Happily Ever After

by ishiptoast

"Hopper, what does marry mean?" "Well, it's something people do when they really love each other and want to spend their lives together." He sees the twinkle in his daughter's eye and hurries to add further clarifications. "But ONLY when those two people are adults and are mature enough to do so." Or, the one where El learns about marriage over the course of her life.

2. 1985

1985

Mike and El are watching a movie, cuddling on the couch by the Christmas tree. El tries to really appreciate this moment, given that her moments with Mike are rare thanks to her living in California and him being here in Hawkins. Sure she got to see him last month for Thanksgiving, but even a month without seeing him felt like torture. She leans closer into his chest, ignoring the movie and focusing instead on the sound of his heart beat. It isn't long till someone is shaking her arm, her eyes fluttering open when she realizes she must have fallen asleep. She curses, mad at herself for wasting this precious time together. Mike doesn't seem upset though, just smiles at her and says he has something for her.

A present, she thinks gleefully. Eleven LOVED presents. To her they were something she could hold onto, something to remind her of her friends and Hawkins and everything she missed. She had dozens of pictures of Mike back home in her box mixed with the letters he wrote to her, and she loved them more than she could express. She loved giving presents too, and the beautifully framed picture of the two of them together was handed to him as soon as she walked through the door.

When Mike pulls out the nicely decorated box tied with a ribbon, El doesn't waste a second to open it. Inside is a simple but beautiful gold ring, with a red gem glistening on it. El's heart starts pounding. "You…you got me a ring?" she asks, eyes open wide. Mike smiles at her, clearly nervous if the red on his cheeks is any indication.

"Yeah, it's called a promise ring. I thought it would be nice to get you something so you could always remember me, and know that I'm always thinking about you," he explained as his blush deepened. "It's a promise that no matter what happens, I'll be there for you."

Now the blush is deep on El's face too. She puts the ring on her finger and admires it. She knows this isn't the same as an engagement ring, when the promise being made is even deeper, but this feels like an important first step. And El can't help but think that she likes the feeling of Mike's ring on her finger.

"It's perfect," she says, leaning over to kiss him.