I apologize for the long wait, there's been lot's going on. So, a few things;

We only have a few chapters of this left- I know, I know, y'all are just like what the actual flying fuck B, but hear me out.

Only a few more chapters- no more than five I know that much- BUT, I've decided that I'm gonna turn Home into a series (HR is technically the first story in the series, since I've redone Home). Not sure how many parts will be in the series, just know that it'll eventually end in marriages and most likely kids ;D

Hope you guys like this chapter!

Karen didn't even attempt to explain to her children what happened while they were gone, she sat in her bathtub filled with bubbles even when they knocked on the door. She didn't want to break their hearts into a billion pieces as hers had been. This pissed the two Wheeler children off, knowing something bad had happened, considering the house was trashed and all of Ted's stuff was in the front yard.

The only thing she said was to Nancy, and that was asking if she'd go and pick Holly up because she'd been drinking. That pissed Mike off even more and he went down to the basement and ranted to El, not even caring about how late it was by the time the two went to bed. It's not like he'd have a restful sleep anyways.

Friday, February 15, 1985

Mike didn't sleep a bit the night before, worrying about his mom- and of course, the nightmares- so he was a little more than an asshole and a half throughout the day. He swore in Mr. Clarke's class- the last class of the day- when he kept dropping a cotton ball they had to use in an experiment so Mr. Clarke made him sit out- not because he was mad but he could tell the boy was more than just frustrated with a cotton ball. He asked him to stay for a few minutes when the bell rang. Mike took his time packing his bag.

"Mike," he started, sitting in the desk next to Mike, "I'm going to ask you a question, and I want you to be honest with me."

"I'm not in trouble am I?" Mike asked, chewing on his bottom lip.

"No, no, not at all. Are things okay at home? Or is there anything going on that I should know about or you need help with? I've noticed how different you've been lately, Mike. I just want to make sure you're okay." Mike hesitated for a couple seconds, and sighed, rubbing at his eyes.

"I honestly don't know," he said, finally. "Something's going on with my parents, my dad left last night and my mom threw all his things outside but she won't tell us what's going on. And with other things? You wouldn't be able to help. I can't tell you why because I promised I wouldn't tell anyone else and it's not like you'd believe me anyways." Mike ranted, hardly taking a breath. "I can't freaking sleep at night, I have these- these nightmares and I-I don't know how to stop them? Talking about them will make me seem absolutely insane. On top of all that, my dad literally hates me, why? I don't know. He kicked our puppy and got mad when I threw a cup of water at him." Mike huffed and didn't say anything else, looking down at his feet.

"Oh, well… Mike, you can always, always talk to me. If you ever want to talk or tell me anything, it will not leave this room or my mouth." Mike's eyes flickered to Mr. Clarke's face. "And as for the stuff with your parents, I don't… I don't really know what to tell you. I'm sure your mom will tell you what's going on soon. Does she usually tell you guys things?" Mike scoffed.

"No, we either hear it ourselves when they fight or when she's wine drunk and telling her friends on the phone."

"Oh, well. Maybe whatever happened was bad enough that she doesn't want to talk about it at all. Do you want to talk about those nightmares?" Mike shook his head. "Well, you don't have to. Not until you're ready, that is. And I don't think your dad hates you. He's troubled- or really messed up in the head if he acts like he does."

"He wouldn't go to a football game with me last year." Mike told him. "He loves football and I hate it, but I tried to get him to spend time with me, you know? But he'd rather sleep in his Lay-Z-Boy. I asked Chief Hopper if he wanted to go with me but he decided that he wanted to do what I wanted, so that I could have fun."

"Chief Hopper?" Mr. Clarke asked, eyebrows raised.

"It's a long… long story." Mike sighed. "But anyways, the Chief of police is more like a father to me than my own, and I haven't even really known the man that long. Does that sound normal to you?"

"Honestly? No. But really, you kids aren't normal." Mr. Clarke said. Mike made a face. "And it's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong. Nothing about this town is normal if you ask me. I mean, what with Will going missing and having a funeral for him and then he's saved? And Dustin asking me about the salt and all, then what happened at the school. It's weird." Mike chuckled a little, going just slightly paler.

"You're telling me."

Tuesday, February 19, 1985

Over the next few days, Mr. Clarke watched as Mike seemed to grow angrier and angrier, eyes darker and darker with exhaustion. While he was writing notes on the board, he noticed Mike fall asleep with his chin in his hand. He sighed and looked at Dustin, who was seated next to Mike and looking at him, worried.

"Dustin, will you come here please?" he asked. Dustin nodded and stood up. He sort of jostled Mike and he started, rubbing at his eyes and writing the notes down quickly.

"What's up?" Dustin asked.

"Will you take Mike to the nurses office? And make sure he goes there?"

"Uh, sure." he walked over to Mike and whispered to him. Mr. Clarke could've sworn he saw Mike roll his eyes, but ignored it. He wrote a note and handed it to Dustin and clapped Mike on the back as he walked by him. He went back to writing notes, deciding to make a call after class.

He leaned back in his chair as the phone rang, only ringing a couple of times before Karen answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Mrs. Wheeler?"

"Yes."

"This is Mr. Clarke, I'm Mike's science teacher."

"Yes, I remember you. Is he in trouble?"

"No, no. I just want to speak to you about him."

"Okay, what's wrong?" Mr. Clarke could hear something different in her voice. Other times they'd talked, whether by phone or in person, she sounded so sure of herself, confident. But now? Not even close.

"Mike has been… different. He's angry, and has trouble focusing in class."

"I thought he wasn't in trouble?"

"He's not, I'm just worried about him. I asked him a few days ago if there was anything going on at home and he said he didn't know. He just knows something is wrong, and that you're not telling them anything." he expected her to get angry with him, but instead, she just sighed and said,

"Is there anyway I can come up to the school one day and we'll talk?"

Thursday, February 21, 1985

"Michael Wheeler, please come to the front office. Michael Wheeler to the front office." Mike jolted slightly when he heard his name and Max snickered. He glared at her and glanced at the clock.

"You can take your things, there's only a few minutes of class left." Ms. Toney said. He nodded and packed up his stuff and made his way to the office. He was surprised to see his mom and sisters waiting for him with Mr. Clarke.

"Who died?" he asked.

"No one," Karen chuckled, "Just thought I'd bring you guys some Burger King." she held up two bags. Mike raised an eyebrow and looked at Nancy, who shrugged.

"Okay… but why is Nancy here?"

"It's lunch time right now, so I decided to come hang out with you and your little nerds." she replied. He rolled his eyes.

"Hey Mikey!" Holly cheered, just realizing he'd walked in. She hugged his legs and he chuckled, patting the top of her head.

"Why don't you three head on to the lunch room? Me and your mom have a few things to discuss."

"And no, you're not in trouble, Mike. It's school related." Karen lied. She didn't want to, but her son was a stubborn little shit sometimes.

"Okay…? Well, come on, Holly. Wanna see the place you're gonna go to school in like ten years?" he asked. She nodded and raised her arms up. He managed to not roll his eyes and picked her up anyways. Nancy took the food and the two made their way towards the cafeteria. The bell had rung while Mike was on his way to the office, so most students were in the cafeteria already, and stared at Nancy as Mike led her to the Party's table.

"To what do we owe the pleasure?" Dustin asked, grinning at Nancy.

"Oh, shut it." she rolled her eyes, sitting next to Max. Mike put Holly on the seat next to Nancy and sat down. "Shit, I forgot her juice. I'll be right back." she said, and rushed out the door.

"She's gonna go snoop." Mike said.

"Snoop on what?"

"Mom and Mr. Clarke." he replied, reaching into the bag and grabbing Holly's chicken nuggets and fries for her. She grinned up at her and he smiled back. "They're having a discussion."
Karen and Mr. Clarke were sitting in one of the smaller meeting rooms, across from each other.

"Ted… he's never been a good father to them, not really. He changed a few diapers here and there, never helped with Holly. Mike knew how to change a diaper by the time she was a month old, and always helped me. The last couple of years have been… bad. Ted has been getting on Mike for the smallest things, being an all around dick, you know?" Mr. Clarke nodded. "And last week, on Valentines day… the kids were out and we had a huge fight, one that's ended out marriage."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"

"I don't mind. I've been keeping it in, haven't told anyone, not even my mom. I get my gossiping from her, and I know you wouldn't tell anyone. But… Ted has been cheating. For a while now."

"Oh."

"And that's not even the worst of it." She ran a hand through her hair. "He's got other kids. I don't know how many or how old, but… He said that Mike isn't the only son. That he's the worst out of the three, and that he's worthless. That's when I started screaming and throwing stuff at him, to get him to leave. How could someone call their child worthless?" she looked close to tears. "That's why I haven't told them anything. I don't want them to feel the heartbreak and anger I feel. Mike hates his dad, I know he does, but to know that his dad thinks he's worthless? He's just a kid, he shouldn't have that kind of thing said to or about him."

"Karen, this is all horrible, and I'm so sorry. I really am." Mr. Clarke said, giving her a sympathetic look. "Ted is a grade A dick, I agree. But I think you should tell them. Maybe not everything but they deserve to know. Not telling them will only make them angrier and angrier. And Mike is what, going on fourteen soon?" Karen nodded. "He's growing up, and he's gonna find out one way or another. Nancy too."

"I know, but I'm scared of Mike's reaction the most. He's changed so much in the last year or so, I don't know why or what happened for him to be like this." And she really didn't. She knew everything that happened, but El's back and they're happy together, so what's wrong with him?

"Maybe you could take him to… a therapist? Or I can have the guidance counselor talk to him every once in a while."

"I don't know, I think that would make him even angrier." There was a slight knock on the door and Karen jumped, and Nancy poked her head in, eyes red and watery. She walked in all the way, holding Holly's juice so tight even she was surprised it hadn't exploded everywhere.

"If you don't tell him when he gets home from school, I will, mom." she said quietly. "How could you keep something like this from us?"

"I'm so sorry, baby, I am. I wish I didn't have to tell you at all, that he hasn't done this. I didn't know what else to do, I didn't want you guys to hurt."

"The only one that'll really be hurt here is you, mom. Mike hates dad, hell, I hate him now! Holly doesn't understand what's going on. It really sucks, and yeah it hurts that he loves these other kids more, but if that's what it takes, I'm glad he's gone. He's always been horrible to us."

"I know, and I'm sorry. If I had known sooner I'd have gotten you out of there a long time ago. I promise you. And I promise I'll tell Mike later."

When Nancy went back to the lunchroom, her eyes had cleared up but, apparently she looked like;

"You look like you've seen a ghost." Max said. "The hell happened on your way to the office?"

"I saw some little twelve year olds making out. Or trying to, at least."

Karen tried to keep herself busy while she waited for Mike, baking his favorite cookies and deciding to make his favorite dinner- no matter how this goes. She jumped when the door opened and he yelled,

"I'm home!"

She let out a deep breath and called,

"Mike! Come here please!" she heard his bag hit the ground and his footsteps as he trudged into the kitchen.

"Hey." he greeted.

"Hey Sweetie. Can you sit with me for a few minutes?"

"Yeah, but I'm going to El's, remember? Hop's got her some books to study and I'm gonna help her some stuff."

"It won't take long." he nodded. She took another deep breath and he eyed her, and she started. She told him more than she'd told Mr. Clarke- leaving out the worthless part, of course. Mike just stared at her the whole time.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Mike. I just… I know your father never really loved me, but like the stupid, young girl I was, I thought he did back then and I just made myself believe it all these years."

"You're not… you're not stupid, mom." Mike said softly. He sighed. "If anyone's stupid here, it's him. I don't understand why or how he couldn't love you. Me? I understand. I'm a nerd and not a football star- as if I'd be old enough to be one anyways- so of course he doesn't love me. I've known that for a while."

"Mike, I'm sure he loves you deep down. I don't want you to think that."

"Then why has he treated me the way he does?" he actually looked close to tears. "I don't love him so it doesn't matter. I'm fine with it and I'm glad he's gone. I'd better go, though, mom. Thanks for telling me." he stood up and kissed her cheek and all but ran out of the kitchen. Karen sighed and buried her face in her hands.

Mike was sort of… sad, to know that El wasn't at the cabin when he got there- he'd forgotten they had a set time and that she was at the Byers with Joyce- who was teaching her… things, for another fifteen minutes.

He began debating in his head whether to knock on the door- Hopper was home- or just sit on the porch and wait for his girlfriend. The former was- technically not- chosen, when Hopper walked out on the porch, almost jumping out of his boots when he saw Mike just standing there.

"What are you doing here so early, kid? You know she's got another fifteen minutes, right?" Hopper raised his eyebrows at him.

"Yeah, yeah… I uh, I know." Mike nodded.

"What's wrong?"

"Noth-nothing. Why would you think somethings wrong?"

"Look kid, I may be getting old and my eyes are slowly dying on me, but I ain't blind and I ain't stupid. I can see somethings up." Mike shrugged. "Come on in. We're gonna talk." Mike sighed and followed the Chief, plopping down on the couch. Hopper sat across from him in an armchair. "Alright, tell me what's going on. And don't tell me nothing, I already told you I can see something is wrong." Mike huffed and crossed his arms.

"My dad cheated on my mom and has at least two other kids- sons- who are better than me and he'd rather be with them than us." Mike shrugged. Hopper stared at him for a couple seconds.

"...What?" He said, finally. Mike nodded.

"Yep."

"Ted Wheeler… was able to get another woman?"

"I really hope there isn't a double meaning to that about my mom, because if so, I'll punch you again."

"No, kid." he shook his head. "I just… I never expected the dick to ever even get married when we were younger, and no offense but I know the main reason your mom married him was for money."

"I mean… yeah, but she told me that when she was younger she actually thought he loved her. If he was anything like he is today I don't see how she felt like that, but…" he shrugged.

"Damn, I'm sorry, kid." Hopper said, patting his shoulder. "You kids don't deserve him." Mike just shrugged. "Uh, when did you find out about this?"

"Fifteen minutes ago."

"So it hasn't really sunk in, yet, huh?"

"Nope."

"You think you'll cry or punch something again? Me again?"

"I don't know." Mike shrugged.

It wasn't long after that, El and Joyce arrived, El immediately- of course- going to Mike and hugging him tight.

"You're sad." she told him.

"Um…"

"And mad?" she asked.

"Yeah, uh, just my dad again." Mike told her. "He's not important right now, let's work on your school and then I'll tell you, okay?"

"Promise?"
"Promise."
Mike did eventually tell her that night, with probably the least amount of emotion her or Hopper have ever heard from him. El immediately wanted to find the disgusting man and beat his ass, but the two just barely convinced her not to. She held onto Mike's hand until it was time for him to go home- whereas Hopper took him home and she rode with them.

Monday, February 25, 1985

It took about three whole days for it to really sink in for Mike. Over the weekend, his mom had been trying to talk to him and Nancy a lot more about what was going on in their lives, and for the most part, Nancy told her. Mike didn't exactly have that much of a life outside of school and the usual gatherings with the Party, so he didn't know what she expected him to tell her.

As it turns out, Nancy wasn't the only one who heard the conversation between Karen and Mr. Clarke- Stacy did too- and by Monday morning, everyone in the school- and probably the whole damn town- knew about the Wheeler's. Which also meant Troy and James knew, and the two assholes waited for Mike outside after school. Mike heard people whispering and looking at him all day- making sure to keep his head down in class and write notes to distract himself. It didn't stop people from asking questions and being assholes about it, so, he was very much annoyed and ready to murder someone by the end of the day.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me." Mike grumbled as he and the Party walked towards their bikes.

"Well, well, well, if it's isn't the freaks of Hawkins." Troy started off. "You four have a free pass today, but Frog Face here? Boy do I have some words for you."

"You might wanna back the fuck off, Troy." Mike hissed, yanking his bike out of the rack.

"Just gonna call me by my name? Not some bad word?" he said in a baby voice.

"Why should I waste my time coming up for some new dumb fucking name for you when it's already there for me to call you?"

"Damn, daddy issues got your panties in a twist, don't they?" Troy glared and James snickered. "I don't blame the old fuck for leaving- with that family of yours. Worthless little Frog Face, Nancy the Slut-"

"Troy, I swear to God." Lucas stepped forward but Dustin held him back.

"That wino of a mom and that stupid little-" Troy couldn't even finish his sentence, Mike stepped forward and punched the hell out of Troy, blood squirting out of his- probable- broken nose. It happened so fast the Party couldn't stop him. Not like they'd have wanted to, anyways.

"Holy shit!" Dustin shrieked, slapping a hand over his mouth.

Mike picked up his bike, got on it and took off without a word.

"I'm gonna get you for this!" Troy yelled. Mike just flipped him off. The others got on their bikes and tried to catch up with Mike, but by the time they passed the high school, there was no sign of him.

"We need to tell Nancy." Will said, pointing at where she, his brother and Steve were walking out of the school. They nodded in agreement and Dustin took off into the parking lot, screaming,

"STEVE! STEVE!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Jesus Christ, where's the fire?" Steve asked.

"I don't know but a lot of shit just went down-"

"Where's my brother?" Nancy interrupted.

"-with Mike and Troy." Dustin finished. The others caught up with him and started trying to tell them what happened.

"Alright, alright, one at a time!" Steve said, holding his hands up. "Max, what happened?"

"Everyone at school has been whispering about Mike and looking at him and asking him questions." she said. "And Troy and James were waiting outside for him after school and Troy started insulting Mike and saying he didn't blame Mike's dad for leaving- which we didn't even know about- and started insulting him, you, his mom and Holly. Mike punched the shit out of Troy and broke his nose- blood squirted everywhere."

"It looked like something out of a movie." Dustin added.

"Where'd Mike go?" Jonathan asked. They shrugged.

"He went that way." Lucas pointed in the direction he went.

"Wait, he didn't tell you guys what happened?" Nancy asked. They shook their heads.

"I'm gonna go get my car." Jonathan said. Steve nodded in agreement and the two went to get their cars.

"Dad's been cheating on mom." Nancy said. "Has at least two other kids, both boys. They had a huge fight on Valentines day and mom found out and kicked him out."

"Holy shit." Lucas said. "I was wondering what all that shit in the yard was."

"That's what mom and Mr. Clarke were talking about and I heard them, then mom told Mike after school."

"Where do you think he went?" Max asked.

"Either to the cabin, his house or the Byers." Lucas told her.

"Well, let's split up and go look." Nancy said as the two cars rolled up behind them. "Will, Lucas, with me and Jon, you two go with Steve." Lucas looked like he wanted to argue but did as he was told, saluting the rest of the group and getting into the car.

"Fuckin' nerd." Max huffed, getting in the car.

"Yet you're dating him." Dustin told her, getting in the back. He already knew there was no arguing with her about that.

"Hey, Mr. Wheeler, it's been a few days!" Flo greeted, having glanced up at him when he walked in. She looked up at him when he didn't reply and gasped. "What happened to you?" she demanded, standing up and rounding the desk. "Hopper!" she yelled.

"What!" he yelled back.

"We have a bit of a situation here!"

Mike could faintly hear Hopper grumbling as he made his way towards the front, immediately going silent when he saw Mike.

"Did it sink in?" he asked hesitantly.

"It sank in." Mike croaked.

The boy had bloody fists and blood shot eyes, a bit of blood smeared on his face.

"Come on. I've got him, Flo." Hopper nudged the boy into his office and sat him down, grabbing a first aid kit on the way. He crouched in front of him. "Hold out your hands, palms down." Mike did so. "Wanna tell me what happened?"

"Not really."

"Gonna tell me anyway?" Hopper gave him a look and Mike let out a small huff.

"Everyone at school knows. Don't know how. Kept talking about it, asking me questions."

"This is gonna sting." Hopper warned as he cleaned the small cuts and scratches on the boys knuckles. Mike hissed a little but otherwise didn't move or make a sound.

"Troy and James were waiting outside after school. Troy started talking shit and called Nancy a slut and my mom a wino and he started to call Holly stupid but I punched him."

"This isn't how… this happened, is it?" Hopper gestured towards his hands. Mike shook his head.

"A lot of blood came out of his nose so I think it's broken, but I don't care. I left after that and went in the woods."

"And what happened in the woods?"

"A tree." he replied. Hopper wrapped bandages around his hands carefully.

"A tree happened?"

"I punched it. A lot. And the ground. And screamed."

"No wonder it sounds like you lost your voice." Mike shrugged. Hopper finished with his other hand and stood, placing the kit on his desk. "Come on, let's get you home, kid."