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Chapter 3

"He's gone 2000 miles, it's very far, the snow is falling down. It's colder day by day, I miss you. The children will sing he'll be back at Christmastime! In these frozen and silent nights you sometimes appear. Outside under the purple sky, diamonds in the snow sparkle. Our hearts were singing. It felt like Christmastime—"

Someone was singing off-key in the other room, an old song he hadn't heard in years. It was one of Will's favorite songs back in the day and he played it on repeat. Mike frowned and sat up, stretching his tired muscles as he wondered if somebody had broken into his apartment.

He threw his blankets off and tumbled out of the bedroom, completely unaware of his surroundings. It didn't hit him until he hit the stairs. He wasn't in his apartment in Boston anymore somehow he had gotten back to his childhood home in Hawkins.

"Wake up!" he told himself, pinching his arm. "Wake up!"

He heard laughter and then Eleven was standing in front of him, wearing a medical school t-shirt that had once belonged to him and baggy plaid pajama bottoms.

"Talking to yourself again, Mike?"

"What are you doing here!?" Mike asked abruptly.

Eleven laughed again and started to stir whatever was in the bowl she was holding. "We live here, remember? Your parents gave us this house when they downsized a couple of years ago. Wow you must have had a lot to drink last night!"

"What? I didn't drink anything last night!" Mike answered. "What are you doing here anyways?"

Eleven's smile faded and started back for the kitchen, throwing him a look. "I don't like this game very much!" she informed him.

"I'm not playing a game!" Mike replied, going after her. "We haven't seen each other in years. I left you in an airport years ago! I'm a resident at Children's Hospital in Boston, we don't talk anymore. I'm not supposed to be here!"

Eleven shook her head. "You're too young to be having a midlife-crisis."

"This is not a midlife-crisis, Eleven! I am seriously not supposed to be here!"

"I don't have time for this," Eleven said. "We still have to eat breakfast and open gifts before our families get here. I'd appreciate it if you'd settle down! We'll deal with whatever's bothering you after Christmas is over."

Mike turned to go and shook his head. "No. No. No."

"Where are you going?" Eleven called after him as he left. "Mike! Come back, we'll deal with this now if we have to! I'm sorry!"

But it was too late, he'd already put on his coat and was going outside, car keys in hand. He needed to make sense of what was going on because nothing was making sense. He drove around aimlessly until he saw Dustin standing in the middle of the road.

He pulled to a stop and rolled down the window.

"Michael Wheeler! What are you doing?" Dustin asked. "Its Christmas morning and your wife is at home waiting for you to open presents with her."

"Wife?" Mike repeated. "I don't know what you're talking about! Eleven and I never got married! I broke off our engagement years ago because I couldn't be what she wanted. Don't you remember? It almost destroyed our friendships until she told you all to stop treating me like dirt."

Dustin shook his head. "You never broke off your engagement with her, Mike! You never even thought about it once. You've loved this girl since you were 12-years-old. You told me on the day you two got married that you couldn't imagine your life without her."

"I never said that!" Mike protested.

Dustin nodded. "Right, okay. How much did you drink at the Christmas Eve party last night anyways?"

"I didn't drink anything!" Mike retorted.

"Yeah I know you're not supposed to be drinking anything because of El right now but Lucas laced the punch and I could have sworn I saw you drinking it all night!" Dustin answered.

"Don't you think I would have known if I was drinking laced punch?" Mike asked, having trouble believing he was having this conversation with one of his best friends. "And what do you mean I'm not drinking because of El? Is she pregnant or something?"

"Is she? You two have been trying for a while now," Dustin replied. "Hey! Maybe that's her big announcement this afternoon! We're going to have to pretend to be surprised when she tells us—"

Mike shook his head. "I'm pretty sure Eleven isn't pregnant."

"How do you know?" Dustin challenged.

Mike opened his mouth to explain the mechanics of sex and pregnancy when Dustin's front door open and a tall red-head came outside, dashing down the snowy driveway in spite of her swollen belly.

"You found him!" she said, wrapping her arm around Dustin and frowning. "Eleven's been worried sick, Mike! You better go home before she calls the police."

Mike rolled his eyes. "Well, she obviously knows I'm here, Max."

Max huffed. "It's Christmas and you're disrupting our morning. We have two kids inside who are dying to open their gifts. So, get your crap together and go home to your wife, Wheeler!"

"She's not my wife!" Mike said.

"Dustin, go inside and get the wedding picture!" Max ordered.

"Okay honey!" Dustin answered, hurrying back into the house.

A few seconds later, he returned and shoved a picture frame into Mike's hands.

"Here's all the proof you need," Max said, putting her hands on her hips and looking at him crossly.

It was indeed Mike and Eleven on their wedding day, she was wearing a white party dress and he was wearing khakis and a white, long-sleeved button down. They were surrounded by Lucas, Max, Dustin and Will.

He looked happier than he had felt in years.

Mike sighed and scrubbed at his face. "You guys just don't understand."

"Mommmmmmy!" a little girl wailed from the door.

"Hold on a minute sweetie! Mommy and daddy are dealing with Uncle Mike! We'll open gifts soon, I promise!" Max replied. "Wheeler, my kids are waiting for us. Go home to Eleven and pretend you're doing alright for now. Okay?"

Mike sighed.

"You better do what Max says," Dustin told him. "We both know what she looks like pregnant and angry."

Max punched him in the arm but it was more playful than a display of anger. "Dustin!"

Dustin kissed her on the cheek and beamed at her before turning back to his friend. "We'll see you for dessert later. Just try and act normal until tomorrow."

Mike sighed and watched as the Hendersons went back into their house before reluctantly driving back home.

.

Author's Note:

I told you I'd be back today! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know I'm a troll and dragging it out but it'll be worth it, I promise. Please drop a review if you feel like it. I'll be back next week.

Until Next Time!

Love,

Holly, 12/10/2016