Babysitting the Babysitter

Chapter 4

Billy has only been asleep for a few hours before he woke up to something poking his face. His eyes fluttered open to see little Steve pouting and poking his cheek.

"Steve...? Steve, man, what are you doing?" He muttered, sitting up and setting Steve in his lap. He then watched as Steve rubbed his eyes and sniffled.
'Oh I get it...' Billy thought and then said, "nightmare, huh big guy?" Steve was quick to nod his head and he let out a whimper.

"Alright... well you can sleep with me tonight, okay?" Billy offered and couldn't help but feel happy when he saw Steve smile. He leaned on the back of the couch and Steve rested his head on Billy's lap, closing his eyes and falling back asleep. Billy sighed and tossed a blanket over Steve, playing with his hair gently.

He couldn't help but wonder what the nightmare was about, but knew better than to ask. He didn't like when Max would ask him of what his nightmares were about, so he figured Steve wouldn't like it either. So, eventually, Billy fell asleep again, a gentle arm around the sleeping child.

When the morning came, all the kids were up and early. Max had taken a few pictures of the young sleeping Steve and Billy to later use as blackmail.

Billy woke to the sound of the clicking and Max immediately gave the camera to Will, who ran off and put it in the kitchen.
"Good morning, dear step brother," Max grinned at Billy as he opened his eyes and glared at her.
"Shut it, Maxine," he grumbled and then looked down at Steve, asking, "Hey- is it me or did Harrington get a bit bigger?"

Everyone then looked down and saw that Steve had in fact grown a bit.
"Yeah... see his hair is longer too," Lucas pointed out.

Everyone was mumbling to each other when Steve finally woke. He lifted his head off of Billy's lap and sat up, looking around at everyone.
"Morning sleepyhead," Billy grinned, making Steve smile and finally speak, "mornin..."

Everyone stayed silent before Eleven could be heard saying, "cute." That made Mike upset. "You think he's cute...? But don't you think I'm cute...?" He mumbled.
"Yes. But small Steve is also cute," El had replied.

The two had moved into the kitchen to talk while the rest of them were sitting with Steve. "Steve, how old are you?" Lucas asked and everyone watched as Steve counted on his fingers and held up four. "I'm four!" He smiled proudly.

"Four, huh?" Billy smiled and patted his head. Steve stared up at Billy and smiled. "I'm Steve! What's your names?" He asked, legs crossed as he looked around at the people in his living room.

"Well, I'm Billy. The redhead is my step sister, Maxine," Billy introduced.
"Max actually," she corrected.
"I'm Dustin!"
"Lucas."
"I'm Will... the two in the kitchen are Mike and El."

Steve then started repeating everyone's names. "Bibby... Max... Dus... Dust... in.... Luke... Will... Mikey and El!" He said proudly, clearly having messed up some names.

"That was... a good try," Will smiled.
"Oh my god, he called you Bibby-!" Max teased her step brother.
"Shut it, Maxine," he snapped and then looked at Steve, "okay, buddy. How about some breakfast? Then we're gonna call the chief and his girlfriend."
Will let out a disgusted noise, knowing that Billy was referring to his mother and Chief Hopper dating.

"Breakfast! We haves pancakes?" Steve asked as he jumped off the couch and trotted towards the kitchen. "Fine... pancakes. But everybody is only getting one," Billy declared and then told the kids to get plates and drinks ready.

Steve stood at Billy's feet and stared up at his as he made the pancakes. "You need somethin, Steve?" He asked, glancing down at him.
"Nuh uh... just wanna watch you," the boy grinned and stood there. That made Billy chuckle and reach down, patting Steve's head.

Once all of the plates were set up and Billy finished making the pancakes, everyone started eating. Steve went over to Lucas and tugged in his shirt. "Luke..?" He asked.
"Yeah Steve?" Lucas asked, smiling.
"I need help... can't cut..." Steve pouted, showing him his uncut pancake.
"Oh, don't sorry, man. I got it," Lucas smiled and cut up Steve's pancakes for him.

"Thank you!" Steve beamed and started eating, going to sit down as Max looked at Lucas and smirked playfully.
"What?" He asked.
"That was such a dad thing. Cutting his food for him she snickered.
"Well- he's four, he needs help!" Lucas blushed and shoved his pancakes into his mouth.

Once everyone was finished, Billy told Eleven to call Hopper.
"Papa? Come to Steve's. Need your help," was what she had told the man.
Will was then informed to call his mother.
"Mom? Can you come to Steve's house? We have a... well a small problem..." there was a pause, "oh... uh yeah they can come. Steve won't mind."

"My mom is on her way... with Jonathan and Nancy..." Will told them.
"So is papa," El said proudly.
"Now all we have to do is wait," Billy said as everyone went to the living room.

So I guess that was kind of Lucas's moment with little Steve.
Next chapter we see Nancy, Jonathan, Hop and Joyce interact with little Steve.