#* crawlingforwardx.

Are we okay?

The question Jonathan asked her earlier left an answer she was not ready to reveal, and yet, Nancy felt she owed it to herself.. to Jonathan… to Steve. After all, Jonathan’s question about them only came up when he made light about doubting Steve’s leadership if she hadn’t been there to lead while the others were stuck in California. “Yeah, no, everything is fine.”

As much as she never felt like she deserved Steve’s constant concern over her after everything she put him through, it’s obvious by the way she looks at him how much she appreciates him nonetheless. “It’s never easy to continue letting everyone I care about down. But, he’ll be fine.” She hopes. Jonathan had a lot of burden weighing heavily on his shoulders, too. Carrying it with her own and vice versa, it was time to let the other go.

“I guess I have my mom to thank, after giving away Mr. Rabbit with today’s donations.” Though, if her choices today from letting a once childhood memento go to taking the step to process everything that has happened and mature like Steve had done, she may end up regretting letting Mr. Rabbit go if they ever made it to a future Steve confessed to her about.

The ultimate catalyst to the end of her relationship with Jonathan, Steve’s devotion. I left one thing out — the most important part — you were there. You’ve always been there. A reveal which came after seeing the future Vecna had shown her. It was the reveal that made her realize, if she really wanted to end it all, she needed to really fight. Against all odds. Including the one string Vecna always pulled on her; the guilt to what happened to Barbara. If they had any chance, she needed to take a stand against it and fight back. Fight back harder than she ever did before.

“And.. I have you to thank, too.” Blue eyes are light, yet deep with something unspoken and her smile is almost innocent. Back to when they weren’t victimized so young by terrible darkness. “Guess we both really need a thump on the head.”

It wasn't the first time and she was certain it wouldn't be the last. Protecting Steve was almost second nature, be it from the actual battles they faced on a now yearly basis, to protecting his character when Jonathan would have a go at it.

"Which time?" Nancy asks, an all knowing smile gracing her lips before she shakes her head. "I'm simply looking out for a friend." Because what he didn't know was how long she had been trying to get him out of a fight which was never his since the night he showed up at the Byers residence to make amends with Jonathan.

A night he probably thinks she had forgotten when she answered the door and his reason for being there fell apart as soon as he saw the cut on her hand. She tried not to dwell on their past and history, knowing it didn't do any good for either of them, and yet as time went on it never really became any easier.

"Besides, Dustin would never let me hear the end of it."

The intimacy iniated between them all began as they took time to feed each other. Chrissy offering cut up strawberries, picked fresh from the farmer's market the morning before while Steve spoke low with inviting touches on any bare skin he could reach under her robe, feeding her bits of the omelette from her plate. It was clear the pair were unable to quench the desire they still had for the other as they took time to pause the morning conversation, lips meeting for tender kisses, which took little to no time to build into something a little more hungry.

A soft sound from the back of Chrissy's throat could barely be heard as she acknowledged Steve's morning predicament. The second he moved from his spot on the bed, she rolled over to preserve the warmth of the sheets and his clean scent, blue eyes gazing upon him as she stayed buried under the covers.

Avoiding Steve was proving to be tricky when their families were highly respected members of the same Country Club, along with the Carver's. It was the final summer event, right before a new school year was approaching, where the Carvers did not attend Wine, Paint & Movie Night. Because of this, the gossip surrounding the Club's members, was entirely focused on the children of the Harrington's and Cunningham's.

Chrissy spent most of the evening hidden out in the gardens, where the members came from other towns and cities in Indiana, making it a safe haven from others knowing about the mundane gossip surrounding her. Still, no matter how much she concentrated on her painting, part of her hoped Steve would follow her. Away from their parents and a few of their small minded town folk. Particularly, away from the horrors of the Fourth of July Russian and Monster invasion.

The concentration on her painting finally faltered when he joined her on the blanket on the soft grass, though she didn't look up to meet his gaze. "You didn't." She tells him, voice soft and clear. With a deep breath, she places the paint brush down on the holder and finally looks up at him, unable to ignore the way he looks genuinely apologetic. The cotton candy skies above them enhancing the emotion in his deep dark hazel eyes and something else.

"My perfect future and what does it look like." Chrissy repeats, as though saying it out would help press the play button on such visuals. Truth be told, she had been quite the Dolly Daydream for as long as she could remember, especially knowing there was more out there beyond the places she still felt fortunate to visit. "Traveling. Seeing the world, meet new people, live the way they do, and indulge in new cuisines!"

Though, after finding out the mystery of disappearances and odd things happening in their town, something which was incredibly fresh after witnessing the death of Billy Hargrove; her dreams felt mundane and possibly unreachable. A lot of uncertainty remained, and truth be told, she wasn't entirely comfortable with El moving to California. What if more bad things happen when she's gone? Worse than ever before?

She didn't mean to go quiet for a moment, catching herself staring off across her bedroom out the window, until finally looking over at Steve. "Would you like to come along? Not this summer, of course. Maybe the next? I've been doing my research for years." She admits, waving a hand over at her bookshelf. "Mostly books on France as a starting point for a grand global takeover." She smiles with a soft chuckle.