Chapter Text
Eddie sips ginger ale as he watches the luggage appear on the belt. Lucas called it “magic sky juice” when they talked on the phone, his former Hellfire sheepie passing on his travel tips. Lucas had been on infinitely more flights than Eddie, as it wasn’t hard to have a flight counter higher than two. But for as much as Eddie was a road trip man, Seattle was a little too far from Chicago for just a long weekend.
Standing in the airport, he already feels out of place on the West Coast. Or maybe he just hates being this far from his pack. Eddie has never been gone from his pups for more than a night or two, and he can’t remember the last time he spent a night without Steve. But with Layla and Cecelia just weaning from Steve, and the general complications that come with travelling with five kids, the decision was made for Eddie to take this trip solo.
He hates it.
He asks the cabbie to take the scenic route from Sea–Tac to Capitol Hill, where Moxie and Teresa live. And as the taxi makes its way north, he can’t help but compare and contrast Seattle and Chicago. He’s become so fond of his adopted hometown that he can’t help but wonder what keeps his co-owners out in the Pacific Northwest beyond the music.
When the cab finally stops, he’s relieved to see he’s in the right place when he sees Moxie waiting just outside her front door to hug him. “Welcome to Seattle, stranger! Did Steve make you more pups since we last spoke?”
Eddie has to laugh. “No, no. Just the five. As promised, I brought photos of the pack so you can see how much they’ve grown. Eleanor is officially in kindergarten, which is wild. Thanks again for inviting me out.”
“Was your flight alright?”
“I think so? According to several of my adopted children, turbulence can’t kill me, but it sure tries. Theresa here?”
“No, she’s going to meet us at the bar. She had some stuff to take care of down at the studio, and the show tonight starts later than usual, so you have plenty of time to rest.”
“Are you going to tell me the genre or shall I be surprised?”
“It’s not grunge, I promise you that much.”
Eddie laughs and waves her off. “I’ll have you know, my musical tolerance has expanded over the years…but thank you.”
“This is the guest room. Bathroom is attached, but the phone is in the kitchen. I’m sure Steve is waiting on your call.”
“How did you know?” he smirks and puts his bag down before calling home.
*
What he began to notice at the airport is now very apparent, sitting in a crowded bar in the heart of Seattle’s music district. Chicago and Seattle are nothing alike. Sure, they’re big cities based around an important body of water. But the similarities end there. Back home at a show, there is a mix of aesthetics regardless of the genre, even among the core group of attendees who dress for the music. But here? Here, it was clear he was at a Seattle show.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much flannel in my life.”
Theresa snorts. “Make fun of it all you want, but you’ve been outside, right? The rain makes what should have been a sunny day suddenly chilly. Flannels are light, keep the misty rain off you, and can be tied around your waist when you don’t need them.”
“Do not try to convert me. I am a canvas and leather man, thank you very much.”
“How very midwest of you.”
“Damn right,” Eddie grins. “Moxie told me earlier you’re interested in the band for the label?”
“Sort of. The kids playing tonight are some UW students who go by Harvey Danger, but it’s my friend Bruce who is interested in them.”
“Scouting for the competition? How magnanimous of you.”
Moxie and Thersa share a look across the table, and Eddie feels out of the loop. He’s about to ask them to share with the class when Theresa pulls a stack of papers out of her bag.
“We were going to wait until tomorrow morning, but now is as good a time as any. Bruce wants to buy Smash - but just the label, not the store and venue.”
Eddie is staring at the stack of papers, the front cover already full of legalese he can’t make out. He must smell anxious by the way Moxie puts his hand on his, and a few patrons look their way.
“Hey, hey, no need to freak out. Long story short, we want you to have the store. It’s basically yours at this point anyway.”
“Mine?” is all Eddie manages to get out as he tries to walk himself back from his spiral.
“Yeah, yours. You never wanted to run the label; that much has become clear to us over the years. As for us? We kind of want to slow things down. Bruce offered to take over it all, but we didn’t want the store to be part of the package. Chicago needs Smash. And frankly, it wouldn’t be Smash without you. So we want to sell you our shares.”
“Yes, I mean, I definitely have to look this over and talk to Steve about it, but yes. And not just because finding another brownstone to fit my pack would be impossible.”
“Oh, believe me, we thought of that,” Moxie cackles. “After all, you still have one more to go, right?”
“Probably.” Eddie swallows as he feels pressure build behind his eyes. “I’ll probably think of better words once this all feels real, but thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on me six years ago. It really changed my world.”
“We wouldn’t have had it any other way. Smash Records is dead. Long live Smash Records!” Theresa shouts, lifting her beer for the trio to toast.
*
The rest of the weekend is spent in a blur of paperwork, phone calls, contract reviews, and so many meetings that Eddie is clamoring to get on his return flight.
Of course, his eagerness dissolves once he’s in the air again and finds himself once again clutching a ginger ale as he makes his way off the plane.
He’d planned on Dustin giving him a ride, which is why he’s shocked to see all his kids and Steve waiting for him in the terminal, each pup carrying a homemade sign welcoming their daddy home.
The first to barrel into him is Riley, followed by Eleanor. Johnny is waving at him from his usual spot attached to Steve’s leg, while Layla and Cecelia wave from their double stroller.
“Welcome home, Eds,” Steve smiles as he makes his way over to the alpha, nuzzling into his neck a little shamelessly for such a public space. “Can you tell we all missed you?”
“I missed you too. Can we head straight home, please?”
“Take out order’s been placed, and the giant nest has already been made on the top floor. I figured you wanted a puppy pile tonight.”
“You read my mind, Stevie.”