Hi guys! I got a lot of comment, saying that I should do a story about El's birthday! So I wrote one! Hope you enjoy, and please send me some ideas! Here we go!


Chapter 1: Mike's Big Problem

Mike paced back and forth in the basement, a million thoughts running through his head. Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Max sat on the couch, watching him pace.

"Dude! Would you quit with the pacing?" Lucas snapped, clearly fed up with Mike.

"Yeah man. You're giving me a headache." Max said, nodding at Lucas.

"What's even your problem?" Dustin asked, while fiddling with a Rubik's Cube. Mike rolled his eyes. He stopped and turned to them, with an expression, like the problem was totally obvious.

"Guys! El's birthday is in three days, and I have literally no ideas on what to get her! I want to get her something meaningful and special, but I have just no ideas!"

"Does El even know what a birthday is?" Lucas asked. Mike gave him a glare, like he was stupid.

"Of course she does!" Mike snapped. He thought back to when he had explained birthdays to her a little over two weeks ago. She had been so excited and asked if she had a birthday. Mike wasn't sure what to say, so he told her that the day they found her on Mirkwood, could be her birthday. November 22. El was now counting down the days. When he told everyone his idea for a big party, they were overjoyed. And so El's birthday plans had begun.

"Mike, I don't think El is going to care what you give her. If your so worried, just get her Eggos, that's what I'm doing." Dustin said with a clever smile. "That... and pudding." Lucas started laughing, and Max and Will looked at each other with confusion. Mike rolled his eyes again.

"You guys just don't get it." Mike said, starting his pacing again.

"Of course we don't, you're the one who kissed her." Lucas said with a smirk.

"You kissed her!?" Max asked with surprise. Dustin nodded with a grin. Mike ignored her.

"You guys aren't helping!" Mike shouted, suddenly feeling very irritated. He had a bad temper. Even he realized this. It started after El left. He had become mean, depressed and a trouble maker. Even with El's return, Mike still had a bad habit of losing his cool. As if on cue, Mrs. Wheeler yelled from the top of the stairs.

"Boys... and Max! It's time to go home!" Everyone groaned, but made their way upstairs and out of the Wheeler household. As for Mike, well... he still had no idea what to get the person he loved more than anything else in the world.


The next day...

Mike shoved his hands in coat pockets, as he trudged through the thick forest nd up the creaky front steps for the tiny cabin. El's home. With a deep breath, he did the secret knock on the door. Hop opened it with a grunt. "Hey kid. Whatcha need?"

"Is El home?" Mike asked, peeking aroun Hopper in hopes to see El.

"No kid. She's out at the club. Of course she's home. Come on in." Hopper moved to the right slightly, leaving just enough space for mike to slip past.

Mike made his way to El's room. There she was. Sitting on her bed, trying to read a book. It was a children's fable book. He watched her for a minute before she noticed him. He watched her eyes skim the page. Her lips moving as she whispered the words to herself. The smile her lips got when she understood. It made Mike's heart swell. She finally looked up at him. She smiled.

"Oh. Hi Mike." She said closing her book.

"Hey El. How are you?" Mike asked gently sitting on the bed next to her.

"Good. You?"

"I'm good. I-"

"Two days left!" El exclaimed excitedly, pointing to her calendar. It made Mike suddenly very nervous. He still didn't have a gift for El. He muffled a yes. That's when he got an idea.

"Hey El. How about we go into town, and look at some shops." Her eyes lit up. She nodded and slid of her bed and but on her black boots and one of Hoppers old jackets. "Let's go."

She bounced out of the room, passed a nervous looking Hopper and out the front door. She was going out! Mike followed laughing at her excitement.

Once they reached town, Mike led her to the fist store that caught his eye. He had to find something that El would like. This was the best place to start. They walked up and down isles and browsed for interesting things. Everything interested El. She wanted to see everything. 'This is going to be a lot harder then I though.' Mike thought to him self. They exited the store and moved up and down the streets, stopping in almost every store.

As they exited at thirteenth store, Mike was still empty handed and dry of ideas. They walked out of the heated clothing store and out into the cold November air. El's cheeks became pink, and she shivered. She looked at her pale hands. Mike noticed them too. Then took one of them and grasped it tightly. El grinned. So did he. They both suddenly felt a whole lot warmer.

They held each others hand for a while, as they walked down the road. Mike noticed a couple of people smile at the young pair. He shrugged it off, just enjoying the moment with the girl he loved.

Thats is when they walked up to a jewelry store. El stopped and ran to the window. She started down at the cases of shiny, new earrings and watches, and bracelets.

"Pretty." She said with a soft smile. Mike squeezed her hand. El started to pull him inside, when the honking of a car made them both jump. "Hey Wheeler! Hands off my girl." Hopper said, mostly joking. Mostly. Mike quickly let go and got red in the face. "Hopper!" El shouted and gave him a hug. "Hey kid. Sorry to interrupt your little adventure, but I got a call at the station, and I need your help finding a suspect." El nodded and smiled. She loved her job.

"You can hang out with Mike at the party tomorrow. Sound good?"

"Sounds good. Bye Mike." She said waving as she got into the car. Mike waved goodbye back. He watched Hopper's truck get farther and farther away. Then he turned back to the window. He knew exactly what to get El.