if Billy wasn't, she could always key his car and pop his tires.
—--------------------------------------
Carol was able to catch Stevie right before she left the cafeteria at the beginning of lunch, about halfway through her junior year Stevie started eating elsewhere on campus and just bought her lunch in the cafeteria.

“Hey Carol,” Stevie said awkwardly as Carol grabbed her arm as she walked past.

“Um hey Stevie I um heard about your predicament” Carol was always so self-assured and confident but in the face of speaking to her former best friend, she became nervous and stuttered like she hadn't since middle school. “ And I wanted to ask if you were doing alright, you know the father doing everything he’s supposed to and all?”

“The father? Yeah no he's great why do you ask” Stevie replied confused.

“That's good, it's just because I didn't think Billy was the type” Carol sighed in relief.

“Billy, why are you talking about-oh my god you think he's- oh my god” Stevie only had time to turn to the nearest trash can before she was vomiting up what she didn't lose to morning sickness this morning. After she was done retching she turned to Carol.

“Billy is not my baby’s father”

“Yeah, I got that” Carol dryly stated. “But if Billy isn't the father, who is?”

“Oh Eddie” Stevie answers leaning down to pick up her lunch off the floor, almost dropping it again when Carol screeched

“MUNSON”

“Do you know any other Eddies'' Stevie asked dryly, “Listen Carol I appreciate the concern I really do, but I've got a meeting with guidance about graduation I've got to get to, apparently they don't want a pregnant lady at the ceremony ruins public perception.” Carol couldn't even open her mouth to respond before Stevie was sliding out of the cafeteria

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

3 hours later.

Stevie plopped down heavily on Eddie's bed. The meeting with guidance took longer than expected so in addition to missing her last classes of the day she had kept Eddie waiting in the parking lot for almost an hour. They had carpooled together that morning because Stevie was feeling too sick to drive. Remembering her morning sickness caused Stevie to lean over and swat the box of condoms off Eddie's nightstand. The damn things were the reason they were in this mess in the first place, Eddie had gotten the box after a very long and awkward the birds and the bees talk with Wayne when he was fourteen. But he’d never had the opportunity to use any of them until Stevie four months ago. The damn things were expired and burst open right at the end of their intimacy, and three weeks later they knew.

Just then Eddie entered the room, plopping down next to her. He seemed nervous, the fact that he wasn't even touching her was the biggest concern, he was always touching her in some way, and after he found out about the baby it just about ramped up to eleven. So this was odd and kind of worrying that he was keeping his hands to himself and just fiddling with one of his rings.

“So uh you're pregnant” Eddie awkwardly started.

“Glad you noticed,” Stevie replied dryly.

“Uh and uh, well when a couple is going to have a baby they generally well they uh….and I've loved you forever so…...”

Stevie's eyes widened “Eddie are you saying….”

“Stephaine Harrigton will you marry me?” Eddie asked, pulling the ring he was fiddling with earlier off his finger and offering it to her with shaking hands. Stevie sat in stunned silence, perhaps for a moment too long because Eddie started backtracking.

“God what am I thinking of course you don't just forget I asked and things can go back-”

“No!” Stevie nearly yelled, ripping the ring out of Eddie's hand and putting it on her finger. “Or rather Yes!”

Eddie let out a sob and wrapped her in a crushing hug, they were going to be alright, they were going to be a family, Stevie was the happiest she had ever been.