She remembered that fateful night like any other. She searched the parking lot of the mall, looking for the person she called, "Father". He was nowhere in sight, despite seeing everyone else. She couldn't take it the potential fate of her father; her eyes welled in remembrance of that horrid night.

"El? Are you okay?"

Eleven turned to the voice, revealing it to be Will Byers, who had taken on the role of her foster brother. He was standing outside of her bedroom, looking inside. Tears formed as she shook her head.

"Hopper. I can't stop seeing him. In my dreams, outside…everywhere." Eleven said, looking at her bedroom floor.

Will walked inside and sat next to Eleven on the bed. "Is there anything that I can do to help, El?"

Eleven didn't know how to respond. What would she ask? To bring Hopper back from the dead? She looked at him; a tear falling from her left eye.

"I don't know." Eleven answered with clarity.

Will leaned in and gave Eleven a hug that she wasn't prepared for. Instinctively, she reached around him and clasped her hands behind his back. She began to cry into Will's shoulder with intensity, almost completely sobbing.

"It's alright, El. It's alright. I promise you that…Hop…he's in a better place now." Will said rather calmly.

Eleven nodded as she released herself from Will. "Yeah, maybe."

"He's probably more happy now then…well…I don't know. I don't remember the last time that he was really happy." Will said, shrugging.

Eleven wiped away the tears from her face and gave Will a smile. Will smiled back as he patted Eleven's shoulder.

"Hey, Will, where are you, buddy?" Jonathan called from outside the bedroom.

Jonathan Byers approached the bedroom and looked inside.

"Hey, it's time for be-." Jonathan started.

He stopped himself after he saw Eleven, her eyes puffy from crying.

"Are you good, El?" Jonathan asked with the same calm voice as his brother.

Eleven nodded. "Will helped. Thanks, to both of you."

Jonathan smiled. "Anytime, El." He turned to Will. "It's time for bed, buddy."

Will chuckled. "Alright, I'll be out in a second."

Jonathan nodded and walked away towards his bedroom. Will turned back to Eleven.

"Well, I guess I should be going then. If you ever need anything, don't be afraid to wake us up, ok?" Will said, placing a hand on Eleven's small shoulder.

Eleven nodded. "I will."

Will smiled and stood up. He walked out of Eleven's bedroom and turned back to her; the doorknob in hand.

"Open or closed?

Eleven shrugged. "Closed, I guess."

Will acknowledged her response and began to close the door.

"Good night, El." Will said, before finally closing the door.

"Good night, Will." Eleven replied, although she was too late before he closed the door.

Eleven wiped her face on her purple pajamas that had a space theme to them with black holes every few spaces or so. She laid down on her bed and pulled the covers over her. She took a deep breath, before turning the lamp off on her nightstand.

Joyce Byers stood outside of her new home, which was indicated by the amount of moving boxes located all over the house, except Eleven's room, of course. She leaned against the wall next to the front door of the house, puffing on her cigarette. Her last one from Hawkins, Indiana. The flavor was very distinct; one that she remembered sharing with Hopper. It tasted horrible, exactly the way Hopper liked it. She chuckled to herself as she took another puff of her cigarette.

"This is to you, Hop." Joyce said to herself, finishing the cigarette.

She threw it down on the porch and stepped on the burning cigarette, putting it out. She knew that the cigarette was her last from a friend…or whatever they were before he passed. Joyce knew who was coming afterwards. Every time was not an exaggeration, HE came every single, goddamn time she finished a cigarette from Hawkins. She turned to her right and leaning against the wall, with the front door separating the two, was Hopper. Well, how she remembered him at least.

Hopper smiled at her as he puffed his own cigarette. He was wearing his beige police uniform, along with his gun holster, carrying his trusty revolver. "Hawkins, Indiana" was on Hopper's left arm, surrounded by the Indiana state seal. She always hated Hop's mustache. She wished he grew his beard back. Hopper's beard was how she remembered it; disgruntled, yet almost a perfect look for him.

"No, this is the last time. I'm sorry, Hop. I wish I could've done more." Joyce said to the hallucination.

"Hopper" simply nodded at her and threw down his cigarette. Joyce trembled as she closed her eyes. She opened them to find that "Hopper" had disappeared.

"No, god!" Joyce said, beginning to cry.

Joyce shook her head. "No, he's gone. Accept it! Stop being a bitch about it and accept it, goddamn it!"

Joyce felt horrible after what had happened to Hopper. She always considered herself responsible. If I pulled those switches sooner, Hopper would still be here. They never were able to have the date that they planned together. Enzo's, tonight at 8. No, 7 was the time. Joyce placed her hands on her head. Every person that she loved, gone. Taken in some form or another. Lonnie, divorce. Bob, killed by those damn dogs, and Hopper…

"Mom?! What's going on?" Jonathan said, his voice raised.

Joyce turned to Jonathan. "What are you doing up? Don't worry about me, ok?"

Jonathan shook his head and stepped outside, closing the front door behind him.

"Listen, mom. I miss him too, ok? But we have to move on; you have to move past this. People die and Hopper's no exception, ok? Dwelling is not going to bring him back."

Joyce wanted to yell. So badly. She wanted to prove that she was right on her judgement, but she knew that Jonathan was right in the long run. She walked towards Jonathan and gave him a hug.

"I'm sorry, Jonathan. I'm sorry."

Jonathan hugged her back. "It's alright. Let's just get to sleep, ok? We have a long day tomorrow."

Joyce chuckled and smiled as she released herself from the hug. "You're all grown up now, Jonathan." She gave a small smile.

Jonathan led Joyce back inside, guiding her with a calm demeanor. Joyce waved at Jonathan, indicating her goodnight. Jonathan turned back to the front door of the house, which was still open. He walked to the door and looked out into the darkness, unaware of the man with binoculars keeping watch from the surrounding woodlands. The man watched Jonathan close the front door. He dropped his binoculars and reached for his radio.

"Target located inside. Don't make a move until I say so." The man said in a thick Russian accent.