A/N: Alright so this takes place two weeks after season one of Stranger Things the only difference is Will helped Barb get out of the pool therefore Barb did not die. yay! also I think this will eventually be Robin/Barb, but lots has to happen first. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter One: Barb is not a Creeper she just can't sleep

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Barbara couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she sees that thing with no face, the demogorgon, the boys had called it. She always saw it eating Will Byers. The kid had saved her life when they were there, and they continued to save each other each day they'd been there. Now she can't sleep unless she knows Will is safe. She left the bed and padded down the stairs in her night gown. Grabbing her dad's car keys as she goes, hopefully she can just get a quick peak like she has the last two weeks since being rescued by Will's mom and the sheriff. She quickly went to the car. She shivered Hawkins had a light covering of snow getting ready for a white Christmas in a few days.

She pulled up like she'd done for the last few days. She'd realized Will's window was the third from the front door. Barb leaned forward, and peaked into the window. There he was sleeping, fitfully, but safe. Something in Bard eased, and just like every night she knew she could sleep now. Then she glanced over, and locked eyes with a shocked Joyce Byers. Barb then felt cold for a reason that had nothing to do with the snow crunching beneath her mom's now wet house shoes. Joyce got up and left the room, and Barb dashed to the car. She was in the car before Mrs. Byers had opened the front door. Barb quickly as possible drove the car out of the driveway, and onto the road, her heart hammering in her chest and embarrassment making her stomach churn. She didn't look in the rear view mirror at what Barb was sure was a very confused woman. The girl had no idea how she was going to be able to sleep now, maybe she could borrow her mother's sleeping pills.

Barb woke up the next day still feeling groggy, but she knew her parents were already gone for the day. School was thankfully out for Christmas break. Barb had already caught up on her school work, it had made for a nice distraction, and gave Nancy an excuse to hover, which Barb tried not to let it grate on her nerves. She still woke up to the echoes her own voice screaming for Nancy ringing in her own ears. She sighed and tried not to focus on her best friend right now, or the resentment starting to fester in her chest. She hoped Mrs. Byers wouldn't tell her parents that their kid was a complete whack job. She wondered if she just explained, and begged maybe she wouldn't get arrested for being a creep. just as she was contemplating her options the doorbell rang. she hoped it wasn't a reporter, or anyone from her mom's church group, 'just checking in'. she swung the door opened, and nearly wished it had been Susan, a reporter for the church newslettter. Instead it was Joyce Byers. Barb did a quick scan, thankfully the sheriff wasn't beside her to carry her off. "Mrs. Byers I can explain please don't tell my parents they're worried enough as it is,I won't do it again I jus-"

Joyce cut her off by placing a tentative hand on her arm, "I came for an explanation, also I want to," she took a moment to gather her thoughts, "I need to know what happened to my boy, and I know it's probably not fair to you to ask this but I need to know, and I can't ask him."

"Please come inside. I'll make us some coffee." The single mother followed her inside, and into the kitchen standing awkwardly by the table, "Oh um please sit down, did you want something other than coffee," the manners her grandmother drilled into her coming out to fill the void between the two people.

"Actually I'll just take some water. I've already had like three cups, anymore, and I'll shake."

"Alright," she gathered the cups of water, and placed on in front of Joyce, and the other in front of herself. she pushed her glasses up her nose, and let them fall into an awkward silence.

"I guess i'll ask why were you at my house last night?" the question was simply curious, and Joyce talked softly almost like she didn't want to startle the teen.

"Well when we were…there I couldn't sleep until I knew he was safe, and I guess it became such a habit that it bleeds over into here.

"Y-You kept him safe," she whispered, and the gratefulness shining out of her eyes made Barb feel guilty because she nearly failed, where Will didn't not once.

"Well we'd sleep in shifts, we'd let one sleep until the other was too exhausted to go on then we'd wake the other. H-he found me, I was about to get eaten Will pulled me to safety. Don't know how he's so tiny. then he took me to his fort, and we bunkered down, and waited there were times when we were both awake and we'd talk about life school Dungeons and Dragons, and you. He never gave up hope that you'd find him," It was a fact, Will thought his mom was some kind of unstoppable force. It ended up giving her hope. Looking at the small woman across from her with happy disbeleiving tears in her eyes Barb could see it, the fierceness. Gratefulness settled in Barb for Joyce Byers in that moment, "Thank you, I don't think I told you that. in all the commotion."

"Well thank you for taking care of my son when i couldn't."

"I should probably tell you, I fell asleep when he was asleep once it was the day you found us. That's why he was nearly…," Barb choked down the word dead didn't want to think that about her friend, and especially not in front of his mother, "I'm so sorry Mrs. Byers, if it wasn't for Will we wound't be here, and I let him down," Barb wiped the tears on her cheeks as Joyce grabbed her hand tightly.

"What happened to Will was never your fault I'm so happy he wasn't alone, and that you did all you could for him in that place. Now you can't keep sneaking out you'll give your mom a heart attack if you need to you can sleep at my house for a few days, and if you want you can watch Will while I try to find a job. I know Jonathan would probably like a break, and I think Will misses you, He won't talk to me about it about any of it. I thank you for everything, and here let me give you my number," she rummaged in her old beat up purse for a pen, "Please call if you decide to sleep at my house tonight, you can come for dinner it'll probably be around sevenish."

Barb stared at the paper with Mr. Byers number scarled messily onto the paper. She didn't have to sneak around, and maybe she could sleep for the first time in days peacefully, and hopefully with minimal nightmares, "Thank you Mrs' Byers I'll talk to my parents when they get home, and I probably won't be able to come for dinner, but I may come to sleep or check on Will after he's asleep, It seems to make me tired."

"That's fine I sleep in his room you can take my bed."

"That's unnecessary I can sleep on the couch or the floor."

"Wouldn't think of it someone should sleep in the bed, I have to watch Will." they nodded at one another in understanding. With That Joyce left stating she had an interview at the new Radio Shack in town.

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Barb waited for her parents to get home. Feeling apprehensive about their reaction about her spending the night at Joyce's house. The town generally looked down on Joyce being the only single parent, and divorcee in town outside of the Sheriff can be tough. Her parents had not been the exception to that rule. However she needed this or she was going to start to lose it. He mom got home first. She volunteered at the church. Her dad arrived thirty minutes later, he is an accountant.

"Mom dad can I talk to you a second." They both look at her with bright eyes and smiles. they have been more attentive since her kidnapping by the Russians that is what they were told. Why the commies wanted at teenager and a little boy was beyond Barb's knowledge, but it spared her mother nightmares so she'd take it. they nodded at her to continue.

"As you know I was with Will Byers when I was with the Russians. Well I've been having trouble sleeping without knowing he is safe. I was wondering if I could sleep at his house tonight. I've already discussed it with Mrs. Byers, and she's okay with it."

"Barbara honey why haven't you come to us with this before now, honey you know we want to help you," her mother said reaching out for her daughter sitting across from them.

"I don't know It just never occurred to me, does this mean you'll let me go."

"Well there's that boy there too is he a factor."

"Who Jonathan Byers, ew no, besides I think Nancy had a thing with him while I was…gone," the last word was said with a trace of acid, her parents looked at one another as if having a silent conversation. Barb could remember having that with Nancy at one point. She missed her friend.

"I'll take you Barbie, I'd like to have a word with Mrs. Byers about all this, and you'll be home in the morning."

"Yes dad I have no intentions on being an intrusion."

"Alright I'll take you tonight."

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A/N: First Stranger things Fic Hope you enjoy. as always r and r