Eddie stood in the doorway like a ghost who hadn’t realized he wasn’t one anymore.

Moonlight cut across the Harrington living room, catching on the dirt still clinging to his boots, the torn edges of his shirt, the wild mess of his hair. He looked exhausted. Hollow-eyed. But alive.

Alive.

Your heart nearly stopped.

You were on the couch—half-wrapped in one of Steve’s blankets, the one he always pretended wasn’t his favorite. You’d fallen asleep crying again, leaning against his shoulder. Steve had dozed off too, chin slumped on top of your head, one arm still around you protectively.

Eddie saw everything the moment he stepped inside.

He froze.

Not the way someone freezes when they’re confused.

The way someone freezes when they see a door closing behind them.

Steve jerked awake first. He blinked, squinting blearily—then shot to his feet so fast you nearly slid off the couch.

“H–Holy—Eddie?”

Eddie didn’t answer. His gaze remained locked on you. On the blanket. On the closeness.

You stood, legs weak. “Eddie,” you breathed, barely above a whisper.

His lips parted. You saw the tremble. The disbelief. The hurt.

“I came back,” he said. His voice was rough, like it had been scraped across broken glass. “I clawed out of the damn ground—literally—and I came back for you.”

You stepped toward him—but Steve’s hand, gentle and hesitant, curled around your elbow as if instinctively steadying you.

Eddie’s jaw tightened.

Steve immediately let go.

“Eddie,” you said again, voice cracking. “It’s not—It’s not what you think.”

He swallowed hard. “I think I died. And I came back. And now you’re—” His voice faltered, hands curling slightly like he didn’t know where to put them. “—with him.”

“We’re not together together,” Steve said quietly. “Not officially.”

“But close enough,” Eddie whispered.

You shook your head fiercely. “Eddie, listen—please. After you… after you were gone… I fell apart. Everything hurt. Everything felt wrong. I couldn’t breathe most days.”

Eddie’s face twisted. “And Steve fixed you.”

“No,” Steve said immediately. “I didn’t fix her. I just… stayed.”

You nodded, tears welling. “He held me when I broke down. He helped with the twins. He talked me out of nightmares. There were nights I woke up screaming your name and Steve—he was just there.”

Eddie’s eyes flicked to Steve. “And the kisses?”

Steve winced. “Yeah. Those happened. But not—Not because I was trying to replace you, man. I swear. It was grief. And closeness. And… feelings I didn’t expect.”

Your voice trembled. “It wasn’t planned. None of it was. I never stopped loving you.”

Eddie looked at you like someone trying to survive standing at the edge of a cliff.

“And you love him too?” he asked quietly.

You hesitated—but not because it was untrue.

Because the truth hurt.

Steve stepped forward, palms out like he was trying to make himself smaller.

“Eddie,” he said softly, “I’m ready to step back. Really. I always knew I was temporary. She… she talked about you every day. I just wanted her to feel safe.” He swallowed, voice wobbling. “But if you’re back, then… I’m not getting in the way. She deserves you. You both deserve each other.”

Eddie stared at him. Long. Searching.

“And if I don’t want you to step back?” he asked quietly.

Steve blinked. “What?”

Eddie exhaled shakily. “I’m not stupid. I can see it. The way she looks at you. The way you look at her. The way you held her just now.” His voice grew hoarse. “If you two found something… something real… I’m not gonna blow apart her life again. I’m not gonna pretend everything freezes where I left it.”

Steve opened his mouth, stunned silent.

You reached for Eddie’s hand.

He let you take it.

“Eddie,” you whispered, “you’re the love of my life. That hasn’t changed. But you were gone. And Steve was—”

“Here,” Eddie finished. Soft. Not angry. Just tired.

You nodded.

Eddie let out a shaking breath. “If this is gonna work… if I’m actually back… then we figure it out together. No secrets. No guilt.” His eyes flicked between the two of you. “Even if that means the three of us.”