Welcome back to my little Christmas special for Not So Little Moments!
Its been awhile, and a lot has happened since I updated. Good and bad. But I'm doing better and hope you're doing okay too!
Enjoy!
One-shot Title:
Baby It's Cold Outside, but... I'll Never Leave You
Characters/Ship:
Mike Wheeler, Eleven Hopper, Max Mayfield, Lucas Sinclair/Mileven
Alternate Summary:
Eleven spends Christmas with her friends and discovers a few surprises, one being that SOME secrets are good to keep.
Hawkins, Indiana
December 25, 1985
Eleven loved Christmas.
She enjoyed the snow and how it glimmered when the sun shone over it, even the little bulbs as they twinkled their red and green lights around the Christmas tree. She relished the smell of hot chocolate and the way it complimented her Eggo's. She treasured the baking and the outfits everyone wore — even those big, fuzzy sweaters people deemed unattractive for some reason.
Especially those.
Most of all, Eleven adoredthe time she spent with her loved ones. She reflected on how much she appreciated Joyce's patience and Jonathan's compassion during their move to Ohio. She cherished her friends and their endearing quirks. Most of all, she loved Mike and his passionate determination. She treasured those instances when he was utterly amazed. Most of them struck her in pleasant surprises, because she had discovered they were reactions only she could draw out from him.
Such as that night she returned to Hawkins, stunning everyone - including herself — with her slicked back curls and all-black ensemble. Or her arrival at the Snowball, the exact moment she met his gaze and felt his breathing stop right in sync with hers. Even now as he sat beside her in their little bubble, ignoring his little sister's jumbled blabbering as she tore into another gift. His dark yet warm eyes exchanged comical glances between the gift in his hands and Eleven, his mouth shaped in that adorable, little circle that was still big enough to capture a fly, as her school librarian Mrs. Abbott would say.
"Woah…" With both hands, Mike made the frame bank to the left, his eyes darting over an image that appeared to be his face.
It was a rough sketch, and he could still see the little charcoal clouds around the outline of his face. But some details were meticulous in execution. For instance, the way each tawny freckle underlined his snow-white cheeks. Even the shape in which his hair curled at each clump, blanketing the nape of his downy neck and broad forehead. He was far from an artist, but he wouldn't care about her mistakes if he was a descendant of Picasso.
The piece was a replica of how she viewed him. The idea alone was enough for him to realize that she didn't need to improve her skills. She could if she wanted, but onlyif she found it necessary. Though, that didn't matter because he believed it was already perfect.
She was already perfect.
"This is amazing, El! I didn't know you could draw."
She ducked away, but turned to face him again once she realized she had done a poor job of hiding her burning cheeks. "I'm not as good as Will. He had to help me with your nose."
Eleven glanced at the drawing, her quick peek long enough to catch all the mistakes she made. Glaring, hard to look at, mistakes.
"I still couldn't get your chin right after five tries. Or your ears. And I didn't get to—"
Mike reached for her, his warm fingers enfolding her hand. His touch was an instant deterrent in not only her speech but her train of thought, as he held her with his tender observation.
"You're just as good. Seriously El, this is the best Christmas present I've ever gotten."
Her blush only deepened at his words, her rosy cheeks blooming into a dark crimson. However, she didn't shy away from his peering like the last time. She maintained eye contact and returned his smile, which only widened in response.
Just as fast, his lips had returned to their aligned shape before parting to make room for his tongue. The tip was swift as it peeked out and glided across, moistening each cracked crevice before it returned to his mouth.
"But I think you might've just set the bar a little too high." His hand had vanished behind his back before returning to the light with a small, but hefty shape. "'Cause now I feel like an idiot for getting you this."
Eleven's hand met his halfway, her fingers smoothing over something cool. Hard, even. She drew it close, and upon a quick observation, she deduced what was in her grasp.
Mike had made her a mixtape - or rather - a set of them. Cassette tapes, bound together by nothing but a yellow ribbon and a matching bow to conceal its knot. She made fast work of relieving that grip, her fingers carding through smooth satin before they began tiptoeing through the tapes. Her pace halted at the last one, along with her eyes as she stared at the small sliver of yellow, fuzzy paper taped in the middle.
She swept a finger over the big wheel before gliding toward the assembled words above. The tip hovered over the first word of the title before moving on, and she remembered hearing about the arrival of Hawkins' first Christmas carnival. Mike had disclosed the idea during one of their many phone calls, which had stretched so far into the night she was grateful it wasn't what Joyce would call a school night. He explained the basic concept before delving into their gathering and the respective differences. Such as the tree sitting in the center of the lot, or the candy canes that would be sold along with cones made of waffle and funnel cake.
He also mentioned the rides and carnival games. One was something called a Ferris wheel, like the one in the snow globe Max had shown her while the rest of the Party and Mike's family had opened their presents. But Eleven was more intrigued with the carriage rides, even with her unease with animals. She had always been somewhat wary around them since her time at the lab and dreaded the thought of meeting one, but figured it wouldn't be so bad since Mike had promised to ride with her.
The next time Eleven met his gaze, she shook her head. Her face was screwed up as if the prospect of him ever thinking he was an idiot was the most detestable thing she had ever heard.
"You're not an idiot, Mike. I like music. And I can't wait to go to the carnival with you, and meet the horses.
She smiled, the upward curve of her lips stretching wider the longer she gazed Mike's way. However, her features shifted as soon as she spotted a hint of something foreign in his expression. It flickered across his face but lingered a second longer beneath his eyes.
His warm, andusually trustworthy, chocolate irises.
"Yeah! I uh… can't wait either! Dustin helped me set up the Sleigh Spin, and it's supposed to be really fast." His hand hovered over the nape of his neck as he mirrored her long-gone smile. But it was a weak attempt, because his lips were tighter as they stretched apart.
"And, y'know, we could play Pin the Candy Cane on the Stocking. My mom really went all out with that one. Especially the name for the whole thing. Holly freaks out every time she hears about Hawkins' Holly Jolly—"
As if on cue, the girl dashed over, bulldozing into her older brother with a crushing hug.
Her prompt interruption sliced through the awkward tension, its thick cloud dissipating as laughter spilled out of Mike. He shot Eleven a grin - no trace of anxiety or any other negative emotion on his face - and she let their moment continue, beaming despite her stealthy intake of air. His strange reaction still lurked in the back of her mind, but she retired the memory for the remainder of the morning.
Her dread didn't return to her until after everyone had time to enjoy their gifts and indulge in the food Mrs. Wheeler prepared. She was swift in departing from the table but measured as she trudged along to Nancy's bedroom, the door clicking shut behind her and a blur of wild red hair. The pit in her stomach had grown into the size of a grapefruit and it felt like it was only going to get bigger. She dove into her daze headfirst, plopping down onto the bed with her gaze adjusting its focus to the floor.
Max's ramblings raced to her eardrums like gibberish until she heard a name in the mix of words. She could have sworn it sounded a lot like...
"Mike is so annoying! He switched the campaign again and I swear he's doing it to piss me off. And why does he alwayshave to be Dungeon Master?"
She huffed and ended her pacing with one final step, her body swiveling around to Eleven. The bubbling rage in her core simmered to tame waves within seconds of sticking the landing, her scowl cooling to a frown that was not nearly as great as the one on the brunette sitting before her.
"El?"
Silence greeted Max in return, so she settled on a different approach. She crossed over to the bed in two quick strides before she sank down onto the mattress, her shoulder crashing against a matching limb. The sudden movement was enough to jolt Eleven from her mind maze. She gaped for a moment, her brows skyrocketing to her forehead right in tune with her eyes. But then she blinked — and her features returned to their pensive mask.
"Something is wrong with Mike."
Max regarded her with a careful scan. A snide remark about Mike and how anything could be rightabout him slithered its way into her conscious, but it wasn't the time to voice the thought. Besides, she wasn't willing to risk escalating her best friend's blatant distress. Instead, she thought about before, images of smiles and the savory smell of her meal working its way into the front of her mind.
"Wrong like how? He seemed okay at brunch." She twisted her head further to the side and narrowed her eyes.
Eleven's chestnut curls bounced over her shoulders as she shook her head. "Before that. After I opened his present, we talked about the carnival."
She paused, the duration of her silence long enough to make Max wonder if she should ask for a clarification. But as soon as she mapped out her response and was ready to let her words flow, she was stopped in her tracks by the awaited resumption.
"I told him I was excited to go to the carnival and his eyes were- they were like when we caught him and Lucas at the mall… When he lied."
Her voice grew small at the last bit, fading into the thickening air around them. Then, as if a flame had been reignited, her fiddling thumbs dove into her palms, right beneath the blanket of her fingers as her hand clenched into a loose fist.
"He promised he wouldn't do that again."
The silent storm raging within her best friend stirred an uneasy feeling in Max. The absence of Eleven's doe-eyed gaze gave her expression the freedom to crack as she mouthed a quiet curse, her thoughts buzzing as she searched for something to say, anything to throw off Eleven's damned bloodhound senses.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about it. He probably just has another Christmas present for you." Her expression melted into the slyest of cringes, words leaving a bitter aftertaste in their wake as she gave herself a mental kick to the shin.
Eleven relaxed somewhat, her fists unfolding to rest flat over her legs while one of her brows quirked skyward.
"...You really think so?"
"Yeah! I mean, what else could it be?" Max replied, a smile the size of her hometown plastered on her lips. "Y'know not all secrets are bad, right? Remember when Dustin went to camp this summer and we planned that big welcome home surprise for him?"
A nod, then a tiny, yet soft smile broke through the brunette's screwed features at the memory. She remembered that day, one of the very few tranquil moments of the summer. A chance to enjoy her life, find solace in peace with her found family before another storm ripped it all away.
"I still can't believe he has a girlfriend."
"I still can't believe Suzie stuck around this long!"
Laughter bubbled through the air like a symphony, a perfect blend of hoarse chuckles and ebullient giggles. Once they had cooled down, the last of the short gasps leaving their mouths in haste, Max glanced at the corner of the room. She took notice of the bright pink book bag, but her gaze lingered on the vacant space between it and Nancy's desk.
"Now that we've settled that boys sometimes lie for good reasons, we should go ahead and get ready for the carnival. I forgot my lip-balm downstairs. But I'll be back in a sec, yeah?"
Eleven's chin dipped again, and Max reciprocated her smile until she stepped into the hall, the indents in her cheeks dwindling along with her patience.
Nothing went over Eleven's head. Hiding something from her was like stealing a lionesses prey right from under her nose. But no. According to Michael, he had it all under control. She wouldn't know a thing until it was time. Not from him, not from the rest of the Party, especially not from Max.
Well, fuck him and his stupid, half-baked surprise.
Speaking of…
Max froze, almost tripping on her haphazardly tied kicks. She slid back toward the soft pink light and peeked into the doorway, the tip of her freckled nose just barely crossing the threshold as her gaze refocused on something she thought she'd never see outside its black box — a gleaming, golden teddy bear pendant dangling from a thin chain — right in the hands of a moody, messyfive-year-old.
Two options waged a war inside her head, both vying for a shot to be known. There was still time, she could slip away unnoticed and retrieve her lip-balm, leaving Mike with a very valuable lesson in responsible gift-giving - as well as a bad aftertaste. Or, she could swindle his kid sister into giving her the necklace and save the day. He'd owe her big time.
And it was the right thing to do. That was always a plus.
Just as she had made up her mind, the youngest member of the Wheeler household loosened her grip from the chain, ceasing the discernible strangling of her doll. Her baby blue eyes flitted toward the intruder, following her every move as she slipped into the light.
Max was the first to break the silence, her lips stretching into an sly grin.
"I know where your mom keeps the Christmas chocolates..."
Elsewhere…
"What do you mean it's gone?"
"I mean it's fucking gone, Lucas!"
A strangled grunt forced its way through leather as Mike rose from the couch, stray fibers of lint and dust clinging to his blue button up. Some flew to his face as he chucked away one of the pillows, right into his nose as he inhaled. Karma came in a fit of wheezing, his face all red and puffy by the time he collected himself. A suppressed chuckle coaxed his attention to his best friend, who even failed to hide his smirk before he was caught red-handed.
"Oh, yeah. Laugh it up, me royally screwing up El's Christmas is just the biggest joke." He collapsed onto the couch, his form sinking like a limp noodle against the worn seat. "Hardy - freaking -har."
Lucas rolled his eyes, one last laugh heaving past his lips as he sank beside Mike. "C'mon dude, we still have a couple hours left until the carnival starts! We've only looked in two places."
"It can't be anywhere else!"
Mike's hands flew to his face, thin fingers smoothing back his growing head of hair. His mind was like a television on a rewind loop as he retraced every second he spent tending to the special gift. He thought of El the first time he saw it at the mall.
Under a stranger's gaze, it was just a necklace. A simple chain accentuated with a sculpted teddy bear pendant, both made with a smidge of gold compared to the real thing. To Mike, however, it shone brighter than his mother's wedding ring. Like a prized diamond encased in the middle of the room, captivating every eye in passing.
The second time, it was just as beautiful, but he didn't take it home until his third visit. It was months after El and Will had moved away, weeks of him tending to the stock of DVDs and games at Family Video. He hid it as soon as he stepped into the house, stashing the velvet box under a pile of socks in one of his drawers.
He recalled the necklace only leaving his room once. It was a couple of weeks ago, when he escorted it down to the basement to be wrapped with all the other Christmas presents. His mother had held the space captive for the week to wrap up her own gifts, so he had to wait until the rest of the house was asleep to wrap El's gift. It took almost all night with his indecisiveness on which wrapping paper to use until he finally decided to just wrap the box with a ribbon, just as he had done with the cassettes.
The third and more recent time he had seen it was this morning, carefully placed in one the pockets of the coat he had picked out for the carnival. He was gonna give it to her tonight, once they had indulged in the festivities.
Key word was.
Before Mike could beat himself up any further, Lucas pulled on the skin under his gaunt arm. The abruptness of the action startled a noise - mixing the squawk of an angry goose and a yelp from a kicked puppy - from the very abyss of his throat.
"Ow! What the hell, man?!"
Lucas squared him with a look, his gaze earnest and unyielding.
"There's no time for self-pity! The necklace may be gone, but you have other tricks up your sleeve, okay? You made El a playlist and got her tickets to the carnival. Girls love carnivals!"
"It depends on the girl, actually."
The boys turned to the basement's stairwell, two sets of wide eyes landing on Max. She just stood there, back propped against the beam as she regarded them with a shrug.
"Sure, it's the thought that counts. But we 'girls' like a variety of things. I mean, if it were me, I'd like all three — plus first pick of the games." She shot Lucas a pointed look, barely registering his all too tight smile before her sly stare darted to Mike, her lips curling ever so slightly.
"El might care more about whether the concession stands have waffles. Although, I don't think she'd mind a three hundred dollar necklace."
Her hand slipped behind her back, resting there for only a moment before returning with a chain, the light emitting from it unmistakable under Mike's attention.
He leapt from his seat like a spring, gawking at Lucas - who was avoiding his gaze altogether. His surprise was replaced with agitation in the same second it took him to meet Max's gleaming blue eyes.
"Of course he told you."
"That doesn't matter, though if I were you…" Max sauntered over to the couch, her fingers twining around the cold, thin tether. "I'd be a little more grateful, considering this thing was almost an accessory to murder. Your baby sis is cold-blooded, Wheeler."
Mike blinked. "What? How did she-?"
Without letting him finish, she unraveled the chain and sent it airborne in Mike's direction. His catch was sloppy, but he caught it before it could fall, both lanky arms stretched over the table. The air didn't leave his lungs until he was sure the necklace was really in his grasp, his eyes following the lead of his fingers as they skimmed over each chiseled detail.
"El doesn't even know that exists, but she might unless I don't hurry back so… you're welcome."
Mike was too relieved to watch Max as she left, her rushed stomps up the first floor of the house enough to echo her departure. He spent another minute on his inspection, plucking away a few glossy blonde strands. His shoulders sagged once he lifted his head, peering up at Lucas and the grin sneaking across his lips.
"See? Breaking bro-code occasionally has its perks."
"Hmm. Yeah, maybe you're onto something." Mike dipped his head, smirking to himself. "You should show off your Shakespearean alter ego more. I bet El would love to hear about that poem you wrote for Max and her "personality as hot as her red hair and perfect, sun-kissed skin—"
Lucas lunged for the necklace, but Mike swiped it away from his reach and bolted around the table, his kneecap just barely dodging the sharp corner. Side-stepping the pillow chucked at his head, he made a break for the stairwell, his tireless laughter right in sync with the footfalls thundering after him.
...
Later…
...
Eleven scanned everything in sight, her wide eyes absorbing the bright lights and delighted smiles. Then, the world whisked itself away as they fluttered shut, and it was as if her sensory switch had been flipped. Her nose twitched, tickled by the rush of cold air. She let it pass without a flinch - despite the imprint of its chill - and instead savored the aromas wafting through her bubble. Like a sweet, bubbly sip of cola washing away the bitter aftertaste of sour gummy bears.
Her ears attended to the jovial music (which seemed to act as background music to Dustin's garrulous comments to Will, insisting he check out some movie called Fright Night) as she sat there, her limbs resting from the night's adventure. She had devoured almost every sugary, fried confectionery she saw and raced through many of the rides, but those moments didn't compare to just sitting on the bench. Being there, seeing everything through the darkness.
Her void.
When she lost touch with her powers, she had also lost access to the void. It started out as a place tainted with darkness, a way for Papa to use her. But then she'd cover her eyes, submit to the noise, and find Mike or Hopper. Even visit her mother. Suddenly, she could use her gifts to heal instead of hurt. And when she just needed space to hear her own voice, she'd go into the void. Even now, as she could no longer make something fly with her hands or reach into someone's mind, that didn't matter. She could still see the world for what it was.
No grimy lies. Just the clean - yet at times harsh - truth.
A gentle squeeze around her fingers brought her back to the real world, brightness and vivid color flooding back into her vision. Her eyes danced around her friends before landing on Mike and his warm, dark eyes. They were creased in a way that told her his mind was racing with worry.
"I'm okay, just a little tired," was her murmured reply.
He gave her a slight nod, his thumb tracing shapes into the soft wool encasing her hand. His gaze wandered across the table, meeting Lucas' pointed look in a brief duel. Though it had felt like hours until he broke away, his head swiveling toward a man taking a woman's hand as she hopped off the carriage.
He took in a breath, sucking in every ounce of courage from his core.
"Yeah, me too. But our turn's up for the carriage ride." He rose from his seat, a corner of his mouth flitting up to the night sky. "And I still have enough energy for one more adventure. What do you say?"
El's wide eyes shot across the picnic table, aligning with Max, who's blue eyes seemed to twinkle under the Christmas lights hovering over them. She caught her lips as they segregated and gathered to one corner, but she missed whatever else had followed, turning to the hand outstretched to her. She latched on with a trusting nod, fingers clamping around his larger ones as she leapt to her feet.
Together, they trekked across the carnival grounds, slipping past a band of carolers and a group in line for the Ferris wheel. Finally, they reached the gate, and the chauffeur - a fellow student at Hawkins High - greeted them with a cheshire grin.
"Sup, Mike. How long would you uh… like to sneak away?"
Suppressing his urge to pull a face at the strange choice of words, Mike glanced El's way. He exhaled a quiet half-chuckle as he found her standing in front of one of the horses. She reached out, her hand inching closer and closer until her fingertips finally made contact with a soft, sable mane.
"I guess about half an hour, give these two time to connect. Right, El?"
She smiled when the hackney began licking at her hand. A breathless giggle bubbled from her lips as the tip of its tongue darted to her rosy cheek, landing a wet peck.
"Alright. Well, the trail's perfect for beginners, so you can just sit back and enjoy the ride." He bowed his head, sneaking a peek over his shoulder at the sign. "Thirty minutes would usually cost you six dollars, but any friend of Steve-o is a friend of mine. I'll just shave off half."
"Sweet, thanks Danny."
Mike dove into his coat pocket, his fingers running along soft wool before finally pushing into the leather exterior of his wallet. He flipped it open and retrieved three ones before presenting them to the chauffeur.
Danny accepted the money, beaming once again and tipping the brim of his snapback. "Don't sweat it, merry Christmas."
El gave the horse one last pat before she circled around to the carriage, accepting Mike's hand as she slid into her seat. He joined her soon after, filling the empty space like the half to complete her whole. His fingers curled around hers, the air clouding with a familiar warmth. Hazel met chocolate brown, the seconds only prolonging the cozy heat until their ride stirred alive with a roaring shriek.
Once the wheels established a steady roll away from the carnival grounds, her nerves settled from their high, dissolving into the arms winding around her frame. Her shaky chortles blended with his quavering cackles for a chorus before fading into the wispy wind, a comfortable silence resting between them. She didn't mind, her attention drifting to the delayed passings of the trees.
Thick, frosted bristles danced along the trail, moving to the beat of the air while their proud legs remained rooted under pounds of white. Lamps scattered the edge of the path, yet their bulbs weren't enough to light the way. The links of tiny sparks, however, fulfilled that purpose. Tiny yet bright lights as white as the snow emitting a magical glow.
It was perfect, too perfect.
Sometimes, El felt like she was in one of those movies with the girls in pretty dresses. There was always some tragedy they had to go through or a battle they had to fight, but they would always get their happily ever after. And she believed she would get hers, even when tragedy after tragedy smashed into her life. Nothing could diminish her dream, yet she couldn't ignore her dwindling hope.
A big, bright light, dimming with each passing second.
"We've been through a lot since that night, huh."
El blinked, suddenly free from the binds of her trance. She whirled up to Mike's face, her mouth matching the shape of his frown as it marred his lips.
"I still feel it, that hole in my chest. It's hard to forget because I can't breathe." He scoffed away the heavy weight rising to his lungs, his gaze frozen on the murky atmosphere. "I feel it every time you leave."
The wetness welled to her eyes before she could will it away, but that didn't stop her from tugging on his hand.
"I'm right here, Mike."
Finally, he met her halfway, the sight of her tears setting a fire inside his aching heart.
"I know. But a part of me still sees that night. I saw it the day you left, and I see it every time I close my eyes. You literally faded away in front of me, El." He squeezed her hand, his own tears peeking from the cover of his eyelids.
Before they could break through the dam, however, he sniffled, straightening in his seat.
"So I'm not gonna waste anymore time."
El's features twisted, her head tipping to one side as she watched his hand disappear. Soon it returned to her, a faint glint dashing into her line of sight. She took in the shape of the chain, every crevice seemed to have a glow akin to those pieces of jewelry she had seen in one of her shows.
Her eyes doubled in size, stretching way beyond the limits of the former record.
It wasn't a ring, and yet her heart only accelerated in its fluttering.
"I felt bad about lying to you, so I let Lucas drag my ass to Starcourt to find something you'd like. But then I only had three dollars and fifty cents on me and—"
The rest of whatever Mike had wanted to say died against El's mouth as soon as she leaned in, her sweet wave washing over him with such warmth. Every nerve in his scrawny limbs felt like they would go limp at any moment, and yet he could support her frame as she rose up to drape her arm over his shoulder.
Her fingers weaved through the growing mop of unruly curls, right in tune with his as he moved to caress her jawline with his thumb. She managed to graze up and down his scalp, sinking further and further into his gyre...
"Woah! Easy!"
The carriage took a sharp swerve, the sound of the wheel's scraping against the ground a soothing intro compared to the horse's unsettling verse. El's eyes flew open as she pulled away from Mike, only to be towed back into his arms as their ride slowed to halt in the middle of the park.
"The hell, man?! You told my mom you knew how to drive this thing!"
"I do! My dad works with horses for a living! Why the hell do you think she hired me?!" the teenager retorted, his grip slackening around the reins.
A dispute broke out between the two, but their bickering fell deaf to El's ears as she gazed along the path. The lamp's bulbs had blown out, but the chain of Christmas lights still showed signs of life. The row behind her flickered, bringing a steady blend of both brilliance and pitch-blackness to her sight. But once she grew accustomed to the pattern, they gave out altogether before flashing at a rapid speed.
A surge of chills rushed down her spine, her blood feeling as cold as the ice water they had submerged her in at the lab. But then, as her eyes followed every blink, repeating in the same order as a phrase she hadn't heard in months. In the same tone, the same voice.
"Y'know what?! Forget it, just drive us back—"
"Th -Three inches…"
Both boys swiveled to El and saw the distance in her eyes, but Mike was quicker in his response time, grasping at her shoulders. When that didn't coax her from whatever held her attention hostage, he glided in her field of vision, dismissing Danny's mumbling about checking on the horses.
"El, hey, it's okay." He held her as she turned to him, her small, yet quick breaths clouding the crisp air between them. "Just breathe for a minute. In and out."
She mimicked his breathing and felt her spine relax. Her mental battle, however, was just postponed, extending the duration of her torment. His gaze clutched her in stasis, an unspoken question coaxing the words from her lips.
"The lights… they said three inches."
:o
That ending though! I hate to leave you hanging, but I cant resist! Hop is such a cockblocker.
FYI, there won't be a full look into what I envision for S4. So many talented writers have already shared their take, so I'm gonna do something different.
I'd also like to thank my beta Cory for sticking with me for a whole year. This series wouldn't look so polished if it weren't for her.
Be sure to review if I made you smile!
See you in the next update!