I Like You Lots (Steddie)

Chapter 22

A/N; Fluffy little filler chapter for your viewing pleasure bc I've been writing sad shit lately and this is some relief from that.

TW; love and fluff and hangovers

My apartment doesn't feel as homey as Steve's does. It's weird that I grew accustomed to waking up in his bed. In the silence. Kept away from the world, even if it was just for a week. It was nice to take a break from the outside world. This week I will have to go back to reality, back to work. Back to what is considered normal for me.

But, if I'm gonna be really honest right now I don't want to. I wanna live in the bubble longer. The bubble with Steve wrapped around me sleeping soundly. The feeling of his skin against mine. It's the closest feeling to home I've ever experienced. He's been a god send, and I don't even believe in god. If there is something out there, they sent me Steve, and I really owe them one.

I hear my phone go off a couple times, which is what I assume is the group chat. Thankfully Halloween was on a Saturday this year, and we all decided a couple of days ago to cancel brunch for today, because the hangover was imminent. And boy, let me fucking tell you, my head is spinning and pounding all at the same time.

No point in trying to answer the messages right now. I don't want to move, and I feel like maybe if I do I'm going to have to run to the bathroom. I feel Steve kiss my shoulder a couple of times and nuzzle into me. "Hi." His voice is a whisper. "Hi, love."

"Sleep well?" He pulls me in as close as he can. "Mm. As well as I could. I feel like if I move I'm gonna throw up."

"Do you want me to help you?"

"Just don't move me much. I'll be... Nope never mind, lemme go." I jolt up and run to the bathroom, honestly fuck sugary drinks. Steve taps on the bathroom door lightly. I've managed to empty the content of my stomach, and am just sitting here, head pressed against the toilet. "I don't ever want to see another drink again."

"You'll be right back on it next Sunday and don't even lie."

"Ugh my fucking head..." He peaks his head in, I'm not moving from this spot. Not until I know I'm done rejecting everything in my body. "Before you decide whether or not you're gonna die, can I at least pee?"

"You're not funny, Harrington. How do you not feel like you're gonna die?"

"Guess I hold my liquor better than you, baby."

"Well, you suck."

"Nooo, I'm pretty sure that's you." He leans on the doorway smirking proudly.

"Are you really making jokes while I'm dying on the bathroom floor?"

"I'd make less jokes if you would move so I can use the toilet."

"Fucking fine. Let me just-" I scoot myself over and sit inside the bathtub, pulling my knees to my chest. "Do you have to work today?" Steve is washing his hands after using the bathroom and looks over to me. "Yeah, I do, but I have a late shift today." I sigh and squeeze my knees tighter.

He's taken the last week off to help with me. Every time I've needed him, he's been right there to help. I'm not sure how easy today's gonna be without him by my side.

"I let Robin know you're gonna be alone. She's around today, so if you feel like you actually are going to die call her okay?"

"I just need water, ibuprofen, and sleep. I think I'll make it."

"Well lucky for you I can get you all 3 of those things." He scoops me up from the tub floor and brings me back out to bed, laying me down gently. "I truly do not understand how you're so upbeat and don't feel like trash today, you drank just as much."

"I told you, I can hold my own. Also there's a trick, do you wanna know?"

"If it keeps me from feeling this shitty ever again, yes. Yes, I want to know."

"I was hydrated yesterday before we started drinking. You, my dear, are dehydrated because your diet consists of coffee and redbull." I glare at him from under the blankets I crawled beneath. "You're the worst." He chuckles and gets me a glass of water, and a couple of ibuprofen from the kitchen. "If I'm the worst would I take care of you?"

"You don't have to take care of me you know, I know how to..."

"I want to." He sits down on the bed, handing me the glass. "Why?"

"Because I love you and you deserve it. Plus uh... well you had a hell of a night. Can't say that I treated you delicately." The bruises on my shoulders and hips would agree with that. I still am trying to figure out what I did in this life to deserve someone who actually gives a shit about me.

Steve goes into the bathroom to shower, and if I was feeling better I would not be missing the oportunity to go in there with him. But I can barely move without it making me feel like I'm gonna die. I won't be drinking this much for awhile I think, if ever again. God I don't know why I did this to myself.

The conversation with my father is really sticking with me today, and I just want to pretend it didn't happen. Maybe it's the hangover from hell causing the massive bout of depression but, I want to go through life without thinking about him blaming me for my mother dying. I really could have done without the guild, but I guess everything back home will always be my fault. My fault she did drugs, my fault he's a piece of shit. It's alright, I can take the blame. It can be my fault. It's not like I'm not used to it.

There's just something about Steve seeing me be so vulnerable that's brought us... closer. And It's weird to me that instead of running in the complete opposite direction, like any sane person would, that he's held me closer. Been gentle with me. Loved me through the tears and the near relapse.

I just hope it lasts. I honestly hope it lasts forever. Is that even possible?

"Hey can... Can I ask you something?" Steve's exiting the bathroom with his perfectly done hair, like always. Somehow always managing to look his best. Honestly he doesn't even have to try that hard.

"Sure, what's up?"

"Would- would you consider maybe... like."

"You gonna spit it out or keep stuttering?" He laughs a little. I'm not sure if I can spit it out. I've got anxiety pumping out of every part of me. "If you're going to be rude I'm not gonna say it."

"Nooo I'm sorry. I love you I'm sorry." He lays next to me and kisses my face a few times.

"Fine. Okay so like, would you consider moving in with me at some point? Like I don't know when your lease is up and I'm not saying it has to be tomorrow or anything but. We're practically already doing that. You're always here and I just stayed the whole week at your house. It would... make sense?"

"You, want to live with me? Really?" He's looking between my eyes smiling so big I can already tell his answer is a yes. "Well we really already kinda do."

"Well yes but I mean... that's kind of a big decision? And... I dunno I've never lived with a partner before."

"I haven't either. But, I just... I would like to share my space with you. And we don't even have to live here, we could find a whole different apartment and it just.."

"Sure baby, we can look into that. I'd love to."

"You would?"

"What am I gonna tell you? No I don't want to wake up next to you every day and share space with you all the time. Of course." I smile and nod. "Cool." I take a deep breath in and grin a little to myself. He said yes.

"You're so lame, cool. Couldn't think of something better to say?"

"Shut up I don't know. I just... I'm really excited. I dunno."

"I love you, you know that?"

"I love you too Steve." I press my forehead into his and close my eyes. I really feel like this could be forever. Am I crazy for thinking about that already? Probably.