Hi everyone! This is my first Stranger Things story. I'm a little nervous but very excited as well. This fandom is so strong and I'm happy to be joining this part of it. The summary is pretty accurate to what the story is about. I simply combined my two favorite elements of the ending of season two: Mike and Eleven growing closer and Hopper adopting her. Thank you for reading and enjoy!

Fourteen-year-old Mike Wheeler paced in front of the now very familiar cabin, muttering to himself under his breath with an anxious feeling inside of him. He had lost count of how many times he had rehearsed what he was going to say, his reason for coming all the way out here. He glanced over at his bicycle, dropped off at the bottom of the front porch steps and considered getting back on it and going home.

With a deep breath and full of determination, however, he turned in the other direction and knocked on the door, a once complicated one that he had long since memorized.

Hoping his confidence wouldn't quickly fade away, he waited by the door.

As expected, Hawkins police Chief Jim Hopper answered.

"Uhh... hey. Hi Chief."

"Hey kid." He answered as he looked at the teen in front of him. "You know she's not here right?" Seeing as Eleven, the person he was always here to see, was currently out at lunch with Joyce Byers as well as the boy's sister, Nancy, it would be surprising if he wasn't aware of it.

"Yeah, I know." Mike confirmed. "I'm here to talk to you actually."

"Everything okay?" Hopped asked in a wary tone.

"Everyone's fine, yeah. It's uhhh... just a-a personal thing."

Hopper wasn't sure how to respond to that. Surely the kid had someone else to talk to. His own parents maybe. But then again, he thought, he wouldn't come all the way out here if speaking to someone else was an easy option.

The Chief opened the door up wider, allowing Mike to come in.

"So what's this about?" Hopper shut the door behind him and they faced each other.

"It's...well...it's about El." He started.

"Somethin' going on with her?" He sounded concerned but felt slightly hurt. Back when he first sat her down after adopting her and explained what that meant, he told her that she should go to him with whatever she needs, no matter what. So if there was something going on, he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

"No! No. It's umm it's just..."

Hopper raised an eyebrow, wishing Wheeler would just get on with it.

"You know," Mike began as he stood up straight, "It's almost been a year that she's closed the gate." And that you've kept her here, he thought but knew better than to say out loud.

"Yeah," the Chief stated, knowing there was more to what Mike was going to say.

"So I was think- wondering, if it would be okay for her to... go out." Hopper's brows furrowed.

As much as he tried to keep her safe, he knew it was crazy to keep her in the cabin 24/7. This is why Mike's request confused him. El had been out plenty of times in the last year on the condition that Hopper can easily check up on her. He had no problem dropping her off at one of the boys' or Max's house as long as it was with adult supervision. And he never felt more comfortable than when she was with Joyce. Not to mention this very moment.

"I haven't exactly been keeping her hostage."

"I meant,... if she and I could...go out...together alone?" Silence followed from both of them. "Sir." Mike quickly added.

Hopper looked away and ran a hand through his face, now understanding what he meant.

"You want to take Eleven out." He spoke, repeating instead of confirming.

"Yes," he gulped. "If it's okay with you." Mike spoke as confidently as he could and refused to take his gaze off the older man. Hopper, on the other hand, looked away again and pursed his lips.

He couldn't deny that he had anticipated this. Only he hoped it would not be so soon.

He's sensed for a while now that there was something more than just friendship growing between El and the Wheeler boy. If it wasn't for all the times she asked if he could come over or always listing him first when she explained who she would be hanging out with, their reactions to reuniting at the Byers' house after a year apart or seeing how happy she was when he picked her up from the Snow Ball gave it away.

As much as he didn't want to admit it, he knew it was only a matter of time, regardless of how young they were, that they would potentially get into the dating stage.

Plus, he internally smiled to himself, she could do worse.

But it still didn't mean that he was completely comfortable letting them go out alone, especially unsupervised.

With a sigh, he turned back to Mike.

"Look, kid-."

"We'll be careful!" He exclaimed, sensing what the Chief was going to say. "I won't let her out of my sight for a second. And... we won't go anywhere dangerous or anything. I-I haven't worked out what we're doing and stuff yet. But as soon as I do, I'll let you know. If you want."

Mike was rambling and he knew it.

For the most part, he had only deviated a bit from what he had planned to say, but still felt like a nervous wreck throughout the entire conversation. It's especially strong now that he's waiting for his answer.

Mike had never been afraid of Hopper before. He never needed to be. But now that he was waiting to see if he would be approved to go out with his daughter? It's a little scary, to say the least.

The boy hoped he said yes, not just for Mike and Eleven's relationship but for Mike and Hopper's as well.

In the past year, thanks to his visits to El, he had gotten to know Hopper other than just the Chief of Hawkins police. It was a different, although still authoritative, side. Due to the events surrounding Eleven's arrival in Mike's life, he had a long list of adults he could not trust. Hopper, despite Mike getting furious when he discovered he was hiding El in the same cabin in which they now stood, was not one of them.

Even though Hopper never said anything, he sensed that something similar could be said of the way the Chief viewed Mike, even if it was just based off his treatment of El.

So if Hopper said no, it would make everything unnecessarily awkward.

"Can I ask you somethin'?" Hopper spoke gruffly after what seemed like an eternity.

"Of course," Mike answered quickly, surprised but curious and nervous as to what it could be. "Anything."

"Are you asking me for permission because I'm the one setting the rules or because I'm her dad?" He questioned, knowing the boy was smart enough to know the difference in what he was asking.

Mike gave a small smile.

"Because you're her dad. You're the most important person in her life. You saved her. She is alive and-and with us because of you. And... I respect that. Respect you. A lot."

Hopper gave a slight nod, acknowledging that to be a more than acceptable answer.

"Alright, kid." He spoke again. "We'll give it a shot." Mike's eyes lit up at hearing that.

"Really?!" Hopper nodded again.

"It's going to have to happen at some point, right?" Whether he meant Mike and Eleven going on a date or Eleven going out with less restrictions, he didn't say.

"Ahh.. thank you!" He knew there was no way Hopper would accept it, but Mike was so happy that he could hug him at that moment. "Thanks. Umm.. I gotta get going then." Now that the hard part was done, he couldn't wait for what was next.

Hopper grinned at the boy's enthusiasm, but looked to the side so he wouldn't see it.

"I'll see you around Chief. Thanks again." Mike waved and walked towards the door.

"And hey, Wheeler?" Mike turned back around. "No funny business." He pointed a stern finger at him.

With a nod, he excitedly ran out the door.

So this was originally going to be a long one-shot that also included Mike asking El out and whatever happened after that according to her response. ; ) But the scene with him and Hopper grew out of control so we'll leave this as a first chapter. It's actually too short for my taste but I was really excited about getting this out. I hope you enjoyed and that you guys tune in to see what's next! Please review if you can!