"I've never felt like this, you know, with anyone before...and...you know, they do say it makes you crazy." Was he deflecting? Maybe, but he prayed she'd understand because Mike wasn't sure he had the courage to actually say it.

"What makes you crazy?"

Damn it.

"You never—you've never heard that term? You know, like, the phrase, like 'blank makes you crazy', like the word." He was rambling now, but Mike was so taken aback simply by the fact that they were there, together, safe, and reconnecting. She seemed to accept his apology and he was SO grateful, but now that she wasn't understanding the fact that he loved her Mike was freaking out. He didn't know if he could admit it.

"Girlfriends?" El suggested, and Mike shook his head quickly.

"No, no, no, no, not girlfriends."

"Boyfriends?"

"No! No, no, not boyfriends either."

Shit. She wasn't getting it. Mike didn't know why he was having such a hard time with this. It wasn't his feelings that Mike was doubting, oh no. He knew without a shadow of doubt that he loved El Hopper. Had loved her since the moment he laid eyes on her, if he was being honest. Sure, most people would call him insane to be so sure of feelings that intense at such a young age, but those people just didn't understand their connection. Mike really wasn't sure how it was possible, but he felt more connected to El each day, as if their bond was only growing. He needed her to know how strongly he felt, and yet he was so nervous, so afraid of how she'd respond, that he just couldn't get the words out.

"It's like, like a feeling," he tried, but El still looked confused, mouthing the word. So, Mike tried again.

"Yeah, like something...like, old people say it to each other sometimes."

"Old people?"

"Yeah." Great, now she's going to think love is only a concept for old people. Nice. "What I want to say," he emphasized, "Is that I just, I know that I..." Mike took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. Just say it you idiot. He looked into El's eyes, her expression sweet and encouraging, giving him the courage to let the words out. "I love you."

Mike was pretty sure the world froze at that moment, he almost couldn't meet her eyes, afraid of what her reaction would be. Did she feel the same way? Could she possibly? Had he freaked her out with his declaration, was she turned off by his rambling? Not only had she dumped his ass, but she probably never wanted to be around him ever again, how could he have been so stupid, shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit

"Mike," El muttered, stopping his internal mantra. Her eyes were wide, and a smile was plastered on her face. "You love me?" She asked incredulously.

Mike blushed. "Yeah, I-"

"THIS IS A CODE RED, I REPEAT, A CODE RED!" Dustin's voice echoed from the supercomm, startling them both.

At the prospect of something to do with the gate, and Dustin's code red, though intelligible, the gang came back together, trying to figure out what to do next. With El's help, they located Dustin—at the movies of all places, what the hell—and with all the supplies gathered, they were ready to leave the grocery store, until a hurried "Wait!" stopped them. Mike spun around at El's voice, and immediately stopped in his tracks as she reached up to grab his face, looking at him under her hooded lashes. Then, despite being in front of all of their friends, and with no warning, she said, with the confidence of a queen, "Mike, I love you too." Then she kissed him, not letting the fact that they had an audience stop her from showing Mike exactly how she felt at that moment.

To say Mike was shocked is an understatement. He couldn't even kiss her back because, although he was extremely pleased (scratch that, he was the happiest he has ever been in his entire life) he was just so damn shocked to hear her say it, especially in front of everyone, that she loves me echoed through his brain, over and over again.

When El broke the kiss, she grinned up at him, clearly pleased with herself, and Mike felt his heart swell. He knew he was blushing like an idiot, but he didn't really care, because SHE LOVES ME was the only thought that could register. Mike's red face didn't go unnoticed by El, though, who started giggling. "You look like a tomato."

THE END