Before this story begins, I just wanted to explain a few things;

This story is in no way, shape or form related to Home (it's not a sequel or anything like that), one of my other stories. It does, in fact, have a few similarities such as; Ted has left his family to be with another woman he had two kids with, while married to Karen with their three children, Karen is dating a lawyer named Bryan, the kids are 14, going on 15 but El is only 14, the Wheeler's have a dog named Rosie, they're all freshmen in high school, including El and anything else that doesn't relate to the actual show is from Home. Anyways, I'm gonna shut up now and hope that you guys enjoy this first chapter!

Thursday, November 7, 1985

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!" Everyone sang to El as she blew out the candles on her cake. It's technically her 14th birthday, but it's the first party she's ever had. The boys and Max had gone all out, decorating just about the entirety of the Wheeler house. There were balloons floating everywhere, streamers hung all over the place, and confetti in both her and Mike's hair from where Dustin threw it at them when they kissed just moments ago. They'd ordered pizza and danced and talked until it was all gone. The Byers, Bryan, and Steve were there as well. Everyone cheered once the candles were out and Mike began plucking them off the cake, not even reacting to the heat on the end of each candle. He put them on the table.

"Who's ready for some cake and ice cream, and then presents?" Karen asked, smiling at the excitement coming from the teens. She and Joyce began cutting the cake and scooping ice cream onto plates and handing them out. El was thrilled to have gotten the biggest piece, and immediately began shoveling it into her mouth. Mike laughed at that and joined in.

"So, how's high school treating you little dipshits?" Stevie asked, sitting on the couch with his feet on the coffee table once everyone had finished their cake and ice cream.

"Hey! We're not little dipshits!" Lucas exclaimed.

"We're big dipshits now." Dustin said grinning stupidly, making everyone laugh.

"Yeah, Steve, Mike is almost the same height as you now." Nancy joked. He raised an eyebrow and stood up.

"Stand up, shithead."

"Can you not?" Mike asked, rolling his eyes while the boys giggled. He stood up like he was asked, a smug grin forming on his face as he crossed his arms and stood next to Steve. Steve's eyes widened at the fact that this 15 year old is as almost tall as him now.

"How tall are you?"

"Like 5'6 or 5'7 I think." Mike replied.

"That's so not fair, how the hell are you as almost tall as me now? I'm 5'11." He pouted and plopped back on the couch. Mike rolled his eyes and shrugged, sitting back down beside El and putting an arm around her.

"You know, I never asked, but where'd the shiner come from, Will?" Bryan asked. Will gently touched his eye, a blush forming on his cheek.

"Troy." Dustin piped up before Will could speak.

"What? You said that you got hit with a ball in gym!" Joyce exclaimed.

"I did!" He said. "Troy just happened to aim it right at my face."

"And Mike might or might not have given Troy a better one." Lucas said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Really now?" Karen raised an eyebrow at her son, who's cheeks turned pink as he said,

"Let's stop talking about us and about El, huh? I mean this is her first birthday after all." Karen gave him the I'm watching you look as everyone laughed. El giggled and kissed his cheek. Everyone handed her presents, and she got some makeup from Karen and Nancy, some comic books from Lucas and Dustin, crayons and paper from Will, a hat from Max, some shirts and a new charm from Hopper, a few dresses from Joyce, and a pair of shoes from Steve, who'd overheard her talking about wanting them. Mike didn't give her a present with everyone else, so she assumed he didn't get her one. That is, until he grabbed her hand and took her into the kitchen, grabbing their jackets in the process, and took her out into the back yard.

"I, um, I wanted to give it to you privately." He said, scratching the back of his neck nervously as he handed her a square box. She smiled at him widely and ripped the wrapping paper off. She opened it and inside were gorgeous diamond earrings, some that she saw at the jewelry store and wanted. Her smile grew wider and she looked up at him.

"I love it."

"Really?" He asked. She nodded. She started to give him a hug but he held up a finger and handed her another box, and this one was rectangular. She raised an eyebrow and he smiled. She opened it and it was a tape that said I Can't Help Falling in Love With You in Mike's messy handwriting. "I recorded that for you, um, a couple days ago."

"Is it you singing?" She asked. He nodded, his cheeks turning red.

"Yeah, I uh, you talked about how much you loved it when I sang it to you a couple months ago, and Max suggested I record it for you, so I did." He shrugged. "You can play it anytime you want." She tackled him in a hug, almost knocking him down.

"I love it. I can't wait to play it when I get home. And I love the earrings." He smiled, hugging her back just as tightly.

"Good, I'm glad."

After another hour or so of festivities, El declared that today was the best day she'd ever had, and was the last to leave the Wheeler's residence.

"Thank you for today, Mike." She said, hugging him tightly.

"You're welcome, El. I'm glad you had a good first birthday." She smiled and stood on her toes to kiss him on the lips. He kissed her back and when she pulled away, he said, "I love you El."

"I love you too, Mikey." She pecked his cheek and waved to Karen, Nancy, and Holly as she got into the truck with Hopper. She and Mike waved at each other until they were out of sight and Mike went back inside with his mom and sisters. He went to bed soon after El and Hopper left, and when the two got home, El immediately got ready for bed and fell asleep listening to the tape Mike gave her.

It was about four in the morning when Rosie woke Mike up so he'd take her outside. He groaned and got up, putting his shoes and jacket on. He put his hat on and tiredly walked downstairs and let her out, standing on the porch. After she did her business, she started barking at a spot near the side of the house.

"Rosie! Stop, people are sleeping!" He exclaimed quietly. She looked at him, barked one more time, and ran up to him. He heard a sound coming from the side of the house but figured it was just a stray cat and opened the door and let Rosie in. Just as he was about to take a step inside, he heard rapid footsteps approaching and before he could even look behind him, someone covered his mouth and nose with a cloth and everything went black.

It's quiet now, not a sound to be heard, not even the crunching of snow underneath a person's feet. Snow began falling again, even heavier now, covering up the tracks that had once been there. And Michael Wheeler was gone, the only trace of him is his hat, lying on the ground right in front of the door.