#chapter 25

Whatever it was, it made you forgetful and naive to the enemies left in the normal world until you’re rudely brought down from your high when you’re thrown off your seat as the truck jumps violently before it screeches to a sudden halt.

The little girl still holding onto your hand throws her arms around your neck and buries her head on your shoulder. “It’s Mr. Whatsit!” She cries, but she’d be wrong. Who opens the back door isn’t an ugly deformed monster. They’re crueler than that. Colder and calculating.

“Everyone put your hands up!” A man in a military uniform bellows the moment they throw the back door open. “I said, hands up!” He barks as he and a dozen of his other comrades huddle around the back of the truck with their rifles pointed at everyone they see. Even the kids.

“There’s kids in here!” You point out the obvious, but they care only a little because they only treat them with some degree of gentleness as they get them down. Unlike the rest of you.

“Get down! Get down!” They yell as they point their shiny guns. “Get your hands up!”

You’re defiant as you can be and keep your hands at your sides when you’re on the ground.

“Wait!” You hear the little cry as she’s ripped from your side. “Stop!”

“It’s okay!” You try to assure her and the rest of the kids who can hear. “Just listen to them. They’ll take you home now.”

Before you can see if the little girl was comforted by your comment, a man grabs you and roughly turns you away so he can push you after your group of friends.

“Keep moving!” The man demands, but instead of throwing you against the wall of the truck where Dustin and the others were being held against, the man keeps pushing you past them.

“Wait!” You protest. “Wait!”

You look back at where your friends are being held at gunpoint. You don’t shift, you just look, but the soldier grips onto your arm and starts yanking you towards Doctor Kay as she starts approaching you with a man towing behind her.

“Let me go! I’ll follow along!” You insist as his grip tightens. “Let me go!”

The man does as you demanded, but only because you reach Doctor Kay, who looks down at you with disappointment.

“Your mother would be so disappointed,” she tries to hurt you with her words. “Bring her with me.” She points her head behind her, making your heart skip a beat out of fear.

“Wait!” You plead with desperation. “Wait! Wait! I’m pregnant! I’m pregnant!” You say out loud for the first time, hoping that would garner some sympathy and stop whatever Doctor Kay was planning, but a sparkle shines in her dull eyes before a wicked smirk tugs on her wrinkled face.

“Oh, I know,” she reveals, making your eyebrows pinch together in confusion.

“You’re going to be subject 13, let's hope your sister's blood can save you from the other subject's morbid fate,” she finishes spewing, causing your breath to catch in your throat as you stiffen.

“Wait!” A familiar voice booms. “Let her go! Let her go!”

You slowly churn your head and watch your dad thrashing against his captors' hold to try and reach you.

“Daddy,” you plead, making him fight harder.

“Sergeant!” Doctor Kay yells as she moves away, making the man behind you grab a hold of you and push you after her towards the truck. “Where’s the girl?”

You snap out of your shock at the sound of her question and snap your head to where Dustin and Mike are, but Eleven is not there even though she was right behind Mike.

“She was right here one second ago,” the incompetent Sergeant says, causing Doctor Kay to stomp away, and making the man grabbing you push you after her. Which is good because you’re able to look where they have the kids and at the clusters of soldiers scattered throughout the field.

When you don't see her held captive in either place, you keep darting your eyes desperately in the place you haven’t looked, hoping that she was able to escape in between the chaos.

That’s the only explanation.

She’s going to help everyone out of the clutches of the military. She’s going to show off how powerful she is and that she can’t be controlled.

She…

No.

No, no, no, your thoughts suddenly change while that hope you just started to feel is slowly crushed as you finally spot her in the one place you didn’t look; the gate.

She’s standing just past it, inches away from the Rightside up, but completely within the Upside Down. In the bridge that is seconds away from exploding out of existence and once and for all closing all connection to this world. To Mike. To Max, to Lucas, to Dustin, Will, Jonathan, Joyce. To your dad. To you…

She’s standing inside without wavering. She’s standing with determination and a solemn look on her face. She’s standing there and you can’t…it doesn’t make sense.

“El,” you call out quietly and with ignorance. “El, get over here!”

At the sound of your beckoning, El’s eyes find you and she raises her chin and tries to reassure you, but as she holds your gaze her lip starts to quiver and tears start to well in her eyes, making you think that her determination to stand there is faltering.

“El, it’ll be okay!” You plead ignorantly, but what you saw wasn’t her faltering. It was lament. A plea of forgiveness for the choice she’s determined to take. A choice you don’t want to accept.

“No!” You bellow. “El, get over here!”

“Mike! You hear a soldier shout before you hear him.

“Get off me! Get off me!”

You don’t look over at the commotion though. Not even when he makes it past you. You don’t care. You keep focused on her and keep pleading.

“El! Eleven! Get back here! Come back! Get out!”

She shifts her gaze to look away from you, but you still don’t follow. You keep your eyes on her hoping for a change, hoping she’ll get out, but she just looks down, hiding her eyes and any change that you might catch running behind them.

“El!” She makes you plead again, but she keeps her eyes down for a moment longer and you hope it’s her changing her mind. That's why you don't move. It’s why you keep watching her with hope and ignorance.

She had already made her choice and stuck with it though. It’s why she stood there so determinedly, because her choice was already made. You only accept that she isn’t going to change her mind when she finally looks back up with grief.

The lament in her eyes. The stream of tears running down her cheeks. The light shaking of her head, and her unmoving figure finally make you realize that she’s planning to die with the rest of the Upside Down. That is her unwavering choice. A choice you still will not accept.

A choice you cannot accept.

Thus, with a sudden burst of adrenaline and urgency to save the sister you love. You thrash in your captor's hold, making his hold slip just enough that you can slam back against him so hard he lets go, granting you a chance to slip away from him and run to Eleven.

A different guard soon thereafter tries to get a hold of you as you approach where they're holding Mike down, but you duck as he swings his arms, managing to slip past him and keep running.

“El!” You cry along with Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and your dad.

You can hear them all crying desperately, hoping that will move her, but she stays where she is as the high winds inside the Upside Down pick up and get more violent.

“El!” You cry again and throw your arm out even if you’re still far.

“Hopper! Get back here!” A stupid soldier yells at you, but you don’t care to listen. With tears running down your face you keep running at a sprint to desperately try and reach your sister who’s going to disappear with the rest of the Upside Down. You have to reach her to save her.

You have to because you can’t accept what she wants to do. It’s her choice, but you can’t let her make it. You can’t let her die. You can’t lose her.

She’ll hate you for taking that choice away from her, but what kind of sister would you be if you didn’t fight for her life? A life she’s hardly lived. A life you promised to make better after all this horror was over and it almost is. It’s almost over and she can almost live her life the way she deserves to.

That's why you have to fight for her. That’s why you keep running.

“El!” You cry over the other voices. “Eleven!”

You reach the ramp and take a step on it, but then a bright wave of light bursts out of the Upside Down, blinding you, and causing you to stop in your tracks and shield your eyes instantly.

It was a stupid choice that your body and mind made you take, and it was a choice that sets you back a minute, but doesn’t stop you.

When the blinding light is gone, you start to run again…

But only for a second because then strong winds start to blow against you, knocking you to your hands and knees as space starts wanting to consume your world too.

You want to get up. You push yourself to get up, but the force of the winds keeps you down, only letting you raise your head to see the gate to the Upside Down suddenly vanish along with Eleven.

Just like that.

Before you can get your last look and before you can save her.

She’s gone, and in her place simply stands the destruction of the town library. Nothing but rubble.

There’s nothing. No one. She’s gone…

And you can’t…you can’t accept it.

“No!” You sob and without any difficulty, you push yourself up and continue to run.

“Eleven!” You bellow. “Eleven!”

When you reach the library and come face to face with nothing but the rubble you wait, hoping that by some miracle there will be a new gate. Something that she could come out of to return to life. Anything.

But…the space before you is still and filled with nothing. No hope. No miracle. Nothing, and that’s what shatters your heart. It’s what makes the world grow dull and lifeless, and as you fall to your knees that nothingness is what makes a heartbroken wail rip deep from where your heart once stood.

“NOOOO! NOOO! NO!”

Someone reaches your side. Someone hugs you, but you don’t see past your grief. You see nothing but withering pain as you keep crying out for the sister you lost...

——

*18 MONTHS LATER*

“Hi there, strangers. It’s been a while. I wonder…I mean…Do you guys…even remember me?”

You roll your eyes, but you can’t help but smile.

“Okay, maybe I’m being too modest. I mean, let’s be honest, who could forget this soothing voice with a trace of a Debra Winger rasp? That’s right. It’s me. Robin Buckley, aka Rockin’ Robin. Jimmy “Fast Hands” was kind enough to let me back into the booth for a guest stint, but you’re gonna have to cut me some slack because I am feeling rusty. I mean what do I even talk about? You know? My-my go-to subjects are as out of date as, well, as my friend's bowl cut.”

You giggle at that and continue to hear her broadcast.

“I mean, there’s no soldiers, no fences, no Big Brother cameras, and the only Big Mac I can find is a Smushed Double Patty at Micky D’s. People are happy and smiling and going to the movies. But hey, who doesn’t wanna see Indy’s new adventure?” She asks rhetorically before she follows with a burping sound that isn’t supposed to play.

She makes it known.

“Shit,” you hear her hiss before she plays the whipping sound and continues speaking. “Sorry about that. My partner in crime ditched me. But, well, as far as excuses go, he had a pretty good one. Now…I am almost too superstitious to say this, and I’m knocking on some wood here, but I think the Hawkins curse has finally lifted. But at the same time…this isn’t even the Hawkins’s that I remember. It feels so different. But maybe it’s not the town. Maybe it’s me that’s changed. We probably all have. At least, that’s certainly true of my friends.” She giggles.

“Who, by the way, are graduating today,” she announces and follows up by silly celebratory sounds. “That’s right, Hawkins High class of ‘89 is walking the podium today. I hope you all come out and support them. I know I will. Because if anyone deserves a standing O, they do. So to get their party started, a new favorite.”

She proceeds to play a song you don’t pay attention to because finally you’re able to finish dressing your squirming 11-month-old after she had a…very messy accident.

“Oh,” you muse as you stand her on her feet. “Look at you, so pretty.” You beam at her even if she cares more about trying to grab the skirt of her new dress.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t put your dress on until right now. Isn’t that right?” You note before you sit her down to grab a matching headband with a bow to put on her head.

“There, now you’re all set,” you tell the baby before you have to quickly catch her curious hand already gunning for the bow. “Oh no, at least have it on until the pictures.”

The baby looks at you with her big brown eyes that are the exact copy of Steve’s, and pouts as if trying to convince you to let you take the headband off just as you had slid it on, but as cute as her pleading is you don’t bend to her will.

“Oh, no, little miss. You keep it on, so how about…” you trail off to grab a cup she had snatched from the table. One your father let her take because he does bend.

She has a dozen toys in his house that she can play with, but no, she wants the cup and happily takes it and forgets all about her cute pink dress and her matching bow.

“Hey!” Your dad exclaims from the other side of the door. “Are you done? It’s your turn for pictures!”

“Yeah, we’ll be right out!” You shout back so you can be heard, but even if he just pressured you to get out, you don’t.

You stay where you are and watch your baby bring the cup to her mouth and smile at the silliness of it. You watch the way she takes her breaths ever so calmly and watch the way her dark eyelashes touch her cheeks with every blink.

You watch the way the light coming through the window kisses her ever so gently and makes her look so breathtaking.

She almost doesn’t look real.

Some part of you struggles with accepting that she is and that the life you’ve lived for the past 18 months is real. It’s gotten easier in the last couple of months, but the therapist says it’ll still take some time to finally stop second-guessing yourself.

You had hoped that after Vecna died that you wouldn’t have to struggle with knowing what’s real or a cruel dream and vision, but here you are, fearing that your very real and beautiful daughter is a cruel trick. Which is silly to think about because 18 months ago you would have liked the idea of her not being real.

There was just too much going on. Too many risks, and nobody's lives were guaranteed. Besides, Vecna also wanted her to turn her into another version of himself, so hoping she wasn’t real would've been easier for her, you, and everyone else.

Of course, now, you hope more than anything that she is flesh and blood and not a figment of some cruel game.

She isn’t conjured up. She isn’t.

She’s real, you tell yourself, but gently caresses her cheek to just reassure yourself.

When your fingers don’t go through and she doesn’t turn to smoke, you smile and let out a deep breath as you remain seated and keep watching her, hoping to avoid those pictures.

It just doesn’t feel right. Not without her…Eleven.

She should be here taking pictures too and smiling at the fact that her friends and boyfriend are graduating. She should be celebrating even if she wouldn’t have graduated.

She should be here…but she isn’t, so you remain where you are to avoid taking pictures.

Your dad will come banging again, so you’ll go out the second time. As for now you’ll keep watching your daughter and listening to Rockin’ Robin since the song finally comes to an end and her voice returns to grace your ears.

“I’m back and with a very special surprise. Now, I am sorry to disappoint my Love Central fans, but neither lovebird has a song queued up for the other. However! And I am emphasizing this, they didn’t leave you hanging, they have entrusted me to give you all a very special surprise. Please give a round of applause to my beautiful goddaughter, Juno Harrington!” She exclaims, earning Juno’s attention after she hears her name and nothing more. She doesn’t hesitate to keep playing with her cup while you smile giddily.

“Yes,” Robin continues. “They had a cute little baby girl! She’s so stinking cute and has these big brown eyes that just melt your heart. She can’t walk yet, but she does love to dance, so this next song is for you my little Juno,” she says and you can practically hear her smile before Juno’s current favorite song, ‘Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra’ starts to play.

Albeit, at first, little Juno doesn’t identify the song. Not until the drums start playing.

The moment she hears those drums she lets go of the cup and starts to swing from side to side with a big grin that shows off the few teeth that she’s managed to grow.

“Yay!” You cheer before you grab her hands and stand her on her feet to dance with her which makes her giggle and in turn, makes you beam even brighter.

The door of the room then swings open, but even so, Juno starts dancing up and down while you look back and see your dad smile brightly and forget why he came in the first place.

“Look at you!” He muses. “You’re lookin’ so beautiful. Jonathan, come in here!”

Your dad proceeds to clap Juno along, making her smile brighter at the attention.

“Now this is something to record,” your dad points out as he keeps watching the little girl.

“Oh my goddess!” You hear Joyce exclaim as she makes her way to the doorway. “Jonathan, record her quickly!” She ushers and moves inside to let Jonathan in so he can record Juno dancing with even more excitement at the sight of the camera.

“Look at her go,” Will comments as he also joins the commotion.

Everyone is watching Juno dancing. They’re all smiling with so much admiration and can’t seem to care about why they were rushing you before.

You’re lost in the emotions too, but then there's a second where your bliss falters as Eleven comes to mind.

She would’ve been just as enchanted, perhaps even more so.

She should be here, you think to yourself before the second passes, and a knock raps on the front door, making you get up.

“It should be Steve,” you announce to the room completely enamored by the dancing baby, so you basically slip out of the room unnoticed.

When you reach the front door which is a short distance away from the room, the door opens slowly as Steve lets himself in.

“Oh, why is it so dark here?” Steve wonders as he walks in, making you smile as you see him in his khakis, white polo, and blue coaching jacket.

“Where is everybody?” He then asks as he closes the door behind him and sees the living room empty.

“Currently fawning over your daughter dancing,” you let him know as you glance back at the room where the music is coming from.

“As they should—whoa,” he then gasps, making you quickly look back at him in confusion. “You look hot!” He sings his praise, making your heart skip a beat as you smile giddily.

“Hot date?” He teases. “Or can I take you out?”

You shrug as you clasp your hands behind you and swing from side to side. “Well, my day is quite packed, but I could squeeze you in,” you say in a honey-laced voice that makes him smirk before he grabs you by your waist and pulls you against him, making you giggle as you wrap your arms around his neck.

“You’re beautiful,” he tells you softly with an admiring look on his face. “Absolutely beautiful.”

“Well, you don’t look too shabby yourself,” you offer him some sweet words full of sincerity because he does look quite hot in his coaching uniform.

“Oh, I know but this isn’t about me,” he purrs before he leans in and presses his lips against yours to take you in for a slow and passionate kiss that lets him savor the taste of you.

He does pull back soon thereafter, but just to offer you a sweet word against your lips. “Beautiful.”

You smile against your kiss as he goes back in for more for a short moment and then breaks apart to repeat the process.

“Beautiful,” he whispers before he starts kissing you again just as slowly, but with much more passion.

A burning passion that makes it hard to break away as you feel that you have to stay connected in that kiss, but the crowd comes out of the room so you pull away and are just left all tingly and hot.

“Great Steve you’re here, hurry, we’re going to be late!” Your dad ushers Steve.

“Your suit is there on the couch already ironed and,” you pause to lean in towards Steve. “Your hair stuff is in the diaper bag in the room.”

“Great, amazing.” He claps and gives you a peck on the cheek. “You’re amazing. I’m going to get dressed.”

He rushes to the living room to swipe his suit off the couch and then makes a run for the room to try and go unseen by his baby, but Juno is quick to notice him and demand to be in his arms.

“Wait!” Steve exclaims from the door. “I’m going to change. I’ll be right back!” He closes the door and Juno whines until she hears the sound of one of her toys squeaking across from her.

“Juno here, look here!” Joyce tries to turn her attention to the camera in Jonathan’s hand. “Will, take her and take a picture with her!”

Said boy happily takes the baby in his arms and Jonathan and Joyce quickly do the best they can to keep her attention and keep her smiling for as long as they can to take as many pictures as they can. When Steve comes back out dressed in his grey suit you’re both directed to go pose by Will so they can get some family photos.

When that’s done you still take more photos and more photos. You pass the time before you have to head out to the ceremony taking photos so it's a good thing that you don’t mind them, especially not with the way you look in your ankle-length fitted dress, but Juno soon grows so overwhelmed by them that you grow nervous over the possibility of her being grumpy at the ceremony.

Which is so crazy to be worried about now. Before all you would have to be worried about was hoping you weren't late and or finding somewhere to sit. They would be such simple concerns, but now what you and Steve worry about the most is the possibility of your daughter being grumpy at the ceremony because she’d be fussy and make it hard to listen and sit through the graduation ceremony. So you hope and hope all the way to the ceremony that she’ll return to that good mood at least just for the ceremony.

That’s all you ask for. That's all you plead for.

And thankfully, Juno offers you the grace of being smiley and giddy when Joyce takes her during the ceremony, leaving you and Steve the chance to sit with Robin and catch up with her before the ceremony starts without having to worry too much about your cute little bundle of joy.

And yes, you and Robin talk on the phone, but it’s not as much as you’d like. With Juno, Steve at work or coaching, you at school, and Robin at a school far from home, there’s such a limited time to talk on the phone or find a chance to meet somewhere. So, you take advantage of the time you have now to talk with her.

And boy, do you have a lot to catch up on. Mostly her.

“Wow, I’m impressed Steve, where did you get the money for this?” Robin compliments his choice of engagement ring that you wear around your ring finger.

“Well,” Steve scoffs as he snatches your hand from her grasp and rests it on his shoulder. “Not that it’s any of your business but I have been saving up for a while.”

You grin giddily and take your hand off his shoulder to admire your ring with a smile.

Yes, the ring is simple. The gold band is thin and the white diamond is small, but it sparkles like any big diamond and it’s special to you because it’s a promise that you'll be committed to each other until death do you part.

“Well, I love it so that’s all that matters. You’re just jealous ‘cause you don’t have one,” you mock her and press your hand on Steve’s chest, making him grab your hand and nod in agreement to your comment.

“Yeah, what she said.”

“Well good, I don’t think I’m ready to be committed to anyone just yet. I don’t know how you guys do it.” She complains, making you scoff and remind her of your hard times.

“Well, it’s not easy.”

“Says who?” Steve remarks, making you playfully smack his chest.

“It’s not, but when you’re with the right person you will learn to figure things out together and find that maybe forever is not even enough.” You smile, and Steve grabs your hand and caresses your knuckles with his thumb while Robin proceeds to gag.

“Oh, please, that's the cheesiest thing I’ve heard. Never repeat it.”

You giggle at Robin’s nonsense and quip. “You keep saying that Vickie is your forever.”

Robin sighs dramatically. “Well…I don’t know.” She shrugs. “But I want to figure it out. Maybe when we go on that trip I’ve been telling you guys about. Have you been?”

Steve answers for you. “No, never been.”

“Me neither. But I think she’ll like it.”

You hum halfheartedly and sit back against your chair to watch the graduates start to make their way to their assigned seats while Robin pushes Steve back against his chair so she can lean over and pick on that insincerity. “What? What is it? Tell me now!”

You shrug. “Well, all I’ll say is that if you really loved her that much you wouldn’t need to try so hard to know if she’s the one. What is it, your third time?”

“Fifth time,” Steve corrects you.

“Fifth time trying to work things out? Maybe it’s time you end things and explore other options like Nita?” You wiggle your eyebrows as you tease her about your childhood friend from Oregon who happens to go to the same school as Robin does. They’re not in the same year, but they see each other often and hang out with each other more than they hang out with you!

“Oh, she’s the complete bane of my existence. Don’t even mention her!”

“Why cause she gives you the—”

“Don’t,” she cuts Steve off before he can finish, making you and him share a knowing smirk.

“Well, I’ll tell you this, it won’t go away. That…feeling. It hasn’t for me. We’re going to get married!”

You roll your eyes while Steve throws his arm around your shoulders to show you off proudly to your best friend.

“So, I say leave Vickie and get with the person that gets you all hot and makes you want to stare at them forever.”

You nod in agreement to Steve’s comment. You would have phrased it a little bit better, but that’s the gist of it and you agree.

“It makes the hard times easy,” he adds and looks at you to share an enamored gaze that makes you share a quick peck.

“I second Steve,” you let her know as you peek over at her. “But if you want to see if this trip will change things then go for it. Just…know that you guys don’t owe each other anything.”

Robin exhales and nods gently in agreement and comprehension. “Yeah, I know, and thank you…I will go with the trip. We’ve been doing well this past month, so who knows maybe it was just a rough patch.”

You and Steve nod at the same time and you both don’t wholeheartedly agree, but if she wants to keep trying then she can go for it.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” the principal interjects, cutting off the music, the chatter, and making all the students sit down in their seats. “And welcome to the graduation ceremony for the class of ‘89!”

The crowd hollers and claps, but you point out a specific boy sitting on stage with the teachers.

“Look,” you point Dustin out to Steve after having missed him walking in since you were talking with Robin. “He looks so cute!”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

You grin at the sight of Dustin in his orange robe and white Valedictorian sash.

It feels like you met him a lifetime ago while he was still a cute little middle schooler caught up in a demo-dog mess while also wanting to impress Max. And now he’s graduating with his friends which is bizarre to see. God knows they’ve earned it, but it makes you feel old and quite sad because they’ll never be those cute little kids who would argue with each other over stupid things and geek out over the silly things.

Not that you want to go back. God knows that they went through stuff they never should have gone through, but it would be sweet to get to relive those nice moments.

“And now it’s my great pleasure to introduce someone who has truly excelled during their time here,” the principal says after his speech to the class and the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, give a warm welcome for your valedictorian, Dustin Henderson.”

You stand up along with Steve to clap and cheer for your friend.

“Yeah, buddy!” Steve exclaims while you clap and grin.

“I just wanted a normal childhood,” Dustin starts his speech when he reaches the podium, making you and Steve sit back down. “But that childhood was stolen from me. It was stolen from us. And this past year, if you wanna know the truth, I’ve been pretty pissed about it. But then I thought back to the past six years, and I realized that, even though there was a lot of bad, there was so much good too.”

You smile softly at his words and feel your eyes already start to sting.

“There’s this game I like to play,” he continues. “It’s called Dungeons & Dragons.”

You smile in amusement and hear Lucas and Will exclaim in response.

“And in this game, there are two types of chaos classes, chaotic good and chaotic bad. Now, bad chaos brings anarchy, destruction, war. But good chaos can bring innovation, change. And this school, frankly, it needed to change. Because we were so divided into the jocks, the nerds, freaks. And in the chaos, all those walls broke down, and I made new friends. I made friends who were never even supposed to be my friends,” he says, making you and Steve share a teary-eyed look before you interlace your fingers together to hold hands.

“And this wasn’t just me. I saw this happen with so many others,” Dustin continues. “And when you get to know people who are different from you, you begin to learn more about yourself. You change. You grow. I’m a better person now. I’m a better person because of them, because of my friends.”

You glance over at Robin and she glances over at you at the same time, making you both smile at each other as his words remind you of her, Nancy, and Steve.

Honestly, you don’t know what would have become of you without them and Dustin and the other kids.

“So, I’m not pissed off anymore. But I am worried. Worried, because now that the chaos is over, Principal Higgins and every square like him—”

Your jaw drops at the sound of his words before you, Steve, and Robin share a proud look.

“—is gonna do their damnedest to put everything back in order. And I don’t want order, which is why it’s hypocritical that I’m wearing this thing.” Dustin tugs at his orange robe. “I mean, we look ridiculous. What is this? We look like Roman senators. I mean, it’s not who I am. I don’t think it’s who any of us are. So, honestly, just screw it,” he says and unzips his robe to throw it off his body, making the crowd clamor, and making you start clapping in support.

“Screw the school.”

“Whoa!” You, Steve, and Robin exclaim while Principal Higgins starts approaching Dustin to stop his rebellious outburst.

“Screw the system.”

“That’s enough!” Principal Higgins protests as he tries to get in front of the mic.

“Screw conformity. Screw everyone and everything trying to hold you back and tear us apart, because this, this is our year!”

“Yeah!” You proclaim as you stand up with Robin and Steve. “Let’s go, Henderson!”

“Whoo-hoo!” Steve adds to the commotion while Dustin puts on a show and throws the mic before he snatches the diploma from the principal and flips him off, making the crowd go even crazier while a confetti cannon goes off from every corner, filling the air with orange and white paper.

You and Steve keep cheering with the happy crowd, but as the crowd only grows wilder, Steve checks over on Juno to see if she’s bothered by all the loud commotion.

“Look she’s clapping too!” Steve points your daughter out, making you and Robin look over at where your dad and Joyce are to see Juno clapping and laughing in your dad's arms.

“Little rebel,” Robin muses.

“Settle down! Back in your seats now!” You hear the principal try to retake control of the crowd since the ceremony is still not over. “Summer school for all of you! And detention!”

Eventually, as the excitement dies down the principal is able to continue the ceremony and finish it, but nothing will compare to what Dustin did. That was indeed the highlight of the day even if you did cry when they all went up to grab their diploma.

Which makes Dustin’s outburst even better because without it you would’ve been crying more. Thanks to him though you were able to keep your face from pampering with tears and you were able to keep Eleven off your mind too.

Let’s just hope you can save yourself from crying when you hang out with Robin, Jonathan, Nancy, and Steve.

After the ceremony was over Robin came up with the idea to hang out and luckily, you’re able to go through with the spontaneous plan thanks to Mrs Henderson being able to take care of Juno since your dad and Joyce are apparently going on a date after the ceremony since the kids are going to hang out instead of going to a party. Which, you and Steve find ridiculous. They could do both. You, Robin, Jonathan, Steve, and Nancy did, but Mike is insistent on skipping the party.

“It’s just…a little silly,” you share your thoughts outloud to Max, Will, and Robin after you took even more photos.

“Tell me about it,” Max mutters. “I mean we have tomorrow and the day after that. And any other day.”

“I mean this can make or break the end of your high school era,” you say dramatically as you shake Juno, making her giggle.

“Or what she means to say is that it could be fun,” Robin corrects you so as to not add pressure to Max and Will. “Our party was at Lover’s Lake. It was very fun!”

“Oh, yeah, bonfire, keg, and late-night swim!” You give them some insight into your graduation party. “It was so much fun.”

“We just left our bad memories of lovers lake at the door,” Robin adds, making you nod.

“Well, maybe we could go after. I mean the party won’t end early,” Will suggests. “I mean what’s the harm in doing both?”

You flash him a grin. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

“Maybe if you guys could come along,” Will says innocently, making you and Robin laugh, and making Max immediately cut in with her nose scrunched in disgust.

“No, we’d be the laughing stock of the party.”

“Excuse me?” You gasp as you touch your chest.

“Yeah, I mean we were going to turn you down, but that just makes us sound ancient,” Robin also chimes in with the same offended tone and look.

“Robin! Hopper!”

At the sound of a stranger calling out for you, you and Robin share a confused look before you turn and see a tall guy with dirty blonde hair running over with a smile.

“Who’s that?” You whisper to your friend.

“I-uh, oh! Zach. Zach!” Robin greets the guy now coming over at a walk.

“Wow, Buckley, look at you. You look nice,” the guy says with a bit too much shock in his voice when he reaches you. “I like this new look.”

“Oh, ha, thanks,” Robin stammers. “You…how’s school?”

The guy shrugs. “Easy, you know? I’m balancing everything well and still playing my tuba.”

Oh! Oh! Tuba Zach! The Maxwell Caufield look alike—well, he doesn’t look that much like him anymore. His hair is buzzed now, but it's Tuba Zach!

“That’s good—”

“Hopper, whose cute little baby is that? Your dads? I heard that he's back from Russian prison. Is that true?”

You blink in surprise at how much he’s heard from the mouths of nosy townspeople, but avoid that specific subject altogether. “Oh no she’s mine. She’s my daughter.”

Tuba Zach blinks repeatedly in disbelief before he steps back and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Oh! Wow, that’s uhm…great. Congrats!”

“Mhm. Thanks,” you say with feigned gratitude considering his change in emotion.

Instead of eager he looks deflated now.

“She’s a cute one. Who are you with?”

“Oh,” you grin genuinely now. “Steve. I’m still with Steve.”

“Oh!” He sounds surprised again. “Wow. Really?”

You nod and take a glance at your daughter who’s practically Steve’s clone in a girl version. She just doesn’t have the thick head of hair, but she’ll get there.

“I’m the godmother,” Robin gets her chance to show off as she grabs Juno’s hand. “I actually announced it on the radio earlier today. You must’ve missed it.”

“Yeah.” He awkwardly hits his side. “Must’ve. Well, congrats to you, Hopper. And it was nice to see you guys!” He says with a half smile before he glances at the parking lot to his side and then turns to walk off, leaving you and Robin looking at each other bewildered by what just happened before you just burst out laughing.

“I think he was coming onto you,” Robin points out between laughs.

“Yeah, I think he was. Wow. That was so—”

“He tried, okay? Points for that.”

You and Robin laugh harder before you catch the reason why Tuba Zach left in a hurry; Steve and Dustin are walking over with Juno’s car seat.

“Sorry we couldn’t get the damn thing out,” Steve says as he walks to Mrs Henderson’s car.

“Well, it’s okay, Mrs Henderson is still gossiping with her friends,” you let him know as you approach the car with Robin and…just her, apparently Will and Max left while you were talking with tuba Zach.

“Okay, Henderson I need you to go to the other side and get the seatbelt when I hand it to you. This thing is a bitch to fix,” Steve grumbles, ignoring what you just said to fuss over the car seat.

“Wait, I thought my mom had a car seat?” Dustin asks.

“Yeah, but it’s in the Chief's car. He picked her up the other day and didn’t give it back to your mother.”

“Oh, is Mrs Henderson taking care of Juno full time now?” Robin asks as you take your eyes off the guys struggling to fix the seat.

“Yeah, it’s between her and Mrs Wheeler,” you let her know your situation. “Mrs Wheeler offered after she found that I would take Juno to the daycare near the school. She said it’d be easier for us. That way Steve when is off work or coaching, he can pick her up. She also said that it gives her something to do and makes her feel less lonely.”

“Oh,” Robin adds sympathetically.

“Yeah, they both say that. Her and Mrs Henderson.” You say quietly out of fear that the women you’re talking about are near.

“That’s…depressing.”

“Yeah.”

“No, I got it! I got it!” Dustin’s shouting steals your attention, but when you look over, the car seat is lopsided.

“Idiot,” Steve retorts.

“Should I help them?” You ask, making Robin shake her head.

“No, let them figure it out. They’re smart.”

The three of you continue to watch them struggle with amusement and some judgment until Mrs Henderson finally comes over and helps them install the car seat perfectly and quickly, letting her take Juno to her house while you and Robin make fun of Steve all the way to the car.

——

*LATER*

“Wow. I’m so happy for you guys, but you never told me how it happened. Did Steve do something nice?” Nancy wonders out loud as she admires your engagement ring, but the thing about the story is that it is sweet, but funny too and you and Steve make that known by sharing a knowing look before you both snicker.

“What?” Nancy asks since she’s the only one who doesn’t know the story behind how you and Steve got engaged. Jonathan knows because you told him in the family dinner you had yesterday, and Robin well, you called her and let her know. You just announced the news to Nancy but never got the chance to tell her the full story.

“Well, he asked me when we were in bed,” you start to share, making her let your hand go as she shakes her head lightly and looks at you with regret because she assumes the story is sexual, but Steve quickly sheds light on the truth.

“Well, listen,” he continues for you, letting you return to your seat next to the cooler. “I had this romantic date on the lake planned, right? I had gotten a hold of my parents’ boat because it was supposed to be like the romantic rides in Italy, right?” He says, making Nancy smile with admiration.

“But that weekend I planned to take her, Juno got sick, and well, we felt bad leaving her behind, so we postponed the date to the following week.”

You giggle and jump in for him to finish the story. “Only we got sick that weekend and he got tired of waiting, so he asked me while we were sick in bed. He made the picnic he was going to take on the boat, lit candles, and made the best of it.” You smile giddily at the memory before you share that giddy smile with Steve.

“Wow, well I’m happy that turned out great. I’m happy for you guys,” Nancy tells you guys with an awestruck smile. “I just wish you had brought Juno.”

Steve scoffs. “To drinking on the rooftop? No, I’m not going to bring my girl to this. You can see her tomorrow. Or I can show you some pictures of her that I have in my wallet.” He says excitedly as he digs his hand in his pocket to get ready to pull out his wallet.

“Well, you can’t really carry pictures,” Robin speaks for Nancy. “Or make them laugh. Besides, we just saw her.”

Steve scoffs and you smile softly before you point your drink at Jonathan and change the subject. “New York. Do you really like it? I mean I know you tell your mom that you do, but we’re alone now, so spill it.” You insist as you take a sip of your drink.

“Well, it is the truth. I like it. There’s a lot to do and there’s always so much going on. It is expensive, but it’s great. I think you guys would really dig New York.”

“Yeah,” Robin agrees before Steve follows with a question.

“How much is rent exactly?”

“Thinking about moving?” Nancy asks inquisitively.

“Are you? There’s some nice places near me,” Jonathan presses. “Unless you wanna use your inheritance money on something fancier?” Jonathan directs teasingly at you, but before you can kindly argue about it being out of budget, Steve blurts.

“You’re serious? Come on. I mean, look at this place. The sunset, the view.” Steve points out each thing before he exclaims happily. “Whoo! You guys are seriously telling me you don’t miss any of this?” Steve asks the group to which they all don’t hesitate to give an answer to.

“Mhm, no.”

“No.”

“No.”

You giggle at their quick answers before you look back at Steve continuing to list things off. “The forest, the quarry, Family Video, the community—”

“Cheers to that,” you interject since without it you would have no one to look after Juno. It’s thanks to the people you know and trust that you and Steve don’t have to struggle finding a babysitter.

“…The Hawk,” Steve adds one more thing but Nancy, Jonathan, and Robin still answer with the same thing.

“No.”

“No, I couldn’t come back here if you paid me a million bucks,” Jonathan says dramatically while Steve walks over to grab another beer as he retorts. “Mm. You’d need a lot less than a million, I’ll tell you that. Prices are still way down. There’s actually this rad place near Forest Hills. Or this other neat plot of land we’ve been eyeing. We just need to make sure it’s right.”

“Are you guys still planning to build your own house with that inheritance money?” Nancy asks with curiosity. “Or has that changed?”

“No.” You shake your head and take another sip whilst Steve sits on the cooler. “That’s still in the plans. That’s why it needs to be right. There’s no do-overs once we start. It’s going to take up all of what my mom left me to make that dream come true,” you say with bubbling excitement.

“I’d start over in Oregon, but it’s just me,” Nancy gives her last opinion, making you come up with an argument this time.

“Well, we thought of it, we’d have a nice sense of community there too, but school is here and I don't want to throw that scholarship away. It’s a full ride. And Steve,” you say fondly. “Really found his calling in coaching here.”

“And being the Sex Ed teacher,” Robin adds teasingly.

“They have you teaching sex ed?” Nancy blurts with surprise.

“It’s part of the gig,” Steve lets her know, making them all laugh.

“If I had a question about an STD, you’d be the first person I’d come to,” Robin teases him but also probably means it seriously. And Steve knows that so he answers accordingly.

“Thank you?”

You all share a laugh before Steve comments on the matter. “No, I love it. I love teaching these kids, you know? I get to teach them about the miracle of life, and how to not start it accidentally,” he says, making you both clink your drinks to that.

“And this time,” Steve continues. “I’m in control of the grades,” he gloats.

“And why do I feel like you go pretty easy there?” Nancy questions him and she’d be right.

“I have a strict A policy,” Steve proves her right. “B, if you’re a real knucklehead. That’s about as low as I go.”

You giggle at that whilst Jonathan cuts in. “Hell man, can you come and teach at NYU?”

You all chuckle, but Steve rebuts.

“I mean, what, I’m gonna grade your movie about capitalism, cannibalism, or whatever?”

“No, no, it’s anti-capitalist. The Consumer,” Jonathan corrects him. “It’s a metaphor. The more she eats, the hungrier she gets.”

“Hm.” You simply hum as you don’t fully understand. Yet.

“Okay,” Robin mutters.

“Right,” Nancy follows.

“Well, I mean, it’s a working…it’s a working. That’s a working title!” Jonathan defends his project to which Nancy quickly reassures him about.

“It’s good.”

You eye them suspiciously before you sip more of your drink.

“Now, Purdue. Purdue, I…I would consider,” Steve returns to the topic that started this conversation, making you snap your eyes to him to look at him with a questioning look.

“Oh is that so?” You wonder with a squinted gaze, making him shrug innocently.

“It’s close,” he brings up which is true, but not why he would consider teaching there.

“Or you want to keep an eye out on your girl?” Robin picks up on his true reason. “Do you have some weird fantasies you want to play out?”

Steve groans. “Ew Robin. And why can’t I simply be interested?” He continues to play the innocent, but you and Robin know better and share the same knowing reaction.

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, if you know a thing or two about Atmospheric science and Meteorology, I wouldn’t be opposed. You’d make it fun,” you add with a smirk.

“Haha,” he feigns a laugh as he nudges you. “But I’m serious, I could be your English teacher. Or a health teacher.”

“Wait,” Nancy interjects before you can respond to Steve, making you and Steve share a longing glance before you look at Nancy. “You aren’t going the space route?”

“Oh! Yeah, I’ve forgotten to tell you! No, I had a change of heart while I was there. Now I’m majoring in Atmospheric Science and Meteorology. It’s really interesting and something that just stole my heart,” you muse before you point your drink at her. “You though. How’s Emerson?”

Nancy shakes her head and completely surprises everyone. “I dropped out.”

“No way, what?” Steve exclaims.

“Ho, ho, ho!” Robin proceeds to add to the commotion. “I knew it. You became a Navy SEAL!”

“Oh no, not quite. I…I took a job at the Herald. Which…it sounds fancier like that. It’s a trainee position. But I don’t know. I was just sick of school and thought I’d maybe get out there and…try the real world.”

You hum and nod in comprehension while also looking at her fondly.

“Nancy Wheeler. Still full of surprises,” Robin takes the words right out of your mouth while also making said girl chuckle and then share a lingering look with Jonathan. Something you note before Robin continues with a bit of sadness.

“You know, there actually is something that I miss about this place. I miss this. Just…us. Hanging out. You know?”

You scoff and feel your eyes sting and your throat burn as your heart aches at her words and how much they resonate.

“I miss you guys,” Robin adds, making Steve turn his head away to hide his tears. Albeit you see him and even though the sight of him crying makes you break, you still console him by rubbing his back.

“I mean I really like my new friends,” Robin brings up. “But it’s…”

“It’s not the same,” you finish for her as you wipe your tears away and continue rubbing Steve’s back.

“I don’t think it ever will be,” Jonathan says, which only makes more tears run down the cheeks of not only you but the others too.

“Okay, Jesus! You’re killing me, man.” Steve tries to lighten the mood, making you all chuckle, while you also wipe away more tears as you look up at the pretty painted sky.

“Let’s do something about it!” Steve then blurts as he gets up and wanders away. “I don’t know. We could…meet up,” he suggests as he stops and turns to face all of you. “Once a month, here.”

“Yeah, or…or maybe somewhere just more neutral,” Nancy inputs. “Like. What’s a city between Hawkins, and Massachusetts, New York?”

“Louisville,” Jonathan offers, but Robin shakes her head and you disagree loudly.

“Louisville is not even close to being neutral."

“Uh, Philly,” Steve offers a smarter alternative.

“Philly,” Robin agrees. “I have an uncle who lives in Philly. He’s weird, but he’s got a really big house.”

“Does it have a basement?” Jonathan asks for some reason, making you all confused.

“Yeah,” Robin agrees slowly.

“And a boiler room?”

“A boiler room?” You question him.

“Yeah,” Robin says again.

“Oh my god, it’s perfect. You know, for the hideout. You know, where she traps all the men and then burns their bodies.”

“Jonathan, Steve, and I have a daughter. She’s not even one yet,” you say in hopes to garner sympathy for whatever plan he has in mind.

“No!” Jonathan snaps. “The Consumer,” he and Nancy say together.

“What do you think I’m talking about?” Jonathan asks.

“I thought you were trying to kill us,” Robin says what your mind went to.

“Oh, no.” Jonathan chuckles.

“Okay, okay. Yeah, so we’ll meet at Robin’s weird uncle's house,” Nancy settles the matter. “And we’ll drink and reminisce and make Jonathan’s anti-capitalist cannibal movie. Starting next month.”

You and Steve share a questioning look before you both nod in silent agreement.

“Yeah, I’m in,” Robin voices her response.

“I’m in,” Jonathan is the last one to agree, and once he does, Steve lifts his drink.

“To nothing ever keeping us apart,” Steve offers a toast.

“Including overbearing significant others,” Robin adds as she gets up to join him.

“School,” Nancy adds as she gets up too.

“Mortgages,” Jonathan follows, leaving you to get up at last.

“And kids,” you add with a smile.

“Cheers,” Steve says, making you all clink your drinks together.

“Cheers,” you all echo before you take your drinks.

“So, guys,” Nancy brings up as she looks between you and Steve. “More kids?”

You and Steve share a look before you both nod eagerly.

“Well, we don’t want Juno to grow up alone,” Steve explains quite excitedly.

“So six?” Nancy teases.

“No!” You quickly clarify. “Not six. We want Juno to have at least two sisters. Three at most, so four kids is the cut off.”

“We’re just putting a pause on that until we at least get started on the house,” Steve explains. “Or she finishes school.”

“Whatever comes first?” Robin bounces her eyebrows, but you quickly rebut.

“No, we just don’t want Juno to have a big gap with the rest of her siblings. I mean,” you pause and swallow thickly as you think about Eleven for the first time in hours. “As nice as that can be we think it’d be nicer if they were closer in age.”

“No, that sounds nice,” Nancy says. “I mean, sometimes I wish Holly were older. Or even Mike.”

“See,” Steve points out. “That’s why we don’t want to wait too long.”

You nod in agreement as you lock eyes with him and share a smile before he drapes his arm around your shoulders and presses a kiss on the top of your head and whispers suddenly. “Let’s go.”

Before you can question him he shares a surprising announcement with the group. “Which reminds me, we need to go.”

“Ew,” Robin groans.

“Wait, why?” Nancy asks. “You guys don’t have to pick up Juno already do you?”

“No and that’s exactly why we need to go,” he explains. “We need to take advantage of that. You guys will understand when you have kids.”

You can’t argue with that.

“But, how about we meet up at my dad's cabin tomorrow at 9 am? We can have breakfast together outside since it’s gonna be nice and warm? We can make a big deal out of it and even invite the kids.” You try to console them over your abrupt exit.

“Yeah, I guess,” Robin is the first one to agree before Nancy and Jonathan follow suit.

“Great! Jonathan let Will know. Nancy, you tell Mike. We’ll tell the others!” You finish putting the new plan together before you and Steve clean up your mess and leave Nancy, Robin, and Jonathan still mingling on the rooftop thinking that you’re up to no good.

They should know that even you came to be surprised when Steve didn’t drive home or stop somewhere secluded where no one would see what you were up to. Instead, he demanded you cover your eyes as he drove over some dirt path that led god knows where.

You try to ask, but he’s vague. You would peek, but you truly don’t want to ruin the surprise. The last time you did he sulked for an entire day so now you act surprised if you happen to find out before he can show you or just never ruin any surprise he might have.

“Okay, okay are you ready?” Steve asks and only antagonizes you.

“Steve! Just let me see. I’m dying here,” you snap, making him scoff before he slips off his tie that he made you wrap over your eyes.

After that, when you can see again, the first thing you see is Lover’s Lake glimmering as little by little the stars burn brighter and brighter as the sun vanishes beyond the horizon and lets the moon reign high above.

“Are we having a late-night swim?” You ask hopefully, but he grabs your hand to walk you back.

“Do you remember this place?” He asks, leaving your question unanswered.

“Uh, I—no,” you answer slowly and with confusion. “Should I?”

He sighs. “This is once where Reefer Rick had his house,” he announces, shedding some light on the still secret matter. “Do you remember when we heard that they were demolishing it and putting his land for sale?”

“Mhm-hmm.”

“Well! Imagine a two-story house where his house once stood,” he begins to ramble excitedly. “Okay? And-and I know that this is not a beach, but you can still do fun stuff at the lake and you can have a nice breakfast outside without it being too windy! Okay? And I know we wanted to avoid places with bodies of water because we wanted to avoid an accident before it happened, but! Imagine a fence around the house,” he waves his hand over an empty lot where a house once stood, and where a new house could stand.

“That way Juno and her siblings won’t wander to the lake,” he continues, making an enamored smile tug on your lips as you listen to him with admiration.

“And we’d have a swing set in the backyard and a nice patio for us to have some barbecues and, we’d have our room overlooking the lake because I know how much you like watching the ocean when you’re in Oregon. And this is not Oregon, but we can drive there every summer. You know…” you trails off nervously as he scratches the back of his head and averts his gaze, missing the way your eyes glisten with happy tears.

“That sounds,” you breathe out and close the gap between you to cup his face, making him slowly lift his eyes to meet your awe-struck gaze. “Perfect. Every detail. Let’s make it come true.”

Steve smiles shyly at the ground before he looks back at you with big lovestruck eyes. “Yeah?” He whispers as he grabs your hands.

“Yeah,” you reassure him softly before you lean in and take him in for a slow and deep kiss that makes your heart swoon as he’s gentle and passionate and lets you know with the way you move in sync that he loves you and you are the most important thing to him in this world.

When he pulls away he presses his pink lips against yours and steals a lingering kiss that leaves you wanting more until you hear his heart-warming words.

“I love you and I want you to know that. I want you to know that you are,” he pauses and exhales shakily. “You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I…I’m grateful every day that I got to meet you and that you gave me a chance.”

You scoff at his choice of words as if he didn’t have you completely captivated the moment you lay eyes on him.

“Loving you and you loving me has shown me that true and unconditional love does exist and that I am not destined to be like my parents.”

“Steve,” your voice quivers as you hold onto him tightly and also wipe away the tears that crawl down the curve of his cheeks.

“I love you,” he says again, but with more tenderness than you ever thought possible.

“How can I ever compete with that?” You chuckle breathlessly, making him smile as he presses his forehead against yours.

“You can’t,” he teases happily. “That’s why I said it and why I’ll say it again when we get married.”

You giggle. “You can, or you can come up with something even more beautiful after I tell you that you are everything to me and that if I had to go through all that hell that we went through just to meet you and fall in love with you, I would go through it all every single time.”

Steve pulls his head back to wipe away his tears and groan. “Yeah. That…that’s good too.”

You giggle and then turn to face the lake fondly. “This is it. This is the right place.”

Steve faces the lake with you with a hand on the small of your back. “I think so too,” he agrees happily before he drags his hand up to wrap his arm around your shoulders so you can admire the lake, and think about your future together, side by side in a peaceful and blissful silence.

——

*LATER THAT NIGHT*

The wind blows lightly, but still with a bitterness that makes your cheeks sting and makes you try to tug Juno’s blanket up to her chin, but she’s not asleep even if it’s past her bedtime, so she makes your attempts to keep her warm pointless when she pulls it down.

“Don’t say I didn’t try,” you tell her lightheartedly with a faint smile before your eyes drift back to the town library that’s getting rebuilt after the destruction it faced so it looks like nothing ever happened.

Many people will look mindlessly past the library when it’s finished getting rebuilt. Others will think nothing of it. It’s just a library to them, but you will never look at the library and think nothing of it. You will always see the tragedy behind every new brick and fresh coat of paint.

You will always look at the library with an aching heart, a lump in your throat, and a glimmer of hope that maybe one day Eleven will come back whether it be tomorrow, next week, next year, or twenty years from now.

It may be ridiculous, but you will never give up hope because it’s not like when you lost Sara. She was sick, there was no way to save her from her fate, but Eleven?

It's different. She wasn’t sick, there was a way to save her.

It couldn’t be the end. That couldn’t be her end, you’ll never accept it. You’ll always hope…

“Okay!” Steve breaks the sorrowful silence. “I just got done calling them. I mean, neither one of them was home, but their parents took the message,” Steve lets you know as he catches up to you across the town library.

“Oh!” Steve gasps as he peeks in the stroller. “She’s awake.”

You let your eyes linger on the library for a second longer before you glance at your smiling baby and then at Steve. “Yeah. So much for a lulling walk around downtown.”

Steve scoffs. “Tell me about it. Well, come here then,” he directs at his baby before he picks her up from her stroller and only makes her happier now that she’s in his arms.

“Why don’t we head home, huh?” He tells her sweetly, making you slip your arm around Steve’s before you start moving towards the truck at the end of the street. “People have been taking you from me all day that we’ve hardly had any time together today.”

Juno coos at him, making you and Steve smile with awe.

“Did you walk with Mrs Henderson? Or did you try playing with the cat the entire time?” He asks her as he tickles her tummy, making her giggle before she coos again as if trying to respond, but not being able to form the exact words just yet.

Not like either of you care. You still watch her fondly as if she did manage to talk.

“Well, I hope you didn’t walk without us,” you chime in. “That would make me very sad.”

Juno’s eyes find you and she coos again, making you and Steve grin.

“It’s okay,” he assures her. “Maybe we’ll get a couple of steps in later. Considering you’re awake.”

“Oo, I like the sound of that. The camera is fully charged too since you love being recorded,” you encourage Steve’s idea, hearing Juno try to respond, but giving more baby talk that makes you and Steve laugh in your walk to the truck under the peaceful starry night.

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A/N- Don’t fret, there’s still an epilogue left!!!