February 1987

If Andy was forced to make a pick as to who was a better planner between her and Eddie, she would, without a doubt, pick herself. That, however, would have been the case a week ago. Now, with Eddie being in command and the main planner of their weekend getaway, she would have to admit that she might have been wrong. He may not be a better planner than she was, but he sure as hell wasn't bad, not by any means.

Out of literally fucking nowhere, he decided to suggest a weekend trip to Fort Wayne, and Andy was so taken by surprise, she agreed immediately. He insisted that he had it all planned out and that she should just enjoy and relax and frankly, nothing sounded better than that. While she made a point to lessen the workload she had in and around Hawkins, she was still working much more than she wanted to. Andy knew, deep down, that she needed some time off, and while a weekend trip to Fort Wayne wouldn't ever cross her mind, the idea of spending three full days with Eddie sounded like… utter heaven, really.

Even the road trip part of it all seemed amazing. They were having fun on their drive, stopping for gas and more snacks, all the while singing along to some of their favorite tunes. Eddie, ever the gentleman, let her pick the music but Andy, ever the loving girlfriend, made sure to include just enough metal to know that she wasn't going to monopolize his stereo.

It was a whole new side of them, and their relationship, that they were discovering. Eddie was telling her about how Wayne, and sometimes even his dad, would take him on trips to Fort Wayne and it didn't escape Andy's notice that it was one of the few times that Eddie had mentioned his father. She knew the broad strokes - he was in jail, having been a petty criminal one too many times. Eddie's mother left years ago, hammering home the point that the only reliable family member Eddie had was his uncle. Andy understood what it felt like to not be particularly wanted by their closest family member, but she was also very much aware of the differences. Her parents just didn't care, but they very much existed and still provided her with opportunities Eddie never had. Everything Eddie had, he created either himself or with the help of his uncle and knowing that only made Andy admire them both even more.

Andy talked about the vacations she had with her parents and Steve, and it was baffling how different her experience was from Eddie's. The Harringtons always went to known places with fancy hotels, with Andy having gone to Hawaii twice. Her holidays had all the luxury that Eddie's road trips didn't, but they lacked personality, and the only reason she wasn't completely alone was that she had a twin brother. Their parents would go and have their tennis lessons, or have brunch with potential business partners and their wives, while Steve and Andy were left to their own devices. And granted, as far as places go, luxury hotels were a pretty cool place to be left without parental supervision, but while she and Eddie compared their childhoods, Andy was once again proven that grass was indeed always greener on the other side.

Eddie would have lost his shit at an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, and Andy would have gladly exchanged it for a chance to go fishing with her dad, despite knowing that in that hypothetical situation, they likely wouldn't even have anything to talk about. Andy would, though. If only her father would have been willing to listen.

"Wait, wait, Eddie," Andy reached out to stop him. "Stand there and turn a bit to the side - the lighting is really good," she instructed him, going with the little knowledge of photography she had. Even as a complete amateur, she knew a good frame when she saw one.

"What, here?" Eddie frowned in confusion, looking around him. "Andy, this is just… aloe vera. Why would you? You know what, never mind," he gave up, standing next to a potted plant as if it was the most important sight they'd seen that day. And, in a way, it was. Fort Wayne wasn't exactly a hot tourist spot, so the Botanical Conservatory was at the very top of their list of places to see. Eddie took it like a champ, posing next to aloe vera, even doing the thing where he pretended like he wasn't aware that there was a camera pointed at him.

"Perfect," Andy smiled up at him, despite having no idea if the photograph will end up being as good as she hoped it would. "Let's see what's in the next greenhouse, yeah?"

February was hardly an ideal time to visit botanical gardens, but it was either that or aimless hiking, and they're gonna go for aimless hiking the next day. The few plants that were in bloom were gorgeous, and Andy appreciated Eddie's patience, as he waited for her whenever she stopped to read the little cards next to the plants. It was not his area of interest, and frankly, it wasn't Andy's either, but it was fun - something new, definitely.

"You know, I could think of more interesting things to do with that camera," Eddie casually whispered in her ear, even though they were very literally the only people in the greenhouse.

Andy laughed, shaking her head immediately. "Yeah, not happening. I borrowed it from Jonathan, and I have no fucking clue how to develop photos, so if you don't want him to see whatever it is that you came up with in that head of yours, I'd think of a plan B."

"Alright," Eddie pouted, having obviously had a not-so-PG-13 idea on his mind. "Once we're done with this place though, should we go somewhere for lunch? I'm sure there are a couple of nice restaurants nearby."

Andy wanted to argue that she would be more than happy with McDonald's, but they have already had that conversation - Eddie was adamant that he doesn't know what the hell to do with all the government hush money, and he wanted to spend it on their little vacation. The only reason why Andy gave in was that she was fully aware that no matter how much money they spent over the weekend, it wouldn't even make a dent in the account. She would urge him to invest in stocks some other time.

They had lunch, checked into a hotel, and spent the rest of the afternoon and the whole night tangled up in bed. They were talking and laughing, making fun of what a disaster they would have been if they tried dating back in school. They talked about what they wanted to do in life, and what they wanted to do before everything had changed.

Sometimes their ideas and dreams would overlap, and other times they couldn't be more different, but as Andy listened to him talk, and as she answered any question he sent her way, she imagined that it wouldn't be that hard to find a way to make it happen with him.

It was soon, far too soon, but it was a nice note to be kept in the back of her mind.


Having never been a particularly outdoorsy person, Andy never really sought out hobbies that would include spending an extended amount of time in nature. When Eddie had suggested hiking, she obliged, thinking that he must have had some interest in it. Granted, he never really seemed like an outdoorsy person himself, but there were still parts of him that Andy was familiarizing herself with.

For example, Eddie had a habit of being dressed down during the day - while Andy was wrapped up in a warm coat, he was perfectly fine in just a leather jacket. But at night, he would cover himself in as many blankets as he could find. He loved pickles, but he hated them in burgers - any other food, pickles were more than welcome, but they need to be miles away from his burgers. He wrote quite a lot, both poetry and prose, but didn't share any of it with anyone, not even Andy - it was all kept in his precious notebooks. Day after day, Andy uncovered another part of his personality and more often than not, she found it endearing.

So, she simply figured, Eddie was totally into hiking and wanted to bring her into his hobby. She asked no questions, simply along for the ride.

As it turned out, Eddie was not into hiking and he wasn't particularly into the outdoors, either. He suggested it because he thought Andy might enjoy it and because Fort Wayne was, apparently, known for its many hiking trails.

They laughed at their own idiocy and inability to communicate - simply checking if the other one is into the plans they were making would have spared them, but it was too late to turn by then, so they picked an easier trail, opting for a walk, and not a proper hike.

Hand in hand, the two walked around, the conversation somehow going back to Hawkins and all the many times that they've nearly missed one another. Like when Hellfire club met up on Fridays, and just two hours before that, Andy's drama club was finished with their rehearsal, in the very same area of the school. They must have bypassed each other so many times, without even realizing it, and looking back at it then, it made them laugh.

"Do you think," Eddie started, and Andy could already tell that whatever he said next would be interesting. "If by some miracle, I've had the balls to ask you out when we were in school, you would have said yes?"

"Honestly, I can't say," Andy admitted after thinking about it for a moment too long. "I did always think you were attractive, even if I wouldn't classify you as the type of dude I was into back then."

"Thanks?" Eddie laughed awkwardly.

"It's not an insult - I had tragic taste," Andy elaborated. "The thing was, most of my high school years were intertwined with Jared or being too pissed at all men in general. So you would have to pick the perfect timing, and I'm not sure if that would have been doable."

"I get what you mean," Eddie admitted, squeezing her hand a little bit harder. "We would have ended up being a fucking disaster if we met at the wrong time. You were bitter and I was an asshole who cared more about showing off than anything else. Even if we were to end up entangled, chances are that it would have ended horribly."

"That, and unfortunately, we had to trauma bond," Andy reminded him. "It wasn't fun by any means, but it made us understand one another in ways we never would be able to have we not faced all the shit that we had to face."

"You fucking hated my ass even then," Eddie laughed.

"I did not!" Andy was immediately defensive. "I never hated you! I was pissed at the whole situation and how our odds were worse than they usually were, and they were never good. You nearly murdering my brother didn't help. I know, I know, self-defense," she added before Eddie had a chance to interrupt. "Shit happened and we handled it, and in the aftermath, we found each other. Wasn't the ideal journey but it seems like an ideal ending, doesn't it?"

"I don't think I could ever describe something as ideal until you showed up," Eddie's words make Andy blush, and before she could stop herself, she interrupts them mid-walk to hug him. Eddie reciprocates the hug immediately, holding her tightly as he gently swayed them side to side. It was one of the most perfect moments that they'd experienced so far, and Andy kept her mouth shut, knowing that saying anything, literally anything, would ruin it.

Eddie must have felt it too, as he didn't say a single thing either. Wordlessly, and still hand in hand, they continued on their walk, not speaking up until it was time to decide where they're gonna go for dinner.


"I don't want this weekend to end."

The thought had been on Andy's mind since the first night, but tomorrow morning, they will have to check out of the hotel, grab a quick breakfast and start their drive back to Hawkins to make sure they're ready for what Monday will bring.

Andy didn't want to leave. If she could, she would have stayed in Fort Wayne with Eddie forever. Or anywhere else, really. Being away from Hawkins had given them a freedom that Eddie had never experienced and Andy has, but in a much less healthy setting.

Being able to walk around town without catching any dirty looks, without anyone recognizing them, was eye-opening. Holding hands wherever they went was a given, and it was not something that they could do back home. These two days alone were a very different experience, one that only solidified Andy's never-ending desire to once again leave Hawkins.

Except that time around, she had hoped that she wouldn't be alone when leaving.

It was too soon, stupidly soon - they didn't even have two full months of a relationship behind them. Suggesting something like that, leaving Hawkins and leaving it together, would be idiotic. Hawkins was all that Eddie had ever known, even if living there wasn't the most comfortable experience. And Andy worried that pushing their relationship too fast would be a nail in their coffin. She had faith in him, and in them as a couple, but doing too much too soon could leave a mark, no matter how stable it all was. It was scary and she wasn't ready to suggest it, but she sure as hell hoped that a time will come when it will be right to do so.

"Me neither," Eddie admitted, pulling her closer to him as he did so. Nothing made Andy happier than realizing that Eddie was a cuddler. Simply put, she enjoyed the post-sex cuddling and making out just as much as she enjoyed the actual sex, which was saying something. Eddie was so attentive, so careful and so fucking passionate, he would leave her speechless, no matter how many times they slept together. "We could stay here longer?"

"Babe, we couldn't," Andy mumbled sadly, not wanting to be the rain that ruins their parade. "We gotta be back on Monday. But, we can totally do this more often. Very often."

"I like that idea," Eddie smiled at the thought, turning his head for a quick peck. "We could go to a different town every weekend, you know. We don't even have to stay in Indiana, would you like to go to a different state? We could totally go to Illinois or something?"

"Um, maybe not Illinois," Andy frowned at the idea. "I love Chicago, and I think you'd love it, too, but I'd rather not be in the same town with my parents."

"We wouldn't have to see them if you don't want to," Eddie suggested. "I mean, it's not like I was expecting a family dinner with a formal introduction of me as your boyfriend."

"Good god," Andy laughed at the thought of it. "I'd like to say that it would be a shocker, that it would kill them on the spot, but somehow I think they'd see it as entirely on brand of me to end up with a man that was once wanted for murder."

Eddie laughed, and Andy was glad - whenever she mentioned his earlier predicament, even if it was in a joking manner, she'd hold her breath, hoping that she didn't trigger a traumatic memory. It certainly wasn't a happy one, but Eddie was at the point where he could at least laugh at the irony of it all.

"Whoo-weee, I wasn't the type of guy to bring home to the parents before, but after last year…" he joked, his face expressing just how awkward would it be to meet a girl's parents if they were aware, like Andy's were, that he was once wanted for multiple murders. Exonerated, yes, but still wanted at one point.

"Well, I'd say it's your lucky day, as your girlfriend happens to not give a single shit what her parents think about anything, really," Andy reminded him with a smirk. Eddie knew damn well that it would take a lot more than parental disapproval to get her away from him.

"I won't argue about this being my lucky day, but I can think of so many other reasons," he was grinning like a fool, wiggling his eyebrows at Andy. She laughed at him, and at his stamina, given how she barely even had the chance to recover from the last round.

"Oh, really?" she giggled. "What else do you think you're lucky for?"

"Can I be honest?" Eddie asked, oddly serious given his previous teasing behavior.

"I will settle for nothing else," replied Andy immediately. "Always be honest. Always."

"I'm not quite sure, you know," Eddie started, and despite rolling around so that he ended up on top of her, he looked away, his eyes focused on Andy's chin or neck, and not her eyes. "It's not easy to say it like this, as it feels like I'm half-assing it, and it's hardly romantic, but I've never felt it before, so I'm second guessing it, but on the other hand, I've never been more certain of anything, really."

"Eddie, whatever it is, just say it," Andy gently urged him, worried about the way he was very clearly troubled. She hated seeing him like that.

"It's just that… I'm pretty damn sure that I love you," he took a deep breath, slowly looking up and making eye contact with Andy. "I just thought you should know that."

It hurt Andy, how much she understood him. Love was something she equated to friends, more than anyone else. Not even family, apart from Steve, of course. It was an emotion that was always close, always within reach of her hands, but never quite there. And there were a few times when she thought she'd had it, that she had felt it and understood what it had meant, only to realize that she was wrong. Love had eluded her, making her completely understand just what Eddie was saying.

And much like him, she was pretty darn sure that she had felt it, too. She felt it in the way she worried about him, in how often he crossed her mind, even before they admitted their attraction to one another. It was there, first in traces, then slowly growing, only to get to the point of becoming so overwhelming, they weren't even sure if calling it love was accurate.

They'd never felt it before, and now they were both feeling it, all at once.

"I have this… overwhelmingly warm feeling in my chest whenever I wake up and you are the first thing I see," Andy slowly started, choosing her words carefully, wanting to do her feelings, and Eddie by extension, justice. "And if I wake up in my own bed, without you by my side, you are the first thought that crosses my mind. When I go to sleep, it is either in your arms, or in dissatisfaction 'cause you're not there, right next to me. Love is a weird emotion for me. Romantic love might just be entirely unfamiliar, if I'm being honest. But what I'm trying to say here is that I'm pretty sure that I love you, too."

It wasn't ideal, both of them knew it, but it was the best they could do. And given what they have been through, they both knew how much it meant. Opening up to others was never easy for Andy, and as she had come to learn, it wasn't easy for Eddie, either. The fact that they were both willing, both hearts and arms wide open, to welcome each other into their world and every single part of their lives… it was real, and it meant a lot.

"I don't know if I know how to be loved," Eddie's voice was quiet, almost as if he is ashamed of the confession. And he was feeling that way through no fault of his own.

"You do, Eddie," Andy reassured him, from a source she herself wasn't sure of. 'I know so' was never a good enough explanation, but she was sure of it. "And if by chance, you don't, I will make sure you learn how to. Because, just so you know, between me and you, I plan on loving you a whole lot."

Eddie looked like a heartbroken man. It wasn't the effect Andy wanted to elicit, but she understood and didn't hesitate as she reached out and caressed his cheek, smiling when he leaned into her touch. "You were always better at words than I was."

"Words, shmords," Andy shrugged. "You're good with actions and you make me feel like I'm on top of the world. And believe it or not, you make me feel safe. There are no words that could ever replicate the security of that feeling. So, deal with it. I plan to love and I feel loved."

"I'm pretty fucking sure that you're the best fucking thing that ever happened to me, Andrea."

"And yet he says he's bad with words…"

Andy kissed him as hard as she could, pouring out every single emotion she held within her. Eddie reciprocated, gladly, happily, as the two returned right back to getting to know every inch of each other. They smiled, they laughed, they whispered weighted confessions, and made love, right until neither could keep their eyes open any longer.


Being back in Hawkins was the very definition of a double-edged sword.

On one hand, Andy was high on the joys of the weekend behind her; she was so stupidly happy, no one and nothing could wipe the smile off her face. She and Eddie got to experience a freedom they'd never had before, and even the memory of that was enough to bring on a new wave of happiness.

There was never a doubt in her mind that deciding to try with Eddie was the right choice, but their little getaway was just a confirmation that yes, it was the right thing to do and yes, despite some surface-level confusion, they were good for each other.

As far as Andy was concerned, and she was pretty certain, Eddie too, they were just right. And if anyone had a problem with that… well, it would simply be their problem.

On the other hand, being in Hawkins was a cold shower, as it was a reminder that they no longer had the freedom they yearned for. Yes, the memory of the open hand-holding and public kisses was lovely, but they couldn't have that anymore. And it sucked.

Andy knew that they would be brave enough to do it one day, but when? When? When?!

"You'd think that by now, they'd find someone else to do this," Nancy complained as she reached over to unhook some of the Christmas lights; Andy stood next to her ladder, carefully folding the strings into perfect circles so that whatever poor bastard has to decorate Hawkins next year, won't have to struggle with untangling them as they did. "It seems to me that the only people in town actually working are never the ones giving actual orders."

"Nance, did it really take you this long to figure it out?" Robin asked, diving out of the box in which she was carefully folding the strings Andy would hand her, once sorted. "We're their own little puppets. Dance monkey, dance," the girl sounded annoyed, and Andy couldn't blame her. Her patience for everything Hawkins was on a dangerous low.

"Bitch central, five o'clock," Andy warned them, noticing out of the corner of her eye that a bunch of Hawkins Housewives were nearby. The last thing any of them needed was a bunch of middle-aged women hearing them being shit-talked. "They could at least leave us alone to do all of this, I don't need someone watching me like a hawk while I fold fucking Christmas lights," she grunted under her breath.

"Is it them, or do all three of us have severe anger issues?" Nancy wondered out loud.

"You're the one with guns in her bedroom, you tell us," Robin joked.

"Hey! They were, and continue to be, a necessity," Nancy bit back, but there was laughter in her tone. Despite the anger issues and Hawkins Housewives following their every move, Andy was glad to have some girl time with her friends. With everything with Eddie being so new, fresh, and overwhelming in the best way possible, she found herself missing just having time with Nancy and Robin alone. There was always someone else there, usually Steve, sometimes Eddie or Jonathan, and any of the kids that were nearby. It was nice to have some time, just the three of them, joking and complaining, and jokingly complaining.

"I could think of a few uses of said guns," Andy joked, subtly nodding to the ladies behind them - both Robin and Nancy picked up on her insinuation, and they both laughed.

"Not even Hop could get you away from bodily harm lawsuits, keep it in, Harrington," Robin nudged her with her shoulder, laughing. "And speaking of keeping it in…"

"Robin!" Andy snapped, laughing, already knowing who Robin had clocked from her peripheral. And sure enough, Andy turned around to face the direction Robin was looking in, just in time to see Eddie exiting his van.

"You literally have actual love oozing out of you when you look at him," Nancy laughed.

"Oh, shut up, Byers," Andy rolled her eyes. "Like you don't look at Jonathan like he's your own personal hero."

"I mean, he did save my life a few times," Nancy joked.

"So did all of us, but yet…" Andy teased her. "Anyway, shut up, I'm not ready for the whole world to know that I would gladly kill for that man."

"Again with the bodily harm," Robin laughed. "You need to take up boxing, or something."

"Oh, I'm sure she has other ways of getting rid of excess energy."

"Any tips on that, Nancy?" Andy gave her friend a heavenly and very much fake smile, but the moment it melted, all three of them burst into giggles. Right on time for Eddie to approach, too, as he beelined directly for the three of them.

Well, Andy. He went directly to her. Even when she wasn't looking at him, she could feel his eyes on her, and she could swear that he was smiling. The moment they made eye contact, she couldn't help but smile, too, and subtly, she took a few steps away from the girls to greet him, as she wasn't sure if he wanted the crowd or not.

"Hey, you."

"Hey yourself," he smiled, and before Andy could realize what was happening, he leaned into her. With a hand on her shoulder, he leaned in for a kiss, and in what could only be described as a moment of pure panic, Andy turned her head to the side, making their would-be kiss into a kiss on the cheek. She didn't want to do it, it was the last thing she wanted to do, but she knew that they were being watched. She hated it, and she hated it even more so when she saw the look of surprise and a flash of hurt on Eddie's face.

"I'm so sorry babe," she quickly mumbled. "The hags are here," she nodded towards the group that was staring them down, hoping that they wouldn't notice it. "They can't know, not yet, not when they would go around and spew all kinds of bullshit."

It was too little, too late, and Andy knew it. While Eddie could understand her reasoning, it didn't erase the fact that he was momentarily rejected. Andy wanted nothing more than to grab his hand, hug him, kiss him for the whole world to see, and remind him how much she cared for him, but she couldn't.

They would never let him hear the end of it. Living in Hawkins was hell for him already, and she didn't want to make it any worse. Except, looking at his face, she realized she might have. If only she spoke before acting, if only she had warned him sooner…

"Yeah, no, I totally get it," he forced a smile - if Andy could clearly tell it was forced, it meant a great lot of effort went into it. Sure, he did understand it, but it didn't make it any less painful. It even hurt Andy to watch, especially knowing she was the cause of it. "We need to keep it on the down low and all of that."

"Eddie, it's for your own good," she reminded him gently, keeping her voice down and hoping that her eyes conveyed the sincerity of her words. "I love you. And I want to show it, but more than that, I want you to be safe."

"One of these days, we're gonna have to talk about me being able to fend for myself," he told her, and there was just a smidge of annoyance behind his voice. Even then, he didn't have it in him to be angry at her, and somehow, that made it even worse. "But I get it. I do."

"I'm sorry," Andy repeated, fighting the urge to grab a hold of his hand. "Let's do something fun tonight, yeah? I have a few movies still at my place. I can make us some popcorn, we can pretend to watch a movie while doing other stuff?"

"Yeah, sounds good," he agreed, and that time, his smile was a little more genuine. It wasn't quite there, and it will definitely eat away at Andy for a long time, but it was better than him saying he didn't want anything to do with her. "I'll stop by when we're done with work."

"Okay. I love you," she added, mouthing the words to him.

"You'd better," he smiled, only offering Nancy and Robin a nod before walking away.

If the two of them heard any part of their exchange, they said nothing. And Andy owed them for it, because it was bad enough in her own head. She will have to work long and hard to repay him for this, because if it hurt her, she could only imagine what it did to him.