Enjoy!

HAWKINS, INDIANA 1991

Nancy sat quietly on her bed. In a way, she felt guilty for living in her parents' home. She'd offered to pay rent and make sure she and her husband would be out as soon as possible. But her mother and father were insistent that they could stay. Nancy knew it was because her father's age was catching up with him, and Mrs Wheeler would not be able to keep up with him, herself and Holly. But perhaps Nancy needed the practice in taking care of her little sister, she thought, as she stared at the picture in her hands.

Jonathan came in with the camera around his neck and the polaroids in his left hand. Nancy quickly hid the picture and it thankfully went unnoticed. The man placed his camera on the desk and smiled to his wife, who smiled back.

"Did you get any good pictures?" she asked as he sat on the bed next to her.

"I'd say so," he nodded, showing her the different trees and animals he'd captured," I went by Murray's old place and found a ton of stuff to take pictures of. Maybe not as cool as a Demogorgon, but still beautiful."

Nancy smiled at her husband's work. He loved his job more than any man she knew. He certainly loved a lot more than their fathers ever did, and that included their family. Nancy nervously rubbed the picture that was behind her back. She wondered if now was the time to speak up. Now had to be the time.

"You're a great photographer, Jon," she kissed his cheek," And I decided to try my hand at it too."

"Oh really?" he asked with an eyebrow raised.

Nancy handed him the picture and nervously waited. Jonathan seemed confused for a minute, trying to figure out what the picture was. He didn't want to hurt her feelings by saying he was confused, but he couldn't help but...he turned to her after a second, finally reading her face. He looked into her eyes and felt his back tighten.

"Is this-?"

"I guess you could say I'm preg-Nancy."

Jonathan felt his chest tighten. He'd never been sure about being a father. He saw the way his deadbeat dad treated his kids. He never wanted to grow up to be that kind of man. But when he saw his wife and the picture together, Jon realized that he was finding true happiness. Jon took his wife into his arms and held her close, shaking slightly as he tried to hold back tears. But he couldn't help himself, so he allowed tears to rush down his face as he pulled away.

"How long have you known?" he asked.

"A month," she admitted," I just wanted to-"

"No, no, I understand," Jon held his wife close," Nancy, I promise you that I'll never be like my dad when it comes to raising our baby. I don't want them to feel ignored or left out in life. I want them to know just how loved they are and I…"

"Jonathan," she whispered softly, running her hands through his hair," I never thought that you'd be like your father. You're too kind to be anything like him. You're gonna make a great dad- I know you will."

Jon nodded, then looked down at his wife's stomach. They were having a baby. He couldn't believe it. He bent down and leaned his head against her stomach, feeling a sense of pride and shock all at once. Little Byers…

HAWKINS, INDIANA, 2019

"My first story is going to be about the protest outside of the movie theater," Gerard mentioned," I'm going to ask some of the townspeople and the protestors about their thoughts on the situation. I was hoping to have Miss Willow come and take pictures of the protesters as well. Do you think that'd be a good story, ma'am?"

Gerard was new, and he'd been told that he had to see the owner of The Hawkins Post before he could begin a new story. He was told that Mrs. Byers was a sweet, older woman, but he couldn't help but be nervous. He was just some sort of intern without a clue as to what the news business had to offer. So when Nancy gave him a smile, all of the young man's nerves went away.

"That'll be a great story, Gerard," Nancy insisted," I can't wait to read it."

Gerard thanked the woman several times before he fumbled out of her office. She knew how hard it was for new people, and she tried to give them all of the support they were destined to be needing. Not even a few minutes after Gerard happily went off, an incoming call came to her computer. She knew exactly who was calling from Toledo, so she answered it with a big smile.

A young boy's face popped up, and she knew what he wanted.

"Hi Jackson," Nancy said softly.

"Hi Grandma," he answered," Do you remember that paper about William Shakespeare you helped me write?"

"Of course I do."

"Well...I got an A!"

Nancy congratulated her grandson proudly. However, she could not help but praise herself a little. Writing came easy in the family and she couldn't help but thank herself. As they discussed the next assignment, she looked to her computer time, and saw that it was almost four. After saying farewell to her grandson, she logged off and grabbed her gear. As she was walking out, she asked her closest assistant, Lucille, to tell anyone who asked that she was out.

"Off to interview the mayor, ma'am?" she asked.

"Sure am!" Nancy walked to the door," I just hope it goes over well."

"Okay, Mrs. Baldwin," Jonathan smiled," Just slide a little closer into the frame."

The woman did as told, and gave a big smile. Jon felt pride as he took the picture. He loved doing photoshoots for the people in his town. It was just something to pass the time, while he was doing his best down at city hall. Jon took three more pictures, before he heard his phone ringing. He looked down to see that his secretary was calling.

"Excuse me," he said before he answered the phone," Joan, is everything okay?"

"You have a meeting with your wife in five minutes."

Jonathan's eyes went wide. He'd forgotten about the interview! He quickly finished up the photoset before he grabbed his gear and ran to his car. The family thanked him for such a fun time, and he smiled and waved. He was happy to do so. He drove out of the parking lot and down the road. He knew Nancy would kill him if he didn't get their in time. He approached the building just as Nancy was driving down the road. He quickly parked the car and shuffled into the building. Joan was waiting nervously.

"You made it just in time, sir," she said as they walked to his office.

"I have a feeling she knows that I forgot," he admitted as he sat in his seat," She was around the corner when I came in."

"But at least you're here now," Joan looked to the windows of the office," It would have been worse if you'd just entered-"

"Good morning Joan!"

The two watched as Nancy entered the room. Her bag was secure on her side, with her notepad by her side. Joan went off soon after, going back to her work. Jon helped his wife set up the area, then got ready for his interview.

"You look great," he said with a smile.

"So do you," she smirked," For someone who forgot about his interview."

Jonathan blushed, but he could tell Nancy wasn't angry. She never seemed to get angry at something so small. She set up her interview, asking simple questions that her husband answered happily. She felt safe as their interview started, knowing the mayor was there to help as their interview went into depth. They spent their time quietly as they talked, happy to be in the company of one another.