A/N: This second chapter takes place in December of 1992. I hope you enjoy it, and please leave me a review to let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Stranger Things or any of its characters.
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It was five days before Christmas when Mike made it home to Hawkins. Christmas break would last for the next three weeks, and it was Mike's final year at Notre Dame. El had been so supportive of Mike going to the best school he possibly could, but Mike refused to leave the state, not wanting to be further from her than he had to be. So, Mike had applied to the best schools in Indiana, and he had decided on Notre Dame.
El had not left for college. After Hopper returned home in 1986 from being imprisoned by the Russians, he and Joyce had homeschooled El throughout high school. Then, Hopper only agreed to let El attend classes at the community college in the town next to Hawkins. El had been furious that Hopper would not let her apply to colleges with Mike and her friends, but he insisted it was for her protection. Hopper would likely never be comfortable with letting El truly into the world. At least if she stayed in Hawkins and went to school nearby, he could protect her from anyone or anything that may threaten her safety.
So, Mike and El spent the last three years in a long-distance relationship. Mike attended the University of Notre Dame while El attended community college and worked part-time at Melvald's where Joyce had returned to her job after moving back to Hawkins. Mike came back to Hawkins every year for Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and summer, and they spoke on the phone almost daily. El had only visited him at Notre Dame twice because it was like pulling teeth to get Hopper to agree to let her leave town for a weekend, especially a few hours away. Mike and Hopper had certainly butted heads a few times over Hopper's strict rules with El, especially since El was twenty-one now. But, in the end, Mike knew that Hopper was doing his best to protect her while he was still the main protector in her life.
When Mike arrived in Hawkins, he knew El was still at work, so he drove straight to Melvald's to surprise her. The store was busier than usual with Christmas being right around the corner. After Starcourt, a mall had not been rebuilt in Hawkins, so the stores downtown had been able to recover. Mike walked inside and immediately caught sight of El. She was at the register scanning an older gentleman's purchase, and Mike pretended to browse in a nearby aisle, watching her from the corner of his eye and waiting for her to finish with her customer.
"Mike?" came a familiar voice behind him.
"Hey!" Mike exclaimed when he turned to see Joyce standing with an armful of merchandise to return to the shelves.
"How are you, sweetheart?" Joyce asked, wrapping her free arm around him in a hug.
"I'm happy to be home," Mike replied. "How are you, Mrs. Byers?"
"Mike, what have I told you-"
"I know, I know," Mike sighed. "But you just don't look like a Mrs. Hopper to me."
"Then call me Joyce," she laughed.
"I'll try," Mike smiled.
"Good. How long are you in town for?" Joyce asked.
"Three weeks," Mike replied.
"Great. Will won't actually be here until Christmas Day," Joyce explained. "He and Rachel are going to her family's house for a few days and then coming here for a week."
Mike nodded along as Joyce repeated Will and Will's girlfriend Rachel's plans for Christmas. He was watching over Joyce's shoulder as El finished with her customer.
"I'm sure I'll see him when he gets home," Mike said quickly, his eyes locked on El who was not busy at the moment. "It was nice seeing you."
"Oh, go kiss your girlfriend," Joyce chuckled, looking to where Mike's eyes were fixed.
Mike grinned and blushed but walked past Joyce and hurried to the register where El was changing the receipt paper and not watching as he approached.
"Merry Christmas, beautiful," Mike said when he reached her.
"Mike!" El squealed when she spun around to face him.
El hurried from behind the register and jumped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. Mike laughed and planted a kiss against her temple. When El pulled back slightly, she connected her lips with his for the first time in a month.
"I'm so happy you're here. I missed you," she said.
"I missed you, too," Mike replied. "When do you get off?"
"In two more hours," El said as she stepped back from their embrace.
"Cool. I'll pick you up after your shift," Mike said, and El nodded.
He gave her another quick peck on the lips before leaving so she could finish her shift.
When Mike picked El up from work that evening, they went to get burgers, fries, and Cokes to-go from Benny's, and they went to the quarry to eat and talk in private. As they caught up, El hung on every word that Mike said as he talked about his final exams of the semester and the classes he was enrolled in next semester, which would be his final semester at Notre Dame. Mike listened as El talked about her job and how, even though she loves Hopper and Joyce, she wishes she could have more independence instead of working with Joyce and attending school nearby where Hopper could keep tabs on her.
"They mean well, and they're just trying to keep you safe, even if it seems like they go overboard," Mike reminded her.
"I know," El sighed.
"Trust me, I wish you could come visit me at school some weekends, but I really appreciate how seriously Hopper takes protecting you," Mike said. "As long as it's his job, he's going to do everything in his power to keep you safe."
"When would it stop being his job?" El asked, furrowing her brow.
"Well, you know," Mike shrugged. "Someday the day will come when you aren't living with him anymore, and then it would be someone else's job to keep you safe."
"Are you just talking about yourself?" El asked, the corners of her lips tugging into a smile.
"Maybe," Mike shrugged and blushed. "Don't you think I could do as good of a job as Hopper? I might even let you out of the house every once in a while."
El laughed because she knew Mike was teasing. Hopper had loosened up significantly over the years, and he respected that El was an adult. El was free to come and go from the house and spend time with her friends when they were in town. The only things that Hopper was strict about were El staying in town other than going one town over for her classes at the community college, working at Melvald's where Joyce would be nearby if El needed anything, and never using her powers in public. Frankly, ever since El's powers had returned in 1986, she rarely used them anyway, so that last rule was hardly necessary.
"Well, if I was living with you, maybe I wouldn't want to leave the house anyway," El said playfully.
"Oh really? Why is that?" Mike grinned.
"I don't know," El shrugged. "Maybe because I would have everything I need in that house with me."
Mike pulled El closer to him and pressed his lips against hers. Soon, she was straddling him in the drivers seat, and they spent the rest of the evening wrapped up in each other until returning to the Hopper/Byers house well after midnight.
The next five days passed in a bustling blur. Mike and El were able to spend nearly every minute together, but their time was pretty well divided between Mike's parents' house and El's house. They helped Hopper wrap his gifts for Joyce, they went on grocery runs for Karen, they delivered last-minute Christmas cards to the post office for Joyce, and they did any other little task that was asked of them. Somehow, they worked in time to see Lucas, Max, and Dustin as well.
When Christmas Day finally arrived, Mike and El woke up in Mike's bed at his parents' house. During the still of the morning, it was just the two of them without the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations that they knew would be coming later in the morning as Karen prepared to host everyone.
"Good morning, beautiful," Mike murmured against El's hair.
"Merry Christmas," El smiled up at him.
Mike held her tighter and pulled the blankets closer around them, nestling them into their little cocoon.
"Let's skip the party and just stay here all day," he said, and he felt El giggle against him.
"Mike, all of our friends and family are coming over in a little bit," she reminded him.
"I know," Mike sighed, and his grip on her loosened. "I just really like these little moments we get to spend together. You know, when my mom isn't sending us all over town on last-minute errands."
"Me too," El smiled and leaned up to kiss him softly.
They reluctantly got out of bed and got ready for the day. When they went downstairs, they found Ted, Nancy, and Jonathan already seated at the table while Karen was bringing over the breakfast she had made.
"Good morning," Mike greeted as he sat next to his older sister.
"Morning," Nancy replied. "Are you going over to Joyce and Hop's tonight?"
"Yeah, after everything is finished here," Mike nodded.
Karen agreed to host the entire party for Christmas afternoon. Then afterward, Nancy and Jonathan as well as Mike and El would be spending the evening with Joyce, Hopper, Will, and Rachel for their family Christmas.
"Where is Holly?" Karen asked as she placed the pan of hashbrowns on the table next to the scrambled eggs and bacon.
"Must not be up yet," Ted shrugged, flipping the page in his newspaper.
"She was always the early riser on Christmas," Karen sighed at the fact that her youngest baby was growing up. "I'll go get her."
Karen went upstairs and returned moments later with a sleepy Holly behind her. When everyone had finished their breakfast, the seven of them moved into the living room for their family Christmas morning gift exchange. Holly received several gifts from her parents, and Mike and Nancy received only cash since they were older and out of the house. Mike took the opportunity to give his gift to El, and when she opened it to see a photo album of their many years together, her eyes instantly brimmed with tears.
"I love it," she whispered as she flipped through the pages.
Inside the photo album were pictures of Mike and El at Hawkins High School dances that Hopper had let El attend with him, high school graduation, birthdays, previous Christmases, anniversaries, and random moments that were caught on camera. There were a few blank pages left at the end of the book.
"There's room for you to continue it," Mike said when El reached the end.
"We can take a picture today to put in here. I'll make sure to get a picture of us when you graduate college in the spring," El thought aloud.
"Yeah and, who knows, maybe something picture-worthy will happen before that," Mike said casually.
"Maybe," El smiled and closed the album. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Mike said and leaned in to kiss her. "Merry Christmas."
Around noon, everyone else started arriving. Joyce, Hopper, Will, and Rachel showed up first. Max and Lucas came next, and finally Dustin and his girlfriend Laura arrived.
"Merry Christmas!" Hopper's booming voice exclaimed as he wrapped his arm around El's shoulder.
"Merry Christmas," El beamed in response.
"How was Christmas morning at the Wheeler household?" Hopper asked.
"It was great," El smiled. "Let me show you what Mike gave me."
Hopper glanced at Mike when El turned her back, and Mike subtly shook his head. Hopper nodded in response.
"He put together a photo album of pretty much everything from our relationship," El said, opening the photo album.
"That's really nice, honey," Hopper said. "Thoughtful gift, Wheeler."
"Thanks, Chief," Mike nodded.
"El!" came the squeal of Max's voice, and El hurried over to greet her best friend.
"So," Hopper said, stepping closer to Mike so no one else could hear. "That photo album isn't the only gift you have for her today, is it?"
"No, I… I have the other thing, too," Mike replied, patting the pocket of his jeans.
"Good," Hopper nodded, and his eyes became misty as he stared over at El who was talking with Max. "You know she's the light of my life."
"That's probably the only thing you and I have in common," Mike chuckled.
"Well, it's the most important thing," Hopper said.
Hopper placed a hand on Mike's shoulder and gave it a squeeze before walking by him to rejoin Joyce who was talking with Karen and Nancy.
The afternoon was spent with everyone reuniting and catching up. When Karen served lunch, the dining room and living room were both filled as everyone ate and talked. When lunch was over, Mike started to feel chills down his spine as he knew the time was coming for the plan that he and Jonathan had discussed previously. It was a simple, cheesy plan, but Mike thought it would suit its purpose.
Jonathan caught Mike's eye, and Mike subtly nodded to him from across the room. Then Jonathan discretely slipped out of the room and retrieved the mistletoe from his coat pocket. He made sure everyone was occupied before hastily hanging the mistletoe in the doorway to the living room. When it was in place, Jonathan returned to Nancy's side – who was none the wiser as she continued chatting with Joyce – and gave Mike a nod from across the room.
"Did you see the photo album Mike made for El?" Max was asking Lucas, and Lucas shook his head. "You should look at it and take notes. I'd like cute shit like that every now and then, too, you know."
"I do cute shit for you," Lucas said defensively.
"Okay," Max chuckled. "El, let me see the photo album so I can show him what I mean."
El grabbed the book from the end table where it was sitting and let Max flip through it with Lucas. She looked up at Mike who seemed to be distracted, looking over toward where Nancy, Jonathan, Joyce, and Hopper were talking.
"Are you okay?" El asked him, squeezing his hand.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Mike smiled down at her.
The truth was, he was trying to think of a way to naturally get her over to the doorway.
"I'm going to go get a drink. Do you want anything?" El asked.
"No thanks, babe," Mike replied, and then El walked away from him and into the kitchen.
Mike took this opportunity to move over next to Jonathan who was standing in the doorway of the living room talking with the others.
"Is it time?" Jonathan muttered.
"Yeah," Mike sighed. "It's time."
"Time for what?" Nancy asked, furrowing her brow. Jonathan did not answer her, but he did hurry over to where his camera bag was hanging underneath his coat, and he hurried back over holding his camera behind his back.
Mike looked over at Hopper who gave an approving nod. Then, El joined Mike's side with a glass of wine.
"What are you all talking about over here?" El asked as she linked her arm through Mike's.
"Not you, that's for sure," Hopper grinned.
"Hey, what's that above you guys?" Jonathan asked, pointing up at the mistletoe he had hung.
Everyone who heard what Jonathan said looked upward to where he was pointing and saw the mistletoe hanging above Mike and El.
"You know what that means," Lucas smirked.
"Ew, yeah, it means we get to see Mike and El make out," Holly scoffed. "As if we haven't all seen that enough over the years."
"Holly Marie," Karen scolded.
"That wasn't there before," El commented, ignoring everyone else as she stared up at the mistletoe that had appeared.
She looked at Mike and soon realized that everyone's eyes were on the two of them. Most people looked just as confused as El felt, but she noticed that Jonathan, Hopper, and Will each had looks on their faces that she couldn't quite place.
"Mike, what's going on?" she asked.
"El, there's something that I want to ask you," Mike began, his heart thumping rapidly in his chest as his hands started to sweat. "I love you more than anything. You're the most important thing to me in the entire world. You're all I want for Christmas; you're all I want for the rest of my life."
"Oh my god," El whispered as tears started to blur her vision.
"El Hopper," Mike continued before kneeling down on his knee in front of her and opening the small box he had pulled from his pocket. "Will you marry me?"
The gasps of everyone else in the house fell into the background, and El began nodding profusely as the tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Yes!" she forced out.
Mike slipped the ring on her left ring finger, and El pulled him to his feet, meeting his lips with hers and peppering them with kiss after kiss. Around them, their friends and family were applauding, and many were joining El with tears of their own. Jonathan was taking pictures, as he had promised Mike that he would. He had captured the two of them standing underneath the mistletoe as Mike started his speech; he caught the moment that Mike knelt down on one knee; the moment Mike slid the ring onto her finger; and their first kiss as an engaged couple when El pulled him back to his feet.
"Oh my god. I can't believe you did this," El laughed as she wiped her tears. "Mike, this was perfect. The ring is gorgeous, all our friends and family are here, I… This just couldn't have been any better."
"Good," Mike sighed. "I wanted it to be perfect for you."
"Congratulations!" Max exclaimed as she and Lucas approached Mike and El.
Max wrapped El in a tight hug and gushed with her over how beautiful the ring was.
"Dude, how did you not tell me we were all coming here for a proposal today?" Lucas asked.
"I knew," Will smiled smugly as he walked up with his girlfriend Rachel.
"I'm with Lucas. A little warning would've been great," Dustin chimed in as he joined the rest of the party.
"Sorry guys. I just couldn't tell too many people," Mike said. "It was a hard secret to keep, though."
"I mean, it's not like we didn't all see it coming sooner or later. I did call it, like, nine years ago," Lucas chuckled. "But seriously, congratulations. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks," Mike smiled.
"Congratulations, El," Lucas said when El turned to the guys after Max finished admiring her engagement ring.
"Thank you," El beamed. She took turns hugging each Lucas, Dustin, and Will.
"Congratulations to you, too, Mike," Dustin added and then turned his grin into a smirk. "Cheesy-ass speech, by the way."
"I thought it was romantic," Max said.
"That shit was chee-sy," Dustin repeated.
"I loved it. It was beautiful," El said, wrapping her arms around Mike's waist.
"Well, I meant every word of it, cheesy or not," Mike smiled.
"They're going to make out. Someone take the damn mistletoe down," Dustin said, but Mike and El both ignored him as the distance between their lips closed again.
They only pulled back when Hopper and Joyce stepped beside them and Hopper cleared his throat.
"Congratulations, kid," Hopper said softly as he pulled El into a hug.
"Thank you," El smiled softly against his chest.
"Take good care of her," Hopper said to Mike as he gripped his hand in a firm handshake. "She's marrying you, but she still means the world to me."
"I will," Mike nodded.
Mike pulled El into another hug and kissed her forehead.
"You know, I think this is the perfect thing to put in those empty pages of your photo album," he said with a grin.
"Something tells me that was your plan all along," El smiled up at him.
"Maybe," Mike smirked. "Merry Christmas, El."
"Merry Christmas, Mike," El replied.
Karen and Ted came over to congratulate them next. The rest of the day was a whirlwind of congratulations and emotions for El, but she knew it instantly took the place of the best Christmas ever.
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed my cute little Mileven Christmas proposal. Leave me a review and let me know what you think!