Middle Fingers Up // Billy Hargrove x Reader

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑻𝒀-𝑻𝑾𝑶

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. 8 MONTHS LATER.

"Come on, honey. You have to push!" Your mom was holding your hand as you were being torn apart from the inside. The hospital lights were too bright, the room was too hot and everything was getting to be too much - the pain especially.

Ada had helped you find somewhere to settle here once the pregnancy had gotten far enough along that you just couldn't face touring anymore. It was so different to Hawkins here, but you figured that was actually what you liked about the place; it felt so alive and thriving with culture, music and amazing food. 

Your parents had been furious when they found out the news about your pregnancy, especially since you insisted on staying on the road instead of going home. Your mom refused to talk to you for the first month and it was the hardest time not having her there to support you. 

Now though, your dad was sat outside the room as your mom was stood by your side, the pair of them having flown out here once you went into labor.

It had been tough getting them to come around to the idea of you being a mother at such a young age, but you were an adult after all and they knew the day would come sooner or later. The moment your mom bought you the babies first outfit, she started warming to the idea. Then care packages came every so often from her; clothes and plenty of stuff to pamper yourself with to help with the pains of pregnancy.

Corroded Coffin continued their tour and you desperately missed Eddie. Your dad had tried to track him down over the phone a few times, but was allegedly unsuccessful so far.

"I can't do it, it hurts so much..." You whimper, head falling back against the stiff hospital pillows. The nurses and your mother all try and coax you into pushing more but it felt like your bones were shattering within you.

"Where is she?!" The familiar drone of your best friends voice finds you in instant relief as he pushes through the doors. Eddie comes to your side, rebuffing the nurses that try to boot him out. "No, let him stay." You order, Eddie's fingers finding your own as he plants a kiss to your hand. "Thank God, I thought I'd never make it in time."

You sob at the fact he'd traveled all this way to make it for the birth. Touched that he was here to help you through it.

"Are you dad?" One of the nurses asks and you'd laugh if you had the energy, settling instead for simply shaking your head in response. "No. Just the crazy godfather." You snort before a sharp pain has you groaning. 

"Godfather?" Eddie asks you, lips peeling into a boyish grin at the title you'd given him. "Duh. Nobody else I'd rather trust with my offspring." You grunt out through gritted teeth, trying your best to smile but the pain was becoming too much to bear.

"You need to push," Your mother reminds you and you tighten your grasp on Eddie's hand as you do as she commands, lids snapping shut as you push against the pain and let out a howl of agony.

That first cry. The little whimpering whine of reluctance to come into the world sounds in the air and you crash back against the sheets in victory, laughing breathlessly at your triumph. You'd been in labor for a day and a half, so the lifetime of agony was finally over.

The nurses clean the baby and wrap it in a small blanket, your mother crying as she pushes sweat-soaked hair from your face. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." She sobs but you can barely register it. You were so tired and just wanted to see the perfect bundle of joy you created.

Eddie releases your hand and helps you to a sit as the nurses pass the baby to you. "A gorgeous, healthy baby boy." She says and you can't help but join your mother in her sobbing. When the baby looks up at you for the first time, your heart is overcome with love in a way you'd never thought possible.

Sure, you knew you'd love him but to see him for the first time and hold him close was a feeling like no other that you were sure you'd not experience again. Your tears fall freely over your cheeks as you bring him close and press your lips against his tiny forehead. 

"Wow, he looks like the prettiest potato I've ever seen. All scrunched up and adorable." Eddie jests and you shoot him a playful glare. The two of you always thought babies had been ugly from how scrunched they were but - and you were definitely being biased here - your baby was undoubtedly the cutest to ever exist. 

"Do you have a name?" Your mom asks after a long moment as you cradle him against you, and you smile softly at her, weak from exhaustion. You had so many ideas for names, boys and girls alike but none of them felt right now that you'd met the little guy. 

"Theodore." You announce quietly. 

"Fancy," Eddie jests and you flash him that glare once more, but he only laughs in response. "I like it. Theo for short, so he doesn't get bullied in school."

"You're horrible," You were laughing as you chide him though, just happy he was here to share such a moment with you. You'd missed him so much and having him around was just perfect. 

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"I need someone to show me the things in life that I can't find..." The soft humming of Eddie's voice draws you from the deep slumber you'd been in, eyes unwillingly prying open to find him holding your son in his arms, bobbing on his feet as he sang quietly and rocked him. 

"Hey..." Your voice was hoarse and raspy from lack of use and you clear your throat, trying to push to a sit. "Shh, I just got him to sleep." He responds, though flashes a broad grin your way as he carries on singing Sabbath to your newborn. 

You watch them closely, smiling to yourself about how lucky you were to have such a best friend. Ada peeks her head in and steps inside with a large bouquet of sunflowers for you which you thank her for. Eddie passes your baby to you and you bring you knees up so you can lay him against them and simply look at his adorable sleeping face.

The cute button nose, the way he smacked his lips as he got comfy. He was adorable.

"You did good, kid." Eddie sighs and pats a hand on your shoulder. 

"You guys helped me through it all. Thank you so much. I really couldn't have done it without you." You respond, trying your best not to cry but it was futile. Your emotions had been all over the place this whole time and there was apparently no stopping them now. 

You were just so fucking happy in this moment, so content - if thoroughly exhausted - that you couldn't help the smile on your lips. You'd done it. You brought the little life into this world and you couldn't have been prouder of yourself.