The day Eddie thought would never come had finally came for him today, graduation. He was getting himself ready at the trailer before he would meet with Nicole. She was a huge part of him graduating this year; the other was his own determination and stubbornness. Uncle Wayne walked into his room to see Eddie had put on the dark green graduation robes and cracked a very happy smile.

"I'm glad this day is finally here Eddie. You worked so hard for this and you deserve this just like everyone else." Uncle Wayne praised.

Eddie looked to face his uncle after fixing his hair in the mirror. A smile came on his face and fiddled with the cap in his hand. It felt foreign, this cap in his hands, he was actually going to walk the stage and get his diploma.

"Yeah…I was a little worried if this year wouldn't be my year and if I were to disappoint you. I wanted this so much and not just to give Principal Higgins the bird when getting my diploma. I mean you've done a lot for me ever since I was the small kid coming to your place since I had no one and no where else to go. I mean…I love ya Uncle Wayne and I didn't want you to see me as a mistake or failure."

Uncle Wayne pulled his nephew into a hug and held him in place. He squeezed him gently and couldn't help but chuckle in joy. His nephew was just like any other guy no matter how he looked, dressed, and what he did for fun. He looked into Eddie's eyes when he pulled away and saw the same nervous yet gentle brown eyes from all those years ago when he was a kid. Eddie wasn't a bad kid and it might have taken him longer to graduate, but graduating is what he will be doing today.

"You're not a failure or a mistake. Never think that about yourself, it's not what a rock star is supposed to think is it?" he mused.

Eddie chuckled at that but also his eyes lit up and he actually felt a sense of warmth brimming in him.

"You really think I'm going to make it Uncle Wayne, you know being a rock star and having Corroded Coffin be one of the best bands?

Wayne smiled at that and nodded. He had been to the Hideout once before Nicole's injuries and they were incredible. They had such great synergy and good compositions in their music playing that Wayne was confident his nephew was going to have a good music career.

"You will Eddie, I have all the hope in the world for you. Now let's go over to Adam's so you can see Nicole before graduation." he told his nephew warmly.

They got into Uncle Wayne's beat up car and they drove to Uncle Adam's. When they got to the doorbell Simone was the one to answer the door. She smiled a bit when she saw Eddie in his robe and asked,

"How does it feel to be in those robes?"

"Like I am a mother fucking wizard and very good actually thanks. I'm guessing your Uncle is already starting on photos?" Eddie chatted.

Simone nodded as she let him and Uncle Wayne in.

They saw Uncle Adam clicking away on the camera with Nicole and Robin as his focus. Both women were in their robes and Nicole was getting a little red in the face with each passing one.

"P-Please can we stop?" Nicole managed to croak weakly.

Her voice was on the mend which was the biggest hope for everyone, especially Eddie. Uncle Adam was about to stop when he heard Uncle Wayne call out,

"Hey Adam. Get a couple with my boy as well. I need some photos as well."

Nicole groaned weakly as Eddie ran to her and twirled her in his arms. Uncle Adam took the opportunity to snap photos of the pair together and Nicole was blushing.

"H-Hey." she stammered.

Eddie chuckled and kissed her cheek before pulling away to look over Nicole. Her hair was done in lovely waves, her neck still had minor bandaging to protect her neck wounds, her green robe was oddly flattering on her and she still wore the ring he had 'proposed' to her with.

"Hi yourself, rest your voice since I need it for the sheer hilarity and laughs when I storm off after flipping off Higgins." Eddie told her.

"Great, glad I am getting my diploma before you two love sick and chaotic minds. But I can see it making some of the people laugh." Robin expressed with a hint of sass.

Eddie nodded and shifted his attention to Robin. They hugged for a small bit before all three of them turned their attention to Uncle Adam so he could get a few more photos to preserve the day. Robin couldn't help at Nicole and Eddie doing 'devil' horns for a photo and she joined in for one of the shots as well. She was glad all of them would be graduating and that she would be a part of Nicki's family in the future. Once he was done, he gave them and Simone a moment to chat before they all needed to get to the high school for the ceremony.

"So the day of reckoning is upon us. I'm almost sad this day has come." Eddie shared with everyone.

Nicole rolled her eyes and exclaimed with a weak laugh,

"Bullshit!"

Eddie snorted at that and nodded in agreement.

"Yeah I'm not sorry to be leaving this place…well okay not sorry to leave high school. But I will miss the Hellfire Club, performing at the Hideout, Uncle Wayne…but changes will be coming and that means moving on to hopefully better things."

Simone lightly smiled as she placed her hands gently on Robin's shoulders. Eddie knew about Simone and Robin now and he gave them a warm little smile.

"You two will be going off to college together, sharing a dorm?" he asked playfully.

Simone shot a light glare but Robin laughed a tad.

"Uh yeah we are actually. It would make the most sense. We both got music scholarships to Indiana University so that was awesome! Still need to figure out what I will do but I have a bit of time. Least I won't be at it alone will I Simone?"

Simone smiled and bent down to kiss Robin's cheek.

"No, no you won't Robin. We will back each other up, just like I hope Eddie and Nicole will back each other up. I might not like the fact you're not going off to college but you should have a chance at your dream." Simone told the pair.

Nicole sighed and got the notepad from the coffee table and jotted down her thoughts since she needed to rest her voice and not strain her vocals.

Eddie and I are going to give the band three years; if we still don't make any progress in that time, we will go to college and figure something else out. However we can't just not try it sis.

Simone nodded and glanced at Eddie and her sister. They've been through so much coming to Hawkins together and even before that; it was going to be strange and hurt a bit that they would be going off in different directions.

"You're going to keep in touch sis. I want to know what happens and if the band makes it big, Robin and I want tickets."

"And not just any old tickets, like backstage, VIP, all access passes since we knew you from the very beginning, especially if you are using my logo Eddie." Robin told them.

"But of course. Everyone whose part of our little group and family will be on the VIP list no questions. After all, you all were there when people were thinking I was a murderer even though clearly I was not. You're not just friends, but family and…man it's going to be bittersweet today." Eddie commented.

Nicole nodded and kissed his cheek lovingly.

"Yes but let's focus on the sweeter part. Graduation here we go!" she exclaimed.

Everyone arrived at the school and they went inside the auditorium. Simone sat in the audience with Steve and Uncle Adam beside her. Steve glanced over at Simone and smiled.

"Nancy's been looking forward to this. I was up with her last night to help with her speech but who knows what version she's going to read."

Simone looked at Steve and he seemed to be in a cheerful spirit. They were always going to be friends despite the brief dating history they had shared. However something seemed to be different with Steve ever since they took down Vecna together.

"Nancy being the valedictorian is a good thing. She's going to give a wonderful speech and I know it will be from her heart."

Steve agreed,

"Yeah it sure will. She's just that kind of person; strong but can be kind when she needs to be. Sometimes you just meet someone and at the time you thought they were the one. If it's meant to be despite all the obstacles, fights, and all the other bullshit…people can return to each if it's meant to be."

Simone listened and her eyes widened a tad.

"You and Nance?"

Steve cracked a faint smile as the ceremony began. He looked up to see Nancy in golden robes on stage, shifting a little nervously waiting to give her speech. She notice him lightly and a smile soon grace her apprehensive face. If she could shoot monsters of demonic natures with a gun, this would be no trouble, especially since Steve was in the audience for her. While Steve would love more than anything to just resume a relationship, he knew Nancy seemed time.

"No not yet…she did break up with Jonathon though. The time apart kind of made them different people. He was overwhelmed and felt like he needed to hang around Hawkins since they are moving back now, him and his family. Jonathan doesn't want them to be like his parents and doesn't want her to resent them. He wants to do community college and Nancy has these big university dreams. Their end was amicable but Nancy needs time to mend from the break up. I can understand that since I've been there…with her ironically. So she can take her time and I'm not going to be the asshole like she first met me two or three years ago. I want things slow, genuine, heartfelt, and when she's ready it will be an evolution of what we had. I might move with her and I will transfer to a Family Video there and start going to a community college to start. I will do anything if it means bettering myself and for me to have a shot with Nancy again."

Simone took his hand and squeezed it gently in support.

"I wish you all the best Steve. You deserve happiness too and if it's meant to be, it will be meant to be….just be sure she's really sure with your six kid dream since she will be the one to have them in the end."

Steve chuckled but nodded at the graduation ceremony as it commenced. Principal Higgins started by allowing Nancy to give her speech to the graduating class of 1986 as the valedictorian. Steve clapped a little too eagerly and cheered a little loudly, in which Simone had to calm him with a small chuckle. Nancy smiled as she got up to the podium and she got her speech ready. She looked out into the crowd and was able to see Robin, Eddie, Nicole, and Jonathon among the graduating students. Nancy took a deep breath and shared her speech.

"Thank you Principal Higgins for allowing me to speak to the graduates of 1986, some of which are dear friends of mine. We all made it and for that this deserves celebration. However, we are well aware of what we are going through at this very moment in time. As we pass through this threshold and into our future, there are many things that are growing through our minds. What is it that we want to accomplish in our lives? Are we going to end up like our parents and be back at Hawkins or will we be better than they are? Is there any way to know if what we want will truly make us happy or are we simply aiming for that for the comforts of conformity?

We are going to face challenges, obstacles, fears, and perhaps so low points as we go onto our chosen paths; but we have to face them. As all those fears and challenges look us in the eye, we shall tackle them head on with the support of those who came before us, the friends we made and will make along the way, and the potential smiles of those we will influence and inspire in our future.

Even those we had lost this year, they too will be with us in spirit as we venture on the path to adulthood. As I stand before you I see our future teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists…perhaps even a few rock stars that will be the next big thing; but we all have dreams that will help us to climb higher, make us stronger, and to achieve what we so desire. So take risks, make some mistakes, don't be afraid to back down from what you want since you're your own advocate of your dreams, goals, and life you want to have. We have just one life so let's make it count as we graduate as the class of 86. Once again, congratulations fellow graduates, we did it and no one can and should take that away from us! Congratulations, we did and this year is our year!"

Everyone clapped at Nancy's speech and it truly was an inspiring and hopeful one, especially to her friends that will be graduating and of course Steve and Simone who were watching from the audience. Nancy sat back down at her seat on stage as graduation continued. Many other teachers spoke until the moment that everyone waited for had arrived, the handing of diplomas. There were more cheers when Jonathon and Robin received theirs from their families and their friends who endured Vecna with them and that made them both feel good. Nicole was nervous but she looked down at her ring and she felt herself calm as she waited on the line of students to get their diploma.

"Nicole Lowell." Principal Higgins called.

Nicole smiled as she walked on stage and she could hear loud cries from Dustin, Mike, and her sister from the audience as well as of course Robin and Eddie. She smiled as she went up to Principal Higgins and shook his hand. When she got to her diploma, she shot the hand with her diploma up in the air and exclaimed as much as she could,

"Victory is mine!"

She ran off stage in a small fit of laughter but didn't return to her seat. She hung to the side of the stage waiting for Eddie. Principal Higgins didn't bother to have anyone get Nicole since it was a harmless exclamation of joy. Nicole smiled once Principal Higgins finally called,

"Edward Munson."

Of course Jeff and Gareth chanted Eddie's name along with Dustin, Lucas, and Mike as Eddie walked on stage to get his diploma. He gave a small bow to the crowd before walking his way to Principal Munson. Higgins reluctantly and slowly gave Eddie his diploma. As Eddie had told the Hellfire members, he looked Principal Higgins right in the eye as he took the diploma in his hands, gave him the bird and he ran like hell off the stage yelling,

"I'm fucking free bitches!"

He ran to Nicole, took her hand, and they both ran like hell out of the school with perhaps a teacher following behind to stop them. They lost the teacher rather quickly and made it to their spot in the forest with the picnic tables. Both were a bit out of breath but still chuckling at the spectacle Eddie did. Nicole smiled softly at him and kissed his lips. Eddie kissed back and he was brimming with pride. He'd graduated and he was going to soon travel with Nicole and the band (thanks to Gareth taking a GED and passing) to make it as rock stars. Nicole pulled away as they unrolled their diplomas and smiled proudly at them.

"Well done Edward." Nicole lightly teased but kissed his cheek.

Eddie chuckled as he took Nicole's hand and stroked the lovely ring on her finger.

"Well done to you too the future Mrs. Munson. You're going to drive the grounds into sheer excitement and you're going to live the rocker's lifestyle with me." he grinned.

Nicole scoffed at that and commented,

"Except no sex with fans or groupies. The only man getting sex is you after a good rocking show."

Eddie chuckled but nodded in agreement. They both saved each other from demobats and will forever have the scars to show for it. Eddie cupped Nicole's face and he placed his forehead against hers.

"We're going to have such a wild ride, wilder still when we have our five kids once we cement Corroded Coffins as a legendary band. You sure you can handle that, it's not too late to take that back Nicki." he mused.

Nicole's face softened and kissed the tip of his nose.

"Nope, I can handle anything after Vecna, especially with you."

Eddie grinned and they tossed their hats in the air before sharing a tender loving kiss. They were sticking together for the long haul and they had their dreams, all they had to do was to make it come true. With love, luck, friends, and support on their side it would only be a matter of time before their break came and everyone will know of Corroded Coffin.