A/N: So this is the kind of chapter that can only be plausible in a time travel story. I honestly had a lot of fun writing this chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

The big challenge of this story is often how to give it more depth. I kind of trapped myself into characters who can observe; but try to act as like as possible. That's not a recipe for a good story, so I have to get creative in telling this. I hope my creativity paid off here. At this point, you reviews won't affect my writing of this story much; but I'll still appreciate reading them; and they might be useful when I begin weriting new stories.

HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL;NOVEMBER 8, 1983

Boy, was her mother hanging out with the wrong crowd. CJ was none too pleased with Steve, who trying way too hard to please complete assholes like Carol and Tommy. Meanwhile, her would-be father, Jonathan was busy by his lonesome posting "Missing" posters of Uncle Will. Well, at least he didn't become antisocial BECAUSE he met mom. CJ became amused at the thought of her father being some sort of social butterfly.

If Mitch was going to fuss over Mike and Eleven all week, at least CJ could spend some time watching over her would-be parents. CJ and Mitch ensconced themselves at the famous Hopper cabin for now. The dusty old cabin wasn't the best place to sleep in; but it was better than lying outside in the rain when you were lacking a better option. They had not really slept since they first arrived in 1983.

For now, CJ left Mitch alone with her obsession about shipping her parents. She was not going to touch that land mine. Instead, she was watching her would be mother, her personal hero, disappoint her one way after another. CJ was really fond of the 2033 Nancy, the mother that had raised her; it was too bad that 1983 Nancy was turning out to be some confused adolescent who had zero resistance to peer pressure.

This was not necessarily a bad thing. CJ owed her very existence to the chain of events that would follow from her mother's one poor decision back in 1983 after all. It all hinged on the young woman CJ was looking at right now.

Much like Will needed to be sacrificed at the altar of Mike and Eleven, CJ had to make sure Barbara Holland got her worst and final week so that Nancy and Jonathan can become a thing. Barb would be the only fataalty of "The Week;" and it would o a solid psychological number on CJ's mother, Nancy. The moral problem was staring CJ back in the eyes: Let Barbara Holland die as history intended; or fix the one mistake that would haunt Nancy Wheeler for the rest of her life. CJ needed to consult someone; but Mitch would obviously say "let time happen" even as the hypocrite was busy shipping her parents. Everyone else would just find the idea of fixing the past, to use a 20th century term, cuckoo.

HARRINGTON RESIDENCE

CJ did not hate Steve Harrington. She really liked her Uncle Steve and often wondered what it'd be like had Nancy married this ostentatious jock rather than the reserved Jonathan Byers.

However, the Steve Harrington who was making the moves on her mother in 1983was less the 'mother figure' her big nerds-for-uncles considered him to be; and more the infuriating jock stereotype that CJ loved cutting down to size back in 2033. To make things worse, he surrounded himself with revolting fools like Carol and Tommy, the kind of bad influences you don't want to see hanging around your future would-be mom.

Nancy's best friend, Barb, was the only one really looking out for her that night; and she was continually ignored the entire night. Eventually, 1983 Steve invited 1983 Nancy up to his room, to Barb's strenuous objections. CJ was 12; but she knew what that meant. Barb's pleas went unheard; but she didn't take her ball, or car in this case, and go home with it. No, Barb stood vigil outside the Harrington house waiting for a bad friend to walk out and realize the awfulness of her decision.

If I were in Barb's place, Mom would be in for one hell of an I-told-you-so speech. CJ thought. Whatever Barb was waiting to do, CJ knew how this night is fated to end: not well. Barb will disappear tonight; it was only a matter of whether the Demogorgon will be there to do it or if CJ would have to do it herself.

CJ continued to watch, looking at the second floor window, where her would-be mother was visibly undressing, making CJ both cringe and stare.

Wow, Mom looked great! CJ thought. OK, that was not creepy at all. Her thoughts sarcastically remarked as she continued to gape at Nancy through the window.

YOU DAMN WELL BET IT'S CREEPY, CARRIE JOY! A second voice screamed at her mentally. This was her conscience which eerily had her mother's, Nancy's, voice. You see, CJ was her mother's daughter so much that even her conscience had adopted the sound of her mother telling her off.

YOUR PARENTS DID NOT RAISE YOU TO ACT LIKE SOME KIND OF CREEPY PERVERT! What is wrong with you, ASSHOLE? Over time, this voice had captured Nancy's voice down to a T, and had approximated her tirades accordingly. This had also made it more annoying over time.

I know, MindMom. Boy why can't you be in Mitch's head telling her off for stalking her parents. CJ thoughts replied to the haranguing conscience. WHAT THE HELL CARRIE JOY?! DON'T YOU DARE THINK BACK AT THE MENTAL REPRESENTATION OF YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT! The mental voice of her mother replied.

YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF YOU BRING SHAME TO THE BYERS NAME. the voice continued. It was at this time that CJ was saved by the sight of something odd happening behind the bushes near the pool.

Wait, isn't that dad doing the exact same thing your reprimanding me for? CJ thoughts said, mentally pointing at Jonathan Byers who was indeed taking pictures of the events in the Harrington House.

FIRST OF ALL, IT''s YOU'RE; SECOND, WHAT THE FUCK, JON!? DON'T UNDERMINE ME WHEN I'M TRYING TO PARENT OUR DAUGHTER! CJ's MindMom was practically dripping with disappointment at both her 'daughter' and 'husband.' CJ also had a MindDad but, like the real Jonathan Byers, it usually preferred to be quiet instead of picking fights with the intractable Nancy Wheeler. This was not one of those usual times.

In my defense, I was looking for my missing brother; and you were the one cavorting with Steve Harrington while the Demogorgon abducted the loyal best friend you didn't listen to. MindDad replied.

You go, MindDad! CJ mentally thanked the mental voice of her father for momentarily quieting the mental voice of her mom.

Wait a minute. THE DEMOGORGON! CJ had forgotten about that. In a fleeting moment, the lights around the house blinked shut. Barbara Holland, loyal friend. disappeared forever, her last moment immortalized forever by Jonathan Byers' camera. CJ breathed a sigh of relief that she did not need to actively deliver Barb's fate this time. Barb's decision to stay behind and wait for her friend had cost her her life. The events that would lead to Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers meeting were now set in motion. CJ offered a moment of silence for the young woman to whom CJ owed her very existence.

A SHORT WHILE LATER

CJ decided to call it a night the moment Barb disappeared. Unlike Mitch, she knew when no more further intervention would be helpful on her part. As she left the Harrington residence under the cover of darkness, she spotted a figure standing next to a lamppost on the Harringtons' street.

CJ decided to investigate. It didn't take long for her to recognize this figure under the dim light of the lamppost. It was the adult Will Byers smiling at her. He approached her, extended a hand, and spoke.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

A/N: So what to discuss? What do you think of CJ's MindMom and MindDad? I figured it'd be fun to speculate on how Mileven and Jancy are as parents so I innovated with that to at least get a version of them in this story.

The second half of this chapter was written AFTER the next two chapters so you might notice some inconsistencies. I didn't expect this to be more than a Barb chapter so I avoided writing this for some time.

Anyways, has my story been improving from my first chapter? Or do you guys feel it's falling flat?