Author's Note: Hi. Hello. I'm terribly sorry for the long wait on this chapter. The only excuse I have is that I've lost all inspiration for this story seeing as my muse started to pull me back into writing Imagines. But fear not! There are only two chapters left in this story- all fluffy goodness!- and I plan on finishing it. Unfortunately, there's no telling how long it'll take me to crank out these last two chapters. Until then, enjoy this!
Falling Like the Stars
And I need you to know that we're falling so fast
we're falling like the stars, falling in love.
And I'm not scared to say those words,
with you I'm safe.
We're falling like the stars, falling in love.
. .
School is now relatively easy for Eleven, she fitting in far better than Dani at the moment. While the other kids El's age quickly learned she wasn't one to be messed with (thank you, Max!), Dani was continuously picked on and talked about because of her boyfriend. And while most of their taunts went in one ear and out the other, there were just some times when Billy had to quickly distract Dani to keep her from showcasing her powers when her emotions got the best of her.
So with how everything's gone so far, it's not out of the norm to see a group of girls waiting for Dani to walk out of the lunch time, cruel smiles in place.
"Thanksgiving break is coming up," Nancy says, sighing softly. "I'm so ready for it. My mom said I can go visit Jonathan if I'm the perfect daughter when my aunt and uncles come visit."
Dani chuckles. "How much do you want to bet Mike finds a way to tag along to go see Will?"
"You'd have to be an idiot to take that bet. Mike doesn't even know I'm going yet, but the moment he finds out I'm not even going to argue. I know he'll invite himself along."
As the two girls grab their trays to walk to their table together, Dani and Nancy are too invested in their conversation that they don't see trouble until it's too late. Someone walks up to Dani, upturning her tray so her food drops down the front of her shirt and jeans. Nancy gasps, a small group of girls cackle in glee, and the cafeteria erupts in gasps and then laughter.
"What.. the fuck," Dani grits out, slowly lowering the lunch tray. "What the hell is your problem?!"
The bullies are all the same, so she's never taken the time to learn any of their names. The red head smirking at her, however, is none other than Carol's best friend Nicole. "You should really watch where you're walking, clumsy," she mockingly advises. "You've seem to have made a mess of yourself."
"I'm clumsy?" Dani huffs, just as Nancy quietly tells her to walk away when she notices everyone staring. "If you'd take your nose out of Carol's cunt long enough, then maybe you'd see where you're walking!"
The crowd ooh's and Nicole's smile falls. "You're disgusting."
"And you're a bitch who can't think for herself. You're only picking on me because Tommy won't hit a girl and Carol's too soft to defend her own goddamn boyfriend, and because Billy doesn't give any of you skanks the time of day anymore!"
The following slap comes out of nowhere, followed by a punch from some random girl. Dani stumbles into Nancy who's now screaming at the girls, but Dani's anger is quick to bubble into a rage. She readjusts the empty, plastic tray in her hands before gripping it tight, she then using it to hit Nicole across the face with it as she whirls back around.
The shouting ramps up even louder, along with the chanting of fight!, fight!, fight!, and Dani drops the tray to grab the girl who'd punched her by the shoulder and deliver a punch of her own. She can taste copper in her mouth, so she knows her lip is busted, and from the corner of her eye she sees Nancy being shoved harshly. But before she can defend her friend, Robin's pushing through the crowd and throwing punches herself.
"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW! YOU ARE YOUNG LADIES, SO YOU BETTER START ACTING LIKE IT!"
"DETENTION! DETENTION FOR ALL OF YOU!"
Dani's about to throw a punch, but feeling a sudden power shift and a heavy feeling in her fist has her holding back. She drops her arm, unclenches her fist, and shakes her hand out. No matter how pissed she is at these petty girls, they don't deserve to have a power that they don't understand unleashed upon them. But her sudden distraction costs her and Dani grunts when yet another fist slams against her left cheek.
"Fuck.."
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" One of the teaching staff pushes himself into the middle of the crowd, pointing out the entire guilty party. "You, you, you, you, you, you, and you- in the office. NOW!"
Panting and licking blood from the corner of her mouth, Dani glares at the four girls who are trying to defend their actions. Nancy and Robin, who are more than a little disheveled, flank Dani and gently start pulling her from the crowd.
"Come on," Robin says. "Lets go get you cleaned up."
- X-
The Principal hadn't seemed too happy with Dani's explanation of why the fight started, but Nancy's recollection of the fight has him realizing that Danielle Lewis was provoked and was not the girl to throw the first punch. But alas, violence is not the answer so everyone involved landed themselves in detention- Dani, Nancy, and Robin with a couple days less than the other girls who originally provoked the fight.
Though Dani isn't the girl who walked away with the worst injuries, she still has to spend a class period in the nurse's office to keep some ice on her cheek. And not wanting to leave their friend alone, Nancy and Robin stayed glued to her sides.
The bell rings to signify the change of class and Billy walks towards the nurse's station while ignoring the simpering girls and awestruck boys trying to tell him about the cafeteria brawl. He had been running late to lunch, unfortunately, and missed the entire thing. So by the time he went looking for his girlfriend, she was stuck in the Principal's office and the other roughed up females waiting for their turn of judgement had tried explaining how Dani was the one to attack them. He ignored them, of course, and then was run off by a few school aide's so he could get to class.
As he nears the nurse's office, Harrington is coming from the opposite end of the hall.
Steve's grin falters. "Did you see it or hear about it?"
"Heard," Billy mumbles after a brief bout of hesitation. After all, he and Harrington weren't exactly friends. They just had friends in common. "I thought that this bullshit would have passed by now."
Steve shrugs. The nurse's office door is propped open, so Billy and Steve easily spot the girls. Nancy's hair is all over the place and is sporting a couple of scratch marks on her neck and chest, Robin's got a gnarly black eye in the works, and Dani's got a split lip and an ice pack covering her left cheek.
Billy and Steve stare at them before glancing at one another, the two of them looking back out at the girls at the same time and laughing.
Dani's head immediately shoots up, her gaze narrowing on the boys. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, losers."
"Jesus," Steve muses as he enters the room. He takes a seat in between Robin and Nancy, poking at Robin's injuries. "I'm going to be pissed if you girls joined a secret fight club and didn't invite us to watch." Robin punches him in the arm and he laughs some more.
Billy then sits next to Dani, squeezing her knee once he's settled. "You good?"
"Mmm? Yeah." Dani lowers the ice pack and Billy hisses quietly. "The last hit only caught me off guard because I realized my power swelled up. I felt it in my hands and when I froze to try and shake it off, someone got in a hit."
Lightly tracing his thumb under the bruise, he says, "I heard you hit someone with a lunch tray. That true?"
Robin snorts. "It was magnificent. You guys should have been there."
"Maybe next time."
Thanksgiving break is finally here and Dani is all too ready to have a week off from school. So while Nathan works, Dani keeps an eye on Eleven and does all the grocery shopping to prepare for their upcoming food comas.
Thanksgiving was one of the few holidays that Dani and Nathan did partake in while on the run, so she knows what all to get and is glad to realize she knows how to cook most of it. Thankfully, however, her dad is going to be doing all the cooking so all she has to do is lounge around and watch the Thanksgiving's Day parade on TV with her adopted sister.
Dani ends up taking Eleven shopping for flannel pajamas to do the day right and then wonders whether or not Billy is going to be able to spend some of the day with her family. Because as it turns out, the Lewis' have Thanksgiving lunch and then have take-out for dinner. Fortunately, after speaking with Billy, his step-mother is having Thanksgiving dinner at their house so her daughter and Billy are free to do what they please throughout the day so long as they get home before six.
Then the morning of, Dani is tasked with waking Eleven as Nathan starts the food prep.
Sleepily shaking the younger girl's shoulder, Dani smiles as she's continuously shrugged off and swatted at. "Come on, sleepy head. It's time to wake up."
"But we're on vacation."
"It's Thanksgiving, El. All you have to do is wash up, brush your teeth, switch into those pretty flannels we bought for today, and watch some lame ass parade on TV with me while we wait for the food to be done."
Suddenly giggling, Eleven rolls over and stretches. "Sounds bitchin'."
"I'm sure it does. Now get up. Billy and Max should be here soon to spend the afternoon with us before they have to spend time with their own family."
Dani shuffles forward and grabs Eleven by the hand, tugging the girl up into a seated position even as she groans. Once Eleven's sitting up on her own, Dani leaves her to go grab the newest set of pajamas and then hands them over. "Chop, chop. You have fifteen minutes before the parade starts. We'll sleep on and off downstairs, so don't worry too much."
"Fine."
-X-
Billy and Max end up showing just after ten, and Nathan beams at the sight of them in nearly matching pajamas to what his daughter- er, daughters- are wearing. His daughter's boyfriend tries to hold onto his tough persona after kicking off his boots, but it quickly melts away when Eleven greets him at the door and drags him over to Dani.
With the turkey still needing an hour in the oven, Nathan then heads into the living room with the kids to pass some time. Max and Eleven have made themselves comfortable on several layers of blankets and pillows on the floor, and Dani's pushed Billy into the corner of the couch as she sleepily nestles into his side as the parade plays on TV.
"Really, Dani? Let the boy breathe," Nathan says, chuckling as he sits in his recliner. "Morning, Billy. Max," he then greets.
"Morning, Mr. Lewis." Max smiles over her shoulder. "The turkey smells amazing. I can't wait to eat."
"Thanks, kiddo. Shouldn't be too long now." He looks back to Billy who's faintly grinning. "How's school, son? You keeping my kid out of trouble?"
Max and Eleven snicker as Dani gasps in mock outrage. "I try my best, sir. She doesn't make it easy."
"Excuse you," Dani huffs, "but I do not start these confrontations."
"No, but you sure do finish them," Nathan mutters.
"Lunch tray," Billy coughs, then grins. "Classic."
Dani swats at him, snuggling even deeper. "Shut up."
Everyone settles in to watch the parade, quiet laughs shared as they poke fun at some of the performers on TV. Then when the turkey is nearly done, Dani joins her dad in the kitchen to prepare the green bean casserole and cornbread dressing.
There are groans of compliments once everyone starts eating, Max mumbling about squirreling away a plate because her mom isn't the best of cooks and she's going to need something to eat later that night when she tags along with Billy when he eventually sneaks away. Billy had laughed, choked on his bite of food, and then reluctantly agreed that Susan was a terrible cook. Nathan promises to save them whatever leftovers they have, but also informs them they'd most likely have take-out as well if they were tired of turkey by the end of the night.
After lunch, Nathan was too far into his food coma to care that his daughter dragged her boyfriend upstairs. Everyone was full and on the verge of falling asleep where they sat, and Nathan passed out in his recliner knowing that all his daughter and Billy would be doing for the next hour or so is sleep.
-X-
After Billy and Max change into clothes Billy's father would approve of, the two step-siblings leave to endure their own family's Thanksgiving festivities. Eleven slinks off to her bedroom to call Mike and see if he's busy, and Dani heads into the kitchen to help her dad pack up their leftovers and get an early start on soaking the dishes.
"So I was thinking about getting some flowers for Jim," Dani says out of the blue as she fills one side of the sink with soapy water. "There's this flower shop whose owners don't really celebrate American holidays and I was thinking about getting him some white tulips."
Nathan smiles. "That sounds like a good idea, kid. You going to take El?"
"Yeah. She misses him and I never really- I didn't go and see-"
"Jim would understand you being busy," he says, cutting her off. Walking up to his now morose daughter, he wraps one arm around her shoulders and tugs her into his side while resting his chin atop her head. "Gruff man like that knows young girls like you would rather be doing anything other than talking to a headstone."
Dani elbows him. "Shush. Jim was the first good father figure El had. I should have gone to see him the second I was better."
"Don't worry about it. You're going to see him now so that's got to count for something."
"Yeah, I guess." Glancing around, Dani steps out of her father's embrace and moves to collect a few dishes to slide into the soapy water. "You going to be good here?"
"Of course. I'll hold down the fort here while you and El go visit Jim."
"Okay."
After making her way to Eleven's room where she's giggling on the phone with her own boyfriend, Dani informs her about visiting Jim's grave-site. Eleven immediately agrees to go with her right before telling Mike what she's going to do and then hangs up with him.
The two girls change into outfits that are more suited for being out in public and then bid Nathan a brief farewell. After clambering into Dani's Firebird, Dani then drives them to the small flower shop she had mentioned earlier to her dad and buys a small bouquet of white tulips. Eleven holds the flowers in her lap on the way to the cemetery, and it's she who leads Dani to Jim Hopper's grave since Dani wasn't sure where it even was to begin with.
Jim's headstone is next to a smaller headstone which bears the name Sara Hopper, so Eleven quickly explains the story of Jim's daughter who passed away way too young because of an illness. The two girls then take a seat on the grass before Jim's headstone and Eleven lays the tulips against it. Dani heaves a sigh and Eleven awkwardly shifts as she plucks at the blades of grass beneath her, so Dani reaches forward and tugs free a single tulip from the bunch to lay it in front of Sara's own headstone. Eleven smiles fondly at that.
Pulling her knees to her chest and then crossing her ankles, Dani wraps her arms around her legs as she stares at Jim's name forever etched in stone. "Hey, Hopper." She can feel Eleven tense beside her, but she keeps on as if she were alone and had no audience. "Sorry I haven't stopped by sooner, but I- well I honestly don't have a good excuse as to why I haven't come before now."
"She's lying. We lost her for a while," Eleven mumbles before leaning against Dani's shoulder. "But then she came back to us. I wished you'd have come back to us."
A lump forms in Dani's throat and tears sting her eyes at Eleven's wistfulness, and she clears her throat before she starts talking again. "You'd be glad to know things have settled down here in Hawkins and we- we get to lead normal lives now. Eleven's in school and still dating that Wheeler kid you kept giving the stink eye to." Eleven huffs a quiet laugh and Dani faintly grins. "Dad's yet to chase him off, but no worries! Billy is one PDA moment away from kidnapping Mike and giving him a stern talking to."
Eleven groans. "Please don't."
"Then stop playing tonsil hockey with your boyfriend in front of us." Slinging one arm around Eleven's shoulders, Dani brings her in close and keeps her there. She stares at the headstone some more, exhaling softly. "I'm sorry we couldn't save you. Wherever you are, I hope you're at peace, sir. You deserve at least that much after all the crazy you had to deal with."
Dani glances around the quiet cemetery to make sure no one else has come to visit while she was distracted, and when she sees no one else around she releases Eleven and shifts so she can pull her legs beneath her. Reaching forward, she then places her right cupped hand- palm down- in front of Jim's headstone. Then closing her eyes, Dani concentrates on pulling at the shadows from all the nooks and crannies of the still sunlit cemetery.
Eleven watches as Dani's hand is suddenly shrouded in shadows and then frowns when Dani's nose starts to bleed.
"Stop," Eleven murmurs. "You're bleeding." Dani's eyes fly open and she immediately wipes her nose with the back of her hand. "You haven't done that in a while."
"I'm fine. I just had to pull extra hard since there's still so much sun out." When Dani lifts her hand from the grass, Eleven smiles at the black crystal-like rose that's left behind. It glitters under the sun and Dani looks rather proud of her creation. "It's not much, Hopper, but I hope you like it. And that no one steals it."
There's not much else to say, but the girls remain all the same. Eleven loops her arm through Dani's and rests against her shoulder once more, and the two just bask in the certain quietness that can only be found in a cemetery.
It isn't very long until the sun starts to really set and only then do the girls bid Jim a farewell before heading home.
By the time Christmas break has come around, it's become clear to the population of Hawkins High that Billy Hargrove has settled down with Dani Lewis. Carol and Nicole are the only two who still have a problem with Dani, but unfortunately for them their little clique of bullies have realized that Dani is not one to be messed with so they don't back the girls as they once did. And since they don't have back-up, Nicole and Carol leave Dani alone. For now.
Sitting in the bleachers during their lunch break, Dani fiddles with the ring on her necklace as she leans back into the V of Billy's parted thighs. He's smoking above her as the rest of their friends sit a few bleachers below them talking and laughing.
"So what's everyone doing for Christmas?" Nancy asks.
"I'm spending it with some family in Georgia," Robin says. "But we'll be back in time for New Year's."
"Mom and Dad are going to be in, and are throwing some fancy Christmas dinner. Unfortunately it's mandatory attendance for all Harrington's." Steve frowns and Billy chuckles at his new friend's misfortune.
"We got family coming in," Nancy says, "so that should be fun."
All eyes then turn on Dani and Billy, and she shrugs. "We don't really do anything on Christmas Day. We celebrate on Christmas Eve. Always have," she says.
"Billy?"
"Christmas Eve will be spent at Dani's, and then Christmas Day with Susan and Neil. He's inviting some old war buddies and we have to put on the act that we're one big happy family."
Steve sighs. "That sucks, man."
"Yeah."
The warning bell rings and the group starts collecting their trash.
On the way down the bleachers, hand in hand, Dani tugs on Billy to grab his attention. "By the way, Christmas Eve is basically another Thanksgiving with the addition of gift giving. Bring two sets of clothes- one set that you wouldn't mind taking a group photo in and the other pajamas."
Billy sighs with relief. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. Your dad's cooking is the best."
Dani laughs and hops off the last bleacher. "Yeah, yeah. Bring Max. Dad got her a couple of gifts too."
"Will do."
Christmas Eve dawns bright and early, but only Dani and Eleven are permitted to sleep in while Nathan heads in for a few hours of work. Dani manages to wrap a few last minute gifts for Eleven's friends to be delivered after lunchtime, and manages to set out the gifts Eleven had received from the Byers' through the mail.
Billy and Max show up just after ten, and it goes to show how often they're over when Max just barges right on in. Billy shouts after her, calling her a crotch goblin with no manners, and it takes everything in Dani to not laugh at her offended expression.
In one hand, Billy has a bag with a few gifts poking out that he holds out towards Dani. "Our gifts to you," he says. "Susan even got something for your dad since he feeds us half the time."
"She didn't have to." Dani takes the bag while leaning up on the tips of her toes to press a quick kiss to his lips. "Mmm. Please tell me you have extra clothes in your car? If I have to wear a dress for pictures later tonight, you're dressing up too."
He grins. "There's a bag in my backseat. Max even brought a few outfits because she wants to see what El's wearing."
"That's fine. What do you say to taking the girls out for lunch? Dad will be home later so we have a lot of time to kill before we have to dress up."
"That sounds good, but afterwards we're taking a nap up in your room."
"Deal."
-X-
Lunch with two young teenage girls is a rather loud affair. Billy seems a bit out of his element, but Dani soaks it all up and only starts to shush them when they garner looks from the wait staff. It seems like every student from Hawkins High is out and about, but Billy and Dani pay them or their queer looks no mind.
When they get back to Dani and Eleven's house, everyone's more than ready to get into the cool house and under toasty blankets. Eleven and Max immediately sprawl on the sofa and recliner, and Dani pulls Billy up to her room.
"Be safe!" Max shouts.
Dani squeaks and misses a stair, and Billy laughs as he steadies her. "Not cool, Maxine!" She shouts back. "And you," she glances over her shoulder, nudging Billy, "shut up. You laughing is only egging them on."
They soon make it to Dani's room- she stepping out of her jeans whereas Billy completely strips down to his boxers before they both crawl into her bed. She then reaches over to set her alarm for an hour before her dad's set to be home and then Billy's quick to tug her down into his side before they both drift off on full stomachs.
When the alarm finally blares and all four occupants are woken, Dani instructs everyone to start getting dressed in their clothes for pictures. And with how Billy is about his hair, and everyone suddenly needing the bathroom at the same time, it takes them nearly the whole hour to be ready.
Nathan soon arrives, chuckling at Billy who's lounging in the living room with a rather put out expression on his face. "Girls getting ready?"
"Yeah." Billy mutes the TV before standing up and walking towards Dani's dad. "Max kicked me out. Told me I couldn't see the finished product until it was picture time."
"Always liked that kid." Billy huffs a laugh and then Nathan gestures up the stairs. "I'm gonna go get ready myself. I'll be right back."
As Billy finds himself drawn to the Christmas tree and it's twinkling lights, Nathan's voice floats down the stairs, followed by Dani's voice, and he finds himself turning when he hears the clicking of heels get louder. When Dani then appears at the bottom of the staircase, Billy seems to inhale in surprise and hold his breath at the sight of his girlfriend.
Outfitted in a dress with the black, long sleeve top fitting like a second a second skin and a Santa Claus printed skirt flaring out to stop just above her knees, Dani grins at the sight of her dumbstruck boyfriend just staring at her. "See something you like, Hargrove?"
He gulps, especially when he realizes his mother's ring still dangling around her neck and sticking out against the black of her top. "Always." The muscles in his arms twitch and Dani's eyes are drawn to it. Billy's in a blue button down tucked into a pair of blue jeans, and it makes her mouth water. And if his sudden smirk is anything to go by, Billy knows exactly what he's doing to his girlfriend. "See something you like, princess?"
"Hardly."
Billy scoffs and then welcomes a giggling Dani in his arms, the two of them sharing a brief kiss. He hums against her mouth. "You're beautiful."
"You think so?" She asks, self consciously smoothing down the skirt of her dress. "I'm not too fond of the outfit."
Grabbing up her hands within his, Billy steps back and raises her left hand to his mouth to kiss her knuckles. He glances down at the skirt, grinning. "Ho, ho, ho."
She snorts and lightly shoves at him. "You're an idiot." Then, "Are you ready to be blinded by the light?"
Before he can answer, the click and flash of camera catches them off guard. Nathan is standing just a few feet away, camera in hand and two beaming girls flanking him. Everyone is well put together and Billy is just grateful they only have to appear like civilized human beings for a few minutes before they can change back into their more comfortable clothes.
"Aright, kiddos, everyone in front of the tree," Nathan says. "Everyone together, and then I want individual shots of Dani and El, and then Billy and Max."
All four groan but quickly plaster on smiles when Nathan raises the camera, they breaking and laughing at how in sync they all were. Nathan snaps pic after pic of them laughing and then posing as instructed. Then having passed over the camera, Billy took pictures of Nathan, Dani, and Eleven, and it took great effort for Nathan to get a single photo of all of them together.
With pictures then out of the way, everyone changed into their sleepwear while Nathan left to pick up some burgers and fries. So while Max and Eleven are chomping at the bit to start opening presents, Dani curls into Billy's side on the sofa while staring at the twinkling Christmas tree.
With his arm wrapped around her shoulders and his thumb rubbing up and down her bare bicep, Dani can't help but let her mind wander. Billy's her first serious boyfriend and while she first thought things with Billy wouldn't have gotten this serious, she's glad they are. After everything they've been through together, she can't picture being with someone who didn't know her like Billy now does.
Billy shifts and hums in content, he drawing Dani even closer and letting his cheek rest atop her head.
"I love you." The words not only surprise her, but they surprise Billy as well. He tenses under her and his thumb ceases all movement. Dani gulps, but let's her mouth continue to spew her thoughts as she keeps her gaze on the tree. "I'm not- I didn't say it in hopes of you saying it back, I'm saying it because it's true and it's been on my mind for quite some time now and right now felt like the perfect time to say it."
"Dani," he sighs. She mentally cringes and her throat immediately feels tight, but she's going to hear him out before jumping to conclusions even though her mind is already whirling with words of rejection. "I'm not great with words or my emotions," he starts, hesitating briefly, "but I like you. A lot. I just- I don't think I'm ready to-"
Somewhat relieved, Dani pulls away in order to look at him. She smiles softly. "I know. Like I said, I didn't say it in hopes of you saying it back. I just wanted you to know where I stand. I am in love with you, Billy Hargrove, and you're stuck with me for as long as you'll have me."
Something in Billy's eyes shine as he flashes her one of his more genuine smiles. He captures her lips in a kiss before pulling back and planting another one on her forehead. "One day, Lewis. One day I'll say it back."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
