Mike wasn't exactly in the Christmas mood.

Sure, having a break from school was nice, and yeah, it was fun seeing how excited Holly got looking at what Santa had brought her, and don't get him wrong, Mike was a sucker for a good present or two, but this year he just couldn't get in the holiday spirit. Let's face it—he missed his girlfriend.

Sure, he talked to her on the phone whenever he could—not to mention the almost daily treks he made to Cerebro—but it just wasn't the same as being together in person. Mike wanted to look in El's eyes as she laughed, to hold her hand while listening to her tell a story, to hold her in his arms when she was upset, to caress her face when he told her he loved her. And kiss her. He really wanted to kiss her.

The move had been hard on both of them. They needed each other. El was in a really fragile place after losing her dad—and her powers—and she was struggling with the adjustment. Mike wanted to be there for her, but with thousands of miles between them, he felt more and more useless.

He needed her too. Sure, it couldn't compare to their last separation, when Mike didn't even know if she was alive. But still, he felt like the longer they were apart, the more he might break. They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, but Mike decided that really, distance just sucked.

So as he sat, listening to his Mom tell another story about her childhood Christmas traditions, he tried, honestly he did, to join the joyful atmosphere surrounding him. But when he saw the clock strike 11:00–eleven!—he gave up and accepted his misery. I just wish you were here.

They were sitting around the dinner table, about to start a delicious meal, when the doorbell rang. Karen stood up, a spring in her step as she went to answer the door. Mike wondered who it could be when his mom said, "I've got one more Christmas present for you."

Mike looked at Nancy who just shrugged, apparently as bewildered as Mike was, until his gaze moved to the door and the voice emerging said, "Surprise!"

Mike almost fainted on the spot.

He ran to the door, enfolding El in his arms so fast she didn't have time to set her bags down.

"You're here!" He exclaimed. "I thought you couldn't come."

El blushed as she set her luggage down once her boyfriend finally stopped squeezing her. "That was a lie. Joyce said it was okay because it was for a surprise." She suddenly looked really nervous. "Are you mad?"

Mike laughed. "Are you kidding me? I have never been happier!"

After all the greetings and hugs and Merry Christmases, they sat down and enjoyed their delicious meal and every so often Mike would glance over at the beautiful girl sitting next to him, not quite believing this was all real. She really came all the way here to surprise me? he thought. I guess Christmas miracles do exist.

The soonest chance they got, Mike and El escaped to his basement, curling up together on the couch, watching a Christmas movie. After a while, El looked up at him. "I really missed you, Mike."

"I missed you too, El. More than you know."

She gave him a sad smile. "It's been hard, being away," she said solemnly. "Everything is just so new. I love having Joyce, Jonathan, and Will, but I miss Hawkins. I miss our friends, and the cabin, and how things used to be. Well not the danger and the monsters or the lab, but I miss how things were living with Hop. I miss him. Now everything is different and the worst part is not having you there with me." She looked at him with her doe eyes, a sincere expression as she muttered, "everything is easier when you're there."

At that, Mike held her face in his hands and kissed her, a light kiss but passionate all the same, hoping to convey what words couldn't.

"I'll always be here El. No amount of distance will truly keep us apart."

She nodded, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

"The worst part is," she added after a long pause, "the Byers almost never have eggos." Her nose scrunched at the thought.

Mike laughed. "Now that is a crime. I'll buy you some, don't worry."

El smiled. "Thanks. For everything." She snuggled closer to him and turned her eyes back to the television.

Mike glanced at the screen, but after a while he interrupted the movie again.

"You know," he started, causing El to look back at her boyfriend. "I have a surprise for you as well."

"Really?" She asked. "What is it?"

He pulled out a small box, wrapped neatly and tied with a ribbon. "I bought this before I found out you weren't coming," he said bashfully. "I would have just mailed it, but I figured it was something I should give you in person."

El stared at the beautifully decorated package and unwrapped it. Inside was a little box which contained a simple, beautiful ring, adorned with a little heart.

"It's a promise ring," he said quickly. "A lot of couples use it to symbolize their commitment to each other. I mean, not like I own you or something. It's more like a symbol of our relationship, that we see this going somewhere, but, uh, you don't have to wear it." Mike's thoughts were spiraling. "I mean, I probably shouldn't have even got it, I just thought maybe you'd want to wear it but that was totally presumptuous of me, and I wasn't thinking..." he kept rambling, slowly shaking his head as he realized he'd screwed up.

"Mike," El interrupted. "It's perfect." She slipped the it on and couldn't help but grin seeing Mike's ring on her finger.

He blushed. "Oh, well I'm glad you like it." He took a second to admire the ring. "The point is, El, I love you." Mike took a breath and met her eyes, gazing into them as if it was once again the first time he saw her. "I love you, and I love being here with you. You are by far the best part of Christmas." He grabbed her hand, entwining their fingers as he added, "I can't wait to spend more Christmases with you."

El blushed, a small smile on her face as she met her boyfriend's eyes. "Let's spend every Christmas together," she concluded.

"Promise?" He asked, for old time's sake.

"Promise," she agreed. Then El leaned in and kissed Mike again, the butterflies dancing in her stomach as their lips moved together in their familiar pattern.

Mike pulled away after a moment and, leaning his forehead against hers, he whispered, "Merry Christmas El."

"Merry Christmas, Mike."

The End