Enjoy!

"And action!"

The set was perfect in its own fucked up way. The trees were bent out of shape, the fog machines were finally working and everything seemed to be in order. The young boy, 'Phil', stepped forward on the path of leaves. His hands trembled as he walked, calling out for his friends. Finn did not answer; neither did Benjamin nor Daisy. Cole was on the other side of the world and Ruby- Ruby was nowhere to be found.

"Ruby," Phil's heart was racing," Ruby!"

"She's not here anymore," Vince stepped from behind him, making Phil turn around quickly," But I am."

"I know you died," Phil was confrontational towards the figure," I know you're not real."

"Oh really?" Vince smirked," I don't think you understand what-"

"Cut!"

The scene stopped. The actors looked to Dean, who held a copy of the script in his hand. As a director and co-writer, he knew this scene was supposed to have more emotion. He and Lily spent countless nights making this season finale was perfect. His sister understood this, but she knew her son (who played Phil) was doing the best he could.

"What's the matter?" she asked, leaning in the seat next to him.

"I need more emotion from David," he said, then turned to his nephew," David, I want you to remember how long Phil has been wandering in that world. Remember how he fought against monsters and couldn't get to his best friends. Think of how he feels after losing Ruby. Losing Vince. Losing his dog!"

"Phil isn't a confrontational person," David recalled," So should he be angry or sad?"

"Both," Dean declared," This is the first time he's ever felt so strongly about...well, anything! From the top."

As the set was getting ready again, the actors going back to their places, Dean leaned back. He just wanted the season finale to end on a good note with viewers. After a long third season, he wanted them coming back, begging for more. He wanted "The Northern Trait" to be a television success. And it wasn't going to happen if he couldn't get every little detail right. Lily knew this and she couldn't help but smile at her brother's misfortune. But it didn't go unnoticed.

"What's so funny?" he asked with a sort of miserable tone.

"I remember when a certain someone used to be such a disbeliever," she laughed," He'd called bullshit when it came to certain stuff that went down in his town. Now, he's panicking because nothing is as accurate as the town he, at first, hated."

"I think that's why I want it to be perfect," he sighed and leaned in his director's chair," I felt like I didn't do justice to Hawkins the first time I came there. It's a great town and I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't live there."

"We'd be writing a television show about something else."

"Point is," he continued," I don't want this show to go downhill and get cancelled because I didn't stand by my favorite home. The show deserves to be great and I don't think that-"

"Hey dad! Check it out!"

Dean turned around and smiled at the girl to his side. Jane had wanted to be a part of her father's television show since his first script. She'd never asked for a big role, but when he presented her with the idea of 'Ruby', she couldn't resist. Here she stood, in the new costume her mother had personally made, a smile on her young face. Lily was deeply reminded of Eleven, but kept quiet as Dean praised his wife and daughter.

"Your mother did a fantastic job with this," he declared," Look at the way the bottom's torn! The way the sleeves are cuffed and the color- it's perfect! Jane, you look beautiful."

"Thanks Dad," she smiled," I can't wait to be on screen!"

"We should probably start your scenes," Dean turned back to the set," Okay guys, you're getting there! We're gonna move onto the scene where Ruby comes back. I need…"

Lily noticed David walking off of the set. He seemed quiet, and she knew why. She walked away from her excited brother and towards her son. The boy sat on the nearby bench and looked down at his feet. His mother could always tell when something was wrong. His eyes would always avert to the ground and he would bite his lip. Lily sat down next to her son and put a hand on his shoulders.

"Do you wanna talk about what's bothering you?" she asked.

"I just don't get why I'm a bad actor," he said.

"You're not a bad actor-"

"Then why can't I get that scene right?" he asked," Every time I practiced it, I was told that I was improving. That my emotions were growing stronger and that the confidence could be seen in my eyes. But when I get on stage, I keep getting "More emotion!" or "Give it your all!". I really am giving it my all, mom, I really am."

Lily knew her son was giving it his all. He just could not help but become distraught. She understood what he was going through, and it broke her heart. She pulled him close and watched the others running on set to finish what they could. David leaned on his mom's arm and she couldn't help but smile.

"Dave," she started," You're doing great. I know it seems hard, but you've been improving so much since you first started playing Phil. Remember Season one, episode four, when you gave that speech about wanting to have a sense of freedom?"

"How could I forget that?" he asked with a half laugh," Uncle Dean and Dad made me recite the speech over and over again. I had it stuck in my head for forever."

"And did you get better at it?"

David understood what his mother was saying. He knew practice made perfect. His mother always knew what to say to support her son. He thanked his mom and hugged her, and Lily couldn't help but smile. She watched as her son went to practice his lines, eyes on the script. Lily watched her brother smile at her as she took her seat, watching the scenes of her show play out.