The boys stayed out in the dark, kissing and exploring one another, for another half an hour as the sun set above them. Will didn't ever want to stop. He finally understood why all his friends spent every second making out with their girlfriends. Girlfriends Will thought to himself sadly. I wish loving Elliott was okay in everyone's eyes. Mostly, he just really wanted to tell someone. Shout it from the rooftops, how much he cared about this boy.

Elliott pulled away beaming and breathing heavily and rolled onto his back beside Will. "My god, Byers, where did you learn to kiss like that? You literally have me breathless."

Will blushed. "Uh, nowhere doofus. You're my, uh, first kiss." Will felt shy. If Elliott thought he'd kissed someone before, does that mean Elliott had experience? Will was scared he wouldn't measure up.

Elliott seemed to sense Will tense up and immediately reassured him, "Will, I am honored to be your first kiss. I hope it was a good experience for you.

Will scoffed. "I think I could kiss you for the rest of my life." Both boys giggled. Will stalled a moment, and then asked, "Was I your first kiss?"

Elliott was quiet, and Will panicked. He was so afraid of rejection. Then, Elliott spoke. "No, you're not. There was this boy in middle school back in Michigan. He was my first crush." Elliott sighed. Will's heart sank. "But I could never let my dad find out that I was… that I liked him, and so I kind of dated his sister as cover. I kissed her after our first date, and realized I never wanted to do that again. There was no spark. So, I broke up with her the next day."

Will held his breath for a second and then burst into laughter.

Elliott swatted him playfully. "Hey, Byers, that was a personal story!

Will shook his head and waved his hands placatingly, "I know I know, but I was so worried you had experience over me and that I wouldn't be enough for you, and that completely wiped away my fears."

Elliott smiled, "You're my first kiss that matters, Byers."

Will stopped laughing and looked into Elliott's sweet, warm gaze. "You're all that matters, Ell."

Elliott glanced down at his watch. "Holy shit! Will, we've been gone way too long, your brother is going to flip!"

Will glanced down and realized they'd been out for an hour, and he'd told his brother they'd be back in five minutes. "Fuck, we've got to go."

The two made a mad dash back home, hands linked the entire time. Will felt the happiest he had in a long time.

They dropped hands as they rounded Will's street. When they arrived at Will's home, both sighed in relief that Joyce hadn't returned home yet, because if she had they'd be in deep trouble. Unfortunately, Nancy's car was gone and Jonathan was sitting on the front porch.

"Jesus Christ Will, you had me terrified," Jonathan bit out, hugging his brother fiercely.

Elliott looks nervous, and Will scrambled to lighten the situation. "I'm really sorry Jonathan, we lost track of time just talking down the road.

Jonathan opened his mouth to chastise him further, but something in his eyes changed strangely and he shut it. "Fine. I'll let it go. But Elliott, I'm driving you home."

Elliott nodded vigorously. "Thank you so much, Jonathan. I am really sorry for making you worry."

Jonathan looked at Elliott with the same strange look and nodded. "No worries kid. Just hop in the back." Elliott sat in the backseat and Will took the passenger's side. It was a quiet ride, and a bit awkward. Jonathan turned on the Beatles, much to Elliott's (and in turn, Will's) delight, but kept glancing over at Will and back at Elliott with that same strange look. Still, he said nothing.

Elliott lived near Mike, and they made it there smoothly. Jonathan parked in Elliott's driveway. "Alright, have a good night Elliott. See you around."

Elliott smiled softly and thanked Jonathan, before turning to Will. "See you tomorrow Byers?"

Will's heart sped up. Elliott looked beautiful in the twilight. "Yes, see you tomorrow."

Elliott nodded shyly and left the car, bounding adroitly up his front steps and slipping into his front door.

This left Will and Jonathan alone on the ride home. Will glanced at Jonathan, expecting a soapbox from his brother about staying on top of his time. Instead, Jonathan kept his eyes on the road and said nothing. Will felt uneasy. This wasn't like Jonathan. He normally was the one pulling conversation out of Will, not using the silent treatment on him. Will had no idea what this all meant.

Just before they got home, Jonathan made a wrong turn and drove his beaten-up car down the trail that got them close to where Castle Byers used to stand. "Jonathan, where are we-"

"Just… trust me, okay?" Jonathan said quietly.

Will, even more nervous now, sat back in his seat. "Okay," he squeaked.

Jonathan parked at the end of the trail, close enough to see through the trees where Castle Byers once was. He turned off the car, clenched his jaw, and turned to look at Will. "Do you… do you remember when dad left, and we made Castle Byers?"

Will nodded slowly. It was burned in his mind in relation to when the shadow monster possessed him and his friends and family were working to keep him alive. "Dad left us. You made Castle Byers with me to make me feel better."

Jonathan nodded. "Yeah, we worked all night on it, through the rain. And I said something to you that night. I said that, no matter what, I will always be here for you. That no matter what, you can trust me to have your back."

Will was stunned and had no idea what was happening. "Jonathan, I'm really sorry about coming home late, I didn't mean to upset you so much-"

"No, no, no, it's not that, I understand." Jonathan waved him off. "What I'm trying to say is that I hope you know you can talk to me. About anything. And I will always be here for you." Jonathan glanced down at his clasped hands, and then directly at Will. "Will, do you have something you want to talk about?"

Will's stomach dropped. Jonathan knew. How in the hell did he know? Had he found the drawing Will had made of Elliott? Had he somehow seen them holding hands while they were running on the highway? He swallowed thickly, cheeks getting hot. "I-I don't know what you are talking about Jonathan," he said weakly.

"Will…" Jonathan's eyes pleaded.

"What, Jonathan? What do you want from me? I can't… I can't even say it out loud to myself." Will bit back a sob. He couldn't' believe this is where the night had gone.

Jonathan too started crying. "Will, I love you, brother. Please… I'm here if you will let me be."

Will bit his lip and stared intently at his hands, tears dripping down into his lap. It was now or never. "Jonathan – I'm…. I'm gay. I like boys."

Silence. Will panicked, still not willing to look up at his older brother. "I have always been this way and I just didn't really ever realize it or name it until tonight to be honest. I don't want this to change how you see me, I haven't changed at all, I'm still just Will-"

"Will!" Jonathan snapped. Will snapped his gaze up. Jonathan was crying freely but smiling. Smiling. Will's heart lifted. Jonathan continued, "I love you. You're my little brother and my best friend. All I want is for you to be happy, and for you to be you. And I am so, so happy that you trust me enough to tell me this. It changes nothing. You are you, and I love everything about you, brother." Now it was Will's time to sob. Jonathan reached across the center console and held his brother. Will let all the years of denial, self-hatred, frustration, and pain come out as he cried into his brother's chest.

When Will's tears finally subsided, he sat up and sniffled, feeling a bit embarrassed at his reaction. "Sorry…" Will breathed out.

Jonathan shook his head and chuckled. "What have we been working on, Will? Quit it with the apologies!"

Will huffed out a laugh. "Okay, okay."

Jonathan started the car and began driving the short distance home. Will sat with his thoughts. He couldn't believe he had just come out to his brother. And Jonathan had accepted him. He was over the moon. Still, one thing was nagging at him.

"Jonathan?"

"Yeah, Will?"

"How… how did you, like, know?" Will was so perplexed.

Jonathan burst out laughing. "Oh my god, yeah. Will, look in the front seat mirror," Jonathan said, flipping down Will's visor.

Will opened the mirror, confused, and inspected his reflection. He started, "I don't know what you're talking about-" and then fell silent as he saw it. A dark purple hickey had blossomed high on his neck. "Oh. My. God."

Jonathan was laughing fully now as they pulled into the driveway. "Yeah, bud. You left for an hour for one-on-one time with a boy you have not stopped talking about since he moved here, and you two come home giggling with that on your neck. I feel like I have known for a while, but tonight I really knew."

Will's cheeks burned with embarrassment. He couldn't believe his first hickey had given him away. He would need to be more careful. "God, that is humiliating," he sighed.

Jonathan nudged him. "No, it is not, we have all been there. Just… be safe okay? You're still my baby brother," Jonathan raised an eyebrow at Will.

Will was officially burgundy red. "Oh my god Jonathan shut uuuuup." He chuckled and clutched his knees to his chest.

Suddenly, he realized he needed to get past his mom with a hickey on his neck. "Fuck, how am I going to sneak by mom with this?"

Jonathan stayed smiling, but his eyes got a little sad. "You're not going to tell her?"

Will paused. "I am glad I told you… but I think I need a little time before I let her in. Plus, I am pretty sure I don't want to tell her with this thing on my neck."

Jonathan nodded, lightening a bit. "True, true, that is not ideal." He grew more serious. "You know she'd be okay with it though, right? She loves you more than anyone loves another person."

Will nodded. "I know that. Just… give me a couple of days."

Jonathan seemed satisfied. "Okay, I'll take it. Now here's the plan. I'll go in and distract her with some questions about college and you slip past us and head to my room. Nancy keeps some make-up there. You're both pale as a vampire, so her foundation should work alright on you. Put some of that on, and mom'll never notice in the low light."

Will nodded. "Wow. Good plan."

Jonathan added, "Oh, and tomorrow? Make sure you wear a turtleneck. Speaking from experience, it's your safest bet."

He smiled sneakily at Will, who made a grossed-out face thinking about his brother and Nancy. "Ugh, gross Jonathan."

Jonathan laughed. "Yeah, yeah, so gross." His expression softened. "I'm really glad you told me, Will."

Will smiled. "Me too, Jonathan."

Jonathan clapped his hands together. "Okay, kid, let Operation 'Sneak You in Without any Awkward Questions from Mom' commence!"