The Domestic Pixie

"Pixie… I need to ask you a question… um, two really. One not so serious."

Mike took her hand and let her to the sofa in the cabin. The cabin had become their getaway spot. Only her dad and the bodyguards knew of the place.

The sat facing each other. Mke grabbed her other hand and held them together.

"Um, Pixie, which one of the two of us do you think is the bigger drama queen?"

El burst out laughing. "Well you did have a bodyguard throw your drunk ass over his shoulder and bring you to our room. I think that qualifies as way up there."

"And you went a little batshit during that Pop Music Magazine interview."

El looked down. "Those were dark days for me. Don't remind me."

"Sorry Pixie, I didn't want to bring up bad memories… hmm… ok, now I'm not so sure of my next question."

El looked up at him. Mike didn't want to betray the trust in her eyes.

"So the 11 Alive album is doing really well. We don't need a tour to support the album. We don't really need to go into the studio for close to a year. I was thinking…"

"You want to take a break from the crazy world of music?"

"Well, yes, but it's a little more than that."

"I'm listening, Mike."

"I want to be… um… uh… domestic with you."

El frowned. "Mike we talked about this, I can't give you.."

"No, not kids. I know that, I'm ok with that. Ah geez, how do I put this."

El shrugged, "you're on your own here Paladin, I have no idea what you're getting at. We are married, living in a cabin… that's kind of domestic… isn't it?"

"I want to go grocery shopping with you tomorrow." Mike said sheepishly.

"Oh, I get it. You want to do everyday normal things with me."

"Yes, Pixie. That's exactly what I want to do."

"You know I can't cook for you… right?"

"We'll cook together. We'll do everything together. Marriage is fifty-fifty. I'll help you with dishes, laundry, cleaning, everything. I… I uh, just want to be with you all the time."

"I will go grocery shopping with you tomorrow. Mike. I'm gonna wear my track pants, no make up… and i'm not going to cover the scar. I might even pin my hair back again.

"You'll still be the prettiest girl in the store."

XXXXX

"Ok, Pixie, I mean, it doesn't make any difference to me that you have a cart full of Eggos, but where are we going to put them? They need to be in a freezer."

"Good point. I'll leave some for other customers."

"You know what's odd? We have not been bugged by anybody else, not even staff, to ask for an autograph, or just to talk to us."

"It's Hawkins Mike. Eventually everybody will have a chance to see us or talk to us. At least they haven't looked at us with pity because of our scars."

"People are always going to have pity on us. Especially you. They think a really pretty girl will never have a normal life or get married because she has a scar like that."

El leaned over the shopping cart and kissed him. "They are wrong on both counts. I feel so domestic today… " she laughed. "A housewife. Your housewife. I wouldn't trade this feeling right now for anything."

Mike smiled, "how long before you give me a list of things I need to do."

"It's funny that you should mention that." El rooted around in her purse. She was still getting used to carrying one. She did it for Mike, but was starting to see how handy they were.

"Here," she handed him a piece of paper.

Mike read it. "Ok, I'll need to pick up some books from the library. I don't know how to do items three and four."

"What about items five to nine?"

"They say kiss Pixie I could do that right here."

"More fun for later, it will lead to number ten."

Mike scanned down the list. He immediately red. "Geez Pixie."

"That's ok isn't it?" El suddenly looked at him unsure of herself.

XXXXX

"That's only three books Mr. Wheeler, you are allowed to take out five." The librarian said.

"If these three don't help me, it won't really make any difference how many books I take out. They can't make me a carpenter, or a plumber."

"And you Mrs. Wheeler, only one book?"

El blushed, "I can't read very fast."

"The fact that you are reading is is ninety-nine percent of the effort. I've read that book, if you like it you I can recommend another… and if you are willing, we have a book club on thursday nights that you could join. They would never judge you on your reading skills. I promise."

El's eyes lit up, "really?"

"Really. Meet us here at 7pm?"

El smiled and turned to him. "Mike?"

"I'll hang out with your dad, and we'll pick you up when you are ready."

El turned to the librarian… "um, I'll need to have a bodyguard. It's an obligatory insurance thing."

"That's ok Mrs. Wheeler, we'll make sure he is comfortable."

XXXXX

"You know what just happened right? Mike said taking a sidelong glance at El.

El look puzzled, "no?"

"You've been accepted into the community. As a Hawkins resident. Not as El Wheeler rock star. But as El Wheeler, Hawkins resident and currently married to Mike Wheeler."

"And always married to Mike Wheeler."

By the time they'd gotten the bags of groceries to the cabin, they collapsed on the sofa.

"Why didn't you let me take those bags?" El said.

"I don't want your nose bleeding domestically Pixie. We can carry grocery bags ourselves. Millions of couples do."

"You're right, I need to stop doing that on a whim."

"Being domestic means you might have to be a little more careful. More so than other girls. Not every guy is married to a magic Pixie I want to keep you a secret."

"Ok, I guess we're done for the day?"

"Nope," Mike said.

"Ugh, right… laundry."

"You're so domesticated." They both laughed.

XXXXX

"And this is how you fold something large like a blanket."

"Where did you learn this Mike."

"My mom, once Nancy got old enough, I got some of those chores, i did a lot of them with my mom, sometimes with Nancy. Holly is the next one on the list. I think my mom is going to have a handful with her." Mike paused, smiling while thinking about Holly.

El saw this and came over to kiss him. "Not every brother loves his sister like you do. My Paladin not only takes care of his Pixie, but spoils his little sister with love. If somebody told me about you I'd say you were too good to be true. But you're not. You are perfect. When I was in a cold dark room, I dreamed about having a boyfriend who was kind, nice to me, but not only that, nice to others too. I'm so sorry that I was a bitch to you that first day Mike. I can't believe how I acted. I really am ashamed of that."

"It's ok Pixie. You know why?"

"No."

"Number ten on the list."

XXXXX

El was breathing heavy. "I'm sorry Mike, I don't believe you learned that from a magazine."

"No." Mike said, "that was pure inspiration… based on instant feedback from you."

"I'm not sure that's what you meant by domesticated."

"Not exactly, no. If I thought grocery shopping would have led to this I would have suggested it earlier."

El giggled. "Ok mister. You set the bar pretty high, let me see what I can do."