Eleven thinks Mike has forgotten their anniversary... she's wrong :)
Oneshot
El's head lay on Mike's chest. She yawned. "Morning sweetie… do you know what today is?" Her enthusiasm was infectious… Mike hated to deflate it.
He reached over to his watch., "Uh, yup, it's November 7. Nothing going on today. I need to run some errands, want to be with me?"
He very carefully said "be" and not "come with". But it didn't have his intended effect. "Ok." She said dully. "I'll go shower."
Mike frowned. That wasn't a "Let's go shower."
There would be no nookie this morning.
After he saw her dressed really regretted it. She was wearing a short jean skirt, a denim top with enough buttons undone to make her substantial cleavage… very noticeable.
She's going to torture me for this… all day long from the looks of it.
XXXXX
"Here you go Mike." Joyce took a peek out to see El waiting in the car as she handed Mike his package.
When Mike got back in the car he said, "You could have gone in to say hi. She hasn't seen you in a while."
El shrugged. "I spent enough time with her. She had two sons and me tagging along. She was never my mother, but your mom is like a second mom for me…" She smiled a little.
Mike parked in front of The Hawk. "You're taking me to a movie?" El's eyes went wide.
"Not today… getting some popcorn. Nothing like theatre popcorn for a good show."
"Oh" The dull voice again.
She watched as Mike closed the trunk after doing something back there for a few minutes.
XXXXX
Mike tried to keep the smile off his face as he lay out a red and white checkered picnic style blanket at the top of the hill.
He put the picnic basket done up for him by Mrs. Byers. "You still wear that watch. I should get you a new one."
El shrugged, "This still works." It was later in the afternoon and Mike could see her mood was spinning the drain.
"What time does it say?"
"Three Five One."
"Oh, your watch can talk? Cool!"
"Ha ha Mike." But she wasn't smiling. "Why did you bring me all the way up here? For a picnic?"
"Not really. Tell me when your watch tells you it's three five two."
XXXXX
"Three Five Two ."
"Ok then. Let's share some popcorn and watch."
"Watch what?"
"See that building down there?"
"Yes."
"That's Hawkins National Lab."
El was practically in tears. "If you knew what day today was Mike, you'd know that's not very funny."
"I know exactly what day it is. I know exactly what that lab did to you… and I know exactly what's going to happen at three five three."
El looked at the building curiously. She saw the huge billows of smoke before she heard the explosions a few seconds later. She watched the building crumble to the ground.
"Your dad and I had to go to a lot of work to get the timing right. That shithole is demolished. They are going to build a college there or something. The Ives-Rich Memorial College. "
"Those… those are my parents…"
"Yes they are. Happy 11th anniversary Eleven."
Mike expected the crying. They were happy tears. She lay in his arms for a while. "I thought you'd forgotten."
"I would never forget the day when the girl with the prettiest eyes in the world would enter my life. Not ever El."
El looked around. To see if anyone was looking. "I have something for you."
"You do?"
"Yes… ...me." She started to unbutton her denim shirt.
Somehow during their "picnic" her panties ended up in the bag of popcorn.
XXXXX
Mike started to feel the butterflies already. "Let's pack up… one more thing."
They walked hand in hand. El's pretty smile never left her face. Mike's throat was dry…
I've never been more terrified in my life. I think I might actually throw up.
Mike found the spot, took off the backpack he was wearing.
He looked down, "Um… El? Um… I know we've been living together for a few years… but I want… um… something… more… um permanent? " He got down on one knee.
He started to cry… "please marry me El… I can't lose you. Ever." He held out a weird looking ring.
She took the ring and put it on her finger. "Mike I would have married you when you put your jacket over me. I love you. Let's not wait. Let's get married today. Oh… Mike, I'm not wearing any underwear I can't get married."
"Would right now work?"
El looked to where he was pointing.
"Also I'm sure that flashing your panties during a wedding is not required."
Lucas was standing just beyond, Max to one side, and Dustin to the other.
El saw her dad and cried.
XXXXX
"The rings please." Lucas said.
Dustin handed Mike two rings.
"El? This is white titanium. I think you have a pure heart that will last forever. Mine is silver titanium , I like to think I was your knight in shining armour, the one that saved you. Right in the very spot you are standing."
El's tears were unstoppable.
"By the power, " Lucas winked at El, "... vested in me. I now pronounce you Mike… and Eleven. You may kiss Eleven."
XXXXX
El's dad drove them to the cabin. "Supplies for a week. I'll come and get you next Friday…"
XXXXX
"Mike!" El cringed. "Watch out for the…"
Nothing happened.
"The tripwire is gone?" El was looking at the trees that had been used for it.
"So is the lab, Brenner and every evil bastard that worked at that place. I took what wire I needed and had it made into that first ring."
El stopped walking and turned to look at Mike with those eyes, "Every girl should have someone who loves them as much as you love me… and every guy should have someone who loves them as much as I love you."
They kissed. "Thank you Mike. This has been a perfect day."
"You know, if you heat up the theatre popcorn a little on a pan in the oven, it's very tasty when you watch a scary movie."
El smiled. "Let's do that.".
