"Hey, watch your balls!" Steve yelled, tossing the basketball back from where it landed at his feet. Why he thought putting a hoop back here was a good idea, he'd never figure out. That was probably a concussion decision. But one perk was an excuse for the kids to actually be outside for a while, instead of inside making a mess.

It had been almost a month since the last upside down crisis and things had mostly settled down. The kids had been at his house every weekend, taking advantage of his offer for it to be their new hangout spot. Sometimes they spent the night, sometimes they came for the afternoon, and sometimes they were there all day, only leaving to sleep in their own beds. And Steve had to admit that he loved it. Even when they were playing their weird board game. His house was full in a way that it had never been before.

"Did you really have to say it like that?" Mike huffed, rolling his eyes.

"Did it annoy you?"

"Yeah."

"Then yes," Steve smirked, leaning back in his chair. Mike rolled his eyes again, before jogging back to where the others were shooting around. This was going to be a sleepover night, with a morning trip to the arcade already planned. Will wasn't with them this time, since he had some kind of appointment out of town. And Eleven wasn't either, since Hopper still wasn't letting her out of his cabin. But Steve let Mike use his phone to call her as much as he wanted, now that Hopper had become more lenient with that.

"Let me show you how it's done," Max bragged, snatching the ball from him and shooting it through the hoop with ease. Even though he hadn't really been around the group before Max came along, Steve could tell she was a good addition to it. She wasn't afraid to call them out on their crap, but they also seemed to mature a little bit around her. Being around Nancy had usually made him try to be a better version of himself, before it became more natural.

"I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again. This would be a lot more fun with booze," Billy huffed, plopping down in the chair next to him. He handed Steve one of the root beers he'd grabbed from the kitchen in annoyance, scowling at the innocent bubbles. Steve had forbidden Billy from drinking anytime they hung out, since he didn't want to give Neil any excuse to see him as a bad influence. And he didn't think it would help the kids feel comfortable around the guy if he was pounding alcohol. They still kept their distance, even though Billy was a regular during these weekends as well.

Steve had been pleasantly surprised when they saw each other at school for the first time and Billy was actually friendly to him. They weren't hanging out at their lockers between class or eating lunch together, but Steve also hadn't been shoved to the floor during basketball. The casual head nods in his direction had been enough. Outside of school, he hung out with Billy almost everyday. Whether it be driving around or hanging at one of their houses, pretty much all of Steve's free time included Billy. And more often than not, Max was there as well. The three of them were starting to get closer than he ever was with Tommy and Carol.

"I'm having fun," Steve shrugged, smirking as he took a sip of his drink.

"We're sitting outside at the ass-end of November, watching children throw a ball around. That's your idea of fun?" Billy asked incredulously.

"Yep."

"Unbelievable."

"What's the matter? You cold? It might help if you buttoned up your shirt."

"Staring at my chest again, Harrington?" Billy asked, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag.

"Again?"

"Gonna get me one of those sweaters to drape over my shoulders for Christmas?"

"You wish you could pull one off," Steve scoffed, rolling his eyes. He had started a Christmas list for everyone, but that definitely wasn't on it. Steve shook off his growing excitement at the idea of putting up a tree and loading presents underneath it for everyone. He knew he'd be spending the actual day alone, just like he had Thanksgiving, but they could celebrate on a different day.

"Oh, I have pulled one off," Billy grinned, tipping his head back and staring off into space. "She was a redhead and had a nice pair of-"

"Hey!"

"Eyes. They were green. What did you think I was going to say?" Billy asked in mock innocence.

"Right."

"No need to be so uptight. I know you're going through a dry spell, but I could help you out with that. Make you forget all about Nancy."

"I'm not going through a dry spell, I'm just single. Nothing wrong with that," Steve defended. He was over Nancy, mostly, but that didn't mean he had to start dating right away. Steve was focused on building friendships. Romance could wait.

"Well, let me know if you change your mind. I've got a couple girls I call on from time to time and I'm sure they've got friends who are desperate enough to give you a chance," Billy offered.

"How kind of you."

"I try."

"And so well."

"I'm gonna take you to California this summer. You wouldn't believe the kind of girls out there," Billy said wistfully. Steve took a drink of his root beer to cover up the smile that wanted to break free after hearing that. Billy was making plans for them that far out? Billy thought they would be good enough friends to drive across the country together? It might've just been an offhanded comment, but maybe he was serious. "It sucks that I had to leave while I was in my prime."

"Is there really that big of a difference between girls here and girls there?"

"Once you see a girl on the beach in a bikini, you won't ever have to ask that question again."

"I've been to the beach before."

"A lake in Indiana doesn't count," Billy scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "It's the sun shining while you're roaring down the street in your shiny car with the radio blasting and a girl in the front seat. It's riding a wave just right so it feels like you're flying. You could be whoever you wanted out there."

"You really miss it, huh?" Steve asked.

"Every goddamn second."

"Is that where you're gonna go when you graduate?"

"That was the plan," Billy sighed, flicking his eyes up toward where Lucas was giving Max pointers on how to shoot the basketball.

"You'd stay to look after her?" How had Billy gone from the guy who pretended not to care about his new sister, to someone who would stay in a place he hated, just to keep her safe? Billy didn't answer the question, taking another long drag off his cigarette.

"My body wasn't made for sports. I'm missing too many pieces," Dustin panted, resting his hands on his knees.

"I don't think the gym teacher is going to accept that excuse when it comes to your grade," Lucas pointed out.

"That whole grading system is bullshit. They should take effort into account, not just skill," Dustin grumbled, flinging the ball at the hoop and missing horribly.

"You're doing it wrong," Billy called out. Dustin whipped around and was about to sass back, until he realized who had spoken. None of the kids had really addressed Billy directly this whole time and the same could be said the other way around, save for Max. And Steve had to admit that he was still nervous about them interacting. He was mostly sure that Billy wouldn't be violent with them. Bringing Billy around them wouldn't happen if he wasn't. But he wasn't going to force any of them, especially Lucas, to treat Billy like all was forgiven. Just because Steve had, didn't mean anyone else had to as well.

"What uh- what do you mean?" Dustin asked cautiously.

"You're not holding the ball right. If you grip it too tightly, it's not going to roll off your fingers properly."

"But how am I supposed to hold the ball without holding the ball?"

"Pass it to me," Billy requested, holding up a hand for it. Dustin still looked unsure, but tossed it over, watching in awe as Billy casually made the shot from where he was standing. His cigarette was still dangling off his lip.

"Whoa."

"If you've got a death grip on the ball, you fuck with the angle and velocity. You gotta hold it like you're holding a-" Steve smacked Billy on the leg before he could finish his sentence, shooting him a death glare. "Whatever. Just keep it light."

"Yeah, it's easy," Lucas agreed, taking the ball and making a basket as well.

"Not bad, as long as no one's coming at you," Billy shrugged, catching the ball as it bounced below the hoop. "But wait until you've got three guys barrelling toward you and you've only got half a second to get the ball in the air. Still think it's easy?"

"So what should I do?" Lucas asked. Max tried to hide her smile, even though Steve saw it. It was the first time her "definitely not boyfriend" had said anything to her brother since his apology. Steve really hoped Billy's more aggressive basketball playing tendencies would only be geared toward him. If he heard Billy say anything about planting his feet, Steve would tackle him into the pool.

"You're putting too much weight on your heels. If you need to move, it'll be harder than if you'd been more on the balls of your feet," Billy said, demonstrating by bouncing from foot to foot. Lucas copied his movements, considering Billy's advice.

"That makes sense. Thanks," Lucas replied, smiling a little.

"Trying it on your own is easy. Actually doing it right takes practice. I'm sure Harrington would-"

"Or I could practice with you?" Lucas suggested. Steve was halfway out of his seat when he heard what Lucas said. Even Dustin and Mike froze in the middle of their argument about nerd stuff. It seemed like no one knew what to do for a few seconds. But Billy just passed the ball back to Lucas and started running through a drill like they'd always been doing it. Steve walked over to where Max was watching and nudged her with his elbow.

"Look at your boys getting along," Steve grinned.

"They are not my boys!" Max hissed, socking him in the arm. Steve stumbled back dramatically, clutching his injured limb.

"Dustin, code red! I'm under attack!" Steve shouted.

"That doesn't meet the requirements to justify a code red. Don't abuse the system!" Dustin called back, returning to his discussion with Mike.

"It would suck if I was unable to set up the nacho bar I had planned for dinner because of my wounds."

"Step away from him, Max!" Dustin demanded, pulling Mike along to defend Steve now that something he cared about was at stake. Steve laughed as the kids chased each other around the yard, using him as a barrier occasionally. Everyone was getting along and the last little bit of awkwardness felt like it had completely melted away. Things still weren't perfect in the Hargrove household, but Max and Billy were being shown that they had people who cared about them and a place they would be safe.

Steve didn't realize how important this safe haven would be for them until a few days later, when everything changed.