"Stranger Things wasn't that good"

“Momma!”

Billy glanced up from the book he was reading. No matter how many times he heard “mom” or “momma”, he couldn’t get used to it. It had been Steve’s stupid idea, of course.

Their oldest was running towards him, with their youngest right behind her. She couldn’t keep up with her sister and it was both adorable and heartbreaking.

“What have I told you?” he asked, as the oldest girl stopped in front of him. She scrunched up her nose, like she always did when she was thinking, before she glanced down on the ground. She moved from one foot to the other.

“Elise?” he asked, as he waited for an answer. He didn’t want her to feel bad about it, but he wanted her to learn. He didn’t know what he’d do with himself if anything happened to his girls.

“That we can’t run by the pool.” Elise whispered and Billy nodded. Just then, Julia stopped by Elise’s side.

“See, Elise? Now your sister runs, too.” Billy carefully ruffled Elise’s blonde hair and turned to Julia. She barealy reached Elise’s shoulder and only had a diaper on. She still was that young.

“Darling”, he said, as he pulled Julia up to his arms. “No running by the pool. No. Running.”

Julia nodded, but glanced towards her sister. It was absolutely adorable how close they were. Billy had really tried to do something here, make them trust and love each other and not turn out like he and Max had.

“What’s this?” Steve asked. He had pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt. His swimwear were thrown over his shoulder.

“Why’s my girls upset?” he asked as he squatted down in front of Elise, using his shirt to dry the tears from Elise’s eyes. If Billy had known she would’ve cried, he would have kept her close to him, too. Oh, well. She had to learn.

“Your girls are running by the pool again.” Billy stood from the chair and walked closer to Steve and Elise, with Julia resting on his hip.

Steve kept quiet and pulled Elise up in his arms, letting Billy lean closer to press a kiss to the top of her head.

“I’m sorry, princess”, Billy whispered. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

It was quiet for a second, before Elise spoke. Her nose was scrunched up again.

“But I’m not princess, daddy is!”

Billy choked back a laugh, coughing against Julia’s shoulder to try and hide it. Julia tangled her hands into Billy’s hair and left them there, making it almost impossible to move.

“Where did you hear that?” Steve asked, but Billy could tell the other wasn’t angry. It was just a fun thing, more than anything.

“Momma keeps calling you princess.” Elise nodded and for just a moment, Billy could really see how much she had grown. She wasn’t a little baby anymore.

“He does, huh?” Steve asked and held Elise up in the air, tickling the her sides as he did.

“He does!”, the girl laughed. “He does!”

Elise struggled free and Julia did the same, the second Elise was on the ground. Thankfully they didn’t run towards the children’s pool this time, but walked carefully hand in hand. Billy watched them, feeling his whole heart swell with love.

“Princess?” Steve asked beside him. Billy could feel Steve’s arms slide around his middle and Billy turned to have a look at Steve. He honestly couldn’t believe how lucky he had been. He had two little girls and an “almost” husband. It was all too much to feel real.

“Princess”, Billy agreed. “Like in high school.”

Billy pulled Steve down in a kiss, hearing their girls boo them as he let go.

One summer can change everything.