The bell over the Family Video door jingled as you stepped inside. Your hands trembled against your jacket pockets, your heart thudding loud enough to drown out the soft hum of the store’s fluorescent lights.

Steve was behind the counter, rewinding tapes, tapping his fingers to an off-beat rhythm only he could hear. His hair was fluffy, his sleeves rolled up, the nametag crooked as always.

Robin was perched on top of the counter, eating Twizzlers and complaining loudly about boredom. And Dustin Henderson — younger, backpack still on, clearly fresh out of school — was in the drama aisle, muttering to himself as he argued with the movie labels.

Steve looked up first — and his whole face lit up. “Hey! My favorite person,” he said, leaning forward on the counter like he was about to climb over it. “What’s up?”

You swallowed hard, Robin sliding off the counter behind him, sensing the shift instantly.

Dustin peeked over the shelf. “You look kinda pale. Like Steve when he tries to read big words.”

“Hey!” Steve snapped, then turned immediately gentle again when he looked at you. “Okay. C’mon. Tell me what’s going on.”

You took a breath then spoke. “I’m pregnant.”

The moment you said, those words everything froze.

Steve blinked once. Then again.

Then his mouth slowly broke into the happiest, stupidest, brightest smile you’d ever seen on him.

“Wait—seriously? You… you mean we’re gonna have a baby? Me and you?”

You nodded, terrified and hopeful all at once.

And Steve reacted exactly the way your heart desperately needed:

He laughed — breathless, disbelieving — and spun toward the aisles because he couldn’t possibly keep it inside another second.

“HENDERSON!” he yelled across the store. “HEY, HENDERSON! I’M GONNA BE A DAD!”

Dustin dropped every single VHS tape he was holding. “What—STEVE! You can’t just yell something like that Out loud to the whole store.” He says but it’s not like anyone else was even in there at the moment.

Robin threw a Twizzler at Steve before running over to hug you. “Oh my god, oh my god, we’re gonna need a plan. A big plan. And snacks. And a binder.”

But Steve wasn’t listening to anyone else. He pulled you into his chest, hands warm and steady on your back, breathing you in like he’d been waiting for this moment his whole life.

“You’re serious? We’re really doing this?” he whispered, voice thick with emotion. “I want this. I want you. I’m all in. I swear.”

Robin sniffled dramatically and Dustin was already ranting about names.

And Steve… Steve was holding you like the world had just given him a miracle.